A day of relaxation

Yesterday was my last day at work before the events over the next few days. I took today off to just relax. However, I think it's impossible to relax with all the excitement and nerves. This is likely to be the last post before our little man arrives. So I'll take this moment to share some blogging news...

Since life will be changing quite drastically so will the format of my blog. Instead of That's A Rapp" my blog will be broken down into different blogs relative to content. All of you will receive the final updates after the little man arrives and links to the new sites. I will be creating a blog specifically for the following:

Scrapbooking/crafting: This blog will contain photos of my latest projects, links to my favorite stores etc. and will lend to a bit of a portfolio should I ever get the guts to apply for a design team.

Food: This blog will be forever growing with photos and recipes. Inspiration from Julie and Julia I will be taking recipes from my own shelf, cook books and most excitingly from my family and grandmothers and making them. I will also include photos and stories of food experiences of dinning out or food made by others. Anything and everything food related. I will write about my experience in discovering the recipe, where it came from, and the end result. I hope to have many successes and even failures to laugh and write about.

I will keep "That's A Rapp" (though I have a slight urge to change the name) to keep you all updated on Brian and I. A general blog of our life.

Last but not least........a blog written by Grayson himself!!!!!

He shared the idea with me the other night. He said he has lots to say and he really wants to share his world from his view. He expressed to me how you all would prefer to hear stories from his prospective then mine and I think he might be right. Grayson gave props to his friend Jack of which he soon will get to meet as Jack created his own blog. Grayson assured me he got permission from Jack and his mommy to "blog lift" this idea. So thanks to Jack and his mommy for the neat idea.

So goodbye for now and we'll see you after Grayson's arrival with all our new updates and stories!

The last weeks of pregnancy

I can not believe the last week of pregnancy have arrived. I couldn't help but get a bit verklempt this Friday during our last sonogram. It was great to have Marty (she's the sonogram lady) there to perform Grayson's last BPP (biophysical profile). She was the one who performed our sonogram confirming our last miscarriage, there to perform our sonogram confirming we were pregnant with Grayson and was here with us to be the last ones to get a look at him in my tummy before he joins us in this crazy world. She has been there for so many chapters of our life.

In the last weeks I have certainly reached my whits end. I'm ready for the pregnancy symptoms to end and the joys and struggles of motherhood to begin.

We have made a long "MasterCard" commercial of our own! You know the one...x amount of money on the dress, x amount of money on the cake, x amount of guests, marrying the one you love..priceless. You do remember those commercials? Non the less my version of this commercial is in the works as a double page scrapbook layout to be completed after the birth of Grayson. Though I have not counted the exact amount of bills, diapers, doses of medicine, or the trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I can assure you the priceless concept will be clear, better then any 3 minute "MasterCard" commercial :)

Now the chapter of pregnancy is about to end and a new one will begin. It has been a long and exciting journey. We are so excited to meet our little man and share him with all those who love him.

Bags packed and loaded in car-check
Car seat-check
Diaper bag - check
Registered at hospital - check
Phone call list - check
Route to hospital - check
Doggy care - check


Now we sit and wait.....

Grayson Prep

Mom, Dad and Lynda all came to visit in late January for my VA baby shower and to graciously help Brian and I prepare for Grayson. I referred to them during their visit as a cleaning/organizing tornado. A bit of on oxymoron I know. Dad spent the weekend cleaning and organizing the garage while Mom and Lynda put away Christmas decor, did an ungodly amount of laundry and organized the nursery. I helped where I could and completed my thank you notes (I hope you all received yours and I did not leave anyone out).

Dad came down the next weekend and delivered the under the windowsill bookshelf he built for Grayson's nursery. He (being the stubborn old man he is (sorry dad) arrived on Friday and then left before lunch on Saturday after hanging the chair rail in the laundry room.

Brian and I both were a bit overwhelmed by all the activity but very excited at the finished projects and can not find enough words to express our thanks.

Gestational Diabetes

Just as busy as Grayson has been growing stronger and practicing skills for living outside my tummy, I too have been busy keeping up with all the changes and excitement of the last 2 months of pregnancy.

Shortly after returning from Ohio I received the results of my gestational diabetes tests. Sure enough I did not pass. I was not surprised by this though I would be lying if I did not admit I was rather disappointed. I had many concerns at first knowing the risks associated with gestational diabetes. I was not so concerned for myself but more concerned for Grasyon and the effects it would have on him. Thankfully with the combination of quick action between my doctors/nurses and dietitian I was given a diet to follow to control my sugar levels. It took about two weeks of trying different foods/programs in which a resolution was finally achieved. My diabetes has remained under control with a diet of consuming a balance of carbohydrates and protein. My fasting sugar levels were elevated so I was put on glyboride at bedtime. I take my blood four times a day (fasting, after breakfast, lunch and dinner).

The doctors and dietitians have explained that as long as my sugar levels remain appropriate Grayson should see no effects, however there is no guarantee. The gestational diabetes will go away the moment Grayson is born as the hormone levels that cause your sugar levels to be high are stored in the placenta. However, due to the gestational diabetes and in combination with family history etc. there is a very high risk that both Grayson and I could end up with diabetes at some point in our lives. Brian and I have had much discussion regarding making appropriate changes to ensure a healthy life for all of us to include exercise, diet and essentially maintaining a low sugar diet.

After learning how many carbs (aka sugar) one is supposed to have in a normal diet it's no wonder diabetes has become such a prominent health issue for people. I could go on and on about all that I have learned about gestational diabetes and diabetes but who needs any more lecturing on diet and life style right? I can not help but take a moment to voice my opinion on this matter...my only request to all my friends and family that no matter how big/small, active/inactive, healthy/unhealthy you think you are, please get tested. It is a test many health insurance plans cover and all they do is prick your finger. In all the information I have read, lectures I have attended and doctors that I have discussed diabetes with I have learned that much like other diseases/cancers etc. no one is exempt. A person can be skinny, active and have no family history and still have diabetes and no differently a person over weight, inactive and with a family history could not be diabetic. So again, my point...get tested.

Grayson Update

December to now has been a very exciting and busy time for our little man. He has grown like a weed! The last update on his size was two weeks ago at his 36 week appointment he was guesstimated to weigh about 6.5 lb. As time has gone by he has become nearly impossible to see at sonogram appointments. Grayson enjoys holding his feet up by his head, sucking is hands and toes and turning over or lifting his arms just before the tech snaps a picture of him. It has been since we found out his gender since we have actually seen him in full view. Check out the upcoming photos on our flicker site for the newest photos. I will warn you, they are not clear and unless you know what you are looking for or at, you may not even be able to tell it is him. I will provide descriptions to help as best I can.

Our last doctor visit was Friday 2/19/10. No guesstimate on Grayson's size was given. His heartbeat was 127 and his movement has slowed but is within a normal health range. The doctor indicated how low he is and how she could feel his head (eww). The doctor further indicated he is face up but that though it is preferred that he be face down he could turn and that is position at this time is no reason for concern. I'm convinced he just wants to see everyone on his way out.

Catching up...

Thank you for those who have reminded me I have not posted since Christmas! Today is a beautiful day in VA and with all the prep for Grayson nearly done I thought I should devote some of my day to updating the blog. Stay tuned for various posts regarding our life over the past two months. Due to pregnancy brain they will be all sorts of out of order...I hope everyone is enjoying the end of winter. As much as I love the snow I can not wait to see my spring tulips pop and take Grayson on long walks in the parks.