Gestational Diabetes

I love sweets!
I love tator tots!
I may be addicted to carbohydrates (like most Americans)

  These are things I didn't really realize until I failed the sugar tests.  I hit that third trimester mark and had to drink the "orange" drink... I can only describe it as an orange crush soda with a cup of sugar mixed in.  I had to drink it quickly, wait an hour, then hand over some blood...
I unfortunately failed... and I failed by a lot!

So I got the pleasure of doing the 3 hour test (which is really 4 hours).  In order to prep for the test I was required to eat 3 candy bars each day for the 3 days leading up to the tests.  I also had to go on a Saturday morning due to work.  When I got there the nurse explained to me that the drink would be about 10 times sweeter. (YES! It was most definitely jam packed with sugar).
I chugged it down and then waited.... 1hour - draw blood... 2 hours - draw more blood... 3 hours - draw more blood.   They couldn't release the results to me until my dr saw them.

                                   So I waited for the call.

A few days later a nurse called to explain my results.... I had indeed scored gestational diabetes' numbers.  Next step - meet with a gestational diabetes dr and dietician.   I learned how to check my blood sugar numbers and was required to every morning, night before bed, and every 2 hrs after a meal.  This became tedious,  but necessary so I could control it with my diet.  I kept my numbers recorded and would email the dietician every Monday.  During this time I basically ate meat,  veggies, and drank water.  Although,  my morning numbers continued to be too low, so I 'had' to eat 2 cookies and a glass of milk before bed :).

Throughout the remainder of my pregnancy I controlled it with my diet and didn't have anymore issues.  Praise God

From now on I am supposed to continue watching my diet; I am more susceptible to diabetes outside of pregnancy now.  This has really made me more conscious of what I eat and as a result a healthier person. I think I just ate things out of convenience and not wisely. I am grateful for the new lifestyle this is creating for me.  Thank you gestational diabetes.  ;-)

Picking a name...

What a task if you really think about it... We get to decide what this human is to be called. Forever.  Legally. Talk about pressure!

I knew if we had a boy we would name him Drake, because we were married on Drake's beach in California and the name was so unique... But other than that we were clueless.

We had multiple girl names picked out, but decided that we would have to meet her (if in deed we were to have a her) before we could name her.  I love the name Naomi due to the Biblical character.

So as my due date approached I felt more and more stress about tge name... I prayed intensely that God would provide a perfect name because He already knew our baby.

Shortly after amen I heard the name Finnegan in my head... I knew God had given that to me. So the boys name was decided... Drake Finnegan... which means dragon fair.

The girls names we like are: Naomi, Elise, Elizabeth, Clementine, Alice, and a few more... But no for sure names yet... Keep you updated!

Can hardly wait to meet this little baby SMoore!

*written during 3rd trimester... Posted later due to lack of organization on my part*

Coming Soon!!!

Anticipation is building! The thought of my life changing so much any day now is hard to describe. It is more anticipation than climbing the big hill on the roller coaster. More excitement than being a child on Christmas Eve. More anxiousness than moving away to college.

The drs gave me a date that our baby is 'due' and I think that makes my anticipation build even more!  Today I officially have 2 weeks until that date... until the day my life will change forever.  I know that becoming a mother is a true blessing and that God will use this to teach me so much.  I anticipate to learn a love I have never known before... a love that will make me see things so differently.

On another note I am excited for all the preparations that are done:

• bags packed
• clothes prepped
• diapers ready
• baby showers over
• thank you's written
• carseat installed
• bassinet and changing table ready
• birthplan written
•  and much more!!!

Although there are a few things I still need to do:

• prep meals
• clean our room
• fix a few things in the house
• get the cat and dog treats for while we are gone

Anything I am missing???

   

Who was that in the mirror?

So I have been blessed with a high metabolism all my life.  Which means I have been about the same size since high school.  Sometime a little more fit, but always the same general size.  I typically have always weighed between 105 and 110.  Now that I am pregnant I weigh a little more :) which I feel no negative feelings towards at all;  it is just a big shock when I walk past the mirror and have to do a double take.  
It has taken some getting used to... especially with only 3 weeks to go!!! I seriously feel like I stuffed a balloon or soccer ball under my shirt.
I am weighing in around 130 lbs. And my dr says that is a good gain for me.  I know they were worried at my previous hospital (we changed because our labor and delivery area closed down) due to my gestational diabetes that I might gain a lot, but I have managed it with my diet.  (I need to do a blog about my gestational diabetes experience).  Going from where I was to where I am now does make me pause in front of the mirror, it catches my attention every time.   I just pause and think...

Who is that in the mirror? 

That is a soon to be (kinda already am) new momma!  Full of joy thinking of her anticipated blessing.  A new momma anxious to meet her baby SMoore!  A daughter of God ready to experience a new kind of love; ready to experience a miracle. Who is that in my mirror?  A beautiful reminder of God's plan, His timing, and His hand in it all.

I praise Him for it all and look forward to meeting this little one He has designed and He knows very well... even in my womb.

Night Owl

I keep telling my husband that I know I will go into labor at night because Baby SMoore is a night owl.   This isn't a new thing development either... it has been this way the entire pregnancy.   Early on I would just wake up throughout the night.  Then as the baby grew and I noticed more movement it was like there was a nightly dance party in my tummy.   Seriously.... the only way I can explain it is like being on a continuous roller coaster.   That feeling in your stomach when you drop down the big hill... every night around 3 or 4 am!  Now that I am 35 weeks pregnant there is little space for all that moving, but I get kicks and jabs and still at 4am.  Just another amazing reminder that my blessing is there.  I have grown to love my 4am moments with Baby SMoore and can only imagine what it will be like to hold my SMoore at 4am :)  I praise God for the night owl and thank Him for blessing me with this journey.  

Mommy Club!

Did you know there is a secret club out there just for women in my circumstance? A club full of new vocabulary and gadgets. A club full of support and advice. This club is totally open, but you must be a mommy to be (well the alumni are still a part of the club and will jump at the opportunity to tell you about their glory days).
I soon found out about this club shortly after we revealed our secret. And boy was I welcomed by the alumni; all so eager to share there solutions, advice, stories, tears, and much more. Some people hate this, but I was giddy after keeping my secret so long and absorbed every moment and detail of this induction.
I am now in my 3rd trimester and have fast realized this club has many layers and continues to develop as you advance.  Since I am now showing, or appear to be stealing a basketball, I meet the most alumni... strangers with no fear. I love it! When I go out it totally feels like I am wearing the club's emblem, which opens the door for discussion. However, it also brings questions from those not in the club. Quite funny questions as well:
How did I get pregnant?
Did you just have a baby?
And some other comments about stealing basketballs.
I take these in stride, knowing full well the blessing it was to become inducted into this club. I adore every story, every moment, and every question.
Praise GOD for this!

What a secret to keep…

Jonathan and I kept our little SMoore a secret for almost 3 months!!!  I know… we should be in the CIA.  The only people that knew were the doctors, nurses, pregnancy care center ladies, and my boss {because I am a fitness trainer and it is a liability}.

I wanted to announce it to family and a few close friends before social media took over.  I didn’t want to choose who I told first either… so we planned to mail out our announcement with a little packaged s’more kit {2 mini graham crackers, a small chocolate bar, and a marshmallow}.   

This was our announcement stapled to the top of the s'more kit.  I also put an ultrasound picture on the back.

This way everyone got the same announcement, mailed the same day, and it was up to the USPS to decide who got theirs first.  I had tracking on everyone’s so I would know when they were to arrive.  I decided that when Jonathan’s family in California got theirs I would give my mom hers {in her church mailbox}.  My dad happened to be going out of town randomly that week, so I figured I would have to call him when everyone else found out.

My sister, brother-in-law, and niece were the first to get theirs.  {They only live 3 hours away}  She sent me the cutest picture of my niece ‘eating’ her cousin’s {baby SMoore} picture.  The next day more family members received theirs and there was a fantastic sigh of relief.  No more secret! 

We decided to go out to eat with my grandparents to tell them; partially because I wanted to see their reaction and partially because I didn’t know if they would understand the announcement or why we had mailed it to them.  We ate dinner at a local hot spot and before dessert we gave them their ‘gift’.  I told them it was a late Grandparents’ day present and my granddad opened it.  He said, “Oh… a s’more…” and handed it to my grandma.  She actually read it and then said, “thanks” and sat it down.  Daddy SMoore and I laughed and said look at the back {which was where the ultrasound picture was}… it took a few minutes and then they got excited!

Each person reacted joyfully and called us to tell us how excited they were.  Over all it was a great way for us to announce our bundle of Baby SMoore!  Finally when everyone knew… we announced it on social media with a few pictures:

Teal is my favorite color and a big part of our neutral baby theme.

 

 

We LOVE Disney!

 

Again, everyone seemed joyful and happy for us.  Knowing that God was in control and that this was truly blessing of His timing.