Pond Hopper

We arrived in the US on the 17th and since then, we haven't stopped at all.  We have been running from visit to visit and christmas shopping in between.  We've both been suffering with really bad colds for days now and I'm letting Wayne sleep in today.  Our trips back are always busy and we often return home feeling like we need a vacation to recover from our vacation.  That being said - It's been wonderul to see everyone and I'm so happy to be home.  I think we're half-way through our trip now and I'm already sad just thinking about going back. It's been quite a ride so far - My first day here, we went to the OB/GYN to get a check up.  In the UK while pregnant, there seems to be almost no care until you get to your third trimester.  The schedule is as follows: 6-8 weeks - first midwife appointment (no exam just a meeting for medical history and a few basic blood tests). Week 12 - ultrasound & 1 screening test for downs syndrome (but no midwife app...

I've had a few requests for pictures of me with my expanding pregnant bump.  I'm going out to lunch today so I had a pic snapped before leaving the house...

It's been a busy time.  We're leaving Monday morning for our 25 day trip back to the states.  I'm really excited.  I haven't been home in a year and it makes it all the more special this year being pregnant.  The morning after we arrive, I have an appointment with an OB Doctor out there.  I'm hoping to get an ultrasound while I'm there so we can find out the sex of the baby.  I've invited my Mom to come with us thinking it would be nice for her to experience (considering she's missing so much with me so far away).  Now, my sister has asked if she can come.  It's turning into quite the event!  I'm going to be so embarrassed having so many people come with me for a routine Doctor's appointment, but I didn't want to say no.  I only hope that my brother and step father don't ask to tag along as well!  Those who know me, know that my family isn't always so supportive so, I'm going to take advantage of the enthusiasm while it's ...

It's odd waking up to the voice of a stranger.  The walls are really thin in this house and I am often woken up by my neighbors.  Some nights it's in the wee hours of the morning that I'm woken up by one of the children crying.  It's happened on more than one occasion at around 2-3AM and I can only imagine it's nightmares waking the child up and I wish I could say that their mother is quick to go to them, but it often takes a while before the crying stops.  Some days it's the voice of one of the woman calling out to the children that wakes me and some mornings I'm actually woken by the sound of their alarm clock (the other day that happened at 5:45 in the morning).  This morning, I woke up to a voice calling out 'Come on you two' as if it was coming from the same room.  It was 6AM and I wanted to cry since I didn't get to sleep until around 2:00 this morning.  I keep earplugs next to my bed, but don't like to sleep with them in because it cau...

I don't know what it is, but pregnancy seems to be having an adverse effect on me.  I've become a little bit stupid, very clumsy,  and also have trouble concentrating.  I can't think of normal words while writing or having conversations, I've become accident prone and break or drop things on a regular basis, and do random idiotic things!  The other day while cooking dinner, I put the olive oil in the refrigerator and the milk in the cupboard and didn't notice it until I needed the milk a while later.  I also called my Doctor in the US to make an appointment.  I made the appointment for Dec. 14th even though I don't even arrive in the country until the 17th!  I didn't even notice - I called my Mom to tell her the appt date and she caught it immediately!  I'm constantly doing silly things and most of the time I just feel distracted and preoccupied.  I only hope this is a temporary affliction and after the baby comes, I start getting back to nor...

It finally happened last night - I finally had the retaliation of that fact that I'm going to have a baby.  I've been through so much from the start of this pregnancy that I think I just wouldn't allow myself to feel too much - probably as a way to stay strong through it all.  I haven't been able to really get in touch with my emotions and I've been wondering if it would ever happen.  Last night it happened and boy did it happen.  Out of nowhere while watching TV, I started to cry.  I went over to my husband, sat on his lap and just started blabbering through my tears saying things like - We're going to have a baby! and I've waited my whole life for this!  My goodness did the tears flow!  It was 4 months worth of emotion coming out all at once.  Maybe it was hearing the heart beat again or getting a glimpse of the baby during the ultrasound or finding out that everything really was okay (again).  I don't know what triggered it, but it finally...

This morning I had to go back to the hospital.  I've been having a lot of pain and cramping for the last few days and this morning said enough is enough - we have to go to make sure everything is okay.  The good news is that we heard the baby's heartbeat and the doctor assured me he thought it was fine.  He took some blood work and some other tests and came to the conclusion I have an infection of some sort that has given me an 'irritable uterus'.  They are unsure if the infection is due to the surgery or if it's completely unrelated.  They gave me an antibiotic and are sending me back for an ultrasound later today to make sure it's nothing to do with my ovaries.  I just can't seem to catch a break.  It seems to be one scare after another.  I really would love it if I could just have some time to relax and enjoy this experience.  Physically, I'm feeling okay - just a bit worn out, but I'm just glad everything with the baby is fine.  I'm ...