solo

My time without Stan has gone pretty well. Now to clarify I was not completely on my own. Our house helper was here during the day and a friend came to help me with dinner, bedtime and then spent the night just to make sure everything was ok. She will also stay for a lot of today until Stan gets home in the early evening. This is kinda preparing me for what will lie ahead. Once we get back from TL and have a little time to settle Stan will have to start traveling out, possibly two to three times a month. I'm kinda counting semi-bed rest the same as having an infant, but I know really and infant will be WAY more work. But it's good to get a little of an idea of how it will be when Stan is gone and I have three boys here on my own. My hope is that Kirby and Bennett will grow in their level of maturity and they will listen and obey every word I say. But, I know that is a long shot. I'm praying for mountains of patience.

Thursday was a bit of a busy day but it was a good one. We had a very informative meeting Thursday morning. The knowledge the couple shared was a bit overwhelming but great. Then we came home to prepare for the delivery of our new furniture. We were expecting it between 12-1 but because we know how schedules work around here we weren't too surprised when it didn't show up till closer to 5. We had planned a cook out with friends that came in from out of town so that delayed dinner just a little. But I have to say the steak, baked potato and salad were well worth the wait. So was the furniture for that matter. I now have a guizi (what we would call a wardrobe--built in closets are a rarity here) to put my clothes in. Let me tell you it was nice to unpack my clothes after living here over a month. We also have furniture to finish off our living room. So now in the next few weeks before we leave (less than 4 now!) I will be hanging pictures and getting all the small things put away. That way when we get back all I will have left will be any little touches I want to add--you know the fun stuff. Oh yeah, and take care of Judah. And Kirby and Bennett. I have a strange suspicion that once my 6 weeks post-pardum days are up I will be VERY busy.

one month

So one month from today we will be flying to Bangkok. I'm so excited because I know once I am there I will breath a little easier when it comes to contractions, Judah being born, etc. There are, however, a few things that worry me about this trip though. First of all we have to get to KM to catch our flight. Not usually an issue but for the past couple of months they have been working on the main road that takes us there. When I came back from TL in April the normal 4 hours bus ride took 8 hours. We have decided to take a car to hopefully make it more comfortable for us (me) and cars usually have less trouble passing through the construction, but at one point they closed the road entirely. The side going from here to there is now the one getting the majority of the work. Also, once we get to the airport we have to deal with the airline questioning whether or not I can fly. We know the policy--up to 37 weeks for a flight less than 4 hours, with a doctor's note--but since I was questioned and asked for proof when I left at 23 weeks I know there will be trouble this time. We will have the appropriate doctor's note and other documentation--I even plan to bring a printout of their policy with me--but I'm still really anxious about it.

So what I've been trying to concentrate on is just getting to that point. Being as prayed up and prepared as possible. I will be 35 weeks and since I already look to them like I'm due I know I will look huge to them then. But I'm praying for no trouble. I'm praying that the check in clerk will not even question us and we can board without issue. I'm also specificaly praying that I will feel especially good that day so I will have plenty of patience and everything else needed when traveling with a two year old and a four year old and still appear to be the picture of perfect pregnancy health--even if I'm not.

Please pray with me. If anything it will calm my nerves.

30

weeks that is...



Ok, since I've kinda put Wordless Wednesday on hold, seeing as how I'm not out enough to get pictures of anything interesting, I'm going to try to post at least biweekly belly pictures. That way there my be an actual visible difference. I look like I'm about to bust. I'm starting to get why I get nothing but quizzical looks while I'm out walking around. To the people here I look about 2 months overdue. And that's with two months left to go. Here are some pregnancy facts for this week.

-I'm still hot. I enjoyed several cool days brought by some rain but as of yesterday that has worn off. I was outside for 10 minutes today and had sweat pouring. PTL this is a temporary situation. :)
-We have 5 weeks till we fly out. I'm already planning what I want for dinner my first night in Bangkok.
-A friend went to the capital city and did some food shopping while she was there. She was so wonderful and bought some stuff for us. Less than 24 hours after she returned, we (mostly me) have gone through a bag of Tostitos, a jar of salsa and a 8 oz. block of extra sharp cheddar cheese. I made taco salad for dinner last night and ate the leftovers for lunch.
-My husband is officially done with Mexican food. Maybe forever. All three pregnancies have had me craving Mexican food in addition to my usual joy in eating it. I hope Stan can make it 9 more weeks with eating Mexican whenever it's available.
-Judah is getting really strong.
-I'm in bed an average of 9 hours a night and still feel completely exhausted. Of course there are at least two trips to the bathroom and the subsequent getting comfortable and falling back asleep but I need a nap most days--whether I get one or not.

That's it for now.

product review

So I have finally gotten all of my Judah purchases. A friend's husband took a trip to the US and was willing to bring back an extra piece of luggage for our family. Most of the items for were the boys. I loaded it up to get my moneys worth. :) So now I have each of the things I ordered and I thought I would give a little review. Of course this is the pre-use review so as I use each thing I can let you know if I feel the same or have changed my opinion. Plus there is something I had made here so I thought I would include that as well.

Nursing Cover:
Although the color was a little different than I expected I still like it. Without having used it I think it covers well and has the boning at the neck for easy observation of the baby. I compared it to a the nursing cover of a friend who has a more mainstream brand, and they were nearly identical. The quality was the same so I feel confident washing and care will be easy.


Crawler Covers:
This was such a great deal and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. I paid $22 and got 4 pair and free shipping. There were so many colors and designs to choose from. They are a great thickness, especially because I will be using them primarily as long underwear for Judah during the cold months. They are even long enough I could put them on Bennett (and Kirby for that matter). This will be great with Bennett just learning to use the potty, he won't have to worry about pulling down an extra layer.


Wee Wubbys:
These lovey blankets turned out just as I wanted. The quality is great! The seams will definitely hold up to many washings and I love that they come as a pair. So cute and just what I was looking for. They are a great size and if Judah gets attached to it like my other boys they will be great for several years.


Since we aren't really fixing Judah a nursery (his dresser and bed will be in the guest room) I'm trying to add a few things to make it more like a babies' room. We won't have a changing table but I wanted to get a changing pad made to put on the bed to protect the quilt from direct diaper mishaps. We have some foam that we are going to glue plastic to and then I had some covers made. This shows the start of it, I want to do a little more work to make it fit better.


This is a close up of the two different fabrics I used--cats and dogs and different types of balls. I also had two receiving blankets made, one out of each fabric. It's a really soft flannel fabric similar to what you can buy in the States. They made all 4 in about 15 minutes and the total cost was less than $5. I hope the changing pad turns out like I have it pictured in my head.

complaint #1

So what good is being pregnant without being able to complain a little, right? I've been trying really hard not to complain too much because I am SO very grateful to still be pregnant. And I don't plan to have this little boy for 10 more weeks, however, right now I need to get something out so I can move on.

I AM BLAZING HOT!!!

OK, so I knew Summer would not be a pleasant time for the end of my pregnancy. This is the first time I will be pregnant during June and July, well the end of May too for that matter. So as the temperature rises I'm getting ever so much more uncomfortable. Let me also inform you that where we live May and June are the hottest months of the year and even though temperatures rarely go over 90 degrees the sun is intense. Our altitude is high enough that some days it feels like the sun is sitting on our roof. I can't even go upstairs between the hours of 1 and 5 because it's just too hot to deal. On the afternoons that I don't tutor I stay downstairs, turn off the light and lay under the ceiling fan. Oh yeah, I did mention that we don't have AC, right? PTL for that ceiling fan in the living room. I may just start sleeping down here (except for now that we have our new mattress my bed is so very comfortable and I would miss it). Last night even by 10:30 our room hadn't cooled off very much and having the stand fan blowing directly on me helped only slightly.

So here is the bright side...yes I do see one.

When we go to Thailand in just over 6 weeks I will not only get to enjoy many delicious American restaurants, I will also be in an area of the world that understands the wonderfulness of AC. We still aren't quite sure what our accommodations will be but I think AC is pretty much a guarantee. And to top it off, if we get the hotel we are hoping for (praying for with all my heart) we will have a nice pool for me to float in for hours at a time. I found out that like here, July and August are rainy season in BKK meaning there is usually an afternoon rain (at the least) to cool things off. So I can drink my hot Starbucks latte (for some reason they do not make my favorite White Chocolate Mocha) with pure joy. I can sit in an air conditioned room and eat piping hot pizza (Zantac taken before hand of course).

Oh yeah, and there is rain in the forecast for the next 4 days. While this could completely ruin the little cookout we are planning for Kirby's 4th Birthday weekend (we will still make it work) it will cool things off enough that I'm not sweating the second I step out of the shower. I may even get out one of our camping chairs and just go sit in it!

chicken enchiladas

Well I only got one request for this recipe but I think that's enough cause I said if anyone wanted it I would post it. Let me know if you make it and how you like it. Just remember if you want to make it in a low fat version you can substitute anything but I can't guarantee it will be as good. We are lucky to get some of these things in their full fat version so low fat isn't going to happen. Also you can use any degree of spiciness for this recipe to meet your taste--if you have a favorite Mexican spice you want to add to the filling go for it and let me know how it turns out.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1-4 oz. can of green chilies
chopped onion to taste
1 half chicken cooked and shredded
1 packet taco seasoning (enchilada seasoning would be good but I don't have any here)
1/4 cup chicken broth (water can be used but I cook my chicken by boiling it for one hour so the broth is ready to go)
1-8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups cooked white rice
10-12 large flour tortillas
1-16 oz. jar of salsa
1 can cream of chicken soup (undiluted)
1/4-1/2 cup sour cream
shredded cheese (I like to mix cheddar and monterey jack)

In a wok (or other large pan for frying, wok is just what I have) heat the oil and put in chilies and onion cooking until onion is tender and starting to brown. Add in chicken and cook enough to allow flavors to blend (just a couple of minutes). Add taco seasoning and enough broth (or water) to make sure the seasoning is well blended (you may not need a full 1/4 cup you do not want this mixture to become too wet). Add in cream cheese cut into chunks and as it starts to melt also mix in cooked rice. Blend this whole mixture well to make a creamy filling. Place a generous amount of filling down the center of a tortilla (making a 'line') and roll tightly. In a greased 9x13 dish place the filled and rolled tortilla, flap side down. Repeat this until the dish is full of rolled tortillas. Mix the salsa, soup and sour cream (I don't know exactly how much I used cause I just added enough to make it more creamy and delicious) together and pour over the rolled tortillas, completely covering. Top with shredded cheese, as much or as little as you want. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted, bubbling and slightly browned. Scoop out like a casserole or serve one tortilla per person. Enjoy!

(If any of this doesn't make sense let me know, this is my first time writing out a recipe I made up.)

28

Today I'm 28 weeks (I actually had to check because I was afraid I was too far ahead and just having wishful thinking). This is exciting to me for many reasons. Most of all each week we get further along with no issues makes my heart so happy. Also that means only 7 more weeks till we head back to BKK to wait out Judah's arrival. I like being able to be here for the next few weeks but it will be so nice to know I'm in a place that is safe and comfortable for the delivery (read:major surgery). I added a picture cause several have asked to see.

28 weeks



Also I want to give a list of things that are pregnancy related.

-I don't like being pregnant and before last month I was already complaining that I was tired of being pregnant but each week we get closer makes me VERY happy. I can deal with the discomfort--which is already abundant--in order for Judah to make it full term.
-I love my gaucho style maternity pants. I bought two pair from Old Navy and had my mom send them to me. I wish I had bought more. The good thing is here it is perfectly acceptable to wear the same clothes 3 days in a row. Of course I drop food on my shirt a lot so I do have to change that.
-I spend most of my day in the living room where we have a ceiling fan. It's getting hot and during the day it's too much for me to handle upstairs (plus the fact that going up and down stairs is getting more difficult and definitely not restful). This is good because I get up, shower and get dressed all before breakfast. This is new for me. I'm one that some days if I'm not going anywhere I will stay in my pajamas all day. Don't lie, some days you do it too.
-I have crazy dreams EVERY night. No matter what I dream--I could be in high school, college, a random place with people I don't know--I'm always pregnant. Most of the time it's unnoticeable to those around me. It's so weird. I know my friends in HS or college would have noticed that I was pregnant then but now it's like I'm only pregnant to myself.
-I heart Zantac. I get heartburn most days and some days to the point that Tums don't touch it. Especially after our most excellent Cinco de Mayo meal. Side note: My friend and I created the most amazing Chicken Enchilada recipe--of course it could have been great to us because it was the best we could come up with. We consulted a couple of existing recipes and took the best parts. I will post it if anyone is interested.
-And finally, Judah is kicking all over the place. Sometimes I get nudged in the ribs and sometimes he kicks me so low that I'm sure his foot is going to come out. Right now he still has a lot of room to move but I can tell he's getting bigger. If he makes it to c-section day at 39 weeks I'm pretty sure he's going to be over the 6 lbs. projected by the ultra sound specialist. I just hope my mom isn't right and he will be the same amount bigger than Bennett that Bennett was to Kirby (does that make sense?). That would mean a 11 lb. baby. Yikes!

time away

I think every mother has those days when they think 'if I could just have some time away I could really get some sleep, do some things that I want to do and get some piece and quiet'. To be honest I always wanted a vacation (or even just a couple of days) to myself, however, two weeks was more than I bargained for. It was a little like when I was single and lived by myself. For the 6 months between moving out of an apartment with a roommate and when Stan got home from China (even though we didn't live together those two months between him getting home and our wedding we spent every waking moment possible together) I spent most of my time alone. Now of course I had nights out with friends, quiet nights of watching TV and many church things, not to mention I had a full time job that I spent a good 9 hours at each day. I never felt lonely and loved having the independence. It was my one time in life to be completely on my own, free to do whatever I liked and I LOVED it.

But it wasn't long until I was married and all my free time was spent with Stan. This was such a sweet time too. He had been gone for two years, we were newly weds and it was amazing to live with your best friend and the person you couldn't imagine being without. And 14 months after we got married we welcomed Kirby into our lives. A year and a half later Bennett was there. So in less than 3 years I went from an independent single woman to a wife and mother of two. I have never wished those things away but there were those days that I thought back on those quite evenings and lazy Saturday mornings of doing whatever.

It took about two days away (well after I was out of the hospital--didn't have a lot of time without interruption there, there was always someone taking my blood pressure and checking my liquid input and output, seriously is nothing private anymore) for me to realize that I am way past my single independent days. I know the quiet was good for me but seriously after a week I was more than ready to come back to my family. Even when Stan thinks I'm talking crazy, he understands and knows me best. Even when Kirby and Bennett are whiny and driving me nuts (yes I will admit to saying 'Boys, you are driving me crazy! at times) they will turn around seconds later to give me a hug and kiss or tell me that they love me. I missed my three men so much. Stepping out of customs at the airport and seeing my three guys there to surprise me (I told them I would meet them at the hotel to save Stan the extra headache) each holding a rose was the best medicine I could have had. Bennett and Kirby both looked as if they had grown a ton and Stan had the accomplished look of a father who managed two weeks of single parenting and a move, not to mention being incredibly good looking (and maybe *slightly* weary). I didn't even have words, all I wanted was hugs and kisses from each of them.

Next time I'm having one of those 'I need a break' days, I'm going to think back to my week of solitude and be thankful for what I have.