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.

Judah

During my time in TL I had no television or Internet unless I went over to my friends house. So I had lots of time to read and spend time in the Word. One of the things I read each day was the blessing Jacob gave his sons, specifically to his son Judah. I've continued to read these five verses over and over and the words make my heart happy so I wanted to share them.


8 Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the necks of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you.
9 Judah is a young lion--my son, you return from the kill--he crouches; he lies down like a lion and like a lioness--who wants to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, or the staff from between his feet, until He whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to Him.
11 He ties his donkey to a vine, and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.

Genesis 49:8-12

I love this because it demonstrates strength and power given by the Lord. I don't necessarily want my son to be violent toward enemies, or even have enemies for that matter, but I like to interpret that particular line as Judah will have the ability to defeat anyone against him through Godly wisdom and pursuit of things just. I was encouraged by these words of inner wisdom and outer strength. Especially right now for him to have strength to withstand any preterm issues we are having. I know this wasn't written specifically for my Judah, but these words give me comfort.