Pond Hopper

Tomorrow is my birthday.  I'm turning 36.  It feels uneventful this year - like I could almost forget if I wasn't near a calender.  Maybe it's because this year things are more like they should be and turning another year older just isn't p phasing me all that much.  I know last year turning 35  really bothered me, but I was turning 35 and still had no children - maybe I felt time was running out and it scared me.  This year I'll be having a baby and I have a wonderful husband & marriage.  This year it hardly even bothers me that I'll be spending most of the day by myself before Wayne gets home from work (I guess we'll have to see how I feel tomorrow).  Maybe birthdays don't phase you as much when you have almost everything you want.  A few friends in the same country would be nice, but I can't really complain can I? The baby furniture  came for the nursery today.  I'm really excited to see it and hoping Wayne will be just as ke...

I haven't written in a week or so.  I've had a lot going on - some rather emotional stuff that's had me distracted and I've been keeping to myself.  To add to what was already on my mind, I got a call this morning from my mother letting me know that my step-Dad's brother past away last night.  My step-dad is a parent to me in every sense of the word and it is difficult being so far away while he is in so much pain.  He broke down on the phone with me as soon as he heard my voice.  In my life, I've only heard him cry once or twice before and it was terrible.  His brother was young - only in his late 40s or early 50s.  He was sick for a long time with leukaemia, but after a bone marrow transplant he was doing well and we thought he'd pull through.  He took a turn for the worst in the last week and died last night.  I was really shocked to hear it.  I guess I don't like to think the worst and just thought he'd be okay.  It's hard not b...

We got back on Friday afternoon.  Saturday, I slept until 2pm.  I don't think I thought through how pregnancy and arthritis was going to factor in to such a long trip.  We were on the go for almost 3 1/2 weeks straight.  There wasn't a lot of time for rest and I'm still paying for it now with a good deal of pain and little or no energy for most of the day.  It was good to go back and see everyone, but to be honest by New Years Day, I was ready to come back.  Things happened with family that I won't go into that put a bit of a damper on my time, but I think maybe it's better that way - there are a lot less tears when you leave feeling a bit fed up. I'm nearly 6 months pregnant now.  It's going so fast now that the 2nd trimester started.  The first trimester was the longest 3 months of my life, but now it's flying by.  The baby is active every day and I can't say enough about how amazing it is to feel this little life inside me every day. ...

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...