38th Week

I am now in my 38th week of pregnancy and I feel - well, 38 weeks pregnant. It's getting harder to keep a smile on my face now. I bet Bill feels similarly - poor guy. He's been living with me AND my mother for the last 9 weeks here in Hong Kong. Geesh.

The doctor said I've already dropped the baby, though he might drop a little more. I guess Sammy is so long that I'm just going to have to breathe AFTER he is born. We'll have another ultrasound scan IF we make it to my due date. I am still amazed that we've made it this far. One thing that I am having a difficult time with is my mother constantly asking me when Sammy is going to come. Also, the influx of hormones is also difficult. Again, I say, poor Bill - he has to deal with a lot of crying.

We'll see the doctor again on Wednesday. Keep you updated...

Teesa's Belly

Teesa's Belly
Originally uploaded by Bowlomeat.

37 weeks 2 days and counting! Only 18 days left.

Bill and I took my mother to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch and then we saw a movie afterwards. We bought a nice pillow at Ikea before the movie, so I had something to rest my big HIGH belly on during the two hours of "The Devil Wears Prada."

I had a few lightheaded spells while I was out, but did well otherwise. Bill and I can't believe how close we are! Look at that belly! It's so high - I can't wait for him to drop and stop playing with my ribs. The doctor said his head is very low, but I guess he hasn't completely dropped yet. When I look at that picture, I am surprised by how large I look. Almost like I have a soccer ball hidden under my dress!

We'll keep you updated.

Ante-natal Classes

We finally started our prenatal classes on Tuesday. It's about time, since we've been in the hospital getting ready to give birth on so many occasions already. We are taking two days worth of private lessons and today is our last one.

Bill and I learned a lot about birth during the first lesson. Apparently there's a lot of information out there that women just don't talk about. I'm not sure that we even heard all of it, but I do know that we feel so much better now that we've got some idea of what to expect.

I have decided I don't want an epidural, unless absolutely necessary. Now, before you scoff at me and say that's crazy, I DO want medicine, just not the epidural. There are other options out there - like a morphine-type drug and gas. I'm not trying to do this the "natural" way, just the simple way, which will lead to less complications in the end. I know everyone has their opinions about it, but I don't really feel strongly one way or another - so if you give me your opinion it won't sway me. We've made our decision and I'll let you know what I choose in the end (no pun intended).

Hospital nights

I spent yet another night in labor and delivery last night. Fortunately, this time I was at a private hospital where they treated me like a person and not just one of many cattle being herded through. We are so grateful to the Lord for allowing us to move to the private sector here in Hong Kong.

I started having some strange sharp pains in my lower abdomen yesterday and my doctor suggested I go in to the hospital for monitoring. While I was there I had a mama-jama contraction, that was actually two back-to-back and lasted about 4 minutes. It was quite painful and the nurses got really upset. They ended up keeping me overnight so they could monitor me. I am still not progressing towards labor though, which is fantastic. I have another 6 days before I am considered full-term (at 37 weeks on Sunday). Bill even got to spend the night with me - he slept in a Lazy Boy. It was great to have him by my side.


We have 26 days left till Sammy's due date!


I was released this morning and told to resume normal activities (which is resting a lot and maybe a two-hour trip out each day). Bill and I finally start our pre-natal classes tomorrow. We'll be able to figure out what kind of birth plan to make and what is really going to happen. It seems strange to be this late in the pregnancy before learning this stuff, but I've been on bedrest and couldn't set up long enough to take the classes.

Meanwhile, we're still playing Monopoly with my mother and she's still hanging around, despite my laughing incessantly when she lands on my property and has to give me lots of money. Patient lady, she is.

Keep praying for Sammy to stay in until the Lord calls him out.

My Mother the Grandmother

Well, today my mother officially had a taste of what being a grandmother will be like. Bill finally bought a Baby Bjorn baby carrier today. He had to try on a ton until he finally found one that will fit his tall 6'5" frame. Good ol' Mr. Tallhead. I made my mother try it on to see if she could work it.

Here is my mother's progress...

Just wait till there's a baby in that thing! I told her a couple times today that he would have fallen on his head had he been in there. The #6 picture is especially funny to me because I was laughing so hard I couldn't help her and she had to get up to ask Bill to help her.

My mother got the privilege of babysitting for some friends of ours today. Our friend's child is still a toddler and my mother thought it would be funny to do some magic with her. She pretended that she pulled a Cheerio from behind Elizabeth's ear and Elizabeth spent the rest of their time trying to put Cheerios back in!

I can't wait (and am a little anxious) to see how Mom handles Samuel. This is going to be a grand adventure for everyone involved...

Still waiting

We are still here in Hong Kong, and have been here for six weeks tomorrow. It doesn't seem like it's been that long, but on the other hand, it seems like just yesterday when we arrived. Little Sam is kicking like crazy - I had heard that the bigger they get the softer their kicks are because there's no room left. Well, he is definitely defying all logic and when I look down at my belly it's like there's an alien in there! I'm thrilled to know that he's healthy and strong, but my muscles are absolutely killing me. I haven't slept in who-knows-how-long and my belly feels very stiff when I get up in the mornings.

However, our opinions haven't changed at all - we prayed for four and a half years for this child and we are grateful to God, our Provider, for giving him to us. What a blessing!

My mother is here in Hong Kong with us, a real necessity when we first arrived. Bill isn't useless in the kitchen, but he certainly does need help, so my mother has graciously offered her services. She has been making us some great comfort foods like beef stroganoff and spaghetti a-la-Sandra. What a real treat. I have definitely gained weight (and so has Sammy) since she's been here. I've already grown an inch around my belly since my mother arrived five weeks ago.

Some friends of ours are in town too and we have enjoyed eating meals with them. I am allowed out on short excursions now and we have been taking advantage of the Webels being here so we can join them (at restaurants like Ruby Tuesdays and Outback Steakhouse).

Bill has been a real support during this time. He seems to be able to take all the hormones I throw at him in stride. He's a real "troopa." What a man of God he has shown himself to be. I am so proud to call him the Love of my life.

Enough sappy stuff. On with the resting...and waiting...