Special requests again

OK, I need stuff from the states. I am 100% serious about this too. If anyone is willing and able we need 2 things.

Carnation Instant Breakfast Classic French Vanilla. I have only seen it in packets in a box but it could also be in canisters.

Quaker Mini Delights Buttered Popcorn

My Mom usually keeps me stocked with the instant breakfast but Sami has one of these daily and we keep running out. So please if you can send some, I will paypal you or send you a check. If you need my address, email me or leave a comment.

Pregnancy news

I found out last week that I have preeclampsia. My blood pressure was high at my last appointment so they sent me to labor and delivery to get monitored. Everything was normal there but they ordered a 24 hour urine test to see if I was spilling protein which is the main sign of preeclampsia. I had to keep my pee in the fridge in a big jug for 24 hours. Sean was very happy about that.

Anyway, now I have to go every Tuesday and Friday for nonstress tests. They hook me up to a fetal heartbeat monitor, contraction monitor, and blood pressure monitor and then I get to sit there til they tell me I can go. They also do an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid levels. On Friday all was well. They made me get steroid shots on Friday and Saturday to help mature the babies lungs incase she comes early.

I am not on bedrest but limited activity. I was told not to stand or walk for long periods and not carry or lift anything heavy. This is proving to be quite the challenge with a demanding preschooler, a nursery that is certainly not finished, and a husband who has to work alot.

So cross your fingers, say a prayer, do a chant, whatever you all do, that Jillian stays put until after the first of May. I would really like that emerald.

31.5 weeks

I am huge! I still have like 7 weeks left (hopefully). I haven't actually gained that much weight though.

Easter 2008

We had a fun filled Easter weekend. On Friday we went and saw the Easter Bunny. Samantha actually sat on his lap even though I think the bunny is kinda psycho looking. On Saturday morning we colored our Easter eggs. In the afternoon we had an egg hunt with all the kids on the hill. Sunday was a rainy day so we stayed in mostly. After Sami looked at all her stuff from the Easter bunny, I went back to bed. Samantha and Sean went out to Starbucks and brought me some home. Hope everyone had a good Easter!

Sweet 16!

WVU men's basketball upset #2 ranked Duke to advance to the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament! Go Mountaineers!

Bunny House

We actually found a bunny house kit at the PX. Samantha had alot of funny decorating the house and eating most of the candy.

Birds and the bees...sort of

Samantha and I were driving home from the hospital today when she asked me if Izzie's (our neighbor) Mommy was going to have a baby sister in her belly. I told her not right now she isn't. She wanted to know how come. I mumbled something about I don't know. Well then Sami asked me how I got a baby sister in my belly. Oh no, here we go! I told her that Mommies have lots of little tiny eggs in their belly and they can sometimes turn into babies. That was the end of the conversation so I guess that was a good enough answer. How the heck do you tell a (almost) 4 year old how a baby gets in your belly?

Yen

The yen rate for this weekend SUCKS! It is 98 yen per dollar. When we moved here it was 119 yen per dollar. Our cost of living gets adjusted due to the yen rate. BUT they just lowered our COLA and they can't reevaluate it til Sunday. So we won't see a raise in COLA til next pay. I guess we won't be eating out in town this weekend. They might as well lock us up again.

Flower girl

Samantha loves loves loves to pick flowers. She can't get to and from the car anywhere without stopping to pick a flower. She even gets mad when I won't stop in the middle of traffic to let her pick flowers from the median.

Middle name help

OK we are still arguing about middle names for the baby. I think we decided that we don't really like the ones that were in the poll. So now we need suggestions. Jillian ? Hays. Leave me a comment with your suggestion.

Picture day

Samantha got her first school pictures taken today. She did great, followed directions, and gave some really sweet smiles. (I was spying.) This is her before school today.

We are unlocked!

Our lockdown is over! The funny thing is now I don't even want to go out in town. They made such a big stink that I almost don't want to give them my money. Americans were also being harassed when they were driving or if they were someplace else they had permission to be. I don't want to go out and get stared down until I am sure everyone knows we are allowed to be out and about.