Nikhil's Wedding in Montana

We went to our friend's wedding from Peace Corps this past weekend. I have never been to Montana! It is beautiful. Ben and I want to go back to Northern Idaho some day, too. We stayed at this really cool Tent and Breakfast, had a fun road trip with Amanda and Tyler, saw 4 moose, and hung out with good friends. This picture is of the Peace Corps Nepal crew... we didn't get the groom, Nikhil, in there, though!

Paralyzed Dog, Leg Cramps and Veterinary Predictions

The day after our wonderful shower we woke up to Rana, our dog, not being able to move her back legs. She is a very athletic 4 year old with no known injuries! She is such a pampered pup and the three of us were terribly traumatized. We discovered that she had a herniated disk that caused a blood clot in her spine which caused her paralysis. She had emergency back surgery and came home two days later. We have a sling to hold up her back end while we take her out to the bathroom, etc. She is rapidly regaining movement in her hind legs but does not have strength or coordination. The doctor feels positive she will regain all of her movement back. He said this was probably caused because she is so active. So, once she is better (90 days or so) she will not be going on anymore long runs!

We took Rana to the vet to have her staples removed from her incision. The vet asked when I was due and when I told him september he gave my belly a sideways glance and said he thinks the doctor was wrong about the date. His prediction is the baby is comin' in August. Glad I am huge.

Finally, the other night I was dreaming I was eating this yummy potato salad that Ben made (everything is about food these days) and I received my first LEG CRAMP. OH MY GOD. I started screaming and flung myself across the bed and, ultimately, off of it - I don't think I actually opened my eyes until I was holding on to the bed for dear life. Ben woke up to his pregnant wife yelling and hanging off the side of the bed. He freaked out because he thought I had fallen coming back from the bathroom. All I could do was gasp, "Leg Cramp! Leg Cramp!" My sweet husband started massaging the opposite leg and then realized that my calf was so tense that veins were popping out and he started massaging that one... as it relaxed I slowly pulled myself back onto the bed and fell asleep. Thank goodness our bed is low to the floor or I may not have been able to hold on to the side for as long as I did.

Ben Nesting at 30 weeks and 6 days

I made pancakes and watermelon juice this morning. Our juicer wouldn't work. These photos are of me making pancakes and Ben taking the juicer apart to remove the broken safety valve so we could make juice. There is also a photo of him making juice... we are hoping to disconnect all safety features in the house before we have a child.

Baby Shower and Outie Debut!

On Saturday my parents, mother in law, sister in law, best friend from 2nd grade, and wonderful close friend from Tucson threw Ben and I shower. It was so much fun. They had a "Golden Pig" theme in honor of the Chinese Year of the Boar and Golden Pig. As you can see, my sister in law made a DELICIOUS pig cake. She is so talented. I have never really paid attention to how generous and thoughtful people are to new parents. I am so grateful and amazed at how many people came and the gifts we received. We are both still in shock from the thoughtfulness of our friends and family. If any of you are reading this now, thank you so much and it was wonderful to see you. I love parties!

My friend and former neighbor who lives in Seattle asked me to post a full-body shot with the belly. I just woke up and took this but it is pretty acccurate as to what I look like right now!

I am also taking the time to debut my outie belly button. See!

Top Ten Reasons Why Pregnant Women Are Not At Their Most Beautiful

10. Throwing up anytime, anything, anywhere (including on yourself)
9. Either grow a ton of body hair or you don't grow any at all
8. Get fat and can't/shouldn't do anything about it
7. Lose all self control when eating
6. Get pimples and/or dark blemish-like skin discolorations
5. Increased gas
4. Halitosis caused by hormones and increased mucus
3. Constipation and Hemroids
2. Threat of stretch marks and varicose veins
1. Colostrum (liquid that starts leaking out of boobs)

Who has seen KNOCKED UP?

Okay. I just saw Knocked Up yesterday... the movie that just came out about the couple that had a one night stand and ended up pregnant. The movie is all about pregnancy and it is pretty accurate. All of the emotions, conversations, reactions, etc that both the woman and the man had were right on... my favorites were the sex scene and the "fat cow" scene... it is ALL true. The part that disturbed me the most was the birth scene. Of course I know it is going to hurt... yada yada yada... what disturbed me was the "crowning". I know that something larger than my vaginal opening is going to force its way out... but... I didn't realize what it would look like. Before I saw the movie, I just thought that my vaginal opening would part like the red sea (ew) all peaceful and widening to make way for the baby... but... I didn't know that it would look like one of those rubber money purses (the ones with a slit down the middle that you squeeze to get the coins out) with something the size of a basketball pushing against it and TURNING IT INSIDE OUT! Honestly, I was crying in the movie theatre. I was laughing and crying at the same time... I got control of myself.. but I really think when you go to your medical provider and tell them that you are going off birth control they should be honest with you about WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR BODY. If I had seen that scene before we got pregnant... I wouldn't be getting pregnant any time soon. I'd get much more information about what will actually happen. I mean, I always thought I was pretty well informed but I had to go to a blockbuster movie at a theatre 29 weeks pregnant (no turning back now) to find out. I was crying. Really... tears running down my face.

Ben turned to me last night after we got home and asked for permission to not watch the live birth film that we are going to watch at our Birthing Class. He said after seeing that shocking preview of what is going to happen to my body that he would prefer to go into birth blind so he doesn't have to know that it will get worse than what he is seeing at the time. I gave him permission and told him to promise to stay at my top end during birth... I don't want his perception of my vagina to be tainted by birth.

27.5 week belly button update

Well, I keep meaning to post some pictures from our trip into New Mexico's Gila Wilderness but life has been so hectic with work! I do want to do a quick update on the belly button...

So, for a while now my belly button has been flat and it has looked like a round scar on my belly. Ben and I have been eargerly waiting for it to pop out. On Monday I had to pee so badly and I waddled to the bathroom and was so excited to see that my belly button was out! YAY! Finally! I sat down to do #1, all the while admiring my new outie, and I my jaw slowly dropped as my belly button slowly deflated to a flat belly button at the same rate that I was peeing!

Fortunately, the next day my belly button found its way out again and seems to be staying out... how far it portrudes does vary on how full my stomach or bladder is, though. So weird.

As of 26.5 weeks I have gained 21 lbs... Yikes!

More later...