1. When you finally have access through your proxy, take advantage. Just because it works right now doesn't mean it will tomorrow (or even in 30 minutes).
2. When a Chinese doctor tells you everything is normal, they just don't want you to worry. They may actually be concerned and surprise you two months later when they wan to run a bunch of tests. (Don't worry, everything looks like it's okay. This new doctor just seems to be more conservative.)
3. Every Chinese doctor is different. What one tells you the other might directly disagree with. However, it seems they all agree I'm about to have a big baby.
4. My baby girl is estimated to be well over 8 lbs already. I'm only 38 weeks.
5. Plane ticket prices change every 5 minutes.
6. Moving, trying to buy plane tickets to America, finishing work and grading, and having a baby makes a very complicated and busy few weeks. Jia you!
7. Just because someone is due well after you doesn't mean you'll have the baby first. Congrats Emily and Nathan!
8. Even at 25 years old, you sometimes just need your mommy. Only four more days!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
And again...
Today I'm home sick...again. I can't believe how many times I've gotten sick this year! I know they say pregnancy lowers your immune system, but what always surprises me is how quickly and out of the blue it comes over me. I had a rather calm week last week with no students, I got lots of rest over the weekend, there's not a rash of illnesses going through the school that I know of, and nobody else close to me is sick either. Where did this come from? I feel so healthy the rest of the time, and overall I've had a great pregnancy.
My husband is sweet though. I got up at the normal time (okay, a few minutes late) and began getting ready as I tried to decide the best course of action to take for the day. As it became clear I would not be making it to work today, and I had made the necessary phone calls to inform pertinent people, I gave up on looking presentable. Instead, I stayed in my bathrobe, pulled my hair back, and worked to help Nathan get out the door on time.
Nothing fancy today for breakfast, I just reheated some pancakes I had cooked over the weekend and spread them with butter and jam. But as I handed them to Nathan at the door, he smiled and said, "I know you're sick, but you just look so cute. Bathrobe, belly sticking out the front, handing me my breakfast. Just add a toddler on the hip and this is from three years down the road." I looked down at my white socked feet and laughed. Let me tell you, only one in love could think this sick body was anywhere close to cute. I love my husband.
My husband is sweet though. I got up at the normal time (okay, a few minutes late) and began getting ready as I tried to decide the best course of action to take for the day. As it became clear I would not be making it to work today, and I had made the necessary phone calls to inform pertinent people, I gave up on looking presentable. Instead, I stayed in my bathrobe, pulled my hair back, and worked to help Nathan get out the door on time.
Nothing fancy today for breakfast, I just reheated some pancakes I had cooked over the weekend and spread them with butter and jam. But as I handed them to Nathan at the door, he smiled and said, "I know you're sick, but you just look so cute. Bathrobe, belly sticking out the front, handing me my breakfast. Just add a toddler on the hip and this is from three years down the road." I looked down at my white socked feet and laughed. Let me tell you, only one in love could think this sick body was anywhere close to cute. I love my husband.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Chinese Earthquake
I wanted to post a quick note to everyone that both Nathan and I are fine. Many people in the states are hearing about the most recent Chinese earthquake that took place in Qing Hai province. Qing Hai is VERY far away from Qing Dao, however Nathan is currently traveling on a school trip to a small city just 400 miles away from the epicenter. Thankfully the shocks must have gone in a different direction as they did not feel even a tremor of the 6.9 earthquake.
Please think of the victims and survivors of the earthquake. The closest town (and hardest hit) estimates that 85% of its buildings were destroyed. Around 70,000 people live in the village and so there are now many homeless. The death toll continues to rise and there are still many buried in the debris. As the town is so remote at 13,000 feet above sea level, they are having difficulty getting help and supplies into the region.
Praise Him that the school trip did not feel a thing and is having a great time hiking and seeing the beautiful views of the Tibetan plateau!
Please think of the victims and survivors of the earthquake. The closest town (and hardest hit) estimates that 85% of its buildings were destroyed. Around 70,000 people live in the village and so there are now many homeless. The death toll continues to rise and there are still many buried in the debris. As the town is so remote at 13,000 feet above sea level, they are having difficulty getting help and supplies into the region.
Praise Him that the school trip did not feel a thing and is having a great time hiking and seeing the beautiful views of the Tibetan plateau!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A few more pics
Back when we first were accepted to the company (actually, we were still waiting for the final acceptance) and we traveled to NY for training, we were told we were slated for Shenyang. Also on the new team for Shenyang was Nathan and Emily Forrest. We had fun that week getting mixed up (the Forrests and the Greenes, the two Nathans). In fact, one person still calls me Emily by accident when he comes to visit Qingdao.
Anyways, we immediately hit it off and had fun hanging out together for the couple of weeks. I can't really remember why, but Emily and I began to joke about the possibility of being baby buddies one day. I thought it was hilarious that we could both have boys, we could name ours "Forrest Greene" and they could name theirs "Gruene Forrest" (Gruene is a German name pronounced 'green') While I was thrilled to be switched to the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao, I was sad to leave these two new friends behind. Luckily our company has lots of company wide activities and Emily and I have had the chance to meet up a couple of times a year.
So when I became pregnant at the beginning of this year, I began wondering how Emily was doing. We had drifted apart in communication and nothing on Facebook said much new-so I was surprised when a mutual friend of ours came back from a trip in Shenyang and told me Emily was pregnant-and only two weeks behind us!
We finally were able to meet up and swap pregnancy stories a few weeks ago at the company Women's Retreat. Here's the pics!
Also, here's a few more pics for your enjoyment in case you don't have Facebook. We recently purchased our crib-and got a great deal from a family that's moving out of country! I am so excited to have been able to "nest" even a little bit.
Anyways, we immediately hit it off and had fun hanging out together for the couple of weeks. I can't really remember why, but Emily and I began to joke about the possibility of being baby buddies one day. I thought it was hilarious that we could both have boys, we could name ours "Forrest Greene" and they could name theirs "Gruene Forrest" (Gruene is a German name pronounced 'green') While I was thrilled to be switched to the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao, I was sad to leave these two new friends behind. Luckily our company has lots of company wide activities and Emily and I have had the chance to meet up a couple of times a year.
So when I became pregnant at the beginning of this year, I began wondering how Emily was doing. We had drifted apart in communication and nothing on Facebook said much new-so I was surprised when a mutual friend of ours came back from a trip in Shenyang and told me Emily was pregnant-and only two weeks behind us!
We finally were able to meet up and swap pregnancy stories a few weeks ago at the company Women's Retreat. Here's the pics!
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| From Pregnancy |
 |
| From Pregnancy |
Also, here's a few more pics for your enjoyment in case you don't have Facebook. We recently purchased our crib-and got a great deal from a family that's moving out of country! I am so excited to have been able to "nest" even a little bit.
 |
| From Pregnancy |
 |
| From Pregnancy |
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Yellow Watermelon
Our Ayi has been buying, washing, and cutting up fruit for us since I got pregnant, which has been a huge blessing! It is so much easier to get your vitamins when they're all prepared for you!
Sometimes she brings home new fruits we've never heard of or seen, and a couple of weeks ago, this was it. The name is literally, "yellow melon from the west" (regular watermelon is called "western melon"), but I've never seen it in the west! I was a little worried to try it out. It is so florescent I was wondering what kind of hormones/chemicals/biohazards they created it with :-) However, the taste is nearly identical to a regular watermelon, maybe just a little sweeter. The texture is the same too, the only annoying part is that it is riddled with about twice as many and smaller black seeds than a regular watermelon. Regardless, we love it as a treat to snack on after a long day at work.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Sick...
Being sick stinks. Being sick and pregnant stinks even more. Being sick while pregnant, with grades due and missing your favorite little person's b-day is truly awful. I'm not feeling so cheery about life right now I guess.
I've run a slight fever pretty much all day. I've spent the day alternating between watching Nathan play Wii Mario Kart and trying to grade. Even being on Facebook has been too exhausting. (I recently took some tylenol though and thought I found enough energy to make a quick post--it's waning quickly). Unfortunately sleep has generally alluded me. Could be the whole body pain. I've even been waking up early in the morning from it. Yuck.
Go away flu!
I've run a slight fever pretty much all day. I've spent the day alternating between watching Nathan play Wii Mario Kart and trying to grade. Even being on Facebook has been too exhausting. (I recently took some tylenol though and thought I found enough energy to make a quick post--it's waning quickly). Unfortunately sleep has generally alluded me. Could be the whole body pain. I've even been waking up early in the morning from it. Yuck.
Go away flu!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Laugh of the Day
So I'm home sick today, and while not sleeping I've been catching up on what my little 30 1/2 week bun in the oven is up to. Along the way I came across this cartoon and it made me smile :-)
To find more amusing comics the website is here:
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/cartoons/cartoon32
To find more amusing comics the website is here:
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/cartoons/cartoon32
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