I had my first sonogram on Wednesday and as always it was an experience. First of all this is the coldest it has been in Nanchang in 10 years. Thankfully we stayed at a hotel Tuesday night to get a hot shower and just defrost so the hospital was basically across the street. My dear friend Tracy is an intern at the hospital and works with OB/GYN (although her major has something to do with tumors and surgery). I have asked her to help me in hopes that she will be able to be by side during this experience of being pregnant in China.
She met me in the lobby of the hospital and guided me through a back door and into another building. There is no heat in the hospitals so we stayed bundled up as we made our way to the little room on the 10th floor where a technicians sits all day in front of an ultrasound machine. There was someone in when we arrived so we waited a few minutes then we were called in. I know the drill so I had already drank several bottles of water and my bladder was very full. The technician didn't seem very happy : ( but she was very good. Almost instantly she found my womb and the little baby nestled within. I said thank you, searched my pockets for tissue to wipe off the gel that was all over my belly, and was out of there as quickly as I entered.
She wrote up a little paper rendering the results that said she indeed saw the heartbeat! I was happy about that - but within in minutes I was back on the crowded street shuffling back to the hotel.
That was it - no doctor, no questions, nothing - just a sonogram.
This should be interesting...
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
2 Little Lines
I should have invested in pregnancy test companies many years ago. I must have taken 100 to date. The ones here in China are a little more like a science experiment and since they only cost $1.50 it is a little more reasonable to buy one for the sake of buying one.
While in Hong Kong we had our share of troubles - from me getting the flu, trying to get Mackie home, to Matt getting a hernia and having to have surgery. Our 4 day excursion turned into a 3 and half week ordeal. Toward the end of our stay I was laying down with Gracie and started thinking ab0ut the date. After counting up all the days on my fingers a couple of times I decided I was definitely a couple of days late. While Gracie was napping I slipped down to the pharmacy and purchased a pregnancy test and without giving myself away I went straight to the bathroom and took it. I really doubted any startling results so I didn't even pay very close attention (like I used to back in the days when we were waiting for Gracie - I'd stare at the strip of plastic for 3 minutes , then leave it on the bathroom counter and come back later for a second glance just in case.) You can imagine my surprise when I glanced down and saw two lines. WOW!
So I slowly opened the bedroom door where Matt was recovering from surgery and motioned for him to come out. After a few minutes I threw my arms around his neck and told him "congratulations! You did it!" Yes, he was also very happy.
That day I had a lot to be thankful for... God really loves us. He really does protect us too. When I first arrived in HK I had a doctor's appointment and he ordered a CT scan of my sinuses. When I went to get the CT scan I was asked to sign a waiver stating that I wasn't pregnant and that I had been warned of the dangers the scan could have on an unborn child. Of course that was right in the middle of my cycle so I had no way of knowing for sure. I pulled out my cell phone and checked the calendar and after counting once and then twice I decided it was highly unlikely that I was pregnant (1 or 2 days if at all). They asked me to call my doctor and he said, "tell them to just do it! You're not pregnant" So I told them. They proceeded to ask me to sign the waiver and I began to feel really uneasy. When they called me back the technician asked again, "Are you sure you aren't pregnant?" I told her of course I wasn't sure because there was no way to know. She was acting so strange and I asked her what she would do. She said she wouldn't do it. Then she said she wanted to ask their doctor there. He came out and talked to me and said he didn't think I should do it. OK! Well my doctor was more than little perturb, but what could he do? 2 weeks later I thought back to that day and just couldn't stop praising the Lord for protecting our child. I am still praising Him for his goodness.
Reminds of this weeks memory verse: "I am still confident in this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14
While in Hong Kong we had our share of troubles - from me getting the flu, trying to get Mackie home, to Matt getting a hernia and having to have surgery. Our 4 day excursion turned into a 3 and half week ordeal. Toward the end of our stay I was laying down with Gracie and started thinking ab0ut the date. After counting up all the days on my fingers a couple of times I decided I was definitely a couple of days late. While Gracie was napping I slipped down to the pharmacy and purchased a pregnancy test and without giving myself away I went straight to the bathroom and took it. I really doubted any startling results so I didn't even pay very close attention (like I used to back in the days when we were waiting for Gracie - I'd stare at the strip of plastic for 3 minutes , then leave it on the bathroom counter and come back later for a second glance just in case.) You can imagine my surprise when I glanced down and saw two lines. WOW!
So I slowly opened the bedroom door where Matt was recovering from surgery and motioned for him to come out. After a few minutes I threw my arms around his neck and told him "congratulations! You did it!" Yes, he was also very happy.
That day I had a lot to be thankful for... God really loves us. He really does protect us too. When I first arrived in HK I had a doctor's appointment and he ordered a CT scan of my sinuses. When I went to get the CT scan I was asked to sign a waiver stating that I wasn't pregnant and that I had been warned of the dangers the scan could have on an unborn child. Of course that was right in the middle of my cycle so I had no way of knowing for sure. I pulled out my cell phone and checked the calendar and after counting once and then twice I decided it was highly unlikely that I was pregnant (1 or 2 days if at all). They asked me to call my doctor and he said, "tell them to just do it! You're not pregnant" So I told them. They proceeded to ask me to sign the waiver and I began to feel really uneasy. When they called me back the technician asked again, "Are you sure you aren't pregnant?" I told her of course I wasn't sure because there was no way to know. She was acting so strange and I asked her what she would do. She said she wouldn't do it. Then she said she wanted to ask their doctor there. He came out and talked to me and said he didn't think I should do it. OK! Well my doctor was more than little perturb, but what could he do? 2 weeks later I thought back to that day and just couldn't stop praising the Lord for protecting our child. I am still praising Him for his goodness.
Reminds of this weeks memory verse: "I am still confident in this, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Little Angel
One thing we desperately need in our city are a few very good playgrounds - there are at this moment zero traditional playgrounds outside, 2 indoor pay n play that are big and nice, and a few scattered around the city in KFC and McDonald's. So, one thing we love about Hong Kong is the playgrounds. Gracie does too! She got to swing for the first time this week and she absolutely loved it. Here's our little angel having a blast!
Swingin and slidin
Swingin and slidin
Hong Kong Revisited
Well enough has happened this week to produce a blog everyday, unfortunately I have been sick with the flu so I'll make it one blog and see what I can remember.
We got here the day after Christmas - me, Matt, Gracie and Matt's mom (Mackie). I have had some medical problems, mainly just some unidentified aches and pains, that need checking out, so that was the reason for our trip. Mackie was happy to finally get to Hong Kong so we thought we would enjoy the sights for her benefit. We did have several days of fun together. We went to the Peak and rode the ferry around the harbor. We ate at a few good places and they shopped while I went to a couple appointments. But then on Saturday I woke up with the dreaded flu. Before that day was out I had run a 102 fever, thrown up violently, and moaned my way to the doctor and back wondering if I could really make it. That's where my fun ended, so I'll tell you the dilema of the day.
Mackie is supposed to fly out of Beijing tomorrow morning, which means she'll need to get there tonight and stay in an airport hotel. We had this part all planned out before we got stuck in Hong Kong. With me being sick, Matt had at first decided to take Gracie and return with his mom to our home to retrieve her luggage then get her off to Beijing. I wasn't too happy about being left in HK alone, although I'm not literally alone since we know people here. But the worst of my bug was over so that was the plan, then Gracie woke up in the middle of the night with an earache. She screamed a long time and after 4-5 days of not holding her I finally took her in my arms which was the only thing that soothed her. This morning Matt took her over to a neighboring physician who checked her ears and said they were indeed red along with her throat and that we (meaning she) should not travel for a few more days. So, Mackie in on her own. Not kosher - I know, but I am not well enough to take care of Gracie and she can't fly... so what is there to do?
This was not the first of the issues. Matt and his mom spent several hours at the travel agent on the 31st trying to figure out what to do. We realized too late we had come on an unexpected trip to HK and Mackie would need a visa to get back into Beijing to get home. After a bunch of ideas they finally decided she was just going to have to stay for a few more days and pay the penalty to chance her ticket, go get another visa, and go home later. But then we discovered that she has a multi-entry visa... amazing! I have no idea why she has that kind of visa, but she does, so PTL! So it is back to plan A - Matt and Gracie to take her... but then Gracie gets sick. So off they went this morning to get a ticket for Mackie. Yesterday they were all closed for New Year! Problem! The latest flight out of our city to Beijing is 8, the first flight Mackie can make to our city doesn't arrive until 6:30 - so she doesn't have time to get from the airport to our house, pack her stuff, and get back to the airport for her flight. Then back to plan C - change the original flight - but they said there were no seats available until January 18! Finally we decided to do this...
I called our sweet nanny and friend - Fan Jie Mei, and asked her to go to our house, pack up Mackie's things and take them to the airport. Our friendly driver was asked to buy her a ticket to Beijing, pick up the nanny and meet Mackie too to give her the ticket. Just in case, my friend Lizzy agreed to go to out house too and help gather up all Mackie's stuff while I talk to her on the phone. She speaks English - PTL! So, Matt and Gracie are at this moment getting on a bus with Mackie to take her back to Shen Zhen, just over the border, so she can catch a flight back to our city. We are counting on the Lord to bring this plan together - it is pretty insane.
Me, I'm lounging on the couch trying not to spread too many germs. Gracie and I both have appointments tomorrow and hopefully we will finally get to go home ourselves in a few more days!
We got here the day after Christmas - me, Matt, Gracie and Matt's mom (Mackie). I have had some medical problems, mainly just some unidentified aches and pains, that need checking out, so that was the reason for our trip. Mackie was happy to finally get to Hong Kong so we thought we would enjoy the sights for her benefit. We did have several days of fun together. We went to the Peak and rode the ferry around the harbor. We ate at a few good places and they shopped while I went to a couple appointments. But then on Saturday I woke up with the dreaded flu. Before that day was out I had run a 102 fever, thrown up violently, and moaned my way to the doctor and back wondering if I could really make it. That's where my fun ended, so I'll tell you the dilema of the day.
Mackie is supposed to fly out of Beijing tomorrow morning, which means she'll need to get there tonight and stay in an airport hotel. We had this part all planned out before we got stuck in Hong Kong. With me being sick, Matt had at first decided to take Gracie and return with his mom to our home to retrieve her luggage then get her off to Beijing. I wasn't too happy about being left in HK alone, although I'm not literally alone since we know people here. But the worst of my bug was over so that was the plan, then Gracie woke up in the middle of the night with an earache. She screamed a long time and after 4-5 days of not holding her I finally took her in my arms which was the only thing that soothed her. This morning Matt took her over to a neighboring physician who checked her ears and said they were indeed red along with her throat and that we (meaning she) should not travel for a few more days. So, Mackie in on her own. Not kosher - I know, but I am not well enough to take care of Gracie and she can't fly... so what is there to do?
This was not the first of the issues. Matt and his mom spent several hours at the travel agent on the 31st trying to figure out what to do. We realized too late we had come on an unexpected trip to HK and Mackie would need a visa to get back into Beijing to get home. After a bunch of ideas they finally decided she was just going to have to stay for a few more days and pay the penalty to chance her ticket, go get another visa, and go home later. But then we discovered that she has a multi-entry visa... amazing! I have no idea why she has that kind of visa, but she does, so PTL! So it is back to plan A - Matt and Gracie to take her... but then Gracie gets sick. So off they went this morning to get a ticket for Mackie. Yesterday they were all closed for New Year! Problem! The latest flight out of our city to Beijing is 8, the first flight Mackie can make to our city doesn't arrive until 6:30 - so she doesn't have time to get from the airport to our house, pack her stuff, and get back to the airport for her flight. Then back to plan C - change the original flight - but they said there were no seats available until January 18! Finally we decided to do this...
I called our sweet nanny and friend - Fan Jie Mei, and asked her to go to our house, pack up Mackie's things and take them to the airport. Our friendly driver was asked to buy her a ticket to Beijing, pick up the nanny and meet Mackie too to give her the ticket. Just in case, my friend Lizzy agreed to go to out house too and help gather up all Mackie's stuff while I talk to her on the phone. She speaks English - PTL! So, Matt and Gracie are at this moment getting on a bus with Mackie to take her back to Shen Zhen, just over the border, so she can catch a flight back to our city. We are counting on the Lord to bring this plan together - it is pretty insane.
Me, I'm lounging on the couch trying not to spread too many germs. Gracie and I both have appointments tomorrow and hopefully we will finally get to go home ourselves in a few more days!
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