Upon Baby's Arrival

I feel like I need to have something profound or memorable to say here, given that we're going to be first time parents in a very short amount of time. But I think the only thing that really resounds through my mind and heart, despite the entrance to a grand, unknown world, is that our focus is still to remain on the Lord.

I'm so appreciative of the baby shower that the sisters, aunties and mothers put together for me and 2 other expectant mothers last month. They shared with me so much, and the main thing that I walked away with is simply that while the focus may be on the labor, delivery, baby, my health, etc etc etc for awhile, we cannot ever lose sight of Who is actually the center and attention of our lives: our Jesus.

People are grinning and asking if we're ready for the sleep deprivation, if we have everything we need, when our mothers and families will be coming, if we need any help, and we're so thankful for all their love and support. And during all these changes, it's the greatest comfort to know that we can still cast all our cares upon the shoulders of our Heavenly Father.

I'm still amazed that it's been 9 months. I can only bow my head and worship Him.

Beth, may you be a life in which our Lord Jesus can find rest and health. May your heart be a place where Jesus is satisfied, where He is the Head of the home, and through you bring much blessing to all those around you. That's Mom's prayer for you in all these days before you arrive!

May 8, 2010; roughly 2 months into conception

25 weeks along, staying at the Wei's after arriving in Houston from Seattle

Now in new apartment, it's a hot Texan summer and baby is at 29 weeks

Family portrait session in the bathroom again! 38 weeks!

Yes, we are nose-scrunchers.

And we have a hard time being serious.

Mom's ready. Dad's ready. Bethany, we're excited to see you!

And Lord, she belongs to You.

2-3 more weeks left!

We're getting close!!

Ultrasound, NST and OB visit today and all went well! Baby is estimated to be at about 6 lbs, 1 oz, in the 49th percentile. We're right on track.  For everyone's well-being, we still may expect Bethany to be home a little bit before Christmas. Her head is already in the downward position. So she IS kicking me in the ribs with her feet!

I'm now having slight Braxton-Hicks contractions which are very manageable. I've been dilated about 1 cm since last week, and feeling okay. Trying to get some amount of walking and moving around done each day, though I have to say, I still like to get +10 hrs of sleep each night. My joints in my hands are pretty stiff when I wake up in the morning, but I honestly don't have much complaints. I'm very thankful that this has been an overall easy pregnancy.

The preparation of having Bethany come has been an interesting experience. We're looking forward with lots of excitement and anticipation, yet that exact time seems quite elusive. We know she's coming, but when is the big question! Isn't it very much similar to our preparation now for the return of our Lord? Then when the time gets closer and closer, there will be more and more signs. Right now my body is naturally gearing up with the "false" contractions and as time gets closer, it will be more regular, more closely spaced, etc, etc.

Our God is a very practical One huh? He shows us spiritual principles and truths in such real ways that we can relate to. I'm glad He does that, otherwise it'll be hard for us simple-minded ones to understand such an awesome God.

Bethany hiccups EVERY day.

We thank the Lord for all the love, prayers, support and advice that friends and family have been giving us. We're incredibly blessed to be surrounded with such help and love. May the Lord bless you!!

Healthy eating makes for healthy mom & baby

I failed the 3 hour glucose test, though I don't know by how much exactly yet. I'll ask specifics at my next OB visit in 3 days. I was informed that I have to test myself 4 times a day to monitor where my glucose levels are: fasting when I wake up in the morning and 2 hours after every meal. It seems like a lot, but after a few days, the routine of it really isn't so bad. While I was fairly careful about what I ate during the first 6-7 months, I've definitely been more careful since this latest news.

While I do miss having rice, noodles, bread and my biggest temptation: easy mac, I don't mind keeping hunger at bay by simply eating healthier snacks throughout the day. (Carbs are okay in very small and limited quantities though.)
Cottage cheese with small amount of jam and fruit, string cheese, rice cakes, wheat crackers, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, etc all do the trick in tying me over until the next meal.  Some exercise and brisk walking has helped a bit too.

31.5 wks

My levels since testing myself starting this past week have all been very normal. Thank the Lord!

It's a happy feeling knowing that while I'm doing good for my own health, Bethany is growing well and starting off healthy too.

There doesn't seem like there's anything too exciting to report, but it is a bit daunting when the numbers hit us over the head... we're going to meet this little girl of ours in 7 weeks. I need to get going packing my hospital bag! We've toured the Women's Hospital here and the facility is very nice. It's only a 5 minute drive away!


Caleb's work has been going well and some big projects are coming down the pike soon. He'll be busier when all that gets clarified, but he's definitely enjoying the work. He has clinic twice a week and the doctors, the advisors and mentors couldn't be a better fit for where we're at right now. Our Lord certainly places the right people in our lives at the right time. :)

It's finally starting to feel like fall here in Houston. I relish the very few cloudy days, the rain, and am terribly happy at temperatures in the low 70s and upper 60s. It would be nice to see some leaves with different colors, but there just aren't that many trees to have leaves with different colors around here!

May the Lord keep us strong and healthy in body, soul and spirit so that we can live to the very fullest for His glory, testimony and service!

Meanwhile, we're all trying hard to catch more zzzzzz's before Beth comes... :)

Polo with his 2 most favorite items in the whole wide world!

Which week is this?

It's slightly on the annoying side that I chalk it up to "pregnancy brain"... but without Caleb's iphone app, I can't seem to remember exactly which week I'm at. I think I'm at week 32... roughly 9 more weeks to go!

We're praying that my 3-hr glucose test tomorrow goes well, that we keep gestational diabetes at bay! Meanwhile, I'm trying to do my part in cutting down a bit of the sugar, carbs and adding in more exercise.

Bethany's movements are still there and quite strong, and I'm glad for her rest & sleep cycles. Gives me a bit of a break. :)

Work for Caleb is going well and by His grace the draft of the first paper has been submitted to the doctor.

It's still a bit too sunny for my "clouds 'n rain" habit of Seattle, but I'm thankful that it's not like how it was back in August & September!

For pics on the apt, see here:

Apartment Pictures

In terms of lessons we're learning, it's about waiting on the Lord. While we expect and know He will give an answer, it's also such a blessing (in disguise at times) to know that it's a process of being drawn closer to Himself. He will provide and lead the way forward (more specifically regarding residency) when it is His good time.

Blessings!

El Mundo but not el mundo

El Mundo is "the world" in Spanish. We're learning to live in and on El Mundo, but not be of "el mundo." :)

We're moved in, thank the Lord! The movers arrived last Tuesday 09/28. Despite some "minor" things, we consider ourselves very blessed that everything arrived and in fairly good condition. We heard some horror stories about other cross-country moves and balk at the horrendous services that "professional" movers provide. Our earthly possessions are here and we're thankful.

I'm now working on the last set of office things. Taking my time and glad we're nearing the end of all this packing/unpacking business.

Our initiation into the state of Texas was the vehicle registration and drivers' licensing process. It took us nearly 4 hours or so and a nice bite out of our pocket book! Caleb grinned in his new license picture (probably 'cause he was glad that we were nearly done), while mine looks more like I'm about to cry. Let's just say that maybe it was the hormones. :P

The transition has been tough for Polo. Our 5 year old Maltese boy had his first cross-country road trip in the hot sun, got shocked a few times by a shock collar at motels and got sick twice after eating things he should not have eaten while staying at two families' homes. He finally arrived at his new home yesterday and we realized that he still had a terrible stomach ache from the day before. I'm happy to report he's doing better today.

Our next task is to find primary care providers, a new OB doc as well as a pediatrician for Bethany. We're now officially in the 3rd trimester! She's getting bigger and we're excited to meet the lil' active girl.

Today is also Caleb's first day of work! It's likely several hours of orientation stuff, but we're incredibly thankful for this new start. It's been a bit of an anxious journey not knowing exactly what to expect, but we trust that in all things, He's got the best lessons and plans to continue this work of molding us more into His image.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God Who is our salvation.
Psalm 68:19

Wedding + Roadtrip

What a wonderful past weekend! God again proves Himself to be One Who answers prayers. We're thankful for such a beautiful wedding for Stephen and Jen and can see that they're also great event planners. Bethany now has a wonderful aunt! Woohoo! :)

While it was a time of celebration, we packed in (pun not intended) the last of our move from Bellevue. The movers finally got everything loaded up into the truck by 1:30-2 am Sunday morning. We left early for the airport so that Mom could get back to Portland in time to pick up food for the love feast. It was an uneventful flight back to Houston. It was a bit of an odd feeling that we went from "home" back to "home." I suppose as long as we're "home" in the Lord, we're simply travelers on this earth anyway!

After resting up a bit, we decided to take advantage of our time before Caleb starts work. We drove to Galveston and visited the Moody Gardens Aquarium and then walked the historic downtown district on the Strand for a daytrip. Seeing some pictures of what Hurricane Ike did back in 2009 was incredible. We had some BlueBell ice cream (yum!!) and bought a bottle of award-winning raspberry chipotle sauce. I haven't had time to try it yet, but I'll let y'all know.

Driving into Galveston, which is basically an island, though connected by land a little further south. Notice the dark clouds overhead!

A bit smudgy here, but it was one of the largest rainfalls we'd ever been in, or drove through as we saw the Gulf of Mexico.

After visiting the aquarium for about 2 hours, everything cleared up. The tourist attractions here at Moody Gardens are built as these glass pyramid buildings. It was fun and I'd recommend it!

Our prayers are now with Stephen and Jen as they make their way from Seattle/Portland down to Corpus Christi by car. May the Lord keep them safe and grant them an enjoyable trip!

Apartment living

It was truly Providence that we were able to drive by the new house on a Sunday evening during Labor Day weekend. We saw for ourselves what the neighborhood actually looks like during an evening and got to take a look at the likes of our new neighbors. That's when we realized that it was not the place for us. Not only did we have a very unsettled feeling, but a lack of peace and security when we drove through Merganser Drive. While it was very disappointing, we're thankful that we found this out before it was too late.

Back to square one.

We hoped to still purchase a house in a better neighborhood and every night at dinner we'd ask elderly Brother & Sister Wei and Stephen about different areas in Houston. We learned a lot about the demographics, school districts, freeways and traffics. Good to know now rather than later.

After looking around at our price range in Sugar Land and realizing that we really couldn't afford something even on the side of small and new, it would be best to rent first. We would be more certain about our whereabouts once residency is secured as well. That way we won't be tied into real estate fluctuations either.

So we looked into renting an apartment that would be suitable. And long story short, we're now about 1-2 blocks away from Reliant Stadium, in a complex with mostly medical students & staff, close to quite a few brothers & sisters from church, and at a newer, fully upgraded facility. Our new place is on the first floor (yay, less stairs for me to climb!), accepts pets, AND has a shuttle that's door to door for Caleb that's only a 20 minute ride to his work.

Thank the Lord that despite a setback, He's still prepared what is best for us.

Welcomed correction: we're now going to be located in 2-3 weeks on El Mundo Road. :)