"Cat" Days of Summer

Well...I have been running around like crazy, trying to get back into the "Doha Groove"! As some of you may or may not have heard, getting back to Doha was no simple task. After canceled and delayed flights and an $80 cab ride from Washington Reagan to Dulles, I finally made it to the Qatar Airways flight and made it safely to Doha.

Macey ignored me for about 20 minutes! Michael had the house painted and now we have torn the house apart trying to make room for the baby. It is a disaster to say the least...and BTW-that would be by anyone's standards not just mine! ;-) So little by little, things are finding a new home...one day we will get there!

I of course started work as well which is why things aren't getting done as quickly as I would like. But they will sooner or later!

Oh, and yes, it is hot here!!!

25 Weeks

19.5 Weeks and Counting

We had an ultrasound this week. The baby is perfect! He/She had his/her hands in front of his/her face the whole time...of course!!! Enjoy the 4D images below!

Let the Fun Begin!

Michael and I have arrived safely in Chicago. We have been quite busy spending time with my family and of course shopping!

This week we went with my sister, nephews and nieces (though they brought friends so we didn't really see them) to Six Flags Great America. My nephew, Chase, was finally able to get on the roller coasters which he loved! We had a perfect day, the weather was pleasant and the park really wasn't crowded at all! I was the designated bag and refillable cotton candy tub and pop holder! We all had a great time!

Then we stayed overnight at an indoor water park and of course the next day it rained which was perfect! I am not sure who had more fun, Michael or my nephews!

Michael and I will soon be off to Houston!!!

School's Out For Summer!

Nothing beats the last day of school. Those of you who know me know that having to say goodbye to a wonderful group of kids, even though I wasn't there the whole year, was nothing less than a tearful celebration! While the school is home to a very talented group of educators, it is truly the students who make teaching there an unbelievable opportunity. Of course the downside to international teaching is watching the students and teachers come and go year after year, which again for me is so hard to handle. I don't think that I have enough tears to choose a life of international teaching, but it is a wonderful experience that many of my very talented colleagues from Pearland and Mobile should definitely investigate!

Well, that is about all I have done since my last post! Being pregnant and working has taken every once of energy I have. On the weekends, Michael and I hang out at the pool and SLEEP! We are now at 16.5 weeks! I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed.

The American Embassy of Qatar had an American Independence Day celebration on June 4 (instead of July because most of the Americans are gone in July). That was a lovely evening that we were fortunate to be part of!









Michael is currently in the states and I leave on Saturday! I can hardly wait! Of course that means that it is also time for Macey to pack up and go to Aunt Shelli's house! Shelli LOVES cats and Macey knew it instantly and felt very comfortable staying there for the month until Michael returns.

We are looking forward to seeing many of you very soon!

12 Weeks and Counting!

So we have finally made it past 12 weeks! We had our 12 week ultrasound on Wednesday and everything looks great. The baby was wiggling around so much that the doctor actually started laughing as he pleaded for him/her to be still so that he could get a measurement. At 12 weeks, they do a Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan to assess whether or not the baby is likely to have Down's Syndrome, and our baby passed the test with flying colors.

Michael was most surprised to see a formed hand, with fingers waving at us! While I was most surprised to see that the baby had flipped around since our last scan. I guess it is just strange to have something inside of you tumbling around, yet you can't feel it.

After our ultrasound, we went to dinner and then walked through the mall. I told Michael that I wanted to buy something for the baby. Of course those of you who know us well would not be surprised to hear that we bought a cradle! Of course it was on sale and a really could deal. So let the buying frenzy begin!

It's A...

...Boy or a Girl!!!If you haven't heard by now, Michael and I are expecting a baby on November 24!
We are almost 11 weeks and last week we were able to see our baby moving around, flailing his/her arms (Michael said, "Look, 'he's' a lefty!") and were able to see and hear a strong beating heart. I cannot even begin to thank those of you who have supported us through this difficult time. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends praying for our miracle.

So I guess this means Macey will now have to share the spotlight on the blog! She and Michael are wishin' for a rambunctious boy. While I am hopin' for a precious little girl! Mostly we are praying for a healthy baby!