Peace and Quiet

Hi all,

This morning I woke to the sound of brewing coffee, the faint aroma of aforementioned coffee, and a real sense of peace and quiet. That is such a long forgotten concept for me. I've since "puddled" as Sarah put it, and enjoyed every second of it. I can't remember the last time I had the opportunity to do this... Boy does it feel good!

Yesterday we bought a percolator which is responsible for the brew I'm now drinking, and it is different brew to simply putting it through a plunger - so I'm quietly happy with our purchase yesterday - especially since it was half price!

But there's something different about this morning - it's like I felt the world stop spinning, and the hustle and bustle of regular life was a distant memory. I felt like I connected with God more deeply than usual. Maybe it was the rising sun flickering through the trees, or the deep silence that can only occur at 6am in the morning. It felt really good. 

Sarah is feeling generally better than she did a month ago - still has off days like yesterday with nausea. But we are heading towards 11 weeks, and enjoying reading through www.whattoexpect.com, it is very informative, and gives a glimpse into what is going on inside. Oh hang on, 11 or 12? It's so easy to get ahead of yourself because its so tempting to look at the next week and before you know it your looking two weeks ahead by accident... Hang on I've just got to figure it out... OK, it will have been 11 full weeks, and we will be starting week 12 tomorrow (Wednesday). Wow - the first trimester is only a few short weeks from being history... it does happy all so fast - I remember thinking some time back - 9 months is a REALLY long time to know your pregnant and have to wait for the baby! Perhaps it will pass more quickly than I thought. 

Abe

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's amazing - we get to experience Christmas first in the world, and I'm only just wishing everyone a Merry Christmas - on our boxing day (26th of December). We are now at the 10 week stage of pregnancy, and Sarah is starting to feel less sick, but it does flare up from time to time. She's been VERY tired though - some days have been a real struggle for her to get out of bed! I really can't blame her for that - apparently our emby is going through a growth spurt at the moment :-)

We have flown up to my parents place for Christmas this year - the first time in many that I've had the time away from work to come up. I'm beginning to understand why many people really dislike Christmas - don't get me wrong - I'm no Christmas hater, but the stress of catering to the whims of families from both sides of the equation, not wanting to step on any ones toes, buying christmas gifts that everyone will appreciate (although I didn't get to do much of that - thanks Sarah for getting as much done as you did!), and dealing with the fact that many people feel that Christmas is more about family than anything else has started to take it's toll this year. Don't get me wrong - it's a great time to set aside to spend with family, but lets not forget that we wouldn't have Christmas without the real reason for the season - that God gave us his most special gift, Jesus. In TV programs and movies you always see the stress on people's faces, and the fact that they are forced to spend time with people they often don't get on with and make a big scene over it. It's just that I've never experienced a christmas like that up until this year. I've never been one to get too into playing mind games with what I say and how I behave - but my parents are masters - they will say one thing and mean another, and always vie for the moral high ground by strategically conceeding, and using guilt as a tool to get what they want. This year we're playing along, but not getting caught up in it. It's probably best I don't say any more cause I don't want you to think I was brought up by monsters, becasue that's not the case - they are loving and caring parents, but just like things their own way if you know what I mean.

We took the opportunity while we are here to tell family that we are pregnant, and it's been great. It's meant that we've had to tell people a little earlier than we would like, but it's the only opportunity we're likely to get to tell many of them in person. 

Anyhow - just wanted to catch up and say Merry Christmas, and hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Abe

Too Busy

HI all,

just putting in a little post to say that all is well, and that life has just found a way of being too hectic, and I just haven't been able to find the time to do my therapeutic blogging. Work has just taken over my life at present, and the time that I do have I spend with Sarah. I once listened to a talk given by Dr James Dobson entitled "Learning where to cheat". Essentially the premise was that we all cheat. It sounds pretty outrageous, but his point was that we should cheat on work before we cheat on our families - i.e. putting time and effort into promotions, or pay rises is a futile effort. Your boss may appreciate the hard work you put in, but pay rise is not going to get you back the time you missed with your wife/husband, son/daughter, etc. Now I'm not enticed by promotions or pay rises, but what I struggle to deal with is leaving my bosses in the lurch - and at the moment I think it would be touch and go as to whether the pharmacy could continue without me. It's not that I'm blowing my own trumpet, it's just that I don't think any of the potential replacements for me have got they staying power to make it work and train my replacement. Reputation is an important thing for me - not that I care too much what people think of me, but more that they know what I stand for. I've been working much more than I should be - and I need to move on. I can't still be doing what I do with the hours I currently do when our baby arrives. That's the bottom line. I've got to remember the lessons I learnt from Dr Dobson - and remember that it is best to cheat on work, than to cheat on my family...

Abe

Scan #2

Hi all,

Sorry, I don't have time for a huge post tonight, but I'll just cover the essentials...

Just been back from our clinic, we're all real tired! My sister and brother in law have arrived back from Tonga and are staying with us, they're stuffed too! They have a delightful 13 month old child that is amazingly advanced, she's practically running, and knows so much baby sign language it's not funny!

Anyhow - here is the real reason for my post...

Our little Emby is still battling away - still has a heartbeat, and apparently the bleed that Sarah experienced last week is still in the picture (which explains the spotting Sarah had yesterday). Our specialist gives us a 1 in 50 chance of a miscarriage which is great news! But he cautioned us that we are not out of the woods yet. I have decided I don't like the woods - give me a grassy meadow any day!

We're all super wasted so I'm going to sign off now.

Take care all,

Abe