24 weeks

Ultrasound and 24 week appointment last Thursday. They were able to get a better look at her heart and the doctor was pleased. Everything looks great and Sumaya is now 1lb 8oz. Hard to believe she's going to get a LOT bigger. She's very active and it's fun watching her move. Her head is down right now.

I'll be going every three weeks now...next is 12/30, then 1/20 appt and ultrasound. I also got a 5 day dose of antibiotics for this illness that I've had for the past 2 weeks and couldn't seem to shake. I'm feeling a lot better today, thank goodness.

BIG snowstorm this weekend. We had about 17 inches of snow on Saturday and today the temperature is below 0. God willing, this is our last winter here in Minnesota and we'll be back in California sometime after Sumaya is born. Hooray!!

thanksgiving

On our way to California for Thanksgiving. We were so excited. Many thanks to Dad and Brenda!

We were so thankful to get to spend the holiday with friends and family. It was great that Emad finally got a chance to meet everyone. We had a GREAT time!

Savana is soooo cute and loves her new chair!

Emad, Laurie, Leslie

Aunt Teri, Grandma, Grandpa, Grandpa Ken, Grammy Lou, Dad, Brenda, Daren, Savana, Leslie, Laurie and Emad. Great picture of us all at Thanksgiving. What a great day with amazing food and company!

Friday morning we went to Lake Casitas for a yummy breakfast and saw some friends.

It was a beautiful day.

Surprise, Dad!

Emad got to meet Sam the dog. That's as close as he got - which I thought was pretty brave for someone who had never been that close to a St. Bernard before!

Later that day, Mary, Robert and Izzy came over.

We got to the beach just as the sun was setting. It was nice to be on a "real" beach again.

Laurie & Mary...so happy to see each other! After the beach we went to Olive Garden for dinner. Yum! Thanks Mary, Robert and Izzy for a great dinner and for the cute shirt, rattle and figurine!

Silly Savana

Playtime before Mom and Steve came over for dinner on Saturday.

Time for a tea party!

Thanks to mom for a great tri tip dinner and dessert! Very yummy! We also love all the cute baby clothes. Thanks so much.

Thanks to my generous sister, we won't need to buy any baby clothes for at least a year! We brought extra luggage so we could get it all home - and there were a LOT of clothes! We are so thankful.

Sunday we went to Dad and Brenda's for a pancake breakfast.

Leslie and Savana did some dancing.

Auntie Laurie and Savana

Sisters

Cheeeeeeeeese!

Daren, Leslie, Emad and Laurie

We were so sad to leave but so grateful for the 4 days we got to spend with everyone. What a great time we had. We enjoyed every minute we were there. We hope to see you all again after Sumaya is born.

In other news:

In record time, Emad's green card has been approved! Yahoo! Tuesday we're going to his biometrics appointment where they'll take his fingerprints and photograph. He should receive the card hopefully within a week. This is great news since the typical processing time is about 5 months - not 3 weeks!

I'm now 23 weeks along and other than another nasty cold, everything is going well with the pregnancy. Sumaya is very active and we love watching her moving around in my belly. Our next ultrasound and appointment is on Thursday. Hopefully we'll get more pictures!

xoxo



1 year

Last weekend was sooooo cold, about 18 degrees on Saturday. Emad asked me if I wanted to go for a walk in the afternoon and I suggested a museum instead. On our way to the Bakken Museum he saw this snowman and was so excited...

After the museum I asked him if he still wanted to go for a walk and - not surprisingly - he said no. : )

Sunday was our 1 year Egypt wedding anniversary. We didn't go out, as it was even colder with freezing rain that ended up as sheets of ice on the roads. We stayed in, watched a movie and had pizza for dinner.

Sumaya is moving more and more every day. It's very exciting to see my stomach moving now! 12/9 is my next ultrasound and appointment with the perinatologist - whom I will see for the rest of my pregnancy.

2 more days and we'll be in California. Can't wait to see everyone!!

the snow is here

Our first snowfall of the season arrived early Saturday morning. Emad was really looking forward to seeing snow and as soon as it started he sat by the window for quite a while watching it. It really is beautiful - especially when it first starts to fall. Everything is covered in a blanket of white.

We had to go out a little later so we cleaned off the car and we were off...

On the way home I explained to Emad how to make a snow angel : )

We talked to his family later and they all wanted to see the snow. No snow in Egypt!

We're really looking forward to our trip to California for Thanksgiving next week (thanks Dad and Brenda). Can't wait to see everyone! Tomorrow is my 20 week ob appointment. I'll be having a quick ultrasound beforehand as well. Sumaya is doing well and really moving around a lot now. Can't believe we're already half way there!

it's a .....

GIRL!

after one last look, she was able to determine that it's a girl

the perinatologist said everything looks good and that baby Sumaya is a healthy 11oz right now

I'll go back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound. They're keeping an eye on the baby's heart because of my heart condition. So far, all the measurements are right on track with my 3.31.11 due date. I'm feeling good and the itching is a lot better, thank goodness.

halloween

In Emad's class on Thursday they were each given a pumpkin to carve. He thought that was pretty cool.

With one of the English teachers.

Sunday we went to the Bell Museum of Natural History on the University of Minnesota campus.

A little bit of wilderness right outside the museum.

Emad is still enjoying it here in the US. He can't wait for the snow...it's coming! The weather has been nice, just very chilly.

I'm 19 weeks along now and feeling pretty good. Only 2 more days until the ultrasound. I'm really hoping they can determine the gender this time and that they see a healthy baby. We'll keep you posted...

16 weeks

Last weekend Emad and I went to the Minnesota History Center and really enjoyed it.

There were a lot of neat exhibits including a mock storm shelter where Emad could get an idea of what it would be like during a tornado.

A view of downtown St. Paul from outside

Monday I had an ultrasound and met with the perinatologist. Because of my heart condition, my ob wanted to make sure all is ok with the baby's heart - and everything is fine so far.

Right now, baby is 7oz.

She couldn't determine the sex this time but my 20 week ultrasound is on 11/8 and hopefully they'll be able to tell us then. After meeting with the perinatologist I had a cardiology appointment and he said he doesn't forsee any problems with my heart during pregnancy. He also said sometimes the condition improves during pregnancy.

Yesterday I went for my 16 week appointment (I'm actually 17 weeks as of Thursday) with the nurse practitioner. She listened to the baby's heart and said it sounds great. I've only gained 1 pound so far (lost 3 between 8 & 12 weeks with the severe nausea). I've had excessively itchy skin this past month (that actually wakes me at night) so she ordered some bloodwork to check for a condition that can occur with the gallbladder during pregnancy. She will call next week and let me know the results. I will also return in 2 weeks so my doctor can check it.

That's all the updates for now. My 20 week ultrasound is 11/8 and I'll meet with the perinatologist afterwards again to discuss the baby's progress.

p.s. Charlie is really liking his new roommate - thank goodness!

another fun weekend

Saturday we went to visit Elsie and then went to a middle eastern market and were happy to find some bread similar to what Emad's mom makes. He came here with a huge bag of bread but it's gone and he so enjoys it. Afterwards we went to the Sculpture Garden near downtown Minneapolis.

It was a beautiful day but a little chilly.

After the garden we drove around and admired the changing colors of the leaves

We also made a trip to the library to get free passes to the Minnesota Zoo, which is where we went the next day.

more camels in Minnesota??

this goat really took a liking to my purse

Overall, another fun weekend. Can't wait for Friday!

I'm feeling a little better these days. The nausea isn't so bad and some of my energy has returned, thank goodness! Next appointment is an ultrasound on 10/18.