it's arrived!

Yes, after much paperwork and patience, the long awaited visa has finally arrived! Emad and I are very excited. He will wrap up some things there in Egypt and hopes to be here within a month. I can't wait.

8 weeks

All went well with my first ob appointment yesterday. She did an ultrasound and I got to see - and take home - a picture of the little bean. Very exciting! Now that I have definite confirmation I am even more excited. Next appointment is September 20. My due date is somewhere around March 31. My health has improved as well. This cold was horrible!

                                                        by popular demand...the bean

She also said I shouldn't be changing the cat litter - although I am wearing a mask and gloves. I've come to the sad conclusion that it may be time to find homes for my furry pals. Even if mine and the baby's health wasn't an issue, it will be too crowded with 2 people, a baby and 2 cats in a 1 bedroom apartment.

I will keep you posted...

toughing it out

I have been very under the weather for the past week. Went to the doctor and it was suggested that I "tough it out" - so that's what I've been doing. I definitely don't feel very tough with severe congestion and sinus pain while trying to talk to customers at work, but tomorrow is Friday, thank goodness! It's also the day of my first ob appointment, so I'm very excited and anxious. I'm 8 weeks along, as of today.

Emad's visa is taking longer than expected. The embassy updates us on when he can expect it but then the date comes and goes...very frustrating. I will let everyone know when he receives it and when he will finally be joining me here.

i see london, i see france

After our week in London we were off to Paris via the chunnel - about a 2 hour ride. (I forgot to mention previously that part of our trip was with a tour. The tour was 9 days but we wanted more time so we went before the tour started and stayed after.) When we arrived in Paris we hopped on the tour bus and went to see the Eiffel Tower.

After seeing more sights we finally went to the hotel to rest and then went back out for an evening Seine River cruise. It was very nice and relaxing - got to see a lot. The next day we saw Notre Dame Cathedral - a LOT of cathedrals/churches in Europe.

                        

Part of the tour took us to the Louvre Museum, somewhere I've wanted to go for a long time.

There was a huge section of Egyptian art, which I loved, of course.

 

this is one of my favorite pieces at the Louvre..

Venus de Milo

Mona Lisa

and other amazing art

I went twice, but didn't come close to seeing everything. The museum is huge! After the Louvre was the Palace of Versailles - amazing place. I loved it. Thank goodness Pierre (our tour guide) was there to tell us about all the wonderful art inside and out.. 

I also went to the Musee de L'Orangerie where they had an impressive collection of impressionist art and several wall-length works by Monet. It was amazing. I could have sat there all day.

We went to a show, Moulin Rouge. We were told it was amazing and that we should definitely go while in Paris. I didn't really know what it was about, but I love theatre, so we went. I think we were both surprised by what we saw - and didn't see.

                             

Overall, I am glad I got to experience Paris, though I much preferred England, as most of the people we encountered were rude, the food was surprisingly bland and it wasn't all we expected. After seeing everything we wanted to see we went home. It was good to be home, but I was already planning my next adventure...and it would be a big one.

it all began with a dream

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to go to England. Maybe it was because dad's family was from there or maybe just because I wanted to travel. After being laid off from my job of 9 years, I decided it was time to start my adventures. I asked mom if she wanted to go and she said yes. Next we just needed to decide where...Europe...England and France to start. I looked forward to this trip for weeks and we finally left in early September. The second we arrived in London I knew I would love it - and I did. We were only there a week (not long enough) but I tried to do as much as I could.

One of my favorite times was a day trip through the countryside of Kent, where my dad's Uncle Herbie lived. This was really a higlight of the trip for me. That day we ended up at the white cliffs of Dover. The tour guide kept asking if we knew the tune. No, we didn't. Lucky for us, he did. Some of the things we saw/did while in England...London Eye (not a big fan of heights, but by the time you got to the top you had some amazing views! sit this one out, dad),

Tower of London, Tower Bridge,

(and mom made friends with the "beefeaters")

 Harrod's, Bath and Roman Baths,

 Stonehenge, Salisbury, Buckingham Palace,

Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral, National Gallery,

 Leeds and Leeds Castle,

 Dover and Cantebury. We rode the tube everywhere, "Mind the gap," the announcer always said (so you didn't fall between the platform and the train). I don't like seafood, but I did try fish and chips, and to my surprise, I actually liked it. I think every meal in England comes with chips. Overall, I loved every minute I was there. Can't wait to go back.

past and present

My first blog entry...I decided to start a blog following the good news that I am expecting and wanting all my friends and family - especially in California - to keep up with all that's going on with me. I will rewind about a year and post pictures and comments from all my adventures - starting with the trip to London and Paris in September 2009....I will update as often as possible - as my waning energy level permits.