12 weeks

Monday, 9/20, Emad and I went to my 12 week ob appointment. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat - very exciting! Everything is going fine with my pregnancy, bloodwork came back with no problems. I did lose a few pounds but the doctor said I should be feeling well within a week or two and will regain my appetite. Next appointment is 10/18 with perinatal. They want to check mine and the baby's heart since I have a very mild genetic heart condition. It's just precautionary and no problems are expected. On 11/8 is the ultrasound and we will find out the sex of the baby.

Emad and I have been having a lot of fun exploring the area since his arrival. First stop on Saturday was the Mall of America

Como Zoo on Sunday

then a drive through St. Paul, along the Mississippi River. It was a beautiful day.

Emad has been taking my bicycle out during the day and exploring St. Louis Park. He noticed a few frog things around the apartment and surprised me with this one day (which he let go after showing me)

Saturday we went to visit my friend Elsie (she's 91!). I introduced her to Emad and she held his hand the whole time. She told him he didn't look Egyptian and we've been laughing about that ever since. We had a torta at the Uptown Market Square and he loved it. Yum! After that we walked along the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis

Sunday we went to an apple orchard. We fed some goats

we were surprised to see a camel (no, I didn't ride it)

and walked through the orchards

(we may have eaten an apple or two)

I'm happy to report that Emad seems to really like it here. He's enjoyed the food so far too!

Up next, we're going to the chapel. Ok, maybe not a chapel, but the Minneapolis Government center, to officially be married here in the U.S.

finally...

Emad will arrive tomorrow morning and I can't wait. Everything is ready for him. We shall see how he adjusts and likes it here. He's never seen snow before - and it won't be long before it's here. "I guess I'll freeze," is what he said when I tried to explain how cold it gets here. A lot of new and different experiences and I'm excited to share them with him. I'll keep you posted on all our upcoming adventures...12 week ob appointment on Monday.

egypt part III

My most recent trip to Egypt was this past July. Since I was working a temporary job it would have to be a short trip. I stayed only one week. I knew Egypt was hot during the summer months, but wow, it's especially hot when you're wearing long sleeves and have your head covered. I recommended we venture out at night and sleep during the day. We spent some time with Emad's family, which is always fun. One evening we all went to the beach and the guys went swimming. That was a great time. The Mediterranean is so clean and warm. It's wonderful.

The main purpose for this trip was the long awaited visa interview at the US Embassy in Cairo. After preparing some last minute paperwork, we were ready - leaving at 3am to arrive by 7:30am. After providing paperwork to different people within the embassy, we finally met with the consular - the one who would make the big decision. She asked me a few questions and then had me wait while she interviewed Emad. After a while she called me back and said, "Mabrook," or, "Congratulations." What a relief. After months and months of paperwork and waiting, we finally had the answer we wanted. We now had to wait, once again, for 3 weeks for processing and then they would send his passport/visa to him.

A few days later it was time for me to leave...already! The night before I left we walked through this air conditioned (thank goodness) mall and then had a delicious dinner at an outdoor cafe.

Everything was falling into place...

coming to america!

Emad will be here next Thursday! We're thrilled! I'm so happy he'll be here for my next ob appointment on 9/20. All is well with my pregnancy (week 11) so far. I'm hoping the nausea and exhaustion subside soon so I can resume my daily walking while the weather is still good - and hooray, I'll have someone to walk with!

egypt part II

Being newlyweds and being apart for a while, we decided it was time for me to return to Egypt for a 3 week stay. Yeah! I was so excited to see Emad and my new family once again. I think they were happy to see me, too.

We decided it would be a good idea if I covered my head. It was a little strange at first, but no one stared at me and I got used to it very quickly.

Emad's oldest brother Hany and his son Mido came over and we all went for a walk along the beach.

I just love her

Hanaa planned a small party for Emad and I, which included a wedding dress. She is so sweet.

A LOT of happy people on the streets when Egypt won the soccer match

We went back to the castle

and the cool tiled wall

with his mom

then we went to a park and ate fool (another local dish of pureed beans served in "pita" bread) and falafel sandwiches...both are delicious!

Medhat came by! Lots and lots of macaroni..

another walk by the beach

and we stopped for ice cream

Emad, mom and I took a trip to the Alexandria Zoo, and wow were those lions close! The handlers fed them small pieces of meat on a wire.

This California sea lion sits here all day while people feed him

eating koshary on our way home from the zoo

huge tiled fountain

Overall, a very relaxing trip. Emad and I spent a lot of time together as well as with his family. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I was there.

It would be 5 months before we would see each other again...

 

egypt

Well, I've been putting off my 3 part Egypt blog as there is so much to write about it seemed a little overwhelming...so I need to just dive right in. Here we go...
In November 2009 I made the big decision to follow my heart and go to Egypt to meet Emad. Of course I was nervous, but we had been talking for several months and this was the logical next step. He assured me that if things didn't work out between us that I would still have a place to stay and that he would show me Egypt. Off I went...

After a 3 hour flight to JFK, then 12 hours to Cairo, I was finally there. The first thing I notice from the air is a lot of sand - and then the pyramids! Very cool, but definitely need to see them up close. More on that later. After getting through customs I find a seat and eventually I am greeted with the most welcoming smile I've ever seen. I knew right then everything would be fine with us. We got in the car and made our way to Alexandria - about 140 miles but about a 4 hour drive. When we were almost there we stopped on the side of the road and some people were waiting for us...his mom and sister and her baby, Hana. They were sooo happy to meet me. We all piled in the back seat (no car seats, just baby on my lap) and we were off again. All I wanted to do was sleep, but once we arrived at the apartment they had rented just for while I was there, more people came to meet me and it was time to eat! Wow! I had never felt so welcome before. Everyone in Emad's family is so kind and generous I immediately felt welcome and at ease. What an exciting day. I was so happy to be in Egypt and really looking forward to what was to come. After everyone sat and watched me eat (yeah, not embarrassing) we visited for a bit and then it was decided I was very tired and needed to sleep. YEP! Emad's mom and sister stayed but everyone else left.

Early in the morning I was awakened by a very loud voice coming from outside. I had no idea what this was until I asked Emad later that day after hearing it several more times. It's adhan, or a call to prayer, which occurs 5 times a day throughout country, and is recited by the muezzin from the nearby mosque. According to the Qur'an, all Muslims must pray 5 times thoughought the day, starting about 5am.

Sometimes we ate on the floor, sometimes at the table...

Wherever we ate, there was always bread with every meal. A lot of times we used it as our untensil as well. This was my first experience eating duck, buffalo and liver (eeeewwwww). Some food, as you can imagine, I liked more than others. Emad's mom also made delicious soup and mahshi, which is grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice. I loved it.

Emad and I spent a lot of time walking and getting to know each other more. We took a boat ride on the Mediterranean, visited the Alexandria Library

saw the Quaitbay Castle and aquarium

and this cool tile wall near the castle..

After several days of getting to know each other in person, we decided to marry. A few days after that we were at a friend of his friend's home taking vows with his sister and her husband as witnesses. I couldn't have been happier. I finally found someone that I can trust, that respects me and loves me for who I am.

I also inherited an amazing family. (This trip I didn't get any pictures of either of Emad's brothers. Stay tuned for Part II). Somewhere in that big blanket is baby Hana. And yes, it was windy and my hair was a mess - or huge, as Emad likes to tell me - but I didn't care. I was just happy to be experiencing all the rich culture with these wonderful people. I was going to say that no one cared what I looked like, but that would be slightly incorrect...not having my head covered, I stood out like a sore thumb there and everyone stared at me. I tried to dress appropriately with long sleeves and pants, but I was clearly not Egyptian. All the people there were very friendly and several random people even shook my hand and welcomed me to Egypt.

Next was a trip to the pyramids, which are located in Giza, not too far from Cairo. This was a very long day which consisted of many buses and taxis, but was well worth it. Pictures don't do it justice, you really have to see it all in person. It's amazing.

We got a little help up the hill in a horse-pulled buggy

 they stop at certain points and take your picture at just the exact right spot

   

  

and then you ride a camel!

and take in the wonder of the pyramids

and sphinx

Koshary is a local dish make of macaroni, lentils, rice, tomato sauce and crispy fried onions on top. I came to love koshary (I even made if for myself when I got home!) and if I was ever asked what I wanted to eat when we were out it was koshary.

                                     

In Cairo, near the Nile River

                                     

downtown Cairo

                                     

My time there went by very quickly. I only planned on staying one week but ended up extending my trip another week. I became very close to my new family so leaving was not easy.

Hanaa, Hana, Mom and Noaman (Hanaa's husband)

                                        

But I knew I'd be back sooner than later...