Shopping Trip!

We have been getting really frustrated looking for a home here. It seems every time we find one we like, it gets too expensive or something fishy shows up in the inspection. Last week we pretty much decided on buying an apartment and paying the ridiculous assessment fees each month just to have a place of our own. Even then we faced fierce competition. Needless to say, I was starting to get pretty down about it and wondering if we were even going to have a place to put our baby in September.
This morning, while I was sleeping off a long night of hip pains waking me up every 15 minutes, Marcus was looking at the realty site just in case anything new had come on the scene. He saw a house we had really liked, in the neighborhood we LOVE, but had been far too much for us. The price had been reduced and he decided to calculate the costs of the house, though we still thought it was out of our budget. After looking carefully, we decided we could afford it. So on a whim we called the realtor to see if we could look at it sometime. Shockingly he said "How about today?". Of course we said yes.
We met up with him and started falling in love immediately. Its a color we had both decided we didn't care for, but somehow it was very nice on this home. Kind of a mustard/golden yellow. And freshly painted! When we walked in I immediately felt at home. It has a large welcoming entrance with a walk thru kitchen just to the right of the entrance and hallway to a bath and two bedrooms to the left. Directly in front, at the end of the room, are the stairs. To the right of that, on the other side of the kitchen, is the living room. It is quite nicely laid out. Off the living room is a brand new covered deck and a lovely little yard that has been very well cared for.
Up stairs you first enter into a big area that is being used as a second living room now, and probably should be in the future. It has big windows and a Juliet Balcony, which I am sure Neko would LOVE. The master suite is off of that room. It is a good size with a full bath and a walk in closet. That's a real rarity in Sweden. The ceilings are wooden, but can be painted or stained. All of the walls have been freshly painted except the bathroom, but that wall needs attention anyways. There is even a skylight in the master bath!! Overall, we got a good feeling. We saw a few things that needed changing, but they were cosmetic. We decided we loved it and would put an offer in. We have done this many times before, and had no expectations since we had always lost. But we felt a little better knowing the owners had already bought a much more expensive home and really needed to unload this one.
After a few phone calls back and forth, we got it! We are SO excited and nervous about the whole experience. I still cant believe our offer was accepted at all. Its near the asking price, but they will be making almost nothing on the deal. I feel a little bad about that aspect, but pretty great about the overall experience. I am starting to wonder if destiny intervened for us. It is everything we wanted and a price we can afford.
Now we just need to wait until we get to move in. Due to a law in Sweden that you must provide 3 months notice to break a contract on an apartment, September first is our proposed moving date. We know the apartment company will have NO trouble finding new tenants for our great apartment. We have really loved it, and modernised it for the next occupant.
I will try to add the link to our new house at the end, but keep an open mind. For some reason the current owner would not allow many pictures, and even for us while viewing it to take pics that show personal spaces or items. We will however be barraging you with pictures when we take ownership mid August. Probably some before/afters of the things that we will be changing.

Well, that's basically all I have for today. I think its pretty big news, and I am SO happy to share my "shopping trip" with you all!!

Also I would like to take this time to say Happy Fathers Day to all of my brothers, my dad, and my step-dad. I love you all and you are all on my mind today.

Sorry!! The link to the house doesn't work anymore!! I will take pics as soon as we get in!

where did that sun go??

Well, I'm now in the middle of week 25 and things are going well. I have been able to go off my morning sickness medicine for the past 5 days, and I am very happy about that!! I also haven't been getting headaches as much. Hopefully Lil brain is nearly healed, or even fully.
We did have a little scare yesterday. Obviously its my first baby, so I don't know what to expect, but I have grown comfortable and happy with baby's movement patterns. Other than the party she threw last Saturday, she has been VERY regular. Until Wednesday. I hardly felt any movement at all. I chalked it up to me having a slight cold and maybe she was resting. I did try all the tricks to get her moving, and got zero response. I think I had like 4 glasses of ice water in a span of two hours..LOL. So I went to bed hoping to be woken up by her little kicks at 7 as usual Thursday. This didn't happen. I tried the tricks again and got nothing. In that 36 or so hours, I think I felt her 3 times. So Marcus called the OB and they told him to bring me in. He took the day off and we went to labor and delivery to check things out. They put the heart monitor on and the first nurse couldn't find the heartbeat. I could see a slight panic in her face, and definitely felt myself panicking. And she said to NOT freak us out she was getting the midwife, who usually finds things quicker. After she found the heartbeat we waited. After about 6 minutes I felt a movement. Then things got very funny and relieving. She started moving ALOT. And it seems she hated the monitor because you could hear her kick at it! It sounded like someone blowing into a microphone. She got very agitated..and even kicked/moved 7 times in one minute! I cannot describe how happy I was to feel that! And she has moved back on her regular schedule since. Whew!

It seems the sun has decided to disappear on us this week. But that's OK since it was WAY too hot last weekend. Monday was the last warm day and the thermometer we have read 100F in the sun!! That NEVER happens here in Sweden. And since home a/c is nearly non existent, it was rather smarmy in here. Having a summer cold and being so hot you feel yourself melting is not a good combo, so the cooler weather is OK for now. I just hope the sun comes back soon...

As for our house hunt, its going. down the tubes that is. Every house we look at has some problem that we don't want to pay to fix, or the price gets WAY too high for us. We looked at an apartment to buy yesterday and it was already far out of our budget by the end of today. I'm getting really frustrated and depressed. I would imagine this happens in LA or NYC but not here. Its just sad. Too sad to talk about. But I thought I would update since everyone keeps asking.

Hopefully something of consequence will happen this weekend and I will post again with better news!

I think its one of those duplexes on the beach....

Ok, so I am nearing the end of week 24! Yay. ALot of changes happened literally overnight. Today i woke up huger than ever, and with part of my belly button finally starting to almost come to the surface. Marcus and I were just talking about how odd it was that my belly button hadnt changed at all in the pregnancy. Especially compared with other member of the iVillage pregnancy club I like to look at and obsess over (lol). Then this morning I had a very weird feeling in my belly button, like baby was pushing it out from the inside... and she was! I put my finger in it and part of it pops in and out now. Its really funny.

Another interesting change is how active she has been this morning. Im pretty sure she knows we are having a hard time finding a house to buy, so she is building us one in there. I think its one of those duplexes on the beach I love so much. LOL. Its so funny...she woke me up at about 7 after keeping me up until about 2, with her big movements, and then I guess she wore herself out and fell asleep. She then woke me back up a few times before I finally got up. Obviously I have a little anxiety about why she has been SO active, hoping she isnt suffocating or anything... but Im thinking its just the duplex building.

I went to the doctor yesterday for my hip and back pain. Quite humiliating, I must say. She made me take off my skirt and walk for her. I felt compelled to tell her that as an American, I was very uncomfortable with this. She didnt really care. She needed to see it anyways. I felt sort of like I imagine those girl who get tricked by "photographers" do when they realize it isnt just an innocent picture of a natural woman... Anywho. I have a slight case of SPD, but more worrying is that my hip muscles or joints or something are inflamed and usually need steroids, which I refused, and my old back injury seems to be back. I will be starting physical therapy soon. She also got me very excited about a warm pool they had at the hospital. I was to start asap. Apparently she was not informed that that no longer exists. POO. I want to join the swimming facility here in Kalmar so I can work out my back but its like 70 bucks for ten visits and I cant afford it. I suppose fixing our car was a necessity... but I wanna go swim...double poo! LOL.

In related news, I am now taking ideas for ways to make money from home. Any tips or thoughts would be awesome!!

Oh yeah, PLEASE email me if you try to leave a comment and this silly thing wont take it. I have reset the settings like 6 times now and fear I have to actually write an email asking why no one can leave comments. If it continues I will, though. Dont think I wont. Oh I will. (totally cracking myself up at this point)

I will post some pics maybe tomorrow. We are off to enjoy the beautiful day that Sweden has finally agreed to lend us... ah sunshine.

Pregnancy info:23 Weeks

Here is some info I got from babiesonline.com about week 23 of pregnancy.
Your Baby:

The body of your baby is getting plumper but his skin is still fairly wrinkled due to the lack of subcutaneous fat. He’s starting to drink the amniotic fluid he’s floating in, and his digestive system is mature enough to absorb nutrients. And not only is your baby starting to drink and taste, but all of his sensory systems are maturing as well. Your baby’s face and body is looking more and more like those of an infant, the bones of his inner ear are beginning to harden and his pancreas is developing (the pancreas is very important in the production of insulin). Your baby’s fingernails are almost fully formed and the lanugo (fine hair) that covers his body is getting darker. Your baby continues to grow in preparation for the journey of birth. You baby is now more than 11 inches long and weighs over a pound.

Your Body:

Your baby still has lots of room to move around, so the kicks, punches and movements you had felt before will continue. In fact, there will be times when you will be able to see your baby moving from the outside! This is a good time to get Dad to feel the baby moving, too.

You may find yourself having (or starting) mood swings. Don’t worry; these are normal and will subside either late in your third trimester or shortly after the birth of your baby. These mood swings are from the rising hormone levels as your body readies itself for delivery. -- havent had many of these, but sometimes I do cry at the silliest things!

Your regular doctor appointments will continue and he/she may palpate your abdomen. This palpation is the doctor’s way of feeling the position of the baby. Your doctor will also continue the use of a tape measure to measure your fundal height (cm measured from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus). Your fundus (top of your uterus) will be approximately one to one-and-a-half inches above your navel at this point. You may worry if you are a bit bigger or smaller than the average, but it is normal for you to be individual in your measurements as every mother is different. However, if you continue to worry, be sure to ask your doctor about your concerns.-- havent seen a doctor in a while here, but I see one Friday for my hips and see my midwife June 18th!

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Experience

Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
Frequent Urination -- quite obnoxious, I must say!
Constipation --knock on wood, not happening yet
Indigestion or heartburn -- already had that when I wasnt pg
Occasional headaches
Stretch Marks (cocoa butter can help with these)-- another knock on that wood.
Itching -- doesnt everyone itch?
Round ligament pains --not as bad as they sound
Hemorrhoids -- no and I REALLY hope they dont start showing up!

So this is what pregnancy is supposed to be like at this point. I am having some pretty bad back/hip pain, but otherwise everything is great! Marcus can feel baby kicking at times, and I can feel her kicking pretty much all the time. If she is being too still, she really responds to the cold water trick!

I will try to get some pics and post them soon. Its been difficult lately, but hopefully after Friday I will have a way to get some relief!

Week 23... YAY!

Well, I still cant believe I am lucky enough to have made it this far. It seems like I wake up each day and I am bigger. For the first time in my life, its a big I dont mind! I have a few pictures from last week, but Im still too shy to post actual belly pics. The top one is to show the expansion of my face alone... you can imagine my ass!!! Hehe.
Ok so now you see the belly sort of. Maybe Ill get brave enough to bare it for some pics this weekend.
Ok, so whats happened this week? Well Marcus got to feel a kick for the first time. I realized two days ago that when I rested my hands on my belly, I could feel little movements, and last night forced him to sit still long enough to feel it too! This is no small feat, which you know if you know Marcus.
I also realized that I can no longer see much more than my toes when I look down. Its so strange. I knew it would happen, I just thought it would be later.
I have learned that I have a watch dog cat. Yesterday I was out walking Neko, yes he walks on a leash, and he was so good. He was doing his usual stopping every few yards to enjoy the grass, but then the weirdest thing happened. A stray came up wanting some attention. This has never been a problem, but when I reached out my arm, Neko lunged at him. It was so odd! I read some on the internet and it seems his behavior is protective of me. In other examples they gave, he fits right in. Guarding doorways to rooms Im in. Clinging to me if anyone comes over. Its so silly to me!! Also flattering. I've had him almost ten years and its good to know I'm not the only over-protective on in our relationship.
In other Neko news, he was caught sleeping in baby's crib, more than once! Marcus removed him and scolded him every time he did it, until Neko figured out to do it when Marcus wasn't home. Im not technically allowed to be lifting things over 5 lbs, so Neko at 13 is definitely out! And he knows this. Well, I caught him in the bed and no amount of poking was moving him! As soon as Marcus came home, we moved it so he cant get in it anymore. But I thought I would share the funny pic of him lounging in the crib.

WHAT A BRAT!
Ok, in other news not involving the cat, we are looking at 3 houses tonight and are really excited about them all. I just cant wait to pay rent to myself and have a room to make all pretty!! Keep your fingers crossed for us. Its a VERY competitive market here. We have already lost one house we loved. Hopefully our time is coming!

Everyone wants to know the name. Well, I do too!! I have a list. But I cant narrow it down to less than 8. Here they are, in alphabetical order of course:
Alana, Audrey, Ella, Juliana, Mila, Natalie, Nora, Sofie. In case we have a boy we know the name will definitely be Milam Oliver.
Any input or new ideas would be awesome!!

I really hope to write more this weekend. I have to start blogging more. I just get so exhausted by the little things. Not to mention my arthritis really doesn't enjoy my typing!

Halfway Done!!

Well, its been a while, but Im back at it.
Originally I was waiting to write until I found out what I was having. That was supposed to be a little over a month ago. At that ultrasound, they couldnt see anything, but I had another scheduled for about a week later. So I figured then I would wait until THAT one and share the news. That evening, however, I Was admitted to the hospital with a brain hemmorhage. It was really scary, but I'm ok. The doctors say they have no idea why it happened and its pretty rare, but it heals on its own. I wasnt really up to spending time on the computer after that, and then I went to the US to see my mom. So its been a while, but atleast I do have reasons.

To catch you all up, Im getting really big in the belly now, I think bigger every day. I still have some morning sickness, but not as bad as before, tg. Oh, and one more little thing--- Its a GIRL!!! Im so happy to know and be able to prepare. From the beginning Marcus and I both sort of knew it was a girl. Nice to be right. Of course, Ultrasounds are sometimes wrong, but we truly think its a girl.

Ok, so I am in week TWENTY ONE!! Can you believe it? I cant! After my past, I never thought I would make it this far. Its so exciting to feel "safe" in my pregnancy now. What else is exciting are the movements I am feeling. I love to feel her move around. At first, about 15 weeks, its was like a fish swimming around. Now Its sort of like a fish still but almost a scraping feeling beside my belly button. Its almost always in the same spot, just right of the belly button. On days she isnt moving much, I like to eat one piece of candy to get her moving, just to reassure myself. When I wa sin Florida, she hardly moved the last 3 days. I was really scared. But then on the train from Copenhagen to Kalmar, she moved SO much that I couldnt stay asleep... annoying to some, but so precious to me. I think its the only time I would ever enjoy being kicked. (atleast I think thats what she is doing)

I didnt get any pictures in Florida. I dont know why, maybe just lazy. I promise to take some soon and share. For now, I will show my April 25th ultrasound. Its pretty amazing, to me atleast.
www.ImageShack.us"

End of week 14: only about a thousand to go..YAY!

Its not so long since my last post, but that's because IT was late.

I have been following orders and resting, as usual. It seems like I was only on non rest for a week and I'm really getting bored with it. I am also turning into a real insomniac, I think. Its 4:52 am now and I have been awake since about 2. I have been sleeping about 4 hours per day for a while now and its really starting to show. Maybe these hormones will calm down soon and let me rest...EEK.

This week its been a real struggle to eat. I only skipped the one morning sickness pill, Lergigan its called, and it has thrown me completely off track. That or its not working anymore. I pretty much gag at the smell of anything. Including my own shampoo and deodorant. I'm hoping my body will get used to these crazy hormones soon and I can rest and eat. I worry about the baby getting enough food. I do drink alot of water, and the doctor said that even if I am losing weight, the baby with take the nutrients it needs from me.

I have been trying to find info on what is going on with me, and I cant find any. At first I was really freaked out about it, but I have decided that its just not up to me. If this baby is meant to be, it will be. It really hurts to lose them, and probably even more this late, but I cannot force things. I CAN rest and relax and be the best mommy to my little fetus that I can. It makes me nearly cry when I think of it!!! Hormone surge anyone??

So I haven't done the yoga again. I am hoping after my visit on the 17th I will be cleared for activities like that. I am considering joining the swimming place since he said it would be fine to do that. Its just such a weird feeling when my cervix moves down SO low when I move. I am scared to do alot, even if its water exercises.

With this week ending, I am feeling truly like I am at a safer point. My doctor warned that a miscarriage CAN still occur even to week 16, but he sounds pretty certain that it wont. And that makes me feel very good. It seems impossible to lose the baby when you have seen its heart beating away. And its little skeleton. It was incredible to see the spine and ribs and all the limbs and every bone in its little body on this ultra sound. I keep imagining holding it in my hands. Its like the size of a kitten now. It just amazes me!! The baby measured exactly as it should have. Head and body are both developing perfectly.

I got the appointment for my big ultrasound on April 25th. Seems odd since I have had quite a few already, but I guess at that week they want to measure everything and try to tell the gender. I really cant wait. Marcus and I are really thinking girl. Its just a deep feeling both he and I have. Hard to explain. I will be totally happy if I find out its a boy, but shocked. I have done all of those old wives tales tests, and they ALL say its a girl. And that was after Marcus and I both started calling it her. LOL. Either way, I cant wait!!

I have decided against most prenatal testing and made that solid this week. I am a worrier by nature, and I just figured the more I know, the more I will worry. I don't worry about "defects" anyways because this baby will still be my baby and will have all of our love and support. The only think I kind of worry about is the illnesses that cause death quickly after birth. I just don't know what I would do if that happened. But I feel 99.9% sure it wont happen anyways. Marcus and I are both healthy. The idea of a big ole needle poking around in there worries me far more, especially since it can cause miscarriage.

We also made a list of names this week. It gets kind of hard when your siblings all have kids, and your friends too, because alot of great names are taken. LOL. I have found several that I love and hopefully still will when the baby gets here.

Next post, probably in a few days, I promise some pics. I just have felt so badly and my looks really reflect that. Plus my face is getting really fat!!! Its all part of the deal, I know. I just have to get used to being a whale.