3D Photo

Here she is at 33 weeks! So crazy that they do this now :) To do it they took two profile pictures and then a frontal face photo. The computer then combined the images to create what's below. Honestly I think that she looks like some of the baby photos of me when I was young. Then again Nate and I sorta look alike so she could very well look like him! 

Totally in love already and cannot stop smiling. 

Tchau,

Sara

33 wk Update

Sunday we left Macae and headed to Rio since we had an Ultrasound appointment at 1030 and a Dr. appointment at 1 pm. Since this trip was personal we used some of our 200,000 Sheraton points for a free night. Once we arrived they upgraded us to an amazing room with two bathrooms and a separate living room- wow. Then for dinner they surprised us with a bottle of champagne which I obviously couldn't drink. (I think they did this because yesterday was Brazilian Valentines Day) I did however take the bottle home with us so after Belle is born we can have a celebratory glass!

To start the morning off we headed off to the ultrasound appointment. Our normal ultrasound guy was busy so we had the sweetest lady working with us. She checked positioning of Belle, fluid level, blood flow and growth. I really love all the ultrasounds that Brazil passes out like candy. It puts my mind at ease for how things are going inside.

I am 33 weeks and she measured out to be 32 weeks 6 days. Pretty great huh? They graphed her number and we are right in the middle of the chart so her growth is on target. They are estimating her weight at 2.3 kg which equals right around 5 pounds already! Slow down Belle! She is already facing down which confirms all of the rib kicks I get daily. Everything is just great!

After the ultrasound we grabbed a quick snack, hopped in a cab and headed to the doctor's office. For once we actually didn't have to wait and she saw us immediately. I cannot complain to much because each visit she spend 30 minutes with me. Anyway, this time around she totally redeemed my confidence in her abilities. She did make a comment on my weight telling me once again I have gained too much in the month but I have come to expect it. PS- I believe my weight gain total is 22 pounds at 8 months 1 week with possibly 7 weeks to go....

On to the good part and possible boring for some :) Next week she will be testing me for Group B strep which does not cause strep throat but rather a common infection that can be deadly for infants if untreated. If the test comes back positive, meaning that I have it, then when I go into labor I will receive the antibiotic penicillin. If I go into labor before the results are cleared then she will give me the antibiotics anyway!! Having seen several newborns suffer from complications of Group B strep (full life support and seizures so often that tube feeding is necessary) this makes me so happy. We continued to discuss how some Dr.'s in Brazil do not test for this at all and believe it's false. Big deep breath!

We continued to talk about what will happen after birth. I think you all know that I want to have as natural of a birth as I possibly can. I also want to only breastfeed and wait to give into the pacifier. When I asked about how soon after birth can I breastfeed (helps contractions for your body to return to normal and bonding with your baby) Dr. J replied with the following: As long as the baby is fine, I wait one minute to cut the cord (very progressive and not everyone in the US does this as standard) and then Belle will breastfeed immediately!

Dr. J you have my complete confidence and I couldn't be happier. I now realize that she will not be doing any unnecessary medical interventions. If she does then it's because I really do need them and not because she needs to get back to the office. I am so happy! This really couldn't be any more perfect!!

I do have a 3d picture of Belle that I need to scan so I can post- hopefully later today! Hope everyone's day is going as great as mine!!!

Tchau,
Sara

Appointment

We just got back from Rio and both of my appointments went great! Since it's been such a long day I will catch you up on the details tomorrow. For now my bed keeps calling my name making sleep hard to resist!

Tchau,
Sara

Sara

Photo Fest!

A montage of photos for your Friday viewing pleasure!! I wish that I had cataloged how far along I was at each picture but I didn't :( I know that the pictures start off at 16 or 17 weeks and end at 32 weeks. I am also wishing that I would have worn the same outfit that way you could really tell how much I have grown!

 I should put this shirt on again and take a photo! It doesn't even cover half of my belly!

 Here I was at the point where I couldn't button my shorts anymore and had to use the belly band.

 Same thing here

I know this photo was right before I left to go home so maybe 5 1/2 months?

 This photo would have been taken after I returned from the US so about 6 1/2 months?

 31 weeks

 32 weeks

I figure since time is going so fast I should post these photos while I have time or I forget :)

Tchau,

Sara

Prego Brain

Lately I catch myself stumbling through the day. It's a wonder how I even get dressed in the morning let alone speak to anyone. I am constantly forgetting the task at hand only to move onto another task to soon be forgotten as well. I can't speak correctly or spell and I lose my train of thought during the middle of the conversation. 

Please forgive all the typos in my blogs. Trust me that they would look a lot worse if I didn't have spell check. 

Tonight Nate and I are going to a trivia dinner and I feel sorry who's team I am on. Maybe our group can get extra points if the prego answers any questions! I am sure will be happy to claim the special girl. As the saying goes- "you're so pretty" which is wrong on so many levels! To bad the saying is hilarious. For those of you who don't know the story behind it: When someone does something stupid or says something dumb- just tell them it's ok and that they are so pretty. 

Off for a much needed nap and maybe that will increase my brain functioning. 

Tchau,

Sara

Like and Dislike

My like and dislike for Brazil today.


Dislike

Being kept up all night by crazy soccer fans setting off fireworks for each goal scored and then honking their horns non-stop for an hour after the game. I promise you that every other week there is a new championship game or someone claiming it's the biggest game of the season. To me it just seems like they are handing out consolation trophy's. When you have that many championship games to be won it's like giving credit to all the crappy teams.... I don't believe in that kind of false spirit raising. Your good or your not but find something you are good at or work harder.

Like

This morning, with bags under my eyes, walking to the fruit stand and paying USD $0.60 for four oranges and three bananas. Brazil gets a lot of crap for being expensive but one thing that makes up for it is the low cost of fruits and veggies. With all the exotic fruits available I fear I have become spoiled. Nate's in trouble when we get back to the US and I want fresh papaya's at 4$ a piece of fruit... yep that's the going rate the last time I was in town at my mom's grocery store. At least you can get them in poke town though :)

Tchau,
Sara

PS- I miss peanut butter (I am out) and the other day I wanted a little debbie snack cake (anyone of them would do). I guess now the cravings kick in?

Natural Born Citizen

There is some confusion about the term and who qualifies to be considered a natural born citizen. Since the 14th Amendment was written, the definition of a natural born citizen has raised several opinions and questions.

Some have said that a natural born citizen is one that is born on American soil. Others have said that when born outside American soil that blood line is also a definition for natural born citizen. Then questions over military bases being American soil brought new confusion to the situation. Also the territories which the US occupies as well as the situation Nate and I are in right now.

Basically what it boils down to is that there has not been a case in court to define the meaning of natural born citizen. None of the above questions have been answered because we have not had an elected President born outside the US. With that being said, the vote can swing either way in her eligibility to be the President.


Wikipedia link below has tons of information with links to references and previous court cases without definition of 'natural born citizen'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_born_citizen_clause_of_the_U.S._Constitution


The link below references what most constitutional scholars interpret the definition of 'natural born citizen' as:
        Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution specifies that, to be President or Vice President, a person must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.1 Most constitutional scholars interpret this language as including citizens born outside the United States to parents who are U.S. citizens under the “natural born” requirement.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30527.pdf

This link below claims to fill in the gaps left by the 14th amendment by listing those who are eligible for citizenship on birth and somewhat defining 'natural born citizen'. Title 8 Section 1401 of the US Code states that anyone born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the U.S., as long as one parent has lived in the U.S.
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_citi.html

Lots of food for thought today :) I still believe that she will be considered 'natural born' because upon her birth she is considered a US citizen.... how is that not a natural born citizen?

Tchau,
Sara

Fire Fighters on Strike in Rio

The fire fighters (first responders, life guards, firefighters) in Rio are on strike for better wages and benefits including transportation. Right now their current salary of 950R a month, equivalent to 600$, is the worst paid employees in Brazil. They are asking for and increase to 2000R a month, about 1200$.

This past Friday what set out to be a peaceful demonstration strike turned into tear gas, rubber bullets and flash grenades. Women and children were caught in the mix and a total of 439 men were arrested on charges of political disruption, impeding emergency response and one other that I can't remember. These men were taken into custody by the military police and held without food and water for 24hrs, until transferred to another facility out of the city where they are still being held without representation.

The information above was given to me by a friend, who's friend (a Macae lifeguard) escaped the arrests. Two of our Macae lifeguards are currently being held by the military police and facing 2 to 10 years in jail. The governor of Rio calls these men vandals and claims that he doesn't negotiate with vandals.

I think this is just sad that a city cannot provide more for these men. How are they supposed to live on a salary like that? I really hope that this news gets picked up by other countries that way the city of Rio will have to take action or face international scrutiny. This is one of the reasons why I am even discussing this on the blog.

I found only one story in English on a fire fighter website.

Story in English

Below is a youtube video news story but some good footage.




Tchau,
Sara

32 week photo

Here I am wearing one of the shirts I wore a ton when I first found out I was pregnant! Take a moment to look at my eyes though... Dark circles and bags. I cannot imagine having to work and be pregnant so I give tons of credit to all the mom who have. I guess with the increase bathroom trips at night and only being able to sleep in two different positions (if she let's me) have left me dragging during the day. Well off for my hour walk!

Tchau
Sara

8 months?

Wow. I think I say this every week- where is all the time going? Last night I looked at Nate and said, "Can you believe that I am pregnant?" Little moments like this really make me step back and be thankful for all the entire situation. Not for one minute do I take for granted how blessed we have been. To get pregnant in the first place is a miracle in itself and now to have been pregnant for 8 months makes my heart melt.

I can't help but feel guilty for how great things turned out up to this point. I have watched so many people suffer through miscarriages, infertility, and death of a new born. Sometimes it's just hard for me to accept that people do have success and happy endings with pregnancy. Though we are not out of the woods yet I just want everyone to know that I am loving the gift of life inside me.

I cannot wait to meet her and hold her in my arms and watch Nate's reaction to how little he thinks she is :) Recently all my dreams focus on the positivity. Of course there are moments of fear but family steps in to help out. My dream last night I woke up thinking I forgot to feed the baby but family was staying with us and they let me sleep while they fed her for me. Although not an ideal situation, it makes me feel loved that I am not alone in this no matter how far away I am!

Even though it was just a dream I thank everyone for being there for both of us. We love you all!!!

Tchau,
Sara