Ray and I are going to be a pa and ma!

Note that I wrote on my facebook page:

Six months ago I left my family, friends, new house, and my dog Molly to embark on an adventure in Australia with my husband Ray. We thought our adventure would consist of new people and places, spending lots of time together, and growing in our relationship as well. But this was not the only adventure that God had in store for us! I've spent almost the last three months now learning quite quickly what it means to be "sicker than a dog," "moody," "fatigued," etc.


Ray and I thought that now was as good a time as any to start trying to have a baby. If it happens, it happens. Well, October and November came and went, and then came December and I'm happily blessed with a child!


For many, (women that is), would like to know the details, so I will tell you in a note on facebook, since most of you probably cannot wait another week or two to hear the whole story, which is fine. Ray was gone during the week before Christmas, and I was feeling a bit "outside myself" for the past week. I felt strange, and began to feel obsessed with possible pregnancy symptoms I may or may not have been feeling. I decided that since no one was there to tell me I was crazy, I would be crazy and go out and buy a pregnancy test 5 days before my missed period. I thought it would show up negative and I would feel 'normal' again. Well, that's not what happened. It was positive right away, and my response was "HOLY SHIT!" (you'll have to excuse the language, I was suprised!) So I decided another pregnancy test of a different brand, a few days later was in order. That was positive as well. So, I began researching the odds of false positives. There really is not such a thing. So, I was pregnant. But that did not mean one more test, two days later, was not necessary. Of course it was necessary...three positive pregnancy tests.


I kept my little secret from Ray for 5 days! Until he returned from South Africa. He came in the door, put his luggage down, kissed me and I said "Let's open your Christmas present!" I had wrapped up some baby clothes that said "I love my daddy" on it and two positive pregnancy tests. He opened it, and just starred at the box. He then looked at me, and then starred back at the box. Looking around for his 'real' present I guess. Then he says to me, "really?" with tears in his eyes. He gave me a big hug, asked one or two questions about it, and asked me if I wanted to see his South African pictures. Bless his heart!


Ray's parents were the first to know our news since they were arriving two days before Christmas. Spending two weeks with them over the holidays and not having a drink or two, or three we thought was a bit obvious so we told them, by showing them "what I got Ray for Christmas." They were thrilled. After they left we then shared our news with my parents. The grandparents seemed to catch on WAY faster to the "I love my daddy" statement, than Ray did. But it's those little things that make this story fun!


For the past 4 or 5 weeks now, I have not been feeling great. Some of you may be putting the pieces together now about why I have not been laying out by my pool, or why I would be wanting cherry popsicles. And for those I've lied to, my deepest apologies! It seemed to have been expected, wanted, or hoped by many that I would come back pregnant, and so Ray and I tried to keep it a secret that we were even trying, so that there would be some element of surprise in the end.


I have had ultrasound already at 8 weeks and 4 days. Ray was there to see the heart beat. The baby was only 2cm long. It was an amazing thing to see where the arms and legs were going to be, and see that life inside of me. The ultrasound put me at a due date of August 29, but another date would be August 31rst. Needless to say, the baby will decide in the end when he or she is ready, but it will be around then. So yes, I will be a big, fat, sweaty whale this summer...nice visual huh? :)


I am so glad that my friends now know along with my family. I appreciate all the 'congratulations' and I am so excited to share this baby's life with all of you. You are all such amazing friends, and Ray and I are so grateful for your support! (Now I will begin to put up "baby bump" pictures.) :)

Update

Well, after about two weeks of sitting at my desk at Amway with nothing to do, they finally let me go with pay till the end of January. Which means, I am now back to where I first started here in Australia. Three weeks at the apartment with not a whole lot to do. There's always laundry to be done, and I have to write up all the stuff that we bought for customs but I must pace myself. I cannot and should not do everything at once.
Ray continues to stay busy, even asked me today if I could help him with sequel coding..."does it have to be right?" I asked.
The plan is for me to head home on February 6. I have a 1 hour lay-over in L.A and we are all (my family that is, since they have to pick me up at the airport eventually in G.R) praying that I make my flight! I only have to have them check my passport, get my luggage, go through customs, re-check my bags and get to the next terminal. I am hoping that someone will offer me some help and hold my plane for a few minutes! Wish me luck, I have only been contemplating this whole ordeal for the past three weeks when I first realized I only had an hour to change the world it seems like!
Ray nor I can't quite fathom that this journey is almost over. Ray will be heading to New Zealand on February 6 to help them with the BI project that Ray originally came down here for. He then will return to Australia for one week, and then leave for South Africa for the second time on February 23 for the final strategic planning meetings. He will return either at the end of February or the weekend of the 6th of March.
One of the first things I think I will do when I get home, (besides give my family a great big hug and pick up my dog) is make a beef roast with gravy and mashed potatoes. This has sounded like heaven to me for quite some time now! I will need some help eating it though, seeing that I will be the only one home...maybe not though, I have had a good appetite lately. I also will be picking up some yellow cheddar cheese and making some nachos! In order to make all this I guess I will have to go grocery shopping first!
Ray and I have not exactly had variety when it came to dinnertime meals here. There was no sense in going out and buying a bunch of expensive spices, when in the end they would just get thrown away. We also did not have the wonderful thing known as a crock pot. So some of our favorite meals consisted of tatortot casserole, chicken stroganoff (sometimes I got creative and made it with beef and noodles instead), beef dumplings with Jackie's dipping sauce (soy sauce, vinegar and oil) along with egg roles with rice, chicken breasts marinated in terriaki sauce baked in the oven, with boiled cauliflower covered in white cheddar cheese and that's about it. We would also enjoy a chicken salad on occasion with ranch dressing. When all else failed, there was always pasta! The Cole's brand lasagna was also quite tasty. If I've enticed anyones tastebuds, then I've done a good job, otherwise sorry Ray better luck next time!
Well, I just wanted to let everyone know when I was supposed to arrive home in a few weeks. Check the blog yet, I may get bored and want to ramble some thoughts. Miss you all!

Birthday Shout-out to JULIE STINTON!!!!!

Family Here for the Holidays

Well, it's Monday again. Ray and I both headed back to work today. Over our break W24 was sold, and it was unsure what I would actually be doing today. Well, the answer was nothing. A moving truck is coming on Wednesday morning, but the boxes had already been packed, and just needed to be moved to the warehouse. Tomorrow, there is even a smaller amount of work to do. They talk about just paying us out to the end of our contract and sending us home. I would be okay with that, but I sense some jealousy from Ray because I will get to lay in bed while he gets up early, and then I'll move to the couch while he is busting his butt trying to finish up projects before he heads home at the end of February. Even though work is even busier than before, I still find him enjoying what he has been brought here to do.
I'm sure many of you are anxious to hear about our time with Ray's parents. They had an adventurous plane trip both here and on their way home-being delayed in Vancouver for 12 hours on their way here, and delayed 2.5 hours in Sydney, causing them to miss their connecting flight on the way home. But they were troopers and were all smiles when they arrived here at midnight on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday, the 24th, Ray and I still had to work so we sent his parents to Featherdale Wildlife park to pet the kangaroo and get their picture taken with a Koala. At night we took them to Hog's Breath Cafe for dinner. They serve good ol' American food here, and we thought this would break them in quickly to the Aussie lifestyle-actually it was one of the few restaurants that were actually opened. We came home to enjoy a few presents before going to bed.
On Christmas day we went to Taronga Zoo along with everyone else. The zoo is so large that it did not feel that busy. The weather was great, and after we enjoyed the animals and the scenery we did the Manly Ferry ride before heading to Darling Harbor for dinner. Dinner was at Nick's seafood restaurant where Ray and his dad enjoyed a seafood platter for two. This fulfilled one of Ray's 'wishes' while he was here.
Friday was another fun-filled day in the Blue Mountains. Ray and I's day was very similar to the one we had with Amanda-Govette's Leap, the railway car, the cable car, a small hike, Echo point, and the national park to see the Kangaroos. We headed home on-time and ate Tacos at the apartment.
Saturday we went back into Sydney to do the 'touristy' stuff. We visited Bondi beach and had lunch at the "Bite Me" Cafe. We walked a little ways on the coastal walk before heading back to the Rock's Markets, Lord Nelsons, and the Opera House tour. We then went to the Summit once more for dinner. It was just as good as the first time Ray and I were there. Unfortunately, that evening was cloudy and it was not the same ambiance that Ray and I experienced the first time we were there, but nevertheless the company and the food was very enjoyable.
Sunday, we took the Prins' to Hillsong church. Ray's mom described it as a "youth rally every Sunday." After church we went to the Parklea markets so that mom Prins could buy her souvenirs. She filled a basket-full before we headed to the mall to do a little more shopping. Ray and eventually left and went home to rest, and they stayed there for another three hours! That evening they got to experience Trelinni's Pizza-one of our favorite pizza restaurants we found down here. Ray and his folks devoured the Chicken Avocado, and pecked away at my Margarita Pizza with chicken.
Monday we made a trip to New Castle, first stopping in Hunter Valley to do a little wine tasting. We went to two winery's before a storm came, and we found ourselves eating lunch in a car under a canopy avoiding the hail. Our accommodations were very nice in New Castle. New Castle was a good starting point for our trip down the Northern Beaches on Tuesday.
After a free breakfast on Tuesday morning we started driving, stopping at the main beaches eating fairy floss (cotton candy) and ice cream a long the way! Our final stop was in Seaforth, for dinner at Rick's place (Ray's boss). His house is on the water, with a gorgeous view. We had to take a cart down the side of the cliff to first get to his house from the road, and then another cart to get from his house to the water's edge where we had dinner. Brian (the VP) also joined us for dinner. The evening was pleasant with good food and company.
Wednesday we slept in because we had a late night on Tuesday. Ray's mom laid out by the pool for a little while in the afternoon, the rest of us just mozied around the apartment, anticipating our evening on the Sydney Harbor.
This evening was spectacular. Amway provided the transportation, the boat, food, and the drinks to help celebrate the New Year. This is one New Year's that none of us Prins' will ever forget. The fireworks were amazing, and to think we were in Sydney where 100,000 fireworks were set-off on the bridge, barges, and on rooftops. The fireworks glazed the skies, and flowed from the bridge like a waterfall. During the break between the 9pm and 12am fireworks, our boat took part in the parade of lights, made up of 55 boats lit up with a sea creation on the sides of their boats. We were able to cruise the harbor, rather than stay in one stop for the remainder of the evening. Unfortunately, all of our pictures have a jellyfish in them from the boat in front of us. It was great having a bus, so we did not have to worry about transportation. We arrived home around 2:30am, and were quickly to bed.
We all slept in again on Thursday morning. Once we were up and about we went to Palm Beach for the afternoon to relax. That evening we went to a little family Italian/Seafood Restaurant down the road from our apartment. It was quite tasty.
Friday, the adventure was complete having to leave for the airport at 8am. We heard later that Ray's parents did not arrive home until around 4:30am on Saturday.
So, there's to another adventure down under!