MIA

It has been a while since I have been posted because I have been a little distracted - good and bad. Good - because Dave and Matty came to visit and we had so much fun with them (more on that later.) Good - because I am home with my family! Bad - because I have a sinus infection.

I started to feel a cold coming on over a week ago. I was determined to cure it with some home remedies since I didn't think I could take medicine while I was pregnant. I had the typical headache, earache, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, etc. Being on a plane for 10 hours didn't help! Somehow I made it over the big blue ocean and was sure that a mother's touch would cure all. It was a good try but not enough.

I ended up a CareNow and was diagnosed with a sinus infection. It turns out that you can take Amoxocilin during pregnancy and it has been my first sign of relief after 10 days. I am still very congested but I just have to deal with that because I can't take a decongestant. I was nervous about taking any kind of medication while I was pregnant but I have been reassured several times that it is perfectly safe.

I have been very attentive to feel our baby move just to make sure she is not being affected. I become nervous at times when she doesn't but I am sure everything is just fine. Sometimes I feel a few very strong kicks, which makes me very happy!, and others times, they are still little love thumps, which leaves me thirsty for more. I shoud just be happy to feel anything at all.

I tried several home remedies. Some of them are more effective than others but, if you are desperate, give them a try.

1. Netti Pot Sinus Wash. If you have never tried it, you should. It is a little weird at first but once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad.

2. Vaporizer. I bought a personal vaporizer that helped for a couple of days. It also worked wonders on bringing my nose back to life since it was very sore from all the kleenex.

3. Hot milk with honey. Helps to soothe a sore throat.

4. Hot water with lemon and honey. Helps with congestion.

5. Drink lots of liquids. Water and orange juice work well.

Our Thanksgiving Feast

Our Menu: Oven roasted turkey leg, my mom's famous rice stuffing, cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and homemade sundried tomato and parmesan bread.

This year, I made a Thanksgiving feast for two :) It also doubled up as an anniversary dinner, which worked out nicely. I was talking to my mom while I was cooking, and even though we hadn't previously discussed our menus, we ended up making almost the exact same dinner. (Mine was just downsized!) In Spanish, I would call her my "media naranja" (my other half). I missed not having my family in the kitchen with me as I cooked but our dinner was special in a different way. Just knowing that I will see them soon, was something to be thankful for. And, we had A LOT to be thankful for this year!

PS - Best of luck to everyone back home on the biggest shopping day of the year!

Ruth 1:16

"Do not urge me to leave you, for wherever you go, I shall go, wherever you live, I shall live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God."

This was my favorite reading from our wedding and suits us so well. I cannot believe we are celebrating five years of marriage today and have a little girl on the way. Life can't get much better than this. We are truly blessed. Happy anniversary sweetheart!

And, Happy Thanksgiving America!

A Restivo First ...

... a granddaughter!!! Oscar and I are going to be the proud parents of a little baby girl :)

A Great Visit!

Oscar's sister, Rosa, and her husband, Pedro, came to visit us a couple of weeks ago. I am just now getting around to posting pictures of our weekend because our camera is broken and I had to get them from Pedro. (Did you know that you can copy pictures off of Facebook? I didn't. Don't know if I like that ... )

Anyway, we had such a lovely time with them. It was Pedro's first time in London so everything was new and exciting. The weather wasn't that great but it helped to make it feel a little more like London :) We tried out a few new restaurants while they were here and they are ones that we would love to go back to.

The best part of the visit was that we got to see them. Even though Spain is close by, I haven't been since July and I was missing Oscar's family. We had a change in our Christmas travel plans so I won't be able to see them then either. I am really glad that they were able to come when they did. They promise to come back with their two adorable daughters, Sandra and Monica, this Spring after the baby is born. We can't wait!

A view at night of the River Thames from the OXO tower.

A classic London shot.

On the tube on the way to the Notting Hill market.

In front of Parliament.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

"And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there."

Thumper

I started to feel the first movements of our little one and the best way to describe them are like subtle thumps. No karate kicks yet - this baby is still in training! - but light little love thumps :) I can't help but think of cuddly little Thumper from Bambi when I feel our bambino moving around.

I am 19 weeks and 4 days and have probably been feeling them for a few days now. I wasn't too sure what they were at first but I am pretty convinced that it is not just me anymore. I can't make it happen, even if I concentrate really hard. Believe me - I've tried! But, if I sit still still after I eat sometimes I can get in on some of the action. Most of the time I only get one or two thumps. On a good day, three. They aren't very strong yet so I can really only feel them on the inside. I am sure all of that will change in good time. For now, I am thrilled to feel any movement at all.