Flying today

well, I don't know if it is being pregnant or just having a 2.5 year old, but I feel WAY more behind this time than other times we've traveled. How in the world I can feel that we don't have enough room when we are taking 12 check-ins is beyond me!!!

I think that next time we need to leave one check-in open to stuff all the last minute things into (= I don't know. Maybe there is no silver bullet on this one.

Anyway, I'm sure Tom was up late, and I was up early so we're both going to be pooped. Layla has been REALLY fragile so we are all a little on edge (=

Do pray for Layla - her eyes are acting up again and this is terrible timing! She has the episodes where her eyes hurt and we can't tell why, but it is bad enough that she wants to hide her face and cries a bit. Not the greatest issue to have when we are dragging her half way around the world... (drs don't know but have ruled out some serious things).

Anyway. The other "little" issue is that we were told we could purchase four extra check-ins at $125 each. I've heard from two people now that that isn't the case. I haven't even told Tom yet. I am waiting for the woman who made the ticket for us to come into the office in 1.5hours to see what she says. I have NO idea what we'll do if that is the case. The normal price is $250 and there is NO WAY we are paying that for four extra pieces!!

Anyway. I'll update on the back end!

Things I appreciate about my husband during times like this

1. He works really hard
2. He knows when to stop working and curl up and watch a movie with me
3. He's good at so many things....car things, computer things, financial things, budget things etc
4. He can pack suitcases. A big deal in my world.
5. He can cook for himself. Again, at times like this, a big deal.
6. He likes to snuggle in bed with Layla in the mornings. (me too, if I am just waking up!)
7. He can let me freak out without letting it wind him up.
8. He still values people in the midst of it all and can have a relaxed purposeful chat in the midst of things if he thinks it is important.
9. Like I do, he likes to plan out and do a dry run of all our luggage and who is carrying what...a big deal with potentially 12 check-ins and 6 carry-ons.
10. He doesn't mind sleeping in a different bed when I am this pregnant...I have major insomnia and I HATE having to trying to be still in bed. We are excited to get back to our King bed (no choice in that purchase but we've gotten used to it!)that isn't a spring mattress so we can't feel the other one wiggling around (= They'll be room for TWO kids as well!
11. He bought me Tulips for Easter one week early because we wouldn't be here (=

Bits and pieces of travel prep

MTS travel is a GREAT place to get travel services and they have a way to get you extra luggage! Our new best friends, for sure. As a result we are allowed 12 check-in pieces. Yes, 12 check-ins folks. We don't even own that many pieces of luggage!

Tom and I just worked out our "luggage scenario" who is carrying what with which pieces being bungeed to the top etc etc (= I have it all listed down so I don't forget.

Layla is now so used to us being on the phone and ignoring her that she just turns around and walks out of the room. She was in full crying and sobbing mode after falling down or something and wanted to be held by her daddy. She took one look at him on the phone and without missing a sob turned around and found someone else to hold her (=

Action Packers are an international travellers best friend. Walmart $35. Light as a feather, durable enough for multiple international flights and great storage when you get to where you are going. They won't last forever, but what luggage does at that price?!?

We got about 8 inches of snow last night! crazy. It is fun to have one (?) more snow before we leave. Good thing I hesitated on packing away her snow suit.

Alas, the last scrapbooking project is being packed away undone, but I'm grateful I could do what I did. All told, I put 13 years of photos into albums! That was an accomplishment.

We are down to the point where there is no putting off a task. If there is something to be done, you just do it now because there is no more time for stalling. I love this period because it is just action action action. We still have time to watch TV here and there to sit down and relax so it isn't like we are running ALL the time. just most of the time (-;

Well, my moment for blogging is quickly ending. Must move on. Hugs to all.

Messy

I realized today that we are to the point that my room will not be clean again until the morning we leave for the airport. This is discouraging, exhilarating and daunting. I hate a messy room and there are piles everywhere. They have to be here for now, but it really feels like we have one foot out of the door when I am not trying to clean up.

I did however, before I sat down to write this, re-stack the piles on my two (!) desks. Tom has moved his desk downstairs so I finally have enough room to spread out and he can work his night-owl hours in peace. I already feel better being able to have some order on my desks even though they'll be spread out again in a few hours.

Technology Dead Zone in America

In our efforts to leave, we are getting dr records from six different doctors. NOT ONE of them is able to EMAIL the records release form, OR receive a scanned email copy of one.

How silly is that!!! I mean, this IS america, right? I seriously have to drive to 6 different places, sign a form then go back later and pick up the records. I might as well be in the Middle East for all that convenience!

Visit from Grandaddy and Tutu Lisa

Feb 2010 Jon and Lisa Visit

Jon and Lisa were able to come out for a short visit several weeks ago! There was a LOT of snow so we stayed snuggled inside almost the whole time (= Some of the pictures are of Layla painting some mugs for them. It was a fun process to watch. This is a slideshow...not sure why it looks different than last time. Click on it, then click on the "slideshow" button on the top left...

15 days and counting!

I can't believe we are going to leave the US in 15 days!
It seems CRAZY even though we have been poised to do this in some ways (=
We'll let you know about things as they happen!

Haven't bought tickets yet - waiting to see if we can get some better deals on baggage by going through a travel agent. We'll see. United wants to charge $250 per extra bag (= Still better than buying everything over there.....

Random Latest

We drove quite awhile in the car today and Layla kept asking me "you done on the phone mama?" Poor thing. I was making calls the whole time because car time is a GREAT time to talk -she's strapped down and content and I can think!

We are embroiled in a health care mess that is slowly getting resolved. I hate this stuff at the end of moving time.

I saw a fox on the sidewalk tonight! It was rather cool.

I was busy enough tonight to put Layla in front of the TV with a video and basically ignored her for a VERy productive 45 mins. She was DESPERATE for attention by the end of it. So much so that she was actually creeping between me and the bed where I was kneeling with all sorts of papers spread out. When that didn't work, she laid down next to me and kicked me over and over. I was sort of ignoring at this point just to see what lengths she would go to to get my attention! It was so sad. I felt so bad for other kids whose parents don't/can't give attention or give good attention. I was in the middle of big filing project and just HAD to finish before I stopped. We had some good cuddles after that (=

Tom's in phoenix and it has gone well, but he is wiped out and still battling a sinus infection. Poor guy. We have so much catching up to do as well!

Every time I move I have a "moving book" that becomes my catchall for EVERYTHING. I started it back in November and had to put it away in December. So now it is commissioned for work once again and I love having it back out. I buy a different notebook for each move and it just symbolizes that phase that I have gone through SO many times (= Lots and lots of do-lists and reminders and numbers to remember etc etc. If I don't use a notebook, I start getting MANY separate pieces of paper and then lose my mind. Take it from me - get a notebook and force yourself to put EVERYTHING in it.

Am pooped. Am going to bed.

We're Off!

After an agonizing 90 minute wait at the dr office today, we were cleared to fly! We were pretty depressed because the ultrasound tech basically told us they wouldn't fly if the placenta wasn't a full 3cm from the cervix. When we met with the dr (not our normal midwife) he said it was no problem at all. Not sure why there seemed to be such a difference between the doc and the tech, but we'll take the docs advice any day!

It was fun to come home and tell Layla that we are moving back to Oman! She has been able to locate it on a map for ages and knew that we were headed that direction (she'd ask "can I take this to Oman?") back in November/December but it sort of got dropped.

Yesterday I was telling Layla that her Aunt Jen was coming out on Friday. I said that she's had lots of people come out to see her and she said essentially " yeah,Nana and Grandaddy and Tutu Lisa, they all love me. They give me milk and rock me and read to me and play with me..." It was so very sweet.

Tom leaves tomorrow for Phoenix and he has a pretty bad headcold. We are hoping he'll feel okay while down there because he has lots of meetings with folks.

Anyway - do pray that his voice and energy will hold up!

Fiercesome Bubblegum

I don't normally chew gum, or at least gum that blows big bubbles. For some reason I was chomping on a piece this afternoon while sitting in the living room and playing with Layla. I absentmindedly blew a bubble and she looked at me so taken aback with a look of fear and horror! It was SOOO funny. I wish I could have taken a picture.

She asked what that was and I explained it and did it again, and she ran behind the other couch and peeked out. How WEIRD is that!? She got more interested in it, but was always slightly fearful at the same time. Strange kid. Again, far more funny with a photo to illustrate, but such is real life.

Other funny things:
Mom was coloring the toes of her shoes black (where they have worn down) and she said "that is weird". I've never heard her use that word before!

She pooped 5 times in the potty today! It was a sheer miracle given the refusal to poop in the last two weeks! Stunning success.

Alas, she is getting her last two molars in and it looks like we are in for a long night....She's had so much pain with her other molars that we have two or three sleepless nights. We think it is a fair trade off for have a kid who sleeps 12 hours straight the rest of the time. Who knows with #2!