Baby update

I had my second doctor's visit yesterday. We heard the heartbeat & all looks well. My 20-week ultrasound is Friday, April 18 (as indicated by the huge red circle on the calendar.) We will love and treasure whatever God's chosen for us, but just in case it helps...think pink!

I'm feeling pretty good these days. My energy level and my digestive system are back to normal. My only pregnancy symptom these days is nasty acne, but if that's all I have to complain about, I'll count myself blessed.

Speaking of God, we're hopeful that we'll hear something soon about Alex's appointment. At that point I'll start picking the brains of you homeowners out there as that becomes our other all-consuming interest.

Alex was deferred for ordination.

It's a long story & I don't want to talk about it anymore today. Suffice it to say that there's a lot of anger & disappointment going around.

Fortunately this doesn't affect his ability to be appointed to a church, and two particular churches are very interested in him. Hopefully we'll know where we're going sooner than we thought.

I feel really good after going to hoop class, and I'll feel (and smell) even better after a shower.

Alex is on his way to GA for ordination interviews on Monday, so I'm pondering what to do with myself for the rest of the day. I have a bit of work stuff I brought home to get ready for new classes starting Monday. I should also do a bit of cleaning. But first, maybe I'll go to the museum and wander. Or the mall. Museum's probably cheaper.

OK, here's the plan.

June:
-We move to south GA (maybe Albany?) after four years in Nashville.
-Alex transitions from being a full time student (which he's been basically forever) to a full time associate pastor.
-I transition from being a full time ESL teacher (almost four years is a definite job longevity record for me) to being a housewife/SAHM-in-training.

August:
-I turn 30. wtf?
-Our marriage hits the five year mark. Are we supposed to get the tires rotated?

September:
-The baby transitions from being an abstract concept that makes me tired and gassy to a genuine, out-of-the-womb, in-our-face baby. (Granted, I'm sure it'll become less of an abstract concept when I have a huge belly and it kicks, but I'm going with what it feels like at this moment [12 weeks].)

Yeah, we just thought we'd get all the life changes out of the way at once.

Updates

Benjamin is doing so much better! The (new) vet suggested treating first for an inner ear infection, which could cause the head tilt and eye scanning and has the infinite advantage of being treatable. After a few days of antibiotics, his head is upright, the eyes are steady, his appetite is back, and he generally acts much more energetic. Thank God for banana-flavored liquid Baytril.

In other Tracy family news, Alex is preparing to go before the South Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC for his ordination interviews in a couple of weeks. Whether he gets ordained or not, he'll be taking a church appointment & we'll be moving in June, but getting over this hurdle will mean a lot to him.

As for me, I've been pooped today. Apparently my body will be done constructing the placenta soon & I should get my energy back. This week, baby is around 2 inches long (!!!) and is developing hair follicles, nail beds, and sex organs.

I leave you with a sight I just beheld to my immediate left. When she's very relaxed, Maggie flops on her side and grooms her front paws in a way that reminds me of a girl stretched out on her bed & doing her nails. I'd reach over and rub her fuzzy white belly (Maggie's, not the hypothetical manicure girl), but she would never forgive me.