getting the nutrition I need

I've been concerned about eating healthy.. I think for the most part I eat well but as of late I've been concerned about eating enough vegetables (meat too but baby steps..baby steps) I've been eating LOTS of fruit but vegetables not so much. With just me at home I hate to buy produce and have it go to waste before I eat it-lettuce especially because it seems to have a shelf life of about 2 days once I bring it home. Well today a light bulb went off-I don't know why I didn't think about it sooner (there's more to vegetables than just salad-aka lettuce)
I had cut up some bell pepper, cucumber and carrots into sticks to munch on. I was making a sandwich and I didn't have my usually lettuce/tomato/onion accompaniments
I wasn't feeling up to just turkey, cheese and bread so I threw on some colorful bell pepper and cucumber sticks. It was so good-crunchy and refreshing! I think I may have found an enticing way for me to eat more vegetables-inside a sandwich-no more wilted lettuce for me. I would have taken a picture of my yummy vegetabley sandwich but I just scarfed it down.

It's a boy!

On Monday I had my 20 week ultra sound. I was told there were no guarantees on identifying the gender but it's pretty obvious that we are having a boy (my baby is not real modest-his legs were spread wide apart. I was given a cd copy of the ultra sound photos unfortunately there are no "full baby" shots just pictures of limbs and such. There is one shot where the baby's nose and lips can be identified along with his arm covering the rest of his face. I can view the pictures on the disc but I can't figure out how to transfer the pictures from the disc to my computer so that I can share them with others. I'll keep trying-it's times like these when I wish Greg were home to help me with my computer tech challenges.

I can hardly wait until I talk to Greg again-I know he's waiting to hear about our BIG news! Hopefully it won't be much longer before he finds out.

I'm sure our son will be just as cute and adorable as his daddy:

New Testament Survey Class

I'm taking a class at Pacific Island University. I'm auditing the New Testament Survey Class. I decided to take the class to help me develop some solid biblical knowledge and to give me something to do while Greg is gone. I'm very much enjoying the discussions and class meetings. Last week we met at Dave Owen's (our teacher) house. It was a good time.
Our class is very small with only 5 students. Last night we had class-I was a few minutes early and had a chance to visit with the other students. The diversity of Guam really shines among the students. In our class there is a man from Bangladesh, a lady from Korea, a lady from China, and two Americans-myself and another 20-something girl who came to Guam to teach English at the college. We all have a common desire for the Lord. I just love how so many different people can come together with different customs and culture and yet we are the same in our love for Jesus. There is something uplifting about knowing there are Christians all over the world. There is also a sense of gratitude developing inside of me over the fact that I grew up in a Christian home and in America where we have religious freedoms.

happy/sad

Today I am happy/sad about:

1. my job
2. my car
3. mowing the lawn
4. my favorite shorts

My job:
I'm happy because:
1. Today was my last day as the 8th grade math teacher
2. When I get home from work I won't be thinking about work or my students or lesson planning. My work day will be done when the school day is done. ahhhh a clear and free mind
3. My homeroom class won September's 8th grade competition! This month's 8th grade team contest was to design a bulletin board and create a presentation/drama to the entire 8th grade class. And MY class was 1st place (out of 6 classes.) I was so proud of them. The winners were announced today at lunch.
I'm sad because:
1. Today was my last day and I'm going to miss having the same kids each day and the all the relationships that were forming
2. I'm going to miss that extra $5 an hour (although I still felt underpaid)

My Car:
I'm happy that my check engine light is no longer on
I'm sad that my check engine light was on. (this always happens when Greg is gone)

Mowing the lawn:
I'm happy because:
1. There was finally a day with no rain and I was able to mow the lawn
2. The lawn is finally mowed
3. Fresh cut grass smells sweet
I'm sad because:
1. I have to mow the lawn
2. I allowed the grass to grow for far too long
3. Lawn mower exhaust smells bad and makes me worry about my pregnancy (and I know in my head it's an unnecessary worry-but I worry all the same)

My favorite shorts:
I'm happy because:
1. Well truth be told I'm only sad about my favorite shorts.
I'm sad because:
1. They should be in the trash-they are so old, frayed, and worn out and they can't even be given away. I've had them since 2002. I even remember when I bought them with my old room mates at the Gap Outlet.
2. They don't fit me anymore. I put them on to mow the lawn and I could hardly get them buttoned up.
3.My waist is long gone. And by the time I get it back my favorite shorts will have long been in the trash. Today was their last day.

baby kicks

I'm eating ice cream and baby is responding with lots of movement. Not sure if my baby likes or dislikes ice cream. I'd like to think that it's a like. Every time I take a bite of ice cream I feel movements. I giggled out loud after the first few bites and then thought this would be a good thing to share-something small yet very exciting for me at the moment.

When doing the right thing is a real pain in the neck

About two weeks ago I was at the grocery store, buying groceries for a big dinner party we were having with our small group bible study. Instead of a pot-luck everyone gave me $5 and I purchased and prepared food for the party. When I got to the checkout I had spent more money than I had cash for and I had to use my card to cover the difference. The cashier entered in $10 more cash than I had given him. I noticed it immediately and brought it to his attention. He was confused but I tried to explain to him that I should be charged $10 more dollars to my card. He called over a supervisor who called over another supervisor and all three employees were totally confused about what was going on (it was not that complicated)They couldn't "cancel" the transaction so they had me run my card through for the amount that the computer said but I still owed them $10. I offered to write a check to cover the difference which seemed like a logical and quick solution. The two supervisor's were stumped on what to do next. They charged my card and than refunded my card. The order was rung up again and than refunded again. I must have swiped my card 3 or 4 times. I offered again to write a check. Meanwhile the line is growing larger and time is passing (I was in a little bit of a hurry to get back home because Greg and I had plans to go out later)Finally they call a manager over and all three employees try to explian what happened but none of them are getting it quite right. I wait for them to stop talking and as the manager studies the receipt I say "I simply owe you $10, can I write a check for the difference?" They still seem all confused on how to fix it after refunding my card for the 3rd time they ask me very apologetically if it would be alright if I wrote a check (in my head I'm throwing my hands up in the air in frustration wishing I could have done that to begin with)
With check writing more problems start because now the original transaction is gone and the cashier must guess and check the amount to enter in the computer so that the 5% surcharge (like a tax) is included in the total. After entering in 6 different amounts and voiding 6 different amounts they finally get the amount within a penny of my original total and decided to take it. I was standing there for 25 minutes before it was all said and done. I was mad and frustrated but I knew in my heart of hearts that if I had not said anything I would have been eaten alive with guilt.

Well just before Greg left he reviewed the bank accounts and asked me "what's this charge at the grocery store?" (we use cash for all grocery shopping)

After the entire fiasco at the grocery store my card was still charged!

I went in to the store the other day and talked to the manager about the charge. She kind of remembered it but was certain that my bank just hadn't shown the refund yet (after 2 weeks?)she said I would have to print out a statement and bring it in for her to see and than she would contact the bank. So that's what I did today and supposedly they will get back to me. I'll be calling my bank in a few days if I don't hear back. All of this for a mere $10

What a pain in the neck!

long overdue preggo photo

The hubby is gone and unavailable to take my picture. We never got around to having him take a decent picture of me earlier. I tried taking my picture solo in front of the bathroom mirror which is incredibly difficult and doesn't produce a nice picture at all. but a bad picture is better than no picture. This photo was taken at 17 weeks and 4 days.

As of today I am 18 weeks and 2 days.

Perhaps I can recruit my neighbor to take my next picture