Chronically Sleep Deprived

John returned to Bangkok last Friday (usual drill, overnight bus late Thursday night, arrived early Friday morning). We have visas! For all three of us! The funny thing is, it only took about 45 minutes - the Immigration office opened at 8:30 am, and he called at 9:15 to let me know he'd been successful. We were especially relieved that he was able to get mine and Trea's, thus saving us another trip. AND he brought home Subway again! Saturday we got more good news. Two weeks before, when we'd visited my ob/gyn, he was concerned about the baby's size. He sent me for an ultrasound and the baby was measuring quite a bit smaller than expected, about four weeks behind. Apparently some babies just stop growing for various reasons, and when that happens, it's in the baby's best interest to be born sooner rather than later. That often means a C-section, and a small and sometimes premature baby. After giving birth naturally to an 8-pound baby, I was not eager to have a 4

John told Trea she was a monkey the other night, which he does on a fairly regular basis. Usually she just giggles, but that night she was indignant. "No! Trea lion!" she told him. And then she roared for emphasis. Heaven help the man who marries her!

John returned to Bangkok today, as stated previously, in an attempt to repair our visa situation. . .alas, it was not to be. He was missing a critical document, a letter from the local Ministry of Education giving authorization for him to have his visa changed. The school is responsible for obtaining documents such as this and they thought they had done everything required, but they overlooked or misinterpreted this particular requirement. The good news is, it's an easy letter to get, especially since the school recently translated a bunch of materials from Thai to English for the local Ministry of Education. It means John has to go to Bangkok AGAIN, but he also said that the immigration official he talked to was extremely helpful and seemed knowledgeable (two rare qualities among government workers worldwide, and especially in Thai Immigration). The guy even gave John his name and cell phone number, and called the school to let them know exactly what was needed. Also, when John ex

It's Thursday night. John is leaving for Bangkok in a couple of hours, to try once again to get his visa. We're hopeful but still partly expecting something to go wrong, or be missing or incomplete. Right now he's in the shower with Trea, singing U2's "Elevation." Trea fills in words when he pauses and joins in for the "El-uh-va-tion!" She loves that song. I'm 34 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I feel like a large punching bag, this baby can really kick. Trea was five days early, and if this baby were to come five days early I would give birth five weeks from today. So at least it's almost over. I can't wait to NOT be pregnant, and to hold my baby, and find out if it's a boy or a girl. . . Hopefully I'll have good news tomorrow!