Whew...

What a week! Traveling to and from UB 3 times has taken its toll. The first trip was to retrieve some things that were donated to our church and sent via railway shipping container from Hong Kong. The second trip was to pick up a friend from the airport and the third trip was to bring him back and to go see a doctor for a bad cough I had developed over the week.

I was leary of seeing a doctor but when it became evident that I would have to I opted for the private Korean hospital. When I arrived, I told the receptionist that I had a cough and pain in my chest and she told me to go up to the second floor. She said there was an American doctor there. I couldn't believe my luck!

I went up to his office and saw his name on the door. I had heard his name before and even emailed him a couple times before but never met him. Anyway, he was really nice and checked me out and listened to everything I had to say about my symptoms. He said it's not pneumonia ( I was pretty sure it wasn't because I've had it before and it was different) or bronchitis. I asked about TB since we come in contact with it a lot here and he said he didn't think so but becuase I have small kids I should get checked anyway. He was concerned about my weight-- 117 lbs. compared to the usual 127 pre-pregnancy lbs. He said it may be an indication of TB OR it could all-- the cough/chest pain and the weight loss-- be related to stress, which has been higher than normal lately.

Anyway, I still need to get testet for TB. I tried to do it in UB but they have been out of the shot since may. I heard they have it in Darkhan so I'll try here soon.

I seriously don't think it's TB and, of course, we are praying it's not. But, I'll feel much better after I know for sure.

I'm eagerly awaiting harvest season (late July-September) so that I can start my juice fast with all new veggies. I think a juice fast will make me feel a whole lot better!

Hetee got me a chest freezer today! I've been wanting one for a couple years now but recently it has become more necessary. I have been making weekly meal plans to save us $ and time. I try to do all of my monthly shopping at once so I can buy in bulk and save on gas, too. This is where the freezer comes in. I can buy the beef, chicken and even some veggies and prepare and freeze them all at once. Just another way he makes my life easier.

Speaking of HIM, his birthday is coming up on the 9th. I'm planning a little overnight getaway and made him swear he'd take the time off. There's a little retreat place that we've never been to but we heard that it is quite nice. It's in a wooded area near a river not too far away. Basically, we just want to SLEEP and not have to hurry out of bed the next morning. No kids, phones or visitors. Just me, him, some junk food and season 6 of 24, ha ha!

Well, I'm off to bed. Love y'all!

Oh yeah, happy fourth! We celebrated by eating banana muffins on American flag napkins for breakfast.

Overheard By the Greenhouse

This morning we were out in the yard checking on the plants and watering the tomatoes when these exchanges took place. They made me smile...

Abi: (bending over to study a tiny grasshopper) Nate, what do grasshoppers do?

Nate: (matter of factly) Hop on grass!

Abi: Mommy how does beef grow?

Mommy: (mumbling) Beef is cow, sweetie. It doesn't grow like a plant.

Abi: (in a hushed voice) Nate, do they kill the cows?!

Nate: (again, metter of factly) Of course not! Cows just make the beef!

I don't know how he came up with that idea about cows just making beef. He's been to the meet market countless times and seen the cow heads. Abi has too, for that matter. Maybe they're in denial...

Why I don't listen to my big sister

So, this morning I'm eating a bowl of corn flakes while simultaneously chatting with my older sister, Leah, online. She's three years older than me. That would make her almost 30.

Anyway, I mentioned that I was feeling a sharp pain in my chest and she suggested I take a quick, deep breath and see if it helps. I did and immediately inhaled my mouthful of cornflakes, down into the uttermost parts of what felt like my lungs. My eyes watered. I choked and sputtered.

The sharp pain I was feeling then is still there, only exacerbated by the half-chewed cornflakes floating around in my lungs!

Watch out y'all. Siblings can be hazardous to your health.

Did I mention she's 3 years older than me?

Kenny's Birthday

Today we celebrated Kenny's birthday by going to the river where I labored for him exactly 1 year ago. It was fun to hold him and play with him there. Here are some pictures...

Kenny wears this "worried" expression pretty much all the time. He looks serious but he's really quite funny and likes to smile and cuddle a lot.

Here's Nate, blowing off some steam. It's tough being a big brother!

Big sister, Abigail, pouring dirt on daddy's back. He was asleep and never noticed.

Here's me, reminiscing... This is where Kenny and my birth journey began.

Kenny, in his birthday suit, trying to wrestle daddy's phone away from him.

Abi, testing the water.

There's that worried look again...

I love you, Baby!

Happy 1st Birthday, To My Sweet Baby Boy!

I'm 1 year old today! Mommy made yummy carrot cake...

Where did it go?