A day in the country

My great friend R has two homes: one in the country and one in town. During the summer she and her family spend most of their time in the country (an hour away from town). I've wanted to head out there this summer for quite some time, but either the timing just never worked or lately I had been a bit too nervous about my due date coming up to travel too far. But after another Skype video-chat with my family on Sunday and my stepmom and aunt saying that I shouldn't be too concerned with sticking near home until I'm down to a handful of days before the due date, I got the idea back in my head that I could still make the trip to visit R in the near future. So when I woke up early yesterday morning (just after 8) and the sun was shining bright, I impulsively gave R a call and asked if she was in the country and would she want company.

I got myself ready, filled the car up with gas, bought some vanilla sauce (for the dessert she was going to make) and drove myself out to the country side. It was a pleasant drive with the window down and Red Hot Chili Peppers' album Blood Sugar Sex Magik blaring from the speakers. We (Paxlet and I) reached our destination in an hour, just as we should have because Google maps (and R's husband) gave perfect directions. I think Paxlet was excited to be out in the country too, as he wiggled during most of the drive.

After quickly greeting R, I waddled as fast as I could to the outdoors toilet*. LOL. Then, R and I headed inside to get lunch ready. Actually, I just sat there chatting with R and her 3 year old daughter while R did everything. I did help keep R's daughter entertained by reading her a book. Lunch (and dessert) was delicious!!! And most of the food was from their own property: chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, black currents and rhubarb!

After lunch, R and I headed outside to pick some black currants from their bushes. Even though it was sunny and warm out, we were in pants and long sleeve shirts because of the stinging nettles (nokkonen) and mosquitoes (hyttynen). Thankfully the mosquitoes weren't too bad, but we were up to our  armpits and more in stinging nettles. These nasty buggers grow like crazy (although, if you pick them very young, they make a great quiche). The black currants were perfectly ripe, insanely sweet and huge! R attributes this to the "chicken shit and ash" she put on the bushes at the beginning of the spring. She's not sure she wants to try "horse shit", for fear of what might happen then!

When R's daughter came to show us the caterpillar she found, we decided to take a quick break from picking. R's husband brought us some adult water (soda water), as per the daughter's words, to quench our thirst. During this break, R's husband took some cute pictures of us three girls relaxing.

Yes, I'm almost 39 weeks pregnant and R is almost 34 weeks pregnant and we were both out stomping around in the bushes picking berries! It was so relaxing to be picking the berries while chatting away.


I took my camera with me, but never took it out of my bag. I did manage to take one picture with my camera phone though, of their cat Anku. Every time I sat down, he jumped up in my lap for some love or he laid in the rocking chair next to mine and begged for pets. He's such a soft and loving sweetie.

The original plan was to leave the country side around 4pm to head back to town, but the reality was that we didn't leave until around 7pm. R rode with me and R's husband, daughter and cat took their car. On our way back to town, R and I stopped for an ice cream and couldn't help but laugh at ourselves and the sight we must have made: Two very visibly pregnant women grunting as they try to climb out of the car and buy ice cream! We also got some funny looks from the neighbors as we dropped some juice and jam off at a family member's house.

I didn't get home until almost 9pm, very tired, yet very happy. It was an amazing day spent with my friend and her family. It was great to catch up on life, grumble a tiny bit about husbands (even though we both love our guys dearly, sometimes they are frustrating!), compare pregnancy notes, get some advice about labor and delivery (from R's view point and experience), laugh at R's daughter's antics, pick some berries (they were yummy on hot oatmeal this morning) and get some fresh air.

*They don't have an indoor toilet nor running water. All water comes from a neighbor's well until they get their own well drilled.

NaBloPoMo, giving it a go

Paxlet is now free to come whenever he wants. I've seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers!
The concert was great yesterday and I survived if quite well. The weather even cooperated quite beautifully. The worst of it was/is the swollen ankles, which I was prepared for, and the cigarette smoke. Ugh, that I wasn't prepared for. The first two bands were Poets of the Fall (Finnish) and The Vaccines (British). The first band I know and feel are decent enough, but don't listen to the outside of the radio or someone else playing them. The second band I've never heard of and didn't really care for them. I mean, they weren't bad, just sort of boring, monotonous and very British (not that that is bad either).
RHCP was who I was there for and so excited to see. We didn't have the of places to see, as it always seemed some tall guys were right in front of my friend and I. And because we were far enough back, Anthony, Flea and the others were sort of small on the stage. That didn't diminish my excitement or the fact that I have now seen Anthony Kiedis live!! That's one thing I can write off my bucket list.

I had my neuvola appointed today. My neuvola hemoglobin is not going up at all, in fact it dropped down one more point to 106. The nurse suggested that I try taking it with some orange juice.
My blood pressure was also a bit higher than normal today. Compared to what it has been most of the pregnancy, it isn't much higher. The nurse didn't seem too concerned, although she did instruct me to call there (during the day) or to the labor and delivery department at the hospital if I start getting headaches, blurred vision, (something else) or very itchy palms/feet. As those can be signs of toxicity.
I also mentioned that I didn't think Paxlet was moving as much the last couple of days, especially on Monday. So the nurse gave me some homework to do: actively monitor and count Paxlets movements for an hour (or two, depending on the outcome) each evening over the next few days. If I get 10-15 movements during the monitoring, all is fine. If less than that, I should move around a bit and/or eat a little something sweet and monitor again. If the movements are still under 10 during that time, I should call to get further monitoring. Paxlet passed with flying colors this evening, especially after I ate some ice cream.

I've seen and read about NaBloPoMo for some time, but I've never tried it. I stumbled across it again yesterday and for some reason I decided I'd give it a go this month (as often as I feel like). And what a coincidence, this month's topic is SWEET. I can do sweet, I love all things sweet.

Today's topic is: What is the sweetest thing someone said to you today?
I didn't have much interaction with people today, but my cats snuggled with me and Mr Siili asked if I slept well. Both of those things are pretty sweet to me.
- JustHeather

Is it hot out here or what?

Despite what others have been saying, Mr Siili and I think we've had pretty decent weather this summer. Today is an example of it, even if we do find it a bit too hot. It's only 27°C / 80°F, but that's hot for us.

Mr Siili and I took a slow (because I can't do fast these days) and leisurely 40 minute walk this afternoon. The sun was shining, there was a warm breeze and yet we were still as hot as can be during the walk. Even at the slow pace I was keeping us at.

Once we got home, we both headed to the shower to cool off. That helped some, but I think it just took some time for our bodies to cool themselves down while sitting on our deck, in the shade. Drinking water and eating a homemade juice-pop didn't hurt either.

The rest added Monday:
The whole afternoon, evening and night was muggy with 90% humidity. We just aren't used to that! LOL.

We did get some respite from the heat when a thunder and lightening storm blew through right over us, in the late afternoon, but that was short lived.

When I went to bed, I left the balcony door open in hopes of a little bit of breeze, even if it meant I might have to fight off some mosquitoes.  At 2am I was woken up by more lightening and thunder. This is a first for me as I usually sleep right through it! The lightening was crazy! I can't remember the last time (if ever) I saw it flash that often and that many times in a row. Next thing we knew, the storm was directly overhead and Rusty had run up the stairs in a panic. Poor guy! I tried to snuggle and comfort him, but when the thunder would crack directly above us, it was just a bit too scary. Even I was a bit scared and I love thunder and lightening. (I was also a bit afraid to go pee, what if something were to happen? Not sure what might happen, but still!) Mr Siili came up stairs (he was sleeping downstairs because it was cooler) to check on Rusty. We closed all the windows and balcony door to try and dampen the noise. Or sort of worked. But it was a good thing we had closed them, as the wind and rain picked up soon after. The trees on the other side of the neighbors house were shaking and bending over something fierce. I even heard one of them crack. The rain came down all fast and hard, a corner of our yard flooded, for a while. We also saw more of the damage today when we went outside. Thankfully it was nothing major (that we saw). All in all, the storm lasted about an hour to an hour and half.

Today has been a bit less sunny, just as muggy and warm, but no lightening and thunder. I'm enjoying it. Although, I do hope the weather gets it all out of its system by Wednesday afternoon in time for the RHCP concert to start.

It's been a good couple of days: a movie, clinic appointment, pikkujoulu and RHCP

Things have been going a bit better. No more headaches, or at least not as bad as earlier this week. I still have the stressors in my life (who doesn't?), but they too aren't getting me down as bad as they were earlier this week. I'm try to work on things so that they aren't so stressful. We'll see how it works.

As I last mentioned, I went and saw Breaking Dawn part 1 on Thursday/Friday night, 4 minutes after midnight. Let me tell you, the movie was great!!! I think it followed the book quite well and everything was just beautiful. I definitely can't wait to see it again, although, I'll wait until it comes out on DVD, because I just don't want to pay movie theater prices to see it again. Some of the gals I went to the movie with, myself included, sure did feel old at the midnight showing. Most of the girls there were young, but I guess that was to be expected. It didn't take away the enjoyment of the movie at all. I did feel sorry for most of the handful of guys there, especially the older man who was obviously there with is daughter and friends. At least I hope that was the situation! There was one young emo-goth guy in pink with sparkly hair, I didn't feel sorry for him. I just giggled. I know, it makes me a bad person.

Friday I had the day off from work. It was so needed! I slept in until around 11am. (I only crawled into bed at 3am.) Once I woke up and got dressed, I headed to my clinic appointment. It was a good appointment with lots of information updated and explained to me. (The full clinic appointment details will be posted tomorrow for day 1 of November ICLW.) After the appointment I went to pick up my ovary stimulation injection drugs that I'll start today. And then it was back home to get ready for the evening's pikkujoulut.

Pikkujoulut means little christmas, which is the term for chistmas parties. In this case, it was my work's christmas party. This year's party was to be held at a local night club smack dab downtown. It was a cozy venue with only (~400) people from our company present. (Last year we shared the venue with 3-4 other companies and the live band/singer sucked!) There was a dj playing music before and after the American comedian. The comedian was quite funny, although some of his jokes were quite..American and, in my opinion, tasteless. They still got laughs, but he didn't really need to swear so much. I guess the American in me isn't so dominant anymore. He was funny and I liked his act, don't get me wrong.

The food was yummy and I ate a huge plate full. What? I hadn't eaten all day. And I'm never one to pass up on food! There was quite a traditional Finnish spread: ham, rosolli (beetroot) salad, salmon lox, mushroom salad, carrot casserole, potato casserole, rutabaga casserole and puff pastry stars with plum jam for dessert.
We each received 3 drink tickets as we entered the venue. No soda for me this year, I actually drank 3 ciders!! No, I didn't get drunk. Especially not with my tummy full of food and all the dancing I did.

I had such a blast. I danced danced danced* and then I switched shoes with a friend (she had high heels and I had pumps) and we danced danced danced some more. I'm not one for being out late and at clubs, but when you've got a bunch of people you know around, it was just too much fun to pass up. I am trying to block out the images of some of the drunk people, but that happens every year. You know, what happens at the pikkujoulu, stays at the pikkujoulu. I caught the 1:10am bus home.
*I just had to share this cute kitty cat dance.

To make a great day and night even better, a friend was able to purchase me an advance sales Red Hot Chili Pepper's ticket!!! That's right, I'm going to see RHCP in concert next August 1st. They are coming to MY TOWN. The ONE band that I have wanted to see for ever and ever and they are coming here! You'll here more about this later one, I'm very sure of it.

Saturday was spent being lazy, going to sauna and making soup for dinner. Today was almost as lazy, but we actually made it out of the house to go take pictures of our new place and buy milk. This next couple of weeks is going to be busy and I'm not sure I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be what it will be though.

Thursday Thoughts

Lots of little things to blether about today.

- Steve Jobs died last night. While I didn't know him and I don't own any Apple products, it is sad. I am especially sad for Mel's son Wolvog, as I know Steve Jobs was his hero.

- I bought some blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and a pomegranate today.

- I told my team leader at work that if this cycle doesn't work out, I'd be doing another round of IVF and most likely need week 50 off. And even if it can't be worked out for me to officially take the last week of my summer holiday, I'd be taking that week off against my own hours, with a doctor's note. (Legal to be off work with the dr's note, but work doesn't have to pay me.) I also told her how I'm having a hard time right now, with my mom's death and IF all mixed into one big ugly thing. I cried a bit and she hugged me. I like my team leader and I'm sad she'll be another team's leader for some time.

- Today I bought Red Hot Chili Peppers' newest album "I'm With You". I ♥ RHCP!!

- I started using progesterone capsules last night and sheesh, they are messy! Either that or I'm not inserting them correctly. I've previously used a synthetic progesterone called Lugesterone. It had a capsule-shell and made insertion a bit easier, but I was allergic to it and the white creamy stuff that leaked out of me was hideous! At least now it is mostly just wet..but way too much! I hope it'll get better as time goes on. LOL, yeah, right!

- I grumped at Mr Siili a bit when I got home because he didn't get off the computer to come greet me. I'm sometimes jealous of the time he spends on his computer games.

- I talked to my dad this evening. He was sitting in the woods, with his brother and a friend waiting for the deer to walk by so they could shoot one (several?) and go home. I wish him luck and safety! I also told him how much I've been missing my mom lately. I love my dad!

- I also talked to my sister this evening. She got a bit upset when I tried to be the big sister and be concerned about her getting a job and being able to pay her bills. I told her I care about her and I worry about her. I just want the best for her and I know she can do more, if she wants to. We both miss our mom. We also tried talking via Skype on both of our phones, it worked! I hope we'll chat more often, for free! I love my sister.

- I tried calling my brother, but he must be at work. I worry about him too. I love my brother.

- I didn't call my youngest brother, as he's probably in school. Nor did I try to call my stepmom. I not entirely sure she really meant that the past was the past and that she isn't mad/upset at me anymore. I'm not mad at her, I just want to talk to her. I love them too.

- Today was an ok day and tomorrow is Friday!!

- I'm going to meet up with some girl friends on Sunday for brunch downtown. I really need the girl-time. I'm also going to let them know how rough things have been for me lately. I'll take plenty of tissues for all of us.


Thanks for reading my blethering.