Wednesday, December 13, 2006

What a cute little nose!


Week 12 Scan



Yippee! We seem to have resolved our issues over health insurance and finding an obstetrician we are comfortable with. We managed to upgrade our Sanitas Multi to Sanitas Mundi with the minimum of effort. We visited the Marbella office and sat down with a sweet (handsome) young guy who spoke quite good English (better than we spoke Spanish) and who managed to get the whole thing done in around half an hour. We walked out of the office in complete amazement as we had received such great service - this never happens in Spain. Well not in the south anyway.

So now we can choose whichever doctor and hospital we like anywhere in the world and be reimbursed for 80% of the cost. Supposedly this happens within 10 days so we shall see!

I made our appointment for the important 12 week scan, blood tests and nuchal fold test with Dr Berral and we went along this morning. We were the first appointment of the day and they were so lovely (Dr Berral, his wife and a nurse). They spent so much time with us, explaining everything in detail and offering an amazing service all in all.

Our baby is 12 wks 4 days now which means the due date is around 23rd June! So Tiger will be born on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer, just like Auntie Lindy! Looking at the scans today, the doctor is not 100% certain but thinks we are probably having a boy!!! Wow! Tiger was kicking and punching and even waved. The little mouth opened a couple of times too. We think he is already showing signs of wilfulness like his father. The doctor agreed. It took half an hour of poking and shoving to get him into the correct position to take the nuchal fold measurement. The measurement was very small which is great news however we still have to wait for blood test results on Friday.




All Tiger's bits are in the right place and Dr says he is perfectly normal. I now have a small tummy though I don't have a camera at the moment to show you a photograph! Hopefully after christmas I will be able to give you visual updates on my burgeoning waistline. I have put on over 3kg. I must say I'm enjoying eating whatever I feel like. If this happens to be a carton of Lindt assorted chocolates well so be it! Seriously though I will definitely start yoga again as soon as I am clear of the danger period.

Friday, December 01, 2006

My life is so boring at the moment. I'm trying to use my time at home productively but I find I'm moving at half pace. I have managed to turn our storage room into a studio/library which I am very pleased with. It's a cosy place to lose several hours a day on the internet. I don't have a digital camera at the moment so can't add any photos but I have asked Father Christmas for one as T says he is getting me socks.

I did manage to call up about some drawing and painting classes and went for my first one yesterday. I was quite nervous but it was an enjoyable outing, just long enough to fit inbetween nausea waves. It was a one on one session with a lovely English gent painter in his studio at the top of his townhouse in Ojen, a picturesque white washed village, 10 mins up the mountain from Marbella. I told him I was looking for someone to help me out with technical hints as I had never had any formal training. I found him easy to be around, interesting and he really helped. I've decided to visit him twice a week, 2 hours each time. So hopefully we will see some progress! At least it gets me out ...

Here is my first attempt at still life...


I'm reading a lot which is good. At least my mind is staying active. Oscar Wilde at the moment, The Picture of Dorian Gray. His words delight and amaze me. What an incredible mind! T admitted that he used to fancy himself a bit of a Dorian Gray when he was younger. He couldn't understand why I laughed hysterically when he told me. It's great having a husband who makes you laugh!

Talk about riveting television... last night, Eastenders followed by The State Within. Fantastic, edge of your seat viewing. Plus we went out for an early sushi dinner at Fashion Sushi on the Golden Mile. Fantastic as usual and I was able to have grilled salmon maki rolls. MMMMmmm. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Today we had our new dishwasher plumbed in so hopefully less time spent in the kitchen for me.