Baby news (2) & mixed feelings about Cairo

Last Tuesday we had another check at a gynecologist, everything is going well, blood pressure is fine, my weight is now 62 kilo's, and the sex is also clear, a girl!
I need to take extra iron vitamins as my blood results showed anemia.

The only thing that worried me a bit are the triple marker results, to identify the chance on Down syndrome. Because of my age, 37, this is 1 : 160, which is of course higher then when I was pregnant with Femke; it then was 1: 450. So the question was will we do another test, the amniocentesis or not?? I read that they collect amniotic fluid, the liquid that is in the womb by inserting a needle through the mother's abdominal wall into the uterus, using ultrasound to guide the needle. Approximately one ounce of fluid is taken for testing. This fluid contains fetal cells that can be examined for chromosome tests. It takes about 2 weeks to determine if the fetus has Down syndrome or not. My doctor said the risk to the baby is less than 1 %, contractions might occur but in his 35 year career this happened only twice.

With a chance lower than 1 %, 1 : 160, we decided not to do the amniocentesis. My gynecologist said that as a doctor he would want to eliminate any risks and do further tests, but as a human being he would not advice his wife to do further tests, as the risk is very low....

The last month I was on and off ill, a cold, a sinusitis, a bit of coughing, diarrhea, headaches ...Since a few days I feel good again, and full of energy to explore Cairo, the pyramids and do some serious shopping for curtains, furniture and paintings.

Maybe because I was ill, I felt unhappy about living in Cairo; I found it hard to find positive aspects of living here. And then of course I met some women who felt the same, and we were in a negative spiral... Luckily yesterday I ran into a friend from my toddler-mum group, and she invited me to visit her this morning. Sometimes you meet people at the right time; she was actually very positive and optimistic about Cairo and Egypt!! Exactly what I needed, some positive views.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, the Red pyramid, many countries near to be visited (Jordan, Morocco, Tunis), the area where we live Maadi, is green full of high trees plants and flowers, it is safe to take a walk with children, it is according to her much cleaner than another 3rd world country where she used to live, India, and despite 18ml people living in Cairo: not at all that crowded in the streets !! Of course she is comparing to India and is therefor much more positive, but still, I could see things much clearer and objective now.

And let's face it: there is no perfect place in the world. I have to stay positive and happy, not only for myself, but also for Femke and Arthur, so therefor focus on the good things we have here. My friend from Azerbaijan has many more (objective) problems, their container with household stuff is still in Dubai, her husbands boss told him that he has to seek aggressively for another job, so where to go??? Switching school for their 2 girls is her main problem now! Where to to go in the middle of school semester?
So life can be more difficult than my little worries and unhappy feelings...Time for a change!!

Curacao May 2009 finally some pictures!

From our holiday to the Dutch Antilles in May 2009, finally a web album is ready!

Please check the following link for that:

Curacao May 2009

Enjoy!

And a big thank you for our friends, Jan, Esther, Roel and Mark for their hospitality..
You are masters in hospitality!

Femke in pictures 2 yrs and 2 months

Baby news

So a few weeks ago we had the first check up in Cairo, a doctor recommended by many foreign women. Unfortunately, like in Izmir, we had to wait very long for our turn, so I told the assistant to please give me a realistic view BEFORE I go to the doctor. I mean, with taxi I can be here in 5 minutes, and I'd rather wait in a shopping mall, at home or in a cafe, than in a stone cold waiting room where Femke is being hyper active!! But the doctor seemed well experienced and spoke very well English, he said there is a 60% chance I might need another c-section, but he'll leave it up to me.
Furthermore he said I have to continue my extra progesterone hormones until week 14.
Blood pressure was normal, no weight gain yet (I think I lost 2 kilo's actually) and a healthy baby on the ultrasound. Due date is early May 2010.
It was a special moment to see the baby move, with Femke and Arthur also watching.
We still have to wait for the triple marker test results, to identify the chances for a Down syndrome.
I feel heavy, there is a big belly already, I still am thinking about food A LOT, so I eat every 2 hours, no different things than usual, just more often. I still have to get up at least once in the night to pee. No other symptoms as far as I know, so that is good news! I am not sure if Femke understands already, although I refer a lot to the baby in the belly...