Update

Today I am 5 weeks and 2 days.  I actually don't feel that pregnant.  Besides an occasional, very mild cramp, sore breasts and the wiff of perfume the other day in the mall that made my stomach turn, I feel really good.  Normal energy levels and no morning sickness.  I know it's really early, so I can't say if I'll be lucky enough to not get morning sickness at all.  A few days before leaving Spain for Japan a good friend of ours from church, who's a doctor, got me in for a genetic blood test to see if I have the blood clotting disorder, factor V leiden, that we found out my dad has after his PE in July.  He called us with the results and told me that yes I am positive for it.  What this means is that I am at a slightly higher risk of getting a blood clot or the placenta/cord getting a clot. But, thanks to fairly new, proven treatment options everything should be just fine. I still have to see an OB/GYN and talk to the hematologist, but it looks like I'll have to give myself a shot of lovenox or heparin everyday starting in the second trimester (when there seems to be more risk of clotting due to more weight and pressure on the circulatory system).  We were quite nervous about this at first, but our friend the doctor didn't seem to be too concerned and reassured us that everything would be alright.  Also,  Moi has been very encouraging and talking to my mom has also lifted my spirits a lot.  I know that God has everything in control.  And like my dad's Facebook post said the day I really needed it,"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Josh. 1:9).  So, that is what I'm trying to do.  I'm trusting in God to get me through like He's done so far.  He's NEVER let me down.  

So, I've been praying a lot, trying to exercise everyday and eat well (which isn't hard to do in Japan-we're loving the food!).  This past weekend Moi and I went to Kamakura and Tokyo and we did lots of walking.   Kamakura is a pretty touristy town about half an hour by train from Yokohama (where we're staying).  It's famous for being the religious capital of Japan with 56 buddhist and Sintoist temples (which actually didn't interest us very much), so we were blessed to have met a German guy as we walked to our first temple destination who offered us free tickets to a concert in the temple's garden which featured some famous Japanese singers and musicians.  We really enjoyed ourselves and  weren't at all disappointed to miss out on the other 55 temples.  In Tokyo we saw the Imperial Palace (from the other side of a moat) and the famous shopping district. We had a really nice weekend.  

Please be praying for me and our nugget!

Reason for the blog

By the way,  I started this blog at the request of my loving sister, Jaime Ann Ragsdale, so she could stay updated on all my pregnancy quirks and see how my belly's coming along. I didn't think it was a bad idea since I live in Spain (so far from many of the people I love) and maybe others would also like to follow me on this journey.  Also,  I am leaving Japan in less than 2 weeks and Moi has to stay until November 12.  This way he can keep updated too!!!!  Here are a couple pics of me last Friday August, 28th at 4 weeks, 5 days.

Positive Test in Japan

Moi and I didn't think this would happen so fast.  Wow!  But, here we are and we're really happy and excited!!! We can wait to meet this little bean.  Well, when we found out, we had been in Japan for one week.  Three days after arriving I started having mild premenstrual-like cramps.  This lasted for four days and still no period.  Since this is not normal for me,  I decided to take a pg test.  On Monday morning August 23rd, at about 6:30am (when I woke up to pee) I took the test and two pink lines quickly appeared.  I was surprised, happy and a little nervous all at the same time.  I left the test along with the box (that showed that two lines meant positive) on the hotel bathroom sink and tried to go back to sleep.  Moi had to be up for work in a couple hours and I didn't want to wake him so early. I laid there for two hours trying to fall back asleep, but it was impossible with all the excitement.  Then,  I waited for Moi to get out of bed and head to the bathroom. I wanted him to discover it himself. But, did he have to sleep through his alarm this morning???  Finally he got up around 9:00 and went to the bathroom.  He was in there for a good minute and still hadn't said anything.  I was trying to keep from laughing out loud.  Finally,  he ran out of the bathroom and looked at me with one of the funniest faces I've ever seen him make.  It was a mixture of happiness and shock.  His eyes were huge. I think I will have that look forever burned in my memory.  I love it!  Well,  since we're in Japan we couldn't call our families right away because of the time difference.  So, later that night we called my parents, his parents and our siblings.  They all seemed pretty surprised, but also very happy for us.  My mom helped me figure out the timing and it looks like I was 4 weeks and 1 day along and will be due April 30th.