Pregnant in China!

I'm doing so catch up from the holidays. I was so busy and sick during that time that I failed to make any posts, but we really did have a wonderful holiday- so here's a start to some of our holiday pictures. These are from Grandpa Ropers birthday party.

 

WARNING: This is a pregnancy post, symptoms may be described.

 

Symptom 1: So I thought my smelling abilities had kind of died down, but while we were in Hong Kong we passed by this little food joint. It smelled so bad, like a billion times worse than the dried fish section at my local Wal-Mart. It was just plain FOUL and I started dry heaving in the middle of a crowded street.

 

Usually I have pretty good control and can stop myself but there was absolutely no hope. I tried to hide it by shoving my face into Ezra's shoulder but it was all in vain. So much for not looking like a snobby American. 

 

Symptom 2: So I'm watching Sandlot. You know the movie with funny little baseball playing kids. I'm 5 minutes into the movie and it comes to the part where "smalls" is trying to make friends so he goes out to play with the guys. He can't throw the ball and all the boys start laughing at him and he runs away. What do I do…I start crying! I fought back tears the whole movie! It's Sandlot for crying out loud—not "It's a beautiful life." Holy Cow! I wish there was a pressure point on my wrist or a button I could press to turn the emotions off.

 

As far as hormones go most of the time I feel pretty much like my normal self. But there have been a few instances where I've lost a little bit of self control. Like when I was having problems making spaghetti a couple of Sundays ago.

 

This explains it perfectly: "As the body creates more hormones in larger quantities to meet the demands of growing twins, Mom's mood swings may be more and more evident, making even the worse week of PMS look like a day at the park in comparison. A warning to those who work, live, and play with Moms Pregnant with Twins: Going from tears, to happy, to irrational, to hyper-speed and back again in the span of five minutes is not uncommon!"

 

You're probably thinking "good thing she's in China." Lol- Sorry Ez!

 

Symptom 3: Right now I am completely amazed at how much food I can eat.  I've always been the girl who just wants half the sandwich. Now I eat the sandwich everything that came with it and I'm ready for the next one. It's been so weird! I often think, "Did I really just eat all of that-whoa!" There is only one cruddy part about this. Every time I wake up in the middle of the night to go the bathroom (which seems like 14 times a night) I have to eat other wise I wake up nauseous. So I literally eat ALL day long.  

 

I am beginning to miss western food terribly! Lets face it Chinese food is pretty much the weirdest food on the planet, and nothing I've had here comes even remotely close to panda express! I could live off of orange chicken, but its nowhere to be found.

 

I feel like Po from Kung Fu Panda. Food has become a major motivation- If you tempt me with a potato or a glass of milk- You might be able to get me to do the spilts on a beam in my living room! When I visit in April I am coming back with a suitcase full of food!

 

Symptom 4: Other than the normal pregnancy symptoms I'm just so so tired. I can tell my body is working hard to "grow" two babies.  I get worn out so quickly.   The other day while Ezra was at work I went to Wal-Mart and decided to find all the western food in the store. (which would probably only take up half a shelf if they put it all together.)

 

 I went isle by isle looking for "normal food." After a while I started to feel sick. I felt like I needed to sit down but I just ignored it and kept going, I really wanted to finish my quest. After a couple more isles I finally decided, "I don't feel good, I'll go check out." 

 

Being the smarty that I am I choose a short line, but the guy in front of me had the fullest cart I've seen (in China). Did I mention grocery lines are a great time for people to stare at me? It's something I don't think I'll EVER get used to-oh well. I'll just keep pretending I don't notice.

 

I stand there feeling cruddy thinking, "I'll just tough it out and go straight home and eat and take a nap, I can do this, I can do this, I'm okay, I can do this." It wasn't long before I was thinking "oh man, I'm gonna pass out, I'm gonna pass out in Wal-Mart!" So I ditch my cart and push my way to the front of the store where there are a few benches. At this point my ears are ringing, my vision is blurring, and I can feel the color leaving my face. Luckily I make it to the bench and sit down. At this point EVERYBODY is staring at me, the green white girl.

 

I shove a few hard candies in my mouth and put my head in my hands and think, "this is horrible." I really did need the food and things in my cart so I call Ezra and ask him what I should do. After a few minutes I get up (everyone is still staring at me) grab my cart and get back in another line. At this point I'm really wishing I knew mandarin so I could explain my situation to a Good Samaritan that would let me cut in line. As I'm standing there this little lady starts comin up like she's going to cut in front of me.

 

At this point I had had it, and I was not going to put up with any Chinese cutting in line nonsense. So I look her straight in the eyes and shake my head. "There is no way in H..E..-double that I am going to let you get in front of me." She gets the picture and gets behind me. After a few minutes I see her making verbal contact with the guy in front of me—probably her son. This little lady was just trying to get back in line with her family.

 

Yeah……So at that point I was feeling like one big, nauseous, pregnant, American Jerk!

 

Anyway lesson learned. Now I make sure I listen to my body- if it says eat, I eat. If it says sit down, I sit down. If it says sleep, I sleep. I can't afford to be found passed out in Wal-Mart or anywhere else. They seriously would not know what to do with me. And it would probably take like seven full-grown Chinese men to lift me.

 

Ezra has been telling pretty much everyone we run into that I'm pregnant with twins. As soon as they hear the word "twins" they automatically look at my belly and then they get this confused look on their face like "what the heck, this guys a liar." Then I have to explain that I'm only three months along so I'm not very big yet. I kinda wish he'd stop telling everyone, but at the same time it makes me happy to know that he's so excited to be a dad.

 

I still can't BELEIVE I'm pregnant with twins! - Ezra and I joked about it before we knew. But in my mind it was an impossibility. My brother Nathan said "I bet you're gonna have twins" and I was like "no way dude" and didn't think anything of it. Now he prides himself on the fact that he "totally called it."

 

Okay all you Mom's or soon to be Mom's out there. I need to know if I'm normal or if I'm being totally paranoid and just need to chill. In between appointments I find myself getting worried. I think stupid things like "Are they still in there? Are their hearts still beating? Are they growing normal? What if ones way bigger that the other?" All these questions keep running through my mind, I just wish I had my own ultrasound machine so I could do check ups everyday.

 

I'm probably a little bit worse than I would be because I'm in China and the thought of having anything go wrong while I'm here is just plain scary! But I guess as with everything else I just need to put my trust in Lord. What supposed to happen will happen. I just want to make sure I'm doing all I can. 

 

Overall I'm enjoying being pregnant especially since the nausea has begun to die down. It was really hard for Ezra to see me so sick and miserable and not be able to do anything about it. He's been very sensitive to all my pregnancy needs. He basically waits on me hand and foot.

 

The transition to China has been made much easier because of him. He makes meals, does laundry, brings me food, does dishes, and makes sure I'm comfortable. Plus he works very hard. I am so thankful for a husband that takes such good care of me.

 

I feel like time is flying by (most days) and now I'm onto my second trimester. That means I'm a third of the way through- holy cow! I just can't wait until I can start to feel these two little guys moving around! I also can't wait to know what they are. I have these little daydreams about the possibilities and I picture them all cuddled up next to each other and it just so fun! Boys! Girls! Both! We'll take it!

 

 

 

 

 

More pictures

Sorry about the blogging bloopers! Blogging from China can be a little bit difficult. I found out I can only send three pictures at a time and I don't know how to delete the extras, so there ya go.

Picture for my last post

Pictures that go with my last post

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THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT!

Ezra and I spent the opening of the year of the rabbit in Hong Kong! It was so fun. Above are some pictures of our adventures including my first belly picture (12 weeks)! Can you see it? Okay so it looks like a gas bubble but I'm definitely getting bigger! Can't wait until I actually look pregnant, except for that I looked up twin pregnant bellies on google images- I suggest none of you do that-can you say SCARY! WOW!

 

Anyway Hong Kong was crazy! There were A LOT of people there to celebrate the new year. We took a gondola ride to the big Buddha, saw the symphony of lights, did some boating on the south China sea, visited Victoria peak, saw a temple at repulse bay, and went to the night markets.

 

I told Ezra that I thought it would be the coolest thing ever to see some missionaries walking the streets of Hong Kong. And you'll never guess who we ran into at the subway station that night- yes. Two cute little missionaries from Highland Utah and St George. Um hello… Highland, we graduated from the same high school! So cool! They said the work in Hong Kong is going great!

 

Living in a foreign country has given me a whole new respect for ALL missionaries. It's not an easy thing they do, but they stick with it, rely on the Lord, and bless the lives of people throughout generations. Missionaries are awesome!

 

We also got to go to church right across the street from the temple. Everyone in the ward spoke Cantonese, so they got us a translator. It was such an amazing experience to hear these wonderful peoples testimonies.  Even though most of the ward members didn't know very much English they were eager to welcome us and make us feel at home.

 

Hong Kong was fun, but I was very glad to get back to Nanning. In general the people here seem to be a bit more down to earth. Although it doesn't really feel like home yet I'm glad to be back in my own space where I have a few friends.

 

Okay so I'm a Rabbit and I'm having two little rabbits this year! Below are the Chinese zodiac animals, it's kind of fun to figure out what you are. All you have to do is find the year you were born. Have fun!

 

Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Occupying the 4th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Rabbit symbolizes such character traits as creativity, compassion, and sensitivity. They like to express themselves through art. They have strong memories and like to make other people laugh. Rabbits are friendly, outgoing and prefer the company of others. They also prefer to avoid conflict. In confrontational situations, Rabbits approach calmly and with consideration for the other party. Rabbits believe strongly in friends and family and lacking such bonds can lead to emotional issues.

 

Their serene nature keeps Rabbits from becoming visibly upset. Because they're serene animals, Rabbits are easily taken advantage of. Their sensitive nature makes them shy away from aggressive or competitive situations. They're overall conservative and not interested in taking risks.

 

Classy, sophisticated, expressive, well-mannered and stylish, those born under the Sign of the Rabbit enjoy leaning about cultural issues and learning about people from other countries. Rabbits are most comfortable being home, and their homes are always neat and organized. Home is also where Rabbits prefer to entertain. Rabbits are conservative in their decorating tastes. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.

 

 The Rat: (Birthdays in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008) Occupying the 1st and most prominent position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Rat symbolizes such character traits as wit, imagination and curiosity. Rats have keen observation skills and with those skills they're able to deduce much about other people and other situations. Overall, Rats are full of energy, talkative and charming but they have a tendency to become aggressive.

 

Rats are full of good advice but they will never share their troubles with others. They are honest individuals and they enjoy living for the moment. They're also capable of surviving any situation.

 

The Ox: (Birthdays in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) Oxen possess such character traits as dependability, strength and determination. Oxen are tolerant individuals who believe that the road to success involves hard work and scrupulous behavior; they don't believe in taking shortcuts. They characterize those who don't work hard as lazy individuals not worthy of respect.

 

Oxen are capable of trusting others and will listen to their opinions with an open mind. However, Oxen prefer making decisions that are based on their own research. Oxen favor strong, life-long alliances to casual acquaintances.

 

Home is where Oxen go to seek comfort, occasionally watching television or reading. They prefer the rural outdoors and spend the majority of their "home" time working in the garden or caring for the yard.

 

The Tiger: (Birthdays in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don't worry about the outcome because they know they'll always land on their feet. Don't let their calm appearance fool you though; Tigers will pounce when they feel it's necessary.

 

Born to lead, Tigers can be stubborn if they realize they're not in charge. They have a slight tendency to be selfish but overall, Tigers are extremely generous. They're very intelligent and they're always on alert. Tigers are very charming and are well-liked by others. They are not motivated by money or power.

 

The Dragon: (Birthdays in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They're driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They're passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled.

 

While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they're most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren't applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast!

 

The Snake: (Birthdays in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013) Snake symbolizes such character traits as intelligence, gracefulness and materialism. When it comes to decision-making, Snakes are extremely analytical and as a result, they don't jump into situations. They are effective at getting the things they want, even if it means they have to scheme and plot along the way.

 

Snakes are very materialistic creatures, preferring to surround themselves with the finest that life has to offer. This is especially evident in the home, where luxurious furnishings and surroundings help Snakes seek the peace they need in order to thrive.

 

The Horse: (Birthdays in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) Horse symbolizes such character traits as strength, energy, and an outgoing nature. Extremely animated, Horses thrive when they're the center of attention. Always in search of a good time, Horses keep the crowds happy with their humor and their wit.

 

Horses are extremely intelligent so they're able to grasp new subjects with ease. They're also capable of multi-tasking however they don't always finish what they start because they're forever chasing the next opportunity. Horses are honest, friendly and open-minded. They're perhaps a bit too centered on themselves and have been known to throw tantrums when situations don't go their way.

 

The Goat: (Birthdays in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015) Goat (or Sheep) symbolizes such character traits as creativity, intelligence, dependability, and calmness. Comfortable being alone to ponder the workings of their inner minds, Goats enjoy being part of a group, but prefer the sidelines rather than the center. Their nurturing personality makes Goats excellent care-givers. They're quite and reserved because they spend much time absorbed in their thoughts.

 

Home and alone is where Goats feel most comfortable. There they can express themselves artistically, whether it's by painting, cooking or participating in whatever artistic endeavors they enjoy. Goats prefer the couch because there they can relax and explore their minds. They don't need elaborate furnishings; only items reflecting their desire for art.

 

When traveling or seeking entertainment, Goats prefer groups or venues that hold many people. Goats spend money on fashions that give them a first class appearance. Although Goats enjoy spending money on the finer things in life, they are not snobbish.

 

The Monkey: (Birthdays in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) Monkey possesses such character traits as curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness. Forever playful, Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Even though their intentions are always good, this desire to be a prankster has a tendency to create ill will and hurt feelings.

 

Although they are inherently intellectual and creative, Monkeys at times have trouble exhibiting these qualities. When that happens, they appear to others to be confused. But nothing could be further from the truth as Monkeys thrive on being challenged. Monkeys prefer urban life to rural, and their favorite pastime is people-watching.

 

The Rooster: (Birthdays in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) Rooster symbolizes such character traits as confidence, pompousness and motivation. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rooster are loyal, trustworthy individuals who are blunt when it comes to offering their opinions. Their bluntness stems not from being mean but from being honest; a trait which Roosters expect from others.

 

Roosters are extremely sociable and prefer being the center of attention, always bragging about themselves and their accomplishments. They continually seek the unwavering attention of others which can be annoying. Roosters are as proud of their homes as they are of themselves. They're extremely organized individuals as evidenced by the fact that their homes are always neat.

 

The Dog: (Birthdays in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018Dog symbolizes character traits such as loyalty, compatibility and kindness. Dogs frequently offer kind words and useful advice, always listening and lending a shoulder when necessary. Dogs often become deeply involved in others' lives and are sometimes perceived as nosy. Ensuring others are happy is more important to the Dog than wealth, money or success.

 

Dogs are determined individuals; always wanting to master a new subject before moving on and always finishing what they start. Dogs value friendships; they're loyal, honest, trustworthy and reliable and have strong morals and ethics.

 

A well-kept, organized home is very important. Keeping a clean home and helping at work stems from the Dog's need to be active and involved. Dogs spend money wisely, passing on luxury goods in favor of practical items. Dogs also prefer saving money to cover future expenses.

 

Ezra The Pig: (Birthdays in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) Pig symbolizes such character traits as diligence, compassion, and generosity. Pigs enjoy life and because they are entertaining, others enjoy their company. Pigs are giving souls and reap much enjoyment when they're helping others, but sometimes they give too much. Honesty is what Pigs give and it's what they expect to receive in return.

 

Pigs seek peace and will do what is necessary to maintain it. This trait, while admirable, sometimes makes it easy for others to take advantage of Pigs. Pigs are always doing for others, helping anyway they can, but rarely will they ask others for help. This can overwhelm and stress them, but Pigs don't mind.

 

When it comes to money, Pigs enjoy spending more than saving. They gravitate towards name brand items. Thriftiness happens only occasionally, but Pigs do know how to find great deals.

 

Have a Happy new year!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Another way too long post! Above are photos of 5 Elephant Square it's basically the city center of Nanning, Ezra and I went there for family night!

Things in China are good! Here are some little blurbs about life in China!

Blurb  #1

The Chinese totally have a thang for colored lights. Lights line the freeways, they're on all the buildings, even the light in our living room changes three different colors- --purple, yellow, and white. And the light in our master bedroom has hello kitty on it, I'm not kidding---it's so romantic! We also have tweety bird in one of the other rooms. Lol Why you would ever want that I have no idea! Funny! (I'll post some pictures soon!)

Blurb #2

The traffic here is absolutely Nutty- Nut—teee. I'm talkin New York times like a million! I took my first bus ride the other day. I could not find enough things to hold onto. There is no such thing as yielding to the pedestrian, or the bike, or anything for that matter.

We were taking some sweet curves at like 50mph and when the bus driver finally used the brake it was not pressed lightly. I'm sitting there thinking "We are so gonna die" and then I look around and everybody else on the bus looks calm and completely content including Ezra (he's weird).

There seem to be no traffic rules and traffic lights are kind of like suggestions. I would NEVER drive here. And I don't want to be in anything smaller than a bus on these roads. There are tons of people on motorized bikes and mopeds. My funny observance is that the Adults always wear the helmets and safety gear while the child/children riding on the back wear nothing. Hmmm.

 Blurb#3

We go out to eat a lot. Luckily there's a pizza hut and a kfc close, they are pretty much the only places that have forks. Everywhere else you have to use chopsticks. Chopsticks were not really something I thought about before I came here.

The first time I used Chopsticks was when we were out with a bunch of people from Ezra's work. They brought out the food and I started looking around for a fork.. And then it finally dawned on me, "my fork days are over!" And of coarse we ordered noodle soup! So I grabbed those puppies and went at it. Before long noodle broth was flying everywhere and I had all the Chinese at my table laughing.

Within about a minute I also had a table of Chinese businessmen across the way laughing.  Finally a guy from Ezra's work had pity on me and decided to give me a few pointers. I am happy to announce that by the end of the meal I was doing quite well and I have been getting better ever since! Ezra is a natural with chopsticks. He even gets compliments from Chinese people on his chopstick abilities.

Blurb#4

We were sitting waiting for our waitress and this women and her little girl walked by. I wasn't really paying much attention. Out of nowhere Ezra says "you've just been the victim of a drive by shooting." Apparently the women had her camera phone out and snuck a picture of me. Ezra caught a glimpse of the picture on her screen. Lol  So funny! I guess if I saw a freak of nature in my hometown I might try to catch a photo too, can't wait til I have a "twin" pregnant belly to add the freakiness!

Blurb#5

Whenever we go out parents try to make their children (studying English in school) talk to us. It's so funny. One lady practically forced her 10 year old boy to speak to us. Another lady taught her two year old to say "hello, how are you?"---so cute!

Another little girl was staring at me in Wal-Mart so I said "ni hao" a few minutes later I heard her say "hello" I was surprised and said "hi" with a really funny inflection in my voice. Soon the mother and her two daughters where repeating the word "hi" over and over with my exact same inflection. It was hilarious!

The same trip to Walmart an old lady walked by me with her cart . A few seconds after passing me she started to laugh and laugh. She looked back at me as she turned the corner with her hand held high above her head.  Apparently my height was amusing to her. I couldn't help but laugh too!

Blurb#6

I'm trying to be open minded.  So when we go out to these Chinese food places I give just about everything that looks safe a try. The other day they brought out what looked like soggy lettuce. I thought "hey…I'll give it a try maybe it 's covered in some magical sauce that makes it taste good." Nope- I'm here to tell you that it looked like soggy lettuce and it tasted like soggy lettuce.

Ezra loves Chinese food (he is so weird!).  He will try anything. Last night they gave us three boiled bird eggs the size of a robin egg with what looked like bacon around it. Ezra gobbled them right up. I was like "I don't know what kind of bird that came out of but it definitely was not a chicken! No thanks!

Blurb #7

My friend Ashley can speak pretty good English but every once in a while the ideas don't completely connect. Yesterday she called me and told me that we were going to meet with the Dr. around 6pm. So I told Ezra that he was going to have to make himself available to accompany us to the appointment.

To make a long story short Ashley picks us up, takes us to her house to park her car and we start walking down the street in front of this Chinese strip mall. All of the sudden she turns into this little building. Two women wearing white robes greet us at the door, and I can see fish swimming in a little brook next to the stairs. I'm thinking, "we have had a big miscommunication here, this is some sort of Chinese spa, not a hospital."

Ezra and I look at each other but just continue to follow her up the stairs. Soon we come to this little room where we are asked to take off our shoes. And it finally dawns on us. We are going to dinner (Japanese style). Soon the Doctor, her husband, and a few others show up and we all have dinner. The whole time I thought I was going to a Dr. s appointment! But turns out we were just meeting for dinner.

Dinner was actually really fun. 2 English speakers: Me and Ezra. 4 Chinese: The doctor, her husband, Ashley's best friend, and Ashley our translator. I have to say, we hardly need a translator with Ezra. I am in complete awe at his ability to make friends. It's like a language barrier does not even exist. He is able to connect with these people so quickly, the way they respond to him is seriously almost magical.

The doctor is a cute old lady that's been delivering babies for 34 years, she told us that our babies are going to look like angels and the Chinese women were calling Ezra handsome boy in Chinese. lol At dinner Ezra had everybody laughing and laughing. The cute little Dr. is like totally in love with him. When we showed up at our real appointment the next day and the doctor realized that Ezra had also come along she about fell out of her chair with excitement, I was like "what I am? Chop liver?" jk

I was really nervous but everything was fairly normal. The Hospital(which is actually a women's center) was not like anything you see in the states, many people were waiting on every floor. 

Turns out this cute little Dr. is a head hauncho, she let us cut in the probably four hour long line. We felt kind of bad, the other patients were probably thinking, "hoity toity Americans." Oh well….

They poked around and then took us in for and ultrasound. Their equipment is not quite as advanced as in the states but we were still able to get some pretty good ultrasound pictures. They said that the babies are healthy and they could see all the normal body parts and their little hearts beating. Ashley said that they were talking to each other. Baby one is about 1milameter bigger than baby 2. Maybe we have a boy and a girl in there, that would be cool! Best part was we didn't have to fill out any paperwork and the Dr. said that we did not need to pay a dime! Sweet!  It's good to make connections.

Blurb#8

Ashley took me shopping. She is all about finding the best price and since she grew up in Nanning she knows where all the best prices are. Everything here is soooo cute. I'm looking at the clothes and shoes thinking "these are so much cuter than anything I find in the states."  I can actually fit in most of the clothes (right now, wink), but the shoes just taunt me. They do not come in my size-not even close and they are soooo cute and cheap and there are sooooo many of them, awwwwww!, its torture. Maybe Ashley and I will get lucky one of these days and find some in my size, she says she knows where some wholesale places are where they sell exports so maybe Ill have luck there. Ashley explained to me that in the South of China everyone is really small.

When we looked up what the weather was going to be like here it said subtropical, well it feels more like sub-zero. I have been so cold, the humidity makes it stick to you! We were told it was going to be like Florida. Maybe in a few months! Anyway I didn't really bring a good warm coat and I've been freezing my toosh off, literally. So Ashley helped me find a cute coat that is soo warm. I got it for such a great deal. I've always been a bargain shopper so I'm like in heaven right now!

Here is the best news of all, we found out that Ashley has immigrated to New Zealand so she is now considered a foreigner in China. Which means that she can join us for church meetings! She is thrilled that Ezra can bless the sacrament for her. Now we have four members in Nanning: Me, Ezra, Dan(Ezra's coworker), and Ashley! Woo hoo! Ashley  has been such a huge blessing to us, I seriously don't know what I would do with out her. I 'm still amazed that in a city with over 6.5 million people Heavenly Father got the only 2 Mormon girls together within a week! I really don't know how we would have been able to find a doctor with out her.

Ezra and I are not sure why we're getting the royal treatment, but we do know that we are very thankful that everything is falling into place so nicely.

Right now is kind of crazy because Chinese New Year is just around the corner, everything shuts down for about two weeks. No one works and there are lots of parties and LOTS of fireworks! They say it sounds like a war and feet of ash and firework wrappings cover the ground! I guess we will just have to get out and try to enjoy some of the festivities! When in Rome do as the Romans, right? We are headed to Hong Kong for a few days  over the holiday! I'm excited to go there, the plane ride is only and hour, whew! Ezra says it's his favorite city, we're going to hit up the sites, and hopefully be able to go to the temple.

Getting settled in: China!

(The picture above is a view of Nanning from the Marriott) We'll have some better pictures of Nanning soon!

Warning: This is my longest post ever. If you need to take a few snack/potty breaks while reading I will completely understand.

 

Wow! There is really just too much to say, I'm living in China!

 

Here's a list of some things I'm going to have to get used to:

 

1:Funny/yucky smells- cigarette smoke, real Chinese food, fish and other assortments of smelly things. Everywhere I go there are interesting smells. Being pregnant and having the smelling capabilities of a golden retriever has turned out to be somewhat of a curse- I have literally been praying for a stuffy nose.

 

2: My New Shower-, which is basically a fancy nozzle, that comes right out of my bathroom wall, no shower stalls here. I learned the hard way about our hot water supply. Luckily our second bathroom has a better supply.

 

3: Noises- There is no such thing as disturbing the peace in China. Honking, talking, banging, sawing, bicycle alarms are all noises that can be heard through out the day and into the night. Luckily I grew up with seven younger siblings and have been blessed with the capability to sleep through noise.

 

4: No dryers or ovens- we have to hang all our clothes out on our balcony to dry. And No more baking for me- okay I didn't really do much baking before so it shouldn't be too much of an adjustment. My new diet is going to consist of a lot more fruits and vegetables. 

 

5:The Ground: The ground here in Nanning is very unpredictable you have to watch your feet when you walk even when you are inside buildings.  I tripped on the way to lunch the other day with Ezra. I was holding the keys to the company condo in my hand when I fell and accidently flung them into a garden. Good news is I was able to find both the keys and I was able to catch myself before I hit the ground.

 

6:Hard beds: All Chinese beds are very hard, but I actually think that they are growing on me. We'll see how I feel in a few months when I have a belly out to…who knows where.

 

7:Staring- People constantly stare at me wherever I go. I don't think they would stare any less if I where green and my head where shaped like an upside down egg and I had two little antennas.  People in the US think I'm really tall; I'm like a female Goliath here.

 

8: The Language barrier: Ezra and I can say hi and thank you in Chinese. So often people make the assumption that we know more Chinese, so they try to talk to us. That's when some advice from the movie Madagascar comes in handy: "Smile and wave boys, smile and wave." And that's literally what we do.

 

So what is a girl that hates loud noises, crowds, and being the center of attention doing in China? Truth is I don't really know, but the one thing I do know that has been made very evident to me is that for some reason Heavenly Father wants me here.

 

Truth is, if I had made it my choice, I would not be in China right now. And even though I hid it fairly well this decision to move to China has been a terrifying one for me to make. Especially when I found out I was pregnant, and not just with one but with two.

 

This decision quickly became more than just a leap of faith, it began to feel much more like a sprawling, grasping, hurling bound from one side of the canyon to the other. Especially after I traveled for 26 hours straight with morning sickness and very little sleep, just to wake up the next morning for another plane ride and end up in a weird little airport with a bunch of luggage and take the craziest cab ride ever to end up in a place that is so utterly unfamiliar that it felt like a dream.

 

I have offered up more prayers in the past week than in the last year combined. But they have gone from prayers for comfort and peace to prayers of inexpressible gratitude to a Heavenly Father that has taken care of all the details and allowed me to have the wonderful experiences I have had every day since I have been here.

 

We have been blessed so much.

 

Blessing #1

We were able to find a good, way too big apartment on the second floor within a 5 min walk to Ezra's work and all the shopping we could ever need to do, right next to an international kindergarten. I can see children play from my windows.  Most of the China noisiness I hear now is the laughter and singing of little children. I'm going to see if they'll let me come in a couple times a week to teach English.

 

Blessing #2

The couple we are renting the apartment from are the nicest people ever, the husband (can't remember his name at the moment) came and spent six hours making sure everything was in working order he even bought us our own water machine. It's true what they say about Chinese hospitality.

 

Blessing #3

There are five or six translators that work for Ag Feed in Nanning. I have had the privilege to spend some time with a few of them while we were looking for apartments.  They told us that we are good people because when we arrived the sun came out and it hadn't been out for days. They are the cutest girls. Jes (the first translator that we met) says that she is my "copy" she is really funny and invites me to parties; I told here that I would come when I stop throwing up.

 

It's funny the Chinese I've spoken to don't really seem to understand the whole pregnancy thing. I was trying to explain to Jes that I get tired very quickly and I don't feel well. She told me in not so many words that I was lazy and need to go to the gym. Lol I was thinking, "so next time I feel exhausted and like I'm about to throw up I should remember that a healthy bounce up and down on a treadmill would do me some good. Ha! So funny I just have to laugh.

 

Cat is the other translator that I've been able to spend time with, she is my best friend, I'm just not sure if she knows that yet. She is so cute, I just love her. She explained to me that having twins in China is very good luck and everybody wants twins. She also told me that sometimes it is lonely being the only child and she wishes she had a sibling. She reminded me how much more often I need to count my blessings.

 

Blessing #4

The accountant at Ag Feed is the nicest guy, he's lived in China for several years. He knew that I was looking for a doctor here in Nanning so he set up a lunch date with his friend Ashley who is Chinese and from this area. Well come to find out Ashley is Mormon!

 

She has come back to China to take care of her aging parents. She said she doesn't know why Heavenly Father wants her back in China but she thinks it is because she needs to be here to help the church. She usually lives most of the year in New Zealand and found the missionaries while she was there.  When she was investigating the church she sat in the foyer because someone told her that they would suck out your soul or something silly like that. 

 

She was inspired that the missionaries would spend their own time and money, whatever the weather and preach the gospel so far from their families. She was able to read the Book of Mormon and feel the spirit and was eventually baptized.  

 

She explained to me how she knows what I'm going through being a foreigner in a strange land, and she wants nothing more than to take care of me. She said, "You are a pioneer."

 

She is already setting Dr's appointments up for me and says that she will come with me. She is bubbly and kind and almost old enough to be my mother. Unfortunately

she cannot attend church meetings with us because it is illegal to have Chinese Nationals part of our meetings. Dang.

 

Blessing #5

I am finally feeling better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel mostly normal during the day and only seem to have a little spat of nausea at night. And my appetite is back and in full force.  The twins must have gotten sick of all the measly meals they got for the past couple months and are trying to make up for it now. You know, you really start to appreciate feeling good when you haven't for a long time. I'm ecstatic, I can finally go do some of the exploring I've been wanting to.

 

I know I have been blessed, even though the trip here was basically torture. When I needed to get my bags off the plane or walk to the hotel or wait in line or go look at apartments I was able to have the energy and strength to do it and I know that's not a coincidence.

 

I could name so many more wonderful blessings and experiences and can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father is involved in all the details of my life. I have been so richly blessed. I already wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

WE MADE IT TO CHINA!

This is actually a test post. Come to find out, we can't get on any social sights such as youtube,facebook,or blogger. So my bother inlaw Adam being the awsome person that he is set it up so I can blog from my e-mail so this is a test run to see if it works. He also told me about google reader so I can read your blogs, can't see your pictures, but it's still fun to know what your up to.

Just when we thought it couldn't get any crazier!

So guess what! We're pregnant! We had our first ultrasound last night. The doctor prods around and we see our tiny babies heart beat and I'm happy because now I can see that I am 100% truly pregnant. Then the Dr. says "lets view it from another angle." And I'm thinking "no thanks that first angle was good"(ultrasounds are a bit more uncomfortable than I anticipated).

Then he says "Do you see that?" and I have no idea what he's talking about. He says "there's two in there!" I become totally bewhildered and think "this man is lying to us." And next thing I know I'm hearing both of my little babies heart beats! Twins! Ezra and I look at eachother in shock and of corse I start crying.



Then he says that he can't see a membrane separating the two sacks. And that could cause cord entanglement and there's a significant risk we could lose one or both of the babies. After a few blessings, some fasting and prayer, and a trip to a specialist we found out that the babies are perfectly fine in their own little sacks. We are so thrilled! And knowing that there two little guys inside of me makes all the nausea and vomiting seem a bit more worth it.

I've learned a few good lessons from this pregnancy so far number 1 being that if i want to keep my pregnancy a secret for any length of time, the one person I should not tell is Ezra! Lesson number two is Ezra and I need some serious help in the "planning department!"

In other news we're off to China in the morning-----my life is feeling seriously sureal. But here we go! I need your prayers 14 hrs on a plane with morning sickness may be a trick!

Stay posted!

Love Christmas!

Did we say AZ what we meant was CHINA!

Holy Cow! It's been a crazy couple of weeks. One day were packing to move to AZ
and I'm stressin cuz I'm supposed to find an apt
and the only apts I can find close to Ezra's work are filled with drug dealers and roches.

And the next day Ezra gets a sweet job offer to work in China.
And we take it!

We were nervous to call Knight Brokerage and tell them we would be peace'in out days before we were supposed to start. But to our surprise they were totally excited for us and told us to keep in touch because they might have some work for us to do in China!

Needless to say it's been quite the emotional roller coster ride.Ezra is thrilled to be going to China....Me, I'm apprehensive and excited. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be moving to China. But we are young, in love, and I can't think of a better time to embark on this adventure.We leave the second week in January ... O’er mountain, or plain, or sea to other side of the planet.

We've already been practicing our mandarin and already know one of the most important phrases in the Chinese language....."where is the toilet?" What more do you need to know?

So are we crazy? um...I think so. We're moving to the small subtropical town of Nanning,China -population 6.5 million. Idaho to China. hmmmm It's been fun to tell people where we are moving. Some people give us weird looks and ask if we're joking. I don't blame them I'm still having a hard time believing it myself.


Well start booking your trips-we'll put you up! We'll be back to the US every four months so we can see your beautiful faces in person.CHINA here we come!

Arizona!

Ezra sales equipment, most often skid steers. In July of 2009 Ezra and I took a trip to Arizona to pick up two skid steers. We started our 13 hour trip on a Friday night at around 5pm. We drove through the night and arrived in AZ the next morning. We picked up the skid steers and spent the day in 120 degrees. We were convinced that something was wrong with our air conditioning.

On our way home we had a long conversation about how awful Arizona was and we both vowed that AZ would be the one place we would never live. Well life as you know, is full of beautiful ironies. When we found out that Ezra might have a job opportunity with Knight Brokerage (head quarters AZ) we both started laughing. We might end up in the one place we vowed we'd never live. Well it's happened! And despite our initial repulsion to the area we are so excited and more than ready to start our next adventure. We are heading down the day after Thanksgiving. Arizona here we come! If you would like to be a winter visitor give us a call!

Harry Potter!

CONFESSION:I am a Harry Potter Geek.

Have I read all the books? Yes!

Have I seen all the movies?Yes!

Have I listened to it on CD? Yes!

Am I counting down the days til the Deathly Hallows movie comes out and planning on dragging Ezra with me? Yes!

(Ezra who is not a Harry Potter geek isn't really into the whole Harry Potter thang but will still come with me cuz he's just sweet like that---I think Voldemort scares him or maybe the Dementors)

Do I have a Harry Potter Poster in my bedroom? You'll never know

Okay Here are some of my favorite Harry Potter Quotes- Did I get carried away? um yes, but read them anyway because they're really good!

It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Dumbledore to Voldermort.

What's comin' will come and we'll meet it when it does.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Alkaban

~J.K. Rowling

We just can't get enough

These are pictures from our conference weekend. Ezra and I flew down to Delta we watched conference with his Grandparents. Ezra got to give plane rides to his Dad and Grandpa. He flew them over the family farm. It was really fun!


Ezra talked me into going to the Boise air museum- At the time I was in the attitude "if you've seen one air museum you've seen em all." But it was actually really fun and interesting.




Ezra loves all things that fly- he made me take pictures of all the planes.Here is a picture of a rare and unique tri-wing plane. If you ever go to Boise give the air museum a chance and don't forget to get a yummy cheese cake caramel apple from the outlets on your way home.

This is Funny!

Patrick's Mission Call!

My brother Patrick got his mission call! He's going to be serving in the Barranquilla, Columbia mission! We are so excited for him and know that he is going to be a great missionary!




My grandfather had a stroke about a week ago so we decided to open Patricks call at the hospital with the family. It was such a cool experience. Grandpa is really proud of Patrick and the decision he has made to serve a mission.




Ezra was not able to be there because he was in Arizona for a job interview. But he is excited that he will have another Spanish speaker in the family.


We had a second opening at the house with a bunch of friends, it was such a wonderful celebration! Way to go Patrick!