To remember the pregnancy...

I LOVE being pregnant. I love all the kicks, the dreaming...I don't even mind people giving my belly a rub. It's been a fun and comfortable pregnancy, despite the first few months of nausea and tiredness.

My mom will be our official photographer for all the baby shots and has new special lenses and everything! We got to try them out the other day taking lots of maternity shots, which works out well because it's a fun time to remember. I'm not really into the "posed" shots, but put up with it for awhile because, well, I just have to sometimes!! It's weird when one part of your body gets so much attention. It's also weird when people comment on how big that part of your body is getting. I've let them know they have a limited amount of weeks left for those comments. After he's born, it won't be so fun to take belly pictures and talk about how "big" it is. In fact, I hope we're not!!

Baby Shower

My Aunts Lindy and Cyndi threw us a baby shower last weekend and it was such a fun time to see friends and family that I haven't been able to see yet. They definitely helped me in getting ready for this baby with clothes and strollers and towels...and everything else I need. It's awesome to see everyone come together and know how much they have blessed us simply by being there!

Still changing

It seems the baby's room changes every single day! I always think that we have it perfect, then something else comes along to make it even more perfect. I spend a lot of time in his room, thinking about all that is ahead, praying for him, planning so many things. I managed to finish knitting his blanket and was thankful that happened before he was 20 like I had previously thought!

Catching up

So I somehow find myself busier here than when I was working full time, going to church activities, and carrying on a social life in the DR. Amazing. We've been preparing for this little baby and I am so excited to meet him. I've got just under 2 weeks until the official due date and am doing all that I can to have him before/after my nephew's bday (also his due date!). I managed to work out how to make his baby diapers-inserts for the gdiapers I'll be using. I've caught up with lots of family and some friends, the picture is with my cousin Michelle who is also pregnant. It's great being home, very great really. It's perfect timing to really feel like I'm ready to welcome in this baby as we talk and prepare for him every day.

Watermelon baby

So back when I was 12 weeks pregnant, I jokingly took a picture of my "belly" with a watermelon under my shirt. I was so excited to "show" and never imagined I would really be that big! Well, this week it happened. I am now 35.5 weeks pregnant (8 months) and you could say as big as a watermelon! I am so thankful for this baby boy, his development, growth, and all his baby wiggles. This is big enough though I think, we don't need to graduate to a pumpkin!!

Growing

I'm nearly at 35 weeks now (8 months) and all is going so smoothly. I feel great, especially being away from heat and humidity (I didn't realize what a change that would be!). Since getting back I've had 2 doctor appointments, some blood draws, glucose tests, an ultrasound...getting all caught up. The best news is that we have a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy. Our baby is active most of the time which I love, I can't believe there's just one more month left. Even with all the ups and downs of pregnancy, I have enjoyed so much this time as he grows (and me too). We are really looking forward to meeting him and I can't wait to see his little face and cuddle him.

Baby's room

So with the room all gutted out, it was full speed ahead to get it ready for our little man. My mom painted the whole room and then added stripes to the top, along with all the baby's furniture and lots of clothing and other baby accessories that our friends have blessed us with! It is so exciting to see it all in place, although it seems to still be changing daily as we add things to the walls and continue to decorate. It's going to be so great to make this room complete with a little baby boy!

Projects

There has been no lack of projects since getting back to Oregon...or I guess I've created a few! We had to take everything out of the "guest room" which is now the baby's room. There were also a lot of things that my parents have been saving for Ariel and me that just weren't fitting anymore in their organized house. So they rented a storage unit for awhile to get things orderly again and for a place for all that we pulled out of the baby's room. It now looks awesome and we definitly have our own living space downstairs now!

Preparing for baby

Since getting in on Friday, it has been nonstop movement and preparation. In just a few short days we have gotten the paint for the baby's room, ordered his crib, registered, and gotten lots of things in order! It was hard to prepare from another country, so most everything we put off until I was able to be in Oregon again. It's been so fun though doing all these things and, as if the belly wasn't enough for me, it makes it feel more real that this little man is coming.

My body is doing well after being sick a week ago...I feel like it never even happened. I was back at the doctor's office yesterday and having more blood tests and other checks to make sure all is in order. They felt like everything looked good and so I was on my way. I have the "real" appointment next Monday with the sonogram and full doctor check-up, etc. We heard his heart thumping away and I always love that sound. This baby is active, to say the least, and moves around constantly. I love it. I cherish it. I enjoy all of it (minus foot in ribs).

Continue to pray for the weeks that remain, that his development will continue well, that Ariel's visa is approved in time for the delivery, and well...for the labor and delivery, and that becoming-parents thing!

Oregon

The day finally came for me to return to Oregon. After being sick and everyone worrying, it was so easy to leave the DR that day. Everyone just wanted me out of the country and safe in my parent's house near my doctors and hospital. So I made the 14 hour journey across the country to finally arrive to my smiling parents on Friday night. The weather has been fantastic, a welcomed change from the heat and humidity! My feet and hands are almost fully returned to their non-swollen state which was worth the trip in itself!! The lack of cars and outside noise, along with cool nights means I'm sleeing better than I have in months. Those are all good things as I prepare for this little baby to be born...gotta stock up on the sleep while I can!

A little delay

No, I didn't get any good pictures, so you get a diagram. On Monday, I got a case of the diarrheas, which I figured was probably just due to nerves and anxiety and all things related to leaving the DR. By nighttime, it was getting worse, but I just held on, drinking lots and doing my best. We went to bed around 11, but I never got to sleep. I got up around midnight with a fever and started feeling what I thought might be mild contractions. I drank about 3 liters of water (being the good little nurse I am) and waited for things to improve. By 3 am, my temp was 101 and the contractions, though super mild, were about every 15 mins. So Ariel and I headed to the hospital.

I got evaluted all over and was eventually admitted with dehydration related to amoebas/diarrhea. I got started on (safe) treatment for the little critters, lots of IV fluids, and other meds. I got 3 shots in the bum, 2 IVs, 3 blood draws, but in the end, am doing just fine. The contractions stopped after getting well hydrated again and the baby has been doing great. We saw him on the ultrasound and he is growing leaps and bounds.

So I'm back in my apartment for today and then heading straight to Oregon tomorrow (Friday). I was sad to cancel my trip to Los Angeles to see my brother and sister-in-law who I haven't seen in 2.5 years, but we just have to trust it is all for the best. I know nothing is out of God's hands and that for whatever reason I don't get to understand, this was the route I needed to take. So keep that 14 hour travel day in your prayers for this pregnant lady and the little one and safe arrivals and outcomes for all!

Family good byes

Sunday proved to be another going away get-together at Ariel's grandma's house. His mom made all my favorite foods (white rice with guandules guisadas, beef, chicken, avocado...fantastic). All the aunts and uncles and cousins came over and it was an awesome time to just be with everyone. This family has been so great at taking in this "gringa" with all their love and affection. They have been supportive of Ariel and me in all of our decisions and are equally excited to meet this growing baby!

So many "lasts"

Well we have been taking full advantage of spending these last days doing great things. It has been some different activity almost every night. I'm trying to soak up time with friends, Ariel, seeing things, and just being here still. We've had great dinners out together, then took a trip with Francis and Milka to Santiago to see a movie and go to the stores. It has been a fantastic way to spend personal time with others that is so special. The relationships that we have here are so dear and it's hard to move onto the next step of "uncertainties", but I am enjoying every minute of my time with friends and family before leaving.

Surprise going away party

Alberto and lots of others collaborated together to throw such a great surprise going away party for me. I really wasn't expecting it at all as we had a going away activity at the school the day before. So Ariel took me over to our team house to get some things we had left there and instead of walking into an empty house, it was PACKED full and beautifully decorated! They prepared a great program with lots of food and cake and nice, lovely things to say. It was so special to have them do this, fully unexpected, and a great way to spend time with everyone again!

Last day at school

I was sort of dreading today...my last day at school. It's just that I'm not good at the whole good-bye thing. But I went ahead as planned, knowing that I had to do it for myself and it was a healthy step to leaving. It turned out to be so special and fun! Zeneida made me a special lunch of all my favorite things (salami rice, avocado, fried yuca-arepita de yuca) which was a great way to start! Then after lunch, the kids had a presentation from each classroom. Some were acrostics with the name "JESSI", others were little poems or dramas. Lots of kids wrote me little notes about how I'm their best friend and one girl told me I'm like her mom. Special, special kids. Zeneida got up to sing a little song but didn't make it through it all. They had a plaque for me with a great engraving about my work with Kids Alive. Pulling away from the school for the last time was surreal, like none of this is really happening. Even though it's hard, it's also encouraging because I know for sure I will be back and see them all again...after all, we have all of Ariel's family here! So it turned out to be a great day...this last day of school.

Starting the "lasts"

Well it has come time to start the list of "lasts" that I wanted to do before heading back to the States. This past weekend Ariel and I got to get away for one last mini-vacation together and to enjoy the beach. We had an amazing dinner right over the cliffs of the ocean that was beautiful...some "lasts" are hard to let go of!!

An update

I stepped onto the island in September, 2006, expecting to be here for 5 weeks. 4 years later, I am beginning to pack my bags for the trip back to Oregon. This is such a time of mixed emotions as I say good bye to so many things that have become "normal" and think forward to the amazing things that are ahead. Our baby boy is due around November 6th, so the doctors want me there by mid-September for safety with flying and follow-up. As I watch this belly grow, I know it is a good decision to get home while it is still safe to travel! I plan to head back at this time to prepare for what is the most exciting journey ever!
We are still waiting for word on Ariel's visa, but prayerfully hope he will make his interview and be approved in time to make it to Oregon for the birth. We made the decision to have the baby in the States either way, trusting that it is the safest and wisest decision for both the baby and me. Our plans for the moment are to be inthe U.S. for a few years before returning permanently to the Dominican Republic. We are excited, nervous, and anxious as we anticipate all that awaits us. Please pray for the many transitions we will each be facing in the months ahead which include a change of culture, language, jobs, becoming parents...and the list goes on! We have seen God's amazing providence for our lives and know He will walk us through each step of this.


Although we are thankful to have medical insurance, it will only cover 80% of the birth and after care. Along with coverage for the baby's insurance, we will need approximately $5000-$6000 for the coming months to cover co-pays and insurance. Please pray with us that the money will come through as God always amazes us with the way He provides.

If you are interested in supporting in ths time, you can also donate through the Kids Alive website and find my name under "Around the World", then "Dominican Republic". Support can also be mailed to the address at the bottom. Thank you for trusting me enough to support me through all of this. I have learned an endless amount of lessons that will continue to mold and shape me for a lifetime.



With much love, Jessi



Support can be mailed to Kids Alive, noted for Jessi Dixon Veras at:
Kids Alive
PO Box 2117
Valparaiso, IN 46383

Playing on the playground!

We were so blessed by a huge network of people that worked together to install a playground for us! Everything arrived on a packed-tight container a few weeks ago and was installed by another awesome group last week. It was fun to see the kids pass by the school as it was being set up, to see their excitement about something so cool. This was a very special project to me because it was purely for the kids to enjoy, nothing else! It wasn't something more "functional" like a classroom or cafeteria (which I'm so grateful for, don't get me wrong!) It was just awesome to see so many people pour themselves into work for the simple pleasure and joy of these children! And what joy it is!! They LOVED play day with the group and went crazy for all the new toys. Thank you again to all those that were a part of this project!!

Milka's bday

A few weeks back we got to celebrate with Francis and Milka as she celebrated her birthday! We went out to pizza together and had a fun time talking and being together. Frayme is growing like crazy and as smily as ever!!

Growing

We are past the 6 month mark and doing well! We made a special trip to IKEA in Santo Domingo on Saturday (Jarabacoa already is closer so we took advantage of that!). We got some boxes for packing up but also wandered through the baby section to daydream about what it will be like to have our little boy with us! He is moving and kicking like crazy and I love it...pregnancy is so fun, even with the heat and swelling body parts, it's exciting to feel this baby moving inside and think about all that is ahead for us!

Wedding

The wedding was lovely and I was thankful to be there and a part of it. We got to catch up with old friends who we surprisingly don't see very often! Josie came back for the wedding which was one of my favorite parts!! Congrats to Jhon and Nany on their marriage!!

Weekend in Jarabacoa

Last weekend we got to head up to the mountains and away from the heat for a few days. Our friend Nany got married on Saturday, so we took of Friday after work. We got there in time to head to our favorite restaurant on the mountain with our friends. It was an excellent time of eating cheesecake and talking and wearing sweatshirts!!

Container arrives

A container ship was sent down from the States packed fully of donations. After passing through immigration in Santo Domingo, it was finally released for delivery. It was a huge container and it got stuck in the first river crossing at 6 in the morning! Alberto was able to find a tractor willing to pull it through the river and out of the mud

It made it to the school after having to grate the next river crossing and lifting electrical wires with plastic pipes! We couldn't believe how full it was.

Thankfully we had a team all week that worked hard to unpack everything in a few hours. It was incredible to see all that was packed in this container...it filled so much of our new cafeteria. They send desks and chairs and dental equipment, medicines and bags and backpacks, and the most exciting...a playground!!! They had collected from various playgrounds that were being taken out and we can't wait to see these kids have the huge blessing and fun of a real playground, which includes a bridge!!

It is awesome to see what happens when so many people work together, on both ends of the deal! This took huge amount of time and effort to collect and pack the container, and lots of sweat and muscle to unload it on our end. It'll be so worth it all to see these guys jumping around on their new playground and enjoying all the other goodies on the container!

Summers

Summer for Kids Alive means lots of teams! We are no different here in Caraballo and are happy to have nearly come to the end of a great summer of teams. It has been incredible the work that has been done, and worth all of the planning and organizing and some sweating as well. I did a lot of translating and talking, but it also helps open my eyes time and time again to all that is around me when I see it through fresh eyes...and middle schoolers! We've had a great team to lead each part of our teams and it's been a fantastic summer, despite the swollen feet and sweat!! (all "in-action" pictures taken by B.Brown)

Good-byes

One of the hardest things about living here is the transient nature of friendships. Because we all sign up for certain terms, it often means that friends leave after 6 months, a year, it's a constant transition of friends. Robin and Ashley have been here for ages though, and it's been awesome to have them around so long. They both left this week, Robin after 3 years here, Ashley after 2. It's exciting to hear what is ahead for them and I am so thankful for all that we shared while here and look forward to hopefully meeting up in the States!!

Blessing the baby

A few weeks back, despite all the busy-ness with teams, my friends had a little get together to bless our little man. We played some games and ate great snacks and they gathered around and prayed lots of blessings for our baby. I feel so...blessed (a lot of that word for one posting) to have friends like these that surround me and love me and support me in ways I can't even describe.

Beach with groups

One of my favorite parts of the week is when we get to go to the beach for some worship and talking time. It's a nice way to wrap up a week-long trip and talk through what they did and saw. Last night was no exception, it was a great night to share and hear from everyone. We had 2 fantastic teams from Wisconsin with great leaders and great middle schoolers working hard! We love groups like these, they are very special!

Cafeteria painted!

They did it! After lots of work, the team was able to finish painting the new cafeteria expansion. It looks incredible and it's going to be awesome to welcome the kids back to a bigger and better cafeteria!!

Building

Our summer teams continue to work hard as we have the expanded cafeteria almost finished! It's been awesome to see the dedication of these teams to help us fit more kids in. It's going to double our cafeteria size which means a lot more space and more kids!!

Summer program finishes

It's hard to believe, but our summer program has already come to an end. We have a 5 week program that is very similar to VBS. This summer, we had a fantastic turn out and the attendance was impressive! On the last day, the kids presented some of the things they had learned through their classes and we had a special lunch. As they headed out the door, they were given a gift bag with donated clothes and shoes and the team that is here helping us this week got to be involved in this whole day. I also got to love on Angelica, one of our teachers bitty little 3 week baby (she's just about 6 lbs now!)

Loving the prego's

I just wanted to share how much Dominicans love their pregnant ladies. When you are pregnant in the D.R. you don't have to:

-wait in line

-carry anything

-park far away (special parking sign at the supermarket in that picture)

-exercise

-bend down

I'm kind of just expected to sit around and rest and that's okay with everyone! It's amazing the type of queen treatment I have been upgraded to, simply for having a belly! On the flip side, I do get some comments when I try to be a pregnant American and bend down for something or carry something or exercise...but I'll deal with that for the star treatment I get the rest of the time!

Family

Ariel's brother is married to a lovely lady from Norway, and last week, her family came to visit. We went to Maimon on the weekend and got to share eating fish with their heads on. Ariel still takes the head off of mine before I eat it, but it was a good time to be with the family and especially those neices and nephews! Their faces never fail to put a smile on mine!

Construction

We have been filled with rocks and dust at the school, but it is well worth it to see the progress that is taking place! The cafeteria has long been too small for the 200 kids that we feed altogether. When everyone is present, kids have to sit in the windows and sides of the cafeteria. This also means that we were restricted to growth, as there is no where to have the kids together to eat. Well, soon that will be a problem of the past as the cafeteria walls are coming tumbling down. So far they have worked amazingly fast to get the roof ready and the walls and floors prepared for our summer teams to continue work. Already I am excited as I see the room that we are going to have. In just a few weeks, we should be able to fit more kids, so in anticipation of the fall semester, we have begun enrollment for a new 4 year olds class!

Summer teams begin

Well I got back on Wed afternoon 1.5 weeks ago to receive our first summer team Thursday! This group came from Indiana and worked hard moving wheelbarrowful after wheelbarrowful of dirt and rocks as well as laying the foundation for the stairs up to our second story! They sweated a lot and worked hard and I bet they're in weather shock back in Indiana now!

Leaving the States

This was a perfect good bye to the States. I got to watch an amazing sunrise over New York during my 4 hour layover. Beautiful.

Growing baby

We got to see the little baby a few times in the last week while I was in Oregon. We went for a few sonograms and the little one was kicking and moving and dancing around. He (gender neutral "he", we still don't know) was even sucking his little thumb. They checked every little piece of this baby and I can say that he is perfect. Every little finger joint, his heart...it is amazing.

We are going to be watching some measurements and changes in his brain, but what we ask for are your prayers that all will be developed properly. We know our baby is perfect and that God makes no mistakes in forming these little ones, so we trust and pray for all to be positive.

Oregon did the baby bump very good and I am looking more and more pregnant these days. The baby is very active and my mom and Ariel both have felt him moving from the outside. He really likes the mornings when I drink orange juice and the evenings when I stop moving from the day.

I am excited, so excited I can't even put words to it. Pregnancy is incredible. I have never experienced so many emotions in so few months. From sheer joy to absolute terror, and everything in-between. Whenever I feel overwhelmed about becoming a mom, I just remember that in the early weeks of pregnancy (I found out I was prego at 4.5 weeks!!) I dedicated this little one to God and I try to always remember that this is His baby that He lets me have for awhile. What a blessing. It is exciting to go through these steps with Ariel, to see our marriage grow as we each change, and I can't wait for what is ahead.

Newport Marathon

My time in Oregon was happily filled to every last minute! It was incredible all that I was able to do and be a part of. My brother ran the Newport Marathon on my last weekend, so I got to stay the whole weekend at the beach with his family and my parents in a house they'd rented months ago. We got to rest (except for John who ran 26 miles), go to the tide pools, eat a lot, visit the beach, and let my mom go crazy with taking pictures. I loved it all, especially time with my neice and nephew...I just can't get enough of that!

More friends!

This was such a fun trip to Oregon because I got to meet up with so many old friends that I haven't seen in many years. I do have to give most of the thanks to Facebook, who keeps us in touch, but it's so cool that after all these years we still can be getting together. I got to have dinner and Voodoo donuts with two friends from high school, Lauren and Shannon, and it was so nice to just talk about our lives now and catch up. Even through all the years...I don't think we've changed all that much!

Carrascos visit

When I was in high school, we had a student from Nicaragua come and stay with us...and he became part of our family! Alan has been like a brother from the beginning and he lived with us for many months, went back to Nicaragua, then returned to live with us. He has since gotten married and now has a family and they all live in New Mexico. It happened that while I was in Oregon, he took is family for a visit for the weekend! It was awesome to get to spend time with his kids, I hadn't even met the littlest one.