We finished our hypnobirthing class last Saturday after 4 weekends. It was good--time consuming but I think it was definitely worthwhile and have been practicing my techniques to help prepare myself for a calm birth.
I actually have an appointment this Tuesday with a new doctor at a different facility than I have been going. I've been going to a doctor at a large hospital in Seoul, which has been great so far, but I want to switch to this birthing center called Mediflower (check out their webpage: http://www.mediflower.co.kr/eng/index.html --my doula is in the picture on their front page!). They are supportive of natural birth and will allow me more flexibility during my labor than the hospital would, so I would rather go there. Plus, I have several friends who have birthed there and they all highly recommend it. I think one of the big perks is that they have two tubs to labor and/or birth in, which I think I definitely want to use. I go in for my glucose/gestational diabetes screening this week and will get to meet my new doctor and take a tour of the facility. I'm looking forward to it! It's getting closer to meeting our girl and I am getting more excited about it!
Well, in two weeks we will be in the US for Christmas for almost 3 weeks. This year Christmas can't come soon enough. If you are my friend on Facebook you might have gathered that this school year has been extremely stressful due to political/governance and financial situations going on at our school. There has been too much going on for me to try to explain. It has been stressful, frustrating, and heart-wrenching at times to see what has happened to our wonderful school and the Christian community due to lack of transparency on the part of some and dishonesty on the part of others. Unfortunately I have been kind of caught in the middle of it all as a representative for the elementary school and so I have had to be much more involved in things that I would normally not get involved in and deal with things that I would rather not. I finally resigned from that representative position yesterday as I just could not handle the physical and emotional stress from it and what it might be doing to my baby. Though already feel like a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders because of that, it seems like things just keep getting worse at work. I am hurting for my co-workers who have been mistreated and laid off from their jobs for no apparent reason. What we are clinging to right now is the hope and trust that the LORD is in control and that He will establish His will in our school and in our lives, despite what the evil one is doing in our midst. Our God is Almighty and He shall reign! Let the name of the LORD be praised, no matter the situation. I am so thankful for that hope.
I also cannot wait to see our families at Christmas! I am ready for Raindrop to hear the sounds of Christmas carols and family and friends gathered around enjoying each others' company. There is no place like home.
I'll leave you with a couple of photos from today...here we are at 25 weeks along!
