Week 19 and WEDDING DAY!

Today, Neil and I are getting married. I woke up single, and will be going to bed a Mrs. And I am so excited! We think we have everything ready to go. The location, the officiant, the dress (which still barely fits), the suit, the flowers, the favours, the reception site, the liquor for drinks at our place... we think we have it all! Although I am not sure where in the pyramid we'll have the ceremony. Nor am I sure how we'll start dad walking me down the "aisle". But otherwise I think we have it covered. Now just to remember the rings and license.

This morning Neil went and got me a Transcend latte, to give me that little boost of caffeine to make it through the day. Well, at least through the hair apointment. Why do I need this boost? Well, I have a cold. Or swine flu... the swab results aren't back yet.

Last weekend Neil and I went to a conference in Seattle, PAX, and upon returning we found out there was a confirmed case of swine flu at the conference. And with me being pregnant, and at a higher risk of complications from swine flu, as soon as we found out we called my OB and she brought us in immediately and swabbed me (a very long and skinny swab, through the NOSE to the back of the throat, which tickled like CRAZY!) and started me on Tamiflu, as a precaution. She said if I was any sicker, that I may have had to have been hospitalized... luckily I am getting better, feeling ok now and thus just have the medication. And have warned the guests about the slim chance that I have swine flu. Otherwise the adults will be there. While I am feeling better, my nose is RED and SWOLLEN and PEELING, which is a very attractive look, for a wedding. But it's just the way things go for us.

Oh! Another "Birch-ism", once we returned home, I was putting things away in the shower and moving the curtains must have disturbed the wasp sleeping there. Who proceeded to sting me THREE times on the left Achilles Heel, right where the back of my shoes would go. We're hoping I will be able to wear the shoes I bought... I don't want to know if I can't. Yet.

Time has elapsed, my hair is done (it looks beautiful!) and the shoes were tried on and can be worn! WOO HOO! But I have to also say, my fabulous hairdresser bought a vase of flowers and daisies for me, as a wedding gift. What a wonderful gesture!! The wedding favours are in bags, with matching tissue paper on top. The menus are printed out and on cardboard, for easier reading. The alcohol is sitting on the dining room table, maybe it should be in the kitchen? Near the ice? Just waiting to be able to put on my makeup and then the dress...

Well, maybe I should take a break from the wedding play-by-play and mention someone important - Sprout! Our little girl is now 19 weeks along (almost half way done!) On the way back home, we ran into my dad's accupuncturist at the airport, Dr Ng, who also confirmed Sprout is a girl (my pulse is stronger on the right side, this means I am havig a girl). It's strange, I am more confident about the gender with his prediction than I was with the ultrasound. But I am now sure, we're having a little girl! Yesterday Dr. Loiselle listened to Sprout's heartbeat again, a solid 150 BPM, and she seems to be just fine (no effects from the cold) and the ultrasound came back with everything looking a-ok! It's so reassuring to hear the woosh-woosh of her heartbeat, it makes me know she's ok. And I am feeling some movement. Not a lot, not very hard but I can feel her kicking and punching and that always brings a smile to my face. When I say she's moving Neil tries to feel it, he reaches out and touches my belly. But it's just too soon to feel it from the outside. But when he can... it's really an amazing feeling to have physical proof of the existence of your child!

Week 19 is MANGO! Our little girl is about the size of a mango. And growing larger all the time

And I know this next statement is going to sound wrong, but I think I am losing weight with this pregnancy. I weighed myself the morning after we found out. Since that day, June 2 2009 when I was just 5 weeks along, I have only gained 9 pounds. I am a LOT larger in the belly area, but I think the rest of me is shrinking. This is NOT a bad thing, since I really was overweight to start, but it really proves to me eating often (seemingly all the time) but small amounts and trying to eat more fruits and veggies actually WORKS for losing weight!! Although the one complaint? The pregnancy clothes I bought to get me through? Are starting to be too big...

OK, the hour of marriage approaches and I should double check the house and start on the make-up. I bought fake eyelashes for the first time... wish me luck so that I don't glue my eyes shut! Oh c'mon... you know that is something I would do!

More after we're man and wife (and Sprout)