Week 18: tap tap tap...

... is anybody there?

I've been feeling some pulsing movements quite low down my belly. Random taps here and there. Is it the baby? Usually first-timers feel these movements around 20 weeks, but if you're quite thin, then it can be earlier. My brother says it's the baby. They can already feel their's.

Yep, it's the baby. Fatt put his hand on my belly and the baby went kick/punch. It's quite an amazing experience, feeling this little entity fluttering around inside of you.

Another aspect of pregnancy: horrible dreams. I dreamt I was bleeding a lot down there and knew I desperately needed to get to a hospital. It was a relief to wake up.

Waist (though it doesn't look like I have any): 29 and a half inches.
Belly around the biggest part: 34 inches.

Week 17: RIP Tiny

The vet called to say Tiny had passed away in the night. She'd had a potter around in her cage, and then just went back in and laid down...

We're both very upset at this. I wonder if pregnancy hormones are making me more emotional, but I don't think so. She was a lovely dog, so sweet and affectionate. Can't believe that she's gone. Was it inevitable? Did we provoke it by taking her in or should we have left her on the streets? Were the antibiotics all too much? Hard to tell.

In Bhutan, they won't kill stray dogs because they believe that when a person dies, they are shown the way to heaven by a doggy with a light on its tail. Well, if we ever get to heaven, let's hope Tiny will be our doggy.

On other matters, the earth moved - literally! An earthquake in Laos caused tall buildings in Bangkok to shudder. I wasn't sure at first until Fatt phoned to tell me to get the hell out of the condo. Outside, the peaceful soi life continued: kids cycled on tricycles, students strolled and munched their noodles, the motorbike taxis zoomed with their passengers. I don't think they realised that a 6.2 earthquake had occurred in a neighbouring country.

On the pregnancy front, I'm feeling a bit fatter. The other day, this taxi driver dropped me off and ran to the passenger door to let me out. And where I teach, one of me ex-students said I was getting chubby. It's supposed to be a compliment by the way...

Week 16: Operation Tiny

This is Tiny. She's a small soi dog living on the polluted mayhem of Rama IV road, near our old serviced apartment. When we first met her, we had a load of barbecued chicken we wanted to get rid of. She was so skinny - most definitely the best soi dog candidate. She ate the lot very daintily. Then Fatt started feeding her almost every evening. Sometimes she would eat ravenously, other times she wouldn't have the appetite but would look in our eyes and lick our hands in sweet affection.

Fatt took her to the vet because we thought she might have worms. While pretty active, she wasn't putting on weight. The vet said it may be worms, but more likely a very bad kidney with readings way off the chart. The vet wondered how Tiny could still be alive.

It's been about 3 weeks since we moved away. Fatt still went to see her about once a week and then he asked me to let her move in. She had no energy, could barely wag her tail and was now super-skinny. He thought she might die very soon.

While not over-keen to have a sick/dying dog on the premises, I agreed. So Fatt put her in a cardboard box, grabbed a taxi and made it over to our flat. She emerged, shaky and holocaust-thin, wary of her surroundings. Fatt gave her a good scrub.

As he had to work during the day, I was left to 'look after' Tiny. She wouldn't eat and hardly drank any water. She is still the sweetest dog, but very stubborn - won't be led by a lead. While still able to wag her tail, in general she's lacklustre, completely without energy.

I feel sorry for her, but have to balance that with needing to make sure I'm notgoing to catch anything which could harm the baby. I'm not a natural with dogs. I began to read experiences of tick infestations of the home and got very paranoid about her. At the same time, I'm sure she's not happy to be cooped up indoors.

But I still have to remember her lovely nature and the hard life she must have had so far.

On the weekend, Fatt took her to the vets. They're keeping her overnight on a drip. Hopefully she'll be OK...

Week 15: Fatt's fads

The weather has cooled a bit - it's bliss.

Fatt is currently going through a fad: home improvements. He's determined to stay at our new apartment for a good while and make it our own. Hence off to every home improvement store he can think of, plus, he's discovered Chatachuk Market has some great deals on beautiful furniture.

Some would call this the provider or nesting instinct. But I'm pretty sure it's one of his fads and it will pass very soon - certainly sooner than thinking about the baby room.

I can't fit into one of my favourite pair of trousers. And I definitely don't need a belt anymore.

At the Bambi meet today, a lady was demonstrating baby massage. So there were all these babies sprawled on the floor being gently pummelled by their mums. Very cute......