for the love of grammar...

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Oh the sickness...

Our little shoolipotamus has a wee infection: group b strep. We thought that we would be going home today, but unfortunately we’ll have to stick around the RAM (that’s the hospital’s abbreviation) for another week. During this time Regan will be on an intravenous diet of delicious antibodies.

Please, let me stress it: PLEASE, do not be alarmed. This is a common experience, and the doctors at the RAM are the best in Southeast Asia; they caught it early, and they will treat it effectively. As Bobby McFerrin so eloquently put it in the 80's, “Don’t worry, be happy.”

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers; we will do our best to keep you posted and up-to-date on any developments.

Ben and Andrea

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mount Veshoolius!!!

Regan Elise Peters is here among us. She is a wonderful eight pounds and twenty-one inches. The labor was roughly twenty-nine hours, but Andrea was a champion throughout the entire process. We apologize for the spotty blog reports, but, per the usual, the internet at the hospital is not all that it was promised to be; however, the doctors and nurses are great, so don’t fret.

I will do my best [Ben] to upload pictures as soon as I can, so be on the look out. We miss you all, love you all, and thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Ben and Andrea

adventures in height...

yesterday andrea was in the grocery store looking for a bottle of water. she spotted one from the other side of the store on the top shelf. as she approached she noticed two men, fully grown men, reaching their utmost desperately trying to grab a water. there were only a few bottles left at the back of the shelf, and try as they may, they could not reach. they saw her towering behind and motioned for her to grab a bottle for them. without much effort she reached over them and grabbed a bottle. it was awkward, and she was way taller.

ben and i went to order food at KFC, which I would never eat in the states, but being somewhat familiar we dragged our tired bodies to the restaurant. as is custom here, people just butt in line; waiting is very american. three girls jumped in front of ben and i but didn’t know what they wanted. they just stood there and looked at the menu, chatting away. we were ready however, so we ordered right over their heads. it wasn’t hard, they only came up to our chest.

Ha Long Bay...

Last weekend Ben and I went to Ha Long Bay. The pictures we posted below are a small sampling of the beauty we enjoyed. The constant honking of horns and pollution in Hanoi were not missed as we sat atop a junk and enjoyed the scenery. The weather was rainy and cloudy, which might seem like a bummer considering we were on a boat for two days, but it was really quite nice. The rain here brings the temperature down significantly, which would have otherwise been miserably hot. We went kayaking in the rain, a wonderful experience, because the rain isn’t cold here; it is tropical and cool.

Our meals were set up in a dining room that also served as sleeping quarters for the crew. They were not sheepish to sleep when they were not serving us, and when night came they were comfortable enough to strip down to their boxers and lounge.

The rooms we stayed in were fairly nice. We had a bathroom to ourselves, and fans to keep us cool throughout the night, but things were still a little odd. As often is the case with this country, the bathroom doubles as a shower. There is no partition, and the water runs all over the floor and toilet. Removing the toilet paper is an important thing to remember, as the water from the sink also spills onto the floor.

All in all, it was a beautiful trip. The break from the city was much needed, and the refreshing scenery--limestone rock formations--reminded us, ever so slightly, of home. On the three hour bus ride back we were able to see the numerous rice patties that Vietnam is known for, but sadly, we soon re-entered the city, and the non-stop incessant honking of Hanoi.

for the love of grammar...

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Oh the sickness...

Monday, February 2, 2009

I just want to snuggle...

An hour and a half old...

All three shoolies at minute five...

Regan: two minutes old...

Andrea, Ben, and Nurse Connie going into hour twelve...

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mount Veshoolius!!!

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