Cancer be not proud

by Bao

  
A big event that occurred in '09 was Chin's mom's (Margaret) diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma in August.  She went through chemotherapy like a champ and is now cancer free!!  This is a picture of her at Christmas.  A lot of her hair has grown back and she looks much better now :)

MacNut Week 3

It's too soon to find out whether anything is happening in there.

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Ovulation has occurred > fertilization > zygote starts dividing rapidly and swims down to the uterus. (Hopefully that's what's happening!)

Physical:

• Weight: 127 lb (+1)
• Belly circumference: 30.50 in (+0)
• Fine.

Spiritual & emotional:

• Normally, I would be really excited and anxious to find out what's going on.  But this week is really busy for me and I'm just getting things done before going to Longview & Portland for Xmas!
  

MacNut Week 2

 
Time to get BUSY!

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• This is the week!  The week where the magic happens!

Physical:

• Weight: 127 lb (+1)
• Belly circumference: 30.50 in (+0)
• Feeling pretty normal, still.

Spiritual & emotional:

• As you can see in this picture, I was not too happy.  This has been a tough week for me.  I had a lot to do for school and work.  Chin & I were so busy that we didn't have much time to spend together (and time together is what fuels my emotional needs).  So I was pretty cranky this week.

MacNut Week 1

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Again, nothing is going on.  My body is getting ready to ovulate (if you think it's TMI, you can go ahead and stop reading, lame ass!).

Physical:

• Weight: 127 lb (+1)
• Belly circumference: 30.50 in (+0)
• Feeling pretty normal.

Spiritual & emotional:

• Excited.

MacNut Week 0

This is the first pregnancy post!  I'm not technically pregnant at this point...but as gestation is normally calculated, a woman counts week 0 as the first day of her last menstrual period (LMP).  So, here I am!

I got a hair cut a few days ago and I LOVE it!  If all goes well with this "try," I will keep growing out my hair until baby comes.  Hopefully.  Unless it drives me crazy.

You'll see in the picture that I already have a little pooch.  And you may say, "Wow, Bao, you already got the belly goin'!"  Well, that's what a real woman looks like, kids. 

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• Nothing is going on this week.

Physical:

• Weight: 127 lb (+0)
• Belly circumference: 30.5 in (+0)
• Feeling normal.  Maybe a little full from the Thanksgiving feasts (as evidenced by the little pooch that I already have in this picture)!

Spiritual & emotional:

• We got the go-ahead to start trying again a couple of months ago.  But we wanted to wait.  I think we are both more emotionally and spiritually ready this month after a spectacular vacation in Hawai'i.  And that is why we have decided to call our unborn (and not-yet-conceived) baby "MacNut." :)

Fast fowarding!!

Lots to catch up on!  We are back in the States and here's a brief recap.  Previously, on Ngium...

Re-entry was difficult for us because we missed Macau so much.  But God is faithful and we were delighted to reconnect with many good friends.  This is picture of me harvesting cherries from our backyard in Issaquah (now Chung and Alice's house) to make a pie.

 Newborn triplets

 3-year-old Hannah

In September of '06, my brother & his wife had triplets -- Hannah, David, and Ben!  David & Ben had congenital health issues and passed away at 15 and 26 months, respectively.  They were wonderful boys and have left behind an adorable & very sharp older sister.

before

after

In the Summer of '07, we started renovating our friend Richard's house in Seattle and started renting it in the Fall.  By "we," I mean us and a TON of our kind-hearted friends.

Chin completely surprised me with a trip to Vegas in December '07!  That was fantastic!!

In March of '08, we rendezvoused with the Klines in Viet Nam!  It was really good to see them before they started producing another stinkin' cute baby, Brandt.

In June of '08 came Anna Jane (born to Alice and Chung, who's Chin's older brother)!  A little ball of energy who I often refer to as, "My niece Anna Jane.  Half girl.  Half squirrel."  She is one of the smartest kids I know!!

Another smart kid that I know is me -- Bao Ng.  I got into the UW School of Nursing and started there in Summer '08.  The MEPN/GEPN program was where I met some amazing folks who will hopefully remain in my life forever.  I graduated with a BSN in Summer '09 and am currently in a Family Nurse Practitioner program ... that never ends.

Chin picked up volleyball and has been very passionate about this game!!  Here is a picture of him going up for a ball.  He'll say, "Don't post that picture!  My timing's way off!"  But I don't know any better and I think it's a pretty cool shot of him jumping. :)

 

 In front of San Marco - Venice, Italy

During Spring Break of '09, GT, Anh Nguyen, Chi Mien, Chin & I had an opportunity to travel to Italy!  It was my first time in Europe and it was so memorable.

In March of '09, we found out that we were pregnant!  During a routine, mid-pregnancy ultrasound, we were told that our little girl (who we called "Peanut") had some severe health issues that would put her life in jeopardy.  Three weeks later, she passed away.  We named her Penelope Emmanuelle.  We still miss her and we love her very much!

We found a new church community to be a part of -- Rainier Avenue Church -- and we have discovered that we are enjoying being part of this body more and more as time goes by.

Our friends Yosh & Kym got married in November of '09 and gave us a great excuse to go visit Hawai'i for the first time!  That was one of the most pleasant trips we've ever taken.  Because of that trip, we wanted to call our next baby "MacNut."

So, that's the recap, folks!  Much more to come. :)