No trick-or-treaters! Only in Finland....Psst - don't forget to change your clocks/watches/cell phones!

WHAT?! No trick-or-treaters on Halloween?! The most looked-forward day in the year (next to Christmas) by all the kiddies? (And who can blame them? Free candy and the oppourtunity to walk around at night time with their friends...depending where you live - this was a blessing).
That's right. In Finland there isn't such thing as Halloween. No kids running around as ghosts, princesses or Dora the Explorer. No firemen, Superman, Spiderman or Batmans running around bundled in layers.
Don't get me wrong - some people celebrate it via costume parties. There was an orange piece of paper with some Finnish black scribbles and a kitty on top of a pumpkin sticker on it - posted downstairs at the front entrance. Possibly an invite - but who am I to randomly show up in someone's apartment that I don't know? It was actually the neighbour below us who apparently reads English and was able to return the rope toy a few weeks ago. They had a party but you wouldn't know it. There was the odd loud laugh or cheer - but that was it. Finns are great at partying! LOL - compared to where we used to live on Robie/Lady Hammond - their version of partying is barely noticeable.
I believe sometime in April or May (I forget which) the little girls dress up as witches and go around knocking on people's doors to knock on the people's heads (lightly) with a wicker stick. It's to help ward off demons and such.
Another thing I just realized - it's a blessing not having to hand out treats - we'd probably make the kids pee by our dogs going crazy licking them and nudging their little barely 30-lbs bodies around!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour (Fall back or Spring forward is how I remember it) - yay another hour to sleep in for you!
Europe had their day light savings last weekend. Funny it's not written on my calendar however!
Because it's so dark here in Finland - I've been getting plenty of rest.
Well maybe an exception being right now as it's 5:41am and I woke up due to some cramps and began to time them. I am now eating a PB/J sandwich as I think the baby was hungry.
My friend suggests that maybe this is my last meal - well isn't that pathetic?
PBJ sandwich (no honey as the husband was getting peeved that the kitchen light was shining through the doors), a slice of cheddar cheese and 3 ginger snap cookies and soon enough - a glass of milk.
Ah well - it could be worse - it could be raw tomatos with coffee and licorice (BLEGH).

PS We still have snow on the ground - not a lot like maybe 3cm if that. It's presently -5*C.

Pharmacy, testings, H1N1 etc....(men may not want to read - there's a lot of pregnant junk in here)

So this morning I had an appointment at the Neuvola (nurse clinic behind our apartment building - tres convenient) - and the nurse asked how I was feeling. I told her fine - no pains, no contractions - nothing. I had cramps a week ago that I timed - and after an hour and a 10 minute wait for the next one - nothing happened. So I went to bed.

Anyways - she asked about regular stuff and I said yep/nope accordingly and I mentioned my concern about me using the bathroom frequently (only to have a drop!) or that it was running clear. She thought it was possible that there could be a tear in the amniotic sac and sent me to the hospital afterward to get looked at. Other than that - the heart beat was a steady 160/minute and she felt the tummy and said I'm growing great and was a little worried about how hard my stomach was at first. Which I thought was normal and part of the baby's back/butt or feet. But s/he loosened up after she poked/prodded some more.

Off to the hospital. Well the nurse was great - heart beats went up and down from 140 up to 169. Then the doctor - well she was a butch. She had lovely long reddish hair with blonde highlights and it was pulled back in a tight braid. That should've been the first sign she was a butch.
Anyways - she tried using this white boomerang tool (Tim said all the docs have used it - apparently she's the lucky un-successful one) - and I cringed a lot. It hurt - and she smiles and says, "Wow the head is very very low." SNAP goes on the glove and a few jabs later she determines that I am not leaking amniotic fluid at all however I am 3-4 cm. dilated. Yee haw. She determined I have approximately 6 cm. of amniotic fluid going on inside and that is "very good".

Then I went and did a urine test for Strep B (I know in Canada they do it similar to a Pap test during 35-38th wk of development - but here in Finland - they do a urine test early in the pregnancy to determine Strep B) - and when you're done filling your bucket (honestly - think cole-slaw bucket you pick up for a picnic!) - there's a hatch in the bathroom back corner. You just open the little door and leave your bucket (+ lid) in there. So this saves embarrassment and messy hands of having to give your bucket of pee to the receptionist!

SO! Off to the pharmacy - once this was all done and over with....when you get inside the Aptekki you take a number and when you get buzzed you go up to the appropiate teller and they fill out your prescription - right there on the spot! Why it takes 15 -30 minutes in Canada - I don't know. She punched my name in a keyboard, confirmed my ID and plop - there was my inhaler in a brand new box.
I'm sooooooooooooo happy! I've been feeling super bad lately because I don't take the woods anymore or out for their bathroom breaks because I have a really hard time keeping up with them (not that I was running) but as well going back up the stairs too was making things hard.
But now I feel great and alive! WAHOOOO!

Ok - time for a nap to see if these "cramps" go away permanently or not.

PS Before I forget - I will be getting the H1N1 shot on Tuesday. There are now cases of H1N1 in Northern Finland (I'm in Central) - and if they're anything like the ticks - well they'll spread quickly. It's not the same vaccination as in Canada Katri (Neuvola nurse) said. And where I am not only pregnant but have asthama - I am part of 2 high risk groups. So hopefully the baby can hold out until Tuesday - then once I get the shot - it'll go with the baby too.

Somewhere in Finland - a certain pregnant lady should be asleep..."Chinese Post-Pregnancy Remedies" - near the bottom!

This is a bit of a rant post - so feel free to skip this by all means (or scroll down to the pregnant Chinese remedy - it's a laugh).
It's 3:58am presently. I've been awake since 3:30. I went to bed at 12am on the dot - conked out completely with the dogs.
I woke up at least 2x to use the bathroom like a zombie - in the dark and barely functional.
I woke up because Blue came to bed and left the bed and came to bed and left the bed and finally crawled in bed and I said - F it. I'm going to the couch. It's colder and more spacious and my right hip is in pain again. (Do dogs get hot flashes or nightmares and need to come back to hog their "rightful share" of the bed?!?!)
Needless to say - I haven't touched the couch - too cranky. I feel like I'm roasting internally (no the forehead is cool and the neck is too). I just opened the balcony door open a few inches....it's presently -1C but with windchill -5C. FEELS GREAT.

Read a great book over the last couple of days "Vince & Joy" - Lisa Jewell (?). Very hilarious as most London based stories go.
I'm in the process of crocheting another pair of mittens for myself - a thicker wool (like the one from the famous flower slouchy hat and the blue toque) - so I'm pretty excited.
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** Please note - I am not responsible for any action you may take if you choose to follow these "remedies" - they're merely for general knowledge of old school Chinese culture/beliefs. I don't plan on doing any of them for the most part.

Okay - not sure if I mentioned this before - but my birth father is in China and has continuously told me this (prior to me getting pregnant) about what to do after you deliver a baby. Hope you're sitting down and emptied your bladder. ** This is what I was told by my birth father and apparently the Chinese have followed this for thousands of years. I say this is bull - but I thought you'd be interested.**

When you're in labour (apparently he's under the impression that natural labour goes slower than a medically assisted one - i.e. Epidural) - your joints loosen. Your joints loosen because A) the baby sucked up a lot of calcium during your pregnancy and is still going! and B) because your are puting a lot of pressure into pushing and therefor everything loosens up naturally.
So once you're done having your baby - you SHOULD NOT SHOWER FOR 30 DAYS. Because no matter HOW HOT your shower is - there are cold water particles in the hot water and they will attack your joints (now that there's gaps in between them) and you will develop arthritis in the years to come. Apparently my biological aunt has this issue and she's not even 40 - my cousin Dora being about 8 years old now.

So what does one do to bathe for 30 days post-delivery?
You're supposed to boil water and fill a tub with slices of raw ginger root (along with the boiled water) and have a bottle of rice wine poured in there too and sponge bathe yourself. My question is this - WHO HAS A BIG ENOUGH POT TO BOIL ENOUGH WATER TO FILL A TUB?! My argument and logic is that by the time you use your seasonal lobster pot to boil water and get it poured into the tub - and actually have the tub reasonably filled to your hips at least when sitting in it - the water would be cold. Or at least be colder than a shower - which would contain those darn pesky cold water particles that will STILL ATTACK your joints.
Hmm. I wrote this response numerous times and get the same crap-ass answer each time. "It's been proven for thousands of years Dominique - you cannot deny Chinese medication and remedies..."
This time I added a twist in my response - Finns don't have bath tubs. BAHAHAHA. I am awaiting a response.

Now in this particular e-mail I recently received - I have more "good Chinese remedies" for all you preggo ladies out there.

- Eat nuts - especially walnuts - develops more baby brain (same with fish - careful Tuna and shark {or maybe it's sword fish} contain a lot of mercury)
- All of your cooking should contain ginger - it keeps "the bad wind away"
- You cannot put anything in your mouth that is directly from the fridge because it's too cold and this would affect your joints
- Stay at home as much as you can for the first 30 days - "Get Tim to help you as much as you can"
- Don't eat watermelon
- Cook fish soup - this helps you produce more milk to breast feed. You can put melon in the soup but cannot eat watermelon on it's own...

There ya have it. Please comment - I'm curious as to your thoughts of this.
Well it's 4:36am - time to possibly crash on the couch.

Even the 1/2 Finnish children are ridiculously smart (fairly funny).

Okay - so here's hoping that the baby will be super smart like our friend's son, Sulevi - even though being born to both Canadian parents.
Last night we were invited over for supper and as per usual, Sulevi made us laugh and at the same time wonder what goes on in a child's mind.
He was having some lentil soup and decided he didn't want anymore - so I thought I would be the clever one and out-smart him. I told him, "Hmmm - Tim looks pretty hungry. He's going to eat your soup - you should have another bite before he does!"
Well - I got out-smarted by a 22 month old.
Sulevi ran away laughing, into the fridge and gave Tim (in multiple trips) : a cucumber, a bottle of ketchup, a bottle of currant juice and a package of chicken strips (raw). We were all quite confused for a moment until we thought about the conversation that had just taken place and realized that indeed, Sulevi thought Tim was very hungry and should eat something and not his soup. (Although he didn't have much more of it himself after).

Later on that evening Sulevi plunked himself down on his back and was pushing himself upward with his legs. I thought this was another yoga position (the kid knows downward dog) - but he was saying something in Finnish that sounded like "Vipa". So I figure - Oh - a yoga position called Vipa or Viper.
Erm no. He wanted Tim or I to change his diaper. HA HA HA. He then decided he did not want a diaper on and to convince him to put one back on (2nd attempt at out-smarting a 22 month old) - I told him, "Well Tim has a diaper on and his trousers. Everybody's wearing diapers!! Sulevi needs to wear his diaper and pants so he doesn't get cold." Well - I GOT HIM. Hahaha - he looked at Tim (who had a look of shock on his face that I would even think to suggest he was wearing a diaper) and decided - yes if Tim's wearing a diaper and trousers - he will too! (Whew).

Oh and a great work out to tone your arms (and your legs I suppose) - get an exercise balancing ball, sit on a chair and squeeze it with your knees (to prevent it from rolling away) - or lie on the floor and hold it tight with your ankles - and bounce a young child on it. Tim didn't have the pleasure of doing this with Sulevi last time we visited - but he did last night. And his arms were quite tired after a few "higher! HIGHER! BOUNCE" with Sulevi. Hahaha.
Ah well - it'll prepare Tim to hold a baby no problem. LOL.

UPS and downs....haha hilarious - I know.

Alright so here's my day so far:

- Wake up - cooked a huge breakfast of bacon, eggs, cheesy-garlic toast (no cheese/garlic for Tim) and a huge glass of milk - breakfast of Champs (or parents-to-be's final meal)

- Go to the doctor at the Gravida (where they do specialty tests/exams that your regular doctor or nurse cannot do) and wait an extra 20 minutes. I go in - get on the table and he says "Any moment - but not now- just go home and wait for the delivery to happen." He records some notes on a voice recorder of some sort (I thought it was a funky looking cell phone or a remote control personally) and then we're out in 10 minutes. Confirmed baby is still kicking and heart beat is still going strong with a quick squirt of gel and ultrasound.

- Come home and decide I need a nap. Slept until about 1:30 and UPS calls me to tell me they will be there between 2 and 4pm to deliver our shipment from Canada. I say great! Time to eat! Made some grilled cheese sandwiches and started a pot of curry chicken soup. Yum. Tim and I also discovered that Loki has stripped an almost brand new box of Chocolatey Domino cookies (chocolate cream filling) and ate the whole thing and kindly left 1 single crumb and the packages all in the living room (as opposed to everywhere throughout the flat).

- 3:18pm - get a call from UPS saying no delivery today because customs has our stuff in their warehouse and will not release it. UPS man has no idea when it will be released but kindly gives me the number to their contact center. I call the UPS contact center and UPS lady speaks fabulous English and gives me the number to some Miko fellow who oversees all the held shipment....Miko fellow speaks great English as well and confirms that yes Customs did have our order as they inspected it. BUT he gave me confirmation that everything has been cleared and given the green light and we should get the packages tomorrow.

Here's hoping I don't pop overnight tonight or during their shipment time tomorrow. But the lovely people of UPS call before they come over well in advance - so that way you can live your life.

And that was the UPS and downs of my day.

Oh and another bonus will be that I get to see my little man, Sulevi today :) Going over to Jessica/Taneli's for supper and heading to the pharmacy shortly to put in an order for my inhaler. Wahoo!

A cookie killer & a doctor appointment

As you can tell by reading this - I'm back home.
The doctor appointment was successful - no induction. He checked the baby's ultrasound - and all's well in that department and he recorded some notes verbally (in Finnish). But he didn't tell me much in terms of dilation etc. I thought he said he saw signs of amniotic fluid/water - but Tim says he heard the doctor say "no signs". Ah well.
Tim thinks the baby is listening to him by waiting until UPS delivers our packages. We're expecting them today from my mother in-law by end of business day today.

I'm tempted to go downtown and tempt fate to get another Hesburger AND a new vegetable peeler - as mine has disappeared - or been tossed out in the heat of the moment of cleaning up after Loki's interior design attempt.

Oh and Loki has gone from interior designer (we took the bag of garbage out today just in case as we left for the hospital) to "Cookie Killer".
We got home frustrated (well I was anyway) and we saw a Logistics delivery truck on our road and thought maybe it was for us - but no go. I walk in the living room and see a shredded Domino Extra Chocolately Cookie box, plastic wrappers and maybe 1 crumb. I asked Tim how many Dominos he had and he says, "About 5 - why?"
Then he was frustrated.
We weren't even gone for a full hour and 20 minutes! So Loki is a quick one.
Time for a nap.

The Ramblings of a Pregnant Woman - Part 1

You know what does not make sense?
Finnish people in general are VERY quiet. Yet at any given time of day downtown (except Sunday as nothing's opened really) - they're always in groups chatting, meeting up with their girlfriends in coffee shops and during any point of those meetings - on a cell phone. Not sending text messages usually - but actually speaking (even the seniors). Especially while driving. I simply don't get it because Finns have a reputation of being such quiet people - they think before they say their next thought - and then they speak so quickly and so quietly you have to crane your neck out to hear them better.
I was at a reception for a fellow about to defend his thesis on Thursday night and one of the readers asked what we thought of Finnish people and their quietness. I jokingly said I didn't have many Finnish people approach me unless they were drunk. (Which is in the Encyclopedia of Finnish Culture that Tim has - as a fact. That Finns keep to themselves and are quiet unless drinking). He chuckled and started chatting about why they do this but because he's talking so softly and so quickly - I can barely make him out. However, Tim and I pointed out that us Canadians - we have to fill in every single quiet/awkward silence gap possible.
I am a prime example of someone who can talk to somebody but not have a silent gap for too long. If I do - it's usually because I'm eating! Then I realized - after my meeting with the pregnant lady, Salla, downtown - that is exactly what happened.
We met up and went into Memphis and I talked for about an hour and a half straight - with breaks for a bite of a french fry or a sip of Coke. I felt awful afterward and asked if she had any questions or if there was something she was overly curious about - and she thought about it (I quickly inhale a fry) and then softly asked me a question.
Even Finnish children in the grocery stores are super quiet. You usually only hear the ones that are crying because they're hungry or didn't get the toy they wanted or whatnot. Or the babies - because that's how they communicate obviously.

Onto other things - I'm 37wks and 6 days pregnant and probably going to be induced tomorrow (assuming nothing else happens tonight)- we shall see.
I figured with an approximate total of 4.5-5.5 hours of walking I did yesterday - I must be further along in the labour stages - but not feeling it due to "silent labour".
I did have some cramps yesterday - and timed them with a stop watch on my cell phone (my friend says that's ghetto - ah well) then after the 10 minute break around 2am - I caved and went to sleep. As nothing was happening.
This morning I got up around 7 something and that was fine - had a couple cramps and poof gone with some water.
The ones last night didn't go away with water or lying down (which was difficult as I walked so much I strained my lower right side of my back and then slipped in the kitchen shortly after).
SO - what this means is if I am in labour - Tim will probably not be able to update my Facebook because I don't think computers are allowed in the hospital.
I DO have an appointment tomorrow at 10:15am Finland time (4:15am for you lovely folks of HRM/parts of NB and surrounding areas) and if I don't update it myself by - say....7am your time - they're probably keeping me in there. So you can pretty much safely assume I'm in there for good.
I highly doubt Tim will make time to post something online - even though we live down a small lane and across from the hospital...we do have the dogs to think about. So if Tim does make it home briefly tomorrow or the next couple of days - it'll be strictly for a quick shower (if he doesn't in the hospital) and to feed/water the dogs and to let them out for a bathroom break. We'd let friends do it - but the dogs are a lot to handle.
How am I feeling about the whole thing? It's like going on a trip - it doesn't hit me until I'm in the airport. So until we know for sure if I'm getting induced or not - it wouldn't hit until I check into delivery. I'd probably laugh all the way up the stairs/elevator ride up to the delivery section. Then it would sink in when I have to put on one of those johnny gowns or whatnot.
Other than that - feeling great and calm - going to nap for awhile and make shepherd's pie (with ground pork as beef is expensive and they don't sell lamb here really) for my "final supper" and have some ice cream. Hoo ha!

Crazy/toothless/old man, me as a stalker, Loki's new career(s) and Purolator!

HA - you're reading this because the title caught your eye! No?
Ah well - keep going...(I know you want to).

Tim told me on our adventure downtown (aka one last date before baby comes) - that yesterday on his way to school this crazy looking old man was hobbling by and Tim looked at him. Old man ("OM" going forward) stares back and then quickly hobbles towards Tim. Tim looks away and continues his trek to school. OM is magically beside him and starts screaming in Finnish for Euros. Tim says he doesn't have any and that he doesn't speak Finnish - sorry! OM (with rotting teeth, balding and quite scary in general) says, "GIVE ME YOUR MONEY". Tim just says no and quickly walks away. OM begins to shake and stares at Tim's back - and Tim waited before looking back at him (to make sure OM didn't magically appear again out of nowhere) and OM was shaking like mad but not in pursuit.

Next! I felt like a stalker today. I had no intention of going downtown until I got online today and saw the craziness of Purolator. I had used the two tracking numbers to follow some shipment we're supposed to be receiving from my mother in-law - containing books, baby shower gifts etc. Yesterday they arrived in the States, this morning they got to Germany. Then late this morning (after I had a nap) - it said there was an issue with the two shipments and to call Purolator. Well this is silly as nobody answered. They don't even have a message stating their business hours! So I was quite stressed out - thinking our packages were being held up in customs - and decided retail therapy was the way to go.
As I was heading downtown there was a mother/daughter combo with a stroller pushing a baby. I went to Hesburger first then onto the library - they were there - and then into the grocery market downtown - they were there and on my way home - yes. They were there. I felt awful - like I was stalking them! It got to the point they'd look behind them and see me and smile at me. Yeesh.

On my way home and past Tim's office (didn't want to call him unless emergency as he was sitting in watching someone defend their thesis today) - he happened to call me as I was veering to the right path (since mom/daughter/baby dressed like a teddy bear was on the left path) and we walked home together.
Tim suggested we go on one last date (we've only eaten out twice prior to today - excluding burger joints) but I had picked up a couple boxes of ice cream as they were on sale. Silly me - I say, "Sure! Let's drop off all this stuff and my library books and I'll grab an extra sweater and we'll grab a pizza!"
Tim thinks I'm crazy - but I'm like, "No I'm doing great!"
We drop off the groceries, my library books and head back downtown. We were going to go to Memphis but it was a little pricey - so we went back to Russo and had our massive pizza. No I don't have pictures of the massive pizza because Tim suggested I leave my bag at home to ease the pain in my shoulder. And my camera was in the bag.

We get home and the first thing we see is garbage. Everywhere.
Loki's new career has become part Interior Decorator - part door-opener. The big bag of garbage that we empty out when due - is in the left hand side of the closet (it's split in two inside so our coats/shoes don't smell) in the hall way.
Loki managed to wiggle that open and dragged the garbage everywhere. I am surprised he didn't put any in the bed or the bathroom. My lower back and hip was in pain because of all the walking and poor Tim cleaned it all up (egg shells, empty meat packages, juice boxes...the works!) and then he mopped the floors. What was a great night turned into a very sour one really quickly!
If that wasn't enough - Loki just bit Tim while trying to steal his rope...oh boy.

On to Purolator.
I went online after my shower/foot soak and looked up the tracking numbers to see if it was possibly a glitch in the system that said we had to call. It appeared to be so!
Thank goodness. But no - I can't leave it at that can I?
I looked up the 2nd tracking number - and it was in Germany and then got sent back to Philadelphia. Holy spaz attack.
So I called Purolator and this chick says there's 4 boxes being delivered on Monday by end of business day - hopefully I don't get induced Monday.
Anyways - I'm like great - I message my brother in law this - and he said she's wrong - there's supposed to be 5.
Girl says - nope - only 4 and you'll get them on Monday. I say - okay fine - thanks - goodbye.
Shortly after I get a message from my brother in law AND an email from my mother in law stating that yes there are 5 boxes and that my mother in law just called Purolator herself and THEY confirmed 5 boxes shipped to my door step for Monday.

Oh I know - you're wondering what I bought downtown. Well I found some great deals - got Tim a stick of deoderant (it doesn't say "anti-perspirant" but how much sweating does one do in the winter anyway?), myself another tooth brush (for the hospital), Clearasil toner/gel wash cleanser...rubber gloves for the dirty diapers...and that was pretty much it.

Got 4 great books at the library - 2 chick lits, 1 about knitting toys and the other with pictures of different cross stitched animals. I have a tea towel I plan on embroidering once the baby's born - but wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it - so voila. I haven't seen them here in Finland unfortunately - or anything to be cross stitched like bibs, blankets etc...sigh.

The oatmeal bag is heated ("magic bag") and resting on my back - time to go lie on the couch for a bit.

PS - I have a really bad rash on my thighs and body lotion doesn't seem to help - I have the sensitive skin stuff...any tips?? It's from the pregnancy - someone called it the "Pups" for short.

And I thought it was a couple of tests....

So - I went to the hospital today to check out the amniotic fluid levels and they also took my blood pressure and measured the baby's heart beat. Everything was going great.
Then I went into the doctor's office - and that was fine - she found the fluids were up, the baby's head is super down to the point that I should be experiencing contractions and the doc was very surprised that I haven't been.
I told her I thought they were Braxton Hicks because they went away with water and lying down and didn't last more than 2 minutes. She said okay - fine - did an internal exam and called in another specialist to check me out.
Apparently I'm "a few centimeters dilated" but the membranes haven't opened up yet. Here's the best part - while we're waiting for the specialist - she says, "So if your membranes are closed - you can go home. But if not - we'll keep you here."
I'm thinking - oh fun - more tests. She says, "Then we'll put you in delivery and induce you."

Well - as you can tell - I'm back home and had a trip downtown in the mean time and also had some blood work done.
So the verdict now is that if I feel sick or have a fever, if my water breaks or I have contractions - I'm to check in the hospital.
The blood work came back okay and they thought maybe I had an infection and that's why I couldn't feel anything(?) who knows.
So Monday I have an appointment again at the hospital and who knows what'll happen from there!

PS No I didn't get the sweaty-smelling blood tech - this chick was great. She went in my hand right away when I asked her...she didn't speak a lot of English and I showed her my bruise on my arm (the color of a purple Crayola crayon) and told her the last girl only got a little bit but got more in my hand (showed her the hole) - and she was great about it. I was out in 30 seconds. Never had a quicker blood test in my life!

Holy expensive.

So today I went out in search of a cheap, expandable baby gate not for the baby but for the dogs. They don't jump over gates and for the first couple of weeks after the delivery - I don't want the dogs in the bedroom because then they'll think they can dominate the baby like a puppy.
I only have one set of doors to the bedroom from the kitchen and there isn't a door from the bedroom to the hallway/living room (see "Virtual Tour" video).
We had looked before in the grocery stores and they didn't sell them unfortunately - and the baby store we went to today sold them at a wonderful price of 63 Euros. (1 Euro = approx. $1.50 CDN - but we don't convert anymore since we'll be living here for 3-4 years)
The 63 Euros gate was white, wooden and the dogs could've probably nudged it over easily. The more expensive ones - were approximately 79E and if you needed more length (which we did) - then you had to pay extra for the longer attachment. Per attachment was approximately 15-25E a piece!!
Needless to say - I didn't go with a gate.
I saw a play pen on sale for just under 40E and figured it was the right length and when the baby was rolling around - it'd be handy to have if I was doing dishes etc. So now we have a play pen set up and we tested it on our dogs by blocking a door way and they cannot get past it. They won't try to jump over it or jump in it - they just merely sit there crying or walking back and forth trying to find a crack they can wedge in between.

Onto other things - I had seen an ad on Tori for an electric kettle and I emailed the fellow 1/2 hour after he wrote me (it was for 7E - couldn't find a better deal) - and once I got home I checked my email to see that I was "too late" apparently. WHAT A JERK. I am very upset about not getting the kettle - as kettles here are ridiculously expensive. Electric ones go for at least 50E and I haven't seen any stove-top ones to be honest.

On the flip side - I now have a few rugs to decorate the flat some more, a rocking chair and a stand on loan from some friends. The dogs love the rug - so maybe I'll be able to knit on the couch without having to sprawl my legs over/under/sideways on my dogs. We shall see.

Tonight's menu is reindeer stew over mashed potatos- hopefully I can cook it right!!

Are YOU Afraid of the Dark???

Thankfully I am not.
It's 7:31am and if it wasn't for the lights outside - it'd be pitch black. A couple months ago when we first arrived - the sun was up and out by 5:30am.
I love the late sleeping in fiestas. Oh yes - except it's 7:32am. I do plan on going back to sleep - I just thought I heard my phone ring in the bedroom (I had crashed on the couch last night due to lack of space and over-heating and leg/butt cramps) - thinking it was the hospital calling me to book an appointment with a specialist.

The dogs are still snoring...Loki at my feet and Blue on the couch making a horrific whistling sound with his nostrils. I just turned to look at him -he's awake and staring at me.
It seems the past couple of days since I've been showing signs of first stage of labour - that my dogs are intensely obsessed with following me or laying near me or touching me when they lie down and not budging.
For example - at night, Loki will get up and rotate a few times and then drop his dead weight on my ankles or legs. This happens once every couple of hours and thankfully he's warm - so I'm fine with that. But these past couple of days he has been intent on doing it multiple times more than normal.
Blue won't let me go to the bathroom alone. He waits outside the door for me - which I find odd because he didn't care before unless he thought I was heading to the closet - which is near the bathroom door. If I'm sitting at the computer - he has to be able to see me. He won't lie in bed without me there anymore. Very strange.

Oh and in reference to The Muppet Show that I've been watching last night - I've discovered that an ex-manager reminds me of Miss Piggy (to a tee - snitty, demanding, phony etc), my music teacher from high school reminds me of Rolf (hilarious with the corny jokes and excellent on the piano), his daughter a bit like Gonzo - possibly because she plays trumpet too...and I thought my husband reminded me of Kermit - but now I'm thinking the Swedish Chef because I'm always having to ask what he said as I hear mumble-jumbo (Without the cooking talent). It's that or one of the old men that is a critic. Yes maybe one of the old men that is a critic - as he cracks very similar jokes/comments like they do on a regular basis. For those of you that thought Tim was quiet before...HA.

Now - how am I watching these old versions of The Muppet Show? Well we are borrowing the DVD set. And because we don't have a TV or a DVD player set up yet (maybe soon after the baby's born) - we're using my laptop. I find it interesting - for those of you that may not know this - that your laptop will offer you the option of DVD Player 1 or 2 (or more possibly). The one that allows you to play North American DVDs is already pre-programmed. However if you switch to DVD Player 2 for example, you'll be able to watch European DVDs - same for DVDs made in China. It's some sort of difference that the computer picks up on and you get a warning that no matter what you do - once you change the DVD Player in your computer a maximum of 4 or 5 times - that you'll be stuck with it for life. So if I'm stuck with Canadian DVD Player - I won't be able to watch DVDs made in other countries. Interesting eh? I'm sure there's some sort of chip in the market that you can install inside that will allow the flexibility - but who knows. I'm not that computer savvy. I think the term is "Boot leg" dvds.

Alright I've rambled on long enough. Back to bed I go. Hopefully there aren't spelling errors or major typos in this!! I apologize if there are.

And it's a.......................................surprise. Still.

Just got back from the doctor and all went well. You don't wait in a crowded office like in Halifax. Your appointment is booked based on your Personal ID# and into a central computer system of sorts.
So you just wait outside the doctor's door and she calls for you when it's time. My doctor's name is Anna and she had a med student with her. She's really nice (which I was worried about as I am "stuck with her" for my time that I am here. It goes based on district) and her med student was nice too.
So they measured the uterus and I'm doing good in that department and then she did an ultrasound. She offered to tell us the gender if she could find it and I said yes. Then I looked at Tim who looked a little - not disturbed but interested but not really - and I told him it was his choice. He said, "Let's keep it a surprise!" I almost gave him the middle finger but figured it was an international/universal symbol that even the doctor and med student would understand.
I didn't get to see the screen (Tim said he couldn't see much either)- which turned out to be fine as the doctor had difficulty measuring the baby because she said the amniotic fluid levels were not very high. So she submitted a referral for me to go to the hospital to see a specialist. The hospital will send me a letter or call me to book my appointment.
She did manage to get the weight of the baby - she put an approximate figure of 2.5KG (5.1 lbs) but said it is probably more but due to lack of fluid - she wasn't able to get a very clear shot.
Oh and she thinks I'll go earlier than later based on the final check up.

Got a prescription for my inhaler! WAHOO!!! I'm so happy. They have the same one and it's the same name and brand here in Finland. Thank goodness!
Oh and the prescription isn't written on a tiny piece of paper (that I constantly lose).....it's written on regular letter sized paper and they put it on your file too.

It's snowing and actually staying. Loki is beyond thrilled. He's presently on the balcony eating snow off the carpet.

OH and I forgot to mention the traffic lights here. They get shut off around 8-9:30pm because not as many people drive at that hour. So to save on the city's electricity bill - they shut them off. It's still treated as a 4-way stop like in Canada - but atleast you don't have to wait for a long time for the light to change to green!!

PS Remember I mentioned some sort of labour pain relief procedure called "Aqua Blisters"? Well I asked Anna what it is - and she said it's sterilized water that's inserted into the skin via a needle and it hurts quite a bit - but it's supposed to distract your mind from the pain of the labour. I think I'll skip that too - thanks.

The Accordion Goes "hee-huh hee-huh"

I had mentioned before that there aren't many panhandlers in Finland (atleast not in Jyv�skyl�)- and there really aren't.
There's a girl that sits downtown in the city center (where it's pedestrian/bicycle traffic only) and she plays something like a harp but on a smaller scale and it sits in her lap. It's beautiful and really brings out the spirit of shopping, socializing and the cool weather - as her fingers pluck on with fingerless gloves.
Then there's the odd one or two people that sit there asking for change - but they're quiet. They don't stand outside of the bank's door way or outside of the popular coffee shop either. They just sit against a wall and wait patiently. Very similar to China in that regard.
Compared to Halifax - where everybody rotates and has shifts in front of the busiest coffee shops or outside the bank...and where a fight WILL break out if you don't move after your shift is over - I don't mind the quietness.
I think the funniest cardboard sign I've ever seen in Halifax was, "Spare change? Hey! At least I am not asking for your phone number!"

Then there is the accordion player. There is this fellow who clearly couldn't play accordion but would pump out a couple notes here and there - only when someone was walking by. "Hee-huh hee-huh squaaaaak" were some of the notes he pumped out. There was no tune, there was no melody, no hint of a song...just the odd note whenever someone walked by. If there wasn't anybody walking by the bank, where he perched himself - he simply just stood there waiting until someone did walk by. Then if there was a group of people walking by - then he'd really get into it and pump a few more notes at once.

Needless to say - the harp girl doesn't play near him.

A Fantasia Pizza For 2!

Today's goal was a 3 hour walk around downtown maximum - ended up doing 4. I had to meet a lady at a coffee shop and picked up some more baby clothes and some blanket covers and pillow cases - overall a great exchange.

I was feeling pretty hungry and the movie theater was closed around 12 o'clock, so we decided to go try the pizza restaurant in the mall called Rosso. We asked for an English menu and that was no problem at all. The first thing we noticed was the cheese they use is Mozarella and it's all lactose free! Probably makes things easier for them - which I was thankful for. So I didn't feel bad for eating so much pizza in the end.
Ok - second thing we noticed was "Rudolph Pan Pizza" - which had on it: "smoked reindeer, blue cheese, pineapples & cheese". We almost went with that option but Tim's not a fan of blue cheese.
Third thing we noticed was "Fantasia Pizza". Which was just the option to make your own pizza with 4 ingredients. So we chose the larger one (it was massive!) with reindeer, Tuscan sausage (very yummy), pepperoni and bacon. Pepperoni and salami is considered the same thing here - so they only have pepperoni listed.
The bacon were real strips of bacon (cut in pieces) and the reindeer was like a ground beef or a crumbly looking bacon - that you see often in pizza shops in Canada. We figure it's because reindeer is quite expensive so they don't put as much (hence the ground version) and because the pizza itself is quite thin and wouldn't be able to support the weight.
There was a list of Fantasia items that you could put on your pizza and I'm kicking myself in the butt for forgetting my camera in my other bag! There were things like "pepperoni, chicken" and then there was stuff like "capers, eggs, reindeer" etc. It was interesting! I'm sure we'll go back one of these days and I'll have to make sure I bring my camera.
2 large pops (think almost Thunder mug - they were quite large - we didn't need refills) and the large pizza with a free salad bar (watermelon, peas, cabbage, carrots/turnip slivers, 2 different dressings, slices of fresh/soft baguettes and pickles) came to under 30E. Keep in mind too - that you don't tip in Finland. The food and beverages include tips in the prices (pretty sure that's what we were told).
Another common thing we've noticed (mind you this is our 2nd time eating out at an actual restaurant) - is that in the restaurants they don't set tables with a fork and knife. They usually have a ceramic container of sorts stuffed with napkins and utensils. I imagine this assists with speeding up the service and the preparation of the table for the next customers.

Oh and the neighbor below finally returned and when we got home Loki's chew rope was in our mail slot.

And before I forget - we walked by the duck pond on the way home and the ducks are hilarious. Some of the ice is broken up (not very thick now) and as they were flying in and onto the pond - they would skid and slide like crazy until they hit a soft spot and then sink into the water. It was sooooo amusing.
We also saw a 1 legged duck.

Time to go relax and knit a scarf for Tim now...he picked a brilliant color. Gray. Typical man.

Tim may or may not be celebrating Father's Day...There's a reason!

So Tim has this beautiful encyclopedia on Finnish Culture and lifestyle he received for his birthday and he's pretty much reading it from front to back.
I haven't started reading it yet (once he's done) - however he's been pointing out some key facts that are quite interesting. By all means if you have questions - let me know and I'll look it up.

Mother's Day is celebrated in May and there are medals given to mothers who raise their children particularly well. How one applies for this - blows my mind (I'm sure there are specific criteria to be met before getting a medal). With some of the parenting issues I've been reading in the paper from back home, The Chronicle Herald, I wouldn't be freely handing these medals out! HA.

Now - in terms of Father's Day - I thought it was held in June like in North America - but apparently it is the 2nd Sunday of November. Which is amusing as my due date is November 9th and the Finnish Father's Day is on November 8th this year. I reassured him that he's still a father as the baby isn't a tadpole, googly eyed alien-looking creature anymore but more and more like a real baby. Worse comes to worse - we can celebrate the June North American Father's Day if he wants. So guaranteed by at least Christmas - he'll be a Daddy.

In other news - there isn't a Halloween here - but there's the odd costume party you could attend if you wanted. Tim read to me that they have something similar to Halloween in May - only for little girls. All the girls dress up as witches and go around knocking people lightly with their wicker sticks to protect them from ghosts etc. No idea what the little boys do.

It was snowing today - some of it stuck on the grass but then it rained and alternated. It's cool but slippery outside Tim said. Tomorrow we'll be going downtown in search of some winter boots for Tim and for me to pick up some potential baby clothes as well from a lady I met on Tori.

Tonight I'm making shepherd's pie - I'm very excited as I think it's a wonderful comfort food. (And great for left overs) I do not plan on making it like my mother's at all. My mom made it with creamed corn on top of the mashed potatos and ground beef spiced with pepper and salt. I'm going nutso with the spice and all the recipes I've found online have suggested bbq sauce or beef gravy. So I picked up a bottle of HP Sauce - not that I plan on using much as I am one for the spices. Oh and carrots and peas and hold the corn. I love corn but Tim cannot consume or digest corn due to the crohns.