25 Weeks with Syria Belly

We've now added Syria belly to our pregnancy experience. After deciding it would be a great idea to catch a short break before the baby is born (15 weeks and counting) we jetted off to Damascus in Syria for a four day weekend.

Ill, doesn't quiet explain how I've felt in the 14 days since we've returned. I have lost almost 2kg since my last weigh in a month ago - however this doesn't appear to be a concern, while ever the baby keeps growing. Which he is! As the carrier I rate scantly on the care factor chart provided the cargo is kept healthy. Which really is all that's important to us as well.

Despite the image attached Syria was a hoot, not the axis of evil the western worlds proclaim but a poor, hardworking nation ... without any oil. People live on just a few dollars a day and the city of Damascus, which is 4000 years old ... felt every inch as old as it is. People live in the most condemed buildings you can possibly imagine, that if you squint, you can maybe glimpse an element of the french inspired architecture in their design.

The people were lovely. SO friendly and interested in us ... though not many people we spoke to had heard of Australia, and others kept confusing it for Austria.

We've been invited back by the Hotel Driver to have our baby christened in the oldest church in Damascus - we have his card and just need to call him to organise it all apparently.

Rob, not particularly familar with religion, did not look all that interested. And the thought of having to go into another convent/church/old relic building whether it be now, or in 15 weeks, I could see really didn't appeal. Especially after our two days driving around Ma'Lula and Palymra ... via visits to three separate convents, it seems to have been enough for him.

Back in Dubai and the beginings of heart-burn starting to affect my sense of well being as well. I am not one of these mother earth women, blossoming in the joys of pregnancy. I'm really not enjoying what it does to my body, and with the onset of digestive disaster in the past two weeks, suspect the next three months will be SO NOT FUN.

Dont' get me wrong, I am always relieved to feel our baby kicking and prodding me, and hope for the very best for him, hope he is healthy... that he doesn't have my deaf ears or his dad's bad eyes, and that for all my wild ways and recent efforts to control, moderate and monitor my behaviour in the past 5 months, I haven't left it too late and he will not suffer any effects of what has to be the world's most undisciplined mother to be.