Waiting and Working

Our unnamed child has still not arrived and Kerry is reaching new heights of discomfort. It does not help that the weather has been in the 90's with 70% humidity. I set-up our redneck pool in the backyard (you know the Intex pools from Sam's Club, 4' deep, 16' diameter), but since the nights don't drop below 70 the water is already less than refreshing. 
I have been working on project after project around the house to satisfy Kerry's feverish nesting instincts. I must say, the paint, new furniture, new hardware, etc. etc. looks really nice, but the fence I put up around the back half of our .7 acre lot is quite impressive. I think I've lost 30 pounds of water weight, sweating it out in the hot sun. I miss the old "pool boy" days when Kerry would let me do my chores in my Speedo. Slightly dangerous with the power tools, but so much more comfortable. I am joking!
Grace asked Kerry at dinner tonight, "Mom, will you let Daddy not have to work so much so we can go fishing?" Blessed child, blessed child. I still have a lot left to get done before the house is exactly the way "we" want it, but I will let Grace and the other kids keep on thinking that Kerry is cracking a whip... it will get me more sympathy later, which usually equates with the children being better behaved and more obedient. They generally will not tell me "no" if they have seen me working so hard for Mom all day.
Our neighbor just returned from Iraq this past week. He is retired military and is now doing contract work. He had quite a few stories to tell and said the death and carnage is horrible. He told me some of his experiences with working with the local Iraqi's and the suffering and violence they are being subjected to by foreign fighters (Iranians, Syrians, Jordanians, etc.). It makes me very thankful for the comfort and peace we have here.
I have not had to travel for work recently and have enjoyed the time at home. I have been asked to attend meetings in Taipei, Shanghai, and Bogota, Columbia in the next few weeks, but I will pass until the baby arrives and we have had enough time to adjust.