After three days of work, we were ready for a four-day weekend filled with family time and eating. This was our first Thanksgiving at home in two years. It is weird to think that a year ago, we barely celebrated the holiday as we glided by islands on a sailboat in the Andaman Sea near Thailand.

Another interesting twist to Aruba is that gambling is legal. On our second or third night there, we checked out the Marriott casino and it was hopping with people, but missing a poker room. We were bummed. I think we burned about $20 playing video poker but then quickly called it a night. A couple of nights later, we walked through some of the other hotels and found poker rooms in two nearby hotels including the Holiday Inn next door. Andy surprised me by his desire to play (he is not a “game player”).

So my real excuse for not writing for two months is because I am 14 weeks pregnant and the last two months (during the first trimester), I have been too exhausted to do anything but sleep, exercise, work and sit on the couch watching TV. There are a few exceptions to this, but honestly, I have never been so tired. I know it was all for good reason and that I should enjoy my pregnancy, yadda yadda, but honestly, it was not fun. I can say that more easily now because this last week I have started to feel pretty good again and am getting back some energy and am not disgusted by the thought of 80% of the foods I used to love (only 40% now).