BOISE bound!!

With two babes on the way instead of one, many things have inevitably changed.  For one, I really didn't think it best to head overseas this year and so it limited Ray's basketball options considerably.  With a LOT of prayer, an invite opened up for Ray to attend an open tryout in Boise, Idaho for their Developmental NBA team, the Boise Stampede.  So, last weekend we made the drive over taking I-84East the entire way through gorgeous Fall scenery.  We stayed with a dear high school friend of mine and her family.  It was really nice.

As sometimes happens, Ray came down with a horrible sinus and chest cold Friday night, sending us scrambling for any remedies we could find.  On Saturday we again prayed over his body for strength and wellness before he headed off for the tryout.  When he returned home late Saturday night he said he'd played really well...  YAY!

On Sunday morning, I attended the last two hours of tryouts which consisted of scrimmages.  The 70 guys were broken up into teams and played each other.  It was SO much fun!  When Ray got on the court he was literally unstoppable.  He scored nearly every possession, impressing us all with huge dunks and moves.  Needless to say, he gave it all... and it paid off!  After the tryout was over, the head coach of the team called him aside and told him he made the team!!! This was HUGE!!

SO... with many details still up in the air, it looks like the preggo Schafer crew will be heading to Boise sometime in early November to take up camp through April (and through the birth!!).  More to come as details come in.  

Below are pictures of our Monday Grape Juice Canning Extravaganza.  My friend Kristin housed us in Boise and was the most wonderful hostess.  On Sunday after the tryout, we stayed and canned several different varieties of grape juice.  So much fun!!

Hello in there!!!

Oh goodness, where to start...

Well, first of all, Ray and I are both "home".  He returned home from Colombia after I did, due to the lack of funding for the team down there.  Now, we are both home enjoying the beauty of these Fall days in the Pacific Northwest and trying to figure out what comes next.  My sickness has not all-together improved, and so my midwife brought me in for some exams.  After confirming that I actually have a very healthy body, she encouraged me to get an early ultrasound.  On October 5th, Ray and I went in for our first glimpse of our little "one".  

The ultrasound tech plopped me down in the chair, put the jelly on my belly and declared, "Well, there's baby A and there's baby B!"

TWINS??!!!

Ray and I simultaneously cried and looked at those two babies on the screen in disbelief and excitement.  WOW.

Baby A is head down.  Baby B is head up...

To those of you who don't know, my Mom is a fraternal twin, and as the genetics prove, it can be passed down from mothers to their daughters.  This explains a lot!!

As of now, Ray and I are re-organizing our plans for the future slightly.  He will be interviewing for different Developmental NBA teams in order to keep us in the states this year.  We are due with the babes April 13th, 2010.

Thank you for coming on this GRAND journey with us!!!

Cartagena update...

So, I haven't been out of the apartment much.  I've been really sick in this first trimester of pregnancy, so I feel like I don't have much to say about our life down here just yet.  The foods are tough, mostly fried, and with my nose being as sensitive as it is right now, pretty much everything makes me nauseous.  With this said, I've been doing a lot of sleeping and admiring the view from our 12th story apartment.  Strangely enough, I knew the cravings would come, but I'm surprised to find that I'm craving what I can't have- Japanese food!  Or more exact, curry and rice!  Yeah, we're gonna have one ethnic babe I guess!

To note:  

*It takes forever to load video down here, so I'll have to report Ray's games through words.  They had their third game last night and won by 20, so now they are 2-1.  They will play the same team again tonight.  

*The best I can describe the weather is HOT.  It is so humid that a mere 5 minute walk can leave you wet through any clothing.  Ray and I have ventured down to the water almost every night for a nice dip under the full moon.  This is so refreshing, not only to get out of the apartment, but at this time the beaches are empty and the water is warmer than the air!  

Yesterday we went for a dip in the late morning and got in the water just as a couple small fishing boats were pulling up on the beach.  One of the boat pulled out a rather large hammerhead shark and several small additional reef sharks, and started filleting them next to where we had placed our clothing.  This was wild to see!  As we approached, I asked if they eat only fins or the entire shark and they promptly replied that the entire shark is a delicacy.  Upon saying this, the man with the large knife cut the head off the hammerhead and threw it over his shoulder, spraying drops of shark blood on our clothes.  Hmmm, a sort of souvenir??

Ray's games...

They were slated to lose by a long haul, but Ray's team pulled off their first game with a big win by 20, despite only have a day or two of practice under their belts, and playing in a 100 degree arena...

WELCOME to CARTAGENA!!

Well, we are here: Cartagena, Colombia, South America.... right on the Caribbean Sea.  We will be here through November for Ray to play a short season with the Cartagena Cangrejeros (the Crabs).  We are happy to be here, primarily because its a short and sweet season, but also because I have the opportunity to speak Spanish and get reacquainted with a culture that I have loved for so long...

We've been here for about a week now and today is the first day I haven't been laid out- SICK!  Not because of anything here, but the beginning of this pregnancy has had me sick all day, unable to eat or drink anything!  Thank goodness, we were able to get some friendly medications that today have finally allowed me an appetite and to hold down food.  Miracle drug!!

Below is the American coach, James and his wife, Sandra.  James first came to Colombia with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, so his heart is for the people and primarily providing opportunities for the young men.  His wife is native Colombian, but she is a God-send.  She's a dentist here, but also 2 1/2 months preggers, so we share that in common!! 

The beach is right outside our building.  

The water is like a bath- probably the warmest I've ever felt.  Ray and I went swimming tonight and the water was warmer than the air!!  Despite the vendors that harass you constantly, this is paradise!  

The old, colonial city...

Ray with American teammate, Eugene...

Our farewell to the U.S.A...

Ray and I took one last camping trip up the Clackamas River the day before we flew out for Cartagena.  Our site was right on the river- so relaxing and beautiful.  In the morning we woke up to a swift water rescue class holding it's lessons right in front of our camp, making for some great entertainment!

Our little tadpole...

SO, the cat's out of the bag- We're gonna be parents!!  And yes, we are very excited.  Some tribute photos to this new life growing inside of me...

Ray's very proud :)

Not even a bump yet....

Ray's aunt Laurie just moved down to Oregon from Alaska.  She took us and Katie out to an INCREDIBLE dinner... and we told her she was going to be a great aunt!  Lots of tears...