So, we are all packed up and ready to go! It has been an extremely stressful and overwhelming week but as corny as it sounds I'm impressed with how well we've been able to just push through it!! I haven't had a whole lot of time to just sit down and think about what it is we are doing until today. Today was the first day in a while that we both weren't running around like crazy people trying to get things done and it made me stop and remember what this is all about. ...Matt is being deployed!! I'm sad today because I have to leave my husband and Gavin has to leave his daddy. I know that Matt doesn't have a very dangerous job but that doesn't stop the fear or the tears. You try to tell yourself that it's in Gods hands, and it is, but "what if" is always somewhere in the back of your brain. I am sad to day because I have to uproot my child for the 4th time in 7 months. I don't care what other people say, it does effect him. Just because he is two does not mean that he isn't confused by all the changes around him. I've seen it in these past months. I'm sad because the friends I've made here will all be gone when we get back and it's going to be like starting all over! I will put on my strong face tomorrow but today I am sad.
The plan is to go to the airport in the morning (Wednesday evening for you all) and wait and see if they call our name. They have 67 seats but we don't know where we are on the list. I don't think it will be a problem. The plane leaves at 11:00am Thursday morning and lands in Seattle around 7:00am Thursday. Nothing like living the same day twice! For us that we be 11:00pm so the plan is for Tak to pick us up and take us back to his house to sleep a little. Gavin and I will buy a ticket home when we land in Seattle so I don't know the details of that but I do know that we will be home sometime Friday. I know that everyone will be excited to see us and want to see Gavin but please keep in mind that it will take us a few days to adjust to the time difference and we will probably be sleeping during the day and watching movies and eating breakfast in the middle of the night. Bare with me! We will see you all soon!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Plan? What's a plan?
Most of you know, I'm a planner! I have to know what is going on when, where, how, who.... that's me. So Wednesday morning I wake up with plans to go to the doctor and find out the sex of the baby and then the guys were going to come by to pick up our refrigerator and washer because we were moving THE NEXT DAY! Well, this is how my day really went. At 7:30 a guy from the moving company shows up and wants to do a survey of our house to make sure they have everything they need when the come the next day. At 8:30 the guys came and picked up the washer and refrigerator. This was wonderful because that meant that Matt gets to go with me to get my ultrasound. Well, that didn't go as planned because this little bean didn't want us to know what it's goodies look like!! I was very disappointed!!! I found out that Gavin was a boy at 14 weeks. I'm 22 weeks now and I already feel like I've waited a lifetime!!! Oh well, nothing I can do so I move on. I come home and Matt goes back to work. I get a phone call at 12:30 from the moving company and she wants to know if they can come this afternoon and do a per pack. Here is where my planning comes in. I was planning on having EVERYTHING that Gavin and I will need to take with us packed up and in our car out of the way. I was also planning on gathering up everything that needs to stay, to clean the apartment once they are gone. I had some dishes that needed to be washed and a few other "odd and in's " to do before the movers came the next day. So, I agree to let them come at 3:00. This way I have time to get my stuff done. At 1:00 (30 mins later) my door bell ring and it's the movers. I say "oh, you're early. Please excuse the mess". He smiles and ask me if they can start packing. I say yes go ahead. Then he says "we, move everything today". Whoa, back up! You want to move everything TODAY?? Again I get his sweet like Japanese smile and he just says "please". So, everything that I had planned to do that evening then changed to getting it done before 3:00 is now all shot to hell.
The next thing I know I have little men coming in my house from the front door and men climbing over the balcony from the roof of the truck! I'm completely overwhelmed!! So, I take a deep breath and start throwing stuff in a little area I've ask them to leave alone. I realize after about 10 minutes that this is just not going to work because I have way to much to think about! So, I start call Matt and hear his phone ringing in the living room...just like him to not have his phone. I called what I thought was his work number only to be told that I have the wrong number! Then I call Shelly, her husband works with Matt so I got the number from her. I call Matt's work and DEMAND that he stop whatever he is doing that very minute and get his butt home. Thank God he actually listened. I just knew it was going to take him an hour. By the time Matt got home I was busy trying to keep Gavin out of everyones way and out of all their stuff. I decide that Gavin and I have got to just get out of the way. I grab the little 15'' TV and some movie and off we go to the new house. I didn't remember sippy cups, snacks or anything that you need to get by with a toddler. The floor in our new house is cold tile and we have nothing to sit on. Then Gavin realizes that there are stairs in the new house! So, up and down and up and down until I thought my legs were going to fall off! He has no problem getting up the stairs it's the down part that he needs help with. I've been having a lot of back pain for the past month or so and this just put me over the edge. It has not been as bad as when I was pregnant with Gavin but still not fun. When Matt showed up with the movers I was already at my wits end with Gavin and my back hurts so bad I can hardly walk. It's 5:00 and Gavin has not had a nap at all so he is in complete melt down mode! So, we get in the car and go out to find some dinner. I'll stop here with all the details because I think you get it. The movers didn't leave until around 6:30 and then we had to unpack our bedding and things we needed ASAP. Not easy to do when half the boxes are labeled in JAPANESE! I've spent the past few days unpacking, which I was not planning on doing! But I have to finish packing our suitcases for our 6 month stay in Bama. I've had to do most of it myself because Matt has been busy trying to get everything in order for us to leave and he cleaned the apartment before we turn in the keys. I do not remember moving in 5 months ago being so painful!!! I HATE STAIRS!
On a lighter note, I love our new house now that everything is unpacked. We were both a little unsure if we'd like it here but did it for Gavin and the yard. Our back yard is a toddlers dream. There are about 6 kids all around his age and every house has some kind of big outside toy to play on. Tonight (Friday) I looked out my back window and there seemed to be some kind of party going on. Matt and I decided to go out and introduce ourselves. Gavin had so much fun running around with all the little kiddos and we had a good time meeting everyone. I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I just thought "we should have been here all along".
Sorry, I know that this was a blog of me just rambling on and on.
The next thing I know I have little men coming in my house from the front door and men climbing over the balcony from the roof of the truck! I'm completely overwhelmed!! So, I take a deep breath and start throwing stuff in a little area I've ask them to leave alone. I realize after about 10 minutes that this is just not going to work because I have way to much to think about! So, I start call Matt and hear his phone ringing in the living room...just like him to not have his phone. I called what I thought was his work number only to be told that I have the wrong number! Then I call Shelly, her husband works with Matt so I got the number from her. I call Matt's work and DEMAND that he stop whatever he is doing that very minute and get his butt home. Thank God he actually listened. I just knew it was going to take him an hour. By the time Matt got home I was busy trying to keep Gavin out of everyones way and out of all their stuff. I decide that Gavin and I have got to just get out of the way. I grab the little 15'' TV and some movie and off we go to the new house. I didn't remember sippy cups, snacks or anything that you need to get by with a toddler. The floor in our new house is cold tile and we have nothing to sit on. Then Gavin realizes that there are stairs in the new house! So, up and down and up and down until I thought my legs were going to fall off! He has no problem getting up the stairs it's the down part that he needs help with. I've been having a lot of back pain for the past month or so and this just put me over the edge. It has not been as bad as when I was pregnant with Gavin but still not fun. When Matt showed up with the movers I was already at my wits end with Gavin and my back hurts so bad I can hardly walk. It's 5:00 and Gavin has not had a nap at all so he is in complete melt down mode! So, we get in the car and go out to find some dinner. I'll stop here with all the details because I think you get it. The movers didn't leave until around 6:30 and then we had to unpack our bedding and things we needed ASAP. Not easy to do when half the boxes are labeled in JAPANESE! I've spent the past few days unpacking, which I was not planning on doing! But I have to finish packing our suitcases for our 6 month stay in Bama. I've had to do most of it myself because Matt has been busy trying to get everything in order for us to leave and he cleaned the apartment before we turn in the keys. I do not remember moving in 5 months ago being so painful!!! I HATE STAIRS!
On a lighter note, I love our new house now that everything is unpacked. We were both a little unsure if we'd like it here but did it for Gavin and the yard. Our back yard is a toddlers dream. There are about 6 kids all around his age and every house has some kind of big outside toy to play on. Tonight (Friday) I looked out my back window and there seemed to be some kind of party going on. Matt and I decided to go out and introduce ourselves. Gavin had so much fun running around with all the little kiddos and we had a good time meeting everyone. I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and I just thought "we should have been here all along".
Sorry, I know that this was a blog of me just rambling on and on.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cocok's is a dream
So I have to tell you about Cocok's! No walk-ins at this place. I had to make an appointment over a week ago. Anyways, It was Delightful !! It's on the 2nd floor by the seawall so the view is all part of the experience. You have a seat in a big comfy chair next to an open window and just melt away the stress. Between the lulling sound of the ocean, the light breeze and the smell of salt water, it's easy to just sit back and be pampered. There is something about the smell of the ocean to me that just says "leave me alone, I'm relaxing". I live a block away from the water and I don't smell the water like that...wonder why? They have this delightfully sweet, sweet tea (little heavy on the lemon). Pages and pages and pages of nail art to choose from. It took me 30 minutes to decided while I had the most incredible leg and foot message. It is amazing what those girls can do with a tiny little paint brush...no stencils or airbrushing. I watched the lady next to me get butterfly's painted on her toes and at first I thought it just looked like a big ugly black thing. But somehow she transformed it into a very tasteful butterfly. It cost me 4,000yen ($42) and was worth every penny. I wasn't sure if I should tip as there is a no tip rule here in 
Japan but they had so many American customers that I wasn't sure. I took my cue from a little girl who came back give her girl a tip. So I left and few hundred yen as well. It all took about 2 hours and my butt did fall asleep while I was sitting there but it was the best 2 hours I've had on this Island. And then I had to go home to the reality that is my life, and try to work out the details of the next few weeks. We took a house on base. It is new, smaller than our place now but has a yard for Gavin. We have two weeks before we can move in and a few days after that we all need to be trying to catch a hop to Seattle so that Matt has time to make it back. Matt is going to fly to Seattle with me for a few different reason. First because I'm pregnant and I don't feel like I could handle Gavin on my own and because we get bumped up about 2 categories when we fly with our sponsor. So, he is going to stay in Seattle with Tak for a week and hope that he can get a seat back to Okinawa on the first flight out. We are looking at trying to get a hop somewhere between March 17th-31st. We just show up the morning of the flight with all our bags and hope they call our name. If not we go home and try again next week. For me this is a nightmare because I am a total control freak and I NEED A PLAN! Hopefully we get on the first try so Matt can get back and do all his crap.
Japan but they had so many American customers that I wasn't sure. I took my cue from a little girl who came back give her girl a tip. So I left and few hundred yen as well. It all took about 2 hours and my butt did fall asleep while I was sitting there but it was the best 2 hours I've had on this Island. And then I had to go home to the reality that is my life, and try to work out the details of the next few weeks. We took a house on base. It is new, smaller than our place now but has a yard for Gavin. We have two weeks before we can move in and a few days after that we all need to be trying to catch a hop to Seattle so that Matt has time to make it back. Matt is going to fly to Seattle with me for a few different reason. First because I'm pregnant and I don't feel like I could handle Gavin on my own and because we get bumped up about 2 categories when we fly with our sponsor. So, he is going to stay in Seattle with Tak for a week and hope that he can get a seat back to Okinawa on the first flight out. We are looking at trying to get a hop somewhere between March 17th-31st. We just show up the morning of the flight with all our bags and hope they call our name. If not we go home and try again next week. For me this is a nightmare because I am a total control freak and I NEED A PLAN! Hopefully we get on the first try so Matt can get back and do all his crap. Sunday, February 15, 2009
Unicycles
Since moving here I've noticed a lot of little kids riding around on unicycles. I always kind of giggle to myself because for one it's funny and I see them all the time lately. I am amazed at the site of young children riding unicycles, without falling. There are two little girls on our street that I see all the time. One that has mastered the art of unicycling and the other who isn't so good yet but she doesn't give up. The picture is of a girl at the beach a few days ago. Anyway, I just thought that this was a silly little hobby for the Japanese. However, I learned that unicycling became popular back in the 80's when the ministry of education made it a part of the Ja
panese school day curriculum. It helps kids master balance, as well as patience. Apparently, it only takes kids about a week to get the hang of it. Definitely not something I plan on taking up. I like my teeth! I found it very interesting. Mostly because Japanese children are so well behaved that I wonder what other patience practice exercises they have...
panese school day curriculum. It helps kids master balance, as well as patience. Apparently, it only takes kids about a week to get the hang of it. Definitely not something I plan on taking up. I like my teeth! I found it very interesting. Mostly because Japanese children are so well behaved that I wonder what other patience practice exercises they have... Thursday, February 12, 2009
Happy Day After Valentine's Day...
I've never cared much for Valentine's Day. But a few years ago while I was working at Healthfile ...an office full of 20 women, I sat and watched as the door opened every hour for some lucky lady getting flowers. I knew that I would not be one of them, Matt would NEVER have flowers delivered. I agree it's a huge waste of money. However, by the end of the day I HATED Valentine's Day!! Me and two other girls that didn't get any flowers that day decided that we were going to celebrate the day after Valentine's Day. The next morning on the way to work I stopped at Walmart and brought all kinds of Valentine goodies for 75% off. We gave each other flowers and stuffed animals and had a good time being silly about our made up celebration. Crystal and I have continued our holiday ever since...not sure what happened to Sammie.
Every year I went to work knowing that I was not going to be one of the girls that got flowers and every year by the end of the day I was pissed off. I wasn't pissed at Matt, just at how stupid Valentine's Day is for those of us who don't get flowers delivered. But I always looked forward to the next day. The great thing about "the day after Valentine's Day" is that it's super cheap...everything is marked down the next day! I don't have anyone to celebrated my made up holiday with this year so this is just a little something for all you girls who get something ... show a little love to the girl that didn't get anything and buy her a stuff aniamal for $2.00 and wish her a Happy Day After Valentine's Day!!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Nothing like a little walk...
After throwing myself a pity party all morning, I decided to get out and got for a walk. Gavin and I walked across the street and walked down the seawall to the beach. It's so beautiful here, how could I stay in a bad mood? The view just brought me so much peace. I've been praying that God would give me peace and I found it on my walk. I know that I can do this...I've done it before. Last time I didn't have kids and I had great friends in Panama City to help me AND I was only 3 hours from home. I am going home that's for sure. I know that it's going to be a pain to work it all out but I can't stay here alone...I'm not that strong :) I know that God will take care of all of us.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Bad news...
Why is it that pregnancy and orders to Iraq come hand in hand in my life?!?! Yes, I just said orders to Iraq...for April. Which mean that Matt won't be here when the new baby is born and I'm in JAPAN, ALONE! I'm so confused and upset! I don't know what to do. I can't stay here by myself for 6 months and have a baby, alone in the middle of it all. I don't know if they will let me go home and if so there are so many things to think about and do. I would have to make sure that we are allowed to go home for this reason because I would have to get a new OB, Gavin's dr's, new baby set up with Tricare, passport for the new baby and a million other things and all of that can't be done without the military's OK. Gavin just started speech therapy this week and I was just starting to get settled in and even make a few friends. The silver lining is, if I get to go home is that I'll be home with friends and family and that's 100% better than being here alone! But I'd much rather not have to deal with this at all right now. It's never easy to get news like this but WHY NOW! And only 2 months away. It seems like last time we had 6 months to prepare. I HATE THIS , I HATE THIS, I HATE THIS!!!!!
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