07:18 Get Dougie on bus
07:20 Get Ian in car - take Stefan to train station
08:00 Return home - breath. Do dishes. Clean up. Find medical files. Find babysitting for Ian.
Breath...
09:30 Go to base for Ian's 10:00 appointment
10:40 Get seen for Ian's 10:00 appointment
11:15 Have lunch with other mom's from Seika (really fun to meet everyone!!!)
12:45 Drop Ian at Gretchen's for nap that should have started at noon...
(thank you, over and over - you were a TOTAL lifesaver!)
13:10 Arrive at Seika to pick Dougie up for 13:40 appointment that was rescheduled from yesterday
Did you get all this so far? Yup, neither did they...
13:11 Whoops! Dougie had been sent home on the bus - arriving at our house within minutes!
13:12 Call Gina to see if they can drop Dougie at her house - she is not home...
13:13 Figure it is all for not - the USNH will never get us in... call Central Appoinments
13:14 Central Appointments is "Closed" (hours M-F 07:30-15:30...). Huh...
13:14.5 Base Operator gives me Pediatrics number
13:15 Miracle occurs - they say to come in when I get my kid!
13:15.5 Have Dougie dropped at Sara's down the way from our house - THANK YOU, SARA!!!
13:35 Pick Dougie up from Sara's
13:58 Arrive at USNH for 13:40 appointment
14:00 Get right in!
15:15 Go pick up Ian from Gretchen's. He had just awoken from a 2-hour nap. Another miracle!
15:45 Go to coach Dougie's soccer team
16:00 Practice starts!
17:00 Dougie's practice ends. Stefan's practice starts - Eric coaching
18:00 Stefan's practice done.
18:30 HOME! Boys into shower and jammies. Eric heated up soup
19:10 Eat a delish dinner of chicken and orzo soup
19:35 Table cleared, teeth brushing, potty going
19:45 Prayers said, kisses given, lights off
19:50 Sat on couch. breath...
A friend asked if I had entered a "lose your child" contest - I must have entered that sweepstakes without realizing it! However, you can never shake one when you want to!
This is not quite our "typical day," but it is close. Remove the two doctor's appointments. And losing a child... NAH! That seems to be our new normal :)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Commuter Woes
I knew the "remembering all the important things" would not last long, even after an eventful morning. Turns out, the turn around time is one commute. Stefan left "the phone" at school yesterday... It was too good to last :)
I had arranged with the mom (on her suggestion - thank you, Andrea!) of the boys Stefan often rides in with to meet at the station and ride in together this morning. We agreed to try and catch the 07:44 - they all like to arrive early!
We left the house at just past 07:22 - plenty of time to drop at the station. Unless...
Do you notice the green lights in the picture? And the cars stopped behind them?!? What was going on?!? It was gridlock all the way...
Turns out, a train derailed last night due to a mudslide. My initial reaction was, "oh, GREAT!!!!"... What great timing... But, in the end, Stefan's commute was affected little. For the rest of Yokosuka, however...
The landslide/derailment occurred at about midnight, just outside of Yokosuka: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/10-injured-after-mudslide-derails-train-at-yokosuka. It started raining here at about 21:30 (9:30 pm)... I read that we got about 111mm of rain last night. That is over 4 inches!!! Our "Flooding" warning went off when it was still dry outside. The "All Clear" happened just after 21:30 - it had barely started raining here. 4 inches... 2.5 hours... That was a lot of rain! We (me, really) woke up on and off to the claps of thunder for a couple of hours. Thankfully, it was only me!
The train derailment shut down the Keikyu Line for the morning - and when it did re-open, there were no trains leaving the Yokosuka area to Yokohama/Tokyo... So, being the main commuter train line, all (and I mean ALL) the commuters made it to the JR station where Stefan leaves from every morning. I finally had him get out and run to the station. He got to the station and on his train before I even made the roundabout... By the time I got out of gridlock, he was at Zushi and getting on his bus.
10 (maybe 11) people were hurt out of 700 on the train that was derailed. I am grateful that noone was badly injured and there were fairly few. I will also be grateful for when the tracks are cleared and commuters can get back to their normal routines - and my typically 30 minute "there-and-back" does not take me 70...
I have to say, I was truly amazed at the impact - just in Yokosuka!!! I must say that it is a reassurance that the Japanese know how to "do trains". They manage to move a lot of people long distances without significant disruption to flow - unless, of course, there is a mudslide...
I had arranged with the mom (on her suggestion - thank you, Andrea!) of the boys Stefan often rides in with to meet at the station and ride in together this morning. We agreed to try and catch the 07:44 - they all like to arrive early!
We left the house at just past 07:22 - plenty of time to drop at the station. Unless...
Do you notice the green lights in the picture? And the cars stopped behind them?!? What was going on?!? It was gridlock all the way...
Turns out, a train derailed last night due to a mudslide. My initial reaction was, "oh, GREAT!!!!"... What great timing... But, in the end, Stefan's commute was affected little. For the rest of Yokosuka, however...
The landslide/derailment occurred at about midnight, just outside of Yokosuka: http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/10-injured-after-mudslide-derails-train-at-yokosuka. It started raining here at about 21:30 (9:30 pm)... I read that we got about 111mm of rain last night. That is over 4 inches!!! Our "Flooding" warning went off when it was still dry outside. The "All Clear" happened just after 21:30 - it had barely started raining here. 4 inches... 2.5 hours... That was a lot of rain! We (me, really) woke up on and off to the claps of thunder for a couple of hours. Thankfully, it was only me!
The train derailment shut down the Keikyu Line for the morning - and when it did re-open, there were no trains leaving the Yokosuka area to Yokohama/Tokyo... So, being the main commuter train line, all (and I mean ALL) the commuters made it to the JR station where Stefan leaves from every morning. I finally had him get out and run to the station. He got to the station and on his train before I even made the roundabout... By the time I got out of gridlock, he was at Zushi and getting on his bus.
10 (maybe 11) people were hurt out of 700 on the train that was derailed. I am grateful that noone was badly injured and there were fairly few. I will also be grateful for when the tracks are cleared and commuters can get back to their normal routines - and my typically 30 minute "there-and-back" does not take me 70...
I have to say, I was truly amazed at the impact - just in Yokosuka!!! I must say that it is a reassurance that the Japanese know how to "do trains". They manage to move a lot of people long distances without significant disruption to flow - unless, of course, there is a mudslide...
Monday, September 24, 2012
Fears Realized
Today was a day that one of my "motherly fears" was realized.
Stefan really likes getting to school early. His favorite train is the 07:44. The 07:57 will do. The other boys ride the 08:10, so I am at least assured that he will get to school...
Today, dots were being connected - and some not. The laundry did NOT get started as it should have. Stefan did NOT get his soccer clothes ready like I asked. He DID get his lunch. He DID charge his phone AND put it in his bag. I DID give him money to add to his PASMO (train/bus card). He did miss the 07:57... Or so I thought... it was LATE (very un-Japanese). He hopped on and went at 08:00.
I went to base, ran a couple of errands and realized I did NOT have my phone... Sigh... One place was closed until 09:00, but I thought I had English lessons at 09:30. So, I scratched it.
I got home, and fairly immediately heard a new voicemail alert. It was Stefan... He called right back and I answered.
He got on the wrong bus and did not know where he was. FEAR!
I do not believe in coincidence, luck or "fate". I believe that God is a God of timing. Perfect timing. I also believe that HIS timing and MY timing are rarely on the same schedule. Did you notice what did NOT get done this morning? Nothing of consequence. Oh, I forgot my phone... And Stefan caught an earlier train - OK, that was the event that started this lesson...
What DID happen: We added money to Stefan's nearly empty commuter pass. Stefan had his phone. I got home and HEARD the voicemail alert - I would not have checked immediately... He DID notice which bus he got on (the wrong one). He DID get off the buss and call me when the bus turned around and started to head back. I DID find the transit map - in Japanese... I DID figure out where he was. He WAS able to get on the correct bus and get to school. And, he was only 45 minutes late.
God is a God of timing. Things happen. A train shows up 3 minutes late... an eight-year-old gets on the bus at his normal stop - only it is now 3 minutes later - and a different bus... But he noticed WHICH ONE. For those of you that know my kid, you will understand that this is somewhat of a miracle. He is growing up. He had all the tools necessary to get back on track. The Japanese bus system confuses the locals. I have been searching the internet for the bus maps - to no avail. Until today...
Attentiveness is not Stefan's strong suit. I am confident that today's lesson will be one that sticks for a loooooong time. And from these life lessons comes growth. I am grateful for that growth. It literally makes me cry to stand on the sidelines and watch the growing pains. But, God is a God of timing. And it is perfect. Every. Single. Time.
P.S. - he was very happy when he got to school. So relieved and happy, you would not know that he was terrified an hour prior... You could say the same for me...
Stefan really likes getting to school early. His favorite train is the 07:44. The 07:57 will do. The other boys ride the 08:10, so I am at least assured that he will get to school...
Today, dots were being connected - and some not. The laundry did NOT get started as it should have. Stefan did NOT get his soccer clothes ready like I asked. He DID get his lunch. He DID charge his phone AND put it in his bag. I DID give him money to add to his PASMO (train/bus card). He did miss the 07:57... Or so I thought... it was LATE (very un-Japanese). He hopped on and went at 08:00.
I went to base, ran a couple of errands and realized I did NOT have my phone... Sigh... One place was closed until 09:00, but I thought I had English lessons at 09:30. So, I scratched it.
I got home, and fairly immediately heard a new voicemail alert. It was Stefan... He called right back and I answered.
He got on the wrong bus and did not know where he was. FEAR!
I do not believe in coincidence, luck or "fate". I believe that God is a God of timing. Perfect timing. I also believe that HIS timing and MY timing are rarely on the same schedule. Did you notice what did NOT get done this morning? Nothing of consequence. Oh, I forgot my phone... And Stefan caught an earlier train - OK, that was the event that started this lesson...
What DID happen: We added money to Stefan's nearly empty commuter pass. Stefan had his phone. I got home and HEARD the voicemail alert - I would not have checked immediately... He DID notice which bus he got on (the wrong one). He DID get off the buss and call me when the bus turned around and started to head back. I DID find the transit map - in Japanese... I DID figure out where he was. He WAS able to get on the correct bus and get to school. And, he was only 45 minutes late.
God is a God of timing. Things happen. A train shows up 3 minutes late... an eight-year-old gets on the bus at his normal stop - only it is now 3 minutes later - and a different bus... But he noticed WHICH ONE. For those of you that know my kid, you will understand that this is somewhat of a miracle. He is growing up. He had all the tools necessary to get back on track. The Japanese bus system confuses the locals. I have been searching the internet for the bus maps - to no avail. Until today...
Attentiveness is not Stefan's strong suit. I am confident that today's lesson will be one that sticks for a loooooong time. And from these life lessons comes growth. I am grateful for that growth. It literally makes me cry to stand on the sidelines and watch the growing pains. But, God is a God of timing. And it is perfect. Every. Single. Time.
P.S. - he was very happy when he got to school. So relieved and happy, you would not know that he was terrified an hour prior... You could say the same for me...
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Anchors Aweigh!
Today, the Oldest Classes at Seika performed at the local shopping mall. These kindergartners have the most incredible non-marching, marching band. Ever.
They have base drums, snares, tolio (tri-toms), cymbals, portable pianos, choreographed flags - topped off with plumed hats!
As the kids came out on the stage, they were all smiling, waving, and then there was... Dougie... he looked a bit like a cat straight out of the bath...
They performed twice on the Daiei stage for all the parents and patrons. Parents were uber-proud and on-lookers were impressed. Dougie wore his hat waaaaaaay back during his first performance (see above...) in spite of encouraging him to push it forward. I had speculated that he did not like his hair being pushed forward. And then...
My suspicions were confirmed
And corrected.
These kids not only performed beautifully, they all marched out there, hoisted up their drums/pianos and waited for the drum major. Who is also a kindergartener.
Dougie really got into the role, making faces like he was hoisting a baby grand onto his shoulders...
I think making faces is part of the performance - the little girl next to Dougie is just as cute as can BE! And check out the concentration on this boys face...
Dougie prayed tonight that he would get to "pre-form" again and that he was grateful that he got to "pre-form" today. Eric and I are in full agreement. It would be fun to compare his kindergarten performance to his future High School marching band... You be the judge! They "pre-formed":
And
Friday, September 21, 2012
Crazy...
I was cleaning the kitchen this morning, (that "drawer" on the bottom right is our dishwasher, HAL - I am grateful for it. Period. Otherwise our dishwasher would be named Eric...)
Yes, the milk jugs are being washed. This is Japan... even our gomi is clean!
And so is the kitchen...
Ian was building a BIG train track (his words, not mine). He would periodically wander to the kitchen, two various pieces of track (one long, one really long and bumpy), "Which one, Mummy?"
Then he would go build. And make trains. Then come back with a "Y" & a straight track. "Mummy? Which one?" and then go incorporate my choice.
This evening, I came into the Family Room where Ian was putting together the "Mouse Trap", wearing a pair of red stretchy gloves. I have to say, other than being a little stunned, I was impressed that he got every finger and both thumbs in it's own place!
These boys come by their love of Rube Goldberg-esque things very honestly (Grammy, Pop, me...). Mouse Trap was a game of Jake & Kylie's that Dougie coveted. And for his birthday, WOW, was he ever thrilled! To pieces and to death, in fact. Thank you Jake, Kylie, Auntie M & Uncle Alec - you gave the boys the best presents ever! Proof - watch the video:
The boys talk about their cousins whenever they play Mouse Trap, which is often. And AWESOME. That they talk about their cousins (playing Mouse Trap isn't bad either! Waaaaaay better than Chutes and Ladders...).
Moral: We love you and miss you Auntie M, Uncle Alec, Jake & Kylie!!! Must have a Skype date again soon... these boys are crazy - about you!
Yes, the milk jugs are being washed. This is Japan... even our gomi is clean!
And so is the kitchen...
Ian was building a BIG train track (his words, not mine). He would periodically wander to the kitchen, two various pieces of track (one long, one really long and bumpy), "Which one, Mummy?"
Then he would go build. And make trains. Then come back with a "Y" & a straight track. "Mummy? Which one?" and then go incorporate my choice.
This evening, I came into the Family Room where Ian was putting together the "Mouse Trap", wearing a pair of red stretchy gloves. I have to say, other than being a little stunned, I was impressed that he got every finger and both thumbs in it's own place!
These boys come by their love of Rube Goldberg-esque things very honestly (Grammy, Pop, me...). Mouse Trap was a game of Jake & Kylie's that Dougie coveted. And for his birthday, WOW, was he ever thrilled! To pieces and to death, in fact. Thank you Jake, Kylie, Auntie M & Uncle Alec - you gave the boys the best presents ever! Proof - watch the video:
The boys talk about their cousins whenever they play Mouse Trap, which is often. And AWESOME. That they talk about their cousins (playing Mouse Trap isn't bad either! Waaaaaay better than Chutes and Ladders...).
Moral: We love you and miss you Auntie M, Uncle Alec, Jake & Kylie!!! Must have a Skype date again soon... these boys are crazy - about you!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Back & Forth
Ian and I walked back from base today. We dropped the Subaru off to get the bumper fixed and then left the car with Eric. Ian kept shimmying out the bottom of the stroller with an, "I want to walk!" Cute. Whiney. Smiley. Silly. Willful. We compromised...
Just outside the base gate is the Mikasa Parkway - a nicely cobbled walkway with a "stream" that runs the length of it. Since it is a pedestrian path, I agreed to let Ian walk, and enjoy himself, before I got a move on.
And enjoy himself he did. He trailed his hands through the raised part of the stream, squatted and swatted the water below a bridge, played leapfrog on the "lillypads"...
Forward
And
Back
And
Forth
Somewhere in there, he decided to sit down and dip each foot. One. At. A. Time.
At the end of the parkway, I had him hop back in the stroller, albeit unhappily. By the time we got home, he was snoring...
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Little Peanut
Remember putting olives on your fingers? For those of you that don't remember, just eat dinner with a kid and put a bowl of olives in front of them.
Or peanuts...
Or peanuts...
FOUR
No... Wait... 1-2-3-4-
FIVE!!!!!
(He shelled the peanuts - just for their shells... I think Dougie ate the peanuts!)
What a little nut! Peanut, that is!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Priorities
What do mom's do all day when their offspring are all off at school?
Duh. Laundry...
And organize their spice "drawers" (mine is a quirky, cool, corner roller cart)...
I managed to clean-up clutter, combine, cull...
And, seriously, WHO needs this much Red Pepper?!?
I did all this, instead of...
Organizing THAT...
I have my priorities...
And organize their spice "drawers" (mine is a quirky, cool, corner roller cart)...
I managed to clean-up clutter, combine, cull...
And, seriously, WHO needs this much Red Pepper?!?
I did all this, instead of...
I have my priorities...
Crawling to a Crawl
Dougie has been in the pool since he was a baby. He took to the water like a cat! Not a catfish, but a CAT...
We could not get him peeled off of me or get him to quit crying if he was not velcroed to me... SO glad that when he turned three he could start swimming lessons - without me! It did the lot of us good :)
He loved to splash around the water, but never wanted you too far away. When he was 4-1/2, he suddenly doggie-paddled off in the shallow end, declaring, "Look mummy! I can swim!" I actually thought we might get there...
Fast forward a year and a half...
WE GOT THERE!!!
He had on a little back float. For those of you that don't understand Dougie and his sense of depth, he knew when he was in over his head. Literally. He would flip his floaties and not go there. Period. Well, he and Kishi-san (the best swim instructor EVER) were in about 8 feet of water. Definitely over his head...
I was giddy - so excited for him! So excited that HE IS FINALLY GETTING IT! And then...
WITHOUT THE FLOAT!!!!!
He is not Nathan Adrian, but with work...
He may become the next Greg Louganis, if the cannonball comes into Olympic vogue...
Act of God
Ian has been having some, ahem, problems with withholding BMs - and then leaving little "packages"... much to my chagrin. This post is not a cry for help (I just cry...), but a blessing in disguise.
Friday, having to take Stefan to catch his train, Ian got to stay in his "less than desirable" state. And he got to wash his carseat and self when he got home. So, out the carseat went from the Subaru...
The backseat can hold three people (little people, mainly), but is really made for two. The seat contours and headrests are at the 1.33 & 2.67 positions, vs. 1 & 3 with a hump in the middle.
Saturday morning, Stefan's team had a game in Ikego (near Zushi). He was taking one of the team boys with him. He planned on taking the other coach and his son as well. Good thing that carseat was taken out! The other coach and his son were running late (life with four kids...) and went on their own. So, Stefan and his friend had the backseat to themselves. And headrests to themselves...
On the way home, Eric was rear-ended. A minor rear-ending, but a rear-ending none-the-less.
Did I? All were completely unharmed (minus the bumper). The blessing of the missing carseat. Did I mention the boys were sitting in the 1.33 & 2.67 positions? Complete with contours and headrests? And the other coach and son avoided this, altogether, by running late?
Friday, having to take Stefan to catch his train, Ian got to stay in his "less than desirable" state. And he got to wash his carseat and self when he got home. So, out the carseat went from the Subaru...
The backseat can hold three people (little people, mainly), but is really made for two. The seat contours and headrests are at the 1.33 & 2.67 positions, vs. 1 & 3 with a hump in the middle.
Saturday morning, Stefan's team had a game in Ikego (near Zushi). He was taking one of the team boys with him. He planned on taking the other coach and his son as well. Good thing that carseat was taken out! The other coach and his son were running late (life with four kids...) and went on their own. So, Stefan and his friend had the backseat to themselves. And headrests to themselves...
On the way home, Eric was rear-ended. A minor rear-ending, but a rear-ending none-the-less.
Did I? All were completely unharmed (minus the bumper). The blessing of the missing carseat. Did I mention the boys were sitting in the 1.33 & 2.67 positions? Complete with contours and headrests? And the other coach and son avoided this, altogether, by running late?
 |
| Minor - but the license plate used to be straight - or should I say, the bumper used to be level... |
God's timing, albeit a bit "crappy" on my end, was proven perfect. Again.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Practice, Practice, Practice
It's SOCCER SEASON!
And this year, Eric and I decided to coach the boys' teams so we had a good excuse to be micro-managing them... When I am not micro-managing Dougie and the Bumblebeezzzzz, I can watch the White Dragons and snap a few pics. Unfortunately, I am also the eye behind the lens... will work on that Dougie!
This season has been a lot of practice...
Soccer practice...
Practice at coaching...
Practice...
...in patience...
Practice in new hair-styles...
Practice at...
...Pole Dancing?!?!?!?
Practice at having a good time...
Practice at laughing!
Some things are easy to perfect!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Those Clowns!
The dress up box was broken out - and...
Mossblood Maciek was released from Davey Jones' Locker
And he found his side-kick, the One-Eyed woman...
And the newest Hogwarts student tried her "Expelliarmus" spell on the others and...
The Pink Princess Power Ranger appeared...
Horton heard a Who...
A flower pot sprung up on the princess' head (so did glow in the dark hair!)...
Those clowns!!!
Mossblood Maciek was released from Davey Jones' Locker
And he found his side-kick, the One-Eyed woman...
And the newest Hogwarts student tried her "Expelliarmus" spell on the others and...
The Pink Princess Power Ranger appeared...
Horton heard a Who...
A flower pot sprung up on the princess' head (so did glow in the dark hair!)...
Those clowns!!!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
In Transit
Eric and I were awoken last night by a thunderstorm - and the sudden realization that a car seat and a stroller were outside. Whoops! We stepped outside at 02:30 AM were greeted by a downpour and much a cooler temperature.
This morning was all blue sky and sunshine - minus the heat! It was a lovely, lovely morning. I was not busting out a sweat - the first time in two months!
Ian and I accompanied Stefan on his transit to school again. Since I woke Ian up just before leaving, he had not eaten breakfast. Nor did I have my coffee. Nor could I find my coffee... just seemed to have disappeared :( Won't that be a surprise when I find it!
Ian got snuggly on the way back...
And then just became a lounge lizard, complete with sunglasses...
He is WAY too big to sprawl out on my lap - but tried anyway
We stopped in the convenience store at Yokosuka Station when we got back. Ian walked right over to the refrigerated section, grabbed a sandie and told me, "don't put that back, Mummy!" Hungry?!? He then walked over and picked up a pineapple juice, declaring, "I have my brekkies, Mummy!"
Yup. Sure do!
We strolled along the boardwalk in Verney Park, Ian carrying his brekkies.
Then decided I should hold his sammy...
Went over to the railing to check out the fish - and his drink... (now what was it that I picked out?!?)
And we just simply enjoyed our stroll along the waterfront. I enjoyed not breaking out in a full sweat. I think the seasons may be in transit as well...
This morning was all blue sky and sunshine - minus the heat! It was a lovely, lovely morning. I was not busting out a sweat - the first time in two months!
Ian and I accompanied Stefan on his transit to school again. Since I woke Ian up just before leaving, he had not eaten breakfast. Nor did I have my coffee. Nor could I find my coffee... just seemed to have disappeared :( Won't that be a surprise when I find it!
Ian got snuggly on the way back...
And then just became a lounge lizard, complete with sunglasses...
He is WAY too big to sprawl out on my lap - but tried anyway
We stopped in the convenience store at Yokosuka Station when we got back. Ian walked right over to the refrigerated section, grabbed a sandie and told me, "don't put that back, Mummy!" Hungry?!? He then walked over and picked up a pineapple juice, declaring, "I have my brekkies, Mummy!"
Yup. Sure do!
We strolled along the boardwalk in Verney Park, Ian carrying his brekkies.
Then decided I should hold his sammy...
Went over to the railing to check out the fish - and his drink... (now what was it that I picked out?!?)
And we just simply enjoyed our stroll along the waterfront. I enjoyed not breaking out in a full sweat. I think the seasons may be in transit as well...
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