Baby Bean

Noah is sleeping and Zack had duty today...and because of the time difference there have been absolutely no fb updates on my homepage in hours! LOL...meaning I'm sitting with the computer on my lap, eating a snack, and watching CSI and enjoying the quiet time being with my computer and TV!  I just wanted to share that Zack felt bean yesterday...he's been waiting anxiously to be back with us again so that he could feel a kick.  Noah was super active and towards the end I was in tears because he was all over the place.  This baby is no different...even maybe more active than Noah was.  I am getting kicked constantly everywhere especially the ribs and in my pelvis.  Bean kicks so hard at my pelvis that you can hear the thuds against the bone...so far those kicks haven't hurt.  Noah does not like Zack putting his hand on my belly.  He is sure to take his hand off each time!  We are anxious to find out the sex of the baby...I'm assuming that I can set this up on Thursday after my OB appt....if we are having a girl I need to get busy!  Their is a special NEX for children...Noah and I took a cruise through it today and saw that there is a great selection of infant and girl clothing...and hardly any boy clothing....just like every other store.  So, if we are having a girl I'm going to have to research some Japanese stores and visit the on base thrift store.  My gut still says this baby is a boy...but we shall see.

Saturday

So far the highlight of the day was finding a Handy Manny DVD at the NEX.  Noah's eyes got big and he snached it out of my hands and held it tight against his chest.  He then reached back and put it in the cart and said buy or bye...either way he wanted to take it home with him!  Noah is still struggeling taking a nap and wakes up around 2:30 until 4ish everynight so far.  However the sun starts coming up around 2:30-3 in the morning here so he wants to get up and eat breakfast.  On the flip side it starts getting dark here around 6ish or so each evening.  He then realizes that he's still tired and crawls back into his bed and goes back to sleep.  Everyday is a tad better than the one before and I am sure that we'll get there as he adjusts.  I spoke with mom, dad, and kristen today and we all had a clearn connection on both of our sides so that's a plus.  They asked me a few questions and I thought I would share...I looked at my stats and had 32 views yesterday...so you my 4 followers and the rest of you closet readers...please feel free to ask a question or comment either here or on fb!

Crime:
Crime in Japan is pretty much nill and then crime here on base is even less.  This is mostly due to the Japanese culture.

Humidity:
It is humid here...but not like IN or VA...it's more like tropical humidity.

Disaster:
I have not seen or heard anyone talking about it or the radiation.  The only things is the power conservation....the power company has made a contract with the base promising them so much power.  If however the base goes over that power allowance there will be blackouts.  The base and everyone living here are trying to conserve power anywhere possible...the lights on vending machines are turned off and simple things like that...that also use even small amounts of power.  The Navy has mandated the homes/offices/the hospital...everything must be set at 77 degrees.  No laundry during the day during the weekday.  The base was under thier limit by only 3GW last cycle...so there has been a big push for more conservation.  Also because of the disaster many shipments to the base were cancelled because they come by ship.  The NEX is pretty bare because the summer shipment of items there was cancelled...so this is why they have no maternity shorts...especially the clothing section is from the Spring and picked over.  I have heard that the fall shipment is due soon.  The commissary has also not recovered from the stop shipment.  When the shipments resumed they still contained the regular amount of items...so all of these places are trying to play catch-up with the stock.

Japanese People:
Most base taxi drivers are Japanese and a huge amount of the Lodge workers, hospital, NEX, commissary and all of that are all civilian employed by the military.  I have not met a single rude or unfriendly Japanese person...much the opposite always want to play with Noah and talk to him in both English and Japanese...super friendly and helpful(as long as they can understand you).  Not everyone speaks English and if you speak to them they wave their hands in front and say no, no, no!  They speak so fast and then also speak English pretty fast...so I've been told that I need to master the smile and nod! LOL

Getting our Feet on the Ground

Of our to do list yesterday we pretty much only accomplished a briefing about cell phones and getting some basic food.  Boo!  The NEX has hardly any maternity clothes and no shorts at all...which made me tear up in the store...so frustrating.  Today Noah and I have accomplished quite a bit and are checking items off of the to do list.  First thing this morning we took a taxi...which cost 570 yen...which is 7.05USD...to the Hospital.  All of the taxi drivers carry carseats in the trunk and they install them in the backseat if you ask to use it...and almost all the taxi vehicles are CUBES...a goofy car in the U.S. but it fits right in here.  I checked with the OB department and tried to fill out tons of paperwork while Noah was being a pain...dumped out all my cards from my wallet, cleared of part of a bookshelf, and just nearly pushed over a 5ft+ tree in the lobby.  We then had to go downstairs and check in with the hospital and turn in our medical records.  Back upstairs to the OB department so an appt. could be booked then after the LT. reviewed my paperwork...sent me for labs(I was told back in Va Beach that Dam Neck ordered the wrong lab during my 1st workup and I may or may not have immunity to German Measles-apparently this vaccination is not always a life long thing and many need a booster).  After the labs...back to the OB to go over my intake and then we were finally done just to walk next door and repeat the process with dental.  They gave me the paperwork and said that I could return it later, which I can do on Thursday at my OB appt...this entire process took 90min!  Then another taxi ride to the post office where we were able to finally get an address-fb or email me if you would like it!  Interestingly enough the person we spoke with to check in at the post office was the same lady that Noah saw in the lobby of the hospital and spoke to her about tractors and the noise they make...he was happy to see her again at the P.O!  Then another taxi back to the Lodge.  The base does have buses but it seems like I always just miss them and then would have to wait 30-45min. until it would come back around.  This base is huge and most of these places are not within walking distance...30-45min. walks.  I then called the AMC( I should know what this stands for but just can't right now!) counter at Yokota and found out that my luggage has been found...the downside is that the suspicions of the people who went to look for it were correct and it went on to Korea.  It will be on a cargo plane back to Yokota on Monday....It can't just be put on a plane back here...I have to wait until the next mission...which thankfully is Monday...and I was told it will ride in the cockpit with pilots here.  It can be delivered here but it's just about a 3hr drive one way so this creates a manning issue at the airport.  And they can't just put it in a car and drive it here...it is an AF Base so a vehicle has to be checked out..safety briefs, clearance with probably a handful of people...and who knows what else.  The man I spoke with is going to try his best to get it to me Monday afternoon or the latest Tuesday!  Not very happy about getting my things on Tuesday...however I am thankful that it hasn't vaporized.  One of my goals for today is to do some laundry...I have to do one load completely and then put on those clothes and then wash the clothes I'm wearing right now...and repeat...as I only have one pair of shorts.  This leads me onto the weather...I spoke with a woman and her daughter at the post office while we were waiting... as Noah and I beat her back from the hospital.  She said that last week it was 107 degrees and the humidity is beyond nuts.  It takes my hair hours to dry in the morning...I know that most Japanese homes and even military houses have dehumidifiers built into the AC because otherwise there is a mold issue.  She also told me that they do get snow every once in a while and it doesn't stick around.  She gave me a few other pointers including telling me that the NEX and commissary haven't really recovered from the stop shipments that happened after the disaster.  We did notice at the commissary a lot of empty shelves.  We are already making a list of food items that they don't sell here...compared to the VA beach commissary!  All of the dairy items are from California and labeled with that California Dairy Stamp.  And all of the labeling on the milk, sour cream, cottage cheese is in English but not labeling like in the U.S.  Noah is been a pain putting down for naps and wakes up in the middle of then night.  I'm thinking that this should all calm back down again once a routine is developed here at the Lodge.  While Noah has been sleeping I've made a bunch of phone calls and checked a few more things of the list...next week is already booking up...Monday is our housing brief and I set up Noah for hourly day care across the street so that I can go with Zack.  A housing brief is where they go over the procedures, do and don'ts, and just what exactly has to be done.  We then have to set up an appt. and go over to put our names on lists...we do want on base.  I have to go over to the child center after Noah wakes up and fill out some paperwork.  The lady told me that they have many other children with nut allergies and they have action plans, know how to use an epipen, and are educated on safe food.  A big sigh of relief...it's hard to feel okay dropping him off since I know he'll most likely cry and freak out the entire time...and then to also worry about if he will get "safe food" (As I am not allowed to bring food for him).  On Tuesday, I have to go across the street to the CDC(child development center) and do an orientation for future visits.  And Thursday is my Dr. appt.  Noah is on the waiting list for Thursday as they don't have any openings...in Va Beach the OB office freaked if you had to bring your child....the Lt. said it's fine if I have to bring him and not an issue at all.  She said that they were very child friendly...so another positive of the day.  Zack is anxious to get cell phones so we will probably go do that after he gets off work...we had to get a P.O. box first.  Also we only got basic food items and we need to do more extensive shopping.  Before coming here I set up our express shipment to be delivered...this proved to be difficult as apparently I was bucking the system and these shipments are not allowed to be delivered to the Lodge(which no one told us nor was it in any paperwork...and so then what is the point of the express shipment? LOL)  I got approval from the manger as most of the items were for Noah and for Zack at work.  I did this all through emailing with the Navy Lodge, Personal Property Office(PPO), and the moving company.  I called the PPO today because the to do list said to check in...I told the man our last name...and he immediately said oh, I know you!!  I called him after arriving to tell him our room number.  I told him that he must speak with a lot of people...he said yes but he remembered me because I set up my shipment before we even arrived!  LOL  So...mom you were correct...it was a crazy concept that someone would want to have their things delivered the day after arrival!  I told him that I am super organized and he just giggled!  The rest of our household goods should arrive on or before August 1st.  It will then be stored for 90 days.  Most of the other to do things are small except for the housing issue and the AOB(area orientation brief)-this is a week long thing where you learn about the base, city, taking trains, the language, driving license and things like that.  Zack and I are on different lists to do this...his wait is over a month long but I should be able to get in fairly soon or I could wait and take it with him.  We are thinking that I should go ahead and take it so that I can get my license and we can get a car and stop shelling out money to the taxis!  However I know that if I took the test today I'd fail!  Still getting that panic feeling of people turning in to the wrong lanes...I think in a week or so I'll get over it b/c I noticed today while in the taxi I was following the lane the taxi should turn into and it was starting to seem more "normal".  I overhead a mom yesterday saying that when they arrived their son had a hard time and had culture shock...which made me think that Noah thrives on being on a schedule and once we have that down he'll be fine...but going back to the U.S. in 3yrs he might have culture shock...weird to think that you can have culture shock when returning to your own country.  As far as navigating the base myself...I know how to get from the P.O. to the NEX and commissary.  Zack is able to soak it in through the windows of a taxi but not me!  Noah is awake...

Finally in Japan

We arrived at Yokota Air Base around 11ish Wednesday morning.  We were brief by a customs officer and our passports stamped...then off to get the luggage around the corner.  That old familiar feeling in the stomach as you wait for your luggage to come around...counting to ensure that you have all of your pieces.  Well, my suitcase was MIA.  The rest of the people going to Yokosuka were loaded onto a bus...to which we told the bus driver our situation.  The bus HAD to wait for us via the rules...so everyone waited on the bus as many people went to find our luggage.  They think that it was loaded wrong and stuck in with the bags belonging to the people continuing on the plane to other bases...if this is the case then it should arrive here today.  If however it was left at Seattle then we should get it tomorrow...and praying that it is one of these two options as it contained all of my clothes, shoes, and just about everything!  Thankfully that when I packed if stuffed a few items into Noah's suitcase..so I had one set of clean clothes to wear today.  We got on the bus around 12:30 and took a 2.5hr bus ride through Yokohoma down to Yokosuka.  Everything looked just about what I thought it would...Modern/Western with Japanese characters everywhere.  Houses/Apartment buildings are stacked right next to each other and built on just about any place possible...mountains and hills cut off to build houses...houses built down in a valley(which looked like they prob got flooded out a lot with how high the hills were on each side).  Noah slept the entire time which worked out wonderfully as it was nap time anyway.  We saw high school age students riding their bikes wearing their school uniforms...a lot of bikes/bike parking everywhere...at apt buildings two and three story bike parking structures...actually saw this with cars...two story car parking under a small carport type building.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out how the cars got down as there wasn't any visible ramps or a way for someone to drive it down.  The houses are small and cramped together...with almost all having outdoor laundry dry racks...roofs ranging in color from gray, black, orange, blue, and green.  If you thought Crocks were stupid...everyone and I mean probably every Japanese person here owns at least one pair!  We went through about 5 or so toll roads in that 2.5hr drive...most tolls ranging from 1-4 U.S. dollars...70ish Yen equals 1 U.S. dollar....and people in America complain about having toll roads...they have no idea!  Hmmm...let's see...they do drive on the opposite sides of the road and the car lanes are smaller than in the U.S...two trucks driving next to each other could potentially hit mirrors...driving reminded me bit of the Ice Road Trucker series in India...but more organized!  Street signs are just about the same with a few minor differences but close enough to know what they mean.  The base looks like most American Naval Bases with just a few minor differences probably mostly because everything is built right next to each other.  Zack has been out to check himself in yesterday after we checked in to the Navy Lodge...and then he went to work this morning.  Speaking of which the ship is out and rumors saying it will be out for another month.  Zack was told that the odds are that he will just stay here and wait as we have to do all of our mandatory intake classes and they realize just how crazy/overwhelming/confusing it is...as the to do list is crazy-batty long.  We plan on exploring the base this weekend and just right off base...saw the mall when we came in! LOL  That's the most paid attention part of the welcome package and I recognized the name right away...and they are having a sale...how nice since I have no clothes!  On a side note...it was kinda nice to flip forward a few days because the weekend is almost here already...being 13hrs ahead!  Zack had no idea when he would get off work but we need to visit the NEX, Commissary, set up a P.O. box and get cell phones(actually first on the Navy's to do list for us...as they want to be able to get a hold of Zack and just in case me).  We all hit the beds around 7ish last night.  Noah was exhausted....we all were.  He got up around 12:30-2 and then finally went back to sleep until 6 this morning.  He is napping now...maybe an hr later than before but considering how screwed up we all could be...it's nice that none of us have our days/nights messed up or are feeling jet lagged.  When we arrived at the Lodge we had a message from the housing office...wanting to know our room number.  The man told me that it would be delivered today early...not sure if he mentioned 8 or maybe in my head I was thinking that in the U.S....at the housing office early meant they started work at 8.  Glad Noah got up at 6 as the front desk called at 6:30 saying the company was here for delivery.  Yup 6:30!  Note to self to find out when the Japanese work day starts!  Noah saw his carseat/toys and other familiar items come out of the boxes and he was grinning ear to ear...and he's played with everything since...he was sooo excited.  The Navy Lodge looks like normal...Americanish with Japanese closets, shower, and electronic stuff.  The closets are amazing and huge...a small room but very deep closets with overhead doors for storage from floor to ceiling...so big that Noah's carseat in it makes the carseat look small.  Light switches have an on...automatic..and off setting that you turn a dial.  They have a diagram next to things like this showing what the characters mean.  There are sensors in the bathroom and kitchen that turn the lights on for you if you have it on the automatic setting.  The stove/hot plate is an electronic push button with tons of settings...and makes American stoves with the old turn the knob deal seem down right ancient.  Characters on the toilet handle knob...no idea what they mean as the knob can be turned towards you or back to the wall..but we can all assume there are two different types of flushes...even though I couldn't figure out/tell the difference which one was for what.  We at at Chili's last night...right next to the Lodge..and noticed the Japanese manners...everyone kept saying excuse me and when Noah was being difficult the waitress was apologetic to us.  In the U.S. we might have received dirty looks but last night no one did anything to make us feel embarrassed...and we looked like we'd just flown around the world! LOL...just talked to Zack via fb...oh I can't wait until we have all of this crap done!