I just wanted to thank everyone for reading my rambelings! When we thought of this idea...we didn't know much of a success it was going to be...how many people would take time out of their busy lives to read about our lives. We both enjoy your comments, fb messages, and just letting us know that you read it...or "so and so" reads it too. I try not to think about all of you too much while writing otherwise I get stuck and nothing comes to me! Thanks again!
I realize that I haven't written a blog update in over a week, but we have been super busy with our everyday lives. We have not taken a train trip since going to the zoo because it's just too darn hot and humid for me to do a lot of walking. I suppose the limitations of being 32 weeks pregnant has finally caught up with me and there is no more plowing along. My asthma has also begun to bother me and I had two attacks last week. I have spoken to my doctor about it and we decided to just wait and see how it goes...before going to the pulmonologist. The entire time we lived in Virginia, which was over two years I only had to use my inhaler maybe four times total. When we went back to Indiana to visit before flying here I had to use it fourish times a week. For me, it all depends on the climate and how oppressive it is outside. We have extended summers here and it is still close to ninety degrees outside everyday. The Japanese women carry umbrellas to keep the sun off of them...many are clear(because they can be bought at the 100Y shop), but some are very pretty-an extension of their outfit. The women also carry around small pretty dish-rag size cloths. They use these to wipe the sweat off of their faces and necks...more like daintily dab at the sweat. The cloths are small squares that usually have pretty designs in the cloth. Many also wear hats to keep the sun off of their faces. And while American women are sweating with red faces and breathing heavily...they are wearing a hat, shaded by an umbrella, and then dabbing at the sweat on their faces as they stroll down the street! The men have rolled up usually white towels at the back of their necks to keep them cool. They will remove the cloth to wipe the sweat from their faces as well. It's one of those cases when we need to take a clue from the locals and adapt! But I guess the "American" part in us is too ingrained.
Noah has just recently hit his growth spurt. I believe I mentioned that it usually follows a well child visit by a few weeks. He has grown inches in the past two or so weeks. He had been sleeping in 90 minutes in the morning, take a 90 minute longer nap, and then going to bed an hour or so later than before. Noah has pretty much always hit a growth spurt and shot up in a week and then he won't grow again for a few months. These periods of growth are hard on him and his brain is working overtime to keep up. I say this because during those times of extreme growth he has nightmares and night terrors almost every night. He has always been prone to these...having his first night terror the night we brought him home from the hospital. He also tends to wake up between sleep cycles and can't seem to get his body to "rest". He also has growing pains and goes from being his happy self to times of agitation. My mom, me, and many others on my mom's side of the family also experienced growing pains...as I believe Zack did as well. I have spoken to his pediatrician about it back in VA...and she said because his body does all the growing in such a short time period that those symptoms are normal and to be expected. The past two days he has been sleeping in a bit more in the morning and nap...but is back to his old bedtime. He did have a night terror last night...but the frequency and intensity seems to be lessening. We are crossing our fingers that this marks the end of the growth period for him. We recently got his ear tubes checked this week and found out that one tube is working it's way out...and one or both of them will probably work themselves out in the next six months. We had them checked in May before leaving VA and not due for a check up until November. At that time his tubes were sitting well and "in" his ear. However, our name came up on the list here on Monday...so it was a do it now deal. The doctor was really nice and great with Noah. We are concerned that when they come out he will have many ear infections again...but the doctor told me that 95% of kids only need one set. So we shall see.
Noah and I are enjoying meeting new friends and having play dates at our home. Living on base and being able to do base activities and go the park has allowed us to meet many moms and children. Noah enjoys going to PT tots every Tuesday and Thursday mornings and playing with his friends there. Recently the classes have begun to get quite large and Noah doesn't react well to the chaotic environment. When there are too many children running around, too many mom's yelling their child's name, and just in general too much going on...he shuts down. He just can't handle it all...and some mom's take the phrase "parent involvement" very loosely as their child runs amuck around the room! Noah has gone up to a mom and dragged her toward her child...as if to say...get your child under control! He is very perceptive and sensitive to the world around him...Zack says he has "delicate feelings". And his feelings get hurt very easily...even if it's another mom yelling at her child...he gets tears in his eyes....then looks to us for reassurance that everything is okay. He comforts other children, drags moms toward their crying children, and often gives up his toys to other smaller children around him. And while he does use this gift to help other children around him...he is not immune to use it for evil! There is one child there that is maybe close to being a year older than Noah. He tends to hog the toys, take things from others, and be a bully to the other children. And when he is caught he cries and cries and cries. Other children tend to leave him alone and let him have is way...ignoring his behavior. But not our Noah! He does things just to upset him and to hear him cry! For instance, during music time this child will take many many instruments and hoard them between his open legs. Other children leave him alone...letting him have his way. Noah will reach for "his" toy and stand just beyond arms reach to get him to react and cry. Noah will then either hand it back innocently or launch it at him. The child will scramble for the toy and hold it tight against his chest...and while he's doing this...Noah quickly reaches down for the toy he really wanted and then takes off across the room! This sends the child into a full out tantrum...all the while Noah is across the room sitting on the floor playing with the toy. He has learned which buttons to press with this child to get the reactions he wants to see...he does this with Zack too. A part of me wants to have Noah march over and give the toy back...and the other part is silently cheering as other mom's try to hide their smiles...that finally this child has gotten his just desserts. I have a parent conundrum and instead have taken to just leading Noah away from this child to avoid having to make a "parent decision"! Noah gets that behavior honestly...and maybe from both sides of his family!
Zack is doing well and will be leaving us soon. He has a few more things on his to do list before he leaves...and if he doesn't get them done...I can borrow a friend's husband for a day to finish up the list! He may not know that he's been volunteered for the job...but he'd do it in a heartbeat. He is waiting for the weather to cool down so that he can make me a pie to "fatten me up"(Cooking in a Japanese home is miserable in hot weather). We are very thankful for the people we have met so far...and it just doesn't seem possible that we have only known each other for only a few months! We have a few invites already for the Holidays. Zack had asked me about cooking a Thanksgiving meal...and for those that don't know...I'm no chef! I quickly replied that we have friends for that...and the next day we had an invite for Thanksgiving...problem solved! That just about wraps this up for today...and I'm off to enjoy the rest of my "mommy time" before Noah wakes up.
