Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
We're here, so now what?
Our sponsors had rounded up a couple of volunteers to meet us when we arrived on Kadena. Frank and Kelly have been amazing! They had enough help and vehicles to pick up the four of us, our 8 -- make that 14 bags, and Doris with her crate. They whisked us to the TLF (temporary lodging facility) to get us settled. They'd stocked the fridge and cabinets with some food. The place was small, but clean. The bed... I just wanted to go to bed. So, to bed we went... until about 3 am. Our bodies had no idea what time it was. For the first two nights, we awakened at 3 and 4 am respectively. Our bodies thought it was morning, so we got up. Ate breakfast. Watched tv.
It was a relatively smooth adjustment, and within a few days, we were sleeping just fine. Of course, we've been going to bed around 8 pm each night because that's the kids' bedtime. This place is too small... if the kids go to bed, we all go to bed. So, we've been getting plenty of sleep.
We had a busy first few days... buying a car, getting a driver's license, learning to drive again, finding a house, getting sick. Yes, getting sick. Devin was wrestled to the ground by a lower GI virus. He was sick! He looked sort of sweaty and gray for a couple of days. Got so dehydrated that he ended up getting two liters of IV fluids at the clinic. That was Thursday and Friday. He was better Saturday, so we went out. By Saturday afternoon, it became clear that I had not escaped. Now I had the bug. Fortunately, what took Devin down only threw me a jab. After about 24 hours, I was back in business.
That brings me to today. Whatever today is. Let's see... oh, yes... it's Monday. Don't ask me the date. I just know we move into our house tomorrow!!! The government furniture is being delivered today, and Devin should be picking up the keys as I type this.
Thanks for reading my ramblings. Of course, that's the beauty of the blog... it may be that no one is reading this, and I'll never know.
More edge-of-your-seat commentary to come...
It was a relatively smooth adjustment, and within a few days, we were sleeping just fine. Of course, we've been going to bed around 8 pm each night because that's the kids' bedtime. This place is too small... if the kids go to bed, we all go to bed. So, we've been getting plenty of sleep.
We had a busy first few days... buying a car, getting a driver's license, learning to drive again, finding a house, getting sick. Yes, getting sick. Devin was wrestled to the ground by a lower GI virus. He was sick! He looked sort of sweaty and gray for a couple of days. Got so dehydrated that he ended up getting two liters of IV fluids at the clinic. That was Thursday and Friday. He was better Saturday, so we went out. By Saturday afternoon, it became clear that I had not escaped. Now I had the bug. Fortunately, what took Devin down only threw me a jab. After about 24 hours, I was back in business.
That brings me to today. Whatever today is. Let's see... oh, yes... it's Monday. Don't ask me the date. I just know we move into our house tomorrow!!! The government furniture is being delivered today, and Devin should be picking up the keys as I type this.
Thanks for reading my ramblings. Of course, that's the beauty of the blog... it may be that no one is reading this, and I'll never know.
More edge-of-your-seat commentary to come...
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Our Okinawan adventure begins... Part II
Let's see... where was I... Oh, yeah... the trip here. I've kinda been trying to block it out. Our flight from Seattle left at 4 am Thursday. We could check in no earlier than 6 hours prior, so we were there feeling pretty proud of ourselves just before the 6 hour window. Well, guess what? We weren't alone in our thinking. There were people everywhere... the line was... oh, it was long. All of them lined up for our flight. So we waited... filled out some papers... waited... (remember, we had a 3 1/2 year old and a 16 month old in tow)... and waited. The line moved little by little. Finally, it was our turn. Only then did we find out that Devin was given misinformation not just once but three times. We were told that we needed only to check in with our checked bags. (We had 8!!!!) Now we find out that we need our 6 carry-0n bags and our dog as well. Those things were back at the hotel across the street. We were told (three times) that we could bring the dog and carry-on bags later after the initial check-in. They weren't too pleased about it, but they let us check in part-way, go back and get other bags and dog, and go straight back to the front of the line to finish. What a hassle! We were rushing and rushing. It's going on midnight or so... the kids were doing amazingly great. Looking back, it was a blessing to have been given such misinformation. Could you imagine the loooooooong line and wait with the other baggage plus Doris in her crate... all of us trying to get through that maze of people. A rare thing to be thankful for being given the wrong instruction.
Anyway, so we made it onto the plane. Boarded around 3:15 or so. The kids did great -- another blessing!!! Emerie slept much more of the flight than I suspected she might, and Noah was occupied with a video game, movie, or snack. They were super! Then the bad news. We had to divert to Misawa Air Base. The headwinds over the Pacific slowed us way down and now we had to stop to refuel or we wouldn't make it to Yokota AB which was to have been our first stop in Japan. Long story short, this all added about 3 hours to the trip.
So, we end up on Kadena AB 3 hours late. Exhausted. Wearing the same clothes for the past 30 hours. Nasty teeth. Greasy hair. You get the picture. It's not pretty. I only lost it once. At around hour 26 when we were awaiting takeoff from Iwakuni Marine Air Base... our last stop before Kadena. My Noah finally decided to sleep. But he couldn't get comfortable in his seat. His head kept falling forward. I had to leave him buckled in, because we were supposedly about to take off. (The sitting and waiting was almost unbearable.) Noah started crying. And crying. He said over and over, "Mommy, can you make me happy?" Oh, my poor, sweet boy. There's was nothing I could do for him... nothing I could do to make it better... so I cried right along with him. I had already told Devin back at the Seattle airport... after the checking-in debacle... that I wasn't going to do this again. After hour 26, I was sure of it.
Never again.
Anyway, so we made it onto the plane. Boarded around 3:15 or so. The kids did great -- another blessing!!! Emerie slept much more of the flight than I suspected she might, and Noah was occupied with a video game, movie, or snack. They were super! Then the bad news. We had to divert to Misawa Air Base. The headwinds over the Pacific slowed us way down and now we had to stop to refuel or we wouldn't make it to Yokota AB which was to have been our first stop in Japan. Long story short, this all added about 3 hours to the trip.
So, we end up on Kadena AB 3 hours late. Exhausted. Wearing the same clothes for the past 30 hours. Nasty teeth. Greasy hair. You get the picture. It's not pretty. I only lost it once. At around hour 26 when we were awaiting takeoff from Iwakuni Marine Air Base... our last stop before Kadena. My Noah finally decided to sleep. But he couldn't get comfortable in his seat. His head kept falling forward. I had to leave him buckled in, because we were supposedly about to take off. (The sitting and waiting was almost unbearable.) Noah started crying. And crying. He said over and over, "Mommy, can you make me happy?" Oh, my poor, sweet boy. There's was nothing I could do for him... nothing I could do to make it better... so I cried right along with him. I had already told Devin back at the Seattle airport... after the checking-in debacle... that I wasn't going to do this again. After hour 26, I was sure of it.
Never again.
Our Okinawan adventure begins...
Whew! What a journey! And we've only just begun. Actually, it feels like this journey started months ago when we first found out about this assignment. It seems like so ago now, and so much has happened... the planning, the research, the doctor appointments to get medical clearances (a journey for me, in and of itself!), the shopping, the excitement, the fear, the anxiety, the tears, the organizing, the sorting, the packing, the flying... OH, the flying.
What a trip! Already overcome with emotions... leaving my home... my beloved friends and family... That's stress enough! But then, add to it the actual travel! Ugh! It was OK to Seattle. We were so blessed. Doris made it on board safely and we all arrived no worse for the wear in the Emerald City. I love Seattle! We had a wonderful day Tuesday. Just a quiet day with our little family. Resting and enjoying some of the glorious Pacific Northwest fall weather. That night, our Noah was up sick... vomiting... ugh, ugh, double ugh. The stress rose again. Would we all be healthy for our (EARLY) Thursday am flight? And when I say "early," what I really mean is... the trip actually began late Wednesday night.
We were all healthy (Thank You, Lord!)! I'm so grateful for all of the blessings God threw in amidst our travels. It seemed like there were these continual messages from Him that let us know He was guiding and protecting us. And even though the trip was not without it's difficulties, He would (and DID!) see us through.
I'm hoping this blog will be fun for our friends and family. It will be a diary of sorts for me, I suppose, so I apologize in advance if I veer off on some tangent or another. This is a trip of a lifetime for me... a trip that's more than just a change in geography. I get the feeling that God will use this experience to change me... to grow me... to show me I'm stronger (with Him!) than I think I am...
Anyway, I hope whoever reads this will find it... interesting, or informative, or insightful, or humorous... And even if no one reads it, I suspect it will be good therapy for me.
Love to all!!!!
What a trip! Already overcome with emotions... leaving my home... my beloved friends and family... That's stress enough! But then, add to it the actual travel! Ugh! It was OK to Seattle. We were so blessed. Doris made it on board safely and we all arrived no worse for the wear in the Emerald City. I love Seattle! We had a wonderful day Tuesday. Just a quiet day with our little family. Resting and enjoying some of the glorious Pacific Northwest fall weather. That night, our Noah was up sick... vomiting... ugh, ugh, double ugh. The stress rose again. Would we all be healthy for our (EARLY) Thursday am flight? And when I say "early," what I really mean is... the trip actually began late Wednesday night.
We were all healthy (Thank You, Lord!)! I'm so grateful for all of the blessings God threw in amidst our travels. It seemed like there were these continual messages from Him that let us know He was guiding and protecting us. And even though the trip was not without it's difficulties, He would (and DID!) see us through.
I'm hoping this blog will be fun for our friends and family. It will be a diary of sorts for me, I suppose, so I apologize in advance if I veer off on some tangent or another. This is a trip of a lifetime for me... a trip that's more than just a change in geography. I get the feeling that God will use this experience to change me... to grow me... to show me I'm stronger (with Him!) than I think I am...
Anyway, I hope whoever reads this will find it... interesting, or informative, or insightful, or humorous... And even if no one reads it, I suspect it will be good therapy for me.
Love to all!!!!
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