Leaving Okinawa Part 1

Before I do my long post on leaving Okinawa, I asked my sister to think of some questions for Tony and I to answer.  Thanks for doing this sis!

1. What are the things about the Japanese culture you will miss?
Tara:  It's probably more of an island thing than it is a culture, but I think what i'll miss most is how laid back everything is here.  Even though I may complain about it, I like how slow traffic goes. No one seems to be in a hurry.  It's not always easy, but at the end of the day it's nice.  More about their culture though - I will miss how polite and kind the Japanese people are.  They all seem to live simple lives here that really revolve around the kids.  I've mentioned this in a previous post but I've always been amazed at how many kids (of all ages) walk home from school alone.  You'd never see that in the states.  Overall, I didn't get too deep into their culture like some people have.  I'm not sure if i'll ever regret that someday.....
Tony: The friendly service.

2. What was the most annoying thing when dealing with the Japanese language you had to deal with?
Tara:  There are many businesses that cater to the military and speak great english, the times I had to go to a place that didn't speak english was very frustrating.   I had to get my iPhone fixed and the place I went to couldn't understand what I needed or the time contrictions I had.  I'll always remember it because I had to drive through loads of traffic only to turn around because they couldn't understand what I was saying.  
Eating out at restaurants was interesting, but it never really bothered me when we couldn't read a menu.  It was an experience and kind of fun just ordering off what the picture showed.  Who knows, maybe I ate tongue or liver when I thought it was chicken (gross).

Tony: The times when I spend 10 minutes explaining something to someone only to be passed off to someone else who supposedly spoke better english to do it all over again.

3. What is it like being an American military wife on the island? Did you feel like people judged you before they got to know you?
Tara:  I've never felt judged.  That might be because I wasn't incredibly proactive in meeting new people from the beginning.   I had a couple great friends when we first got here and that seemed like enough for me when I was pregnant and sick and working a job I wasn't too confident in.  Over time when I became more settled and happier here, I put more energy into friendships and I'm so thankful I did!  Having Quinn and moving closer to base made a huge difference for me.  Sorry - I'm straying from the question... so nope, I've never felt judged.  

4. Are there any Japanese civilians that you got to know that you will miss?
Tara: No one I will miss, but people I will always remember.  Our neighbors in Yomitan were very nice to us and there's been a sweet girl at the park that Quinn really enjoys playing with.  If only all those hours the girls played at the park I was able to have conversations with the mom!
Tony: Yes, Koji, Masaki, Harry, and Ms. Torishima San.  These are people I worked with during my time at my unit.

5. What did you purchase on the island that you will take with you as a reminder your time there?
Tara:  Pottery and a cabinet I purchased at the Fleet Gift shop.  What I'll really miss is the 100 Yen store!  It's like our dollar store but a million times better.  I have a couple of bins full of stuff from there that I was sure to get before leaving!  Stickers, paper, coloring books, pens, crayons, bubbles, tape, - you name it.
Tony: I didn't really spend any money.  Tara did.

6. You made some good friends while you were there! Did you find it hard to make lasting friendships when you knew you wouldn't be living by them again?
Tara: I did right away, but after my first year and meeting some great gals - I knew that it was so worth the heart ache when we leave.  Like I said earlier, I wasn't incredibly outgoing here on Okinawa.  I didn't join any groups really because I either lived so far out, Tony was gone, Quinn didn't take a bottle, or maybe because I wasn't really happy with it here right away.  The friendships I have now are lifelong ones and I am forever grateful for them. They have been our family here on island and the reason (other than Tony, Quinn, and now Alexa) I have been as happy as I've been the last 2 years!!!
Tony: No, it's the only thing I know.

7. Looking back on the year you taught kindergarten...what are your best memories of that experience?
Tara: My co-workers, the kids, and just that it kept me busy and not thinking about how sad I was all the time!  It was a blessing to find a job.  There are so many wives here that are unemployed not by choice.  It's not easy finding a job that pays enough if you have to put your kids in daycare.  Obviously I didn't have to worry about that the first year we lived here.

8. Tony had a really tough job in a unit that requires a lot of travel off island. What was the best part of the job that he will take with him to the next job and beyond?
Tony: Time spent counseling/mentoring the young Marines is more fulfilling than I could have thought.

9. You went through 2 pregnancies and delivered 2 babies in Japan. Obviously it wasn't easy being away from family for both of your pregnancies. Were there any positives about being pregnant on the island that you will miss if you have any more children?
Tara: hmmm.. Good question.  I will miss the hospital.  I had such a great experience with both kids, an incredible view from our rooms, and the hospital was just really nice.  I'm not sure this is a positive, but it was pretty special traveling home with Quinn when she was 3 weeks - and now will do the same with Alexa - and meeting our parents at the airport.  I can't really explain the feeling I get in my heart when I first see our parents at the bottom of the escalator as I hold one of their grandchildren.  Of course I wish they could have come to the hospital the day our girls were born, but they also didn't miss out on the newborn stage of each girl either!

10. Your girls were both born in Japan! What will you tell them someday about your time on the island?
Tara: That it was tough, an amazing experience for all of us, and how incredible the water was!  Our favorite part of this island was by far the beaches!
Tony: You lived at the park by our house and you are actually 1/2 Japanese. 

11. What were yours and Tony's favorite restaurants?
Tara: Minami Sushi. 
Tony: Chili's on base.

12. Besides her buddies, what  was Quinn's favorite part of Okinawa?
The beach! "Wah-dee"

"Nigh-ee"

(This is our living room furniture right now.  A twin size cot from my neighbor, Avi)

Well, we are about 12 days from leaving island.  My list of things to do doesn't seem to be getting any shorter!  I'm not sure how we'll get everything done, but we will!  Tony has been getting off of work earlier than usual which has been great for the help at home with the girls and other things that need to be done on island.  My friends have been such a great help with watching Quinn!  Not sure what I would do without them.

Last Wednesday the movers came to take the bigger items that go on ship and arrive in California within 60 days.  This Friday our express shipment will be taken which takes 30 days and that goes by plane.  When the big stuff left last week, I was pretty stressed leading up to that point.  We had to separate everything so the day would go as smooth and fast as possible.  I had lists upon lists of things not  to forget and what to pack in our suitcases to go back to the states.  Whatever was packed last Wednesday we will not see until mid July.  I consider myself a pretty organized person - as there's no other way to do all this PCS stuff anyway ... BUT I managed to forget to pack the most important thing last week (other than our passports) QUINN'S NIGH-EE (blanket)!

It was about 20 minutes after all 3 crates were sealed up and the truck had left that I realized I forgot to get Quinn's blanket out of her crib before the guys packed up her room.  I was unbelievably devastated.  I looked at Tony, told him they packed it, my knees went weak, and I sat on the step crying.  Ok, Ok - any guy who is reading this is probably thinking i'm ridiculous, but if there's a mom reading it YOU GET IT!  Tony told me the crate was sealed and what was done was done.  It was time for Quinn's nap so I had to fight the tears and give her a different blanket for the time being.  It broke my heart.  All of our furniture was gone, her bedroom was empty and she was sleeping in a pack 'n play for the first time really - and no "nigh-ee".  I went outside to call my mom and sister, shed a few tears..and then decided I might as well call the company and ask about it.  The lady on the phone was SO nice and told me that somehow we could get the blanket back.  I didn't realize that it could potentially cost $240 to do so!  We had 3 crates.  It was supposed to cost $120 for the first crate to be opened and $60 for each additional one.  Yikes.  I told her my husband might kill me if I spent $240 for a darn blanket.  I asked her to talk to her manager to see if they could lower the price a bit.  Couple hours later the lady called me and said to meet her at the warehouse with $100 cash.  I was giving both girls a bath when I got the call and quickly got Lex out, put her in the car - and left Tony with Quinn.  I was out the door so fast!  After about an hour or more the movers had gone through all 3 crates and opened about 90% of the boxes until it was found.  We found it in crate 2 tucked in the cubby hole of Quinn's bookshelf. What. A. Nightmare.  When we found it, the guys cheered, I cried, and the lady did too.  It's pretty funny looking back at it now.  I went back on Friday with a couple cases of "American" beer (Heineken) that the guys requested when I thanked them over and over and over.  When I got home, Tony said I was crazy (I took it as a compliment) but I knew he was just as thankful as I was.  :)  I told him that I will NOT complain the next 2 weeks throughout this whole moving process because I got the blanket.  It was that important to me!  And I know it is for Quinn, too.  There's a whole lot of change going on for her with her new sissy, bare house, and different beds.  The "nigh-ee" is pretty important during this time!  Here are a few pictures of our eventful day!

When the movers got to the house..

 

When I got to the warehouse to find the blanket...

 

YAY!!!!!

Alexa Louise

It's been a week now that our hearts have doubled in size!  On Monday morning at 2:25am we welcomed our sweet girl, Alexa.  Everyone told me that the 2nd baby always comes faster, but I guess I didn't think she would ever come as fast as she did!!!!  I had a 32 hour labor (induction) with Quinn so I was thinking maybe several hours of labor in the hospital, not several minutes!

Friday night I started having contractions that were timed out pretty consistently.  After 3 hours, they went away.  Same thing happened Saturday night and again Sunday afternoon.  They progressively got worse on Sunday afternoon, so Tony & I decided to go in and see where I was progressing to, only to be sent home 2 hours later. We had a typical night at home, I went to bed at 8pm that night (thankfully) only to wake with very intense contractions at 12:15am.  I waited an hour or so and when it was unbearable we decided to head to the hospital.  Thankfully it was 1:15am and traffic was slim to none.  We ran every red light on the way to the hospital.  I was proud of Tony for breaking the rules.  He had no choice, but still.  Earlier that day when we went to the hospital it took us about 45 minutes to get there when it should take about 20-25.  It was Golden Week in Japan which is a week that they celebrate children with tons of events.  Traffic was horrible.  So again, SO glad I went into labor when I did!  We finally arrived to the hospital with a wheel chair waiting at 1:40am, 45 minutes later we were holding Alexa in our arms!!!  My doctor was great, although I had no idea who she was.  There were so many nurses doing so many things to prep me that I didn't even know who the doctor was until I asked.  They had to use the vacuum on Lex since her heart rate and oxygen were dropping fairly fast.  Poor girl had quite the bruise the first few days, but it's cleared up now.

Things at home have been going pretty well.  Quinn was great the first few days, but now has been having some behavior issues we'd rather do without.  I think it's a cumulation of everything going on. I stay patient and just pray it's a short phase ;)  Overall, she's a great big sis.  She's very gentle with Alexa and takes her anger out on her dad.  Rather that I guess :)

We are set to leave island in just 25 more days.  I can't believe it.

Here are a few pictures of our girls!

7lbs 7oz & 20inches of sweetness!

VISITORS! 

Jen and her son, Lukas

 Avi & Alexa.  

This was the view from our room.  It was SO peaceful.  Even in the thick of things, it was so pleasant to look out the huge window and see this view.  My aunt Mary told me how much she enjoyed having her daughter Kelsey in the wee hours of the night and now I know why.  It was cozy. After having Alexa, there was something so special about knowing everyone else in the city was sleeping and we just had our baby girl.  The lights were dim, the sound of Lex breathing, and just having that over with was a feeling I'll never forget.  

Heading home!