Ok first of all, about my title up there, I don't know if anyone else ever says that but my parents always said it when I was a little girl. Haha. Anyways...I'M HOME!! Thank you to everyone who prayed for us! We had a wonderful trip. I was full of anxiety when we left Dallas. It messed with my tummy a little bit on the first flight, but then I was ok after a few hours. It was sad leaving my parents but I was so overwhelmed with fear that I didn't think about the sadness quite as much. Or maybe I was just trying so hard not to. It makes it so much worse having Izaak and watching my parents have to say goodbye to him because I know it kills them. And that makes me very sad. I wish we could live closer or that they could visit more. It's just so darn expensive to fly from/to here. So back to the trip...if you want to hear a *God Story* (as my mom would say), listen up. As I already mentioned, I was very nervous about the trip home with just me and Izaak. I had been dreading it the whole 6 weeks I was in the states. I was trying hard Wednesday morning to concentrate on not having a panic attack or something. Just breathe through it...keep breathing. "God get me through this" I was definitely expecting the worse. Yes I tend to be a bit of a "half empty" kind of person sometimes because I tend to get stressed out quite easily. So mom told me that she was praying for a grandmother or grandmother type to be on each plane to help me with Izaak. I thought, yeah right, no one will be there to even hold him for me if I have to go to the bathroom. I guess I'll just flag down a stewardess. I made it to my gate in Dallas as they were boarding the plane. I went to check my stroller in and asked if I could get an isle seat thinking that it was too late now, but he was very nice and got me one. As soon as I saw where I was supposed to sit, this very sweet, grandmotherly lady was sitting in the middle seat smiling at me and Izaak. I thought..."really?" She cooed over him and wanted to hold him and wiped milk off of his face, covered him with a blanket when he was asleep in my arms, held him for me when I went to the bathroom, and made my ever so jittery stomach ease up a bit. It was amazing. But that flight was only about 4 hours and I thought, "I really needed her on the long flight." We had a 4 hour layover in San Francisco and I was still working on getting my stomach settled. Z and I walked around the airport for a long time just trying to enjoy ourselves. I parked the stroller in front of a big window so he could watch the planes and he loved that. Ok backing up a second, I forgot to mention that the night before I had only had an hour and 45 minutes of sleep (and had to leave the house at 4am). So on top of this 30 hour trip that I was dreading, I was running on very little sleep. I had no idea how I was going to do this because even when John traveled over with us it was hard! And I thought I was going to die on the last leg of our trip if I didn't get some sleep soon! So ok, we boarded our big plane and thank goodness they were able to get me a bulk head! (A lady was very nice and changed my seat). So I was in for an 11 hour flight, another 4 hour layover and another 2 hour flight. Here goes...Izaak was doing really well. He cat napped here and there. He was quiet and happy and kept smiling around at everyone who would look at him. It was a little tiring holding him the whole time, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. So about 4 1/2 hours into the flight, I had sat Izaak in our seat and I was kneeling down in the floor making a bottle when I heard this lady's voice above me say, "You're going to think I'm crazy, but can I help you with him? You are going to wear yourself out. I'm not tired and I have nothing to do, I'll be glad to walk him around and hold him for a little while." Was I going to say NO?!? Haha. So I said, "SURE if you want!" So for the whole rest of the flight, she would come get him sometimes or she would hold him while I went to the bathroom or washed his bottles. At the end of the flight she waited with me outside the plane to help me get him in the stroller and then we realized that we were both going to Okinawa. We talked during the layover and I found out that she's going to be a first time grandmother in December! Her son and his wife live here and that's who she was coming to visit. So we had the last flight together too and once again she was there when I needed her. I had them change my seat on the flight too and there ended up being an empty seat beside me so I got to lay Izaak down and he slept almost that whole flight and I got in a little nap too. Oh and in Osaka when we went through customs and had to re-check our baggage, I had another lady and a couple who helped me with the stroller and luggage cart. And on top of all of that, Izaak was an ANGEL! I mean, he couldn't have been any better. I was SO proud of him! The poor baby was so glazed over and exhausted by the time we arrived, but he was still being a good boy. He even slept pretty well last night and watched cartoons in bed with me this morning while I slept a little more. Hehe. So, thank you mom for your prayers! And thank you to everyone else who prayed too. I can't tell you how much I appreciate them! You just don't understand how bad I thought it was going to be, and it turned out great! I even still had energy when I got home. (Get your mind out of the gutter). What I mean is, I thought by the time I got to the airport in Okinawa, I was going to be handing Izaak off to John while crying because I would be so completely exhausted. But surprisingly, and I have no idea how, I was holding up!
Well I started to write this post a couple days ago and our computer just shut off on me, but luckily it saved my draft! I've been so busy since then that I'm just now getting back on to post it. We are pretty much adjusted back to the time now thank goodness! A couple rough nights with Izaak but we are recovering. Now I just have to re-train him to not wake up 2-3 times a night to eat and to stay in his own bed. We were doing so good the first 4 months of his life until we went back home! Hehe. Oh by the way, yesterday he turned 6 MONTHS old! Can't believe it. Another 6 months and he will be ONE! He is my sweet, sweet baby. Ok I will end this now. Thanks again for everyone's thoughts and prayers on our behalf!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bittersweet
So it's been almost 6 weeks since I got back to the US. I've had a wonderful time visiting friends and family, watching my little brother get married, holding the newborn babies of 2 of my dear old pals, and of course, SHOPPING! We (at least Izaak and I) were able to travel to WA, MD, VA, NC, TX, OK, and AR. My son has traveled more in his 6 months of life (and while he was in utero) than I did by the time I was 20! I now have less than 48 hours before I'm heading back to Japan. Last night I made my final trips to Target and Wal-Mart. Never thought I might almost cry walking out of Wal-Mart's doors. Haha! I'm not sure when we'll be back to the states. I'm guessing either Christmas or next summer. It's really sad to leave but I'm also very excited to get back to my hubby and my Okinawa friends. I have become more appreciative of both the US and Okinawa since being here. I've had a good fix of America, and now I'm ready to go back and embrace everything about our lives in Oki. I'm definitely ready to see more, taste more, and live more of the culture there. Saying goodbye will be hard. I know there will be lots of tears between mom and me. It makes it especially hard because of Izaak. So I'm not looking forward to that. I'm also not looking forward to the 25 hour trip with a very active and loud 6 month old by myself. But like the Marines say it, I will just have to "adapt and overcome". Hehe. I might be in tears by the time I arrive to the Naha airport, but we will make it! Say a little prayer for our trip if you think about it. Thanks to all who made this trip special for us! I wish I could have seen more people and spent more time with the ones I did see, but it makes me cherish those moments even more. Just like Wal-Mart. :) So now I'm just waiting for Z Bug to wake up from his morning nap so we can put our goulashes on (it's POURING in Dallas this morning!), and head to the mall for the very last time.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Guess what I can say?!?!
We have another first today! This is for you John. Wish you could be here to hear him! Congratulations. You won. ;)
Friday, July 3, 2009
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