Merry Christmas!!

Wishing all our friends and family around the world a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!!

America trip Part 1

A few pictures from Rain's first time in the United States! I know, I know the last few posts are out of order (and if I post anything else, I'm sure they will be out of order too), I'm just happy they are getting posted at all considering I've been single parenting AND working on my MBA for quite a while now... fortunately Shane is home and we're getting settled again, I'm half way finished with my MBA (WOOHOO), and I'm taking a break for the holidays so hopefully there will be more posts to come!!!

Sweet cousins (We miss you!!)

Colin, Rain, Baba, and Tia

Aunt Christy

Sweet girl

Enjoying the view

Great Grandparents

Flowers from Daddy

Hi Mrs. Debbie!

Working hard with Mrs. Norma

Loving the azaleas

All smiles with Baba!

Having fun with Emily, Ryan, and Kim

"Feeling" the wind

Hail gear

More pics to come soon from our trips to the states!

9 months

On our second trip to Texas we had a chance to get traditional studio pictures taken of Rain. As you can see at 9 months she was sitting up, standing (with assistance), and overall just as cute as can be! I love looking back on how much she has changed in just a few months!

Happy Halloween!

The CUTEST pumpkin I've ever seen!!

Easter photo shoot

As always, playing catch up... but I REALLY wanted to post these Easter pictures of Rain from when she was 6 months! Now that she's a year old it's crazy to look back at how much she has developed since then. For example, she was sitting in the basket because she wasn't stable enough to sit by herself yet - DEFINITELY not the case now! Enjoy!

March 11, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

I started this post back in March with the following... "It's hard to believe I'm an evacuee from a foreign country..." but I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself. So much has happened since the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power crisis on March 11th that it's difficult to know where to begin or what to share, so I guess (as much for me as anyone else) I'm going to just start from the beginning and share everything - be prepared this is going to be a LONG rambling post, but this situation so profoundly affected me and I want to be able to look back on all the little details that may fade with time...

At 2:26pm JST a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit 43 miles off the Oshika Peninsula of Tohoku at a depth of 20 miles. Approximately 275 miles away in our home town of Yokosuka, Shane was at work, Rain was taking a nap and I was on the computer. At first I thought, "oh we're having an earthquake, no biggie" and kept surfing the web. As it continued and got stronger I decided I should probably check to see if Rain had woken up but she was still sleeping soundly... then it became a LOT stronger, more than anything I had felt before so I decided I should bring her down stairs. When I went up to her room she was peacefully sleeping despite the shaking and noises that go along with a quake (side note: I can always hear an earthquake at our house before I feel it because our a/c starts making a rattling sound a few seconds before feeling it.) So by the time I woke her up and got back downstairs things were REALLY shaking. We stood in the doorway of our kitchen/living room, and I alternated between holding our tv that happens to be right beside the doorway and pushing dishes back on the shelves in our kitchen to prevent them from falling all while holding Rain. This went on for a couple of minutes as I watched the walls of our house swaying and looked out the window and watched our car vibrating much more vigorously and at a different speed from our house. Bread, a couple of pictures, and a package of diapers fell from shelves. I was trying to stay calm because I didn't want to freak Rain out, though I really should have been taking pointers from her, she was smiling at the hanging toys on the playmat swaying back and forth. At some point during all of this I started to pray, I prayed for it to stop, I prayed for safety, I prayed for Shane, I prayed for our friends, the city, for where it was the worst, for our house to stay together, and then began repeating things over and over again. To say I was scared would be an understatement. Each time I would say, "in Jesus name, amen" Rain would laugh. How a 5 month old could stay so relaxed and calm still amazes me - I think she must have thought the world had turned into her vibrating chair.

When the initial earthquake finally stopped (after a full FIVE MINUTES of shaking) I had 3 things on my mind - was Shane okay, how bad was it everywhere else, and I realized we no longer had power. Not good considering it was still very cold - close to freezing at night, low 50s during the day. I immediately tried to call the ship but couldn't get a line out. I knew Shane would call when he could - even if I COULD have called I often can't reach him on the ship since he doesn't have a direct line. Next, I began trying to find out if everyone in my neighborhood was without power or if it happened to be just us. Then the city announcement system came on - entirely in Japanese - and the only word I could understand was "TIDAL WAVE". Which added an entirely new level of fear to the mix. Were we safe? Our house is high on a hill so I thought we were fine, but what about Shane? The helpless feeling I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I didn't have long to dwell on it though because aftershocks where happening almost constantly after the initial quake... while not as strong as the first one, they were still MUCH stronger than anything I had ever felt. (I learned later that there were dozens of 6 and 7.0 aftershocks in just the first few hours.) The aftershocks were almost continuous for the next couple of hours. So many in fact that I eventually pulled Rain's playmat into the doorway and just hung out there with her so we didn't have to keep running for the doorway every time a new one started.

When things calmed a little I found my translation book, looked up how to say "Do you have electricity?" in Japanese and went next door to ask my neighbor. As Rain and I walked outside we found our neighbor, who also has two small children, in her car - either for warmth, the radio, or safety. I'm still not 100% sure why since she was speaking mostly Japanese and I was speaking mostly English, but for the most part we managed to communicate everything we needed. She told me they didn't have power, that we were safe from the tsunami, that down by the water she didn't know... even though we had limited communication, I was extremely comforted to be able to talk with someone, during such a stressful situation. Since then I've discovered that she speaks much more english than I initially thought, and we talk now whenever we see each other.

Around 6pm Shane was finally able to get a call out to me. He had felt the earthquake on the ship (which rarely happens since it's such a big ship and usually the water displaces the shaking), they still had power, but the brow was removed for a few hours preventing anyone from going on or off the ship since it could move from the pier during the aftershocks. By this point it was dark outside and I could tell that my entire neighborhood was without power. Since the base was still up and running Shane came home to help with Rain and so we could decide whether to go to a hotel, eat dinner out somewhere, or just hunker down for a cold night. Driving home he realized that the entire city other than right around the base was without power. No stop lights, no businesses, nothing. Fortunately we have a gas stove so we made soup for dinner, bundled Rain up in her snow suit, and went to bed. Shane saw a little bit of news while on the ship so we knew it had hit up north, that there had been a tsunami, he had seen that an airport flooded (at the time we thought it was Narita), but other than that we really didn't know just how bad the damage was.

Around 3 in the morning our power came back on and my sister was calling at that very moment. We were able to tell her we were okay and she passed the info on to the rest of the family (I had no idea that my Mom was doing everything she could to reach us... even contacting the state department!)

Shane went to work the next morning, our internet still wasn't working which is also how we watch tv so I wasn't able to see any news coverage until around 3pm that afternoon. I talked to my Mom and Shane's Mom so they were able to pass the word that we were okay.

For those of you who don't know, Shane is a nuclear officer in the Navy, so he knows more than the average bear about nuclear power. When we first heard about the situation at Fukushima Nuclear Power plant, at first he wasn't worried at all, which in turn meant I wasn't worried. We even had a pretty nice Sunday, went for a walk in Yokosuka and took plum blossom pictures because we thought everything was settling back down. Little did we know this would be our last day together and Shane's last day off for more than a month. I think back on it and am SO glad that we went and enjoyed the day (we felt kind of guilty after the earthquake and tsunami), but that day really helped both of us through the chaos that was still to come.

A LOT of factors went into our decision for Rain and I to leave Japan, one significant factor being a lack of accurate information - there were a million rumors going around, including that the Japanese power company had essentially given up at one point and didn't know what to do about the plant, there were concerns that the Japanese government wasn't releasing how bad it really was, then other scenarios came into play; the possibility of a mandatory evacuation via the ship (NOT something either of us wanted to do). The things that we DID know: extremely low, harmless levels of radiation were being detected on base, radiation/contamination is more serious for infants, it was possible (though VERY unlikely) that if the worst case scenario happened we/Rain could be in danger of radiation poisoning/sickness. Keep in mind during perhaps the longest week of my life several other things happened: Shane was working basically around the clock to get the ship ready to leave, for several days it was officially put out on base that everyone should stay indoors as much as possible and shut off ac/heat since it uses outside ventilation. Extremely scary even though I fully understood it was strictly precautionary. Add to the mix that we were experiencing rolling blackouts for 3 hours a day (at different times each day), and daily aftershocks. I'm honestly proud that I held it together under the circumstances.

So many people were contacting us from the states and I definitely felt a HUGE outpouring of concern and support. On the flip side I felt a surprising amount of frustration from people in the states who couldn't understand why we didn't just leave Japan at the slightest sign of danger. I understand American media completely blows situations out of proportion (really don't get me on my media soap box) and it was very different watching Japanese media sources who were more focused on stating facts and not contributing to the hysteria that so often goes hand in hand with a crisis of this magnitude. American news did not take the same angle. For those who couldn't understand why we didn't immediately leave Japan or wonder why it was an extremely difficult decision, I guess I say this... for a military family (or for us at least), "home" is wherever you live at the time and leaving Japan was as difficult a decision for me as it would be to anyone who has lived in the same place their entire life. It IS our home right now and to abandon the country that has so graciously welcomed us, the city and house where Rain was born and raised for her entire life so far, and the incredible friends we have made here was nothing short of heartbreaking.

Ultimately, when we got confirmation that the ship was leaving without a return date - we decided it was time for Rain and I to go too. Around the same time the Navy issued a voluntary evacuation - basically they would pay for dependents to leave Japan and travel to a "safe haven" location, which was anywhere in the continental US. We chose to pay for the ticket on our own since we knew how crazy it would be trying to make arrangements thru the military and wanted to be certain we left Japan before the ship departed Yokosuka. Probably one of the most life altering moments for me came as I was trying to pack... we had been directed to pack as though you may never return. Obviously this was worst case scenario and no one really expected this to happen, but under the circumstances you truly had to hope for the best but plan for the worst. It was very sobering (and still brings huge emotions today) to look at our house and everything in it and decide what you can't live without. What we discovered is that it was all just things and as long as the three of us were safe we could live without everything else. Which is how I ended up leaving Japan with a 5 month old, a stroller, car seat, diaper bag, and a backpacking backpack and nothing else. I might have taken more but since Shane was working around the clock and couldn't take me to the airport I had to take the train which meant being able to carry everything by myself. My flight left at 7am but due to the rolling blackouts the normally precise train schedule was very sporadic. Some trains weren't running at all, others shut down at 6pm, and we really had no way of finding out for sure, so I left for the airport at 5pm the day before my flight. We had no power at our house, Shane dropped me off at the train station (it was SO hard to leave without him), all lights were off to conserve energy, it was obvious we were leaving, and I felt like a deserter. I knew I was making the right decision as Rain's safety is my number one concern, but I still felt terrible.

We made it to the airport with no problem, experienced an earthquake while there, met some incredible people, and I stayed up all night (I did take a 30 minute power nap with my arms draped over Rain in her stroller)... before getting on a 13 hour flight to detroit, to then switch planes and fly 3 more hours to dfw, then drive 3 hours home. Rain slept less than 2 hours on the long flight, which meant I slept less than that (and I only slept 3 hours the night before we left). Rain was an absolute rockstar though and wasn't really that fussy, she just didn't want to sleep. The first week I truly did nothing except try to get Rain's sleep and eating on US time and then attempted to get some sleep myself. The second week was better, but it took 2 full weeks from the time we left Japan to get her adjusted. I don't know what I would have done without my Mom those first few nights. After essentially 3 days without sleep, an infant that wanted to stay awake during the night because it was normally our day time, and being overwhelmed by such a sudden evacuation, I was at my complete and utter exhaustion point physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thank you Mom.

We spent right at one month in total limbo... Shane was on the ship which was just sitting off the coast of Japan waiting to find out where they would go and when, us in Texas trying to make the best of things by visiting family and friends and just passing the time. When we left Japan we had to prepare that we might never come back or more likely that we might not return until December (since it was likely that by the time we got the all clear to return the ship would be leaving for its regular deployment)... that is a VERY long time to live out of suitcases in the room you grew up in as a kid... with your kid... with no plans for the coming 9 months... because you are PRAYING that your plans will be to return home asap... It was great to see everyone after almost two years and I loved that Rain was experiencing the United States for the very first time, but at the same time I was numb. I suppose it was my way of dealing with the situation. I didn't really know how I should feel or what I should do with myself. On one hand I was still dealing with remorse for leaving Japan, sadness for the overwhelming destruction and loss there, but even more strongly guilt that I could even feel bad about MY situation when we were SO incredibly lucky to be alive and well.

After one incredibly LONG month away from Japan, we were able to return home. Shane met us at the airport as the ship arrived one day before us and it was as though a terrible nightmare was coming to an end for us. I wish I could say the same for those in northern Japan... There is still SO much to be done and I pray every day for those affected by this disaster - for those who lost loved ones, their homes, and their every day life. For those who are from within the Fukushima evacuation zone that still have homes but are not allowed to go back to them yet, I can only slightly comprehend what you must be feeling and it breaks my heart. I hope that you will find peace in this situation and may return to your homes and life soon. I continue to pray for Japan daily and I hope all who read this will too.

5, 6, 7, and 8 months old

Clearly, I'm extremely behind posting! So much has happened since I posted last - earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis in Japan, a trip to the states and back, the GW deployed, returned to Yokosuka, and deployed again - and that's just skimming the surface! I WILL write a detailed post about the disaster in Japan, what we experienced, and how things are going here, but that will be my next post... for now, I'm in serious trouble for the lack of posts of our beautiful baby girl! Hopefully this will be a good start for pictures and the many milestones I need to get down on paper so I don't forget them - Rain is changing so quickly these days it's hard to keep up!

5 months old. At 5 months Rain had JUST began to crawl, or more acurately scoot! I'm so glad Shane was here to see it - there are so many things he will miss, I'm happy he will always have that memory.

This was taken 2 days before the earthquake, Rain handled it like a pro, she would have slept thru it if I hadn't woken her up... and kept laughing at her hanging toys swaying back and forth.

6 months old. At 6 months Rain was a pretty proficient scooter. She could get around pretty good at my Mom's house with her sweet little army crawl, but it was still hard work! I'll never forget the first time I walked out of the room and came back to her being completely underneath a chair! She also absolutely LOVED the wind, and any time she felt it she stuck her tongue out. FAR. I never knew a baby's tongue could be so long!

Wearing an outfit my sister and I wore at her age. I will cherish these pictures forever. Even under such difficult circumstances it was a special time that my Mom, Rain, and I had together and these pictures are just one example of the special moments the three of us shared.

Another outfit my Mom saved. Since we were in Texas during this time we had to have her 6 month appointment after returning to Yokosuka at almost 7 months... her doc says she's right on track at 15.72 pounds, 26 1/2 inches long, and 44 cm head circumference.

We were in Tokyo on her 7 month birthday, but amazingly remembered to snap a picture! She could sit up at 7 months, but was still a little wobbly, which is why I'm sitting behind her. We had a wild surprise the night before we took this picture. We were in Rain's room packing for our trip with her in the crib... we turned around and she was standing up with her head, arms, and entire chest over the edge of the crib! So, she pulled up on her own one day shy of 7 months... and we spent a portion of our packing time lowering her crib! Yikes, close call!! Oh and we started solid foods at 7 months 1 week - but I'll write all about that in a separate post!

Hard to believe Rain is 8 months old already!! As you can see she is very active these days - crawling and climbing on pretty much everything! She has learned to pull up AND (for the most part) get down now... can't say I've enjoyed all the spills getting down, but I know it's just part of her learning... She has also began "cruising" a bit, moving from couch, to love seat, to coffee table, though it only happens for something VERY motivating.

She just started playing peekabook and LOVES to pull her shirt over her face (especially during diaper changes) and then waits to hear "peekaboo"! It's soooo cute and really exciting to see her initiating the interaction and waiting so expectantly for my response.