What's Wrong With a Normal Bed?

After looking under beds and in the closets, this is where I found him this time!  

Nothing too crazy, but certainly not very comfortable with his face squished up against the plastic bin.

Disclaimer: I put him to sleep in his own bed for every nap and bedtime.  We read stories, have prayer, hugs and kisses, the whole 9-yards.  He has a mind of his own!

4 Years Ago

Four years ago today we arrived in Okinawa.  Our first place we called home was the Hershey TLF (for about 2 weeks). Looking through my pictures, I found most to be about the bathtubs...fascinating.  I guess I love cute little naked butts! I was amazed at how large and spacious the bathtubs were in Japan.  Here you can see Erin being fussy at not being able to get in herself.  The tub was just as deep as it appeared, there was no illusion.  Howie was 3 years and Erin was 20 months.

Another shot of her and I (you can see my arms wrapped around my legs) in the tub. It's bigger than a kiddie pool, she was swimming around in it!

Our second place we called home in Okinawa was a small apartment off base in Yomitan (north of Kadena Air base).  The bathroom and bathtubs were very different than what we had experienced in our temporary lodging facility.

Here are Howie and Erin playing in the bathroom/laundry room.  It was really quiet and Howard and I went looking for them, this is what we found.  The sink Erin is sitting in should really be in an American RV, it was made out of that type of plastic found in RV's. Also, notice the bars through the bathroom window.  It's very safe in Okinawa, so it's not for protection from burglars.  It's a precaution during a typhoon so that a tree limb or some other object doesn't come crashing into your house during a storm.

Here is the toilet/bathtub room.  VERY different than our swimming pool in TLF.  The room was huge, but all it had was a very small (but very deep) bathtub, toilet, and a shower nozzle sticking out of the wall.  Oh yeah, there was a big drain in the middle of the room as well.  It was also completely covered in tile, top to bottom.

Here you can see the tops of their heads.

To My Friends in Okinawa

Just wanted to share with my local friends that okinawayardsales.com is AWESOME!  I posted 2 items to sell around lunch time and both have sold in less than 10 hours and I got a ton of emails about my items!  A little while ago I was using japanupdate.com, but I didn't get any phone calls or emails...not one!  So if you want to sell some stuff, try okinawayardsales.com!!!

Play Time

Today my homemaking skills took a backseat and the boys and I played a lot.

Luke doesn't fuss when I lay him on the play mat now.  

I think Jack had more fun than Luke did today.

Back to Work

Howard and I ended our paternity/maternity leave respectively.  Today was his first day back to work while I resumed my day to day responsibilities at home once again.  It was so nice having Howard home for nearly 3 weeks.  I remember when it was time for Howard to return back to work after Howie was born.  I was so scared to be by myself (I was only 20) with Howie and I cried when he left.  Luckily I've matured now and I'm WAY past all that.  I started back in full force today. Here's a run down of my day so far...

I started by getting the kids off to school then walked 1 1/2 miles with the boys. Afterwards I showered and actually put on makeup and then Jack had speech therapy.  I washed and put away 2 loads of laundry and did a light cleaning of our "large" bathroom. And most amazingly I cleaned my bedroom.  It's has been so messy since I had Luke, it looked like clothes and stuff threw up all over the place.  I did a few more odds and ends around the house, and of course I took care of the boys.  I feel accomplished.  I just hope I can keep up the momentum and continue to add more to my day.

Who Needs a Bunk Bed?

Every night before Howard and I go to bed we always check on the kids to make sure they are covered up and comfortably sleeping.  I couldn't find Jack tonight and I started getting scared, but I knew he falls asleep in some strange places occasionally, so I kept looking.  This is where I found him tonight, under Howie's bed!  Who needs a bunk bed when you can just sleep under a normal bed?

Here's a pic from earlier today.  Erin was "babysitting" Luke for me while I did a few things.  She'll only sit with him for a few minutes, but I can at least get a few things done.  I'm glad she doesn't charge me for her time.  I feel like we're spoiling Luke...someone is holding him most of the time.  It's hard to resist, he's so cuddly and cute.  I frequently find myself just holding him when I have a million things to do.  Knowing that these first few weeks go by so quickly really pulls at my heart strings and makes me want to hold on to these moments forever (literally).  Before I know it, he'll be too busy playing with his friends to sit and cuddle with me.

Old Navy

I just placed a HUGE Old Navy order, so in about 1-2 weeks I will be out of maternity clothes! Hurray!!! Sadly nothing fits me in my closet (yet...it may be a while), so I needed something cute to tide me over until we get back to the States.  Hope they fit right!  Also, only half the order was for me and the other half was for my 3 boys. 

A Child's Prayer

Tonight while I was trimming Luke's finger nails I accidentally cut his finger.  I felt so bad...after all these years that's never happened to me before.  I still feel horrible!  During Erin's bedtime prayer tonight, she asked Heavenly Father that "Mommy won't have any more babies so that she won't cut them".  I guess I'm unfit to be a Mother now!

Our New Car

We've had a very busy week with our vehicles.  First off we renewed our JCI on our car (it's the Japanese insurance/inspection that has to be renewed every 2 years.  It can be pretty pricey if your car needs a lot of repairs.  Our car needed a part from mainland Japan, so we had to wait a few extra days for our car to get done. Once we received our car back, we sold our van (looked EXACTLY like the van on the right) and are now down to one vehicle until we move. 

 This morning I had a WIC appointment, so Howard dropped the boys and I off at our appointment while he paid the remaining balance on our American car insurance.  As he was coming back to pick us up (he was actually in the parking lot that we were waiting in) he was hit by another car and had quite a bit of damage done to his front end. After all of the police reports and dropping the boys and I off at home he had to go back to our insurance company and file a claim.  Howard dropped off our car at the repair shop and they gave him this nice vehicle on the left.

Our new temporary car

Honda STEPWGN, this is the nicest car we've driven since we've been in Okinawa.  We really like it!  Too bad we only get it for the week.

 I was very grateful that Jack and especially Luke were not in the car when Howard got hit.  Howard's fine, just annoyed with all of the hassle and paperwork involved, especially since it wasn't his fault.  I felt sorry for the airmen who hit Howard, he was shaking in his boots (it was his very first accident) and it didn't help that Howard gave him a lecture while waiting for the SP's to show up. 

Slick Vic

I was cleaning out my email inbox and I came across this picture from December 2007. It was Howard's work Christmas party and the theme was the 1970's.  Howard transformed into "Slick Vic" the used car salesman, and I was his babe.  I felt like a young Mrs. Roper from Three's Company...like my orange pearls?  I was about 2 weeks post-op from my last oral surgery, so my face was still a little swollen, talking was slightly painful, and I dined on cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and Ensure that evening.  We had so much fun, few people recognized Howard.

Sneak Peak

Here are a couple pictures from Luke's photo shoot today.  This is a sneak peak, I'm saving my favorites for his birth announcement.  He's so precious!

Our New BFF

I just wanted to share with everyone that Howard and I have 2 new best friends!

Infant Gas Drops 

&

Paper Plates

Random Baby Stuff

Today was Luke's due date, but more importantly he had his 2 week well baby check up.  He's finally back up to his birth weight, exactly...6lbs. 7oz.  He's nursing every 2 hours around the clock and it seems like he fills his diaper every 5 minutes.  I've honestly never changed so many newborn diapers before.  He's healthy and his personality is starting to emerge.  Today was also Luke's first photo shoot. A friend came over with her fancy camera and snapped away. She said she would go over the pictures tonight and get a disc back to me in a few days. I'm really excited to she what she got. We had perfect weather today so most of the pictures were taken outside.  

Terrific Two's

This is what an unsupervised toddler does in his spare time.  In my defense I was nursing Luke just around the corner in the living room.  Jack was just down the hall in the coat closet within earshot, but jackets falling to the floor apparently do not make that much noise.

It probably didn't help our situation when Howard and I encouraged Jack to swing so that we could get some cute pictures.  

Notice our pile of jackets and sweaters that only get worn a few times a year.

Erin May

Howard asked me the other day if I had any posts of the other children.  I did of the boys, but not Erin.  She never seems to be around when I have the camera out.  She's always busy playing with her best friend, Genna and her brother Isaiah.  They're our next door neighbors (the best neighbors in the world!).  So this morning after Erin was all ready for Church I took a few pictures just so I could show her off.

These are just a couple pictures of Erin from when she was younger that I love.

About 9 months doing the splits.  She was VERY flexible!

Love those blue eyes.  If you look closely she has a tear drop under her right eye.  She has shed many tears in her lifetime, she's so sensitive.

Love the long hair.  When she was between 2 and 3 she had perfect ringlets and EVERY single time I took her out in public (Church, store, park, etc.) people would stop me and comment on her beautiful hair and ALWAYS ask me if I curled it.  As if I had the time and patience to curl her hair every single day.  Sadly, with every trim of her hair the curls slowly went away.  We trim her hair regularly and believe it or not, we've actually cut over 12 inches off her hair over the years.

Bedtime Stories

We all went to the movies tonight and saw Bedtime Stories.  It was SO funny!  We were all cracking up.  It's definitely a movie for older kids...school age at least.  Howie and Erin understood the jokes, but Jack was only laughing because we all were.  It was also nice to show off Luke.  I love getting the oohs and aaahs when I hold a newborn.  Also, Kadena Air Base is like a small town for us, especially since we've been here 4 years.  I can't go anywhere these days without running into someone I know.

Satisfied!

Luke just finished nursing and got out a nice burp. Oh so relaxed!

This is the life.

(It may not look like it, but I am supporting his head in both pictures. Didn't want anyone to think I'm a bad Mom.)

Pictures of Luke

Here are some pictures from our Sunday.  I stayed home with Luke, while Howard went to Church with the other kids.  

Luke kept getting cross eyed  and I couldn't get a picture with him looking at the camera normal.

Chillin' on Daddy's lap before Church.

After Church the kids just couldn't get enough of Luke.

Sunday night Luke received his first sponge bath at home. It was a tight squeeze in our bathroom having the whole family in there, but everyone just had to watch.

After school Howie is so anxious to hold Luke.  This was Tuesday afternoon. Luke also lost his umbilical cord stump this afternoon, the last remnant of his nine months in me.  I already get sad to think that he has to grow up.  (Probably just my hormones, but I already know what it's like to have my little babies turn into big kids (kinda), I wish I could just keep my babies forever stopped in time.)

Our Valentine's Day

This is how we spent our day...

Luke had his 4 day weight check.  He is down to 5lbs. 14oz.  I have a good hearty milk supply, he just needs to wake up and stay awake a little more to nurse more efficiently.  We've been home 2 nights now and both nights he sleeps so well that I have to wake him in the night to eat.  I naturally wake up so it's not hard to do.  I feel very blessed to have such a sweet baby.

While I was at Luke's appointment Howard and Jack started to repaint our entryway in preparation for our move.  Howard will be off work for 2 1/2 weeks and has a long to do list.  All I have to do is take care of Luke and Howard has EVERYTHING else.  What a great husband!

Howard and I aren't really into celebrating every holiday, but I wanted to do something special this year for the kids.  A couple weeks ago I bought some valentines and chocolates for the children, but since I had Luke I also received this beautiful flower arrangement.  It smells SO good.  Howard and the children gave them to me when I came home from the hospital.  

On a side note, the children all love Luke so much and just adore him.  Howie is especially sweet towards Luke and rushes in from school ready to just sit and hold Luke for as long as I will let him.  Howie is right there to help whenever I ask and is such a wonderful boy.  

Induction Cancelled

My induction was cancelled for the 19th, why you ask?  Because Luke decided to come on his own a little sooner (thank goodness!!).  Regular and consistent contractions started about 6pm on Monday the 9th.  I tried to ignore them for as long as possible until I eventually started timing them.  To my surprise they were 4 minutes apart.  I wanted to go to the hospital, but Howard wanted to wait until they were a little stronger (he thought the contractions would stop, we've always had a false alarm with every other kid and he thought this was the same).  By 11:45pm we left for the hospital and Luke finally arrived Tuesday afternoon at 2:11pm.  

Yes...I was in labor for about 20 HOURS!!! 

I got my epidural about 10 hours into it (I'm so glad I got one) and towards the end Luke wasn't doing so great so I had to have an Amniotic Transfusion (they basically put amniotic fluid back into my body after my water already broke) and Luke eventually floated back into a favorable position so I could push him out.  He had been pushing into my hip for many painful hours, but we didn't know that until later. Pushing only took 4 MINUTES and most of that time was waiting for 2 contractions to push him out.  No damage was done coming out and I feel GREAT now.

Howard assisted in Luke's delivery at our request and my Nurse Midwife guided him in the process.

Lucas Dillon Parkes

 6lbs. 7.4 oz., 19 3/4 inches long

February 10, 2009 2:11pm

Howard giving Luke his first bath.

I have plenty more to write, but I'll save it for later.   I need my rest.

Love Note & Baby Update

Today Howie's teacher sent home a behavior note regarding Howie.  It's the equivalent of getting your name on the board with a check next to it, since she doesn't write names on the board when the children misbehave.  The reason why was because Howie was not doing his school work...he was writing a love note to his "girlfriend"!  How cute, I couldn't get mad at that.  We just encouraged him to write the notes at home and not during class time. 

Also, I had an OB appointment today.  She said I was at 2 cm and 50% effaced.  She then stripped my membranes and stretched me out to 3 cm, YES THAT HURT!  But hopefully it'll give me some good contractions (I've had a few already and lots of back pain) and dilate me a little more.  Every bit helps.  I'm in quite a bit of pain right now, so we'll see how the rest of the night goes.  We also scheduled my induction date for Feb 19th  just in case I'm still pregnant then (I think I will be unfortunately).  So I have 2 weeks left at most!!  I was induced with my last 2 babies and I am a huge fan of induction.  When I went into labor naturally with Howie I was in labor for 2 DAYS!  When I was induced with Erin it was 6 hrs and with Jack 3 hrs.  See why I like inductions?

How Big is Too Big?

37 Weeks

34 Weeks...I know same outfit.  I'm seriously running out of clothes!  I have not gained any weight on the scale since 30 weeks, but it's pretty obvious that Luke has!  When is it going to stop?!  I just want him out...I can't take it anymore!!! I packed my hospital bag yesterday, so maybe Luke will get the hint.

Sweet Surprise

At Church today we had a Missionary visiting, Elder Neilson, for a confirmation.  It was our former Branch President's son from our current branch, but from 4 years ago.  The Neilson's had already been living in Okinawa for a while when we moved here, and they had two boys in high school.  About a year after we got here, they moved back to Utah.  Their eldest son was called on a mission here...what a small world and a delight for us to see him today!

Life After Hump Day

I've been pretty lazy, so here's a run down of the rest of this weeks events, sorry no pictures. I'm just too lazy to upload them.

Wednesday Night- Howie lost his center front right tooth.  The next morning he comes downstairs and throws his tooth fairy money on the desk and says, "Mom, put this in savings for me, thanks."  Yeah! We're so happy he's learning how to save his money (that's a BIG deal for Howard and I since we're BIG savers).

Thursday- I had my 36 week OB appointment.  Bad news...the hospital changed their policy and we're now not allowed to take photographs of the birth (I cried really bad when I was told this since I have pictures of all my children entering this world).  Before and after is okay though.  Also, I'm only 1 cm dilated and not effaced.  Very disappointing since I was dilated to 5cm at 36 weeks with Jack!  I don't think this baby will be here for a while.  Good news...no new weight gain, I actually lost 1/2 pound.  So over the past 6 weeks I've actually lost weight (even though I've been eating more.) I was told by my Midwife that she'll do a medical induction at 39 weeks if I'm still pregnant them (I have REALLY bad varicose veins and I am in pain 24/7, so that's why).

Friday- I went to the school for lunch with Howie and Erin.  I surprised them with Burger King.  They were so happy because they eat school lunch every day, so it was a nice change for them.  Howard came home from work at noon and Jack, Howard, and I all took a nice long nap until Howie and Erin came home from school.  Howie and Erin brought home their Scholastic book orders (very exciting, I LOVE new books and so do they!)  In the afternoon Howard took all the children to a special viewing of the F-22 Raptor on the flight line.  They were rather disappointed because they couldn't even touch the plane.  

Jack's Surgery

This morning was Jack's second surgery.  He had his ear tubes replaced and his adenoids removed.  We were fortunate enough for Howard to get the day off to take Jack in. When small children wake up from surgery they frequently scream, cry, and thrash about.  Jack was no exception and I'm so glad Howard was there to control the situation.  I just didn't have the stamina to deal with it right now.

Rise and shine, bright and early...yawn.  Jack and Howard left the house at 6am.

All drugged up after his surgery in recovery.

Resting and watching Finding Nemo.  He's still pretty doped up and can't keep his balance when he walks.  This is the calmest I've ever seen him. He can't out run his pregnant mommy today (for once)!

He should be back to normal in a day or two.

Pinewood Derby

2 weeks ago

The boys getting the wheels just right for Howie's upcoming Pinewood Derby.  Howard was so excited that he was able to get a Dremmel tool for this project.

The night before

Howie showing off his car after we submitted it Friday night for a final weigh in.  His car weighed in at 141.7grams...the maximum weight allowed was 141.75grams. So close!

The Big Race

Howie was in lane B for this heat.  He raced several times and ultimately finished in 2nd place in his Tiger Den.  Great job Howie (and Howard)!!!!

Here is Howie with his assistant den leader, 2nd place ribbon (in the Tiger Den division), and "The Hottest Car" award. Howie had decorated his car to look like a hot rod with flames.  It's hard to see in the picture, but he even had a really cool spoiler.  Since Howie finished 2nd in his den, we were not able to take his car home because he will be racing in the International Pinewood Derby Competition in a few weeks. That basically means that our American Packs will be competing against their Japanese counterparts. Howie competed in the finals for the entire Pack, but did not place in the top 4.  At the end of the races I asked one of the officials where Howie ranked among all the other kids, and she said 11th out of about 55.  Not too bad for a first timer!