At Home

They sent me home yesterday and put me on bedrest. Yay. Now I am home with nothing to do. I have not seen Chao lei since yesterday but it IS early. Dorothy will bring him to see me later. Miyuki will arrive soon and she will help me as I need through the day but she returns home at 5pm. From then I am alone. It is for these types of events shore duty would be welcome.

Miyuki and I have discussed what will be needed beyond her other duties. She will have my dinner prepared and will place what I will need for the night, such as drinks and medicine, on the table. Her pay will increase but that is expected since her duties have increased.

How long this arrangement will be necessary I do not know. As is usual, we families are not told of returns times and dates. We are only told exact times when the ship enters Sagami Bay. At least this time I am not greeted with absolute frowns when the topic of Jared's return BEFORE the delivery is discussed with the ombudsman. At the same moment I am not greeted with joyous positive smile. I suppose the "window" we are given will have to do and I will be hopeful my "arrivals" will occur close together.

Contractions have lessened since being in the hospital. In fact, they have become infrequent. I am hoping they remain so. It was a likelihood that if my back had not began to hurt and I remained at home with the same activity, early labor would have occurred so there is a positive aspect of my back pain. I cannot imagine going through labor while my back hurts as much as it does. In fact, I do not want to imagine it. lol

There is approximately one month before my due date. I will spend that time being as relaxed as possible. I will make no such effort if he returns and I have not given birth yet.

Boring

Time in the hospital is boring. I hope they send me home soon.

 

The doctors say they will avoid surgery as best they may. I am 35 weeks so it is possible to induce now but I would rather June remains where she is until she is ready. I prefer the "little cookie" to cook completely before she is removed from the oven. I need only be cautious so I do not inflame my back again. Contractions continue but it is not labor yet.

 

Dorothy has inherited Chao lei until I am released. She has been a great help to me. I am fortunate to have her as my friend. Chao lei likes her too. She was the person to inform Jared of my predicament but also told him I will survive and not to fret. It is not as the Navy will bring the ship home because I am uncomfortable.

 

I have too much free time. One can only watch so much tv. My view from the window is beautiful but does not change. I have stared at my feet for hours. Despite any attempt to decorate them, they are ugly. Maybe fresh polish would improve them. No, the toes would remain crooked. I do NOT have a model's feet. I am not normally so critical. I have many scars I have had to learn to ignore. When one is left with nothing to do, though, it is easy to become critical of oneself. I have avoided having a mirror handy. I can only imagine of my appearance since I was removed from my bed after most of a night's sleep. The only hygiene has been to brush my teeth, which is not so easy to spit out toothpaste while on your back, and wipe my face with a rag.

 

Now we have a race. June Bao's birth before or after Jared returns. The ladies of the FRG have a pool. I wonder if I should pick a day?

Well this is it

So... I'm in the hospital. I could not get up this morning without great pain. I called Dorothy to help me and in turn called an ambulance. The doctor has seen me. I have been poked and prodded. The pregnancy complicated the xrays.

It seems an accident is rearing its head again. Surgery may be necessary to again repair damaged discs. Also, it complicates the pregnancy because the baby is on the problem discs. The doctor and my ob will discuss with me if I need to be induced.

Chao lei will be cared for so I have no worries of that. I do worry of Jared's thoughts when he is told. They are underway and he had his duty to see to. I know they will not return early for my sake. It is not as if I will die. I will be sent home in a day or so and follow up will be scheduled.

A boring life would be preferred to this episode. Lol

Pardon my post

Here I sit in my recliner with a back that refuses to cooperate. Sitting up with a laptop is not possible today. I feel as if there is a heating pad on my back though there is not.

I did not suffer back pain with Chao lei. It seems June insists that she make up for that. I should not be surprised though. She did not keep my favorite foss from me. Nausea has been rare. With Chao lei it was constant. It has been an easier pregnancy.

My ob is not happy for the back pain when combined with occasional contractions. He threatens bed rest. Unless Jared returns soon, that will not be an option.
Doctors seem to be very proficient at telling you what to do but not so much in how to do it. 

Miyuki does what she can but Chao lei is bored. I am forced to allow far more XBox time than I care to. AFN tries but has little programming for young children. There are only so many programs to stream.

We will get through this I know. It is only a question of how crazy I will be.  Lol

Another Day in the Navy

My husband is not home but he is also not officially gone... yet. I can go to Chili's and enjoy lunch and see the ship a mere 1500 meters distance. It is frustrating to say the least.

The news of the Bonhomme Richard has set many nerves on edge. At the beginning, all that was known was a US Navy ship was on fire and there were injuries. What ship and its location was unknown. The "grapevine" being what it is, we heard it was this ship or that one, at this place or that. So we watched the ships at the docks for smoke. I confess even I looked to our ship for smoke. Receiving the "real story" made little difference to some. After all, nerves at times take time to calm. Now most of us have watched and continue to watch every piece of information about the fire. Spouses have drawn together to draw comfort from each other.

Some callous comments were made almost immediately. The most common on was of someone losing their job and that was commonly heard from young sailors. I do not understand their expressing that even before complete news had arrived. We have no idea what has happened. The fire still burns so it will be some time before even Navy officials know. It may well be negligence on someone's part will be discovered and that someone will suffer sanctions of some kind but now is not the time to discuss it.

The last few days, I have had contractions. After seeing my OB, he has recommended I do as little as possible. What does that look like with a bored 7 year old? Miyuki will be here during the day but it is not her job to care for Chao lei. I will have Dorothy at times but she has tasks of her own. It seems as this birth will be more difficult than the last one if Jared is gone. I am praying earnestly that he is here. If the contractions do not cease, bedrest is the next instruction. I have no idea how I would accomplish that. I will accomplish it though, with or without Jared being here. 

Moving Along

Restrictions continue to lifted. We are able to travel a bit more. Just in time (<---see sarcasm). A trip to Yokohama would have been enjoyable but traveling there alone this close to my due day is unwise.

Speaking of the baby... She kicks. Hard. At times I believe she is practicing kicking balls around. She has taken my breath more than once. I have experienced cramps that have focused my attention one or twice but they have passed uneventfully so I continue about my day. I do tell her "Not now. Wait for daddy."

Her closet is already full with clothes. Far more dresses than I would care for but I will not complain. Especially since it is Jared who has bought most of them. They are very pretty and dainty but she will require clothing that is sturdier.  Given her kicks, I am convinced she will be athletic.

University is done for the summer. For me at the least. Having the summer away from school should give me enough time to recuperate and be ready for fall term. I still do not know what that term will look like. Some are hinting it will return to on-campus classes once again but others hint of continued on-line classes. I hope they set it soon. It takes time to set up classes and I do not wish to waste time on one method of teaching should they choose the other. Some will say plan for both. It is a logical suggestion, after all. Each method is very different from the other and it is possible to do both. Such short notice of what to do is the issue and the indications are they will settle exclusively on one or the other. There are aspects that must be met before the term begins but must be supported before planning may begin. I only wish they would decide very soon.

If it is going to rain, make it memorable. We are to have strong to severe thunderstorms over the weekend. I hope this is the case. I thoroughly enjoy watching thunderstorms. I can spend hours watching the lightening. Mind you, do not confuse my enjoyment of thunderstorms with enjoyment of typhoons. Thunderstorms are pretty. Typhoons are destructive. We are to have a couple of days of storms.

The downside of the storms is no fireworks tomorrow. That is disappointing. Several activities have been cancelled or postponed. Hopefully, the storms will not affect the reopening of The Italian Gardens restaurant. It is a favorite of mine. It has been so long since I have eaten pasta.

It is becoming brighter here as restrictions are lifted. It is becoming more "normal."