Happy Easter

I will probably not be online tomorrow so this is early. Have a blessed day!

We Have a House!

Working with an estate agent in El Puerto de Santa Maria, we have our house in Rota chosen. Though it seems early to make such a decision, one must consider the area we are moving to and the seasonal habits of the community. It is best to do it now. Also, there is preparatory work to be done before our arrival. The house must be inspected by the base though there should be no issues there since they work with the base often. Contracts must be drawn up and approved by base housing. There is also the normal “between tenants” work to be done. As I understand it, tourists can be rather hard on a house so the work takes a little longer. That is why the landlords love military tenants. We are easier on the houses and easier to get money from.

Where we are is a tourist destination. It is on the Atlantic coast and not far from tourist centers such as Gibraltar and Seville. Spring is when the tourists begin arriving and renting housing, so it goes very quickly. It was act now or have no choice but to live on base. Rent is also cheaper early in the season. Our rent is only to be around $1500.00 (1400€) per month depending on the exchange rate. Later in the season, and if you can find one, the rent almost doubles.

It will be nice to go straight to our home when we arrive. Well, not straight to. We will have to stay in Navy Lodge for a couple of days at least. That gives time to sign the leases, get keys, and get the Housing Service Center to deliver temporary furniture. How temporary depends on how ugly. If it is too ugly, I will make a visit to the furniture outlet store for at least the basic necessities.

So… up to $6000 out of pocket for housing immediately on arrival. Do not ever let anyone tell you an OCONUS PCS move is cheap. At least, we have a house to live in.

Week 11

I think this pregnancy is not preparing me for a baby. It is making me a baby. I am tired all the time right now. The sad thing is it will not allow me to vary from my schedule. It is 6:30 am and I am awake. Exhausted, yet awake. I am experiencing headaches too. There remains a little nausea but it is not horrible as before.

Having done this twice before, I know it is so worth it at the end. I am excited to meet Su Zan when she arrives. I only wish the dues were not so demanding of me. I have had some of my students wake me up from an unplanned nap. I believe they think I have narcolepsy. The speed at which I fall asleep makes arguing against it useless. Fine. I have pregnancy narcolepsy. Just wake me up at the bell and before you leave.

We are on spring break this week. Most everyone else have plans. We plan on going to out-processing appointments. There are only 75 days until out departure. We will complete our overseas screening on Wednesday. It is surprising that we need it since we are already overseas. We should receive our OPNAV N130 (letter that authorizes dependent to accompany service member) by Friday.

I have to sort our UB shipment and store it separately. Our HHG shipment will be picked up first since they will take so long to arrive in Spain. Our UB will be picked up in May. This means I will live in a naked house from April having only the necessities like cooking utensils and clothes.

We are almost there.Seventy-five days is not as many days as it sounds. I have begun preparing the children for the flights. Chao lei flies well so I have no worries for him. Jun not so much. I only pray she comes up with no other embarrassing outburst as her last flight.

Even through the exhaustion, I am developing the jitters.

Dear Yuki

I have been told that writing a letter to your lost pet helps to let go and move on. I can say it is therapeutic, though it is not an instant healing. I wish it were. It did help though. Writing this letter helped me to remember Yuki was loved and I did my best to give her a good life. It was just her time to move on. Now, it is my turn to move on.

Dear Yuki,

I wish more than anything I could change what has happened. I wish I could go back and mind you better so that I could have protected you from a disease that was merciless. I wish I could have taken your pain so that you never suffered. Oh, how much I wish.

Sadly, nothing will change what has happened. I miss you. I will always miss you. I will look for you in all your favorite places – Lying on the windowsill in the sun, curled up on my chair. And sleeping on my pillow. I will never get used to you not being there. Those places will never be the same without you.

I look for you everywhere. You are not there curled up around my head, caressing me all night purring me to sleep. You are not there to hold my hand the way you did during the night, touching me to assure me you were still with me. You are not there in the morning to greet me as I wake with your bright blue eyes so full of life. You are no longer waiting for me to come home after a long day of work, so eager to see me, calling for me to come to you. Our house is empty without you.

You are not there but I will remember you – I will remember how, from the moment I laid my eyes on you, I loved you. I will remember our trips to new places and the confident looks of your face when arriving there. I remember the time your curiosity led you outside during a rainstorm and my panic at not finding you right away and that the fire service came to retrieve you from our roof. I remember how you waited patiently for me to commute home each day after I worked long hours and for something to do, you occasionally chewed up my mail.

My dear, sweet Yuki, you will always be in my heart. Your love, friendship, spirit, and grace were such a blessing to me. Thank you for sharing your life with me and giving me the gift that was you. I will never forget you.

Mama loves you.

Week 10

Today was my first baby appointment after the “Yes, you are pregnant” one. I am so happy afterward. First, because Jared was able to attend with me. This is our third child and the first time he has accompanied me to an OB appointment. Second, we discovered a lot of information, all good.

According to the blood work, Mother was correct in her prediction of gender. It seems old Chinese superstitions may not be as inaccurate as I had assumed. Then again, a guess is 50/50. We will have another girl. Jared is excited about that, and I must admit I am pleased as well. Chao lei is not. Jun is excited.

 

She is healthy and developing as expected. We did the NIPT which is how they know gender. They also did what seemed like a thousand other tests. It seems being 42 makes me high risk… and my missing thyroid does not help either. That should not affect the pregnancy they said providing I stay on treatment plans and remind Endocrinology of the pregnancy.

Jared and I have been discussing names. He insists that because it is a girl, it is my place to name her. I insist that he is her father and has a say also. Accepting that, he made a suggestion that stunned me. He said we should name her in honor of Mother Bing. Mother Bing is not physically related to me. She welcomed me to her family when I first arrived in America and treated me as her daughter, even to introducing me to others as her daughter. I cannot think of a better namesake for our daughter.

We shall name her Su Zan (pronounced Soo Sahn) Rose. Her name means “respectful praise.” People will assume we have named her Susan Rose, which is Mother Bing’s name, when they pronounce it. They will also accept that she only spells Susan differently than others while ignoring the extra space in the middle. This name allows us to keep our naming habit of eastern and western and allows me to honor Mother Bing. I also realize it will involve her having to prove she does not misspell her name. I can see it… Su Zan vs. Susan, but she will know the reason behind her name. Or she will do as Mother Bing and be called Su.

Jared has already started his shopping spree for her. We came home from the NEx with four outfits for her. Here we go again. I believe he is more excited by a daughter than I am. Perhaps this time, he will restrain himself since he will be able to see her closet and drawers... Probably not. Jun had more clothes than she could wear and I often passed them on, never having removed the price tags. As it is, he must wait until we arrive in Rota before he can build the nursery so there will be nothing to distract him.

Do not misunderstand me. Jared is well pleased with his son. Jun, though, is his girl whom he will go overboard for. Chao lei he teaches to have a strong ethic and to stand up for himself. Jun he teaches to come to him. I know, it is an old-fashioned idea, but it is too beautiful to see their relationship grow so close. She is a “Daddy’s girl.” I wish for her to have the kind of relationship I had with my father. I will only believe Su Zan will enjoy the same relationship.

Chao lei was planned and desperately wanted. Jun Bao was a surprise but not an unwelcome one. Su Zan is a shock but again not unwelcome. The desperate wish of my youth of being a mother is being granted in full. I am blessed beyond measure.