Hello Spring

Ah spring.  Its so nice to see you!  While I realize we have had a rather easy and short winter, can you blame me for eagerly looking forward to one of my favorite seasons?  Things are not quite in full bloom here, but plum blossoms, daffodils and crocuses have all been in bloom this week.

This is just a random few pictures of our last few days.

Enjoying the plum blossoms at Yoshino Baigo

Audrey....

Many people ask how Stanley is doing, and thankfully I can say he is doing great.  Every Monday we go into Tokyo to see his doctor, who checks on his pins, does x-rays, administers therapy, and cleans and replaces his cast.  This photo was taken on Monday on his last appointment.

I do however still see him doing wicked things like this...climbing trees...with a broken arm!

One of the hardest things about breaking his arm was having to give up basketball.  Tonight was his teams last game.  We went to cheer them on, and his coach wanted him in the team photo.

 I spent Wednesday of this week with my baby who is starting Japanese preschool in a few weeks.  We went to our favorite Showa Kinen park for a special day together.

 chocolate covered bananas are everywhere here

                                         the park was packed, as all the schoolkids were on break

Daffodils make me think of my mother, and they were blooming everywhere.....

                                                                       
                                                             Plum blossoms

Another treat!  But we had to try the tulip flavored ice cream!  It was pretty good!

                                                                       silly girl

And lastly little Molly was so pleased to have Barbara Thomson save and send her a treat bag from the New Years treat in Cuyahoga Falls.  Her whole face lit up, and I could have wept for her.  She has missed that class so much, and has been especially homesick lately.  It was a wonderful surprise.  Thank you Barbara so so much!  

Tama Hills

This past weekend brought us to a retreat off base owned by the US government.  Tama Hills is about 40 minutes from the base and literally is surrounded by city but you feel very much like you are in the country.  There are cabins spread out across the area with numerous camping sights available as well.  Hiking, archery, paintball, horseback riding, and miniature golf are some of the activities for the kids.  The Kever kids however were very content to just explore the woods around our cabin.

Tama Hills, during WWII was a bit of a hiding place for the Japanese Imperial Army for their ammunition.  In fact the US did not know it existed until after the war, and we in turn used it for the Korean conflict.  There are numerous of these shelters built into the side of the mountains and we had a great time exploring them on Saturday.

                                                             Inside our cabin

morning swims

while the boys played 'war'

                                  exploring the ammunition bunkers was alot of fun

                                                          they were literally dug out of the sides of hills

                                                    our vehicle for the weekend

We had a great weekend!!

Stan the Man

This past Saturday we experienced another first in Japan.  One I hope never to repeat.  I know I have said for as long as Stanley has been my son that it was only a matter of time before he broke a limb.  He has had stitches twice, been hooked with a fishing rod, has had several wounds glued shut, and all manner of bumps and bruises over the years.  So when it happened I sighed, loaded him up to take him to the hospital, and expected a x-ray, cast, and be on our way.  Boy was a wrong.  This was not just any old break it turned out, it was a Type 3 fracture which involved his growth plate so surgery would be needed.

Everyone asked me, did he fall from a tree?  Was he riding his bike?  I think Stanley wishes he had a exciting, dramatic story to tell, but the truth is that he was just out playing with Tommy, and they ran into each other.  That is it.  Freak accident, and he just fell on it in that perfectly awful place which caused it to break.  When he came in the house he immediately told me it was broken, and frankly, I did not believe him.  Until I saw it.  It was obvious something was not in the right place.

My dear friend Jamie lives just a stones throw away and since Andrew was out she watched the other three while I took him to the hospital.  I am so very grateful for her close proximity on a daily basis, and being able to drop and go was so nice.

The ER staff took one look and ordered radiology right away.  After many phone calls, consultations and tears on Stanley's part it was decided a pediatric orthopedic surgeon should look at it and do surgery if needs be that night.

                                                     The wait was horrific

                                                           

                                       I still find it odd that all the medical staff wear military clothes.
                                                     This is with his very kind doctor on base

                                              Being loaded onto the ambulance heading for Tokyo

This was fun until we started moving

We went to Tokyo Childrens hospital where we were treated top notch.  The base sent a translator with us and this was such a tremendous help!  The surgeon decided to put Stanleys arm in traction until he performed surgery the following morning.  At this point it was almost midnight and we were utterly exhausted.  Not much sleep took place by either Stanley or I.  It was a long painful night.

With his amazing doctor

                                                           Finally being able to sneak a few skittles
                                                                 since surgery won't be until morning

                                         Japanese hospital bracelet....that says Stanley Kever

                                                               off for surgery

                                                             The fix

The break

Recovery was tough as he wasn"t able to keep anything down.  The morning after surgery we were served 

miso soup, eggs with tuna fish, pickled radish and green tea for breakfast.  That one piece of bread was devoured by Stanley and the rest sampled.  He does like pickled radish, so at least he got his greens.

                                                      Japanese breakfast

                                      Room with a view...even Mt. Fuji in the background

                                                     Happy to be discharged!!

It was a long weekend, and I am so happy to have my boy home again.  It is going to be a long three months, with weekly trips to the specialist. Just how do you keep a boy like this still? 

Exercise, exercise.exercise

No, these three words do not mean what you would think they would mean.  Yes, I try to exercise, and yes I should more, but this last week brought a whole new meaning to the word.

This past week the 374th airlift wing here at Yokota was going through an 'exercise' as they call it.  They are practicing and preparing for any emergency. Whether it be a chemical attack, bombing, invasion, or a natural disaster that may occur.  Anywhere we went on base 100% ID check was in place, even for piano lessons no less.  Loud speakers blared the words 'exercise, exercise, exercise' at all hours followed by a VERY loud siren.  They seemed particularly given to doing this at Audrey's nap time or the children's bedtime.

The actual exercise itself sounded quite interesting.  Men suited up in chemical gear, crouching under tables for hours, bringing in mortally wounded men for treatment en masse, or just plain old 'playing war' as they like to call it, kind of brings it home that I do live on a military base, and technically these things could happen.  I am appreciative in a whole new way what these men do for our country on a daily basis, and the steps they take to keep us safe.

                                                        View of Mount Fuji on my walk

 The planes were very busy this week, and I couldn't resist a few shots because they were so close to us.

Happy to pose!