All You Can Eat Burger King!?

I didn’t even know that there is Burger King in Japan, but what? All you can eat Burger King!? WHAT??? Well, unfortunately we don’t have Burger King in our area, I think. Maybe in Tokyo? But… Can you believe this?
I really don’t think they do that in the States… or do they? I mean, they obviously think that Japanese won’t be able to eat that much, especially Whopper is huge compare to Japanese tiny burgers. That ad says, first you have to buy a meal, n if you are not full then you can get same size burger as much as you want. But if you don’t finish those, you have to pay for everything. I am not sure how it works, because those fast food restaurant, how can they check if a customer eat his order all by himself? Are they gonna stand there until he finishes? Or is there a special seat for that?(like Man vs. Food?)
I wish I could go there n check, but I don’t know where’s the closest one from here. What are they gonna do if all hungry U.S. Military people who are very used to those huge Double or even Triple Whopper??? Hmmm… Maybe I want to check if there’s one in driving distance from here n let my hubby try…lol

2 Weeks Old

Baby Ilah is 2 weeks old now! Wow... It was long until she was born, then it's been so fast after that. She's so precious...



I know that I should enjoy this time, this moment. This is my third time( obviously), n I never thought I was gonna get to experience again after 2 children.

The whole pregnancy with her was not pleasant. It was so hard for me, I didn't even think about how happy I would be after the baby's born. Then the labor was so painful, I thought she changed her mind n decided to stay inside of me forever.lol To be honest, when I heard her crying for the first time, the first thing I thought was "Thank god it's over!". Then the nurse brought her to me n I held her in my arm... Everything was changed.

This might be my third time, but every time is a full of happiness. Everyday is something new. If somebody asks that if I would like to do that again, I don't think the answer would be "yes"(my theory, it gets harder with age... N if I do it again, I need to do in the states for sure!), but I'm definitely glad that I got pregnant with this girl, my baby Ilah.

- Posted from my iPad;))

House, Car, and the Baby

Moving, military transferring, new place, start from zero... It's been a month since we moved out the house in Hawaii, which means we've been living in hotels for a month. It could have been worse, I mean, at least it's kids' summer break. But still, we didn't expect this much to do.

We found the house we want, n finally moving to our new house next Monday. Then yet, so many things to get... Like, I totally forgot that most housings in Japan don't have enough cabinets for dishes. Obviously we have to get a china cabinet(n that's not cheap!). We can borrow all the big appliances from base, that's good. But still need to get all little little stuffs, like cleaning supplies, pans n pots(we tossed most of ours), all the spices, e.t.c... It's nice to start with all the new stuff, but not so nice in our wallet.lol

We bought a van(a station wagon, they say), of course used, about 2 weeks ago, but A/C broke so brought back to the dealer, they fixed, got it back, 30mins later it broke again, brought it back, they were working on it, but not so good n ending up to trade to another vehicle. We are getting that one on Friday. This one is a wagon, n it's nice n dark purple(not a funky one!), we know Michele would love it, n I hope this is it. (I don't wanna say no more n jinx it!)

OK, the baby... According to the doctor, it can be anytime already. I am exactly 36weeks today(not counting out the time difference tho), so just in case, I bought some newborn onesies. All the baby stuff will arrive to the new house next Tuesday too. Since I can stay in the hospital up to a week if I want to, now all I need to bring to the hospital with me is just baby clothes... I think. I have my OB appt. on Friday, so I hope we'll find out a lil more, but I was thinking maybe she'll be born on John's birthday?lol That would be cool!

There's still a lot of things to do, n honestly we are stressed about it too. But we are also trying to relax n enjoy this new place. We visited a few tourist spots too. I feel bad for kids that they have to be stuck in the hotel room with me while their daddy's working, but they are also enjoying to see new places n a new culture.





Moving to new place is not an easy thing, but all depends on how we think, it can be a little fun, like an adventure to our new life!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Sasebo City,Japan

Hmmm... Awake again...

Just past 3am here... I woke up for going to the bathroom like 30mins ago, n now I'm awake n can't go back to sleep. Oh well, I'm almost 35wks pregnant now, so no wonder it's like that. The doctor said I will probably have this baby girl earlier than due date, possibly in a couple of weeks? I hope, at least after we move to the house!

Yep, we found "the" house! We went to see this house yesterday, we knew we were gonna like it. It's a lil over budget, but couldn't give it up. It has 5.5 bedrooms(.5 is for storage? It's big enough for a nursery but no A/C), 1 full Japanese bath(toilet is separated from the actual bathroom. N only 1 toilet... That's the only negative point.), all rooms are smaller than what we had in the states, but bigger than what we saw in the other houses here, there are 2 nice size storage downstairs(besides that .5 room), has a big built-in book shelf in the master bedroom, also a nice big built-in shelf in a hallway downstairs, I guess we can use that for dried/can food storage. These all storage future is very rare in Japan. We have so much craps, so we really need it. The house was built in 2004, so only 6yrs old, which is pretty new, all floors are wood floor too. I wish I could take a picture, but no lights inside yet n was heavy raining outside. Now we are gonna just wait for the contract between base n the realtor, I hope everything will go smooth...

Back to the baby subject... I will not be able to get epidural this time... Epidural is not popular in Japan, most of women here have birth without it. There is only 1 doctor who do epidural in this area n he(she?) is overbooked till November. Oh well, I should be okay... I am pretty sure that I won't have a long labor. I will probably just break Chris's arm, that's all.

Damn, I am not sleepy at all... I couldn't sleep well last night either, as long as I keep myself busy in daytime, I won't get sleepy later. But I think I need to get a lil more sleep... Gotta try going back to sleep now!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Sasebo City,Japan

Already Over A Year…

Wow… It’s been already over a year since I’ve started this blog… That’s AMZING!!! Especially I’m the person who cannot keep one thing for a long time…lol
So I was looking some posts from a year ago… A year ago, Chris just left to Iraq, n I was SUPER ACTIVE.lol We went to the pool very often too. It makes me feel that I HAVE TO go to the pool again… well, we are leaving Hawaii in 2 months, no more nice sun n tanning, no more pool like now, gotta do, gotta do… I know n I want to, but this pregnant make my butt heavier n almost glued on my couch…lmao Plus unbelievable sicky days… Ugh.

A Whispering Weirdo(yep, that's me...)

I've noticed that I'm whispering when I'm reading... Not loud, of course. Nobody has pointed out about it yet, that's because I read book at home, n I guess my kids don't even pay attention to it. Well I've read all Japanese books in public, was I whispering??? Do I do that only with books in English???lol
Then now, I just realized that I'm whispering what I'm typing(on my phone) too... I know I don't do that when I use my computer. What is it???lol
Well, when I type on my phone, I'm whispering but my lips are not moving much.(Yea, now I'm analyzing myself...lol) But when I read, I think my lips are moving at least noticeable. So I wonder, if I read this book in public... I would probably look a weirdo.lol
Is that just me???

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There's always a good news, and a bad news... but it's all good to know.

Our daughter Michele is a lil tiny princess. She's very little as her age, which all the doctors we had seen, told us that's because she's a half Japanese. Well, I am not a small girl, especially as a Japanese. But my mom is. So we were told she probably has that in her gene.
Today, I took her for the follow up appointment for her unknown abdominal pain on Sunday. There was nothing found in her urine sample, which is a good thing, but same time they don't know what it was, which concerns me very much. But today, there was more.
The doctor she was seen today was very nice. I would say, for the first time(for Michele), we met the doctor who would concern 120% about her patients. She didn't put the label of "her half-Japanese gene"(not offensive though) on her, about her very light weight. She concerned(but not over concerned) about it, so she sent Michele to the lab n run the blood test. Which is very an easy thing, even though it's not a serious concern. I felt very comfortable talking to this doctor. She was not like scared me or anything about it, but she's more like making sure, which I think all doctors should be.
Unfortunately there are so many doctors who have their strong opinions, n they would just decide what it is without run tests nor even listen to patients very well. If the patient doesn't have fever, then some doctor would say "oh, don't worry." Of course most of time they are right, but still, they would listen to their patients very well, n concern about each single case.
So I finally met the great pediatrician for our kids. N guess what she found?
Poor Michele has an anemic. The doctor told me, I don't have to worry too much about it, n it's still her gene should be a part of her light weight n size, but same time, we may be able to find out the way we can help her gain/grow better. N that's exactly what we would like to hear from the doctor, when we have to face this kind of problems.
Now, it would be a lie if I say I'm not worried. I felt very bad for our little princess, thinking about we could do earlier if we found out before. It may not be a big problem, but I felt her weaker today, only because what we found out today. I am not being a negative about it at all, because now we'll be able to help her being healthier. So this is a good thing that we found out.
But I couldn't help hugging her tighter than usual tonight...

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I'd do anything...

Yesterday morning, Michele was complaining her tummy hurts. She was crying... more like screaming for an hour. I took her to the bathroom, but she didn't wanna poo. She was still screaming. Her temperature was 101 at the time, so not too high, but slightly fever. I decided to take her to ER. I called my friend n she took us there.

After she screamed for 20mins. she cried herself out to sleep, then after 40mins. to 1hour, she screamed in pain again. It just kept coming back like that. I felt powerless looking at my daughter screaming in pain in my arm but couldn't do anything for her pain go away. We waited n waited. Finally a nurse took us back the triage area n gave her tylenol.

After she took tylenol, she had 1more pain, but after that... The pain seemed gone away. After 4 n a half hours waiting, finally we were called by the doctor, but she was all better...

Yea... I've forgot... Our kids do that to us...

They get extremely sick enough to make us really worried n take them to ER, wait for hours, by the time they're seen by doctors, they're fine, smiling like laughing at us... We look like totally liar or stupid parents...

But you now what?

I'd do anything for my kids. I'd do anything to protect their smile. So if it costs making myself look like a fool, I'd happy to be one!

P.S.
They couldn't tell what was the cause, there was nothing in her urine sample as they could know as of yesterday. But another result will be back in a day, so we are going to the clinic to follow up. She's doing totally okay today. I hope it's nothing...

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How We Raise Our Kids

Before I really realized... Our son John is already in 1st grade. I've been busy with homework n school stuff, I didn't have a chance to look back what I am doing. I don't mean that I think I am doing wrong. I just think, sometimes we parents need to take time to look at what we are doing about raising kids.

When I was pregnant with John... I really didn't think anything special about how we are gonna raise this kid. I don't know, but one - I didn't have "mom" friends, two - I was really busy with anything else, as wedding, greencard, moving... But as soon as John's born... I became a "mom" by all meaning. I started to think how we are gonna raise John, how we want John to be... N I loved(still love) talking... or should I say discussing... about how we do about raising kids with my hubby. Fortunately me n my hubby almost have same thoughts about it. So really most of things, like 98%, we agree to each other.

We love our parents... oops, I would say mothers. My parents are not married, I have a father n I see him, but I never lived with him. He supported us with all money situations, but basically my mom taught me everything.

I love my mom, n I love the way my mom raised me. She was not a strict mom. She never was bossing me around. She showed me her love 200% all the time. She always listens to me. One rule of hers, really I remember that, is "Do NOT hurt people." which applies to physically AND mentally. She was a mom who was not afraid to let me make a mistake, so she knew I would learn from there. She never gave up on me. She is my mom, and same time she's been my best friend, not since I grew up, but she's always been that way. I love talking to my mom, because she listens and gives me advices as one person.

Then the result of that... I am very happy. I respect my mom, I really appreciate her for raising me this way. It's very interesting, but my hubby was raised almost exactly same way! That's why we agree to each other about how to raise our kids.

We want our kids to be very close to us, want them to feel that they want to talk to us everything. Not they HAVE TO TALK TO US. We want to be the parents our kids would respect. I believe that is not the right way to say "We want our KIDS TO RESPECT us" or "They HAVE TO RESPECT us". I believe that WE HAVE TO be the parents they would respect. I believe that all children have their choices to love or not love their parents. Yes, that sounds a lil sad, but they do! How can we earn their love? Let them do whatever they want? Never say no??

I say "no" to my kids when they try to do something obviously wrong, n I am not afraid to say that. I yell at kids when they don't listen to me, n I am not afraid to do so. I punish kids when they did something wrong, n I am not afraid to do that. Did I lose their love? No! Sametime... I don't forget to appreciate to my kids when they did something good, don't forget to apologize when I did something wrong,lol do play together a lot(yea, sometimes it looks too much!lol) So there is trust between us. I am enjoying being a mom of them, n I believe that they are enjoying being children of us.

What I mean is... They really don't have to listen to parents if they don't want to, but WE have to be the parents that they would CHOOSE TO LISTEN to. Do you want your kids to listen to adults only because they are adults? No! Oh, I still teach kids to show their respect to adults though. But it doesn't mean they have to listen to them n do whatever they told them to do. That would be very dangerous... But sametime, I don't want our kids to disrespect adults. Not because adults are greater than kids, but because adults experienced much more than kids.

I am not going to say that this is the right way to anybody. Every parents have their own way to raise their kids. N I am not gonna to say anything about it. Well... at least, unless the parents want some advices or if the children obviously need help.

We want our kids to be happy, as I believe all parents want same thing to their children. But what I mean is, we want our kids to be happy every single day. We love our moms(parents), n that's a big part of our happy life. We want to give same thing to our children. We are not "just" a part of their life, but we want to be a "BIG" part of their happy life.

N looking back like this, actually that's what we need sometimes... especially when we feel so busy n feel no time to think. Just so we can be sure where we are at right now.

What is "School"?

Ok, first thing's first. I got a phone call from Navy Family Fleet and DOE today, the Principal accepted John to stay in the school for all this school year! Yay! We won the war!lol Thanks to everybody who support us, and thanks to United States Military... This country's Military service is very good about supporting Military Family. Basically, Military DOE came out for us, 120% agreed with us, n talked to the Principal. I really really appreciate that.

So that is a good thing that John can stay in his school, though we as parents, are still not happy with the Principal. In this case, most important thing was about John. John really likes his new teacher, so do I, and John is very comfortable in his class.

The sad part from this case is... of course there are still questions left about this school and school system. It may be only this school issue, may be not.

The question is, what is "School"?

To me, I want "school" to be the place, where kids can feel safe and enjoy, like their second home. It's not only about education, but there are so many things they would learn in school. I understand that it may not be that simple. There may be always budget issues as well. But each teachers, include Principals and Vice Principals, their first concern supposed to be about their students?

When I was in 2nd grade... I just transferred to a new school, because of the moving. Then I met this Principal, who looked very familiar to me, because he was the Principal of my Kindergarten! He was very very kids-loved Principal all-time. He remembered all students faces and names, he spoke to students very often. I never forget his smile.

That's what "school" should be, don't you think? "School" should be the place, kids feel safe, enjoy, and be happy. If there's a problem, the teachers would fight for the students. NEVER leave them behind, NEVER EVER throw them out. Isn't that "school" supposed to be??

Now we are happy about our son John can stay in the school. But are there any other students treated same way before? They didn't know what to do, some parents might not be able to get a good help as we got.

I really thought this time, we parents should not give up anything for our kids. We should fight for the students' rights. We should appreciate the teachers who really care about our kids, and fight for those good teachers so they can make it a better place for kids. Let's not allow the system ruin our kids future.

Image via We Heart It

Back 2 Busy "mom" Days...

UGH! Here I am, back to busy BUSY weekdays...lol Most likely, thanks to John's school work. I mean, I feel bad for him. I don't really remember that I studied so hard when I was in 1st grade. Did I even have tests???




OK, enough complaining.lol I had a great weekend with my friends(which reminds me that I totally forgot to upload the pics from my camera...), n I had some good time with my friend today as well. So I suppose, I recharged...?



Well, anyway, being busy is a good thing now. Especially I am enjoying it, even though I get stressed out with John's school work.lol I think I really love being a mom.

Since I was a little girl... well, may not be a little, but like early-teen, maybe? I always thought I was gonna be a working woman, not just a working woman but SUPER working woman. It was not like a dream or anything, but I thought I was gonna be like that. I never actually imagined to be a regular "mom". It sounded so boring to a girl who like excitement.



But now, I love being busy with kids over being busy working. N I would say, there are tons of excitement being a mom! When I was a working mom... I couldn't even enjoy these excitement. I was like, wake up - get ready for work - wake kids up - get kids ready - take kids to school - go to work - working - working - working - go home - pick kids up from school - get ready for dinner - eat dinner - put kids in bath - take a shower myself - go to bed. Everyday was like that. Like everything was on "to do" list, everything was chores... Now I get to have some stress with kids! How great is that!lol



So even though I complain about it, I'm actually liking it.:):):0:D


Photo via We Heart It

It's Just Blog, but It's Good, I Tell U!

It's already midnight... n here I am... still blogging...lol More I dig, more I find funs...

Today, I was trying to get some followers through Mom Bloggers Club. To get followers, become a follower! So I visited quite many blogs... wow... they are all good... ending up really read into those...lol Not only I could get ideas, but there are so many great helpful informations too... n THEY ARE ALL FREE!!! Like, my blog? It sounds just a joke compare to all those blogs... Well, this is me, so...lol Anyway, some of them give me all helpful tips, some of them give me motivation, some of them make me laugh... So now, how many blogs am I following anyway...? Uh... 13blogs...! Wow... I won't get bored anymore!lol