Happy Mothers' Day to all you mothers out there, but most especially to those in our own families -- Mary, Diane, Ronda, Julie, Nadine, and Ruth. I am proud to join your ranks this year! We had a lovely day -- went to church at Mito and saw old friends there, stayed for the potluck, then had an Easter party for World English Center in the afternoon, then went out to the mall for dinner and to do a little shopping. Alex gave me a very sweet book about mothers, and Rusty helped him write a sweet message inside to me. Rusty also gave me a thoughtful card.
Someone sent me this forward about mothers, and I thought it was too good not to pass on. But I had to figure out another way of sharing it, because I generally hate forwards and sometimes delete them without even opening them. Enter the blog. And, so, without further ado, I give you:
Somebody
Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby . . . Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.
Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct . . Somebody never took a 3-year-old shopping.
Somebody said being a mother is boring . . . Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.
Somebody said good mothers never raise their voices . . . Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.
Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother . . . Somebody never helped a 4th grader with his math.
Somebody said you can't love the 5th child as much as you love the first
. . . Somebody doesn't have 5 children.
Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing
questions in the books . . Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his
nose or in his ears.
Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery. . . Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the 1st day of kindergarten. Or on a plane headed for military boot camp.
Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back . . . Somebody never organized 7 giggling Brownies to sell cookies.
Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. . . Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son- or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.
Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home. . . Somebody never had grandchildren.
Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell
her . . . Somebody isn't a mother.
Do I hear an "Amen?"
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Bon Voyage!
Last Thursday, we said goodbye to two very special people. Roxanna Johnson, and Baby Sophia left Japan to begin a new life back in America. Roxanna and I got to experience all the joys (and discomforts) of pregnancy together. In fact, we were even in labor for awhile together -- although I went into labor almost 24 hours before Roxanna and didn't give birth to Alex until the day after Sophia was born! But I don't begrudge Roxanna her short (6 hour) labor since she had to wait over two weeks past her due date for Sophia to make her appeance!
Alex will miss celebrating all the milestones of babyhood with his little girlfriend, Baby Sophie. He hopes she'll come back to visit again someday when they are both big enough to actually play together!
May God's blessings be on you, Roxanna and Sophie! We will never forget you and you will always have a special place in our hearts.
Love,
The Campbells
Alex will miss celebrating all the milestones of babyhood with his little girlfriend, Baby Sophie. He hopes she'll come back to visit again someday when they are both big enough to actually play together!
May God's blessings be on you, Roxanna and Sophie! We will never forget you and you will always have a special place in our hearts.
Love,
The Campbells
A Word From Rusty
I don't know what Laura meant when she wrote, "Rusty likes the Jeep" (previous post). I only had Alex's best interests in mind when I suggested we get the Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain stroller. How else is he going to be able to keep up with me out on the disc golf course? He'll grow to appreciate the cup holders and sound system as he learns how necessary they are on those long road trips through the mall with mommy. Besides, the chicks dig it. None of these silly little pastel-colored umbrella strollers with plastic wheels the size of bottle caps for my boy. We're talking 3WD, 13" rims, convertible rag top, saddle bags, forest green with gold pinstrips, plug in surround sound, latte holder, and the ultimate one-handed fold. Now that's a MAN'S stroller. Gidder done! YEAH! That's my boy! (Lucky for me, they also sell them in pink if the next one's a girl.)
Monday, May 08, 2006
Golden Week Activities
The first week in May, four Japanese national holidays occur almost consecutively and give us what is known as Golden Week. Rusty had the week off work, so we decided to get out and enjoy the gorgeous spring weather.
On Monday, we went to Hitachi Seaside Park. Rusty played a few rounds of disc golf while Alex and I sat on a blanket and chatted with friends. Then we strapped him into his stroller and enjoyed meandering around the tulip fields. They were in full bloom and beautiful (see above picture). By the way, Rusty loves the Jeep stroller, and everyone who sees it comments on how cool it is.
On Tuesday, we enjoyed a relaxing morning at home and went to the bath with friends in the afternoon. It was my first time since last fall to go to the public bath, and I sure enjoyed it. Alex is still to young to be taken into the bath, but I'm looking forward to introducing him to the joys of "onsen-ing" when he gets a little older.
Wednesday and Thursday were spent doing some projects around the house. On Friday, we packed a picnic lunch and drove north to Takahagi. We found a lovely park where we ate our lunch and then played on the grass with Alex. Saturday was another lazy day at home.
All in all, a very enjoyable Golden Week.
On Monday, we went to Hitachi Seaside Park. Rusty played a few rounds of disc golf while Alex and I sat on a blanket and chatted with friends. Then we strapped him into his stroller and enjoyed meandering around the tulip fields. They were in full bloom and beautiful (see above picture). By the way, Rusty loves the Jeep stroller, and everyone who sees it comments on how cool it is.
On Tuesday, we enjoyed a relaxing morning at home and went to the bath with friends in the afternoon. It was my first time since last fall to go to the public bath, and I sure enjoyed it. Alex is still to young to be taken into the bath, but I'm looking forward to introducing him to the joys of "onsen-ing" when he gets a little older.
Wednesday and Thursday were spent doing some projects around the house. On Friday, we packed a picnic lunch and drove north to Takahagi. We found a lovely park where we ate our lunch and then played on the grass with Alex. Saturday was another lazy day at home.
All in all, a very enjoyable Golden Week.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Two Months Old
I can't believe Alex is two months old already! Where has the time gone? We didn't have a well-baby check-up this month, so I don't know exactly how much he weighs now, but my arms are sure telling me he's getting heavier! I'm guessing he weighs close to 12 pounds, and he is starting to outgrow some of his newborn-size clothes. Month two also brought the first real smiles from Alex. I have to say that there is no greater joy this side of heaven than seeing your baby break into a huge grin just at the sight of you.
In his second month, Alex has also organized his sleep patterns to include a long morning nap (very nice!), a shorter afternoon nap, and four to five hour stretches of sleep at night. So, we are all getting more sleep around here and I only have to get up once in the night for a feeding! Pretty good for a two month old! He loves rocking in his baby swing, riding in his stroller, laying on his playmat, looking at his mobile, and being sung to and talked to.
On his two-month birthday (Friday, April 28th), my friend Kari did a photo shoot with Alex and got some amazing shots. The above picture is one that she took. For grandparents and other interested parties, you can view the entire gallery by clicking here. You can also order prints directly from her website if you desire.
In his second month, Alex has also organized his sleep patterns to include a long morning nap (very nice!), a shorter afternoon nap, and four to five hour stretches of sleep at night. So, we are all getting more sleep around here and I only have to get up once in the night for a feeding! Pretty good for a two month old! He loves rocking in his baby swing, riding in his stroller, laying on his playmat, looking at his mobile, and being sung to and talked to.
On his two-month birthday (Friday, April 28th), my friend Kari did a photo shoot with Alex and got some amazing shots. The above picture is one that she took. For grandparents and other interested parties, you can view the entire gallery by clicking here. You can also order prints directly from her website if you desire.
Sakura
Ah, the beautiful sakura. Gorgeous spring days like this one almost make up for the long, cold winters with no central heating. In fact, it's on days like this one that I really love living in Japan. I just have to walk out my front door or look out my living room window to see this beautiful cherry tree in the park across the street from our house. Even hanging the laundry out ceases to be drudgery when I have something this amazing to look at! (More pictures of the sakura on our Flickr homepage -- just click on the photo and you'll be redirected!)
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Happy Easter, 2006
We decorated Easter eggs on Friday, April 14th with Roxanna and baby Sophia, Judith, Kudo-san, and Rie and baby Hikaru. A lovely time was had by all. On Easter Sunday, we went to church in the morning, had lunch at the 50's Diner, and then attended an Easter party at church in the afternoon. Alex was too young to participate in the Egg Hunt this year, but he cheered on the other kids from his car seat. Hope your Easter was eggs-tra special, too!
Monday, May 01, 2006
Multi-Tasking
Rusty claims that men can only focus on one thing at a time -- so I took this picture to prove otherwise. Here is Rusty holding Alex and playing a drum video game at the same time, while Kiara does her best to be distracting in the background. Whoever said that men can't multi-task?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Indulging Our Obsession
For those of you who have been wondering why we haven't been blogging very much lately, I have two words for you: Battlestar Galactica. This scifi drama, a "reimagining" of the original series produced in the 70's, is arguably the best show on television these days (sorry, LOST fans), and certainly the best, most creative, most thought-provoking science fiction show I have ever watched. Even if you aren't a fan of science fiction, you should certainly give this show a try as it is primarily a human drama, with the setting being outer space. And don't worry, there aren't any green one-eyed aliens running around the set.
Anyway, Rusty and I got hooked (shamelessly addicted, actually) on this show last year when the first season was airing on the SciFi Channel. For my birthday this year, I asked for Seasons 1 and 2.0 on DVD, and my parents brought them over when they came to visit in March. They also brought a few of the most recent episodes on VHS, which they taped for me before their trip. So, for the last week and a half, we have engaged in a "Battlestar Galactica" marathon. Now that we are finished, I promise to get back to blogging. I have Easter pics of Alex to post, and more.
By your command.
Anyway, Rusty and I got hooked (shamelessly addicted, actually) on this show last year when the first season was airing on the SciFi Channel. For my birthday this year, I asked for Seasons 1 and 2.0 on DVD, and my parents brought them over when they came to visit in March. They also brought a few of the most recent episodes on VHS, which they taped for me before their trip. So, for the last week and a half, we have engaged in a "Battlestar Galactica" marathon. Now that we are finished, I promise to get back to blogging. I have Easter pics of Alex to post, and more.
By your command.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Proud to Be an American
My son,
You don't know it yet, but you are a citizen of a very great nation. A nation where freedom is valued above all else. Many great men and women have fought and died throughout the years so that you could be free. Free to become whatever you want to be. Free to live where you want to live. Free to worship our God. Free to vote. Free, even, to criticize our government and to take steps to change the things you disagree with.
One day, when you are older, I hope you will come to appreciate, as I do, the blessing it is to be an American. Although I have lived most of my life in other countries (or maybe because of it), I am deeply appreciative of my heritage and citizenship. I hope to pass this appreciation on to you as you get older. You are a second generation TCK (third culture kid), but I hope you'll always be proud that your "passport country" is America.
Love,
Mama
(Picture taken outside the US Embassy in Tokyo on March 31st, 2006, the day we took Alex in for his birth certificate and passport.)
Friday, April 14, 2006
Tub Time
Just thought I would post some pics so everyone can see how Alex is growing. He is filling out and getting fat rolls in all the appropriate places! I know it is such a cliche, but they really do grow and change so fast. He has started smiling at us, but we have yet to capture a really good smile on the camera. Coming soon, I hope!
It's hard to see in this picture, but the hood of the towel says, "I love my daddy." Thanks to our friends at the Thyatira Church of Christ in Mississippi for the great photo op!
It's hard to see in this picture, but the hood of the towel says, "I love my daddy." Thanks to our friends at the Thyatira Church of Christ in Mississippi for the great photo op!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
One Month Old
Tuesday, March 28th marked Alex' one-month birthday. Baby Sophie had her one-month birthday just the day before. So, we had a little birthday celebration, complete with cake and candles. Since both babies were asleep, their mamas had to blow out their candles and eat their cake for them.
On Thursday, March 30th, Alex and I had our one-month check-up at the Suzuki Clinic. Alex has gained one kilo in his first month of life (he weighs over 9 pounds now), and I have lost a kilo. I'll be fitting into my jeans again soon!
I can't believe Alex is already a month old. Let's see, in his first month of life, besides gaining over 2 pounds, he has learned to hold his head up really well, to take a pacifier, and to sleep for three to four hour stretches at night, mostly in his own bed. He loves looking at the wall hanging in our living room and the Japanese doors in our bedroom, sitting in his bouncy chair, being held by his daddy, and his nightly bath. Oh, he also loves eating (and is putting on the pounds to prove it)!
We're looking forward to what the second month will bring...
On Thursday, March 30th, Alex and I had our one-month check-up at the Suzuki Clinic. Alex has gained one kilo in his first month of life (he weighs over 9 pounds now), and I have lost a kilo. I'll be fitting into my jeans again soon!
I can't believe Alex is already a month old. Let's see, in his first month of life, besides gaining over 2 pounds, he has learned to hold his head up really well, to take a pacifier, and to sleep for three to four hour stretches at night, mostly in his own bed. He loves looking at the wall hanging in our living room and the Japanese doors in our bedroom, sitting in his bouncy chair, being held by his daddy, and his nightly bath. Oh, he also loves eating (and is putting on the pounds to prove it)!
We're looking forward to what the second month will bring...
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Daddy's Boy
These pictures were taken when Alex was three weeks old at Suwa Park in Hitachi. The plum trees are in bloom, the weather is getting warmer, and spring is finally here! I'm looking forward to Alex' first Easter in just a couple of weeks.
A Cradle for Alex
It was handmade by Doug Davis of the Metro Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon by request of Alex' Grandma. It arrived at our house via express mail about two weeks after Alex was born (no, you do not want to know how much that cost). It was reassembled with care by Alex' papa and now stands in our bedroom, ready to rock our son into dreamland each night.
Alex has been given many gifts, and each one is a special reminder of the many people who love him and us. But the cradle will go down as one of the most touching and meaningful gifts we were given. Thank you, Doug and Grandma Mary! I envision using it for all our children, and someday, maybe grandchildren...
Sweet dreams!
Alex has been given many gifts, and each one is a special reminder of the many people who love him and us. But the cradle will go down as one of the most touching and meaningful gifts we were given. Thank you, Doug and Grandma Mary! I envision using it for all our children, and someday, maybe grandchildren...
Sweet dreams!
Saturday, April 01, 2006
My First Sunday at Church
I went to church for the first time when I was 12 days old. I enjoyed listening to the singing. Babu preached a great sermon, and after the service, everyone enjoyed the monthly fellowship meal. (I slept through most of it.) Everyone at Taga church loved me and said what a cute little boy I was.
This is me with Kaminaga-san, one of the members at Taga church. She is almost 90 years old and still lives alone and rides her bicycle everywhere. She is an amazing lady with more energy than most people who are half her age.
This is me with Kaminaga-san, one of the members at Taga church. She is almost 90 years old and still lives alone and rides her bicycle everywhere. She is an amazing lady with more energy than most people who are half her age.
My First Road Trip
When I was 10 days old, I got to go on my first road trip. Mommy and Daddy and I took Nyanya and Babu to Nikko, one of the religious centers of Japan. On Friday night, we drove to Mashiko, a pottery town, and stayed in a minshuku (a family run bed and breakfast). The next day, we drove to Nikko. We enjoyed looking at the beautiful temples and shrines. On the way home, we stopped for dinner at Subway in Utsunomiya.
I enjoyed my first road trip and I can't wait to take another one! Mommy says I am my father's son because I am such a good traveler. Daddy just says, "That's my boy!"
I enjoyed my first road trip and I can't wait to take another one! Mommy says I am my father's son because I am such a good traveler. Daddy just says, "That's my boy!"
Enjoying the Plum Blossoms
When Alex was 8 days old, we took him to Kairakuen in Mito, along with my parents, to see the plum blossoms. Kairakuen is one of the three most famous parks in all of Japan. Every year, around this time, thousands flock to Mito to enjoy the beauty of the plum trees in full bloom. Unfortunately, we were about a week early and many of the trees had not popped out yet. Still, it was a gorgeous spring day, and Alex and I enjoyed being out and about in the warm weather.
Our First Family Photo
My sister commented that she is enjoying all the pictures, but wanted to see some of Rusty and I. So, here it is -- our first family picture. This was taken in the hospital when Alex was 2 days old. (For a larger version of any of these recent photos, just click on the picture and you will be taken to our Flickr homepage.)
Monday, March 27, 2006
Meeting Nyanya and Babu
Nyanya and Babu (that's "grandmother" and "grandfather" in Swahili) came all the way from America, just to visit me. I guess that makes me a pretty special little boy. They arrived in Japan the day after I was born and stayed for 2 weeks. We had a lot of fun together. I can't wait to see them again at Christmas!
Nyanya and Babu brought over 3 pieces of luggage filled with nothing but presents for me! There was a super cool Jeep stroller, a playmat, some beautiful handmade baby blankets, some books and toys, and lots and lots of clothes! Thanks to everyone who sent gifts to Nyanya and Babu for them to bring. Mommy said it was like having another baby shower, except without the cake and punch and the silly games.
Nyanya and Babu brought over 3 pieces of luggage filled with nothing but presents for me! There was a super cool Jeep stroller, a playmat, some beautiful handmade baby blankets, some books and toys, and lots and lots of clothes! Thanks to everyone who sent gifts to Nyanya and Babu for them to bring. Mommy said it was like having another baby shower, except without the cake and punch and the silly games.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Visitors in the Hospital
Mommy and I had several visitors during out stay at the hospital. Here I am with Kudo-san, the midwife who helped Mommy so much during labor and delivery. Mommy says there are two people she couldn't have done without for my birth. One was Kudo-san, and the other, of course, was Daddy.
Here I am with my Japanese grandmother, "Oba-san" (Mrs. Saka). The Saka's were Daddy's home-stay family when he came to Japan on the Pacific Rim study abroad program in 1997. When Daddy and Mommy came to live in Japan for the first time (in 1999), they lived practically next door to the Saka's. They have always enjoyed a close relationship with them and called them "Oka-san" and "Oto-san" (mother and father in Japanese). Mommy says I am lucky to have three grandmothers since most people only have two!
This is my buddy, Freedom Chan, and his mom and dad, Mark and Charity Chan. I can't wait until I get just a little bigger so I can play with Freedom!
Here I am with Judith. She is a missionary at Taga church where Mommy and Daddy go. She has also been teaching a few of Mommy's classes while Mommy has been on maternity leave. Thanks, Judith!
The baby on the left in the carseat is my little friend, Sophia, who was born one day before me! Her mom, Roxanna, is in the purple shirt holding me. Roxanna and Mommy had the same midwife, so Kudo-san (on the left holding Sophia) had a busy few days taking care of all of us! On the right are Rie, a midwife-in- training, and her little girl, Hikaru, and Heather Rosser from Mito church, one of Roxanna's labor partners.
Here I am with my Japanese grandmother, "Oba-san" (Mrs. Saka). The Saka's were Daddy's home-stay family when he came to Japan on the Pacific Rim study abroad program in 1997. When Daddy and Mommy came to live in Japan for the first time (in 1999), they lived practically next door to the Saka's. They have always enjoyed a close relationship with them and called them "Oka-san" and "Oto-san" (mother and father in Japanese). Mommy says I am lucky to have three grandmothers since most people only have two!
This is my buddy, Freedom Chan, and his mom and dad, Mark and Charity Chan. I can't wait until I get just a little bigger so I can play with Freedom!
Here I am with Judith. She is a missionary at Taga church where Mommy and Daddy go. She has also been teaching a few of Mommy's classes while Mommy has been on maternity leave. Thanks, Judith!
The baby on the left in the carseat is my little friend, Sophia, who was born one day before me! Her mom, Roxanna, is in the purple shirt holding me. Roxanna and Mommy had the same midwife, so Kudo-san (on the left holding Sophia) had a busy few days taking care of all of us! On the right are Rie, a midwife-in- training, and her little girl, Hikaru, and Heather Rosser from Mito church, one of Roxanna's labor partners.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
My First Bath
I had my first bath on March 1st, the day after I was born. I loved the warm water and I hardly cried at all. The nurses just couldn't get over my blond hair, blue eyes, and long fingers and toes. I felt like a celebrity!
Mommy and I stayed at the hospital for 4 nights. (Usually, Japanese babies and their moms stay at the hospital for a whole week, but Dr. Suzuki agreed to let us go home a few days early.) I enjoyed a relaxing bath every morning and being able to "room-in" with Mommy. But I didn't like sleeping in my bassinet. I was much happier sleeping snuggled right next to her.
The hospital took very good care of us during our stay there. Mommy said the food was actually quite good. She especially enjoyed being served breakfast in bed and afternoon tea.
Good things come to those who wait (and wait, and wait, and wait)
And he was so worth the wait. Worth waiting almost seven years of marriage for. Worth all of the discomforts of pregnancy. Worth a grueling 64 hours of labor. Yes, that's right. 64 hours. Nearly 3 full days. Labor began early Sunday morning when my water broke, and Alex was finally born on Tuesday evening. Up until a month ago, if you had asked me, "What's the hardest thing you've ever done?" I would have answered, "Climbing 18,000 foot Mt. Kenya." Well, let me tell you, climbing that mountain was NOTHING, compared to the experience of bringing our child into the world!
For those who may be wondering why I wasn't taken into the operating room and "put under the knife" by the end of the first day, Japanese doctors have more of a "watch and wait" philosophy when it comes to childbirth than their American counterparts. I am grateful for this, as a C-section was the last thing I wanted, although I will admit that by the end, I was practically begging for one just so it would be over. (I think I also begged for death at one point!)
I had what the books call a "prodromal labor," characterized by a very long and drawn out early or latent phase. In my case, because my water broke at the very beginning of labor, the baby's head, which was already engaged, started putting pressure on my cervix, causing it to swell and slowing the dialation process. An American doctor would have labeled me "failure to progress" and had me on the operating table after 24 hours. But in Japan, as long as both mother and baby are genki (healthy, strong, energetic) and seem to be tolerating the stress of labor well, nature is allowed to take its course.
My one and only disappointment in my birth experience was that I was not able to deliver at the midwife's house like we had planned on. Because of the lengthy labor and possible risk of infection, we decided on Monday (one day into the ordeal) that the hospital was the safest place for both me and the baby. Kudo-san, the midwife, stayed by my side and acted as my advocate and translator with Dr. Suzuki, the nurses, and the rest of the staff. I could not have done it without her! I was allowed to actively participate in all of the decisions regarding my care -- from taking drugs to stimulate contractions (an oral form of Pitocin) to finally agreeing to an episiotomy and the use of the vacuum extractor.
Finally, on Tuesday evening just before 7:00, Alexander John Campbell made his entrance into the world. Rusty's first words were, "It's a boy, it's a boy!" My first words were, "It's over, it's over!" While Kudo-san attended to the baby and helped Rusty cut the cord, Dr. Suzuki turned photographer and started taking pictures with his polaroid camera (standard equipment in a Japanese delivery room?)! They placed the baby on my stomach and he lay there for a few minutes before he opened his eyes and looked right at me, and then right at his father, as though he knew exactly who we were. Then he was whisked away to be weighed and measured and cleaned up a little bit.
About 45 minutes later, they brought him to me in the room and I got my first really good look at him. Fine blond hair. Scrawny legs and arms. My long fingers. His dad's big feet. Every part so tiny, yet perfectly formed. He was beautiful. I could scarcely wrap my exhausted brain around the fact that he was ours.
Have I forgotten all the pain of those excruciating 64 hours? I wouldn't say that, but holding that little 7 pound bundle in my arms was definitely worth every single minute!
For those who may be wondering why I wasn't taken into the operating room and "put under the knife" by the end of the first day, Japanese doctors have more of a "watch and wait" philosophy when it comes to childbirth than their American counterparts. I am grateful for this, as a C-section was the last thing I wanted, although I will admit that by the end, I was practically begging for one just so it would be over. (I think I also begged for death at one point!)
I had what the books call a "prodromal labor," characterized by a very long and drawn out early or latent phase. In my case, because my water broke at the very beginning of labor, the baby's head, which was already engaged, started putting pressure on my cervix, causing it to swell and slowing the dialation process. An American doctor would have labeled me "failure to progress" and had me on the operating table after 24 hours. But in Japan, as long as both mother and baby are genki (healthy, strong, energetic) and seem to be tolerating the stress of labor well, nature is allowed to take its course.
My one and only disappointment in my birth experience was that I was not able to deliver at the midwife's house like we had planned on. Because of the lengthy labor and possible risk of infection, we decided on Monday (one day into the ordeal) that the hospital was the safest place for both me and the baby. Kudo-san, the midwife, stayed by my side and acted as my advocate and translator with Dr. Suzuki, the nurses, and the rest of the staff. I could not have done it without her! I was allowed to actively participate in all of the decisions regarding my care -- from taking drugs to stimulate contractions (an oral form of Pitocin) to finally agreeing to an episiotomy and the use of the vacuum extractor.
Finally, on Tuesday evening just before 7:00, Alexander John Campbell made his entrance into the world. Rusty's first words were, "It's a boy, it's a boy!" My first words were, "It's over, it's over!" While Kudo-san attended to the baby and helped Rusty cut the cord, Dr. Suzuki turned photographer and started taking pictures with his polaroid camera (standard equipment in a Japanese delivery room?)! They placed the baby on my stomach and he lay there for a few minutes before he opened his eyes and looked right at me, and then right at his father, as though he knew exactly who we were. Then he was whisked away to be weighed and measured and cleaned up a little bit.
About 45 minutes later, they brought him to me in the room and I got my first really good look at him. Fine blond hair. Scrawny legs and arms. My long fingers. His dad's big feet. Every part so tiny, yet perfectly formed. He was beautiful. I could scarcely wrap my exhausted brain around the fact that he was ours.
Have I forgotten all the pain of those excruciating 64 hours? I wouldn't say that, but holding that little 7 pound bundle in my arms was definitely worth every single minute!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Made in Mississippi, Born in Japan
DSCF2148.JPG copy
Originally uploaded by rustyandlaura.
We joyfully announce
the birth of our son:
Alexander "Alex" John Campbell
born February 28th, 2006
at 6:55 p.m.
in Mito, Japan
3220 grams (7 lbs., 1 oz.)
50 cm. (20 inches) long
Monday, March 20, 2006
We're working on it!!!
For all of you that may be anxious to see pictures of little Alex, they're coming. We're having technical difficulties with our computers. The nicer of our two computers is a Mac and for some reason we're not able to post picuters to our blog using the Mac because the OS has just been outdated. The other computer is old and very slow. It's really only good for posting picutes on the blog because we can't with the Mac. The only real benifit, other than posting pictures with it is that we can use our wireless connection with it. And of course, we can't with the Mac unless we strip it, change the suspension and give it a complete overhaul. The other problem with the old computer is that the plug on the power cord is currently unusable. Meaning that there is 'No Power!' and without power there are no pictures to post on the blog.
We are currently discussing the solution to our problem. Do we purchase a $75 power cord for an old run down computer that makes noises that resemble something between an Apache helicopter and a 1991 Chevy Citation when the hard drive spins down or do we spend $120 upgrading the operating system on the Mac that is perfectly fine but since Mac has a monopoly on all its products they can do what ever they want to do all in the name of consumer driven spending. Either way, we still have to pay around $30 in shipping.
Our other option is to purchase a new computer that has all the bells and whistles that any new parents would want to share their little bundle of joy with the web world. Of course, by the time that we received it here in Japan it would be completely outdated and worth less than a micro-cent of what we paid for it.
We thank all of you for your many prayers and concerns over the last several weeks. We've received several pachages from people back in the states that have really lifted our spirites (A ton of chocolate will do that. Thanks mom!) and brightened our days. We are so blessed to have our precious little boy with us. He has been a real joy. We are looking forward to sharing pictures with you at the earliest possible moment that we can post them to the blog. Untill such time, I'll give you a short description of Alexander. He is soooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!
We love you all (Even those that don't check the blog that often.) Thank you again for your support, encouragement, prayers, and gifts. May God bless you today as you have blessed us.
Rusty
We are currently discussing the solution to our problem. Do we purchase a $75 power cord for an old run down computer that makes noises that resemble something between an Apache helicopter and a 1991 Chevy Citation when the hard drive spins down or do we spend $120 upgrading the operating system on the Mac that is perfectly fine but since Mac has a monopoly on all its products they can do what ever they want to do all in the name of consumer driven spending. Either way, we still have to pay around $30 in shipping.
Our other option is to purchase a new computer that has all the bells and whistles that any new parents would want to share their little bundle of joy with the web world. Of course, by the time that we received it here in Japan it would be completely outdated and worth less than a micro-cent of what we paid for it.
We thank all of you for your many prayers and concerns over the last several weeks. We've received several pachages from people back in the states that have really lifted our spirites (A ton of chocolate will do that. Thanks mom!) and brightened our days. We are so blessed to have our precious little boy with us. He has been a real joy. We are looking forward to sharing pictures with you at the earliest possible moment that we can post them to the blog. Untill such time, I'll give you a short description of Alexander. He is soooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!
We love you all (Even those that don't check the blog that often.) Thank you again for your support, encouragement, prayers, and gifts. May God bless you today as you have blessed us.
Rusty
Thursday, February 23, 2006
10 Months Pregnant!
Here's a little known fact that you may or may not care about. The Japanese count ten months of pregnancy as opposed to the Western nine. 40 weeks gestation divided by 4 weeks to a month equals. . . Come on, you math whizzes -- exactly 10 months of pregnancy! I like this system, because all I have to do when someone asks me how many months pregnant I am is to take the week I'm at and divide by four. So, yes, I suppose now I have to admit that learning all those multiplication tables in elementary school is finally serving a useful purpose!
Anyway, as of two weeks ago, I officially entered my tenth month of pregnancy. At last week's doctor's appointment, the doctor confirmed that the baby's head was descending. And as of this week, Baby Campbell is considered full-term. The home stretch.
It is hard to describe my feelings at this point in the pregnancy. Excited, yet terrified. Ready to meet this little one face to face, yet completely unprepared for the responsibility of caring for a newborn. Wanting the pregnancy to end, yet apprehensive and a little fearful of the labor and birth process. It all seems so surreal. . . yet somehow normal. Babies are born every day, all around the world, yet each birth is its own miraculous event.
Our God is an awesome God!
Anyway, as of two weeks ago, I officially entered my tenth month of pregnancy. At last week's doctor's appointment, the doctor confirmed that the baby's head was descending. And as of this week, Baby Campbell is considered full-term. The home stretch.
It is hard to describe my feelings at this point in the pregnancy. Excited, yet terrified. Ready to meet this little one face to face, yet completely unprepared for the responsibility of caring for a newborn. Wanting the pregnancy to end, yet apprehensive and a little fearful of the labor and birth process. It all seems so surreal. . . yet somehow normal. Babies are born every day, all around the world, yet each birth is its own miraculous event.
Our God is an awesome God!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Chocoholic!
Rusty bought himself this HUGE chocolate bar for Valentine's Day. I don't know, maybe he thought I would forget to give him a present or something? Anyway, this is what he wrote on the outside of the wrapping paper:To: Rusty
From: Rusty
Dear Rusty,I love you so much that I wanted to do something sweet and nice for you, so I bought you this CAMPBELL-size chocolate bar. Enjoy! Love, Rusty
" In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it..." (Ephesians 5:28-29a)
"Each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself." (Ephesians 5:33)P.S. Rusty, I am so in love with you. May it last for eternity!
P.S.S. Your wife is totally cool!
P.S.S.S. Good luck with the whole baby thing. May he be a CAMPBELL-size stud like his father.
I swear, I am not making this up!
Ah, L'Amour
So, this year, for Valentine's Day, I wanted to do something special for Rusty. I wanted to let him know how much I love him and how much I appreciate all he does for me and our soon-to-be family. If you know us, even a little, you know that Rusty is probably even more of a hopeless romantic than I am (if that is possible)! He is so good at making me feel like a princess on those special days like Valentine's Day, my birthday, and our anniversary. And this time, I wanted to try to out-do him!I started the day off with a home-made Valentine's Day card. After he went to work, I spent most of the day working on a special treat for dessert that night -- a cranberry cheesecake. When he got home from work, I was dressed and ready to take him out to dinner -- to a classy Italian restaurant near our house that we have both been wanting to try for awhile now. After dinner, it was back home for coffee and cranberry cheesecake -- absolutely divine, if I do say so myself! Rusty agreed. In fact, he said it was definitely good enough to request again, say on his birthday this year... I consider that the ultimate compliment.
Who do you love? Did you find a creative way to tell them so this Valentine's Day?
Monday, February 13, 2006
No Wonder They Think We're Crazy!
I'm sure if a Japanese person had walked into the house in the middle of this game, they would have gone away shaking their heads and with their suspicions that all gaijin (foreigners) suffer from insanity confirmed. We are playing the "Mike McLain Version" of a card game called "The Great Dalmuti." The addition of the goofy-looking hats, as well as a few other random rules, makes for a pretty hilarious game. And it seems like it gets more hilarious the longer you play and the later you stay up. Why is that, I wonder?
Christmas in February
On Friday, February 10th, Santa (aka Rusty's family, Mary, Ronda, Robbie and Johnny) made a special delivery to our door -- two packages, stuffed full of Christmas presents and other goodies. Who said Christmas only happens once a year?
Is it time to open presents yet?
Socks, socks, and more socks. Funny, I get these for Christmas every year, and they are never on my wish list.
Scrapbooking supplies for the family historian.
Candy canes and Toby Keith -- a winning combination.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Now That's Service!
One of the really great things about Japan is the high level of customer service you can expect pretty much anywhere you go. Whether you're eating at the local McDonald's or a five-star restaurant, walk in and you'll receive the same friendly greetings, the same polite bows, and the same "we're-so-happy-to-serve-you-today" smiles. All of this WITHOUT the annoyance of tipping! No wondering at the end of the meal how big a tip to leave, no feeling the pressure to leave at least 10% even for poor service...
Now, before all of you who have ever waited tables jump down my throat about this, I understand why we tip, at least in America -- the restaurants only pay their wait staff a measly $2 an hour and expect them to make the rest of their money by kissing up to the customers. And anyone who knows Rusty knows that he is a VERY generous tipper. But in Japan, waiters and waitresses earn a decent hourly salary and are expected, as a matter of course, to deliver excellent customer service. At all times. To every customer. In fact, if you try to leave a tip in Japan, they will chase you down and return your money. Now that's service!
So, a couple of weeks ago, Rusty and I went out with friends for lunch after church on Sunday. We went to one of our favorite restaurants, a local Italian place called Woody's. Since we were a large group, they seated us upstairs in their private room. Several waiters and waitresses helped to carry all the food up when it was ready. One young man, as he passed behind and leaned over Rusty to set down another person's plate, managed to spill a good deal of curry sauce all down the inside of Rusty's coat. Luckily, Rusty was not wearing the coat at the time; it was draped over the back of his chair. It was an honest mistake and could have happened to anyone. Nobody acted angry or upset.
Well, the wait staff felt terrible about what had happened. They immediately went to work with napkins and a wet cloth on Rusty's coat and the back of the chair, mopping up most of the mess. When they finished and left, after much bowing and apologizing, we thought that was the end of it. But a few minutes later, the manager came upstairs. There was more bowing and apologizing. He told us that Rusty's meal would be on the house today. He looked at Rusty's coat. He decided it wasn't clean enough, so he asked us if the restaurant could pay to have it dry-cleaned. We explained that the coat was machine-washable, so we would just take care of it at home. Honestly, it was probably in need of a washing anyway! He asked us if he could at least take the coat down to the kitchen and give it a more thorough spot-clean. We said sure, if it would make him feel better.
As we were finishing our meal, a waitress came upstairs with a piece of cheesecake for Rusty. We had not ordered cheesecake, so we first thought there had been a mistake. But no, there was no mistake. This was a "service," she explained (with more bowing and apologizing). Rusty ate his "service" cheesecake with great relish -- he even shared a bite with me. Then we gathered our things and went downstairs to pay. The entire wait staff came out to bow and apologize one more time for all the inconvenience. The manager stood behind the young waiter who had spilled the curry, pushing his head down lower into a deeper, more apologetic bow. He returned Rusty's coat, along with an entire box of laundry detergent (see picture above). I think if we had stayed any longer, they might have offered to send somebody home with us to start the washer and hang the coat out to dry!
If this same thing had happened in America, we most likely would have gotten a simple apology from the waiter. If we had pitched a fit, we might have gotten a free meal, or a coupon to use on our next visit. But we didn't even get mean and nasty, and the ENTIRE STAFF rallied to apologize and make sure we were happy and satisfied customers who would come to their restaurant again. Now that's service!
Now, before all of you who have ever waited tables jump down my throat about this, I understand why we tip, at least in America -- the restaurants only pay their wait staff a measly $2 an hour and expect them to make the rest of their money by kissing up to the customers. And anyone who knows Rusty knows that he is a VERY generous tipper. But in Japan, waiters and waitresses earn a decent hourly salary and are expected, as a matter of course, to deliver excellent customer service. At all times. To every customer. In fact, if you try to leave a tip in Japan, they will chase you down and return your money. Now that's service!
So, a couple of weeks ago, Rusty and I went out with friends for lunch after church on Sunday. We went to one of our favorite restaurants, a local Italian place called Woody's. Since we were a large group, they seated us upstairs in their private room. Several waiters and waitresses helped to carry all the food up when it was ready. One young man, as he passed behind and leaned over Rusty to set down another person's plate, managed to spill a good deal of curry sauce all down the inside of Rusty's coat. Luckily, Rusty was not wearing the coat at the time; it was draped over the back of his chair. It was an honest mistake and could have happened to anyone. Nobody acted angry or upset.
Well, the wait staff felt terrible about what had happened. They immediately went to work with napkins and a wet cloth on Rusty's coat and the back of the chair, mopping up most of the mess. When they finished and left, after much bowing and apologizing, we thought that was the end of it. But a few minutes later, the manager came upstairs. There was more bowing and apologizing. He told us that Rusty's meal would be on the house today. He looked at Rusty's coat. He decided it wasn't clean enough, so he asked us if the restaurant could pay to have it dry-cleaned. We explained that the coat was machine-washable, so we would just take care of it at home. Honestly, it was probably in need of a washing anyway! He asked us if he could at least take the coat down to the kitchen and give it a more thorough spot-clean. We said sure, if it would make him feel better.
As we were finishing our meal, a waitress came upstairs with a piece of cheesecake for Rusty. We had not ordered cheesecake, so we first thought there had been a mistake. But no, there was no mistake. This was a "service," she explained (with more bowing and apologizing). Rusty ate his "service" cheesecake with great relish -- he even shared a bite with me. Then we gathered our things and went downstairs to pay. The entire wait staff came out to bow and apologize one more time for all the inconvenience. The manager stood behind the young waiter who had spilled the curry, pushing his head down lower into a deeper, more apologetic bow. He returned Rusty's coat, along with an entire box of laundry detergent (see picture above). I think if we had stayed any longer, they might have offered to send somebody home with us to start the washer and hang the coat out to dry!If this same thing had happened in America, we most likely would have gotten a simple apology from the waiter. If we had pitched a fit, we might have gotten a free meal, or a coupon to use on our next visit. But we didn't even get mean and nasty, and the ENTIRE STAFF rallied to apologize and make sure we were happy and satisfied customers who would come to their restaurant again. Now that's service!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)