(Backup) Early Halloween, lost tooth, fall weather

Halloween has gone over board lately. Everyone has a trick or treating event. We like candy, but not enough to keep dressing up for it...we only did twice. Last Friday we went to the Chapel’s Trunk or Treat event. It was great: music, Carmel apples, s’mores, hot chocolate, candy, and the FD brought their trucks and bouncy slide. On Saturday, after getting about 15 pieces of candy the night before, Emma said she was done and didn’t want to go trick-or-treating 😮 She wanted to hand out candy. We bought a small bag and went to someone else’s house to hand them out. We did stop at a few houses, mostly people we knew. It was crazy out though. They let the Japanese kids come on base to trick-or-treat...and bus them over to the officer housing. Sometimes we had to stand in line for a few minutes to get candy. One of my friends said they went through 480 pieces of candy in 70 minutes...only giving one at a time! Many of the garden house culdesacs set up tents to bbq while handing out candy. It’s quite an event here. 

She also lost her second tooth on Saturday! I used all my yen on tolls getting to my surgery, so Steven had to come home from work and bring some. 🤦‍♀️ And my friend is making her a tooth fairy pillow so that we have a a better system. I didn’t wake her up this time, but she moved around when I put it under her pillow. 

The weather has been perfect here lately. Very enjoyable. I got to enjoy it yesterday when I went to my doctors appointment. I had my stints taken out of my nose yesterday...they were about as big as a 3M hook, minus the hook. I can breathe really well out of one side of my nose. The other side still has some surgical glue that is slowly melting...dripping out of my nose, but is still completely blocked. I was surprised how sore my face has been since took them out.  I couldn’t even chew my cereal this morning, and I can’t move my nose enough to sniffle. He said that even though the outside might look fine, the inside will still have swelling for a while. I go back in a month. 

Going to Trunk or Treat

FD slide

Roasting marshmallows 

Someone got ahold of my phone and took a selfie.

Can you see her tooth? I think it’s still there.

And not 5 minutes later, she lost it!

She was eating chocolate when it came out.

We did some relaxing on Saturday.

Going trick or treating! They do it on the Saturday before Halloween here.

Going for a walk Sunday morning 

She was FaceTimeing.

We have seen Fuji a lot this time of year.

From the bus, on the way to my doctors appointment.

They have a McDonalds on the navy base. It’s by the ocean. 

This is what is outside the window. 

Painting with Paris

Happy birthday to me

Today was my birthday, Emma reminded me when I woke up. I spent the day in the recliner. My pain goes in and out, right now it’s doing better. Sleep has not been my friend, but hopefully tonight will be better. (It is hard to sleep upright with a thing on your nose to catch all the drips.)  We had chicken pot pie that a friend made, and some candy that Daddy and Emma picked out for me. (I am pretty sure she requested to go shopping on like October 1st for my presents. She did a good job waiting to give them to me.) She also picked out an obnoxious card that sings...one that I am always trying to get her to put back when we go pick out cards. But today it seemed to fit. The pig and I have a resemblance this week. I felt bad though, because while I was very thankful for their presents, I couldn’t smile. So here: 😀 

When you pull out the tab it becomes a rainbow Afro...and sings very loudly. That is as much of a smile as I can manage. 

Day 2

Steven went back to work today, so Shannon came to sit with me while Emma was in school. I took some pain meds at 4:30 last night, and they made me pretty lightheaded and dizzy. But  I ate some breakfast, and after a while they wore off and I felt much better. I switched to Tylenol, which seems to be working fine. My nose is still dripping, but not as bad. And we had a couple ladies from chapel drop some food off. I’m feeling better, but very tired. Emma was not as much help today, mostly just being a kid. It will be good to have Daddy back home tomorrow. 

This was today. Pretty normal. 

Septoplasty and Turbinate reduction

Today I had my sinus surgery, where they fixed my deviated septum and shrunk my turbinates. We had a nice drive down there by the ocean. And I even got to watch the whole first half of the Chiefs game before they too me back for surgery! Honestly, even with all the stints in my nose I feel like I can breathe better than before. Steven said they told him it went well and they got a lot out. My least favorite part was waking up from anesthesia, where my throat was still numbed from having the tube down it. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and coughed up blood...which is apparently normal. We made it home around 5:30-6. I felt pretty weak...I hadn’t eaten all day, and my nose is bleeding at a steady drip. But Steven and Emma have been loaning me arms to keep me steady while I walk. Emma told me not to walk anywhere by myself. :) She has been a very good helper. Warmed up some soup for me (her own idea), put my socks on me, and brought me my toothbrush so I didn’t have to go to the bathroom to brush my teeth....also her own idea. I’m pretty sure she must get her helpfulness from Daddy, as he has thought of everything, quite frankly too many things to list. He has been busy all day taking care of everything. 

Right now I feel like...someone broke my nose. The pain isn’t horrible. It feels like when you get kneed in the nose/face, except that pain is constant. Mostly I’m weak. And annoyed by the constant bleding of my nose and very sore/scratchy throat from the tube.  Tomorrow my friend Shannon is coming to sit withme since  Steven is working. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this, but I had planned for Emma to take care of me tomorrow evening. We shall see how it goes. 

My view waiting for surgery.

Apparently you are supposed to take silly pictures with this on.

Post-surgery. I barely remember taking this. I think I just wanted to see what my face looked like.

My current situation. Not sure what is sticking to me. 

Sorry this is sideways. Steven organized my meds. The paper on the left can be moved up or down depending on when I wake up and take more meds. And it tells me when To take them the rest of the day tomorrow, since he will be gone. They are numbered. 

Wonderful fall weather

This weekend’s weather was fabulous! I can’t wait to get out and see some trees changing colors. 

Fuji was so clear this morning! My friend Mary Beth took this picture, I stole it from her FB. But I couldn’t take a picture while driving. 

I went grocery shopping with this cool girl. 😎

I asked her what she wanted for dinner this week: 

Monday: Mac and cheese 

Tu: sandwich 

We: pizza

Th: soup

Fr: eggs

Sat: eggs Benedict 

Sun: dumplings

Taking the scenic route

Today I went to my pre-op appointment before my sinus surgery next Monday. I was the only one in the shuttle today, besides the driver. He must get paid by the hour, because we took the scenic route...and he was not in a hurry to get home. But I enjoyed the view. I don’t often get to drive alongside the beach. 

The ocean!

About the time I got to Yokosuka, the sun came out. It’s always been great weather when I go down there...which is nice since I have to walk to eat.

My toilet talked to me! This was in a rest stop on the way back. It welcomed me to the rest stop. And you wave your hand to flush. How is this stuff not in America?! 

Fire demo, Fall Retreat, and doctors

Last week was Fire Prevention week, a very busy week for fire fighters. On Friday, Steven’s off day, he had to do a few events, one in the evening. Once he told me what it was, I realized it was something Emma would like! I apparently missed the notice from school that they sent home with the kids about it. But thankfully we didn’t miss it! She had never gotten to see night burns before, or any for that matter. I saw one in Mountain Home, a long time ago. They had bleachers set up for everyone to sit on, brownies and drinks, and the lights on...which means my pictures turned out way better than in Mountain Home. :) It is always fun to watch the kids as they watch fire fighters. Everything is so cool to them. We had fun. 

Also this weekend I went on the PWOC women’s retreat. It was really nice to get to know some new ladies...I have been in childcare a lot so I haven’t got to meet as many as I would have liked. And several came from the night group, who I didn’t know either. I wouldn’t say it was a vacation...once you are in leadership these things are a different experience. But I enjoyed it...I love to see people grow in their faith. It’s one of my favorite things. Daddy and Emma seemed to have a good weekend: McDonalds for breakfast, Ramen and cake for dinner, they went to the Fire Prevention event at the BX that had a giant bouncy thing. I can’t remember what else they did. 

Also...I talked to some doctors today. My sleep study came back normal. My ENT said my sinuses looked good, but there was something behind my nose that was too big or something, and I have a deviated septum, so he recommended sinus surgery...and he had an opening next Monday! So I am going down on Wednesday for a pre-op, going next Monday for my actual surgery and then the following Monday for a follow up. He said it will take 4-6 weeks to notice any improvement. How is that for fast! 

Daddy had to stand by the yellow tape to make sure no kids went behind it. They didn’t. They were all pretty mesmerized. 

Putting the fire out...which they can’t. It is controlled by propane, but it looked cool...and it was warm, always my favorite part.

From both sides!

Getting hoses out. This poor guy with the megaphone...we couldn’t hear anything he said. 

They went inside the plane. Some of the kids were very worried. 

Daddy showing Emma how to pick up a hose.

She tried, but it was too heavy.

Jumping on the hose to get the water out. 

Daddy may have started this...or at least walking on the hose like a tight-rope. The kids recognized him from being at their school the day before. Emma was so surprised to see him!

This guy made his own side car. (This was on the way to the retreat.)

We had the retreat at Tama Hills, a recreation area for the military. They have mini golf, archery, and horses! This little girl fed them! They were hungry!!!

Emma’s picture for the Jesus Loves Me book. She draws God as yellow. Apparently He wants her to go to Israel. 

I did not take these two pictures, but they are from the retreat. 

We had a great weekend, but it is good to be home.

Long weekend

We had a long weekend here...Emma got 2 extra days off from school. Next time I will try to plan something, but I had some things to do to get ready for the PWOC retreat, Steven had a friend stop in toTokyo, and it was a Japanese holiday...which means crowds. Anyway, we were all glad for school yesterday. But here are some things we did this weekend.

Emma made pumpkin cookies. They were a little doughy, but pretty good. Her best experiment yet.  There is a whole can of pumpkin in these!

What is left of the light pole after a tree knocked it down.

What’s left of the tree that knocked it down.

She and daddy counted the rings:57

Emma keeping score during football

She taught her “baby sister” how to I stack the silverware 

Emma does the laundry

Today we had steak, broccoli, mashed potatoes and homemade rolls for dinner...yum! I haven’t made rolls in so long Emma doesn’t remember eating them! (Probably 2 years.) Steven has been taking a break from his diet, so I took my opportunity to make them. They were so good...but that dinner was labor intensive. Emma took pity on me and said that she would do the laundry for me, while I did the dishes. She was a big help: folded a whole load, switched another and started another! I barely helped her. She also reminded us that she was doing the laundry all by herself about every 30 seconds. She had also unstacked the dishwasher without being asked all by herself...and also made sure we knew she was doing it.  It was a big help though. We kept asking her where she was getting all of her energy. She said she would help since we didn’t have any. 

Doing the egg wash on the rolls. We haven’t made bread much, but we watch people make it a lot, so she mostly knew what to do.

Doing the laundry....did I mention that she did it all by herself? 😉