3 months tommorow

Well I have been rubbish at keeping up to date but by the time 9pm rolls around I am ready to hit the sack! Plumps is doing well soooooo chilled compared to manic C THANK YOU DEAR GOD!!! Now no longer afraid to be alone with the 2 of them. even managed music together today with both and Charlize had Serafina sit on her lap for Trot old Joe and didnt kill her RESULT!!!

Plumps is 7 kilos at just 3 months. She has "OSHIII HAMU LEGUS" as auntie Reiko likes to tickle! We did actually get modelling work the usual combi mini was surprised but both monsters got choosen so that is 700 quid for 3 hours work, YES WE LOVE CHILD LABOR!!! S made the front cover if the mag ( well at least that is what they were shooting for so hope they do use it as quite cute pics I think?) Will be using that dosh for either new electric bike f towards Cliffs eye surgery!!!! He went and had a 3 hour test in Shinjuku clinic with Rikeo and is thinking about it.

So far the summer tokyo heat has been minging. 35 degrees to 40 some days unbearable. We have had some nice matsuri stuff going on. Did a big one with Donna, squidge and aunt diane on the saturday in Azabu. Rieko Naomi and her mum and Setsuko Cs Japanese teacher and her daugher Mari came over and we did the whol yukata dress up and photo Shoot on the balcony. Good fun and Riekos mum even got a x5 XL jimbei suit for Grandad who is here for a month until end of September. Next day we did it all again with the Harbers, Austins and Mines. Sunday was a nice chill out went to Blue Point cafe in Shiroganedai for the STylists garage kindly told to me by Mary in the know. Had a lovely lunch while plumps did her big sleep and Aunt Diane, Rieko her mum and Donna and I then proceded upstairs wher 8 stylists had set up selling off al;l theur ohito shoot clothes for hardly anything. Got a gorgeosu Marni beaded skirt for 2000JPY and Day Birger top with intricate lavender flower design on also for 1000JPY!!! Aunt Diane and the girls went made and bought loads. You could try on and the stylists would suggest stuff and do your make up too. Since I cant shop these days it was great everything in one place, chilled, only a few people and not so takai.

Still looks lilke Chicago for the end of the year. That is likle 16 weeks!!!! Arrrrgh not thinkng about it.

1 month and counting!

So Serafina Satsuki made her appearance on May 30th 2010 at 11:30pm just 30 minutes off my birthday 4 days over !!! Sakamoto asked if I wanted to hold on I told him to bugger off!! Contractions started around 2pm on sunday and I managed to hold off going to Aiku until 7:30pm so that I could make sure everyone had eaten their tea including Rieko her mum cliff and the monster!!! We all cabbed it up there with c doing heavy breathing with mommy!!! They took me off for a little fiddle to discover I was alrady 8cm dilated hurrah!!! It didn't hurt so bad this time and they reckoned I would go into pushing not so long so I was praying Sakamoto would get in his posh car and get there super quick. He came and I was doing ok so he went away then came back and said I needed to break my waters. I said NOOOOO but he did it anyway. THEN the contractions really stepped up so 15 minutes later I had him back in and said DO EPIDURAL NOW!!!! He did it and 10 minutes later I was already pushing the baby out. 6 pushes and she was out but they were very very difficult pushes. She weighed in at 4.3kilos and 54cm long!!! Ouch they then left me in the delivery room ALL NIGHT on that hideous bed on a drip saying I would need to stay until came next day as afraid I would bleed like last time!!! So NO SLEEP AND EXHAUSTED In my own crap and undercarriage so hurting even with the epidural wearing off!!! Lasted only 3 days in Aiku as the woman I HAD to share with (all single rooms gone) kept opening the window at 4am !!!! ARRRRRGH. Breast feeding went much better though this time and I am still persevering now and the milk flow is much better than with C where I had bugger all. Its one month on today and c is the biggest nightmare or at least I think we are turning a corner with the jealousy stuff this week. She is helping more and not so terribly clingy and stopped saying PUT THAT BABY DOWN NOW MOMMY!!! I THROW HER AWAY!!!!

Only positive side is I lost 11 kilos in 3 weeks!!! Crazy I know I weigh less than before Igot preggers. better stay this way! Its just exhaustion and breast feeding I think?

Next stress is Cliffs wicked boss has called us back to chicago by the end of this year. NOOOOOO We wanted to stay for the ANA integration one more year that was the point.. Anyway now only a few months to get action plan together sigh.

Baby waking up have to run

D Day is here

Its the 27th today but baby Apple Juice as C has endeared her still has not made her debut. Riekos mum came over on wednesday and is camped out in the spare bedroom with enough luggage to last her a year and so much food I can hardly shut the fridge door. Had very bad belly ache but cured the benpi after countless trips to the loo so reckon its probably going to be tomorrow as its a full moon too!!! Whatever, just want this over with now Fed up of waiting. Monster being tantrum like knows the baby is coming and reverted to siting in the babies vibrating chair asking for a dummy!!! Also having fun trying to communicate with Obachan as best she can in Japanese!! She had a good pose in her frilly pink dress the other day ( only frilly and pretty pretty cuts it these days) forget trying to get her into jeans and Tshirts.. She does at least attempt to dress herself though which is some progress at 2 and half. Plus I don't have any potty training nightmares thank god that happened at 16 months record speed I am thankful for. She is talking like an old lady, comes out with some very funny things. Had school report for which she got all top marks for verbal communication which was not a surprise. She is apparently quiet good at logic and reasoning too but we are talking about a 2 year old so as long as she is learning some manners I am happy as she is a bit wild and THE most stubborn child I know Exhausting! Anyway off to check I have everything in the hospital bag. Really hoping for a quick and not too hideous labor. ARRRRRGH

Warm and Sunny May

Ok 10 minutes before monster waks up so highlights highlights!!! Only weeks or maybe days away now from loosing Orca status and having 2 kids.. April was terrible rainy and cold but May so far has been sunny all the way. Golden week I begged cliff to take us to Thailand and the flights were looking good as the unrest kept people away, but my belly was not looking safe so cliff said no boo hoo!! So we ended up going to Nagano Ken to see homestay family and all the Olympic Volunteers from when i worked as a CIR in Nagano prefecture during the 1998 Olympics. Its been 12 years and they all looked pretty much the same. We ended up in a lovely soba noodle restaurant which I might add was only 1000JPY for a massive fresh portion with a huge plate of Tempura whereas in Azabu its 1800JPY for rubbish!!! Aunty Rieko came with us thank God so had extra pair of hands to tame the monster who without a nap is hyper nigtmare and there was no place for naps on our 2 day adventure. After lovely lunch we went to Homestay mums mothers house which is something out of a Samurai castle warrior movie massive in the countryside with orchard but she is 90 almost and living there alone and its just too much for her. She was sooo happy to have company charlize ran the tatami matt rooms and corridors and banged on the piano and then finally stopped energiser bunny mode when we went to the orchard and she climbed into pushchair. We took a later shink to Karuizawa picked up hire care and had a hard time figuring which of the HUGE and many Prince hotel cottages we were staying in. Finally found it, checked in and then headed for dinner and an onsen. C was soooo tired but went in the onsen with cliff and went crazy swimming In the rotenburo she has very thick skin so tolerates 42 degrees no probs! I was just relived to get to relax without her! At 9 we got back and she was out for the count. Next day we had an early Japanese breakfast and at the hotel and then headed up to Onioshidashi the volcanic hiking trails at bottom of Mt Asama ( bear in mind I am waddling at a few weeks before D day!. C was tired and grumpy but picked up after ramen and a poo!!! So we looked for the farm and then trecked to a lovely waterfall before doing the Karuizawa ginza street full of tat and ice creams before a sniff around the American outlet mall at the station before shink back to Tokyo. Next day I started to have contractions and needed to stay in bed the whole day!!! Just over did it tad!! Cliff took c to Karate workshop on tuesday led by a very scary looking black belt hulk. Instead of punching the guard she hugged it and would have gone dressed in her tutu if possible. Spoke to Karl and dad and they have actually booked flights to come out ( wow!). Dad arrives 1st June for 1 month and Karl 12th June for 10 days. Today just got back from a fire station trip with the school and c and thinking should I do that hill again in search of an ice cream this afternoon. Hum? Anyway over and out until maybe after baby arrives or maybe not we shall see.

Spring showers

The weather was a scorching 22 degrees on sunday and we headed to Shinjuku Park after gymnastics for the Tokyo Mothers Group Teddy Bears Picnic. Great afternoon with Charlize coming second in the egg and spoon race beaten only by a 5 year old boy but then she worked out half way through it was easier if she actually held the egg on the spoon!!! Won a gap voucher. Afternoon Aunty Rieko drooped by with a strawberry plant from her mum which she loves picking teh strawberries from some big juicy ones! Charlize is become a handful a bit spoilt as she has undivided attention which is all about to change but feel exhasuted just thinking about it! She is heavily into cinderalla and snowwhite and Aunty Rieko bought her a magic wand and tiara which she uses in the bath to re-enact the story turnning the boat into the horse and carriage and dancing with rubber ducky as the prince.. She is coverting a pair of fake dress up glass slippers in the toy shop but Cliff told her after she held them to her face with longing the other day that she has to work for them i.e get dressed with no complaints and clean her teeth properly including the back ones. 10 stars and they are hers!

Karen had a little boy last week Adam, we popped up to see them at Aiku hosptial and the room 402 that they are in is a good one so note to self to remeber to ask for that one!!! She is doing really well the birth was just 3 hours. Her parents are here helping but looks as though we wont be in such a fortunate position so could be hard going at first we shall see.

Want to go somewhere like a beach but getting sooo preganant now dont feel so genki. Only gained 9 kilos so far and been cutting down a bit after being told its a big baby so may have to think about epidural oouchie.

Emma moved house and to Shiroganedai this week and we went round and picked up her old baby cot to use for the new baby. Still have lots of cs clothes to sort thru and rearrange second bedroom. Much spring cleaning and sorting to finish before dont have energy for it.

C obsessed with Pepa pig need to try and order vids or anything with that one from the UK. Dad reports Dudley cat loosing eye sight and has some kidney failure so looks on last legs but what to do? Wait it out or have him put down. Both options none too clever but also means dad cant leave him and come here. Will just have to see how it goes. No idea if Karl is coming either. Looks like we might have to employ someone part time just for a few months to help us out. expensive year. Its raining raining now horrible weather and feel very tired so will be bad mommy and put bolt on this afternoon. Sometimes just have to do it.

Sakura Sakura

Yes its cherry blossom mania again this year blooming a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. They were supposed to be Mankai March 27th so we ordered Kiwi kitchen and headed up to Aruisagawa with a pose of mums and babies. It was a bit nippy but had a lovely picnic although C was puffed out by 1pm having played the gracious hostess and been excited about the picnic since the night before offering everyone banana cake! We hit Teian Art museum park too on tuesday with Loretta Jackson, Lize the girls, Rachel Ashling and Saori and Daiki came in from Kawasaki first time to see them in years since we worked together at ANA. We had a lovely sunny morning the place is a sun trap and then headed back to home where C slept daiki played and we ate take out sushi that was actually oshii for a change.
Have been watching weight after Sakamoto sensei tells me I am having a "chubby chan" I kid you not those were his words, and that I need to curb the carbs as the baby is heading towards 4 to 4.2 kilos... I tested negative for gestational diabetes and was all fretful for a while but when I look at my total weight gain I started at 64 kilos and now am 73 and will deliver May so that is only a total of 9kilos so I dont think its anything to do with what I am shoving in my mouth!!! He has been very wrong on size front before too so need to think carefully. Also I have been mega active this pregnancy hardly sat down and the killer hill I do at least 4 times a day so don't know what to think except perhaps EPIDURAL please!!! Still cant decide on names cliff likes things such as Tilda, Kiki, Penelope, Heidi.. I like Stella, Frederique, Serefina, Delphine etc. We cant agree really except for a boy Henry or Harry is ok nothing either of us feels passionate about. Still need to work out how to cope with 2 kids with no help. Cliffs mum is noway coming out and my dad maybe not either sigh. Maybe I can convince my brother to come but he has no idea what to do with babies or willful toddlers. Looks like we may have to bite the bullet and pay for a helper at least while I am in the hospital so someone to take care of Charlize. Its going to be an expensive year the birth alone 12 grand and we are not fully covered insurance and have to pay up front. Better make sure we have the money in the bank then! Looks like ramen for dinner for the next 3 months!! God this country is insane and school fees are crippling us. Number 2 goes straight to Japanese kindergarten none of this international school malarkey!!! Charlize development wise is tall and gangly and speaking like a 65 year old woman!!! Very stubborn, but has us twisted round her little finger. Her Japanese is coming on even though she is not attending Japanese school yet she plays well with Japanee kids in the park and will use her limited Japanese with them. She goes up introduces herself and just slings out words that she knows to get the job done. This baby bump is sitting very low ( does that mean I have NO stomach mucles whatso ever now?) and moves ALL THE TIME. Happy the weather is warming up. Still to sort plans for the summer. Dont know if I will even be able to make Europe with 2 kids this year will have to talk to cliff sensibly about that.

No Thailand. A loooong week with the grumpster

Well so much for Thailand this half term week. The flights were oversold on all carriers by at least 35 plus UA cancelled a flight. We could get there but not back so we had to stay home... The bags were packed and everything and C was really disappointed. Cliff had to go he had a confirmed business ticket but even with that he didn't know if he would get offloaded.

C was a nightmare, chesty cold running nose ( this is the norm always) but also teething and low grade fever equaled wake up 5:50 every morning cliff was away... Arrrrrgh. Plus no school and no respite being half term break. We did our best to get out and about but C a bit of a nightmare an the whole week rain rain rain. Cliff called from the 5 star Amari poolside one day his meeting finished after lunch so he got to sit in the sun sipping coconut juice and eating Padthai! I cant begrudge him he has been working like a maniac and next day had meetings till 7 then had to catch red eye home and coz flight was full had to sit in TG in economy on a packed plane and get off and go straight to work. We also had a trauma at music together class. There is one Damian like little Japanese kid whose mission in life is to take out as many of the little ones as he can while his passive mother sits and does nothing!!! Its been going on since last term the aggressive behaviour is unprovoked and made worse coz mum acts as if its not happening!!! Last week he pinched Andrews cheeks so hard he left scab marks on his face and his mum had Eva strapped to her and couldn't get there in time. He usually just pushes and hits but he had done that to c in the morning so she pushed him back which he was none too pleased about but when she went to reach for a drum during free music play he decided he wanted it and bit into her arm so hard he broke the skin and drew blood. Again mother sat there while c was inconsolable and other mums looked on in alarm. I left the class immediately to look for ice and Angi came out and I lost it. Saiud I wouldn't be coming back as this was not a one off. Angi promised to talk to his mum. Some of the class mums joined us in the park afterwards where charlize was still distressed and said they were fed up too as his terrorizing is something they had all been putting up with for term after term. That evening the director of music together wrote to me and said after many complaints and for the safety of the group were asking him to take a leave of absence. I felt bad as it could be C one day doing something naughty BUT the difference is I don't sit and watch when she does she is in deep doodoo if I as much as sniff her doing something spiteful. I thin Some Japanes emums never discipline their kids its another type. Anyway at least we will be safe again!

Cliff got back and we were downstairs at a Hina matsuri doll party at Takakos. It was nice she had made lovely food and the kids played really well they had a bag of Cinderella shoes that they were clomping around the house in!! I foresee trouble ahead although I am not going to be fashionable enough for her when she gets to punk teenager stage and wants my clothes! came back upstairs to find cliff had set yup a dolls house which the ladies at Thai had taken him down the back sois behind TG office to the market and bartered for along with some funky maternity summer dresses for moi, ballet outfits and ballet shoes and the entire repertoire of Disney movies. Aristocrats and Ratatouille seems to be a hit these days good as I could not take another viewing of Jungle book! Ashling and Rachel kindly cooked us dinner the other night while Cliff was away and the girls had great fun doing the bear necessities dance. Charlize insisted on teaching ashling! Some funny things she says recently ( I'm back) when she walks back into a room. They did world culture day at school so she can tell me which country everything she has was purchased in i,e Dada got me this in Thailand, Uncle Karl Karl bought ne garby doll in New York, I got this pen in Japan, my clarks shoes are from England from grandad!!! She is funny but exhausting too I am seriously wondering HOW HOW HOW will I mange two. Please don't let the new one have the same intense personality PLEASE!!!. Ok time for the bath over and out.