Just one of the family

Every night when I tuck the boys into bed, Lulu goes to bed too. When we first got her she slept in their room on the floor. So we got her a little doggy bed. When I would check on her she would sneak onto one of the ends of Micah or Jacob's bed. So I got smart and put her dog bed at the foot of Jacob's bed. And last night this is how I found her. The boys LOVE having her sleep with them and it is obvious she loves being near to them!

Update

I woke up at 2 am this morning (8 am Michigan time) because that is when patients could receive calls.

Becky is still in the Labor and Delivery Unit, they never moved her. There are still some concerns with her and she is being treated with Magnesium to prevent seizures. There is still swelling around her brain so we pray that will go down soon.

Talking to her I was reminded of all the emotions I felt when Micah was born and they unexpectedly took him to the NICU and I couldn't see him. She was emotional, as we all are, after birth but doing really well.

In the photos they sent me it looks like since we talked she was able to go see Lydia.

Please continue to lift them up!

Congratulations! She is beautiful!

DSC02872, originally uploaded by weathertation.

Welcome Lydia Kay Peterson

Where are my fingers?, originally uploaded by weathertation.

Did you see?

I am not sure how many of you watch American Idol but I have been a loyal fan since Season 1. For those of you who do not watch, they started a program called "Idol Gives Back". They did a huge fundraising show to raise money for charities in America and Africa.

Watching the footage that they showed from Africa just confirmed to me that we are doing the right thing to adopt from Ethiopia. Seeing all those kids orphaned and the heartache they suffer with no parents was almost more then I could bear and to think our daughter has felt and experienced what those children have-I'm speechless.

I am so thankful that when we get to adopt our daughter that Darrick and I get to travel to Africa to experience first hand her culture and surroundings.

God commands us in His Word to take care of the orphans. Now I know everyone is not called to adopt but each person can give something to show Christ's love to the world. Consider going to www.americanidol.com and giving or find another organization to support or volunteer and make a difference!

PRAYER REQUEST

Many of you know one of my best friends, Becky (LeMahieu) Peterson. Her and her husband Jim were expecting their first child in June.

Well last night, very quickly, Becky got Eclampsyia. She got very sick and her liver doubled in size. They did an emergency C-section. This morning Lydia Kay Peterson was born -6 weeks early. Thankfully she weighs 5 lbs. 10 oz. She will be in the NICU for a few weeks because she was born early but she is doing good.

Please pray for Becky because she is still in the Intensive Care and is still not out of the woods yet.

I have not been able to talk to Becky yet but I did talk to Jim, so please lift their family up in your prayers.

Do you watch Fox News?

Darrick emailed me tonight and told me that Fox News is out with them on their ship. He said they will be broadcasting from the USS Lake Erie tomorrow. So if you can, check it out and you can see what he is up to!

Sunday

Going back a few days...

Wednesday: we had our Home Study at our home. The social worker came at 2:00 and stayed almost 2 hours. She first talked to the boys and asked them if they want a sister and they both said yes. Then she talked to Darrick and I about our relationship, our parenting ideas, our morals and beliefs. Then she talked to Darrick and I separatly about our own concerns we have and what we think of each other as parents. Then she inspected our whole house. We both felt that it went really well. Darrick and I are both having our medical exams this week and then we will get the rough draft of our home study report-she said it will be 6-7 pages long.

Saturday: Darrick was up bright and early washing the van while I slept in. When he was done we loaded up Lulu to take her to the beach for the first time. We headed to our favorite place-North Shore. It was great weather but as we got closer to the beach we noticed that the waved were pretty big and rough. Lulu loved the water and ran all over. We found a nice spot to sit for awhile until a big wave came up far on the shore and washed us out. Micah got dragged on the rocks with cuts on his legs, our slippers got washed away as well as our suntan lotion bottle.

After we cleaned up and rested we went to church.

Sunday: We just hung out this morning and then drove up to North Shore for lunch. We ate at Cholo's and then got shave ice from the General Store. When we got home Micah played at Jalen's house and the rest of us took naps. When we got up it was time to get ready to bring Darrick to the ship. They have to report tonight because they are getting underway tomorrow for the whole week. They come back on Friday and then he will be home for one more week and then he deploys for 4 months. I can hardly believe it is time for that again. Hopefully it will go quickly.

Easter

Happy Easter Everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful day. We had such great weather today. We got up early to go to church this morning at 7:30am. It was a good service and my favorite part was at the end when there was a hula and sign language dance.

Around 12:00 today we were joined by some friends for an amazing Easter lunch. There was so much good food we couldn't fit it all on our plates. We had ham, potato salad, strawberry-spinach salad, dressing, vegetable tray, pasta salad, rolls and yum yum cake and chocolate swirl cheesecake!

Then the Daddy's all went to the park to hide eggs for the kids. They all had so much fun running around but we had to go back home right after they were done because the kids all got rosy red cheeks and they were all sweaty.

After everyone left the four of us went for a bike ride around. Spring has arrived and all the plumeria trees are in bloom-it smells so good around here. We stopped to look at things in the water, which the boys always love.

Tonight we had movie night and watched "Open Season". We were pretty disappointed and did not like it at all. It just wasn't funny and the boys actually got bored.

Last night Darrick and I went on a date. We had dinner at the new Ruby Tuesday's that opened and then went to see "Blades of Glory"-we LOVED it! We laughed so hard.

All the men in the house are asleep after our busy day and I am enjoying the peace and quiet but I am ready for bed now too! Goodnight!

Happy Easter!

Home Again!

Well actually we have been home for 1 week now. We had a lot of fun in Japan and after it was all said and done I was pretty proud of myself for traveling with two kids, by myself to Japan for Spring Break. It was something we will never forget. Lauren, Charlie and Alex-we had so much fun with you and we miss you guys so much! I posted a few slideshows of our different days so you can see what we did.

We jumped right back into school this week-it is hard to believe that this is the last quarter! Then I will be done working and Micah will move on to the 1st Grade. Jacob also started going to a Head Start Program this quarter which is at our friend Margaret's Home. He likes going to school and has 6 kids total in his class.

On Tuesday this week, Darrick's Aunt Fran and Uncle Richard sailed into Honolulu on a Cruise Ship so in the afternoon we picked them up and took them around. We stopped at the USS Arizona Memorial and then took a nice drive to North Shore. We went to Sunset Beach and watched the surfers and then had dinner at Cholo's. We had so much fun! We brought them back to the cruise ship after dinner because it was leaving at 11pm for their next port.

Last night our Bible Study had a surprise Baby Shower for Margaret. She has been watching all our kids for us for about a year while we have our study. It was nice and she got some nice things.

Today the boys and I had off for Good Friday but Darrick has Duty. We went to the Koa Pancake House with Jennifer and Brayden for breakfast and then we had a neighborhood BBQ tonight for Margaret's Birthday!

Tokyo Disneyland

Dibutsu

Train Rides & Odawara Castle

Going to Japan & Our First Day

The boys driving their motorized bikes around the track

Back of the Bullet train
The mask they wear when they are sick
The boys ready to go see the castle
Odaworo Castle

Jacob on the train to Toyko
Charlie and Micah watching the train driver
Jacob in the Japanese restroom
The boys next to the bullet train

Day 3

Wow, what a day. It was a very challenging day for both of us as moms. The boys were all up at 5:30 and were cranky and tired most of the day but we made it.

We walked to the local train station and rode the train and even did two transfers. I really enjoyed the trains. They were very clean and comfortable and quiet. I mean the people, nobody talks and if they do they whisper to on another. We were always being watched by the Japanese people-we felt like a circus act.

We we got to our destination it was time for a bathroom break. Oh boy. In the restroom was one "western" toliet and the rest were Japanese style. Micah got the western one and Jacob and I did not. It basically looks like a small urinal in the ground with a bar in front to hold onto because you have to squat. Of course Jacob had to go #1 and #2 and he did it! I was so proud of him. But it was so dirty in the stall.

Then we bought our tickets to go on the Shinkasen or Bullet Train. It was amazing and truly a once in a life time experience. Through the city it was fast but once we got into more rural parts it flew! We rode the bullet train to Odawara and then got off. We walked about 10 minutes to Odawara castle. We climbed up to the top and had an amazing view. By the castle was also a kid park where the boys could ride these motorized cars and motorcycles around a track. The had a blast!

For dinner we had Japanese food. I had pork with greenbeans and rice, the boys had yakisoba noodles and we all tried gyoza.

The boys were exhausted and so are the moms.

Day 2

We have more of a down day today and we all needed it. Lauren had an OB appt. today and so she had a babysitter , Miss Amy, for all the boys. They played and went to the park and had a great time.

Lauren and I had a great time too. We drove about 20 minutes to the Yokosuka Naval Base. We went to the exchange and the hospital for her appt. Then we walked a short distance off the base to the 100 yen store (like 99 cent store). We converted some of my money into yen and shopped. I loved it.

We came home in the afternoon and just relaxed and got the boys to bed early. I went to bed early too.

There are a few cherry blossoms that are out and the rest are ready to bloom soon-I hope they do before we leave.

Day One pictures

Day One

Today was the most beautiful weather. It started off cool but got pretty warm.

We took a drive to Kamakura, a city about 10 minutes away. It was the capital of Japan's first military government from 1185-1333. I loved seeing everything in the daylight. Some observations: a lot of the cars are tiny here-they look like Luigi and Guido from the movie "Cars". Also all the shops and store are right next to the street. There is no sidewalk or places to park in front of the stores. There is only about 2 feet from the door of a house or store to the street. Everyone was walking around and getting their groceries for the day which is common here. They only buy what they need for the day so they shop everyday. Another thing that caught my eye was quite a few people wearing surgical masks. Lauren told me that they are very careful to not spread germs so if you or sick or have a cold you put one on and wear it out in public.

After our drive we arrived Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine. It was founded in 1063. It's a tutelary shrine of Minamoto No Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura regime. He was the first military ruler of Japan. We saw things called Torii Gates which are huge gates built by Yoritomo in 1182 as an offering for a safe delivery for his pregnant wife, Masako. She would walk through them and it would give her good blessings. Masako yielded great power after her husband died as was known as the Nun Shogun (warrior).

There were a lot of people at the shrine and we observed them throwing coins into a box, saying a prayer and clapping their hands twice. There were huge vats of sake (rice wine) that people have given to Buddha as a sacrifice. They also has pieces of paper and wooden plaques to write prayers on.

We had lunch at Kua Aina, which is a hamburger place they have in Hawaii. It was super good.

Then we came home and all took naps. We all went to bed at 2:30 and as of now, 10:00 pm, Jacob is still asleep!

I am really impressed with Lauren's Japanese vocabulary and her ability to communicate.

Konichiwa

I know that I have not posted in awhile, sorry. The boys and I are on Spring Break and we decided to take a big adventure. I am writing this from Japan!

So here is the down low:

In November our friends, the Shedd's got stationed in Japan. Charlie, Alex, Micah and Jacob have all missed each other a lot as well as me and Lauren. So I got one of my big ideas that over our Spring Break the boys and I would fly to Japan.

The military has something called MAC flights. The airforce is always flying missions all over the world to big "stuff" here and there. So if there is room on a flight you can try to get on and fly for FREE!

Well we had been trying since Tuesday to get on a flight to Yokota, Japan but the planes kept having maintainence issues and they would postpone the flight, So we were going back and forth between home and the terminal for four days. Finally on Friday there was a flight going out.

So we got to the terminal at 2:00 pm ready to go and the flight got delayed again but we finally ended up leaving at 11:00 at night. So what did we do in the terminal for 9 hours? Well they had an indoor playground and a TV with only kids shows. There was also a USO which had a room with cribs, lounge chairs and a DVD player and a ton of movies to pick from-it was awesome!

When we finally got on it was a HUGE military plane, a C5 Galaxy. It had 2 levels-we were on the top and there were 3 helicopters on the bottom. It was me and the boys and about 30 Navy guys in uniform. They were so good to us and helped me a lot. We sat in normal airline type seats and the boys and I slept the whole 8 hour flight to Guam!

Once in Guam we got off the plane, took a bus and then had to go through customs. We were then at Andersen AFB, Guam. I was told that we would have a 20 hour layover-yikes! There was another great USO and we watch more movies-Jacob even took a nap. Thankfully there was a flight going to Yokota in only 4 hours so we tried to get on that flight. We did got on but this was so different. The plane was not as big and we had to sit in these net type seats that were attached to the walls of the plane. I felt like we were going up in the air to sky dive. After and hour on the plane they discovered the back hatch won't close so we can't off. Back on the bus and back to the terminal. But finally we did get back on and took off. It was so loud and we had to wear earplugs. Jake had to go to the restroom during the flight and it was an experience. They had to put up a curtain and then there was a toliet seat with a trash bag to catch -um you know.

After 5 hours we arrived in Japan and had to go through customs and get visas. But after we got our luggage there were Lauren, Charlie and Alex greeting us with lots of hugs and kisses. The boys were so bonkers last night-running around and giggling like crazy. We had a 2 hour drive to get home. It was Sunday night in Japan so we could not see a lot. But a crazy thing is that they drive on the opposite side of the car and road.

We had great baths and showers and a wonderful sleep. The boys are all playing and Lauren in making pancakes so I better go and have some breakfast.

Watching Darrick and the Lake Erie come home on Friday!

Can you believe this?

Today when the boys and I went to the Commissary my jaw dropped when I saw the price of strawberries! I had my camera so I took a picture because I couldn't believe it-the frost in CA sure raised our prices I guess! The bigger basket was $24.00! As you can guess-we didn't get any strawberries...

Also today we said goodbye to Nana and Papa and Darrick. First we brought Nana and Papa to the airport. Jacob took it the hardest and cried and asked them not to go. Then a few hours later we brought Darrick to the airport. He was out to sea but came back about 7 pm last night. Then this afternoon he had to leave for 2 weeks to go to a school in Missouri.

The boys and I just relaxed and had dinner and watched a movie. It was nice.

Micah's Soccer Game last Saturday

Chief Hays

Taking Buddy Around

We received a package from Beth O. with a monkey named Buddy. Buddy is traveling around from person to person by mail. He was started by a girl in the 3rd grade as a project for her social study class. Buddy started in Florida, then went to Canada twice, then to Iowa and now here. So we took him around and took pictures of him doing things-enjoy the slide show below!

Check out my Slide Show!

Saturday

I know today is Monday and not Saturday but we have not done anything interesting to write about on the other days except the normal stuff.

Saturday morning we all got up early because Micah had an 8:00 am soccer game. Halfway through the game I had to bring Darrick to the ship because they were getting underway...again! I went back to the game and picked up Dad, Mom and the boys and we went to breakfast at the Koa Pancake House-it was super yummy. Mom and I had the awesome hawaiian sweet bread french toast.

From there we went to the Hale Koa to swim. It was such nice weather it felt good to all of us to get in the pool-well all of us except dad. He hid under a banyan tree in the shade on a lounge chair and enjoyed the breeze. Before we left we had an ice cream and then drove home.

At home we all took naps to prepare for our evening out. We went to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" put on by the Army Community Theater at Fort Shafter. It was awesome (once again-it was my 3rd time seeing it-twice in CA and now once in HI). Micah really loved it and followed the whole thing.

What we've been up too

Saturday my parents made it here! We have been having so much fun together and the boys cannot get enough of Nana and Papa!

Sunday after church we headed up to North Shore to do something that none of us have done before. We went to the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. It was such a beautiful day-perfect for a hike. It is 3/4 mile hike to a beautiful waterall. We saw so many beautiful and unusual plants and flowers. It was all breath-taking. The boys had a blast exploring and Micah took pictures with our digital camera-some of which you can see in the new slideshow. The boys couldn't wait to get to the waterfall because today it was open and you could swim to it. But when they got in the water, a frigid 60 degrees, they could not get in. Only Darrick made it! We picked up Stordo's on the way home and stopped for shave ice with ice cream!

Yesterday was a normal day, I worked and Micah went to school. We are having beautiful weather and mom and dad are having a great time!

Waimea Valley Audubon Center

Hats

I don't know if you know but I love when guys wear baseball hats. Darrick is not much of a hat person-it has to be the perfect hat to fit on his head-but when he finds it, it looks good. Micah and Jacob both look really cute in hats. Today we stopped at Old Navy because they were having a kids and baby sale. The boys are growing so fast and with this "cooler" weather we are having I pulled out their pants for them to wear and it looked liked they were waiting for a flood. So while we were shopping we found some cool hats.



Jacob got 2-one is red and says "Future Heartbreaker 2 cute 4 sure" and the other is green and says "Lucky O'Days Boys Club No Girls Allowed Moms are Okay". Micah got a green and white one that looks worn that says "11 Fog City Soccer".

Kung Hee Fat Choy

Last week Friday, in Micah's class they celebrated Chinese New Year-the year of the Boar. It is so interesting living where there is a huge Asian population-we never celebrated things like that when I was in school!

Check out my Slide Show!