April 1 we took the kids to the mall for the most fun Baskin Robbins we've ever seen. They had a great time and enjoyed the fabulous, fun flavors available in Japan.
For our anniversary this year Ethan took the day to hang out with me... Abraham had to stay home from school, so he hung out with us as well. We didn't have anything grand planned, but we had a fabulous visit to the beach.
I just love going to the beach in my winter coat.
I just couldn't stop taking pictures of Fisher.
Abe was so excited to go shell hunting with his dad.
Look at this beauty I found!
The happy couple. 18 years, we've been married. It's been full of all of the emotions you can imagine. We've learned and grown in ways we never dreamed of. I am so thankful that we're in this crazy life and eternity together.
It was a lovely day!
We stopped for some yummy ramen for lunch.
We spent about 5 days in Korea and upon our return to Japan, Ethan made my dreams come true by taking us to the Gold Line to find the biggest snow walls we've ever seen!
On April 11 I got to spend the night in a Japanese hospital for a sleep study. My health issues that took me to Hawaii were unanswered and we were hoping this would be the answer. It was an interesting experience and I'm so grateful that there was an interpreter provided for me! I had to be there at 2:00 pm and I was a little worried about being there so long!
The check in process included getting my height measured. The lady pushed the stick thing up and had me stand under it... then she couldn't reach the stick thing to push it down to my head. It was so funny! I had to reach up to pull it down enough for her to reach.I had to pay for my dinner. I also had an EKG, a chest X-ray, and a CT of my head and neck before being taken to my room.
I got to my room and was surprised how nice it was. The bathroom was big!
The couch and chair were pretty comfortable, in comparison to some other furniture I've been on (in Japan and in hospitals in general).
This was my view.
The TV was no use to me because I don't speak Japanese. Ha. While waiting I watched DVD on my laptop, read, and tried messaging Ethan.
They told me to bring snacks because I wouldn't have anything until they brought me dinner at 6:00 pm. I had to pay 1000 yen for it. About $10.
The doctor came in to talk to me and told me that I have a small cyst on my thyroid, nothing to be worried about right now, but something to keep an eye on.
I had the worst night I can ever remember having! Even worse than being up with screaming babies in a hotel room a week before. I had super severe congestion in my sinuses. I very bad sinus headache. I had a thing strapped around my torso while I was supposed to sleep and I laid on a piece of equipment that worked in junction with the strap. I was cold and miserable. I hardly sleep at all. Not a great way to discern my sleep success... but not much I could do about it.
When I came out of the hospital in the morning this was the parking lot. That lone car, that's mine. Ha. I was shocked at how quiet everything was... all night really. But in the morning when I went back to the main floor there was no one there! It was crazy!
Just so I can remember what it looks like. The Japanese hospital experience is very different from the American one.
Found these gems on my phone...
Jonas is an artist.
We finished watching General Conference with the rest of people in this part of the world on April 14. Of course we enjoyed it and then enjoyed our ice cream party afterward.
Our ward put together an Easter program to share with the community. It had a big orchestra and a choir. I got to sing a solo... my voice barely worked at all! It was stressful trying to sing over the orchestra, but we got through it.
Jonas and Levi played soccer with their schoolmates. We don't have any organized sports for the junior high level, so it is a club that plays against Japanese teams. The kids practiced so much! They improved their skills more than I'd even hoped. Jonas really seemed to enjoy it. Levi hated it. It was an ordeal every time they had a practice or a game.
The cherry blossoms finally made their way to Misawa!
We celebrated Ethan's birthday by gorging on pizza, salad and cookies at the club.
Silly boys.
I had to go back to the Japanese hospital for a follow-up with the doctor. This time I took Fisher with me. I was a little concerned he might be trouble, but it was the fastest visit I've ever had with a doctor I had no reason to worry. I had to drive 40 minutes to talk to him for 3 minutes. He told me that the study indicated that I have very mild sleep apnea, not worth using a C-Pap. Then Fisher and I were on our way.
I decided to make a detour on our way home to walk along the beach. At first Fisher wasn't happy about walking. He was chasing me down to hold him.
But finding a cool shell was enough to distract him.
Some early morning yoga at the beach is good way to start the day.
He was adamant about walking on the plant life growing in the cracks there.
These jack-like concrete fixtures are a tsunami protection.
I love him so much. He brings so much joy to our lives.
He decided to taste one of the shells or rocks he found... he wasn't a fan.
Art.
My love.
Reluctantly, I chaperoned a field trip for Abe's class to the Misawa Air and Space Museum. I had fun with my boy, he is so great. And the museum is lots of fun.
We got to watch a movie that I had seen before...but only in Japanese... this time we saw it in English! It tells the story of the first Trans-Pacific flight which took off from Misawa. Miss Veedol, the plane that made that flight, is a Misawa treasure.
Later that day the Kindergartners put on a special musical presentation for the parents. It was awesome. I love seeing Abe try to follow along with his classmates.
These two make me laugh (when they aren't driving me nuts!) Ha.
The last Sunday of the month we stopped outside the gate to get pictures with the awesome sign that has moved around town for the past several months. We got some pictures with Ethan and I in them as well, but they are on Ethan's phone.
I adore my family.
More blossoms. Our last cherry blossom season has been lovely.
