Finally, the decision was made to aerovac Parker to Hawaii! We went back and forth for several weeks with Parker's pediatric providers, the chief of medical staff, and the patient advocate. It took printing most of the emails (after sending multiple strongly worded emails as a mom... obviously some of these people outrank me, and a few outrank Corey.) I showed the binder to the patient advocate, and she got the pediatricians and podiatrists to stop putting this on the back burner. We found out on a Thursday that we were leaving on Sunday, so I realized I would miss my 17 week appointment the following week and couldn't reschedule.
Because I was missing my appointment, we decided to go off-base to a Japanese OB and get an ultrasound to make sure the baby is healthy. I didn't want to be traveling and worrying about whether or not the pregnancy was going well. Here is the 3D image... this doc said he is 70% sure the baby is a girl! Kind of a shock since we were told about a month ago that the baby is a boy, but this image is much more clear. Now we aren't sure, but we plan to go back and find out soon.Originally, the aerovac office arranged Parker's appointment one day later than she was seen, and the timeline would have forced us to cancel our China trip. Fortunately, I was able to email the pediatric orthopod directly, and she agreed to work Parker into her schedule during her OR day so that we could make it back in time to leave again for China the following day! The Air Force did all of the arrangements and I picked up our tickets on Friday afternoon.
Parker had her own seat and my friend Tara lent me this awesome thing called Go Go Babyz that basically becomes a little cart for the carseat so that I could pull Parker in the seat through the terminal. This saved me during our transfer in Tokyo and getting all the way to the rental car in Honolulu!
We met another mom/daughter headed to Tripler when we deplaned in Tokyo... there aren't many single parents traveling with infants leaving Okinawa for many other reasons, so we decided to hang out during our 5.5 hour layover. We grabbed some food and then Bridget was nice enough to watch our stuff while Parker ran around the seats at our gate. Her daughter was only 16 days old at the time, so they were not so active! I changed Parker into her jammies right before the flight and handed her a sippy cup of soy milk (powdered.) She actually would have slept most of the flight if the family next to us had controlled their screaming kids. Yes, I judged them, but seeing as I was traveling as a single pregnant parent, I felt that I had the right view point and they were clearly not disciplining their children.
When we got to Hawaii, I had to basically beg to take an elevator. Seriously, I would have had to make multiple trips and leave Parker either up or down to get myself, Parker and the carseat, and our luggage up the escalator they tried to make me use. I put my foot down and told them that I was pregnant and not hauling all of that up the escalator. I finally got a ride to the baggage claim and got to our rental car.
We met another mom/daughter headed to Tripler when we deplaned in Tokyo... there aren't many single parents traveling with infants leaving Okinawa for many other reasons, so we decided to hang out during our 5.5 hour layover. We grabbed some food and then Bridget was nice enough to watch our stuff while Parker ran around the seats at our gate. Her daughter was only 16 days old at the time, so they were not so active! I changed Parker into her jammies right before the flight and handed her a sippy cup of soy milk (powdered.) She actually would have slept most of the flight if the family next to us had controlled their screaming kids. Yes, I judged them, but seeing as I was traveling as a single pregnant parent, I felt that I had the right view point and they were clearly not disciplining their children.
When we got to Hawaii, I had to basically beg to take an elevator. Seriously, I would have had to make multiple trips and leave Parker either up or down to get myself, Parker and the carseat, and our luggage up the escalator they tried to make me use. I put my foot down and told them that I was pregnant and not hauling all of that up the escalator. I finally got a ride to the baggage claim and got to our rental car.After a trip to Target (YAY!) we checked in and rested for a few hours. Then we met up with Amy and Makai for another trip to Target after visiting Costco! I would have LOVED a hot dog, but I could tell Amy doesn't share my love of the $1.50 hot dog + soda, so I am holding out until our trip at the end of the month. Then we met up with her husband Tony and we had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays.
The next morning (after a long night in the hotel in a different time zone), Parker and I found our way to Tripler and even managed to grab a banana before her appointment.
The pediatric orthopod looked at Parker's foot for about 30 seconds and then said, "well, you've come a long way, but I have good news. I don't think she needs any treatment right now." I was slightly shocked, but happy. She had seen Parker's x-rays and told the pediatrician she would be deciding between a cast or surgery. I guess she felt better seeing Parker's foot and said that it should correct itself as she grows, but because of the controversy with her treatment, she'd like to see her back in 6 months... of course, around my due date. We'll have to figure that out later, but overall it was good news. She said that she COULD do a cast, but that it would likely just slow Parker down.
The next morning (after a long night in the hotel in a different time zone), Parker and I found our way to Tripler and even managed to grab a banana before her appointment.
The pediatric orthopod looked at Parker's foot for about 30 seconds and then said, "well, you've come a long way, but I have good news. I don't think she needs any treatment right now." I was slightly shocked, but happy. She had seen Parker's x-rays and told the pediatrician she would be deciding between a cast or surgery. I guess she felt better seeing Parker's foot and said that it should correct itself as she grows, but because of the controversy with her treatment, she'd like to see her back in 6 months... of course, around my due date. We'll have to figure that out later, but overall it was good news. She said that she COULD do a cast, but that it would likely just slow Parker down.After we went back to the hotel to regroup, we found a great mall just down the street. Parker and I split some fish tacos and she was so well behaved - she sat in a booster seat and colored while I got to eat more than 2 bites in a row :)
The doc had mentioned that it was a good sign that Parker didn't have sore spots on her foot. I realized as our trip progressed that she takes off her right shoe ALL OF THE TIME. In fact, it was almost misplaced several times.
At the mall, we went through Nordstrom and a lady in the shoe department gave Parker this balloon, which she loved. It was really nice that it had a weight and I actually got it back to the hotel so she could play with it later that night.
The mall had an Old Navy attached, and Parker and I wandered in to look at the maternity section. I let Parker out of her stroller, and she managed to find this ball. I eventually found the bin, and all of the other balls were "boy" themes. We couldn't leave without the heart-monkey ball!
We also went to Gymboree (Parker's favorite - along with Baby Gap) and she picked out this poodle purse. She knows exactly how to carry a purse, which is funny because I never carry a purse - I am always toting my diaper bag. Maybe they play with them at the CDC? Anyway, this was so cute.
Around dinner time, we walked down to Waikiki beach. This is a picture of Parker at the beach. It was much cooler than I thought, so we didn't really hang out. I was looking for some seafood for dinner, and everything we passed was (1) fast food that we have here on base or (2) a steak house. I headed back towards the hotel, determined to find something. Unfortunately, it was getting dark, I was tired, and I gave in and headed to the Chili's attached to our hotel. I was really frustrated because we have a Chili's here on our base, and I wanted something different. However, after all of our traveling and adventures, I just wanted something easy and fast.
The next morning, we headed back to Okinawa. Parker and I had breakfast in the airport after we returned the rental car, and Parker got very creative with some straws I got at Burger King.
He're's Parker in my seat with Elmo :)
We had a 5 hour layover in Tokyo again, but this time we were in a tiny domestic terminal. No fast food, no shopping other than a noodle shop. Luckily, it wasn't crowded and Parker ran around the chairs and even made a friend.
Guess who's a priority? She was so good the entire trip! I really was amazed and continued to think about how lucky I am that she is such a good-natured little girl. It could have been a long 4 days, and instead, it was easier than I thought and actually kind of fun!
The doc had mentioned that it was a good sign that Parker didn't have sore spots on her foot. I realized as our trip progressed that she takes off her right shoe ALL OF THE TIME. In fact, it was almost misplaced several times.
At the mall, we went through Nordstrom and a lady in the shoe department gave Parker this balloon, which she loved. It was really nice that it had a weight and I actually got it back to the hotel so she could play with it later that night.
The mall had an Old Navy attached, and Parker and I wandered in to look at the maternity section. I let Parker out of her stroller, and she managed to find this ball. I eventually found the bin, and all of the other balls were "boy" themes. We couldn't leave without the heart-monkey ball!
We also went to Gymboree (Parker's favorite - along with Baby Gap) and she picked out this poodle purse. She knows exactly how to carry a purse, which is funny because I never carry a purse - I am always toting my diaper bag. Maybe they play with them at the CDC? Anyway, this was so cute.
Around dinner time, we walked down to Waikiki beach. This is a picture of Parker at the beach. It was much cooler than I thought, so we didn't really hang out. I was looking for some seafood for dinner, and everything we passed was (1) fast food that we have here on base or (2) a steak house. I headed back towards the hotel, determined to find something. Unfortunately, it was getting dark, I was tired, and I gave in and headed to the Chili's attached to our hotel. I was really frustrated because we have a Chili's here on our base, and I wanted something different. However, after all of our traveling and adventures, I just wanted something easy and fast.
The next morning, we headed back to Okinawa. Parker and I had breakfast in the airport after we returned the rental car, and Parker got very creative with some straws I got at Burger King.
He're's Parker in my seat with Elmo :)
We had a 5 hour layover in Tokyo again, but this time we were in a tiny domestic terminal. No fast food, no shopping other than a noodle shop. Luckily, it wasn't crowded and Parker ran around the chairs and even made a friend.
Guess who's a priority? She was so good the entire trip! I really was amazed and continued to think about how lucky I am that she is such a good-natured little girl. It could have been a long 4 days, and instead, it was easier than I thought and actually kind of fun!
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