Settled in Osaka then off to...

Montreal, Canada!  Scott has accepted the same position but to help build the new 2012 Cirque du Soleil show at their headquarters in Montreal.  He looks forward to hiring his own crew and learning more throughout the creative process.  We all can't wait to be closer to our loved ones!  We'll take a 2-4 hour plane ride over 14-16 hour any day.  Our specific travel dates and details still need to be finalized, but looks like we'll be heading out in less then a month and in Montreal until the show is completed in April 2012.

Bye Tokyo!

Max and Scott's first time on the Shinkansen "bullet train."  Max slept like an angel the whole time going 250+ mph to Osaka!

Hello Osaka!  The Yodo River is below the highway and runs through the city with gorgeous walking paths and bridges.

Street outside our resort in downtown Osaka.  We're in the business/restaurant area.  Challenging to find diapers but great for entertainment.

We also need to get Max's passport settled before we can fly internationally.  Many people have asked if Max gets duel citizenship being born in Japan and the answer is "no."  Since both Scott and I are American the Japanese only recognizes his "blood" not his birth "soil."  However, he is registered in Japan and has a neat Certificate of Birth with some Japanese writing.  My dad is currently looking for a loophole so he can run for President of the United States.  Somehow I don't think that will be an issue, but you never know.

Our little Peanut!

Scott has been busy getting the show back up and running in Osaka while Max and I have been hanging low.  Eating and sleeping mostly.  We haven't ventured out in Osaka much yet but our resort is very nice.  It's been great having room service, 5 in house restaurants and bars, laundry service, convenience store downstairs and Starbucks just across the bridge.

Max cheering on the Evanston Red Devils while on a Starbucks run.

Thankfully Max's eyes have cleared up.  Lab results only grew normal skin flora bacteria so it looks as though he either had viral conjunctivitis or an atypical bacteria.  Either way, it is gone without further antibiotics.

Max was lifting his head only 3 days after being born!  Even the doctor commented on his strength.  

Well, I'm off to change another poopy diaper.  Thank God he has an adorable little tushy.  Stay tuned for travel dates! 

My Wyoming boys!

He is not happy that Mommy dressed him in clown pants.  Sorry buddy!

As promised Auntie Alison, he is sporting his whales outfit and lovin' it.

Home sweet home

Max and I got the 2 thumbs up and were cleared by the doctors after only 5 days in the hospital.  That is considered a short stay by Japan standards, especially with a c-section.  Seibo Hospital was a nice, quiet, private, accommodating place, but it has been wonderful getting settled in at home.


All the nurses and doctors who understood English would chuckle at Max's name.  And considering he is "max" in size and weighs nearly 30% more than the average Japanese baby it is very fitting!   They also said he is the best "sucker" they've ever seen cause the boy can eat.  

Thank you Sara, Josh, Charlie and Jonah Schulman for the adorable hat!  

Scott has returned to work for the next couple days because it's one of the busiest times for him with the show moving locations.  However, he will have more time off once we get to our new home in Osaka on July 23rd.  

Sorry, Auntie Alison for peeing all over your cute welcome home whales outfit.  I promise to let Mommy get a photo soon.

In the meantime, Max and I have enjoyed getting to know each other.  He is the sweetest, softest and most adorable little thing in the world.  We are madly in love with him and can't wait for everyone to meet him.  He will make your heart stop.  His smooth blonde hair with a hint of strawberry, perfectly round face, curious dark blue eyes, button nose, chunky cheeks, gummy smile, fat upper lip and darkening velvety skin are all to die for.  He is the perfect, calm baby.

Max enjoys helping Mommy blow dry her hair, a.k.a. nap time.

Only hiccup since being home is that Max has contracted pink eye (bacterial conjunctivitis).  We are not sure how or where but we should hopefully know more soon when the lab results come in.  

Thankfully, Cirque du Soleil is well connected because I called Scott last night around 7 p.m. to share my concerns (rather wail my worst fears like a typical first time mother) and by 9 p.m. they had us in a private, after hours pediatrician appointment.  The Doctor even rode his bike in to get to us quicker and avoid Tokyo traffic.  On the plus side, the antibiotic drops are already doing the trick just hours in and Max continues to eat, sleep, pee, poo, gain weight, and maintain a normal body temperature like a champion!

Max's first tourist outing, Tokyo Tower at night.  Only cause the doctors office was across the street but still counts!

We're all busy little bees with our new family addition and move to Osaka around the corner but we'll keep you posted soon.  Love and miss you all!

Our little sweetie pie

Max day 2

Max and Mommy continue to do great, and Daddy remains a rock star caring the load of baby duty with Mommy slowed from surgery.  Daddy has changed all his diapers, burped him, helped feed and sooth him to sleep.  I would be lost without him!   


Few more photos from day 2 in the world of Max...

 Max loves to lay on Daddy's chest

 Check out those hands ladies :)

 Thank you Bill & Sandy Freeland for the gorgeous flowers and teddy bear!

 Laying on Daddy again...

Right after our 2 hour family nap 

Life is good!

Welcome Maxwell Scott Freeland

Born July 11th, 2011 at 11:54 p.m. in Tokyo, Japan at 8 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long.  After just an hour of surgery both Mommy and Max are healthy and happy.  He is a spitting image of his daddy!  

 Our first family photo

 The Japanese nurses are so sweet

 Mommy's new man

 "There's a New Kid in Town" by the Eagles was playing in the operating room when he was born.

 Mommy needed a nap.  Daddy is already a pro!  Daddy was the one who got Max to latch on and breastfeed after the nurse failed.  I'm so proud of my boys!

Our little Emperor.  Despite his official name of Maxwell, Scott is calling this the Marcus Aurelius pose.

Not to sound like a new parent broken record, but we are madly in love with our little guy!  Thank you for all your kind notes and well wishes.  He is perfect!

Love always,

Jessica & Scott

38 week (9.5 month) appointment

Looks like Peanut's birthday will be Monday, July 11th, 2011 in Japan!    

Dr. Sakamoto said that Peanut must enjoy using my liver as a pillow because he hasn't moved much and is still breech.  Unless he turns last minute, we will be checking into Seibo International Catholic Hospital in Shinjuku at 9 a.m. and going into the c-section at 11:30 a.m.  Surgery should only last 30-45 minutes.  

38 weeks along.  I've gotten so big that the Japanese part like the Red Sea when they see me waddling down the street.  Doctor said Peanut probably weights 7.5-8 lbs.

Dr. Sakamoto graduated from Yale University and has successfully delivered thousands of baby's over the past 20+ years, so we know we're in great hands.  Plus all signs are pointing in a healthy, positive direction for both Peanut and me.  We're expected to be in the hospital 5-7 days but should be able to update the blog during our stay.

Scott and I can't wait to meet our little guy.  We really wish we could be with all our loved one's during this special time but we look forward to sharing our joy from afar.  Please stay tuned for Peanut photos!  

 Our favorite stadium, Seibu Dome.  We saw the home team Lions lose 2-6 to the Nippon-Ham this past weekend.

 We got down on the field after the game.

 Me taking a much needed break.  It was 90 degrees and sunny this day but felt like 98 degrees according to weather.com with the humidity.

Scott even got to make a play with the bating coach of the Lions down on the field.  He's picking up the ball on the left side of this photo.

37 week appointment, Kooza show and more Nippon baseball

Peanut continues to be a stubborn fella in the breech position.  Dr. Sakamoto said he could still turn but it is rare this late in the game.  He went over our numerous birthing opinions and said the downfall of a c-section is that future births will more than likely need to be delivered by c-section and I can only have up to 6 c-sections.  Scott nearly fell off his chair at that tidbit of information and said that 6 children or less would NOT be a problem.  I agreed!

Dr. Sakamoto did another ultrasound (no internal exams are done here unless necessary) and my cervix is not dilated yet.  He did not measure or weight Peanut this time because the findings are less accurate at this larger size but he did catch is strong, regular 150 bpm heart rate.  Peanut looks quite smashed in his breech "transverse lie" with his head at my right side/end of rib cage, butt at the bottom and then feet curled back up to his head.  Think he was sucking his toes at the time.

If Peanut remains stubborn at our next appointment on Thursday, July 7th then we will schedule the c-section for sometime during our 39 week of pregnancy (July 9-16).  You want to avoid going into labor and having an emergency c-section with breech baby's.  And even though I still have not gained any weight while in Tokyo (trust me, it is not from lack of eating rather I sweat out 5 lbs every time I walk outside) I am a-okay with getting this internal furnace out!  Times like this make you miss driving 1 block for ice cream in your air conditioned car.

Other than tracking down ice cream on a daily bases, Scott got me and my new friends, Sheree and Tiffany who are also from the States, front row tickets to the show.  I've seen Cirque du Soleil - Kooza numerous times before but it was fun to see their updated Japan spin.  Some acts learned Japanese to play the part and their sense of humor is a little different here.  Americans are more into the perverted jokes and the Japanese enjoy seeing their fellow friend being made fun of.

We went to another baseball game and now I have also been to all 5 stadiums in Tokyo!  We went to the open air Yokohama Stadium (about an hour train ride away) and saw the home team Bay Stars lose 1-4 to the Chunchi Dragons.  Yokohama Stadium had these fabulous seasoned chicken fingers and grape ice slushy's so I give it 4 out of 5 stars.  We might head to the Seibu Dome tonight so I'm looking forward to Baskin Robbins.  

 

Since the new boss man could be here in less than 9 days (weird) we're off to fit in some more fun.  Love and miss you all!

 Yokohama Stadium entrance

 Perfect evening for an outdoor baseball game 

 Great seats! At bat 1st baseman, Brett Harper, born in Salt Lake City, Utah

Go Yokohama!

Our favorite sushi restaurant that puts the fresh fish (or veggie rolls for me) on a conveyor belt.  2 pieces for 120 yen (around $1.50 a plate) and free fabulous matcha tea