When Keishi was born.

When we moved to the US in 1984, I was expecting KJ already, and I was told he was due around April 10. At my first appointment and ultrasound in the US, I was told I was due on the 25th, two weeks later than I had been told in Japan. Being the obedient person I am, I went into labor on the 25th, and after several hours spent walking in figure 8's through Aunt Nancy's kitchen, family room, and dining room, the family made me get in the car to go to the birthing center.

Once there, the doctor felt I would have Keishi for several hours, and told Nancy she could go to her class and be back in plenty of time. Of course he was born about 15 minutes later, probably before Nancy even got out of the parking lot.

Because of the calcification of the placenta and how wrinkly he was, they told me he was at least 2 weeks late.

When Meg was born.

For baby number 2, Meggy, Daddy and Obaachan ordered me to stay at Obaachan's house starting a week before I was due. It was a broiling hot summer, with little or no air conditioning, and rain every day, so I was prickly heat from head to toe.

The Saturday before my due date, I had an appointment with the OB where I was told it would be at least two weeks before I had Meg. After a really good cry, Eimi and I headed back to the Shinjuku area, and I called Daddy, who met us and took us out for a nice bowl of hot curry and to see the new movie, The Empire Strikes Back. We took the long way home via bus, and the instant I entered the house I happily went into labor.

When Eimi was born.

Having a baby in Japan is a real adventure. In the day, most hospitals wouldn't allow the dad in for the labor and delivery, but since we had a Japanese dad and an a foreign mom, and Daddy was Lamaze certified, they let him in. Daddy was a good coach clear up almost to the end. In the delivery room he started to chat with the doctor while I continued to hyperventilate and go numb. Flailing my numb arm around to get his attention, I accidentally hooked his collar and brought him down to his knees. That got his attention and brought him down to eye level with me. He then handed me a paper sack to breathe into.

When all was said and done and Eimi Sue had arrived, to my surprise the doctor hustled over to congratulate Daddy, not me. And what was he congratulating him on? Not fainting and splitting his head open on the gas tanks the way the last Japanese father had.

3's Company

Being a sibling trio worked out well for certain things. Our dance, for example, cannot be replicated with two or four. Also, our system of laying on each other's backs in the back seat on road trips. Remember that? 

Down-sides to being a trio? Somehow I was always the one in the middle with two people laying on me =).

Does this trigger any random memories for you guys?