1Y8M 服の好み Taste of clothes

乗り物好きが洋服を選ぶ時にも影響するから大変。車の絵柄のTシャツがいいと駄々をこねていたのはまだかわいかった。響くんのお下がりのこのパジャマ、大のお気に入りで、朝、脱がせようとすると泣きながら抵抗。ナーサリーに連れて行かなければならないのに悪戦苦闘することに。その代わり夜、お風呂に入った後は、いつものようにパジャマを着せようとしてもきゃっきゃっ言いながら裸で逃げ回るということにならないから便利。このパジャマを見せるだけで目を輝かせて、「カ～～～～～～」と叫びながら着てくれる。

年休消化のため実質的に産休に突入した。アラタのナーサリーも来月から火曜日だけ。ナーサリーに完全に慣れていただけに残念なのだが仕方がない。1日50ポンドは収入がなくなる私には痛い。今日もナーサリーに迎えに行くと、全く帰りたがる様子がなくおもちゃで遊び続け、私が帰る振りをしてドアに向かって歩き出したらやっとついてきた…。朝連れて行くと、他の子供達も「アラタ」と声をかけて（？）くれるし、お友達もできて楽しいみたい。

Arata loves any sort of vehicles. He gets very excited to see one in a book or on TV or on road or wherever... And this has started to affect what to choose to wear. He loves these pyjamas in this photo, hand-down from Hibiki. Arata cries and fights very hard not to be taken off in the morning. In the evening, it's easier because as soon as he sees them, his face gets lit up saying 'Caaaarrrr!' and let us put them on immediately, instead of usual running away in naked!

I've stopped going to work. At the moment, I'm officially still on holiday but at the end of 3 weeks holiday, my maternity leave starts. Arata is going to nursery only on Tuesdays from September. He's got used to the nursery and I wanted to keep sending him as much as possible but it costs 50 pounds per day. A bit expensive for me when I have no income. I went to pick him up today. Arata didn't want to leave at all and kept playing with toys. I had to pretend to be going home by waving him and walking towards the door! In the morning, when we drop him off, a couple of children call his name. Arata must have quite a few friends and he must be really enjoying being there.

1Y8M 早実優勝の余韻… My love to baseball

緑色のグローブ。小学校６年生の時の父からの誕生日プレゼント。当時の私は高校野球が大好きで、中学に入ると両親に「内緒」でソフト部に入部した。6歳の時、しょう紅熱とリウマチ熱を併発して1ヵ月の入院。その影響で腎臓を患い、体育の授業では、過激な運動とされる水泳とマラソンは禁止されていたから、まさか運動部に入るなんて親には言えなかったのだ。だから、当時にしては高額の入部金、400円もお小遣いから工面した。結果的には、高校でもソフト部、大学でも学校の代表として東京都リーグに出場する楽しい経験をした。

常にミーハーな私は、野球と言うよりも、かっこいい野球選手に憧れていたのが本音。だから高校球児が年下になると、新聞の切り抜きや野球雑誌集め、校歌の録音なんて、オタクに近い趣味からも卒業。しばらくあまり見ていなかった。

でも今年は違う。女子高出身なので、母校が甲子園に出ることは永遠にないから、出身大学の系列である早実の快進撃からは目が離せず、優勝は嬉しかった。その上、早実の野球部長は、私がマネージャーをしていた理工学部硬式野球部の先輩、佐々木慎一さんだということがわかったのだ。

彼は理工の学生にしては珍しく、「将来高校の教師になって、野球部の監督として甲子園に出たい」と言って教職を取っていた。その後、都立の高校で教壇に立ち、野球部を指導しているという所までで音信不通だった。だから、いつのまにか早実に転職し、競争が激しいと思われる野球部長のポストを得て、そして、全国優勝を果たしたのだと知った瞬間、夢を叶えたんだ、それも「日本一」というかたちでと、私まで体が震えた。私が海外でふらふらしている間に、日々目標に向かって頑張ってきたのだなあと、あまりはめを外すこともなく、クールで真面目だった慎一さんの顔が浮かぶ。それに比べて私は人生で何か成し遂げられるのかしら…と恥ずかしさと焦り。

さて、アラタが生まれてからの私の夢は、将来アラタとキャッチボールをすることだったけれども、もう一人男の子が生まれるっていうことは、打撃練習でもノックでもできる。楽しみだ。彼らにも慎一さんのように、目標に向かってひたむきに取り組める人間になってほしいけれど、どうやって育てればいいのかしらねぇ。

The first clear memory of birthday presents from my father is a green baseball glove. I was 11 or 12. I was mad about watching high school baseball tournament. And when I started junior high school, I joined school softball team without letting my parents know. I had scarlet fever and rheumatic fever at the same time when I was 6 and hospitalized for a month. As a result my kidneys were damaged and I wasn't allowed to do any 'hard' sports, such as swimming and marathon, even though I had no symptoms and perfectly felt fine. But still, I simply couldn't tell my parents for a little while that I was playing softball. I ended up playing softball for nearly 10 years, for high school and even for university, though.

I hadn't watched much baseball for a long time since I got out of Japan. But not this year. One of the high schools which has a connection to Waseda university, the university I went, won the summer tournament for the first time. I went to a girls' high school and there has been or will be no chance to participate the tournament as it's for boys. That's the reason I've got a special feeling for Waseda's high schools in respect of baseball. I was so delighted that they won the tournament. In addition, the manager of the team (not the main coach) is someone I know. He is Mr Shinichi Sasaki, who was one of the members of the Waseda Science and Engineering department baseball team, where I also belonged to to help the players.

Mr Sasaki would tell me he wanted to be a high school teacher to coach the baseball team. Unlike other Science and Engineering students, he was taking extra subjects to be qualified as a teacher. I knew he got a job at a high school in Tokyo and became a baseball coach as well. Yet I've lost in touch with him since. So when I realised that he was the manager of the winning team, I was really moved. In these years, he must have worked very hard to be a good coach and found a job at the Waseda's high school, which has one of the top baseball teams in Japan, and got a post as a baseball team manager, which must be terribly competitive. His dreams came true. It's not ordinary achievements. He is now the top manager in Japan. I can still remember Mr Sasaki's serious and cool looking, and I can easily imagine how determined he must have been to make his dreams come true. I have to realise that there are people who have worked hard with self belief and achieve something special in their lives. Looking at myself, I feel a bit embarrassed, how little I have done in the same span of time...

Our family will expand soon and I will have 2 boys. With 2 boys, we will be able to not only play catch but also practice hitting balls etc. It'll be really nice! And I really hope that my 2 sons will grow up to be a sincere and confident men who can be determined to achieve their dreams. But, how can I bring them up to have such determination??

1Y8M ダディ、ない No daddy

最近ブログ用写真を撮るのを忘れがち。Nikon Coolpixの反応が鈍く、動き続けるアラタのいいショットが撮れない事が原因。カナダから遊びに来ていた郁子さんとの記念撮影も、れいこさん宅でのBBQでも撮り忘れた。この一枚はアラタがバケツの中に入って得意になっているところ。動かないこんな瞬間なら撮れるのに！

金曜日。郁子さんが折角Wokingまで遊びに来てくれたのにアラタは不調で嘔吐。私もアラタもゲロまみれで、落ちつかないままに時間切れ。本当にごめんね、郁子さん。そして、アラタにOttawaのロゴ入りの素敵なフリースをありがとう。次男の代まで大切に使うよ！

風邪でも引いたのかと思っていたら、今日は元気で、れいこさん宅のBBQにアラタと二人で参加した。Jasonには車で送ってもらう。ところが、ダディが行ってしまってからも、駐車したら来ると思っているアラタは、玄関に佇んで「ダディ」と言いながら待ち続けた。「ダディはおうちに帰ったよ。後で会えるよ。」と何回も言ってようやく納得。数時間すると、「ダディ、ない」と独り言。健気なアラタ…。アラタはダディが大好きだから。私もJasonが恋しかった。だって、いたずらっ子のアラタからずっと目が離せなくて大変だったんだもの。

I've kept forgetting to take photos for my weblog. It's because the shutter timing of my current camera, Nikon Coolpix, is a bit slow which makes it difficult to take good photos of active 1 year old. I even forgot to take one with Ikuko, who came to see us all the way from Canada, or today, at a BBQ party at Reiko's.

Last Friday. Ikuko came to Woking to see us but Arata didn't feel well and threw up just after she arrived... Arata and I were covered with his vomit, and it was so difficult to properly entertain Ikuko. I feel so bad. She brought a nice fleece jacket with Ottawa logo for Arata. Thank you, Ikuko. Arata will definitely be warm this winter, and so will his brother in a couple of years!

We were worried that Arata may have had another cold. As he seemed to be fine this morning, I took Arata to Reiko's BBQ. After Jason dropped us off, Arata was waiting for Jason at Reiko's entrance hall for a while saying "Daddy..." He was obviously expecting Jason to come back after parking the car and I had to keep telling him that Daddy had gone home. Quite surprisingly, out of blue, Arata said, "Daddy nai" (= 'no daddy') a couple of hours later. I knew how much Arata missed Jason. He loves daddy. I also missed Jason because it was so stressful for me to keep an eye on mischievous Arata all the time by myself!

1Y7M バビ！ Babi!

Josieのうちへ。アラタは久々に会ったルークに見向きもせず、勝手におもちゃを引っ張りだしては遊んでいる。

Josieが「マミィがもうすぐ赤ちゃんを産むね」と言うと、アラタは「ベイビー」という単語に初めてまともに反応。常々私は自分のお腹を指しては「ベイビーがここにいるよ～」と言っているのだが、アラタといえば、私の真似をして自分のシャツを引っ張りあげておへその辺りを触ったり、赤ちゃんの写っている雑誌の表紙を指差して「バビ」と言ったりだった。

この日は、Josieの言葉に対してアラタは私のお腹を指差した。Jasonが最近
『Za-za's baby brother』
という絵本を買ってきた。弟が生まれる前後のちょっとした変化を書いたメイシーちゃんシリーズの作者Lucy Cousinsの絵本。アラタも少しはわかってきたかな？

We went Josie's. It's been long since Arata saw Luke but Arata went straight to Luke's toy box and started to play....

When Josie said, "Arata, mummy is going to have a baby soon," Arata pointed to my bump for the first time. I've been telling him that a baby is in it, pointing to my bump. But his reactions so fare have been either pulling his shirt, copying what I'm doing, and touching his tummy, or pointing at a photo of a baby in a magazine, saying, "Babi!"

Jason has recently bought a book
'Za-za's baby brother' by Lucy Cousins.
It's a story of Za-za having a little brother. Arata has started to realise what's going to happen to him?

1Y7M 「アラタ、クッキング」 "Arata cooking!"

以前から台所の鍋やフライ返しを出してきては遊ぶのが好き。先週ナーサリーにアラタを迎えに行った時、保母さんに、「今日はほとんどホームコーナーで過ごした」と言われた。ホームコーナーとは、アラタの過ごす部屋の一角にあるミニチュアのダイニングキッチンのことで、おままごとができるようになっている。

納得。最近は、Jasonが料理していると「ダディ　クッキング」と言ってキッチンを覗いている。そして、台所から鍋やフライパンを全部取り出してきておままごとをする。「アラタ　クッキング」と言いながら…。一人で真剣に遊んでいるから、私は助かる。料理が出来上がると、お鍋から「透明」料理を取り出して私やJasonに食べさせてくれるから面白い。早く本当においしい料理を作って頂戴！

そういえば、絵本に食べ物の絵があると、それをつまんで自分の口に入れて、もぐもぐと食べる真似。そして、また絵本の食べ物をつまんでは、私達の口にも入れてくれる優しいアラタだ。

（アラタのおままごとの様子のビデオを、アラタのページにアップしました。）

Arata loves playing with pots and pans. When I picked him up from the nursery last week, a carer said, 'Arata spent most of the day in the home corner.' There is a miniature kitchen in the home corner for children to play.

I see... Arata is often curiously looking at Jason cooking, saying, "Daddy cooking." And he takes out almost all the pots and pans from the kitchen to play with, and says, "Arata cooking." (It's one of the peaceful moments for me as Arata plays by himself without my interaction.) And when he finishes cooking, he feeds us with the invisible food. Cook something real for me soon!

When Arata finds a picture of food in a book, he pinches a bit of it, puts his fingers into his mouth and pretends to be munching. Then he takes a bit of food again and puts it into our mouth!

(We have uploaded Arata's cooking video on Arata's page. Please click here!)

1Y7M 女の子だと態度が違う？ Different attitude towards girls??

Debenhamsのカフェで、久しぶりにアナベラとエリザベスに会った。アラタは上機嫌で走り回りっていて、その後ろをアナベラも楽しそうに付いて回っていた。面白いなあと思ったのは、男の子が相手だと、お互いインターラクトするまで時間がかかるのに、女の子だとアラタの反応が違う。最初から嬉しそうに話しかけたり（もちろん意味不明語）している…。女の子はこの年齢ぐらいでも、男の子より社交的でニコニコしているから、それに反応しているのか、それとも相手が女の子だってわかってのことなのか…。
午前中は産婦人科医とのアポのため、St Peter's Hospitalへ。

（詳しくはココをクリック。）

We went to the cafe in Debenhams to see Annabella and Elizabeth. Arata was very excited and kept running around the cafe. Annabella was following Arata happily. It was quite interesting to find that Arata's reactions to the girls are different from the ones to boys. Between boys, it usually takes sometime before they start to interact each other. But today, Arata was smiling and talking to them from the beginning. Is it because girls are generally more sociable and smiling to Arata, and he was just reacting nicely to them, or Arata knows they are girls and...? This morning, I went to the St. Peter's Hospital for a doctor appointment.

(Click here for the full story...)

34W2D 産婦人科アポ Appointment with a doctor

計画帝王切開についての産婦人科医とのアポのためSt Peter's Hospitalへ。私自身、40週フルタームを待たずに帝王切開になることに抵抗があること、前回8Cまで子宮口が開いたという事実から医者はVBACを薦めることから、結局自然分娩を選ぶことにした。（もちろんいつ気が変わってもいいと言われた。）

出産計画は…。予定日の9月26日の一週間前に卵膜剥離（子宮口と子宮の間に指を入れて剥離することにより、陣痛を引き起こすホルモンが誘発され、24から48時間以内に出産が始まる効果が期待される）を行う。予定日まで出産しなかった場合に備えて、その1週間後の10月2日に計画帝王切開を一応予約。予定日から10月2日までは、St Peter'sに毎日通い、チェックアップ＋卵膜剥離となった。

アラタの時も
予定日2日後に卵膜剥離をしたが効果はなかった。
今回も1週間ぐらい遅れるかもしれないし、あまり無理に出す必要はないかなあとも思うのだが…。

血圧は正常。今日のアポのため、34週の助産婦検診はなかったので、妊娠糖尿病の検査のための採血をした。ただ、検尿の結果、Nitrates（って日本語で何？）が検出されたため、膀胱炎などの自覚症状はないが5日分の抗生物質を処方された。

I went to the St Peter's hospital to discuss with a doctor if I go for elective caesarian or VBAC. I still don't like the idea that the c-section is done before the full term, and all the doctors so far said it wasn't me who caused the last c-section and it should be safe to chose VBAC, I've decided to go for VBAC (natural birth). I can always change my mind, the doctor added.

The birth plan is... A week before the due date, 26th Sept, a midwife is performing a 'membrane sweep'. (Membrane seep involves a doctor or midwife placing a finger just inside the cervix and making a circular, seeping movement to separate the membrane from the cervix. This method releases some sort of hormone which kicks the labour, which may starts within 24 to 48 hours.) In case I don't deliver the baby after the full term, I have booked an elective caesarian a week after the due, on 2nd Oct. Between the 26th Sept and 2nd Oct, I am going to St Peter's every day for check-up and membrane sweep.

When I was pregnant with Arata,

I had a membrane sweep done 2 days after the due date but no effects.
Probably this time, the baby will come out late again and I don't personally want to 'force' the baby to come out as long as we are both safe...

Blood pressure and baby's heart beat were fine. Because of today's appointment, I didn't have 34 week check-up with a midwife and blood sample was taken today for Gestational diabetes test. Unfortunately, urine sample contained Nitrates and I was prescribed 5 day course of antibiotics for suspected systitis....

1Y7M ライブ『フィンブルズ』 Fimbles live

WokingのVictoria TheatreでFimblesのライブがあった。
Fimbles

はBBCの子供向けチャンネルCbeebiesの番組のひとつで、最近のアラタのお気に入り。Fimblesがやっていない時間帯でもリモコンを持ってきて「フィンブー！」チャンネルを変えろとうるさいので、DVDを一枚買ったばかり。

アラタは特に蛙の「ロキット」が好きで、テーマソングに合わせてロキット踊りをする。そして、いつの間にか、登場人物の名前をほとんど覚えているからびっくり。英語だし、登場人物の名前なんて全く把握できていない私。アラタが意味不明な言葉を発しているぐらいにしか思っていなかったのだが、Jasonが気がついた。アラタはテレビに次々に映る登場人物の名前を呼んでいたのだ。

今日のショーはインターバルをはさみ１時間半程。アラタもチケット購入＋椅子有だったが、体重が軽すぎて座っても椅子がばたんと閉まってしまう。前半は、私の膝の上に座って舞台に熱中。後半はさすがに飽きたようで、劇場の中の階段を上り下りしていた。もちろん私は後ろからついて周る羽目に。同年齢の男の子がやはり上り下りしていて、後ろを歩いているお父さんと何回もすれ違うから、顔を見合わせては苦笑いだ。

Fimblesをみた反応は？舞台に次々と登場する登場人物に、少し遅れて（舞台に現れたということに気がつくのがちょっと遅いから）、指さしながら、興奮していた。ストーリーにはついていけないけれど、歌やダンスの時は誰にも負けずに踊っていた。

We went to 'Fimbles live' at Victoria Theatre in Woking.
Fimbles

is one of the Cbeebies programmes and Arata's most favourite. We've recently bought a DVD because Arata often comes to me with a TV remote control asking me to change the channel to Fimbles, even when it's not on.

Arata especially likes the frog 'Rockit' and he always does 'Rockit dance' along to the theme song. It was quite surprising that Arata has already learnt the names of the characters. It's in English (my excuse?) and I don't really get what each of them are called. And I didn't even think that Arata was calling their names. Jason has recently realised Arata was calling their names when watching Fimbles!

The show was about 1.5 hours including an interval. Arata had a seat but he was to light to be able to sit on the folding chair. (The chair didn't stay still and went back to the closing position.) In the first half, Arata was concentrating on the show, sitting on my knees. But it must have been enough for 1.5 years old. During the second half, he was going up and down the stairs in the theatre. Of course, I had to follow him all the way. There was another boy about the same age who was also going up and down. His father was also following his son, and we often exchanged silent sympathy to each other...

So how were Arata's reactions? He was really excited. He was pointing the characters one after another when they were coming up to the stage, with a little bit of delay. (Because he was a bit slow to realise when a new character came up to the stage!) Arata is too young to follow the story but he was dancing harder than other children!

1Y7M 最悪の電車移動 Worst train ride

Canary　Wharfへサンとテオくんに会いに行く。さすがに一年も会わないと、テオくん、街で会っても絶対にわからないぐらい変わっていた。アラタとたった一週間しか誕生日が違わないけれど、テオくんはもうサイズ6のオムツ-アラタはサイズ4-を使っている。
(１年前のテオくんとアラタはここをクリック)

初めはかなり相手を牽制していたアラタ。慣れてくるといつもの調子でテオくんのおもちゃを我が物顔で奪っては渡さない。それを過ぎてやっと二人で楽しく遊び出したらもうさようならの時間でした。サン夫婦は、最近購入した新築のフラットに引っ越したばかり。テオくんの子供部屋もとてもかわいらしく、こんな部屋がアラタにもあったら、きっと自分の部屋で一人で寝るだろうなあと思った。うちも早く家がほしい。

帰りはJasonと合流したが、Waterlooから満席の通勤電車で、今日一日全く昼寝をしなかったアラタが最高に愚図って、Wokingまでずっと海老反りで泣き続けたのには参った。周りはさすがに迷惑そうで、でも混みすぎていて移動もできず、私は脂汗だらだら。

We went to Canary Wharf to see Sun and Theo. It's been 1 year since we saw them. Theo has changed a lot. I wouldn't be able to recognise him if we ran into each other in town. Theo is only a week younger than Arata but he is already using size 6 nappies, Arata is still using size 4!!
(Click here for Theo and Arata a year ago.)

Arata was carefully observing Theo at first and once he got used to him, Arata started to take whatever toys Theo was holding, as usual.... Then they started to play together but it's time for us to go home. What a shame! Sun and Dan has recently bought a newly built flat and Theo has his own room now. It's really cute room and I thought if Arata had a room like that, he would happily sleep by himself. I want to have our own house.

We came home with Jason from Waterloo and it was the worst ever train ride. Arata kept crying throughout the whole journey. The train was packed and people around us looked quite annoyed. I felt so stressed. Arata must have been tired because he hadn't had a nap at all.

1Y7M 最後のホリデー Last holiday

出産前最後のホリデー。妊娠33週なので飛行機は諦めて、ヨーロスターでブルージュへ。ブルージュはいかにも日本人受けしそうなヨーロッパの観光地で、カフェが乱立。運河ではボート、広場では馬による観光と、どこも観光客が順番待ちをするほどにぎわっていた。

私達は相変わらずのんびり。ガイドブックもなく無計画。初日はホテル
Golden Tulip de' Medici

に着くや、私もアラタも２時間以上昼寝。目が覚めたらもう夕方だった。二日目。50分程の観光バスに乗ったぐらいで、運河沿いのベンチで気持ちよく昼寝して(私）、合間にカフェでランチやお茶、ホテルのジャグジーでリラックス。アラタをプレイグラウンドで遊ばせていると、近所の男の子もやってきた。言語（？）が違う二人でも、シーソーで一緒に遊んだり、ちょっとした動作や発声をまねっこし合うのが面白い。三日目。私がハイストリートを制覇する間に（買い物）、男性陣はボートツアーに参加。アラタは最近覚えた「ふな！」(船）を連発していたそうだ。

ここ一週間ほどアラタはずーっと機嫌が悪い。ブルージュでも、すぐに「ダディ、抱っこ!」だから、Jasonは疲労困憊だった。まあ、このぐらいの年齢になると何でも食べるので楽だけど。夕飯の鉄板焼きから、ランチのブイヤベースまでパクパク！

Last holiday before the baby no. 2 is coming. We decided not to take a risk by flying and went to Bruges by Eurostar. Bruges is a very cute 'typical' European touristy town. On the canals, you can go on boat trip. At the square you can ride on a horse and cart. Tourists are queuing everywhere.

We had as usual no guidebook and no plan. On the first day, just after we'd checked in to
our hotel,
Golden Tulip de' Medici

Arata and I had a good two hour nap. On the second day, we were on 50 minutes tour bus, but that was it. After that, I had a nap on a bench along side the canal, we had Jacuzzi at our hotel, and ate and relaxed at cafe in between.

We didn't forget to find a playground for Arata. While playing Arata met a boy who lives nearby. They speak different languages but played together copying each other's noises or movements. It was amazing to watch what they were doing! On the 3rd day, while I was busy walking around the high street (shopping), Arata and Jason went on a half an hour boat trip. Arata kept saying, 'Funa!', the word he has recently learnt. (The correct word 'Fune' means a boat/ship.)

Arata has been grumpy in the last week. Even in Bruges, Arata went on, 'Daddy Dakko (carry me)' all the time and Jason got quite tired.... Well, apart from that, it's not bad as he eats the same food as we do. We had Teppanyaki for dinner one night, and in this photo, Arata is eating a bit spicy fish soup.

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1Y7M またまた緊急入院 Emergency stay at hospital

日曜の夜から原因不明の肩痛。昨日の朝から頭痛で会社を半休。昼間も頭痛が治まらずふらふらしていて、家に帰ると熱があった。パラセテモを飲んで寝たが、 11時頃、急に寒気で歯ががたがたしだしてそれがとまらず20分。布団にくるまって、少しでも空気に触れると寒い。St Peter's Hospital のLabour Ward (出産病棟）に一泊。
(続きはコチラ…)

I stayed overnight at St Peter's Hospital labour ward last night. I didn't feel well yesterday. I had a slight headache in the morning and towards evening, I developed temperature. I took Paracetamol and went to bed. But at about 11 pm, my body suddenly started to shiver and my teeth couldn't stop chattering for about 20 minutes.
(read on...)

32W1D またまた緊急入院 Emergency stay at hospital

日曜の夜から原因不明の肩痛。昨日の朝から頭痛で会社を半休。昼間も頭痛が治まらずふらふらしていて、家に帰ると熱があった。パラセテモを飲んで寝たが、11時頃、急に寒気で歯ががたがたしだしてそれがとまらず20分。布団にくるまって、少しでも空気に触れると寒い。St Peter's Hospital のLabour Ward (出産病棟）に一泊。

Royal London Hospital 程大きくないので、AntenatalとかPostnatalとか病棟は分かれていなく、全てLabour Wardで対処している。私が滞在した部屋はAnenatal（出産前）用で、計画帝王切開や分娩誘発のために手術室や分娩室に入る前の妊婦、陣痛がまだ進んでいない妊婦などがいた。

細菌性のインフェクションでないかどうかチェックするために採血、また、膀胱炎などのチェックのために採尿。結果的には全てクリアで、残る可能性はウイルス性インフェクションなので、即効薬もないし、昼前に帰宅となった。医者に「家族で病気の人はいませんか」と聞かれてノーと答えたが、もしかしてアラタは風邪を引いているのかもしれない。咳をしているし、今日の夜は食欲もなくちょっと熱っぽかった。

病院到着後は37度まで下がっていたのだけれども、寒気と暑さが交互に襲ってきて、とても寝られず七転八倒。かなり経ってからもう一度検温してくれてよかった。また38度以上になっていたのでパラセテモをもらってようやくうとうとできたのが朝の5時。ただ、退院して家に戻ってきた後また熱が上がってパラセテモ。パラセテモがよく効いて、汗びっしょりになり解熱する。アラタをナーサリーまで迎えに行くのはつらかったが、今のところ熱が下がっている。また今晩上がるのかしら。いったい原因はなんだろう。熱以外症状がない。

緊急入院といえば、アラタの時も34週の時、脱水症状によるめまいで一度やっている。あの時は２泊したなあ。今回も、
この時の日記にアップしたような
機器で赤ちゃんの心音や脈拍をチェック。今回は脱水症状を防ぐためにと、なんと点滴までされた。

点滴の針を刺すのがすごーく痛いことをしばらく忘れていたのだけれど、これは半端ではない。ちょっと深いところにある静脈に長く太目の針を入れるためその瞬間に血が飛ぶほど。「ブスッ」っと鈍い音がするぐらい思い切り刺され、思わず痛い～と叫ぶと、アラタを産む時分娩誘発の陣痛促進剤を入れるために同じように点滴針を刺されたことがフラッシュバックして、怖くなった。出産が近づくにつれて、痛みが蘇ってくるのかなあ。やっぱり、この妊娠で最後にしておこう…。

I stayed overnight at St Peter's Hospital labour ward last night. I didn't feel well yesterday. I had a slight headache in the morning and towards evening, I developed temperature. I took Paracetamol and went to bed. But at about 11 pm, my body suddenly started to shiver and my teeth couldn't stop chattering for about 20 minutes.

They checked my blood and urine samples to see if there is any bacterial infection. All clear. It must be viral infection, doctors said, and as they can't do anything for viruses, I was discharged. It's a bit weird as I don't have any other symptoms other than temperature. But at least they did thorough tests, and I feel relieved.

My temperature hadn't go down till 5 am, when I was given another dose of paracetamol. Till then, I kept shivering and feeling hot one after another. I developed temperature again after I came home. Well, Paracetamol works very well. Each time I take it, I sweat lots and temperature goes down. Hopefully, it will not go up again.

I stayed 2 nights at hospital when I was 34 week pregnant with Arata. Last night, the baby was again monitored using
the same equipment
and I was even given some dripping to avoid dehydration.

I had totally forgotten how sore the moment the needle of the dripping was inserted. I could even hear the dull noise the needle broke my skin and some blood splashed! At that moment, the memory of a needle inserted for induction clearly flashed back. When the labour is approaching, will I start to remember all the pains I suffered??? If you ask me today, I'm 100 % sure that this will be the last pregnancy in my life. I hate pains!

31W6D あと２ヶ月 Another 2 months to go

暑くてニンプにはつらい日々。JasonがAirCoolerなるものを購入してくれた。ところが買ったその日から過ごし易くなってきた。今回の産休は９月初旬から。オフィシャルな産休開始は予定日の26日からだが、年休を使い、4日から休む。ちょうどその日に母が英国に到着。今回は仕事も辞めて来るので、3ヶ月ぐらいお手伝いしてもらう。

アラタは火曜日だけ終日ナーサリーに送る。本当は週に2日ぐらい行ってほしいけれど、高いからしょうがない。産休になって、2人の子供の面倒を見るために家にいるのかと思うとかなり鬱な気分になる。とりあえず、そんな気持ちを払拭するため、アラタのために、9月からのMessy Artsクラス、音楽クラスなどの予約をしまくってみた。できればアラタがナーサリーに行っている火曜日にベイビーマッサージかヨガのクラスも探したいところだ。

Jason bought an Air Cooler to on Saturday. Ironically, since Saturday, it's not been so hot. I am going to work only another 5 weeks. My maternity leave starts on 4th Sep. Oficially, it's from the due date, 26th Sept but I will use my annual leave in the beginning of Sept. Mum is coming to the U.K. from 4th Sep. She is going to quit her job before coming. She is stayng with us for nearly 3 months to help me.

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Arata will keep going to nursery on Tuesdays. To be honest, I want to send him there at least twice a week but we can't aford it. Thinking about staying at home to look after 2 little monkeys makes me feel so depressed.... So I have started to book a couple of classes to attend for Arata. At least, I will be able to keep myself sociable.So far, Arts class and music class. Hopefully, I can take Arata's brother to a baby massage or yoga on Tuesday, when Arata is at nursery.

1Y7M ダディねんね "Daddy sleeping"

１週間程前から、単語を二つ並べた発話もするようになった。「ダディ　ねんね」「ダディ　シャツ」など。今日は私が肩痛で湿布を貼っていて、「ママ、肩が痛いのよ」と話していたら、「ママ　いたい。」午後はトーマとゆうこさんが遊びに来た。相変わらずトーマの持ってるものを何でも力ずくで取ってしまうアラタだが、「トーマにこれあげて」と言うと、ビスケットぐらいなら「トマ！」と甲高い声で言いながら渡すことも少しはできるようになってきた。（自分が食べたくないビスケットだけだけど…。）
今日のニンプ日記はコチラ。

Arata has started to speak with 2 words since a week ago. "Daddy nenne (sleeping)" or "Daddy shirt" etc. My left shoulder was stiff and a medicated plaster was covering it this morning. I explained Arata that mummy had a shoulder ache. Then he started to say, "Mama Itai (painful)." Thoma and Yuko came in this afternoon. Arata still tries to take away whatever Thoma is holding. But he has also learnt to give Thoma something when I ask him to give Thoma. Well, they are usually only biscuits Arata doesn't want...
Click here to go to "The baby No. 2"