Matt got an assignment! We don’t have orders yet, just the rip. Guess where?! Misawa, Japan!! This is so great because that’s exactly where we wanted to go (#1 on his Dream Sheet.) He had been applying for special duty postal assignments to get to Japan, but there were no slots for his rank at Misawa, so our last application was for Kadena. Well, he didn’t get a postal job, but rather got chosen for this quarter’s overseas nonvolunteer assignments in his career field! We’re not sure what all he’ll be doing yet, but the unit is part of an intelligence group, so that might be interesting! There are a few downsides, though. His report date is 29 Feb and cannot go out any earlier than 30 days ahead of time. Well, being due on the 8th, that really doesn’t work for us. Our options are for him to go out and I’ll follow later, but depending on whether the baby comes late, he may miss the birth! Or we could apply for a new report date, which is what we ended up doing. The date couldn’t be pushed any earlier, only bumped out later. He picked March 31st, but we’ll see what we get back. If the baby comes perfectly on time, then it’ll be about 6 weeks old when we go out there. Initially I would have preferred to go out while pregnant, but this is nice because then family members can meet baby before we move across the world. I know Mama will try to be out for the birth, but that is hard to plan around, especially with Andrea’s due date only 10 days after mine and wanting to be there for her, too. Matt’s parents and Jen will be out in the middle of February also. It will be such a hectic time, but it will be nice to see everybody and maybe get a little help out with getting ready for the move and taking care of baby.

Matt and I have talked a lot about Tal and Gabby and decided that it just doesn’t make much sense to try to bring them. We have to get them microchipped, rabies shots, a FAVN test (will probably take a month or so before we can do that), then a blood test followed by 180 days of quarantine before they can enter Japan. Well, I’m not sure we’ll have the time. Plus, it will be such a drag getting them out there on a long flight then the 12-hour pet shuttle trip up to Misawa. And temporary lodging doesn’t allow pets and our housing options would be limited with them. I think it would also freak them out a ton and who knows how they’re going to handle a newborn on top of all that. We’re going to try really hard to find them a good home and maybe (hopefully!!) they’ll get to stay together wherever they are. It’s sad and we’ve grown really attached, but I think it would just be crazy (and expensive) to try to move them out with us. It will be quite the stressful time without dealing with pets. They’ve been so sweet with us and we love them so much, but so long as they’re with loving new parents, I’ll be okay with it. Maybe someday when we’re settled in we can get another kitten, too!

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