On Tuesday morning just as my husband was leaving for work I looked down at my four-month-old daughter's toe and noticed a strange red line and swelling just above the joint. I could immediately guess the cause: one of my long blonde hairs had wrapped itself around the toe. I inferred this from the fact that my hair has been mysteriously appearing in random places, for example, in the crevices of her neck and all over our shared futon. Apparently women shed a lot of hair around four months after pregnancy.
My husband and I tried to remove the hair, and he apparently got a small piece, but we were not in any way confident that we got it all. Do I need to take her to the pediatrician, I wondered? I did what most worried mothers probably would: I googled "hair wrapped around baby toe." Through googling, I discovered this is a real, known condition ("toe tourniquet syndrome") with disastrous consequences if left untreated, so I took her to the local pediatrician (the same one I've tipped my hat off too on this blog before).
The pediatrician said it was his first time to see an accident like this. He grabbed his scalpel and nipped away at the toe but without using a magnifying device declared he couldn't see anything. "If the toe changes color or the line doesn't go away, come back in," he instructed. Could he really see with his bare eyes, I wondered?
I went to Seiyu (the Japanese equivalent of Walmart) and purchased a magnifying glass to see if I could find anything. Neither my husband nor I could see anything with the 3x magnifying glass, and the toe appeared to be getting decent circulation (capillary refill, etc.), but worry-wort (I recently learned the phrase "hypo-mom-driac") that I am, I did some more googling. A blonde hair is really hard to detect, I read. Even when coloration is okay hairs can remain, another case study revealed. I think I need a second opinion, I decided.
Here I had to use my instincts about Japanese culture and what I've witnessed of Japanese medicine to achieve the most effective outcome. I could have taken my baby to a large hospital and waited forever to be seen for about five minutes by a random and very busy doctor. This would in effect be going around my pediatrician. But I like my pediatrician, as I've written before, and I knew he had contacts. And in Japan, kone, or "connections," are a kind of commodity, particularly when it comes to medicine. (That is why, I think, it is hard to get into a hospital and also hard to get out. It takes a while to form the connection with a medical institution, but once that bond is formed, it's hard to yank.) So I went back to the pediatrician and said, "Look, I've been googling, and I think it could be really bad if there is still a hair there. Can you recommend an orthopedic surgeon?"
Not only did he recommend an orthopedic surgeon, he called the local children's hospital (and me, with follow up reports) three times to get us into an appointment today. That's when I realized that the job of the local pediatrician (ours, as I mentioned, is five minutes away on foot) is in large part coordination. He makes phone calls, gets test results back fast, you know, makes things happen. Back in the jaundice days, when he saw how worried I was about the billirubin test results, for example, he promised to "make a phone call" to get the results back within the day.
The end of the toe story is that under high-powered microscopic glasses the baby toe appears to be hair free, with just a red scar remaining for perhaps a while. However the journey with our pediatrician has just begun... I am extremely grateful to him for navigating the medical landscape for us, but I have to remind myself not to take too much advantage of it in the future, to calm the hypo-mom-driac latent in me down. I want to preserve good kone with the kind, local pediatrician. I don't want to become the mom who cried wolf.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Anpanman philosophy
Hi everyone, sorry for the long delay in posting. Very busy with a little one around. It should surprise none that my post after some time is about something kid-related, this time, Anpanman. I recently discovered that the Anpanman march lyrics are amazingly philosophical. Here is a link to the song with lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJDjC7ptNY The lyrics are about addressing the question 何のために生まれた (why you were born) and the sadness of dying without knowing your purpose and happiness in life. It extorts children not to forget their dreams.
This got me thinking: What are some philosophical kids' songs in English? You know, songs about the meaning of life and that kind of thing? Any ideas or favorites out there?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYJDjC7ptNY The lyrics are about addressing the question 何のために生まれた (why you were born) and the sadness of dying without knowing your purpose and happiness in life. It extorts children not to forget their dreams.
This got me thinking: What are some philosophical kids' songs in English? You know, songs about the meaning of life and that kind of thing? Any ideas or favorites out there?
Friday, January 11, 2013
Hats off to our pediatrician *update on breastfeeding
A few weeks ago I posted on Breastfeeding in Japan, so out of respect for our pediatrician, I would like to give an update. At the one-month exam, my daughter posted 30g/daily weight gain, probably on account of a growth spurt, and the doctor was quite pleased. At today's 2-month check, though, she registered 600g over 28 days, or 21g/day. The doctor said that while 30g is ideal, it's not a big problem, so just come back in another month since everything else looks good. I feel relieved :-) I do not, however, let the university hospital where she was born off the hook for requiring formula supplementation in the first week or its outmoded treatment of jaundice.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Review of books not about Japan
In restricting this blog to Japan-related content, I missed out on the opportunity to write about some of my favorite recent reads. I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite books not related to Japan (though many can be found in the Chiba library) I read in 2012/2013 to give them a little more attention.
A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul
This 1960s novel tells the story of Mohun Biswas, an Indian born in Trinidad, and the third-world travails he encounters on the way to becoming a journalist and homeowner. It is not a climb up, though, because his life ends on the rather sour note that is played throughout life: the house he owns is faulty and cost way too much money; he continually bickers with his wife. Though the character is in many ways a pretty pathetic figure, I felt I could really understand the daily perils associated with his family's and community's extreme poverty amid the chaos of a malfunctioning court system and swindlers galore.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
A strange old man about to die introduces teacher Jake Epping to a portal that leads back in time to the 1950s. The old man encourages Epping to try to go back in time and change history by stopping the assassination of JFK. I liked two features of this novel: (1) King's musings on the nature of time, particularly his elaboration of the notion that "The past resists change"; (2) the description of life in the 50s and 60s and how someone from our age would experience it. Unlike King, though, I'm not so positive that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. The assassination of JFK is such a controversial subject that taking it on as a piece of objective history that can be "undone" through time travel is somewhat problematic.
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
I never read the famous autobiography, so I cannot evaluate the historian's attempt to flesh out untold stories and debunk some of the exaggeration, but I can say I came away from reading this with tremendous respect for the person of Malcolm X and a real sense of the tragedy of his murder by the Nation of Islam (with possible involvement of the FBI). I loved the description of Malcolm's changing identities and his embodiment of the person of the trickster and the preacher, two motifs common in black culture. I also appreciated for the first time how class played out in the civil rights struggle: while King and other peaceful demonstrators represented the African American middle-class, Malcolm took up the cause of the poor.
The God of Small things by Arundhati Roy
This is a beautiful, lyrical book. That said, I found the unraveling of the plot--the story of the death of Sophie Mol--a bit tiring. We know in the beginning that the half-white, half-Indian Sophie Mol, visiting her father in India for a short trip, drowns in the river, and we know something unjust happens to an Untouchable, a Paravan, falsely accused of being responsible for her death. Roy reminds us just a few too many times about the ending before actually shedding light on the real circumstances. Get on with it, I want to say at times. I also have trouble liking any of the characters, except the Paravan, of whom we rarely get an inner glimpse. That said, the description of the social and physical landscape in India in the mid-90s is breathtaking.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This is the story about the birth and life of the hermaphrodite Cal, how (s)he came to be and relates to the world, and the deeply flawed but also intensely likable family members who influence her. This book has two major strengths: (1) empathetic character portrayal; (2) description spanning nearly a century of difficult topics in American history, for example, race relations and the immigrant experience. I liked it so much I want to try The Virgin Suicides soon. I'm less interested in the subject matter broached in The Marriage Plot, though.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
If the characters in Middlesex are intensely likable, the characters in Gone Girl are COMPLETELY BONKERS. The plot stems around the mysterious disappearance of Amy Dunne, wife of Nick Dunne, and is told alternately by Nick, as the investigation unfolds, and Amy, at first through the pages of her diary. The plot is juicy and Flynn, a former reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, sharply satirizes the media. This is a fantastic mystery/suspense/social critique/treatise on marriage.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer
I had been meaning to read this book forever and finally got around to listening to the audio version last year. The detail in its description of the political maneuverings is fantastic, as are the journalist's commentaries on his life in Europe around the beginning of the war. This is a very thorough telling of the tragedy of the Third Reich. That said, the author's afterward about the dangers presented by a unified Germany (written in the early 90s) bothered me a bit, as did the lack of social and cultural history. Still, this helped me put a lot of events in World War II into focus, so I'm glad I listened to it.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I also listened to this book. It was worth it if only because I learned that Yellowstone is a giant volcano ready to explode any day now. This history of science flows from the origins of our universe to the discovery of the proton and neutron to the evolution of man to plate tectonics. It's a delightful read, and you're bound to find out something you didn't know that you are glad you now do.
Thanks for taking the time to look at this random smattering of books. If you've read any or have any opinions on what I've written, let me know!
A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul
This 1960s novel tells the story of Mohun Biswas, an Indian born in Trinidad, and the third-world travails he encounters on the way to becoming a journalist and homeowner. It is not a climb up, though, because his life ends on the rather sour note that is played throughout life: the house he owns is faulty and cost way too much money; he continually bickers with his wife. Though the character is in many ways a pretty pathetic figure, I felt I could really understand the daily perils associated with his family's and community's extreme poverty amid the chaos of a malfunctioning court system and swindlers galore.
11/22/63 by Stephen King
A strange old man about to die introduces teacher Jake Epping to a portal that leads back in time to the 1950s. The old man encourages Epping to try to go back in time and change history by stopping the assassination of JFK. I liked two features of this novel: (1) King's musings on the nature of time, particularly his elaboration of the notion that "The past resists change"; (2) the description of life in the 50s and 60s and how someone from our age would experience it. Unlike King, though, I'm not so positive that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. The assassination of JFK is such a controversial subject that taking it on as a piece of objective history that can be "undone" through time travel is somewhat problematic.
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
I never read the famous autobiography, so I cannot evaluate the historian's attempt to flesh out untold stories and debunk some of the exaggeration, but I can say I came away from reading this with tremendous respect for the person of Malcolm X and a real sense of the tragedy of his murder by the Nation of Islam (with possible involvement of the FBI). I loved the description of Malcolm's changing identities and his embodiment of the person of the trickster and the preacher, two motifs common in black culture. I also appreciated for the first time how class played out in the civil rights struggle: while King and other peaceful demonstrators represented the African American middle-class, Malcolm took up the cause of the poor.
The God of Small things by Arundhati Roy
This is a beautiful, lyrical book. That said, I found the unraveling of the plot--the story of the death of Sophie Mol--a bit tiring. We know in the beginning that the half-white, half-Indian Sophie Mol, visiting her father in India for a short trip, drowns in the river, and we know something unjust happens to an Untouchable, a Paravan, falsely accused of being responsible for her death. Roy reminds us just a few too many times about the ending before actually shedding light on the real circumstances. Get on with it, I want to say at times. I also have trouble liking any of the characters, except the Paravan, of whom we rarely get an inner glimpse. That said, the description of the social and physical landscape in India in the mid-90s is breathtaking.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
This is the story about the birth and life of the hermaphrodite Cal, how (s)he came to be and relates to the world, and the deeply flawed but also intensely likable family members who influence her. This book has two major strengths: (1) empathetic character portrayal; (2) description spanning nearly a century of difficult topics in American history, for example, race relations and the immigrant experience. I liked it so much I want to try The Virgin Suicides soon. I'm less interested in the subject matter broached in The Marriage Plot, though.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
If the characters in Middlesex are intensely likable, the characters in Gone Girl are COMPLETELY BONKERS. The plot stems around the mysterious disappearance of Amy Dunne, wife of Nick Dunne, and is told alternately by Nick, as the investigation unfolds, and Amy, at first through the pages of her diary. The plot is juicy and Flynn, a former reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, sharply satirizes the media. This is a fantastic mystery/suspense/social critique/treatise on marriage.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer
I had been meaning to read this book forever and finally got around to listening to the audio version last year. The detail in its description of the political maneuverings is fantastic, as are the journalist's commentaries on his life in Europe around the beginning of the war. This is a very thorough telling of the tragedy of the Third Reich. That said, the author's afterward about the dangers presented by a unified Germany (written in the early 90s) bothered me a bit, as did the lack of social and cultural history. Still, this helped me put a lot of events in World War II into focus, so I'm glad I listened to it.
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I also listened to this book. It was worth it if only because I learned that Yellowstone is a giant volcano ready to explode any day now. This history of science flows from the origins of our universe to the discovery of the proton and neutron to the evolution of man to plate tectonics. It's a delightful read, and you're bound to find out something you didn't know that you are glad you now do.
Thanks for taking the time to look at this random smattering of books. If you've read any or have any opinions on what I've written, let me know!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Early mornings in the park
On weekends, I wake up and feed my daughter, quietly lay her down next to her sleeping father, and escape for a jog in the park. Neither one realizes I've left the house. I love this time to myself!
Parks are the most awesome places in the morning on weekends. Besides the usual joggers and dog-walkers (big, naked dogs, unlike the decorated datsuns and chihauhaus you see all over Tokyo), a lot of people are out doing calisthenics of all sorts. No matter what time I go between 7 and 9 a.m., I always see two separate Tai Chi groups, one of which exercises to music. Today I also ran past a little old lady walking fast--and backwards--along the path.
If you're near a big park in Japan, head there on some weekend morning and report what you see!
Parks are the most awesome places in the morning on weekends. Besides the usual joggers and dog-walkers (big, naked dogs, unlike the decorated datsuns and chihauhaus you see all over Tokyo), a lot of people are out doing calisthenics of all sorts. No matter what time I go between 7 and 9 a.m., I always see two separate Tai Chi groups, one of which exercises to music. Today I also ran past a little old lady walking fast--and backwards--along the path.
If you're near a big park in Japan, head there on some weekend morning and report what you see!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Suzuki Sensei
I don't really think it's a good idea to watch TV and dramas when you're caring for a baby, but last weekend my husband and I made an exception for five episodes of Suzuki Sensei free on Gyao through the weekend.
Suzuki Sensei, the story of a junior high school teacher of Japanese language and his interactions with students, started out as a manga (2005-2011) but became a drama in 2011. It's broadcast was short-lived as it was interrupted halfway by the March 11, 2011, disaster. It is receiving a second life on Gyao and will come out as a movie in January 2013.
The drama stars Hasagawa Hiroki (the husband in 家政婦のミた) as the glasses-wearing, highly perceptive, and popular Suzuki Sensei. The problems he faces in the first five episodes include: a student in his class may or may not have destroyed a pillow made by another class with a butterfly knife, and the same knife is used to kill a cat; one 12-year-old male student is accused of raping a fourth-grade girl; an attractive girl in his class may or may not have a crush on him; and so on. While these are heavy, and indeed to an American kind of gross topics, the show is actually pretty funny, especially when you hear Suzuki Sensei forming thought bubbles about how to interact with the involved students.
I actually found the show pretty enlightening about Japanese junior high schools. I've never actually been to one, after all. For example, I hadn't realized that students stay in the same class all day long even in junior high. (The teachers switch classes, but the students don't.) This is completely different from my junior high experience. I switched classes, so that I experienced Math class (for example) with a different group of people than English class. To some extent, I think the Japanese practice of keeping kids in the same class all day long contributes to bullying in schools. (This is another topic, though...)
Anyway, I recommend the drama if you have a chance to catch it.
Suzuki Sensei, the story of a junior high school teacher of Japanese language and his interactions with students, started out as a manga (2005-2011) but became a drama in 2011. It's broadcast was short-lived as it was interrupted halfway by the March 11, 2011, disaster. It is receiving a second life on Gyao and will come out as a movie in January 2013.
The drama stars Hasagawa Hiroki (the husband in 家政婦のミた) as the glasses-wearing, highly perceptive, and popular Suzuki Sensei. The problems he faces in the first five episodes include: a student in his class may or may not have destroyed a pillow made by another class with a butterfly knife, and the same knife is used to kill a cat; one 12-year-old male student is accused of raping a fourth-grade girl; an attractive girl in his class may or may not have a crush on him; and so on. While these are heavy, and indeed to an American kind of gross topics, the show is actually pretty funny, especially when you hear Suzuki Sensei forming thought bubbles about how to interact with the involved students.
I actually found the show pretty enlightening about Japanese junior high schools. I've never actually been to one, after all. For example, I hadn't realized that students stay in the same class all day long even in junior high. (The teachers switch classes, but the students don't.) This is completely different from my junior high experience. I switched classes, so that I experienced Math class (for example) with a different group of people than English class. To some extent, I think the Japanese practice of keeping kids in the same class all day long contributes to bullying in schools. (This is another topic, though...)
Anyway, I recommend the drama if you have a chance to catch it.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas Eve dinner in Japan
Christmas Eve is famously known as a date holiday here in Japan, while Christmas dinner is a time for "Christmas cake" and KFC. We have in the past used Christmas Eve as an excuse to go out to dinner (but hey, so do my parents and, according to them in recent years, lots of folks in the USA). This year, blessed with the responsibility of caring for a 5+ week-old, we skiopped the date part but battled long lines at SOGO department store for smoked turkey and chicken legs and chocolate cake. Here are some photos:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)