So, it has been a while and a whole lot has happened! Due to medical reasons we left Hyderabad for good. It was a very hard decision and a long and stressful process once we made the decision. With no formal onward assignment, they landed us in DC for a few weeks before we head home and start maternity leave. We don't know where we are going next but are looking forward to some time to just be a family and get the medical care we need. The trip home was a grand 42 hours complete with pet complications but we made it! There were many things we were looking forward to in the US (and we have surely been taking advantage of since our return) but we have found ourselves unexpectedly dealing with reverse culture shock. It is neither good nor bad but it leaves me, legs, feeling a little lost in the world.
We decided to buy a car and road trip home--this time we will go South. I don't think anyone, in any culture, enjoys the car buying process! We survived and came out with a Subaru that looks just like our old Hyundai but with four doors; the Hyundai we drove from West to East, along the Northern route, when we started this adventure almost two years ago. I've had a few breakdowns since being back, for a variety of reasons--mostly that we have been struggling for a few months now and I just keep getting more pregnant which doesn't make any of it easier to deal with--and Pancho bought me a prenatal massage, took me and Thumper to a French bistro for lunch, and went with me to pick out a few new fall sweaters. I sure am lucky.
I am hoping to see a doctor before we start our road trip but not having an address, state of residence, onward assignment, or actual medical records from India, it is challenging to set these things up! We aren't sure when we are going to start our trip but hopefully it will be this week...pending the government shutdown decision.
Thumper is a whole new little boy being able to run free in the grass, ride the metro, and go outside without being touched or photographed. He gets excited each time an airplane goes by and keeps asking to walk to the local fire station. It looks like a trip to Gravelly Point Park is in order this evening!
Making a Babies R Us registry again and trying to decide on a color of Ergo baby carrier makes me happy in the short term and seeing the rest of the country with just my little family in our new car promises to be healing. The Grand Canyon is on my bucket list!
We decided to buy a car and road trip home--this time we will go South. I don't think anyone, in any culture, enjoys the car buying process! We survived and came out with a Subaru that looks just like our old Hyundai but with four doors; the Hyundai we drove from West to East, along the Northern route, when we started this adventure almost two years ago. I've had a few breakdowns since being back, for a variety of reasons--mostly that we have been struggling for a few months now and I just keep getting more pregnant which doesn't make any of it easier to deal with--and Pancho bought me a prenatal massage, took me and Thumper to a French bistro for lunch, and went with me to pick out a few new fall sweaters. I sure am lucky.
I am hoping to see a doctor before we start our road trip but not having an address, state of residence, onward assignment, or actual medical records from India, it is challenging to set these things up! We aren't sure when we are going to start our trip but hopefully it will be this week...pending the government shutdown decision.
Thumper is a whole new little boy being able to run free in the grass, ride the metro, and go outside without being touched or photographed. He gets excited each time an airplane goes by and keeps asking to walk to the local fire station. It looks like a trip to Gravelly Point Park is in order this evening!
Making a Babies R Us registry again and trying to decide on a color of Ergo baby carrier makes me happy in the short term and seeing the rest of the country with just my little family in our new car promises to be healing. The Grand Canyon is on my bucket list!
