It's A Girl

Please allow me to introduce Katie Marie Dwyer. We love her:


Click on play button - you may need to click 2x - once you see the word "buffering" appear on the screen it is about to start.

We found out about three weeks ago but I haven't had time to post. It was an interesting experience. First Dr. Tajha (spelling?) at the 39th Medical Group told Karen and I he was 95% sure the baby is female. But he wanted to send us to Adana for a more advanced ultrasound and screening. So we showed up to TriCare about a half hour before the appointment and "Sami" from TriCare drove us Sistems in Adana. At Sistems he took us up to what seemed like a SIP lounge. All the Turks were waiting in the lobby but they took us up to a special private room with a TV and we waited away from the crowd. The other interesting thing was the entire clinic smelled of cigarettes. We couldn't actually see anyone smoking but they clearly were in the offices. This was a clinic not a hospital but still... My coworker who is a longtime resident here, Tom Evans, tells me even in the hospital you sometimes see people smoking despite signs forbidding it - no enforcement. Sistems was very nice and had great equipment. Karen could actually watch everything on a television while I sat beside her and watched on the machine. The doctor at Sistems said they were also "almost positive" the baby is a girl and they saw nothing to worry about. "Looks good," said the doc.

We have also purchased the crib and attached diaper changing stand with a mattress. Buying the crib was a typically funny Turkish experience. You have to remember the Turks run most of the Incirlik Base Exchange (BX). And where we bought the crib they run the entire store. The name of the place we bought the crib is the BXtra because they sell all the large items that don't fit in the BX. So here's how it went:

Patrick and Karen walk in and tell Turkish employee which crib they want. "Do you have some in the back?" asks Patrick.
"Yes Abe. They are in box - we deliver to you on Tuesday."
So Patrick and Karen buy the crib. After we have exchanged money Turkish employee says, "Oh, I am sorry Abe but I realize we don't have any in the back. they are at warehouse and we can't get for a few days. We can deliver the model on the floor?"
"No. We want a new one in the box. Can we just wait?"
"Sure Abe."
Awkward silence as Turkish employee looks at computer screen. "Abe, I am not sure if we have two at warehouse or not. it says two. I think we have two. Can you call Mehmet on Tuesday?"
On Tuesday, Patrick calls Mehmet who says, "Abe, my guy looked at it wrong. We have two on the way but not at the warehouse."
Patrick says, "But you already sold it to me."
"I know Abe. What are we going to do?"
"Well, when will the two new ones get here."
"Maybe two to three weeks Abe. I could also give you the floor model."
"Well we looked at it and there's nothing wrong with it but we won't pay full price for a floor model."
"Abe, I will give you 25% off."
Patrick rushes over to take advantage of the fantastic Turkish bargain. He finds Mehmet. "The crib will be delivered today then."
"Yes Patrick, except we have a problem with the 25% off - we have no money in our register."
"Well, I am going to buy the mattress. Why don't you just give me the mattress."
"I have to be able to show the transaction Abe. We will give you a gift card for the 25% and then you may buy the mattress with the gift card."
"Tamum (OK)," says Patrick.
I was happy that it only took ten minutes for them to figure out how to work the gift card and then I got an even better deal. Those Turks thought they were getting me but I pulled the wool over their eyes. You see, when we were all done I was able to buy the mattress AND still have money left over on the gift card. So they had to hand me a gift card with one cent of credit left on it!
"But Abe we still have one problem left. Can we deliver maybe before the delivery time?
"Well...when?"
"Oh, anytime before the three o'clock time. Maybe one or...NOW?"
"Yeah, I can do that but I don't have a car. You need to give me time to walk home."
"Abe, you can ride with my guys in the truck."
"My wife has the only key and she's at the library."
"Abe, we will drive you to the library and we can get the key and then deliver the crib."
So I hopped in the Turkish van looking like a Turkish worker - crammed three to the front with no seat belts. We got the key from Karen. And that is how Katie received her crib!