It has been an exciting year for my little family, surviving MRSA infections and now adding a little baby to the family. Mayumi Marie Mabanta Meyer was born last Thursday on the 5th of September. She arrived at 7 lbs 6 ounces. Hariett worked really hard to push her out. I am totally amazed by what she did. Even though she begged and pleaded with me to cut the baby out, she managed to work through the pain and delivered Yumi naturally. The pregnancy/birthing experience here was in many ways more rewarding, although just a tad more scary and stressful. I am relieved that Hariett and little Yumi are OK. Juliana and Frankie are so happy to finally see and welcome their little sister into the world.
At the end of last December we did some field work on Tau Island for my mapping project. The field work was hard, some of the most physically demanding hiking I have done. Despite my diligent efforts to return home injury free, I managed to fall on my elbow and developed a severe MRSA infection in my elbow. When we returned from Tau, I had to have surgery to drain the infection and spent a week in the hospital. Barely made it home to spend Christmas with the family. I was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve and thankfully spent a nice Christmas at home. Nothing like a pleasant MRSA infection to remind you how quickly life can change.
Some Samoans believe there are ghosts in the Manua Islands and I was warned not to go there. I am more of a believer now. Or was it my own clumsy tired ass that made me fall? Better for the ego to think it was the ghosts. Regardless, I will leave the ghosts of Tau alone for awhile.
Satellite image of Tau showing spatial data collected during fieldwork.
Hike up Laufuti stream on the south side of Tau
View of the Laufuti terrace from the southeast corner of Tau. One of our survey areas
Always a nice surprise when you unpack the tent and find the poles are missing. Fortunately the guys were able to cut some Hibiscus branches and use them as a substitute.
View from the falls of Laufuti stream, overlooking the Laufuti terrace
Foi recording data
Montane forest along Laufuti stream below the cliffs of Lata. One of my favorite places we visited on Tau
Foi posing on Laufuti stream - 65 years young and still leading the way through the forest.
The Laufuti crew. We hired some local villagers to help Foi and Josh with trail cutting; they did a great job making it easier for us to reach our ground truth points.
Hiking out of Laufuti with a coconut crab one of the crew gave me.
Happy to be hiking out of Laufuti
Josh and Foi
Hike to the top of Mt. Lata, highest point in American Samoa
View from the summit scrub on the hike up Mt. Lata. The start of the hike can be seen down by the airport near the ocean.
oli oli tree fern
views of the summit scrub habitat - unique to Tau Island.
On top of Lata with Foi and Dynamite
Foi, Josh and Dynamite on the top of Lata
Looking over the edge of the cliffs at the top of Lata
Beaches of Tau
painful rain
View of Tau village with Ofu and Olosega islands in the background.
Around the island boat survey
Rain on the around the island boat survey
spinner dolphins
Dynamite in deep reflection with Olosega island in the background.
fishing Samoan style
Recovered from the MRSA infection and made it home from the hospital on Christmas eve to spend a nice Christmas with the family
Happy Birthday Francesca! Frankie has reached double digits - the big 10. We did a small party this year. We swam in the ocean, had pizza, made our own little movie theater, and Frankie had a couple of friends sleep over. Frankie also recently won 1st place in Botany during this year's science fair - I am a very proud and lucky poppy.
Birthday photos
My J-bear having fun with her mates
Frankie about to blow out the candles
The sleepover crew Frankie with Malia and Kiona
Science Fair Winner
Frankie with her project. "Do Plants Grow Upside Down?' Hariett helped her alot with this project, especially with the artwork on her board
Nervous anticipation
J-bear and friend Jescie waiting patiently at the award ceremony
Winner! Receiving the award
1st place in botany
Science fair participants from Pacific Horizons school
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