Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Just some Pictures













Here are some pictures:
The Horse's 7th birthday!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Horse!!

Today has finally come! It is your 7th birthday - you have been anxiously (very) awaiting this day for months. I love you.

This morning when the Horse was woken up, I don't think he remembered that it was his birthday. When I said Happy Birthday and come on get up Birthday Boy, he sprang up and had a huge smile on his face. He was really grinning! Tonight he gets noodles (not the good ones, oh no, he wants ramen and so does his sister) and strawberries - his all time favorite fruit for dinner. The rest of us are getting Chinese takeout, including jiaozi (dumplings) which I am sure he will share since he loves them. I will go get balloons and have them in the car when I pick him up and then after dinner it's a cake with a firetruck on it (per his request) and presents! He took cupcakes to school to share with his class and they should make him a crown. I'll have to replace the picture of him last year at the orphanage eating the cake we sent with his crown on and am happy that he is here this year with us for his birthday.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day




Today is Mother's Day and I have had a good day. Daddy kept the kids out of our room and I slept till 7 am! That is really late in our house. I got to drink coffee and watch my show - Sunday Morning - and just relax. Last night was the first that I have slept through the night and got a good night's rest in the last couple of weeks.

The Horse had another surgery on Thursday and is doing great. His eye looks even better now than before and the conformer looks like an eye.

We went to Strings for a late lunch and it was great. I had 2 drinks called Orange Sunset or something (martini's) and they were good. Then had the lamb sirloin dish and it was great. Finished it off with the Chocolate Mousse Cake. Yum Yum.

The kids are taking a nap now getting ready for the week to come. Tomorrow I will go pick up Jasmine's ashes and then we will bury some along with her favorite rocks and toys and then plant a flowering bush. The rest of the ashes will be spread in her yard.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

She is never coming back . . .





Explaining to the kids about Jasmine's death was very hard for me. Mostly because I could not stop crying (and still am having a hard time). At the end of the day Thursday, Daddy and I took our baby to the vet so that they could arrange for her cremation. Then we went to get the kids at daycare. I had been crying all day so looked pretty bad. They both kept asking why I was sad and why I was crying and I just told them that we were going to talk about it when we got home. I had read a few articles on pet loss and children and how to tell them during the day.
After I got home, I told them that Jasmine wasn't there, was she? And that she had died. The Rooster wanted to know when she was coming back. so I explained that Jasmine's body just didn't work anymore and that she was never coming back because she had died.
I think that she and the Horse then understood. Later that evening, we went our for Dining Our For Life, and we went to pick up Grandaddy, and as soon as he got into the truck, the Rooster blurted out "Jasmine Died" so that he would know. Over the past few days, we have talked about Jasmine and that we should remember the happy times we had with her and that it is OK to be sad because we will miss her. As I type this, I can't help but cry and the Rooster is here with me looking at pictures of Jasmine. It will be a long time, before I can think of her without crying. Everywhere I look in the house and especially out in the yard (Her Yard - the most favorite place for her all the time) reminds me of her. It is very quiet at our house without her. Both the kids are saying that Jasmine died, and she/her is not never coming back.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

My Dear Baby Jasmine



Our family is terrbily saddened by the death of our baby Jasmine in the evening of April 29, 2009. She was killed by, we assume, a coyote sometime between about 8:00 and 8:30 or so when she didn't come in when called.
We had Jasmine for 9 years and got her when she was a little puppy. She was the most loving and playful dog I have ever seen. Even at 9, she was still just a puppy.
She, along with Lilly, are our first children and I am so deeply saddened by her death - I just don't know what to do with myself.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

April 28th already!!

So, I don't post as often as I'd like or should. I can't believe that it is already the 28th of April, 2009. the Rooster turned 4 on the 8th and had her first "friend birthday party" also known to her as her "fake birthday party". Fake, I guess because it wasn't on her actual birthday. Her friend C*** had a fake birthday party as well. The Horse did pretty well at the Chuck E Cheese party after the initial disbelief that the Rooster was getting balloons and presents - again! The party on Saturday was a success and all of her friends came and had fun. There were 10 kids and most of the parents and we all had a fun time.

The Horse will also have his party at the same place upon his request.

I find it a little ironic that I have parties at a place where I hold a bad memory. Years ago, there was a murder spree at another Chuck E Cheese and the criminal is currently on death row in CO. I was a judicial law clerk at the time of the trial and sat in the same room with the murderer on more than one occasion and truly think that he is less than human. It has been years since then, but I still remember that I felt that he was truly evil. Others will say that he had a hard childhood, etc., and that may be true, but killing a bunch of people is never justified. Enough of the soap box and bad stuff.

The Horse got to meet his Aunt L** and other Grandfather this past weekend. The kids enjoyed the company.

Phonics is big in our house all of a sudden. The Rooster is in her second month of Phonics and the Horse now wants to take it too. I think his language is getting about good enough but I will speak to the teacher first. I also finally enrolled the Horse for 1st Grade next fall at the public elementary school in the neighborhood. I think he'll do OK there. He has some friends from his current Kindergarten class that will also go to the same elementary school and hopefully be in the same classroom.

The Horse went to his first birthday party this past weekend too! He had a really fun time. I am so happy that he has made lots of friends and does seem to be really happy. His kindergarten teacher thinks he is a "really jolly fellow"! And, he is.

Still have to get those photos posted, I know . . . . .

Saturday, March 14, 2009

It's Been Awhile

I havent' posted for quite some time. I have gone back to work (on Feb 23, 2009) and am glad! I am transitioning to my new job soon and am ready to do so.

The kids are doing really good and they even got to go to the grocery store with me today - something I haven't done for quite awhile for behavior reasons. They did really good so for short trips they are no longer banned!

Tomorrow we are going to a Puppet show at the Denver Puppet Theater - Jack and the Beanstalk - which looks fun. School is going good for them both and they really like going. their school pictures turned out really good - I'll scan and post soon.

The Horse's eye is doing great and we have a fitting scheduled for April 7th for a prosthetic eye. If it goes well, great; if not, we will do it under anesthesia at a later date. Either way, this is way sooner than the physician originally thought and with far less surgeries. He did have a second surgery on February 12, 2009 and recovered great.

O changed the Blog background because we are entering Birthday Season here. The Rooster in April and the Horse in May. We went to Party America and bought the invitations today - both will have their parties at Chuck E Cheese this year. The Rooster picked My Little Pony invitations and the Horse picked dinosaur ones. They also got to pick out new plastic cups which was a bonus! Invitations for the Rooster's party will go out this week and we'll wait till late April for the Horse.

His language is really good, still a ways to go, but we never use the translator anymore. His behavior is also improved and instead of several times a day meltdowns or crying it is about once every day or every other day. Still, we have the "being first" problem/issue, but I am better at dealing with it and both kids are getting better. If anyone says, "Me First", they know that they will automatically be "Second". Bedtime is pretty smooth now, with just little issues now and then.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Happy New Year - Year of the Ox



Happy Chinese New Year!

Just a tidbit - President Barack Obama is an Ox.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Chinese New Year Outfits




Today I got out the new CNY outfits for the Year of the Ox that starts on Monday, January 26. The kids really love their new outfits and look good too! They will wear them for the next couple days for the festivities - open house party tomorrow and then Lion Dance and dinner on Monday! We are passing on tonight's party as today has already been full and tiring and I don't want to over-extend anyone.
They have been playing/fighting/coloring/bickering/laughing for most of the afternoon. The good is really good, but the other is wearing on me today. We are going to have to do take-out tonight and a m0vie - maybe Madagascar 2 because we haven't watched it yet. That sounds good to me . . . . Daddy just got home and that really makes me happy!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Surgery Yesterday

Yesterday the Horse had the first of his surgeries to try to correct his medical issue. The surgery went well and he is recovering very nicely. We left the house yesterday at about 6:15 a.m. and arrived just on time to check-in and wait. The hospital had a lady who spoke Mandarin with us in the pre-op room which was nice. It turns out that she is from Jiangxi - just like the Horse. She is a Doctor and so is her husband. She gave me their card and they do acupuncture, so I may just go see them for my wrist!! She said that she grew up in Jiangxi and then went "north" for college. Her husband was here in the USA (it sounded like for awhile) before she came here as well.
Overall, he did well at the hospital. It is hard watching your child being put under anesthesia on the operating table. They thrash around a little and it is disturbing. Needless to say, I was in tears when I left him to go join my husband to wait.
The Doctor came to the waiting room about 1 hour and 45 minutes later to tell us what he did and that all went well. Anyone who wants more specifics and who knows me, can ask.
Today, I took off the bandage and it really looks good! There is a little swelling, but not too bad. That is good since the Horse refuses to put ice on despite my telling him in Mandarin that the Doctor said he had to put it on. He also does not appear to be in any pain and that is also good since he refuses to take the Tylenol with Codeine that was prescribed. We elevated his mattress last night and he slept all night. We are taking it easy today again and watching movies and doing other "calm" activities. He will for sure be able to go back to school on Monday for his first full day and that is great.
The Rooster was a little apprehensive when she came home from school yesterday and really didn't understand why he had an operation. It is a little much for a 3 y.o. to understand, but by the end of the evening, they were bickering and jockeying for the "best" spot during book time before bed, so all is well in our household.

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Horse's First Day of School



The Horse started school today and had a nice day. He learned how to write his first name. The camera wouldn't work once we got to his classroom, so the picture is of the 2 of them on the bench in the front room of the school.
I have to say that at about 11 a.m. the phone rang and the caller ID said Kindercare and my heart dropped! Luckily, it was his teacher calling to say that he was doing really good. By the time we picked him up at about 1 p.m., he was really doing good. There are about 4 other kids that don't go go the public school for Kindergarten and they were all in the room at that time. I certainly hope that today is a sign for the future and that he continues to like school.
On another note, today within 1 hour time, the Pathfinder's driver seat broke, I hit the garage door with the Truck, and the snowblower wouldn't start. I will have to go back to work soon to pay for all of this!! It wouldn't be our house if I don't hit at least the frame or door of the garage with some vehicle!! This makes 2 houses in a row - my poor husband - I thought that I had just tapped it, but there is a panel cracked with a teeny hole. I think that you can barely notice it - yeah right!
We shoveled the snow - about 6 - 8 inches and then took the Pathfinder to the garage to get fixed. We really want to keep the car, but if we keep having issues, it might be time for a new car.
Yesterday was fun when the kid's friends came over and we will for sure do it more often. We went to Red Lobster for dinner and it was really good - the bartender spoke Mandarin so that was a small treat for the Horse. We could actually ask him what he wanted and I was pretty close!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Just a Lazy Saturday Afternoon

This afternoon we are just being lazy around the house. The Rooster is laying on the floor now since she doesn't have as much energy as the Horse and really still needs to nap (but won't) and the Horse is playing quietly for once.
We all went to Chinese school this morning and it went OK. The Horse might go to the level 7 class - I have to decide because it is 2 hours long and I don't know if I want to devote even more time on Saturdays.
They had dumplings today which were good!
The Horse will start part time Kindergarten on Monday. He is excited to start. He met one of his classmates Thursday night when we went to McDonalds Play place and ate dinner. They seemed to do OK together. Tomorrow another of his classmates is coming over to play (Rooster's best friend T from school's brother will be in the Horse's class) as well. So he will have spent some time with 2 kids in his class before he starts on Monday.
The last few days have been good.
Daddy and I are going out tonight to our car club annual banquet and I can't wait!! Come on 5:15 when we leave!!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Doctors, Doctors and More Doctors

Poor Horse has been to a doctor every day since Friday, but today was the worst --he had the blood draw for the tests. I really felt for him and he screamed and cried the whole time. They had to draw from both arms -- boo hoo.
We actually scheduled his first surgery yesterday - it will be 2 weeks from today. I don't know if I am going too fast, but I really want to be home from work for the first surgery and recuperation. The doctor said that it will be about a 2 day recuperation before he can go back to school and the Horse will have to have multiple surgeries over the next 18 months or so to accomplish the goal of hopefully being able to wear a prosthetic eye. On a good note, I really did like the doctor and I think that the Horse did too. No more doctor visits for the near future which will be good for all of us.
Our Hawaii trip may not happen because it is not too long after the surgery, but that is not as important as the Horse!
The Horse will probably start Kindergarten next week part-time (partly to get the school used to him and partly to let him get used to school here). He is really excited to start school or so he seemed today when I asked him if he wanted to start Kindergarten soon.
He is still really emotional (read cry) but seems to be getting better slightly every day.
As my Dad always tells me -- "Patience is a Virtue" and boy is that true!!!!!
P.S. -- I have had 2 glasses of Shiraz tonight and am feeling good!

For Lauren



The first picture upload is for Lauren (who I really miss seeing!). I have been remiss in getting to the pictures. I have uploaded to the desktop in the basement, but rarely am down there to work. The laptop "luxury" that I bought for myself last September/October which is upstairs is way easier to use and for some reason I have yet to upload to this computer.

This picture was taken the first time we met the Horse in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. He really is super cute! The Rooster is cute too, but we already knew that!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Rooster Back to School

Today Rooster went back to school and was pretty happy about it. I had to wake both the Rooster and Horse up today because we started getting up earlier. The Horse was crying when we left because I think he will really miss her. The have been together almost constantly since we all became a family.
We took the Horse to the pediatric opthamologist today and the appt went well. We have a prescription for glasses (t - rotect his eye) and he does have 20/20 vision. Tomorrow we go to the other specialist which I am sure he will not like. He may have a MRI or scan too.
We also went to the pediatrician and both kids PPD tests were negative.
Tomorrow will be another stressful day. The Horse watched a movie in Mandarin this afternoon and he did like it - the monkey king movie I bought in China.
Till later.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Year

A little late, I know. The last couple days were pretty busy and i didn't have much time to myself. Both kids are in bed and asleep by 8:15 this Saturday night and NO TEARS!! Wonderful. The pediatrician went well but no blood tests till I talk to the insurance company because apparently, they haven't been paying for other families. Insurance companies really make me mad. I'll try to get it resolved this week and then maybe take the Horse to the Adoption Clinic at Children's.
We had Chinese food last night and all were happy. Our friend Jan came over too.
Happy New Year to all!