Happy New Year - Year of the Ox

Happy Chinese New Year!

Just a tidbit - President Barack Obama is an Ox.

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!

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.

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!

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!!

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!!

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.

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!