I am so amazed at how fast our kids are growing up. We feel that time moves very slowly where we live, and yet the kids are growing twice as fast. It feels like the kids will have had 10 birthdays in our 3 plus years here. We have had a couple of experiences lately that have really driven that home.
Isabella called Tim into her bedroom the other night, this is very common, a hope to spend 5 more minutes awake. She informed Tim that she had names picked out for her children when she grows up. The girl will be Angelina (after Angelina Ballerina). And the boy will have the name of Peter Pan. Already planning names, ahhh!
And yesterday, she was, as many little girls her age do, pretending to get married. We only had a purple blanket for her to drape around herself so she decided that I needed to buy her a white "marrying dress." On a whim, as I was trying to do something and wanted something that would occupy her, I pulled up the David's Bridal website and let her look at wedding dress. She had blast! In fact she looked again last night. After she felt she had seen all the dresses that were "her favorite" she called Elijah in and they looked at tuxes. Next we'll be picking out the hall to have the reception in and the future will only have to show up.
As for Elijah, he is making great steps forward. He is changing from the squirly toddler to a preschooler. I have told him that in the fall he will start preschool. He is very excited. He'll even sometimes sit quietly with us while Isabella does her Kindergarten. Lately, he's been asking me to do some school with him while Isabella takes breaks. This consists of reading just a couple stories, but six months ago, he couldn't sit through any story let alone two. If only we could get him to eat! Last night he did eat carrots willing...in carrot cake!
And Lydia has gone from just "being able" to walk to preferring to walk. She's so funny to watch running here and there. She's figured out how to go down the stairs. She turns around and slides her legs down first. She can even climb down off of our bed without going head first! She, as opposed to Elijah, will eat just about anything. But will happily let you know she's done by knocking the spoon out your hand or spitting the food out. It usually comes without warning and makes a great mess!
Lasts but not least, although the smallest, the new baby is I guess growing...my belly sure is. I am not as sick as I had been. I am hoping that if I keep telling this baby to be lazy and laid back I won't have another crawler until I am back in the States! We'll see!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The Year of the Golden Pig
Many of you I am sure have been to a Chinese restaurant where they put down the paper place mats that you can use to figure out whether you are a dog or a dragon, a rat or a snake. These also detail who you ought and ought not marry and tell you your personality...with varying degrees of accuracy! As my Mom always says, a stopped clock is right twice a day. Anyway, also in the cycles of Chinese divination is some kind of metal rotation that is then matched with the animal. This year is the Year of the Golden Pig...a very lucky year! I'm sure you all remember the big rushed to be married in 1999, well, that was NOTHING compared to the baby rush this year! Apparently all children born this year will be wealthy. I'm not so sure I can believe that though. And our decision to have a child this year was not based in anyway on this fact (or fiction!). The following, though, is my attempt to have my first prenatal check.
The first hospital we went to we left rather quickly. It was, in general, overflowing with patients. When I went to the maternity section, the nurse angrily sent me to the gynecology department...where we were rebuffed again. When we got back to the nurse in the maternity department, she told me the wait would be over three hours. I needed to come back at 7 the next morning...no, they don't do appointments here. So off we went to find another hospital.
We told the taxi driver one hospital, but he insisted on taking us to another (everyone always knows better than everyone else...I get tired of being told what to do and where!). So off we went to another, of course it was all the way across town (gee, I wonder why he wanted me to go there?). When we arrive, we are directed to a crowded hall. Women are sitting, standing, pushing into the exam rooms...total chaos. We finally find the nurse who is to check in the 2 month pregnant women. Her first question: Does she want the baby? Are you sure? The push to get abortions here is worse than a Planned Parenthood clinic! She directs us to a door.
At the door, which is open, I have to take my chart in and line it up with the other charts on the nurses desk...while one patient is talking to a nurse and another is getting undressed to be examined. So I go back to door where we wait, in the doorway listening to the girl who is in there have her appointment. The only thing separating us from the girl getting undressed for her exam is a curtain and a plexi-glass wall. Yet, because of the lighting situation (none in the main part of the room, and very bright exam light on the other side of the curtain) we can see everything going on behind in silhouette. I find it very uncomfortable. Also I realize that these girls are having to place the exam table's sanitation paper up there themselves. I don't see anyone wash their hands.
After waiting for over an hour and half, I am finally called in (with another girl in tow). I am told that she won't see anymore patients. My friend who is there translating for me, tells them I have been waiting a long time. I don't want the female exam...which upset everyone. They tell them I just want some blood work. They look at my list and tell me I don't need these test. Then after some arguing, they say I don't need them until I am 3 month pregnant (I think they are just trying to get me to leave). Finally, after a great deal of explaining, they roll their eyes and we go into another room. Where two nurses are seeing two girls at the same time. By the way, there is no such thing as doctor (or nurse) patient confidentiality. The nurse who is leading the way tells my friend to follow her into another room. She goes into the room, turns around immediately to come. "There is a girl being examined in there." My poor friend has seen it all now! She tells me she is glad that she was not wearing her glasses!
We finally get someone who is willing to right the order for me and we are sent to the 3rd floor only after we pay. On the 3rd floor, I sit down to give my blood and ask, as always, if they were new (meaning the needles. The nurse said no and I jerked my hand back...she was not about to let my hand go so fast. But my friend clarifies my question, to which she answers, "yes, the needles are new. I thought she meant this stack of papers." (like I would care anything for her stack of paper!)
With my blood drawn, we carry my blood down to another window where they will finish the tests. After we get the results, we take them back down to the second room we went to in order to see the nurse again...this time we don't have to wait! We are told that the test is normal (or literally, no BIG problems). So back to the 3rd floor for the urinalysis, and for all you girls out there all I can say is "squatty potty." I feel very gifted! Once that ordeal is over, it is back down to the nurse who tells me again, ok. Then she says I need to come back at 4:30 that afternoon. I can tell, that did NOT happen. And I will not go back to the hospital unless I have a major problem and it is unavoidable.
So this was my person experience with the "baby boom" in the Year of the Golden Pig. And the next time you think that the doctors office is a big time drain...I was gone for about 4 hours with little to show for it. Be glad that you have private appointments. Be glad your doctor washes his/her hands. And for the doctors in America, I know you all work long hours...but at least you are paid for it. Here they are paid like common workers with little to no training. My friend told me of a friend who said that she wanted to quit being a doctor to become a waitress. She said that she worked for 24 hour shifts or more and was paid about the same as a waitress.
Well, that's all for now...I hope to post some pictures soon of the BIG girl Lydia who was one on Wednesday!
The first hospital we went to we left rather quickly. It was, in general, overflowing with patients. When I went to the maternity section, the nurse angrily sent me to the gynecology department...where we were rebuffed again. When we got back to the nurse in the maternity department, she told me the wait would be over three hours. I needed to come back at 7 the next morning...no, they don't do appointments here. So off we went to find another hospital.
We told the taxi driver one hospital, but he insisted on taking us to another (everyone always knows better than everyone else...I get tired of being told what to do and where!). So off we went to another, of course it was all the way across town (gee, I wonder why he wanted me to go there?). When we arrive, we are directed to a crowded hall. Women are sitting, standing, pushing into the exam rooms...total chaos. We finally find the nurse who is to check in the 2 month pregnant women. Her first question: Does she want the baby? Are you sure? The push to get abortions here is worse than a Planned Parenthood clinic! She directs us to a door.
At the door, which is open, I have to take my chart in and line it up with the other charts on the nurses desk...while one patient is talking to a nurse and another is getting undressed to be examined. So I go back to door where we wait, in the doorway listening to the girl who is in there have her appointment. The only thing separating us from the girl getting undressed for her exam is a curtain and a plexi-glass wall. Yet, because of the lighting situation (none in the main part of the room, and very bright exam light on the other side of the curtain) we can see everything going on behind in silhouette. I find it very uncomfortable. Also I realize that these girls are having to place the exam table's sanitation paper up there themselves. I don't see anyone wash their hands.
After waiting for over an hour and half, I am finally called in (with another girl in tow). I am told that she won't see anymore patients. My friend who is there translating for me, tells them I have been waiting a long time. I don't want the female exam...which upset everyone. They tell them I just want some blood work. They look at my list and tell me I don't need these test. Then after some arguing, they say I don't need them until I am 3 month pregnant (I think they are just trying to get me to leave). Finally, after a great deal of explaining, they roll their eyes and we go into another room. Where two nurses are seeing two girls at the same time. By the way, there is no such thing as doctor (or nurse) patient confidentiality. The nurse who is leading the way tells my friend to follow her into another room. She goes into the room, turns around immediately to come. "There is a girl being examined in there." My poor friend has seen it all now! She tells me she is glad that she was not wearing her glasses!
We finally get someone who is willing to right the order for me and we are sent to the 3rd floor only after we pay. On the 3rd floor, I sit down to give my blood and ask, as always, if they were new (meaning the needles. The nurse said no and I jerked my hand back...she was not about to let my hand go so fast. But my friend clarifies my question, to which she answers, "yes, the needles are new. I thought she meant this stack of papers." (like I would care anything for her stack of paper!)
With my blood drawn, we carry my blood down to another window where they will finish the tests. After we get the results, we take them back down to the second room we went to in order to see the nurse again...this time we don't have to wait! We are told that the test is normal (or literally, no BIG problems). So back to the 3rd floor for the urinalysis, and for all you girls out there all I can say is "squatty potty." I feel very gifted! Once that ordeal is over, it is back down to the nurse who tells me again, ok. Then she says I need to come back at 4:30 that afternoon. I can tell, that did NOT happen. And I will not go back to the hospital unless I have a major problem and it is unavoidable.
So this was my person experience with the "baby boom" in the Year of the Golden Pig. And the next time you think that the doctors office is a big time drain...I was gone for about 4 hours with little to show for it. Be glad that you have private appointments. Be glad your doctor washes his/her hands. And for the doctors in America, I know you all work long hours...but at least you are paid for it. Here they are paid like common workers with little to no training. My friend told me of a friend who said that she wanted to quit being a doctor to become a waitress. She said that she worked for 24 hour shifts or more and was paid about the same as a waitress.
Well, that's all for now...I hope to post some pictures soon of the BIG girl Lydia who was one on Wednesday!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Xinku: a language lesson
Well, ok, so my Chinese isn't that great. And really, I'm sure that no one wants a Chinese lesson, but this is really less about the language and more about the mindset.
"Xinku" (pronounced "Shin-coo) is something you say when you ask someone to help you do something and then it ends up being a lot of trouble (Sorry, I "xinku" you). The meaning is causing a lot of trouble or work. It literally translates "heart bitterness." It is not a positive word at all.
Since we have been back, most people who know that I have three kids tell me how "xinku"ed I am. In the States, we might say "Wow, you must really be busy!" But it is not meant to say that the parents are not blessed. Here, that is not true. It is almost like people are saying that we are cursed...I know it is not quite that strong, but it feels that way. I would have to admit that, yes, right now in my life, it's a lot of work. Sometimes, the kids go through phases where they cause constant trouble. I have days when I wait all day long to put them to bed at night...but it's funny because it seems that those are the days that about 15 minutes after they have gone to sleep I miss them. I have to resist the temptation to get them up and hug them and say, "let's just play a bit."
So in a country, where families only have one child, spend very little time with their children, and never discipline them, I feel I am the least "xinku" of them all. I pray that I will never feel that my children are "xinku" for me. I pray that I will always remember that they are my "xingfu" (blessing!).
So if you have kids, go love on them and tell them that you are blessed to have them and not troubled to have them. Each child is a gift!
"Xinku" (pronounced "Shin-coo) is something you say when you ask someone to help you do something and then it ends up being a lot of trouble (Sorry, I "xinku" you). The meaning is causing a lot of trouble or work. It literally translates "heart bitterness." It is not a positive word at all.
Since we have been back, most people who know that I have three kids tell me how "xinku"ed I am. In the States, we might say "Wow, you must really be busy!" But it is not meant to say that the parents are not blessed. Here, that is not true. It is almost like people are saying that we are cursed...I know it is not quite that strong, but it feels that way. I would have to admit that, yes, right now in my life, it's a lot of work. Sometimes, the kids go through phases where they cause constant trouble. I have days when I wait all day long to put them to bed at night...but it's funny because it seems that those are the days that about 15 minutes after they have gone to sleep I miss them. I have to resist the temptation to get them up and hug them and say, "let's just play a bit."
So in a country, where families only have one child, spend very little time with their children, and never discipline them, I feel I am the least "xinku" of them all. I pray that I will never feel that my children are "xinku" for me. I pray that I will always remember that they are my "xingfu" (blessing!).
So if you have kids, go love on them and tell them that you are blessed to have them and not troubled to have them. Each child is a gift!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
News worthy!
Hey, everybody. It's been a while mostly because there hasn't been a lot of "news worthy" things going on in our lives. We have arrived safely back at our home. Already gotten to "enjoy" the priviledge of being the center of everyone's attention. And been blessed with warm (translate HOT) weather. But as most of you who know me, I love the hot. So now that we have gotten all of our bags unpacked and the winter clothes put away, I find myself with just a bit of free time to sit down and write.
In regards to the pregnancy, I was blessed that I didn't have any morning sickness on the flight back home...which was really good because Isabella got an ear infection and Lydia didn't think that sleeping was all THAT important. But since we have been back, it's started up. I can't wait to get past this part of the pregnancy. I can never say which is worse, feeling sick or throwing up. In other pregnancy news, I've had my first craving. With Lydia I craved dumplings from the restaurant right around the corner from us. Right now I'm craving I dish from the same restaurant. It's tofu that's been pressed to be thin and flat like a tortilla. You use it to wrap around meat (pork with some kind of gravy) cilantro and thinly sliced leeks. It's so good. It's about all I can think about too! Well, at least it's something I can get!
In more exciting news (yes, I know there is something more exciting than the weird things I want to eat), Lydia is WALKING! We've been saying "any day now" forever it seems. And she finally let go. She's pretty proud of herself too. When she walks she gets a very satisfied look on her face. We plan to get the video camera out soon and get a clip of it. Lydia's fourth tooth has also broken through with two more just starting to push down. She's growing up so fast!
Well, that's about it for now!
In regards to the pregnancy, I was blessed that I didn't have any morning sickness on the flight back home...which was really good because Isabella got an ear infection and Lydia didn't think that sleeping was all THAT important. But since we have been back, it's started up. I can't wait to get past this part of the pregnancy. I can never say which is worse, feeling sick or throwing up. In other pregnancy news, I've had my first craving. With Lydia I craved dumplings from the restaurant right around the corner from us. Right now I'm craving I dish from the same restaurant. It's tofu that's been pressed to be thin and flat like a tortilla. You use it to wrap around meat (pork with some kind of gravy) cilantro and thinly sliced leeks. It's so good. It's about all I can think about too! Well, at least it's something I can get!
In more exciting news (yes, I know there is something more exciting than the weird things I want to eat), Lydia is WALKING! We've been saying "any day now" forever it seems. And she finally let go. She's pretty proud of herself too. When she walks she gets a very satisfied look on her face. We plan to get the video camera out soon and get a clip of it. Lydia's fourth tooth has also broken through with two more just starting to push down. She's growing up so fast!
Well, that's about it for now!
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