My baby is 7

Lien is 7 today- where has the time gone?

Lien got to choose anywhere she wanted to eat for dinner and she picked IHOP. After her pancake meal we went to the restroom to use the facilities and wash hands. Lien said, "I need to wash my hands first. I don't want to touch my nice clean butt with sticky hands."

Can't argue with that!

Lien opening her ipod. I don't have an ipod.

No more babies

My baby days are over.

Lily (2 1/2) says, "I not the baby. I a big girl."

Yes Lily. Yes, you are!

Catching Up

I swear it just took me 30 minutes to get logged in!!

Howdy-
Long time, no see!

I am going to catch you up on a bunch of random things because it’s been so long.

The mysterious bangs

This is a true story, Lien went to bed on a Thursday night, as usual, and woke up Friday morning with bangs- really short ones. It’s a mystery. We couldn’t find hair in her bed or any trash can. She must have gotten up and cut them in the middle of the night. We’ll never know what she did with the hair. If Lien knows what happened, she’s not telling Your guess is as good as ours.

Traveling

I’m in Ft worth again. Last month was really hard. Mai had her tonsils out, then we went on vacation, and then I had to leave. This month Mai gave me a big kiss on Monday morning and said, “Mommy go on airplane. I see you on computer, OK?” That’s much better than the usual, “Mommy NO airplane. Mommy come home to me!” Whew…I think we’ve turned a corner.

Not good news

My grandfather is doing okay. He’s in a nursing home. That’s not what they call it, but that’s what it is. I wet to visit last Sunday. Lien went with me inside; Mai was too scared of all the wheel chairs. Tai took Mai and Lily to the house with my mom. There isn’t a lot of time left. I know it, Lien knows, my grandmother knows it. They’ve been married 68 years- more than 2/3 of their lives. I don’t know what she’ll do without him.

My dad had a scare- skin cancer found on his scalp. It took two tries, but the doctor says he got it all. They’ll keep an eye on it. I know skin cancer isn’t usually fatal, but it was to my grandmother. So apparently it runs in my family on both sides.

Words of Wisdom

I’ve been attending lots of training classes, and I come home with good quotes. Quote of the day, “If you don’t have time to do something right the first time, when will you have time to do it over?”

Sea World Vacation

Hello from Ft Worth. I have been a terrible blogger, but at home I don't have time. By the time we get the girls to bed, I'm ready for bed myself.

Two days after our anniversary we left for 5 days in San Antonio. We bough a Sea World vacation package and stayed at the Hill Country Hilton. I highly recommend it!

Every day we had the same routine: breakfast, Sea World, hotel for nap, dinner, swimming, roasting marshmallows by the fire pit.

Day 1- look at that smile.

Lily and Lien would hold the fist and touch the dolphins, but Mai wouldn't.

Day 2- time to see Shamu.

The only family photo we got...

Finally, something lily could ride.

Back at the hotel...We called this the "dolphin" pool because of the walls. The whole thing was 18 inched deep with a beach entrance.

Day 3: we spent the day at the water park.

Lien's BFF from babyhood and her family joined us.

It was a great adventure.We will be going back in the fall. Tai wrote a letter because we had to ask for a crib 4 times and it was finally delivered at 10:30 pm, so we got a free night at the hotel.

Happy Anniversary Tai

To my husband on our ten year anniversary...6/5/2009

For ten years now I've been your wife, for 14 years you've been my life. We stood in front of family, friends and God and vowed to love, honor and cherish each other in good times and bad, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health...and we've lived every word. I know your love, faith and respect for me is second only to your love, faith and respect in God. It's not an easy life, but it's our life. To our first decade...and many more. I love you!!

Hand, Foot and What??

I haven't been a very good blogger this month because I‘ve been taking care of sick kiddos. Lily came home with fever on Tuesday last week. She also had spots on her feet and knees. Tai and I feared it was chicken pox (particularly problematic with Mai’s tonsils coming out the next week). All our kids have had the vaccine but we know kids can still get a mild case.

When Tai took her to the doctor she was diagnosed with “Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.” It’s just a scary name for a virus that causes fever and bumps on the hands, feet and in the mouth- very uncomfortable, but not serious. Lily stayed home the rest of the week, and of course Mai and Lien had to come down with it on Saturday (even thought we went through 2 cans of Lysol). Lien and Mai had very mild cases with no fever, just a few spots- mostly in the mouth. So, most of our three day weekend was spent comforting uncomfortable kiddos....and praying Mai would be all better in time to have her tonsils out.

What a difference a day makes

Mai had her tonsils removed today. She was a total champ. She went kicking and screaming into the operating room, but came out of anesthesia beautifully. The nurse said that when Mai opened her eyes the nurse asked if she was ready to see her mom and dad and Mai nodded yes. She wasn’t fussy or crying, she was just very quiet. I got to lay with her in her bed while she woke up.

They watched her for two hours before we could go home. We were home by 12:30 and Mai was bouncing off the walls- or trying to. We must attempt to keep her “calm and quiet” for the next ten days. It’s a good thing we don’t leave for our vacation for 11 days!