Toothless in Seoul

After several weeks thinking that there was no possible way he could ever put his shoes on the shelf in the entry way, Hunter finally made up his mind to do it for the required 30 consecutive days, and now is delighted to finally have the glasses he needs! He knows that he'll be buying the next pair, so here's hoping he takes this new-found responsibility seriously.

Now that the countdown is on, there are a few souvenirs I would like to take with us.  We are over our total weight allowance, however (storage + what we brought).  We actually brought less than was allowed here, but as always have accumulated more stuff, especially with having a baby girl.  Not sure what to do.  This coat tree is actually from Indonesia, and I strongly suggested it as an anniversary gift from Dean :)  Yep, we celebrated 12 years this month, and we're only getting better!  We went on a date and had a Dr. Fish treatment, where these toothy fish eat the dead skin off your feet.  It was delightful!

Our Lady Cambria is one hungry girl.  At her 9 month appointment last week she was down to the ~60th percentile for weight, from the ~90th at 6 months.  It's okay, but maybe she's not getting enough to eat - Dean thinks that may be why she seems more desperate and fussy lately.  Of course she is more active with all the crawling...  I've fed her more real food than any of the others at this age (tried to stick with just nursing as much as possible through 12 months to help avoid food allergies...), but she's always been big and hungry!  So more real food it is.  I actually gave her what Tristan didn't finish of his peanut butter sandwich yesterday (I know, cringe), and she ate it up.  She chews at the front of her mouth with all those teeth.  Kyler is still her biggest fan of the boys, and loves to ride around on Tristan's trike here in the apartment - they all do, even Hunter.  They also go 'round and 'round on the scooter.  We'll be happy when the weather is warmer and we have OUR OWN YARD again!  She does not like strangers, even kids.  She is a noisy handful now at church as well.

  The pinewood derby was on Saturday.  Getting Hunter to work on his car, or rather find all the parts to it that got thrown around, was like pulling teeth.  So I told Dean (and Kyler) to go ahead and go on the bass fishing tour they were interested in, where it was rainy and cold and no one got a single fish, sadly.  Hunter's car did as well as the effort he put into it, but he was delighted to get an award for the Best Stock Car.

 Tristan's stubbed toenail from months back is still discolored.

 Tristan has been waking in the night a lot lately, often hollering, or wandering into the boys' room (so they've been locking their door).  Somehow it usually doesn't wake Cambria.  But it can make for a tired and grouchy boy in the day.  He was fast asleep here, and I woke the drowsy Dean as well - oops!  I wonder if he is having night terrors?

 We had Bunny Beatrice for about six months, and have been concerned about what to do with her when we leave.  Saturday, a couple with no children inquired about her, and we made the match.  She'll get lots of holding, and no chasing.  Kyler is the saddest to see her go. 

 There was finally an opening for Hunter in Taekwondo.  The people who run the children's extra curricular activities are trying to make it as difficult as possible for us since he has mild hemophilia.  They harassed Dean into a meeting with about 8 ignorant bureaucrats.  As his parents who know all about his condition and have been dealing with it for all nine of his years, we made the judgment that at this level he will be fine until we leave.  He spends the day sparring with his brothers at home, after all, so this wouldn't be any worse.  We are sure looking forward to not having Uncle Sam breathing down our necks when we are done with the army, though Dean will still have four years in the "Individual Ready Reserves" after he gets out, which means that they could call him up at any time and deploy him, but otherwise he will be done.  The chances are slim that that will happen at this point, but still looming since anything can happen at any time, and there is always unrest overseas.  Hopefully Hunter will be able to stay in TKD, as we have to get a doctor to sign a letter saying it is okay.  The doctors at the army hospital won't, since they don't know anything about it and refuse to learn.

In class the other day Master Kim tested the kids and had them spar, all in preparation for advancing.  Kyler will be testing for black belt in May.  Kyler, currently a red belt, sparred with another red belt, and then moved up to the next opponent, yet another red belt.

 There were no other white belts for Hunter to spar with, so Master Kim paired him with Kyler.  Since Kyler is a red belt, he respected the rules and did not kick Hunter at all, only defended himself.  Hunter took advantage of that and was on the offensive the whole time, basically chasing Kyler around the room.

The boys have been losing teeth like crazy lately.  The tooth fairy in these parts apparently has Alzheimer's and can't remember to come around.  Hunter reminds us repeatedly, sometimes to no avail.  Poor Kyler had the misfortune of three coming out at school, so his teacher took them, saying he would give them back in a little box, but instead lost them all (all on separate occasions).  Kyler thinks his teacher must take the teeth home for himself to collect from the tooth fairy.

I should really get to work!  My agenda for the day, besides the usual, is to try to finish the Hunger Games, for book club tonight.  Since I only started late yesterday, it's not likely, but I'll at least not be completely in the dark.  Have a lovely week!

There and Back Again

Always such relief when Dean comes home.  He was quite due for some continuing education, and he even took a course (that he had to pay extra for) on acupuncture.  He's not sure that he will ever use it, however. 

The little ones were happy for Daddy's return.  The camera is apparently Tristan's cue to insert finger.

He visited his brother in Portland, OR, lovingly known as "Bro" or "Uncle Bro" around here, as well as Bro's lovely bride, "Aunty Patty".  Years ago I overheard Hunter and his cousin Isaac having a discussion about whether  he was "Uncle Bro" or "Uncle Dro".  Good stuff.  The "Bros" went to the traveling Body exhibit there, which Dean took the older boys to see here in Seoul as well.  He also checked out the Seattle area...  then went on to New Mexico.  Pancho, his beloved Blue and Gold Macaw, pulled his usual trick of turning violently on Dean's mother as soon as Dean walked in the door, just as Pancho did when Dean returned from his mission.  Shame on Pancho.

Hunter attended a boy/girl evening birthday party, with alleged dancing, though he said there was no dancing, but the party was "a blast!"

This party girl makes her way around more all the time, and pulls herself up to stand.  She now sleeps in Tristan's room, and it is working great, so long as they go down at different times.  Naps are more complicated, but otherwise we're thrilled to have our nights and sleep back! 

She has 10 teeth now, at 8 months.  All the kids have gotten their teeth rapidly.

We have artists among us.  They believe that the world is their canvas.

Windows are much easier to clean than walls.

Sometimes they sign their work.

  It is remarkable, compared to the older boys at least, how well Tristan speaks.  He started off calling both Hunter and Kyler "Dada".  That has evolved to "Lala", "Laler", and finally yesterday for the first time "Kyler".  He still calls Hunter "Hot-dar".  Today he actually called the baby "Cam-ia" for the first time.  She has been "Baby".  He often speaks in sentences, and is easily a year ahead of both older boys at this age.  Having olders who speaks surely helps with that.  Tristan has been a little jealous of Cambria lately, I think because she gets up and around and gets into things, such as his toys, my lap, etc, and seems less like a baby and more like competition.

I really wish that the Tristman could tell us what these are.  They multiply like crazy here.

Hunter did a self portrait in 3-D at school.  The nose is a few inches long.  The resemblance is uncanny.

I measured the boys on a wall hanging we've been using for a few years.  Tristan is 2 1/2, so if we double his current height, the thinking is that that will be his adult height.  He is right at three feet, so potentially he could be six feet.  I didn't know to do it with the other boys.  Kyler is currently taller than Hunter was two years ago; they are exactly three years apart.  Poor Hunter has always been on the smaller side, starting at four and a half pounds.  He asked what he could do to grow taller faster (he really doesn't think much of the idea that Kyler *will* outgrow him, and Tristan - maybe even Cambria?)  I said all he can do is hold his head high and shoulders back - no slouching. 

This little Asian-style dress is for a two-year old, but hardly covers an infant.  She probably won't wear it again, sadly.

Our exciting news that may or may not be is that Dean and a partner, a veterinarian that he once worked with and gets along wonderfully with, have been looking for months for a practice to buy together.  This is huge for us!  Emotions have been up and down here for months as they have pursued multiple clinics, and even began working on the possibility of starting one.  It is a sellers' market right now, so they are hard to come by, or at least bigger ones that would support two owners.  A fabulous one came up for sale recently in the Seattle area, but far out enough that it is a smallish community.  This would be dreamy for us in every way.  The only drawback is that it is so far from family, except for Bro, who would still be a few hours drive.  Out of four offers put in for it, "we" were selected, but still have a number of wrinkles to iron out, some of which could be deal breakers.  I, at least, am on pins and needles (and knees) hoping that it goes in our favor.  

When Daddy's Away

...the children will

torment play with the bunny,

develop their talents (at least a time or two),

learn to stand on their own,

and be precious angels,

except when they are wailing

and gnashing.

I don't remember what the offense was here, but Kyler is a very sensitive child, who enjoys besieging others, but doesn't like to be on the receiving end.  

In church on Sunday the children sang a song they've been learning in Primary.  Hunter, all on his own, danced gyrated (arms in the air, spinning around) throughout the song (he's nine).  Fortnuately, a four-year old sang as loud as the rest of the primary together (I'm relieved to report that Hunter has given up that role) so the focus was on that kid, who was a little off (ahead or behind) the rest of the primary.  It was all most entertaining.

Cambria and another babe like to hang together in church.

We are all over the flu, except for Dean and Hunter who were spared.  It took me the longest to recover, at nine days.  Cambria did the best with it, as she was the only one who got Tamiflu.  I've ingested more ibuprofen, acetaminophen, decongestants, etc. the last few weeks than I have in probably the last ten years.  As if the flu wasn't enough, my face started hurting like crazy toward the end of the flu, and I first thought it was a tooth ache (not another root canal?!), but alas turned out to be a sinus infection.  It took a week of antibiotics (after a four-hour wait in the ER during a holiday weekend) for the pain  to end.  I am not yet well.

Tristan is still working away.  He had to get a work visa some time ago in his passport.

Dean has been in the U.S. for a veterinary conference in Las Vegas, and then to attend to some business.  We may have very exciting news soon, but maybe not.  So when there is something to tell, I will.  Our time here is winding down with less than four months to go!  

Shut In and Stretched Out

 It's cold here in the winter.  Probably not any colder than Ramah, NM, but this is what Cambria wears outside.  She has started crawling now.  She's not racing around yet, but moseys her way along.

 It sure is fun having a little girl to dress up for church.  Her hair is getting long enough that I'm not sure what to do with it, as it sticks out of the little bands now kinda funny. 

 Sometimes it's easier to haul her upstairs with the laundry.  I long to not have to go up and down stairs.

 She eats lots of cheerios.  The trick is to keep the boys out of them.

 Criselda, our weekly angel, loves Cambria.

 I've made a few pillow cases of late.  A fun, simple project, especially with the fabric available here in Korea.

 Kyler found a use for his grabber toy when the ball stuck to the ceiling.

 Tristan and Cambria do entertain each other much of the day.

 2/3 of us have been sick of late.  The only one diagnosed is Cambria, who has the flu.  Not sure which was worse for her in diagnosing that - shoving the q-tip up to her brain to get a sample, or having to hold her arms straight up for chest x-rays.  She was not amused.  Tristan is rather ill as well, though I didn't take him in.  The doctor said it's probably the same thing.  And, sure enough, I started feeling achy and unwell around the same time as Cambria.  Kyler stayed home from school about 1.2 days this week - also not feeling good and croupy coughing over one night. 

You know these guys aren't up to par if they are willingly lounging around.

In Hunter news - apparently he hasn't been around for pictures much - he has decided he wants to have glasses, so is up to about two weeks now of putting his shoes on the shelf.  Hallelujah!  Maybe there is hope.  Also, the pills came and he has been taking them for a week.  It's probably too soon to tell if he is improving, but we're hopeful.  He doesn't want to lose his fidgety-ness - not sure why.  His second quarter report card came out (right about the time the pills came - so not because of the pills) and there was an A on it, and no Ds, which is much improved from straight Cs and Ds the first quarter. 

Are You Daring and Brave?

Today I took Hunter on some errands on the main army base here. I took the route through Itaewon, the tourist-y shopping area between here and there, and being a Saturday it was slow going.  There is a McDonalds at nearly the end of it, so I asked Hunter if he was daring and brave.  He laughed and said he was, so I instructed him to hop out, cross the street, and take 1,000 won (equivalent of a US Dollar, though the exchange rate is about 10% in our favor) to McDonalds and buy two cones, then find me outside.  He did it!  I had to drive a bit and do a u-turn to come back and find him.  Drive thrus are a rarity here, and I have been craving some soft serve ice cream.  I love the price, which is about 45 cents per cone.  Good job Hunter!

In other Hunter news, I've decided that he has ADHD.  He isn't one of those kids you see bouncing off the walls at school, but he has every one of these characteristics at least mildly.  ADHD would explain a lot.  I had him read through the info, and he agreed that perhaps he does have it.  I'm not sure that it is worth getting a medical diagnosis at this point.  I looked around online and found a product that I've ordered from Amazon.com, to see if it will help him.  I really don't like pharmaceuticals and all their ill effects, so will try this route for now.  Of course adequate sleep and good nutrition are the starting points.

As soon as she could roll over, she declared that she must sleep on her tummy.  Yes, she's asleep here.

Little Cambria has been more fussy and clingy of late.  She has no interest in being held by strangers, either, all of a sudden.  She's been screaming her head off when she wants Dean or me to hold her.  She is really insulted if we walk by without picking her up.  She knows all about the boys, and doesn't much care for them to hold her if she's cranky at all.  It is flattering to be the object of her desire, but I can't hold her every second.  Her sleep pattern has been changing a bit and maybe that's part of the problem.  I'm getting awfully weary of her wanting to nurse several times in the night, and have started giving her more food or a bottle of formula before bed.  Formula sure costs a lot!  My word! Now I know why I really nurse my babies, besides all the other reasons!  She is still an angel and we're getting her all figured out. We've also been putting her to bed in Tristan's room, and she only wakes once in the night to feed, so maybe she smells me when she's in our room, ha ha.

Bath buddies

Finders Keepers

I lost my wallet  AGAIN, on New Year's Eve.  Dean and I and Cambria were out on a date and rode the bus to get to a particular all-you-can-eat beef and leaf (lettuce and beef and pork with a few sides).  We found it, but when we were ready to leave I realized my wallet wasn't in my purse.  Ugh.  I either left it on the bus or it fell out of my purse, or maybe I set it down when I was taking my boots off before we entered the restaurant (a must at the sit-on-the-floor places).  I was wearing Baby in carrier, so it's easy to lose track of it while I'm tending to her...  We actually found the same bus we had ridden, but it was not there.  We went to three police stations nearby and filed a report.  We went through all the rig a ma role of canceling all the cards and checks in it, then had to wait until a business day after the holiday to get my ID and ration cards replaced so I could get HOME and on base without having to go to the guard shacks and give my SSN and finger print, AND so that I could go inside the commissary and PX (can't even enter the stores without the ID and ration cards).  Dean's office got a call from the US Embassy on Friday saying that someone had turned the wallet in there, so a counselor in our branch presidency (at church) who works there was able to bring it home.  Yay!  I could say that of course the cash was taken, but I won't.  It didn't have to be stolen.  I'm extremely grateful that someone turned it in, but that doesn't cancel the stealing out.  It is just as much stealing as pick pocketing or burglary or shoplifting - in case anyone doesn't know that.  I don't know how much cash was in it, but definitely both won and dollars.  Everything else was intact, so I was able to attend the temple today with my temple recommend (yay!)  A lovely lady in the ward with grown children offered to watch kids so that interested people could go.  What a gift of service!  The session was totally full, too, and extra chairs had to be brought in.

On Saturday a "photographer" here was doing  portraits, and we haven't had a family one since we've been here.  I paid our $15 and got a contender for Awkward Family Photos.  Dean always says "You get what you pay for", and sure enough we did. 

What's wrong with this picture?

All the boys acted like they were on a scavenger hunt the whole time we were there for our "session", so I finally had enough and gave Hunter Pants a little pinch.  You'd have thought I took a chunk - my boys are all drama queens.  The "photographer" didn't give him even a moment to compose himself.  I wonder if she'll use this in her portfolio.

I Have a Dream

Dean has never thought much of new year resolutions.  He feels that goals can be set at any time.  I do like the idea of starting anew, and always seem to have the same "goals".  We had a family council to discuss family goals, namely to get to church on time.  Dean can get himself and all the kids to church when I'm not around.  Hmmm.  

Couples often wear matching clothing in Korea.  Now they can match everything!

Our big accomplishments for 2011 were to: finally decide on Dean's career path, pay off the student loans, and have a baby girl!

Man muffin anyone?

It has been a huge struggle for years to determine what Dean should "do with his life".  It is funny how when we have so many options, it can actually be harder than having no options.  I often ponder some of our trials in life, and contrast them with the trials of merely trying to survive that so many people in the world have.   I marvel at the humility of the little elderly people here in Seoul who scratch out a living by pushing big carts loaded with cardboard on busy streets - with no sidewalks.  Or the security guards who work here on the base for (rumor has it) about $700 a month.  I don't know how they can begin to support their families on that in such an expensive city.  Or the folks who sit, squat or stand outside all day long in this bitter cold trying to sell fruit or socks...  I really can't imagine that being my life, and I feel so blessed.

The symbol is actually a Buddhist good luck symbol, and is different from a Swastika, for your information.

The Army was the right move for us when Dean joined, for a number of reasons.  One of which is that his student loans were paid off.  There was still a big chunk of interest left for us ($22,000), but being here in Korea allowed us to save up and pay it all off last year.  We are totally debt free.  Of course, we have no house... but until we do, it feels really good to have no payments of any kind.

From a modeling shoot.  Her fourth is next week.

And then there is my Lady Cambria.  I absolutely love having babies.  Pregnancy is hard.  Labor is atrocious.  But then the reward is a sweet little angel who I get to take care of.  I've adored all my babies.  The Korean birth rate is about 1.1, meaning their population will be shrinking if they don't step it up.  They often marvel at all the kids we have, and tell us how blessed we are, or how they admire me for it.  They LOVE seeing (grabbing, taking) babies, and are instantly attracted to ours.

Sexual harassment is alive and well in Korea, apparently.

It melts my heart every time I watch Cambria sleeping, or when she lights up, smiles, and jumps up and down when she sees me, and when I feed, hold, and love on her.  I love all the baby stages, and am sad as they pass through them, but then it is so fun to see them hone new skills and enjoy life.  I've been blessed with good-natured babies, though Kryler didn't pick up his nickname for nothing.  My babies have been an absolute joy, and I certainly want more.  I ran across this essay, which spoke my heart.  I can't count how many times "old ladies" have stopped me in public to admonish me to enjoy my little ones (generally the toddlers who are trying to single-handedly knock down the store and all its contents), because they grow up so fast.  Apparently they didn't take the time to enjoy their own, so they feel the need to harass me? 

It changes on a weekly basis what we may do when we leave here, literally.  Truly there are so many options and opportunities.  Things could get exciting!   On a different note, did you know that veterinarians are up there in suicide rates with dentists?  Tragic.  This offers some explanation.