Our Thailand "Vacation"

This is a very brief, bare-bones, description of our week. I just wanted to get something down before I forgot everything.

Day 1

Left our house at 5:30am by taxi to for our 9am flight to Bangkok. Busy at the airport but HKIA is so remarkably efficient it wasn't a problem. Sean made friends with two kids on the airplanes and Karla and I had Ajisen. (Never get a rice dish). Got to the gate with 15 min before boarding. Got a phone call from Kevin McCaughey, the Winston's did not know where Anika was! We prayed and waited, and then she arrived and we got on the plane. 2 hours uneventful flight, food was good, kids happy. Landed got our cars (Nice Toyota Camrys) drove a bit over two hours to the hotel. Place is beautiful. Jumped in the water swam a bit. Got food up to our room and got the kids to bed. phew.

Day 2

Sean coughed all night, runny nose, fever in the pm. Sean played on the playground then stayed in the hotel room the rest of the day. We were trying to get rid of this cold right away. Karla napped for a bit. Sean & Karla swam in the pool with the rest of the kids. I began feeling sick, a bit of a cough. Didn't feel like going into town with the rest of the group so dinner at Luna Lanai on the beach. Sami threw up at 11:30pm and 3:00am

Day 3

Started feeding Sami 3min feeds so to not upset her tummy. Worked til we did a bit one then threw up again 2am. Sean is feeling fine now - played all day with his friend on the playground, in the StarClub (made a shell mobile!) swam with Karla and group. I was in the room all day, high fever in the low 39C range. I came out for lunch but did not eat - stomach upset. 5:30 we took Sami to the nurse, she gave us electrolytes, Sami didn't keep 'em down. Threw up again. Started using White Noise on iphone to help sleep while an elaborate Indian wedding was going on in the hotel.

Day 4

Continuing with the 3min feeds worked so we continued although it meant Sami was up almost every hour during the night - 0ne 2.5 hour stretch - fine all morning til 3pm or so. She was asleep by 6:30. Sean was fine all day - played playground, pool with Liam and Anika. I went to the hospital early in the morning to get medicine. Temp at hospital 39.2C got antibiotics and all the other cheap meds that are thrown in at a Thai hospital then in bed. took the kids (sami and sean) for a walk on the real beach for about 1.5 hours so Karla could get her Thai massage. Sean found a goods slingshot branch and Karla and Sean decorated the palm frond Christmas tree.

Day 5

I was feeling better today we did some pool time and then headed out to do elephant riding at 2pm. Whole family went! Great ride. Sean loved it. Started the ride just about as Sami should be starting her nap. She cried for about the first 5-8min then fell asleep on the back of the elephant. If you have ever ridden and elephant you know how amazing that is! Got back to the hotel, cooled off in the room. Kids went down without puking! I had a massage before bed.

Day 6

Got up around early, as Sam was done sleeping. Sean & I went down to breakfast about 7 hung out at the table with Karla and Sam. Normal breakfast routine. Sean fully enjoying his Star Wars lego sticker book. Playground and StarClub for about 30min then back to the room for final pack and off to the checkout.

2hour drive - uneventful, no puking, although I felt like it a couple times, Sean just talking and entertaining his sister. Arrive at the airport, checkin go through customs, have lunch wait to board. Liam puked in his car about half way through the car ride to the airport

2 hour flight home - Liam puked in the plane. quick descent a cacophony of cries from kids whose ears hurt. Mostly from our group!

Samantha Joy is 6 months old

As you know, I turned 6 months old on Dec. 10. I just went to the doctor today for my checkup and "jabs". I weigh 16.4 lbs, I'm 66 cm long and my head circumference is 43.5cm. I am still very chubby thanks to my healthy appetite. I drink milk every 3 - 4 hours in the day plus I get to eat rice cereal once or twice a day (about 2 tablespoons each time). Mom has plans for me to taste test all kinds of foods once we get back from our trip to Thailand next week.

Besides eating and napping, I spend my days busy rolling on the floor, jumping in my jumparoo, grabbing everything (especially Mom & Sean's hair - Dad doesn't have any, so I grab his nose instead), blowing bubbles and talking with my long tongue sticking out of my mouth. My favourite pastime is a tie between my nightly bath when I love to suck my toes, playing with my big brother (he is so hilarious... I love him and I watch him all the time), and being outdoors in any form: in the Bjorn, stroller, being carried, laid on a mat... I'm not picky. I just feel very calm outside... plus, that's where I get to see all kinds of people who talk to me and so I show off my smile for them. They love that! I am much more smiley now... you should SEE the attention I get!

Things I'm "working on" is sleeping through the night (Mom really wants me to sleep in Sean's room soon, so I have to make it until 6:00 am... right now I wake up around 5 or 5:30), and stretching out my awake times so I take fewer naps (another of Mom's ideas... doesn't she know that I am in charge?!?), and strengthening my lungs, especially around 3 or 4 a.m. (HA! that one is my idea! It's true, my cry is really a LOT stronger these days!).

Love & grabs & smiles & laughs & hugs & kisses,

Samantha Joy

1st CCCP

Combined Classroom Christmas Party - Sean's first! Karla prepared our contribution the night before, I got cameras ready, we taxied over with Lora Drumm and the festivities began. All parents are there, so that's two classes 16 kids each = 32 kids + 64 parents, throw in some teachers and TA's and thats a full classroom! Fortunately parents and children were well behaved!

So we arrived and added our veggies to the heaping food table and got ready for the kids to come. The parents are all seated waiting expectantly and in come the kids with santa hats and smiles. Like Karla says there is not much cuter than a bunch of 4 year olds singing Christmas carols! They sang the hits, Jingle bells (in English and Chinese) but also current hits such as "We fish you a hairy Christ-Moose". We got heaps of video of course. We also had Ms Tsang take a picture of all four of us as today is Sam's 6month birthday!

After the Carols, kids got to make Christmas tree ornaments with their families and then lunch! Gifts seemed to be passing around too as kids distributed class gifts to all their classmates. We got some lunch and then DESSERT and Sean ate with his friend Kabir. I got a tour of the class from Sean and then had to head back to School. Just as I was about to leave who comes in the door but Santa (with real beard!) Sean was remarkably calm about it as most kids struggled to get as close as possible. I think he was a little unsure at first but Karla asked him later if he wanted to sit on Santa's lap and Sean said he did.

By this point Sean was looking pretty tired, and other kids were just going home with their parents so Karla opted for that and the three of them headed for home in a taxi.

After school we did our friday hike, this time into Chai Wan. We caught the bus home and had Tortilla's. Beautiful day, great hikers in this family. Sam content as can be in the Bjorn and Sean is now choosing the hike routes!

Early December

10 days till we fly to Thailand. I mean who's counting? It is beautiful in Hong Kong right now, clear skies and temps around 19C. Today Sean had skating lessons and I ran over the mountain to Quarry Bay to join up with KS& S for curry in a hurry.

Sami is doing well, we have kinda, sorta figured out how to read her, which isn't bad causes its only been what, 6 months! We read her signals and put her down for naps and night-time without much fuss. She sleeps from about 7-8 til 4 or 5 each night which means we get a decent amount of sleep most nights if we go to bed early enough!

We have had some colds moving through the household over the last few weeks first Sean, then me and Sami. Karla hasn't really got it. Which is amazing to me. The amazing power of mom-ness! When she needs to be healthy she is. I remember when she used to get sick regularly but not since kids. Sami is the only one still sick now and you feel sorry for her with crusties around her nose every morning but she seems to be in good spirits for the most part.

Sami is much more aware now. She recognizes our voices and faces and gives the most beautiful smiles. Mostly they are for her brother but we sometimes get graced with them as well. Speaking of Sean he is growing up into a fine big brother. He enjoys school now and was very sad last week when he had to miss school due to illness. He missed the Space Project presentations that they had been working on and he missed a rocket (inflated, but 9 ft tall!) at his school. He is totally fascinated with space, partly STAR WARS but also planets, asteroids and comets. While watching Magic School Bus with friends over this week Sean informed everyone that the Giant Red Spot on Jupiter was a storm that had been going on for 400yrs! A quick check of Wikipedia shows he's right!

Our kids are amazing...