Farewell to our little buddy

He took us cruising around the neighborhood in his cherry-red convertible Benz. He smiled as we broke his drum kit. He showed us the tasty goodness of apples. He smothers us with bao-baos (smooches and hugs).  For our last outing, we enjoyed roof-top dining as lightening boomed around us. Goodbye Asa- thanks for all the fun!

18 days in a month and a half

We leave Taiwan tomorrow so it's fitting that we yet again pilot the Freeca to the hospital. Since the beginning of May, we spent 18 days at the hospital. A full week was spent living there in the middle of May and Sage was operated on for the second time at the end. Over the last week, XO and Mom got sick and Sage finally caught the bug as well.

We hope that our goodbyes to Taiwan involve a goodbye to sickness. Give us healthy girls! As a tribute, we give our accumulated medicine.

We Love You

Dear Dad-Dee,

Happy Daddy’s Day to the best daddy in the whole world! We’ve come a long way together since that ride home in the car with all of those crazy bright lights (I still don’t like bright lights btw). You’ve been the best daddy a girl could ask for. I know sometimes I confuse the word “food” with “daddy” but hey you know how much I love to eat and I love you too, so it all goes together, don’t ya think? Plus, you always cook up the most amazing meals. You make the best bread hands down! The kitchen is such a fabulous place because you don’t care that I’m a baby-wait a toddler-you teach me to cook just like I’m a big girl. I hope someday I can grow up to cook as well as you. I also love how you, mei-mei and myself have a secret language that Mommy pretends to understand-but we all know she doesn’t. I love the walks you take me on, showing me things; especially the banana plants because bananas are my favorite! The time spent sitting on your lap being read to is a time I will always cherish. There is nothing quite like “Caca Boudin” and the “Pied” book, that one is really great (I’m still working on my spelling too).

The point is Dad-Dee, you’re the best. I know I’m touchy sometimes and can be a bit demanding (just because I’m a girl who knows what she wants!) but at the end of the day, I look forward to a good ole fashioned snuggle and dance around the room with you.

XO

Dear Da,

I’m still working on getting your name down, but at least I’m not like Xin-Xin and get all messed up with what is food and what is Dad. Geesh, that girl. Anyway, I wanted to tell you Happy Daddy’s Day. You’re really patient with me and all of my craziness. Keep in mind though, I take after you-I just want to be on the go non-stop and explore new things, and learn all I can. I’ll grow up someday and maybe, just maybe, I won’t cry so much (don’t hold me to that, I’ll deny I ever said it). I love early mornings with you when it is just you and me and Audrey-although Xin-Xin seems to be invading our private time as of late. The walks you take me on in the carrier totally rock! There is just so much to see at 4:30 in the morning, who could ever dream of sleeping later? Oh man, I almost forgot. . .the towers. . .Oh how I LOVE the towers you build. There is something so satisfying about running across the room and knocking those towers to the ground. The really cool thing is, you just build me another one. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

You and me, we’ve had our ups and downs. There was a time when I couldn’t hear and so I didn’t follow directions really well-but that time is passed and I’m ready to get with the program! I’m perfecting my eye roll since I have “the look” down pat, so I’m ready to show you just how much I understand when you ask me to do something I’m not really willing to do. I’m learning new words every day and pretty soon, I’ll be able to say Daddy, just like big sis! For now though, you’ll have to be okay with a firm finger point and a light sounding “Da”.

Sagey

Teppanyaki Night

It's fast, it's tasty and it's fun. Teppanyaki can be considered a version of Taiwanese fast food. From walking into the restaurant to taking the first bite, the time can be measured in minutes. When we first moved to Taichung, this teppanyaki restaurant was a short walk from our apartment. The guys cooking there - and there has only been guys in this place - quickly remembered us and smiles greeted our arrival. An English version of the menu appeared after a few visits though we have rarely strayed from our original order.

Cooking it up

The menu doubles as an order form and marks indicate how much of each dish, drinks and rice you would like. Once the girls popped into our lives, the weekly excursions to teppanyaki rapidly dwindled and the random take-out sufficed though the food never tasted as good once it got all the way home.

This week, we decided to take the girls and arrived a bit on the early side of 5:00 to avoid the mad rush. A few other diners sat around the grill and we found seats on one edge. The girls appeared fascinated as various foods cooked in front of them.

Food rapidly arrived and a successful dining experience (meaning no meltdown!) was had as we enjoyed the cooking and left for the night market.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

How do you measure stages in your life? As a teacher, each year takes on a different quality as students enter our room at the end of summer and spend a year growing as we talk, think, laugh and sometimes cry. Our girls are winding down the last few days of their first school experience. Almost a year and a half ago, a 7-month old Xian and a 4-month old Sage began going to school. They've loved it and get excited in the mornings as we prepare for the day. If, in order to make another stop first, we pass the turn to school in the morning, a disgruntled Xian quickly voices her discontent. They have friends who each day give the girls a rousing "Bye bye!" and they have a wonderful teacher who has shown lots of care and kindness to these two little ones. Next week, it will be time to give a final "Bye bye!" as we depart Taichung. With this in mind, we asked our girls' teacher to sign their special books. Each girl has a copy - one given to us by a friend of Krista's as we packed our bags for Taiwan and the other given by an old friend of mine as I graduated from high school. Where will they go? What will they see? We hope that they have an amazing journey as they meet wonderful people and visit this world.

Climbers

One of the drawbacks of living in a seven story house is that each floor is a different room (oh, and there is the issue of having to always go up and down the silly stairs). Our girls quickly aged out of the "living room" space but are not quite ready to charge up and down the stairs. This means that rooms get mighty small, mighty quick and the girls spend way more time than necessary finding out ways to get to places they don't need to be. Sage's current trick is to pull out a drawer so that she can use it as a stepping stone to get up on counters.

Xian, who currently has just over an inch on Sage, doesn't need the drawer and can pull herself up to the counter. They tend to congregate there and when they think Mom or Dad is not looking quickly stand and race back and forth. If a song is played that they like, dance routines are practiced. We're hoping to get out of here without a serious tumble...

Sage feeling better...

Chalkboard table

The girls just got their first play session on the chalkboard table. They loved it! The table was once your run-of-the-mill wooden table but a quick sanding, some awesome blue paint and a few coats of chalkboard paint has given it a nice, new purpose. It still serves as our main "dining" table so that the girls can eat on their stools.

A budding relationship

We get asked from time to time about our four-legged girl, Audrey. How is she doing? How does she like the girls? What is she going to do over the summer... Here's a quick update.

Over the last year, Audrey grudgingly tolerated the girls. Who knows - maybe the newborn cries were too much for her to handle. She wondered, what are these little beings that receive so much attention. Slowly, slowly, those little beings began doing more than screaming. They sat up. They flapped their arms and one day, each began moving forward. Audrey watched from a distance and always ensured that she was out of arms reach. Crawling changed the dynamic again. No longer was she safe on her bed - the little ones visited her. It seemed touch and go for awhile at that point. Was Audrey really ok with them? She quickly became grumpy when chased down. Recently, love has been the game around here. Xian is a bit more on the gentle side so Audrey often shares space with her and Sage is becoming a good friend as well. She is starting to understand the need to be kind with Audrey.

Sage asking to join Xian and Audrey on Audrey's bed. She is signing, "I want".

Both girls coloring on Audrey's bed as she snuggles in behind them.

Eventually, they all get tired of each other and the jockey for positions begins...

Sage on Audrey's bed

Xian on the bed

Audrey trying to find comfort on a small pillow.

Next week, Audrey takes off for Beijing. She will zip through Hong Kong and then spend her summer in doggie camp until she rejoins us in August.

Back under the knife

Four months ago, this photo was snapped as Sage bravely marched towards the operation room. Today, we returned for Round 2. Sage was again a trooper as she woke up without immediate breakfast. I know, we've created a little monster but this girl's metabolism is crazy high and after fasting for the night she wants her bottle!

Both girls experienced a rough night - waking at 3:00, then 4:00 and finally deciding to get up for the day around 5. Krista distracted Sage as Xian pounded her bottle and then I took Sage on a nice long walk with Audrey. Eventually, we got ready for the day and out of the house. Krista was soon dropped off to catch a ride to work with a coworker, Xian exited at school and Sage and I managed to be the first to the operating room. In moments, we were changed and the "strawberry scented" anesthetic administered. Given the boot, I waited for a short hour until the surgery finished.

A nurse told me that all went well and a groggy Sage quickly snuggled in for some love and comfort. A bit uncomfortable, she moaned and the display of toys did little to capture her attention. I tried a few scenarios to the amusement of passing nurses - who is this guy babbling in horrible French with a toy teacup-man in one hand and a chameleon-esque speed racer in the other. Something worked as she eventually passed out and I stared in amazement at her bouncing heart rate: 140 to 90 in seconds and a bit of everything in between.

By 10, we walked out of the hospital and Sage was in fine form as she accompanied AST students for the rest of the day. I hope that our trips to the operating table are over for a long time...

A morning walk

Xian and I seized the opportunity to take a morning walk over the weekend. Temporarily, the rains cleared and the sun had not yet turned the outside into a sticky oven. A few dogs took passing interest in Audrey and threatened from a distance yet gave us plenty of room.

Xian loved the small road we walked along. There is rarely any traffic so she entered full explorer mode as the path winds among a few small homes with chickens and roosters calling in the day. Banana plants dot the edges of the road and other fruit trees are also present.  The mirror in the photo is typical of Taiwanese backroads. I believe the idea is to help cars see around the blind curves but it is a rare sight to see a car or scooter check the mirror and react accordingly.

Fruit on the lychee trees are rapidly growing and I hope that we get a harvest within the next month (Did we mention how excited we are to be in the final countdown...) Quick lychee tip given to me by a coworker last year: Peel them and freeze them. They make tasty frozen treats.

The pink spot is XO's awesome hat.

We then came across a plant that I have not seen before. It's flower begs you to take note and look closer. When opened, it gives me the message of Don't Touch. What is it?

Closed flower on the vine

Opened up - what are the red seeds? Edible?

I know that each parent is caught by surprise as to how quickly their children grow but I shook my head in disbelief as Xian charged down this big hill with no problem. Only a year ago she was a tiny little thing that could not walk and just a few months ago would never have had the balance to race down.

A grate at the bottom of the hill provided a challenge. Xian peered through the holes and wondered if she should step onto the metal. Eventually, she mustered the courage and crossed back and forth and back and forth.

The rains have been absolutely relentless. With over 3 meters just in May, I'm surprised that our home is still standing. Water did begin entering through the floor at one point though the roof and surprise leak places seem to be holding strong. Over 10 years ago, a massive earthquake shook this part of Taiwan. The homes in our area cracked in visible and hidden locations so water occasionally finds it way into the house during big rain events. The river near us sprang up to fill its banks and scoured the plants that had rooted since typhoon season in the fall.

A fisherman caught our attention as he tried to find fish in the waters.

Xian loved the bridge over the river that seems to be designed perfectly for a toddler to peer between the cracks. She alternated between the two sides of the bridge to take in the flow.

to Mom in the trenches

Happy Mother's Day! I know, I know, today should be a rest day.  It should be a celebration of how great of a Mom you are, but that's not quite your style. Instead, you're hanging out in the hospital playing with one of your daughters to keep her spirit up. You are helping her color all over the books you thought to bring. You are reading to her about the Something-a-saur. You are again digging into the sticker pile to find more stickers for her to place who knows where. You are singing, what the 200th rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - I think Xian has the "Up above the sky so high" part down. And you are laughing your beautiful laugh with the wee one to keep her laughing.

Doing what you do best - making the little monkeys laugh.

This week has been a challenge - with emergency room trips and two girls in the hospital, there has been little room for relaxing and the rest of us thank you for all your work. But, Mother's Day is also about thinking of all those times when you are here for your little ones. We appreciate how you stay up late working because you are completing an intensive Master's program on top of teaching, living internationally and moving our family to Beijing. We appreciate your insistence that the girls learn languages - Chinese at school, English with you, and getting me, a reluctant French speaker, to only speak French to the girls. We appreciate the projects you always include the girls on...

We appreciate your commitment to family - it is truly amazing how you build upon the girls' extended family and do the extra bit to keep connections strong.

So, on this day, we think about all that you do for us and we smile because above all you make us happy. Thanks for being so amazing! We love you!

The Bronchial Pneumonia Saga

Several days passed with Sage stuck in grumpy mode. She simply was not feeling well so on a Tuesday night, Krista decided to take Sage to the hospital to get her checked out. Hours later I get the message - yep, in our let's leave Taiwan brilliance we have already canceled one phone - that Sage waded through an emergency room full of H7 N9 panickers to find out that she managed to catch a case of bronchial pneumonia.

Yikes! She was being admitted to the hospital.

Sage needed a special IV machine because the original kept falling out

Home with a sleeping Xian, I suddenly had several challenges to overcome:

1. We live in Dakeng - translation --> "scenic" area far, far away from anywhere
2. Krista left with the Freeca (our car)
3. My wallet is in the Freeca and no spare cash was hanging around home.
4. Krista didn't anticipate Sage's admission to the hospital and has no clothes for either of them, no diapers, no formula, no toys, no books, no food, aaah!!
5. I need to get to the hospital with a care bag, drop Xian off at school and get to work in time for my elementary before-school duty.
6. Did I mention that I no longer have a phone?
7. Oh yeah, the new guard of our community speaks not a lick of English.

Waking to find a house empty of both Mom and little sister, Xian acted as a rock star - it seems like she knew that we had a few hurdles to jump. She gulped her bottle as I changed her and then helped me walk Audrey and laughed at my attempt to communicate with the guard (I can't wait until she speaks Chinese as well as she understands!) Success - the taxi was on its way and a big thanks to Asa for leaving me some cash in his sporty red car.

10 hours later, Xian and I find ourself in a doctor's office. The visit quickly turned from being a good idea to Xian moving in with Sage. The four of us were reunited in room 707.

Double drip - both girls hooked up to IVs

The girls are amazing little beings! They quickly settled in to the confined life of an IV line. With little to do, they were introduced to the television as a time-wasting drug (here is to hoping they remember its effects on the 13-hour flight to Portland in a month!). We also napped, sang, read books and ate. Once, upon waking from a nap, Sage and I discovered that our clothing was covered in blood. Her IV popped out. Yuck!

The next morning, a rested and restless Sage got great news - she was heading home! It took most of the day to process paperwork but we eventually made it out. Kissing Krista and Xian goodbye, we headed home to a hot shower and warm bath. Unfortunately, XO had a rough night and instead of being released on Friday, she received an oxygen box.

Later that day (Friday) Sage and I came to visit. This time, Krista left with Sage to take a well-earned hot shower and nap. A bit later, Xian's principal and teacher showed up to visit. Then, just before bed time, a few kind volunteers stopped by to read and book / give a puppet show to little XinXin. She was left with a balloon flower.

Friday night featured a high fever for Xian. An xray in the morning indicated that some improvement had take place in her lungs. The big question for us is why isn't XO getting the same treatment as Sage? Is it a case of different doctors and different philosophies? Whatever the case, we wonder if Xian is not getting important antibiotics. 

Sage brought her smile in for an afternoon visit and the two girls enjoyed romping around on the bed.

Unfortunately, Sage and I left a little while later and Krista and Xian remained. This is the longest spell that we have had without each other and it's a bummer. Here's to hoping that Xian has a great night and soon finds her way to the hospital's exit.

Update: The next day Xian woke up full of energy. The tiny bed was no longer a big enough place for this moving machine. Fortunately, the doctor gave her the go-home clearance and by Sunday afternoon we were all back home. Happy Mother's Day!

Playing despite/in the Rain

It's been raining. A lot. Since Spring Break, we've had rain almost every day which has been great for the jungle scenery but has kept us penned up a bit. Rainy day photo action follows.

Sage hiding under the Singer table

Xian in piggies

Up close

Fun with the big blue ball

The girls like opportunities to splash in puddles...

With all the rain, a few goldfish managed to swim their way into our home.

Picnics have been inside rather than out - bring on the bagels!