New to me

I've never played or really watched volleyball, so kinda like wrestling, we have a new sport to learn.  Kaelin seems to finally really be enjoying something.  Her first game was tonight and she asked if she could play a summer league too.  Funny.

It happened.....16 years....

of my biggest boy!

I can't  believe he's already 16....driving age.  He's not getting his license right away.  He's had his permit for 11 months and is a decent driver, but I don't think a little more time practicing will hurt.  We told him when he trust he'll keep his Bs up to As and Bs we'll take him in.  No sudden drop in grades to low Cs.  That won't get an insurance discount and no waiting to pull them up at the last.  He's been working hard, so we're going to give it a little more time and then take him in for the big step, for him AND mom.

He's really beginning to show us the person he's becoming.  He's judgmental to the point he doesn't necessary criticize others, but realizes what he doesn't want to do himself.  He just strong willed enough he might follow his own road.  He does care about his future and is growing there.  I like him as a person and that's a good thing for a parent to feel.  Not just because he's my son, but because of who he's becoming.  I hope the next 16 years are just as great for him and us.

Braceface Changes

The big one got the top teeth braces....and they should all come off in just a few short months.  The crossbite is GONE and the bottom teeth are straight and no more overbite.

The middle one got his completely off after just 15 months.  Since this child has had teeth as a baby I have never seen his two front teeth together until now.  Weird, but looks nice and no more crossbite for him either.  Wondering if this thing is genetic?

The day is over

and I'm glad,  It was just one of those unpleasant days where nothing seemed to go right and everything that could go wrong did.  Regardless, my life is good, so I really have nothing to complain about.  It was just a day that everything built up and I just stood in the kitchen and sighed.  Brian said the right thing though.  He said 'you look like you could use a hug' and then he hugged me.  After we ate, he told me to sit down, relax and watch Ellen and get my mind off of things.  I told him that even laughing at Ellen wasn't going to make me feel better tonight, but I've let it all wash away.  I'm done with today.  It's over.

YUM! (travel tip inside)

So when you travel to a country that speaks another language and especially one that doesn't use the same Romanized characters, it's a good idea to have cheatsheets of everything you can think of.  Food.

I have been enjoying browsing other people's blogs looking for restaurant ideas and especially food descriptions.  Then, I take the name of the food in English and Hangul and paste it into my handy dandy cheatsheet with a description.  If we go somewhere that has no English menus we can point and ask if they have those items.....things we know we're comfortable with.  This is what I have so far and it makes me HUNGRY.

Samgyeopsal – pork belly

Daegi bulgogi – pork bulgogi

Kimchi jjigae 김치 찌개– kimchi stew

Sundubu Jjigae 순두부 찌개- fiery bubbling cauldron of soft tofu, freshly cracked egg, chili peppers, inoki mushrooms, a couple clams, onions and deunjang (Korean miso) paste. Served with sticky rice.

Chapjae

Bibimbap 비빔밥

Raboggie 라볶이- rice cake in a sea of spicy pepper sauce augmented with odang (processed fish), cabbage, carrots, onions and leeks and ramen

Kimbap -Wonjo Kimbap 원조 김밥 -damuji (a yellow pickled sweet radish), processed ham, carrots, some green, maybe spinach, and cooked egg,  야채 김밥, Yachae Kimbap-veggies including carrots and spinach, 김치 김밥, Kimchi Kimbap-ham, eggs, carrots, radish, 계란말이 김밥, Kaeranmal Kimbap-rolled in a thin omelet, then sliced.

Dakkochi 닭꼬치 – chicken on skewers

Twigim – ojingeo (squid), goguma (sweet potato), yachae (vegetables)

Tteokbokki 떡볶이 – sauced rice cakes

Pajeon – pancakes

Galbi – short ribs

Pa dak 파닭 – chicken with honey, onions, etc.

No complaints

Today, I finally took Chase to the dr after noticing something on his chest a few weeks ago.  I already had a pretty good idea of what it was after I googled it and knew it shouldn't be too bad, but still thought the dr should see it. He agreed is pectus excavatum.  Basically, it's pigeon chest.  It looks like a long lump on his chest because the middle caves in a little.  Since we now know about it the dr just wanted a lung function test and xray as a baseline and he measured the dip.  Then, we can monitor it as he grows and know how much it changes.  It's only almost 1/2 inch deep now, so unless it suddenly gets to 1" or something we're good.  You couldn't even see it on the xray, so it has little chance of impacting his organs at this point.  Most kids that have it are born with it, so the dr felt bad saying he should have noticed at one of his annual appointments, but I assured him it was not there or noticeable in any way before now.  I had read that sometimes they randomly show up at adolescents when they start to really grow.  I think most of those are the milder cases, so I'm not too worried.  He said we could go to a chest specialists if we wanted to, but since he's not overly worried and I've read about it, I'm not overly worried either.  Still glad we know now, it's just better to keep an eye on it.

Came home after the dr and grocery shopping (and lunch just Chase and I) and Cole had already fed the younger 3 like I asked him and the kitchen was cleaned.  They quickly unloaded the groceries without me saying a word.  Cole, Kaelin and Chelsi had even folded the whites like I asked.  I just had to wash, dry and fold the darks and make supper.  I barbequed some chicken, in the rain since it kind of snuck up on me and baked it for another hour.  That and some baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.....yum!  Chase just played outside with his friend D all afternoon.  When it wasn't down pouring they were either target practicing with their bb guns or playing football.  D is a grade under Chase, but they're almost the same age since Chase is the baby in his class.  J's been in a good mood all day and ate well tonight.

It's just one of those evenings when nothing outstanding happened, but you're just so content with things just the way they are.  It is SO nice when the kids help out so much.

Somber

I think that's how I describe my feeling right now.  This isn't happening to a close friend, but close enough that I feel awful, somber, sad, thankful, all rolled into one.

A friend found out after battling breast cancer just last year, cancer is back but in vertebrae and liver.  It's not good.  I think about their kids.  I think about her as a mom and how close she and the kids are to each other.  I just can't imagine and don't want to.  It's too sad and hard.

I woke up the day after I found out in such a good mood.  I couldn't figure out why and then I realized that it was because I was so thankful for the life I have.  I was not living her nightmare. 

I pray that there's some miracle.  That they're wrong.  That she survives so much longer than the statistics.  That somehow she beats it.  She's entirely too young.  They're entirely too young.  It's not right or fair. 

I'm just sad.