trying to stay warm

It's quite cold here. I think it's was in the 30's for most of the day today. We had white chicken chili for our valentine's dinner and dessert from the Silver Spoon, a local gourmet type cafe/resturant. We have rigged up a heating system that includes drop cords running across our foyer. (it's complicated-but the gist of it is this: all our major appliances are on the same circuit, which as you know are limited in the amount of power they allow in, so we can't have the living room heaters and dryer going at the same time) So we are using the drop cords so that our living room heater, which sounds like some kind of small helicopter, is on another seperate circuit from the one with the dryer.

Emma Grace continues to get better-yipee! Xiao Li is back so things are looking good around here! We've had Emma Grace sleep with us two nights in a row because we lost power both nights and didn't want her to get cold. These are really monotonous details that I am embarrassed that anyone but our parents will read-but I do this mainly for them anyway. So for everyone else, thanks for reading this far. Ok, well that's all for now-EG's 8 month pictures coming soon!

two teeth and a mullet

Besides getting a yucky viral infection in her lungs while in Thailand, Emma Grace also got two teeth and the beginning strands of a really nice mullet. Her teeth and her hair both seemed to grow rapidly while on vacation.

Good news...we took EG to see the American doctor here for a follow-up appt. She is getting better and he said she is sounding good. Praise the Lord. There is nothing like having a sick child and the relief of knowing she is getting better is one of the best feelings in the world for a parent.

On a final note, we are in the middle of the New Year here. Which carries lots of meaning for the locals but for us mainly means fast internet (no one is working) and loud firecracker shows outside our window at 11pm and 6am. I could live without the pyrotechnics but the speedier internet is nice. On that note, I'll post a few pictures I have been meaning to put up but haven't gotten around to...

EMMA GRACE'S ROOM

Emma Grace in her crib. We bought this from some friends, Sloan and Ginny, who moved back to the US. Their daughter Aria was in the "5 monkeys" picture a few months back. We miss you Sloan and Ginny if you are reading this! That's Peanut, her elephant in the crib with her. She sleeps with him everynight. Except now because he is in great need of a bath after being dropped on the road in Thailand.

Fun art on the wall...I love Homegoods. (but not as much as my mother in law)

So this is EG's changing table...it was made by this neat group that employs deaf men and teaches them carpentry. We take a lot of pottery barn ideas and have them make them. I am standing in the window sill taking this pic. You can see the door and her crib. To my right in the wall with the fun art (above picture)

Though Tim and Kathi's luggage didn't make it on time when they came, these name plaques made it just fine~ They were Kathi's carry-on item. They hang above her bed.

Finally, this is Xiao Li holding EG in rocking chair. The little table is one I got at a used furniture market for 5 dollars and the chair is one I bought and then had thicker cushions made and covered. We read here every night before bed.

Her room is the perfect size. Not too big, which makes it easy to keep it warm. However, we had to put two heaters in their last night to get it warm. It's not that cold here, it's just that our walls are concrete and without people living here for 3 weeks and no heat running, they got chilled and it takes a while to warm the walls back up. It's suny now so I am thinking it will get warmer in here soon. Laura my neighbor told me their thermometer was reading 53 last night (in their house). I think we've gotten the living room back up to the 60's now. EG's room is over 70 now. working on the rest of the house, but you know those power isssues we have don't allow us to run all the heaters at the same time. HEHE. I know it sounds like I'm down on this place but it's home and I really like it. It feels like home to us and we are happy to be here. Cold walls, fireworks and all.

Home again, Home again

We're home! And we couldn't be happier. It's been a few days since we blogged and that's because our vacation came to a screeching halt a few days ago. Though we had a great vacation overall, the last few days were not so fun. EG came down with a cold which progressed into bronchiolitis that landed us all in the hospital for 3 days. Basically, she had a viral infrection that caused her lungs to have mucus in them and made it hard for her to breathe. Now, this is not a huge deal for an adult, but a baby needs help to clear the lungs. Emma Grace had 3 days of nebulizers, sleeping in an oxygen box, and having her lungs suctioned out. (this was the worst part) But thankfully, she is doing much better-so much so that the doctor felt we could come home. We had a wonderful doctor who spent a lot of time with us and made us feel very comfortable and informed about the situation. Tomorrow we will take Emma Grace to an American doctor for a follow up just to make sure she is still on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, Andy also got really sick last night from something he ate. So, all in all we stumbled to the finish line. But, we're home and so glad to be here! We'll keep you posted on EG's recovery. Please please pray for her to recover fully and for us as parents to be cautious and wise as we care for her. thanks!

Ho

me

Ho

me

The Bean, the Beach and Breakfast

The Bean...The Beach...



Lots of Luggage for the Beach...

Breakfast...

We are close to 8 months now, the age to start yoghurt and that works great considering we live in Asia, the land of yoghurt. You can buy yoghurt at most mini marts, have it delivered to your home daily, drink it, eat it, and use it as suncreen. ok, not really. But it's cheap and easy and everywhere! EG had it for the first time at breakfast yesterday. As you can see in this picture, she wasn't quite sure what to make of it. But after a few bites, she took right to it and is loving it.

We are enjoying vacation. Andy's reading the Brother's Karamazov while I am working on a "not quite as intellectually stimulating yet very pleasant" novel by Maeve Binchy, Tara Road. Emma Grace loves the pool and the Beach. We've been eating sandwiches by the pool and listening to Beach Boys. Although Thailand is great, Andy and I both agreed we would trade it all in for a trip to 6108 Nixon Street, Myrlte Beach, South Carolina, good ole US of A!

Went to a two in one resturant last night with some friends, Brad and Abby. It was the best of both worlds. A steak house for Andy and a mexican resturant for me. I had fajitas, a fave and Andy went with the Sirlion. I think they had the Huffmans in mind when the created this place.

Well, a sandwich, Beach Boys and the other two Huffmans are waiting for me at the pool. Catch you soon.

Vacation and being normal

My days of sitting in a dark room are over. Now during Eg's naps I can sit by the pool, from which I can see our room, or read a book on the porch of our one room cottage! Yipee! The Huffmans arrived in lazy koh Samui (an island off of thailand) around lunch today. After an afternoon nap, we had a mid afternoon meal at "billabong sport's bar" (I had chicken fingers and andy had a burger) Then we headed for the pool, which is the perfect temperature for a dip and then a walk on the beach. EG's third nap just ended and we are out walking around the little town of Bophut, which is home to our little family friendly hotel. We just ate a banana pancake, which isn't what you imagine. It's a lightly fried dough with banana and butter in the middle-drizzled with warm sweetened condensed milk. it's gonna be a good week.

I finished the book Marley and Me. This dog was truly the world's worst and believe it or not, reading it, though he caused tons of grief for his owners, made me want a dog. I told Andy once that normal people love dogs and watch TV. (About 7 yeas ago, I profoessionally self diagnosed myself as not normal on the basis of this criteria) When I was in college I never watched TV-I was always too busy to bother. I do think that a lot of TV is trash and a total waste of time, but I also think that not being able to sit down and watch TV is a sign of some serious dysfunction. I mean, if you can't let go of all the thousands of tasks that never seem to get done and just relax and enjoy a little mindless entertainment, you might want to ask yourself what's wrong. And about dogs-dog lovers are sentimental and caring and are able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life with man's best friend. To hate dogs (which I did for a long time) is a sign of a cold heart. (ok, that's extreme) Anyway, I was totally in the No TV watching (not out of principle just out of dysfunction) no dog loving camp until I married my UBER-normal best friend, Andy! One of the many wonderful ways he has changed me is to lead me to a love of "King of Queens" and slowly but surely, to not only accept those four-legged fur balls, but to love them and even want one of my own. Now, who knows for sure if it will work out for us to have a dog in our current situation, the jury's still out. But, I am thankful for the relief I feel knowing that my heart is opened to TV and dogs-I am NORMAL now!

Here's to 2008-my first year as a normal person. I think I'll go on vacation and celebrate.