Asher will finish Kindergarten 1 at the end of the month. This year they have learned all of the consonants in the Thai alphabet as well as the English alphabet. Here's a video of Asher saying the Thai alphabet.
15 February 2013
11 February 2013
Jack's Great Fall
Let me paint a picture for you:
Every night after baths, Asher and Jack spend a few (ok, exactly 5 because they are little and need very specific limits) minutes bouncing around on our bed. When the timer goes off it's time to brush teeth and head to bed. Jack loves his tooth brush. He also says about 5 words, one of which is teeth.
So, every night the timer goes off and Jack throws himself off the bed and takes off running as fast as his miniature legs will go, running towards the bathroom screaming, "TEETH!!!" We all giggle at him and he giggles at himself and then we hold him down and force him to let us brush his teeth.
This sets the stage for our latest adventure.
Three weeks ago we were plowing through our normal bath and bed routine. Jack heard the timer and took off only to hit a puddle of water when he went into the bathroom. Down he went and we all braced for the scream. Oddly enough there wasn't much of a scream, just a heap of Jack sort of crying and looking confused. I scooped him up, dried him off, looked him over for big bumps and put him to bed.
He whimpered for a few minutes and then drifted off to sleep. A few hours later he started crying and since that is pretty unusual I ran up to see what was wrong. He looked fine, but he wouldn't go back to sleep. I figured his belly hurt (I think we had something really healthy like chocolate chip pancakes for dinner) and the thought even crossed my mind that maybe he hurt himself and needed some Tylenol. Then the thought of him throwing up bright red Tylenol all over his crib crossed my mind. I rocked him, Roger rocked him and finally he just went back to sleep.
The next morning I found him sort of floundering in his crib. His arms were hanging onto the edge, but his feet appeared to not be working. I got him breakfast and when he was done I plopped him down on the floor and realized that the boy couldn't stand up.
Off to the doctor we went, got some x-rays, watched the doctor search Google for "toddler hip pain" and left without knowing anything more than he didn't appear to have broken anything. We went back three days later (three non-walking Jack days later) to see a pediatric orthopedic doctor. More x-rays, thankfully no more Google and no more answers. Just a two year old that couldn't walk.
We waited a week (another non-walking week) and went back again. I tried almost every day to get Jack to at least stand up, but he would always just perch on his one good leg and then fall down and crawl away. Of course, at the doctor's office he stood up, and while holding onto my hand, walked down the hall. Fantastic. The doctor told us all would be well and sent us home. Jack refused to stand or walk for two more days before finally waking up one morning and deciding he was ready to go.
We watched him limp around for another week before we decided that maybe we should go back to the doctor even though the doctor told us he was fine.
The doctors we had already seen were out of the country, so we ended up at another international hospital seeing another new doctor (I think this was number 4). This guy was on top of things. Instead of telling Jack to walk, he threw some toys across the room and let Asher and Jack run after them. Once he saw how he was limping (and confirmed that I was not imagining it) he told us his plan for figuring out what was wrong. Once again we needed x-rays and I have to say I'm getting pretty good at holding Jack's leg in the correct positions.
We headed back to the doctor's office and then we finally had our answer: Jack had a toddler fracture and now that almost three weeks had passed we could see his bone starting to heal. Since Jack was already walking the doctor decided no cast for now and we all headed home happy to finally have some answers. Other than a few more follow up appointments it looks like we finally figured out the ending to Jack's Great Fall.
Every night after baths, Asher and Jack spend a few (ok, exactly 5 because they are little and need very specific limits) minutes bouncing around on our bed. When the timer goes off it's time to brush teeth and head to bed. Jack loves his tooth brush. He also says about 5 words, one of which is teeth.
So, every night the timer goes off and Jack throws himself off the bed and takes off running as fast as his miniature legs will go, running towards the bathroom screaming, "TEETH!!!" We all giggle at him and he giggles at himself and then we hold him down and force him to let us brush his teeth.
This sets the stage for our latest adventure.
Three weeks ago we were plowing through our normal bath and bed routine. Jack heard the timer and took off only to hit a puddle of water when he went into the bathroom. Down he went and we all braced for the scream. Oddly enough there wasn't much of a scream, just a heap of Jack sort of crying and looking confused. I scooped him up, dried him off, looked him over for big bumps and put him to bed.
He whimpered for a few minutes and then drifted off to sleep. A few hours later he started crying and since that is pretty unusual I ran up to see what was wrong. He looked fine, but he wouldn't go back to sleep. I figured his belly hurt (I think we had something really healthy like chocolate chip pancakes for dinner) and the thought even crossed my mind that maybe he hurt himself and needed some Tylenol. Then the thought of him throwing up bright red Tylenol all over his crib crossed my mind. I rocked him, Roger rocked him and finally he just went back to sleep.
The next morning I found him sort of floundering in his crib. His arms were hanging onto the edge, but his feet appeared to not be working. I got him breakfast and when he was done I plopped him down on the floor and realized that the boy couldn't stand up.
Jack, the one-legged wonder
Hanging out with Daddy during one of many trips to the hospital.
We watched him limp around for another week before we decided that maybe we should go back to the doctor even though the doctor told us he was fine.
We found some fun ways to have fun without using our legs
We headed back to the doctor's office and then we finally had our answer: Jack had a toddler fracture and now that almost three weeks had passed we could see his bone starting to heal. Since Jack was already walking the doctor decided no cast for now and we all headed home happy to finally have some answers. Other than a few more follow up appointments it looks like we finally figured out the ending to Jack's Great Fall.
Back to normal: running wild in the streets of Bangkok with his big brother
27 January 2013
Coming Up Next...
...it's our trip to America! In approximately 51 days and 9 hours we are heading back to Kentucky for our Stateside Assignment. Basically, every couple of years we get to go to America and reconnect with everyone. I'm dreading the trip and anticipating the destination. Being locked in airplanes with Jack Hampton for 29 hours sounds like a nightmare. It also makes me thankful that we are only 29 hours from the US and it's a much easier journey than the trip home from Indonesia. We will be living in Paducah until December and hopefully doing a bit of traveling around the area as well.
In other news, Jack maybe has a broken leg. He fell a week ago and hasn't walked since. The doctors can't find anything on the x-rays, so we are just waiting...I think. Either way, it's not a lot of fun to carry around a 2 year old in the Bangkok heat, but at least he doesn't have to wear shoes and that saves me a few minutes every time we leave the house.
We are keeping busy getting all of stuff ready to go into storage. It's a great time to get rid of stuff, so I have been cleaning out closets and throwing away as much as I can. One benefit of moving so often is getting rid of stuff I don't really need, but moving is a lot of work. I consider myself an expert 50 pound suitcase packer at this point and I will soon be testing my skills again.
20 January 2013
Things That Probably Don't Happen At Your Preschool (Part 2)
Last week was traffic and bicycle safety day at Asher's school. I'm not really sure what all they talked about because Asher said that he had a hard time understanding the policemen.
I think they learned a little about road signs and maybe how the policemen direct traffic. During the busiest parts of the day in Bangkok policemen will be at most intersections stopping traffic during green lights and generally adding to the chaos in the streets. Maybe now the preschoolers understand why?
After the safety lecture they all headed outside to practice what they had learned. Asher evidently had fun waiting for his turn to ride the bikes.
They practiced safely crossing the road (or maybe they let the bike riders get an early start on scaring pedestrians dumb enough to try and cross the road).
There were also stoplights and different traffic signs set up around the courtyard, so I think they had to follow directions and try to not break any of the rules. Asher was unclear as to whether or not traffic violations resulted in needing to pay a bribe.
Overall it seemed to be a fun day and Asher really liked it because there was very little time spend learning to write Thai letters that day.
The odd part of the day came out later on when he kept talking to me about the policemen and their bags. I finally asked him what he was talking about and this is what he says: "Well, Khruu Wen (his teacher) told us that if we stood up or talked while the policemen were talking they would hit us with their stick and put us in their bag and take us away."
Asher sort of scoffs at this sort of thing and doesn't fall for it, but it's a pretty normal for people here to tell their kids things like this. We have a friend in a different part of the country that finally realized one day that all of the children in her church were scared of her because their parents had been telling them that foreigners bite kids.
Just another day at school, living in fear of policemen sticking you in a bag for standing up when you are supposed to be sitting down.
I think they learned a little about road signs and maybe how the policemen direct traffic. During the busiest parts of the day in Bangkok policemen will be at most intersections stopping traffic during green lights and generally adding to the chaos in the streets. Maybe now the preschoolers understand why?
Asher sort of scoffs at this sort of thing and doesn't fall for it, but it's a pretty normal for people here to tell their kids things like this. We have a friend in a different part of the country that finally realized one day that all of the children in her church were scared of her because their parents had been telling them that foreigners bite kids.
Just another day at school, living in fear of policemen sticking you in a bag for standing up when you are supposed to be sitting down.
18 January 2013
Things That Probably Don't Happen At Your Preschool
There are a few things that are different in a Thai preschool. Let's look back to the end of July and see what happened on Fire Drill Day 1, Year 2555.
In order to make it more realistic they actually started a small fire inside the school.
And then they rolled the fire through the hallways.
Of course, there is the obligatory group picture.
Like all good events there was a special sign made just for that day.
Okay, I admit, the sign is a little creepy looking.
Asher seemed unmoved by the whole experience. He was unimpressed by the fire in the hallways, but he was quite taken with the small flags that the teachers carried. For some reason he calls the flags castles and for months talked about seeing castles all around the city. We didn't know what he was talking about for the longest time. I still haven't figured out why he thinks flags are called castles.
So, what do you think? Are we likely to run into these types of fire drills when we are in the US?
In order to make it more realistic they actually started a small fire inside the school.
And then they rolled the fire through the hallways.
Of course, there is the obligatory group picture.
Like all good events there was a special sign made just for that day.
Okay, I admit, the sign is a little creepy looking.
Asher seemed unmoved by the whole experience. He was unimpressed by the fire in the hallways, but he was quite taken with the small flags that the teachers carried. For some reason he calls the flags castles and for months talked about seeing castles all around the city. We didn't know what he was talking about for the longest time. I still haven't figured out why he thinks flags are called castles.
So, what do you think? Are we likely to run into these types of fire drills when we are in the US?
01 January 2013
Project 365: 358 - 366
Day 358
Roger played tour guide and took everyone to Ayutthaya to see the old temples and ride elephants. Asher had a blast, Jack and I stayed at home and Roger posed on an old temple.
Day 359
Happy Birthday Baby Jack!
Day 360
Merry Christmas! And let's mention how these four could not sit still for a picture. Every single picture has Asher frozen in this pose, Jack running away, Ellie being held in place by Asher and Aedan looking he's just fed up it.
Day 361
We followed up an exciting Christmas with two sick boys and lots of laundry.
Day 362
Daddy and Asher relaxing in the glow of the iPad. More than likely it was Asher showing off how great he is at Fruit Ninja.
Day 363
Roger and I went out for the evening and I had the opportunity to model my Christmas present.
Day 364
I took Roger's mom out for a foot massage, it's the best way to end a day of walking around the city.
Day 365
Jack had Asher's sunglasses and Asher's bike. You can imagine how well Asher took that.
Day 366
Asher got a guitar for Christmas and he loves to sit on the couch strumming some chords and making up songs.
And that's it. An entire year in pictures. I'm glad that I did it and I'm glad to be done.
30 December 2012
Project 365: 344 - 350
Day 344
At Asiatique: all was well until Jack got his head stuck in the railing. For real. That little stinker shoved his head right between those rails and started screaming. I had a brief moment of panic and visions of the scene the foreigners were going to cause before I just grabbed his head and yanked it back out. He recovered quickly, but it took Roger and I a very long time to stop giggling about it.
Day 345
Jack has taken ownership of Asher's old bike.
Day 346
You can tell we will be having company soon because I actually got the "train room" all cleaned up and sort of organized. I think Jack managed to undo all of my work as soon as he woke up the next morning.
Day 347
Our Jesse Tree is filling up with ornaments. Asher proudly hangs them up every night.
Day 348
Asher had a doctor's appointment and while we were at the hospital we went by the NICU and got our first look at sweet Baby Owen. He's still too tiny for us to hold, but we did steal his big sister for a quick snack break.
Day 349
I made rolls for the first time. They were actually good (I had my doubts about my roll making ability) and not too difficult. Thanks to the rather warm environment in my kitchen the rising time was cut down from 2 hours to about 25 minutes.
Day 350
I filled up a container with water and set the boys loose. There's no better way to spend a hot December morning than pouring water on your brother when he's still in his pajamas.
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