Lets Go Kiddo

It’s a slow march towards break.  The long slog through fatigue and keeping up with all that’s been going on until it is finally here.  Until it’s finally break.  Until it’s finally February.   J has it even harder, as she started 2 weeks before Kiddo did and Kiddo has had some half days, but those were working days for J.  As for Kiddo, come February Break, she will have completed 63.4% of her school year and had 10 days off.  TEN!  Compared to if J were still with OSide School going into the same February break period, the kids would be 62.9% done (almost the same), but would have already had 19 days off.  The march towards the break here is brutal.  For all of us. Kiddo is burnt.  The longest break she’s had is the first week of October and that was 6 days.  However, she’s also had 3 weekend days as “make up” days following days off in October, another random day off in November that was made up on a Saturday, and then a make...

As a father the one thing I hate seeing in Kiddo is heartbreak.  That is something that I try to avoid her feeling and experiencing at all costs.  As we’ve planned our February and have been talking about our summer breaks, we’ve included Kiddo in those talks.  One thing we’ve been most adamant about is that we are NOT returning to the States this summer. Last night, all those talks caught up with us.  Kiddo went to bed and all was fine, until it wasn’t. As J and I sat and started a movie.  About 15 minutes later, Kiddo comes out with a pinched and worried look on her face.  She was distraught and heartbroken. She wants to “go home.” We comforted her and told her we were home.  Her, Mumma, and Dada were all home.  The doors were locked and everything was safe.  She cried harder and she wanted to just not live in China, but to go home. There was loss and heartbreak in her voice.  We tried to calm her. Finally, we asked where ...

Happy New Years to one and all and sorry I’m a week late in that.  Between my back and at home PT and going in for PT, it’s been a lot going on.  My back is feeling a bit better and progressing.  The disc is still a bit bulged, but imaging shows a1/3rd improvement, so the docs and therapists think that the issue should resolve itself without surgical intervention…. I just gotta keep up on the work at home.  Stretching, weight management, and core strength.  I’m not complaining (much) about that, since it’s a daily reminder to stretch, move, and NOT have a extra snack.  I’m down 2.5kg in just the last three weeks making ONLY those changes; add in a stationary bike ride and planks 4-5x a week and cutting out soda and drinking more herbal tea with a fruit or veg for a snack and I’m hoping to come into spring about 7kg down and come into summer at a slim 77kg, instead of the 87.5kg I’m at currently.  Also, I’m going to note… I will be doing this all WITHOU...

Slowly, but surely, my back is getting better.  I’m doing my home stretching and strengthening work, doing twice a week PT, sleeping in the brace, and doing what the docs and PT suggest and ask.  It’s been a pain… haha. I have been taken off some of my restrictions, so I can walk about and get around a bit more than in the weeks previous.  To celebrate that, J, Kiddo and I got out and walked the half kilometer to the produce market this weekend.  With J there to help carry items, it was easier on my back and good to get out and move again.  We loaded up on apples and oranges, but also go some mushrooms, green beans, and a variety of other yummies to cook and munch on this week.  The oranges…. I wish I could pass them along thru here.  They are like candy.  So good! While out, since it was right around the corner from the produce market, we popped into a little noodle shop and got lunch.  The portion were HUGE, especially for the cost, abo...