The weight of Grade 4

Besides the recent travels and baseball, life has been pretty routine.  Work, school, weekend, repeat.  Kiddo’s been Kiddo, so not much to say there, other than that we’ve had some troubles transitioning to Grade 4.  Not like she can’t, but it’s a lot of new stuff and there have been some hiccups; forgotten homework, forgetting what class to go to and needing to go to J’s classroom for support and help, or slow to get out the door since she “doesn’t like” Grade 4.  It’s all just part of the challenge of being 9.

As you can see, however, there are still a lot of smiles and laughs in the day.

The biggest news is that Kiddo had a doctor appointment last week and it was just a well check.  The doc is a bit concerned about her weight and height, she’s on the low side of normal for all.  27.1kg (60 lbs) and 134.5cm (4ft 5in) is fine, but doc said she would expect, based on her last two years records, that she would be 136-139cm and over 29kg.  So, low side of normal, but nothing unusual or concerning.  They took some blood, did an ultrasound, and took an X-Ray.  The only thing that popped in that was that she is allergic to crab and shrimp.  I got the usual questions about eating and sleeping and I answered, but I wanted to tell the doc that she’s sleeping fine.  Eating, however, any time that the doc wants to come over and watch her eat pretty much constantly, she’s welcome.  

Seriously; let’s do yesterday.  A school day.  Two bowls of cereal in the morning.  Snack and a granola bar.  A full PBJ, bag of chips, an apple, 3 clementine oranges, and a packet of crackers for lunch.  After school snack.  Salmon, rice, and a whole cuncumber for dinner.  Watermelon.  A popsicle.  Add to that, two milks.  

Yeah, she’s eating just fine doc.  The weekend is about the same, only you can probably add another snack of fruit in the mix.  

The fact that she moves, constantly, is part of the weight issue.  She doesn’t walk, she zooms.  She doesn’t stop, either.  Inside, outside, with friends, alone, with the stuffed friends, alone… heck, probably in her sleep.  I’ve posted pics of her climbing her door way and that’ happens a dozen times a day.  The fact that she burns about 18 gazillion calories a day could be why she’s a little under weight.  

Then, after all that, we got a flu shot.  I say we, because they asked if I had gotten my flu vax and if I would like one.  Well, since I was there… go for it.  I had planned on getting an appointment first week of November.  The nurse did the paperwork really quick and it was no charge, so I wasn’t about to complain and say no.  Saves me the time.  It was easy and flu shot box is checked.  

I usually get hammered after flu shots, but this time wasn’t bad.  I just felt run down, but no awful; I felt like I was at 85%.  Like I needed a strong cup of coffee to get going.  Thankfully, we had plans to order out and get food, so I could take it easy.  Went to bed early and woke up feeling fine.  J went in on Saturday for a well check and her flu shot and she said the same thing upon coming home.  She was fine, until she wasn’t and that was just feeling out of energy.  She napped for an hour and Kiddo and I had made soup for dinner, so that was great.  Come about 9pm, J hit the wall again and went to bed early.  Woke up feeling fine.  Kiddo complained about it for two days, mostly that her arm hurt, but only went convenient.  Climbing the doorway, no pain.  Tired and end of night and I rub her arm and it was AGONY!  We all survived and are now vaxed.

Soup.

I gotta mention the soup.

I had chicken bones.  Kiddo made the stock, with very little help from me, more there to guide and remind.  Then, for the soup, Kiddo made the mirepoix and most of the veg.  I did the chicken and potatoes.  Mostly I did the potatoes because they are oddly shaped and big.  Also, a bit hard.  So, that was my task.  Kiddo isn’t good with raw meat yet, so that is always my task.  It was 100% on point and one of the better soups we’ve made here in China.  In fact, we get to have it leftover tonight.  The soup, though… That was Kiddo.  I was there, as I said, to guide, but mostly, she did the work.  It was 75% her soup, maybe 80%.  The day is coming where I won’t have to cook everyday as I have a feeling that Kiddo will want to cook on weekends and days off.  I’m only a little sad about this.

That’s what’s been going on here.  As I said, pretty mundane and routine.  Just life stuff.  Nothing really in the works until late January and the CNY holiday.  We don’t have solid plans yet, but J is focused on her job search, but that will settle soon and we can shift focus to travels.  I think BKK for a week is in the plans and then over to Vietnam.  Maybe we can sprinkle in Cambodia or Laos before VN or maybe we can mix in Hong Kong and visit more of that and see Kiddo’s bestie H, since she moved there with her family.  Lots in the air, so we shall see.

Until then—

Let’s go, Kiddo….. We may be in the routines now, but we got the World Series with the Brewers coming up.  Halloween fun.  Winter is coming, so you and I are going to need to make a steady stream of soups.  Grade 4 has been a tough transition, but you are starting to settle into it and it’ll only get easier.  Before you know it, it’ll be time to travel for Feb break and then it’ll be time to move.  Lots coming, lots to do, and lots to see.  Keep doing you and being great.