Chinese New Year & Staycation

CNY Fireworks from out our Windows

 This is the fireworks out our back window boys room, in between the buildings.  The pictures don't even capture how crazy, unsafe, yet pretty this scene was.

 Playing at the Kerry Hotel in Shanghai!  I'm not sure who had more fun.

 Our dancing queen.

 Water, fire, lights, laser and fireworks show at Rainbow Walk (view from our window - WOW)!!!

Thank You to Karin, Katie & Rebecca

As I went back and re-read my stream of conscious writing from yesterday, I realized that I did not thank three really instrumental people in changing Andrew's diet.  Karin has hounded me for over a year to check out NACD and a gluten free diet, thanks to the amazing results that her good friend Katie has had from this group with her children.  First, THANK YOU Karin for never letting up on me to change Andrew's diet and introducing me to NACD, and THANK YOU to Katie who doesn't even realize how she is motivating me to do all I can do to be the best mom possible for my three special, sweet children.  I don't know where this road leads, but I know I won't give up until I know I've done all I can do.  Thank you both so much!!  THANK YOU also Rebecca on all the Feingold Diet books.  The information I've learned about the food we put into our body & the effects it can have on some children have been so eye-opening and a bit scary.  HUGE BIG THANKS to the friends that have listen to me talk about this stuff.  Your ears and advice keep me going and comfort me.  Thank you!!

Picking Up Where I Left Off....

So it is almost a year ago that we moved here to Suzhou and I've done a terrible job documenting the journey so that some day me, the kids, and anyone else, can look back and read about the whirl-wind.  I will try to write more regularly on this blog.  I think many times I am so overwhelmed by my immediate families needs, my extended families needs, and all the various big things that I'm constantly working on such as what I should be doing to help the kids with school work, reading, behavior, their diet, new recipes, my workouts (or lack there of), my commitments, oh and being a good wife, daughter, friend, sister, etc.  Oh and then the biggie, most important, my time (or once again - lack there of - time with God).  I really don't know how some people seem to do it all and not lose themselves, there kids, or simply their mind.  Maybe writing will help me get the organization that I want and need.

So the big thing on my plate is to figure out how I can help Andrew best succeed with school work and friends.  This first year in China feels as if Andrew hasn't progressed much, and this seems like the age that he really should be.  As much as I really do like their school, I do worry if it's much better suited for the self-motivated learner, which Andrew CLEARLY is not!!!  So after many tears, doctors appointments, and more testing we have increased his medicine for his ADHD/Asperger's, and then the following week try to reduce it with the week and a half off school for Chinese New Year.  I so desperately know that medication is not the long term solution for him, or at least I really hope and pray.  So I have been reading, reading, listening, and cooking with the intent of changing his diet.  A friend told me about the Feingold Diet, with is specifically helpful with people with behavioral problems.  They refer to it as food sensitivity.  The big book also goes onto say that it has also proved effective with kids with Asperger's.  In the same book, it acknowledges that you may need to take the diet a step further to be gluten/casein free.  I have been making the Feingold recipes for a few weeks now and have dabbled in the gluten/casein free recipes.  I know this isn't probably something you dabble in, but I'm trying to figure out where we are at and what we need to do.  Andrew does seem like he is focusing a little better, less explosive, and more engaging.  I'll keep working on it.  My next big step is to complete all the audio tapes and application for the NACD(National Association of Child Development) to really get to the heart of the brain with this thing.  I want Andrew to live the fullest, most joyful life he can here on earth and I can't wait to see his healed being in Heaven someday.

The other big thing is that I so desperately want to lost this 20 lbs. and maybe run the Suzhou half-marathon coming up in April or May.  My favorite hobby is working out.  Oh if I could just workout 4 hours a day every day of my life I would be the most sane woman.

Experiencing our first Chinese New Years was a treat!!  It was beautiful, especially from our 15th floor, lake-view, however at midnight that's not so great for sleeping children.  I can't imagine there's a quiet place though in China this time of year.  Mitch captured some cool pictures.  We also stayed at the Kerry Hotel in Shanghai one night and played for two days.  We had a blast sliding down the crazy 3-level playarea.  Oh, and I do have the greatest husband who gave me a hall pass to the spa as he took the kids to the pool with our ayi.  He is a keeper.

Oh and the next big thing is that we move to Golden Lough, less than 5 miles from where we are on the other side of the lake, in one week.  Mitch has his team in from the states all next week so I better put on my full armor of energy.

I will post pictures from our Staycation soon.  I feel better already writing down what's going on in life here. :-)

Our safety in Suzhou

Here is our driver, Jack.  He adores Emmakate.  And keeps us all very very safe.

A few more May activities



Curious George has nothing on ME!




Riding in a car is a BLAST - especially when Jack has to avoid the "local" driver.

You should see all of the cool stuff I can collect here.



Mother's Day brunch at the Intercontinental - a surprise for Mom.



Clown and Balloons, this is a cool LUNCH even for us!!  This was William's first outing after getting over scarlet fever.  Thank God for antibotics!!





Bring on the FOOD, I'm gonna just eat this spoon.



Way too many balloons later - the kids remained happy and occupied for a really nice mothers day brunch.



Even Emmakate, sweating in the humidity, was a dream during the brunch.   We all had a great time. 

April / May 2011 Activities

Here is what we have been up to.

We took a quick little weekend vacation to Shanghai and did a few touristy things.    William and Emmakate decided to get the first birds eye view of the city from our Hotel Window before a trip to the pool with big brother Andrew.



Andrew = Yeah, I got this place figured out, stick with me and you guys will be OK.

Emmakate, being our newest fashion queen, decided that she needed to try out her new look....   The statement, "fashion is painful" comes to mind.   Her eyes were smooshed into the goggles.

Starbucks in Shanghai - awesome cake suckers.   Most of it made it into our mouths.   Some on the ground..... some in the hair.

We found both "book-ends" of how to see Shanghai.    The first one was the by bus.....

The DOUBLE-DECKER bus was the best way....    100 RMB (about $14) per person for 24 hours.    You can jump on and off all day long.  There is about four main routes that pretty much take you on most all of the touristy spots.  Both Andrew and William were "dying" to go on it the first day there.   We were able to get upstairs and in the front seats.   

We took the bus to one of the "biggest" touristy spots in the city.   Yes, it was the Pearl tower.   Despite the expression on the kids faces, they were really looking forward to it.



Getting tickets to the tower was an adventure itself.    On the way to the ticket counter, Mitch was convinced to work with a "bookie" to get a special rate ticket.   So he grabbed us and helped us navigate through a crowd that would remind you of the Superbowl crowed.  Then the guy tried to tell us to wait for a car.  Mitch maybe a hillbilly, but he knew that we probably didn't need to get in a car to go "up" in the tower.  Especially when we were STANDING at the steps of the entrance!!!   Now it is true that the Pearl Tower is the tallest building in Shanghai.   And it has a great vantage point of the city .... assuming you catch it on a sunny day.   However, it is NOT the best way to see the city.   Particularly that after you buy the tickets and fight through the crowd, you have to stand in a line.... oh...... say .... for about 2 STINKEN hours.    (Don't forget we had three kids with us.....)   So after two hours of standing in line at the base, we got up the elevator.   Then we found out that we were only 1/2 way up and needed to stand in another 30 minute line.   Oh, each elevator they counted the number of people regardless of size or shape.  So Mitch and Emmakate with her stroller counted as two.   At one point, Mitch was standing on one leg with his other leg supporting himself against the wall of the elevator standing over the stroller.    Think sardines!   Then upstairs we had to carry the stroller up two flights of stairs.   Now the best part was that Emmakate slept through most of this.   It was pretty at the top.  ONCE.   So if you come see us and want to visit the tower, you are welcome to.  But Mitch says we will meet you across the street.





We then went to the Shanghai Aquarium.  This was awesome.  



So how many places in the US do you get to SIT on the Polar Bear?



Andrew swam with the fish in the underwater tunnel.



William just LOVED the whole day and everything we saw.



Up close and personal with the sharks.   The tunnel views were spectacular.

Mom and Dad - well they survived!!

The bullet train back to Suzhou was not too bad.    Getting onto the train was a bit of a challenge, but an experience none-the-less.   The waiting hall was huge and full of people.   When our train was up, think of a herd of cattle getting shuttled through a chute to get on a truck.    The train trip was 20 minutes, but the wait to get on was about 40.    All in all, great time had by all.

Mommy and Emmakate at the Easter Party.

So much candy, SO little TIME.

Time for a bit of refreshments!

Hey MOMMY, check out my new bestest friend!   Happy Easter All.




Welcome to China

Hi Everyone!  China has been interesting.  A bit like a roller coaster.  Sometimes really high and then we hit a low.  I would love to share some of the crazy experiences with anyone who wants to hear about it. 

So the first night we arrived in Suzhou, after 17 hours of travel, our seat in economy plus being switched all around, to running to even catch the flight.  After leaving the family Sunday morning around 6am, we arrive in our new home at 7pm Monday night.  Luckily we had some nice Caterpillar family that came to the house with pizzas and young friends for the boys to play with, then we realized we had no bed to sleep on and NO covers.  So the realtor wanted to take us to find some warm blankets.  Mitch thought I could use a kid break so he suggested I go.  Well after no luck at a few stores the realtor offered up his really warm blanket and directed the taxi to my home.  Well 1 hour later, and after some time of going really slow, and the doors locked from the inside, and a really expensive cab fare, for China, I finally arrived at our home drenched from the rain, in tears, yet happy I was still alive. Mitch felt so bad and I was asleep in minutes on the couch.

Anyway, the boys both love their school.  William is full time and he was 1 of 12 Golden Boys the first week in his school assembly.  I bet he was embarrassed, but proud. 

The church here is good!  Have meet some really great people. 

It took a few weeks to get a phone I could easily text on.  Everyone textes here.  Another week after that to get a VPN to access Facebook, the same week to get the ipads to connect to the wireless, a few more weeks to find the right adaptor for the Wii and how to file down the flat iron plugs to fit into the converter.

I had four Taiwanese woman over for coffee last Friday and although they were so friendly and had great smiles, we couldn't communicate at all.  

After the first week here, Emmakate fell from a chair in our house unto our marble floor onto her head.  Once again I thought I needed to take her to the ER - I was so frantic.  She has also eaten 2 plastic spoons.  I called the pediatrician back home and she thinks it will pass. This girl is going to give me a heart attack.  Please pray that I can keep her safe from everything and the boys safe from everything I don't know about.

Last week a couple invited us to go out to dinner and then foot massages after.  I have been hearing about everyone getting foot massages and I keep wondering if it was really foot massages and what the hype was all about.  So our appointments were booked for 9pm - strange right there.  It was a place called DragonFly.  The atmosphere was really awesome, dark, water running, candles - I was a little freaked out at first though.  They take you down stairs and you sit in a comfy reclining chair.  Then the woman brings a hot tub of water to let your feet soak in then wash them.  While your feet are soaking you get a shoulder, arm and hand massage.  Then she massages your feet for a long time.  It was 60 minutes, but I could have went for the 90 minutes after I realized how good it was.  Mitch and I and the other couple were sitting next to each other with half-curtains between the chairs.  It was a strange, cool experience.  The next day I took William, 4 1/2 year old with me for an hour foot massage.  We both loved it!! 

Everyone is big runners here.  There is a 11 mile lake right out our front window and the skyline is really nice.  Everything takes a long time to figure out.

The boys dressed up for character week.  Andrew was Cat in the Hat and William was Dash from the Incredibles.  I came into Andrew's class and read 'SkippyJon Jones'. I love that book, but I crack up every time I read it.

Emmakate started nursery school today - 3 days a week for the mornings.  It sounds crazy to put a 22 month old in preschool, but there isn't a lot for her to do.

This past Sunday I was in tears because I just wanted cash after a few days with no money & that is THE form of payment here.  The atm ate my card and the woman behind the counter took my card and wouldn't give it to me until I went home and got my passport.  I said some bad words way too many times.  Hours later I felt a little bad when I found out it was our US bank trying to protect us from fraud.  Since I had experienced the China atm eating my card and a friends card on two separate occasions I figured this was a regular occurrence here.

We are planning to go to Shanghai for 3-4 days this weekend/week for spring break that is coming this weekend.  I hope it's a nice break.

All three kids have taken turns throwing up over the last week and a half, William on two occasions.  I'm thinking their stomach isn't agreeing with the food or water - who knows.

Also, I went to dinner with a friend last week to an Indian restaurant - I LOVED IT!!  I think I will be a vegetarian for life if I can have my way.  The friend picked out the best food and then she told me the secret about Shanghai - you get to custom make your own clothes!!!!  Can you believe it.  Mitch never told me this great selling point.  I guess you pick the fabric, and then can either give them pictures of what you want created or you can look through their catalogs, such as Boden, Victoria Secret, etc. and have them make it based on your exact measurements - HOW AWESOME!!!!  So China is pretty good, just figuring out the basics will take you a long time.  I'll write more soon!