Train Ride

We had some family time together. I found a place that we could take NJ on a train ride. But I didn't realize there was a pumpkin patch going on so it was super crowded. We spent most of our time just waiting in line to ride the train. NJ was very patient.

Taking a moment to sit.

Baby Love!

Chocolate milk treat. I got my own treat of a tea latte, yum.

Busy day... Play date in the morning with a cutie THOGL buddy, a visit to NJ's newest future play mate, an emergency stop to my favorite coffee place (NJ needed to use the restroom), and dinner with a birthday girl (just Mama). Wow, I tired the poor guy out, but it was a great day of connection with friends and little ones.

Cheese E Fundraiser

He actually didn't do too bad with the driving. He tried so hard to step on the pedal and steer at the same time. For the second game, Baba helped him with the pedal while he steered. I laughed the entire time because he drove like a crazy drunk. NJ's school was having a fundraiser night. A portion of the what we spent went to the school. The kids all got some free tokens. We planned to go to the farmer's market, but it was raining, so it worked out. It's not my favorite place to go, but it was for a good cause. And NJ was all smiles as I put him to bed. We like to now call it Cheese E Chuck, how Ah-gong says it. :) NJ saw his teachers and some classmates there. When we got there, one of the girls in his class ran up and hugged him right away. How cute and how sweet! 

It's mid-october and we're finally breaking out the winter jammies. Hope he's warmer tonight. 

Reminders

I have one less tooth today. NJ came with and asked me, "You getting your tooth out? Why? You getting a new one? Can I see it?" Lots of reminders today of my on-going healing, the process of getting our lives back. After two years of rescheduling dentist appointments, I went back recently. I was so embarrassed at how much my teeth had been neglected. All this time of being sick and not being able to do anything about it. It's frustrating that now, after all this time there's still effects from what's happened. So I had to get a tooth out today. I was so nervous and Baba makes fun of me that I worry about a little tooth after having been through so much. It turned out to be nothing, totally painless, fast, and easy. They offered me prescription pain meds, but it didn't hurt and I didn't need anything at all.

We had a couple over for dinner tonight. We met them at one of my many UCLA clinic visits. At one point I was there once a week. So we ran into them quite a bit and every time, we'd talk, joke, laugh and talk about our experiences. One of the last times we saw them we exchanged numbers. We've been in touch and talked about getting together, but we finally made it happen. And oh my, are we happy we did. We started off talking about everyday things and somehow our conversation went deeper in an instant when we started talking about how our lives have been affected after. It seemed like everything that they said was exactly what's happened to us, exactly what we've felt, thought, said, or did. And as it turns out, they've reconnected with God, church, and fellowship. What a relief, what a weight off, and what a blessing! In my entire life of dealing with health issues, I actually have someone to talk to that really understands. Not just because of their own hardship or illness, but because the same thing happened to them, life changed in the same way, and they're still trying to deal with it. I'm feeling a little less crazy. Thank God for friends, community, and faith. 

"Watch me climb the wall, Mama."

He ran up and took my hand when I went to pick him up today. He proudly showed me how he could climb the wall. Then one of the girls also wanted to show me too. 

NJ happily helped me mix some crackers for crust for my baking. 

The verse he learned from school today. I wrote it at home to keep reading it to him to help him memorize it. I love that he's learning so much.

"Can I pray for your tummy so it feel better?"

Helping mix the eggs for our scrambled egg, potato, and sausage breakfast. 

Baba took him to exchange some shoes we bought him a long time ago (When it was buy one get one 50% off) But the bigger size we got was too small so we had to get him even bigger ones. Size 11 wides, my goodness.
What a sweet, loving, thoughtful and kind son I have. Poor guy could tell I was sluggish today. He overheard me telling Baba that I had a stomach ache. NJ immediately made his adorable pouty face at me and says, "Aww, I'm sorry. Mama, your tummy hurts? Can I pray for your tummy so it feel better?" Of coarse I say yes and he sits with me to pray, "Dear God please let Mama's tummy feel better so it not hurt anymore. In Jesus name, Amen." It melted my heart. I gave him a hug and some kisses before going to lay down.

HOPE Filled Day

My handsome little man happily eating his chocolate muffin from his sunday school class. He shared a bite with Uncle Jason and then with me. 

Say "cheese"!

Off to our friend's house to help move some furniture...

Pick up some super cool kicks...

And then off to another friend's house to help them paint their kid's room...

(this is NJ's face watching Monster's Inc. for the first time. He was mesmerized!)

From pink to blue in a matter of hours. 

What a day! Baba offered his skills for moving and painting, NJ was obliviously happy playing with a ton of toys, and I got to chat it up with the mommies. It required the coordination of three families, but it worked out great.