More house stuff

I have been obsessing about our house since I got home for Hawaii.  Something about having toddler makes me neurotic about my house.  My son likes to play, and he likes toys.  We try not to spoil him, but he does have a lot of toys.  He has toys in his bedroom, in his play area in our basement, and in the living room on the main floor.  Basically, he has toys on all three floors of our house.  I get very upset when there's so much clutter.  Not only do I pick up after a toddler, I also pick up after an adult:  a male adult.  It's very exhausting.

So today I spent 2.5 hours at Ikea, gawking at what living spaces and bedrooms and living rooms should look like.  I could've died with envy right there and then, but I kept encouraging myself that someday I will have that.  So after my trip to Ikea, I got the inspiration to clean up when I got home and de-clutter my toy infested living room.  So here's what I came up with:

The lamp was my $20 find at Ikea.  I just needed something to accentuate my bookcase which is not much a bookcase as much as it is a toy storage.  I am happy though that at least for 30 minutes, my living room stayed looking like this.  My son is about to come home from playing outside to change that.  But at least for a little while, this made my day.

Renovation progress

About six months ago, Josh started renovating our kitchen. It has been a long and arduous process.  To be honest, I didn't like the house when Josh decided to buy it.  Not only because I wasn't there to see the house for myself, but I disliked the fact that it was this horrible yellow inside the entire house and that there's only 1 bathroom to share among 3 bedrooms upstairs.  But Josh wanted the house, and he liked the location, and that we had a small budget to work with, the fact that I can't be included in the purchase because I lived in Hawaii then...well, I didn't have much of a say.  So as a good wife, I supported his decision to purchase the house.

The first time I stepped into the house, I was thoroughly dismayed.  It was not at all what I expected.  I don't claim to be the cleanest person in the world.  But I could swear that the previous owners were the filthiest people I haven't and never wish to meet.  Suffice it to say, I spend several months going from room to room cleaning the entire house to a point where I can say I am comfortable to live in it.

One of the major areas that I pressed and prodded Josh to renovate is the kitchen.  I'm not going to go into details, but the kitchen was pretty nasty.  We agreed to renovate when we get our tax return.  We didn't get much in refund but thank goodness for Home Depot.  So here is the kitchen before (these are pictures Josh took before he purchased the house:

 And these are the pictures after our renovation:

It's still a work in progress.  It's hard for Josh to find time to finish it between work, school, and Sam.  But it's more than what i could wish for.  I'm still working on organizing it, especially the pantry but in time, everything will be where I want them to be.

Birthday

I meant to blog about my birthday.  Except there was really to say other than I am a year older.  No big celebration, no flowers or balloons.  Just the usual family day.  Nothing really exciting.  Every year, as my birthday approaches, I keep thinking that when I was young (before 18) all I wanted was to become 18.  At 18 you become an adult, at least legally.  When I turned 18, I wanted to be 21.  Everyone knows why being 21 is significant...not that everyone abide by it.  After I turned 21, I wanted to become 25.  Car insurance gets cheaper and I can rent a car on my own.  After I turned 25....I wanted to go back and be 18 again.

I don't know if everyone feel the way that I do, but sometimes I feel like I just want to run in circles around that age.  I don't fear aging...I'm not afraid to get all wrinkly and gray.  I enjoy being a wife and a mommy (although the latter has been increasingly challenging for me as of late).  But somehow, before my birthday approaches every year, I try to remember the days when I was younger and carefree.  Maybe because then, I didn't have to stress so much.  I feel like as you get older, the stress mounts because there's just much more to stress about.  You stop thinking beyond yourself that at some point, you forget about yourself.

This year, as I turned another year older, I have decided to go back every once and a while and think about myself.  So the first thing I did on my birthday is to go to the container store and bought items to organize my pantry.  That's for me, for my sanity.  So I thought of myself.  And every once in a while (on days where Sam just drives me and slams me on the wall), I will think of myself.

Nap, nap, nap

Today was a rough day.  And it's not even done yet.  It was a late start prompted by a very late bedtime last night.  I do realize and understand that it must be tough for Sam to adjust and establish a new routine.  I wish I could make it easier for him, because that means my life would be easier.  Our struggle today involved nap time.  I've heard people having issues with naps, but today, I went through it myself.  Routinely after lunch, Sam and I cuddle, watch a little TV until he falls asleep.  Today, he refuses.  No sir, he wanted to eat, play, throw things, but not nap.  So after a lot of pushing, pulling, jumping and head butting mommy, he finally gave up, cuddled with the sofa, and passed out.

4 hours later

So here we are 4 hours later, he is softly snoring and I am decompressing from all the frustration of the day.  And it's not even over.

Home sick

I've been back home for a little over a week now.  Since I had surgery, my parents thought it would be a good idea for one of them to accompany Sam and I back home; and so my Dad came back with us.  It was such as blessing having him help me through the 9.5 hour flight.  I don't think I would have handled Sam by myself.  Sam has grown and has become a lot more active (even in his sleep!).

The past weekend, we took Dad sightseeing in DC.  He was particular about the places he wanted to see.  The rest of the time, he spent fixing our house.  He's going back to Hawaii tomorrow, and with him leaving, I feel like a part of me is leaving too.  The first time we left Hawaii to move to Virginia, I don't remember feeling home sick.  Sure I was sad to leave my comfort zone, my home, my job, my friends....practically my life, to start anew with my own family.  When we visited earlier this year and came back last March, it felt like coming home.  But this time, it felt harder.  I've always known that having your family around is great.  Having help with Sam is awesome because I can get breaks especially when i'm just too tired to deal with his orneriness.  Most of all, I think that I feel the way I do because of Sam.  I saw the sadness in his eyes when we left Hawaii this time.  He's happy at home...but his joy was different when we're in Hawaii.  Maybe it's because we're surrounded by family; whereas here in Virginia, it's just Sam, Mommy, Daddy, and a handful of friends.  Dad coming with us made it a bit easier, but with him going back tomorrow, I feel this overwhelming sadness.

Papa and Sam at the WWII Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background

I am hoping that Sam and I will adjust easily and go back to our old routines.  I am grateful for the time that we spent with family and hope that we will have the opportunity to do so again.

Family, Friends, Surgery, and 9 Years of Bliss

The past week has been a crazy week!  What was supposed to be a "quick" visit with my family ended up being a 2-month stay.  Our visit started really fun and enjoyable.  My sister, Jenny, and I were able to do a few things together, including a visit to the KCC farmer's market where they had some awesome coffee, loco moco (a local dish with a hamburger patty and over medium eggs on top of rice then smothered with gravy) that makes my mouth water thinking about it, and kimchi sausage (who would've thought!).  I had a nice lunch with friends from work, and a great stella and dot party at home hosted by my sister's friend.  Overall, it was going really well.  

Lunch with friends from work at Ichiriki

At the farmer's market with Jenny

I had known for a while that I have gallstones.  When we were visiting last March, I went to the ER for severe abdominal pain.  At the time, the doctor felt that there was no rush in getting the surgery and I was told that it is elective.  Since we were about to go back to Virginia, I opted not to seek treatment and put it off.  Josh and I talked about how we're going to do it without family support in Virginia, but we decided that eventually, I am going to have to come back to Hawaii to get the surgery so that my family could watch and take care of Sam while I recover.  That plan was not part of this trip...it was supposed to be another trip, sometime in the future.  But God, in his impeccable timing, decided that it was time.  That I should not wait any longer or continue to suffer the agony every time I have a gallstone attack.  So last Monday, July 16, I landed in the ER again.   Well, not initially.  While at work (yes, I work part time every time I come to Hawaii for my old boss), I started feeling the ever familiar stomach pain.  Since I anticipate that I could have the pain anytime, I always have my pain and nausea medicine with me.  I took one of each and decided to go home and let the pain pass.  My mom, however, felt I should go to the doctor.  I don't like going to the doctor, maybe that's why I ended up with this.  But at that time, I felt it necessary to go.  While at the doctor's office, I started having cold sweats and the pain intensified.  I started feeling dizzy and I was starting to feel faint.  When they finally took my vital signs, I alarmed the medical assistant, as well as the doctor for having my blood pressure at 70/44 and my pulse in the 50's.  That is way below my normal of 110's/60's and my heart rate is usually in the 80's.  I didn't think I was dying, but it sure felt like I was going to.  The doctor hydrated me, put my feet up and told my mom to take me to the ER.  So I landed again in the same ER where I found out I had gallstones.  Luckily I didn't have to wait long to be soon, and soon enough I was being told that I'm not going home that day because I have an infection and I'm going to have surgery.

I had my surgery on Tuesday.  The nice thing about being in the hospital was that when in pain, I can always ask for medicine.  And they sure give the good stuff.  Morphine was the medication of choice...or at least that's what the doctor order.  The pain disappears into oblivion as soon as the morphine hit my veins.  While waiting in the holding area in the OR, the anesthesiologist introduced himself and started talking to me.  He was explaining what he was going to do, medications he was going to give me, how he's going to put a breathing tube in my throat etc.etc.  I remember telling him that I wasn't feeling any pain at the moment.  Only that I was extremely hungry.  That was the last thing I remembered.  I woke up feeling groggy and my throat sore in the recovery room.  

That wasn't the end of it.  I had to have another procedure done to remove the remaining stones that were stuck in a duct between my liver and small intestine.  The lucky thing is that I didn't have to be cut open for this.  It's amazing what technology nowadays can do.  They were able to remove the stones using a scope that went through my mouth into my stomach.  Sounds morbid, yes.  But also amazing at the same time.  

Flowers and balloons from family and friends....I felt loved

Since my hospitalization, I barely got to spend time with my little boy.  But he was able to visit me for short periods (even though he's not allowed).  Of course, he didn't like mommy's hospital bed very much since it's not comfortable.

After my discharged, my sister and I got to spend some time with Sam at my parent's time share.  He's growing up so fast that I am amazed every day.  And as usual he loves his shave ice.

Yummy Passion Orange Guava Shave ice

The week was not only of my recent adventure with the scalpel though.  The highlight of my week has been yesterday (07/22).  Josh and I have been married 9 years.  Seems long if you look at the numbers, but to me, it feels like it's only yesterday.  We've gone through so many moves, so many changes, our lives have been in limbo for the last 9 years.  It has not been the easiest, but through it all, we've made it this far.  And although we are far apart (as we seem to be most of the time when there are special occasions), I always feel his love for me so much more as if he is just right next to me.  And for that, I will always be grateful that God gave him to me, to be my husband, partner, and best friend.  So here's to many more years of marriage.

July in Hawaii

Sam and I arrived 5 days ago here in sunny and breezy Hawaii. I was so glad to leave the sweltering heat of Virginia and definitely enjoying the cooler temperature. Sam has been having a blast hanging out with his grandparents, and of course, he is spoiled with attention and toys. Though the weather has been enjoyable, I am not faring so well with my health. Not even a day after our arrival, I caught a cold, and now suffering a terrible cough as well. I guess better to get sick here when I have enough people to care for Sam while I lie in my sick bed. I've got so many things planned...people to see, places to go, restaurants to eat. Being here makes me realize what I love about home, but it also gives me an understanding of why it was a good thing to move as well. For as much as I love having all the help I can get, moving away has helped me become self sufficient and able to manage my own home. It has helped me grow and become a stronger person. I just wish the distance was not so far as to deprive my son the company of his grandparents, especially Papa, who he loves so much.