Annual collapse of the body...

Two years ago... Hand Foot Mouth.
Last year... return of Hand Foot Mouth.

This year... it was gonna hit sooner or later.  When Rachel came down with the flu two weeks ago, I was especially careful, taking extra precaution by taking Airborne, etc...

But starting last Thursday, I already felt it in throat.  Friday, I started coughing.  Saturday, the fever hit.  Sunday, it went to 100.  Monday went up to 104!!  I was so cold I was buried under a mountain of sheets, but at the same time, so hot I had two ice packs in my armpits.  Tuesday night... fever went down to a mild 102.  But my head was hurting so much I couldn't sleep a wink the entire night.  Wednesday comes around and I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't walk.... headache is still there.  I blame it on Caffeine withdrawal.... so I beg Joyce to go grab me a cup of coffee on the way home. 

Finally around 2pm, my fever breaks.  My head still hurts... my throat still aches.... my stomach is grumbling but I can't keep any food down. 

Oh the joys of NOT GETTING A FLU SHOT!?!?!??!?!

Good Samaritan(s)

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A joyous moment

It's Nui-nui's second season of Kidz Love Soccer... and at the end of every session... the coach will get the kids to scream, "KIDZ LOVE SOCCER" in unison and then hi-5 all the coaches and assistant coaches.  At the end of today's session... Nui-nui grabs Siu-Wah's hand and brings him with her.

Siu Wah is in seventh heaven! He gets to be with big sister and do big sister things!  And Nui-nui fits the role of the protective loving elder sibling perfectly. 

Bah-B and Mah-mee naturally starts shedding tears of joy. Hahaha.... our little ones are growing up.

Act of Kindness

On our way to Costco...we saw a family of four sitting by the entrance.  The parents are probably my age... their two kids are probably 7 and 4.  The two kids were laughing, joking.  The mom sat their, stoic.  The dad held the simple sign - "Money, Food, or Job.  Please help." 

Joyce suggested we get them a chicken. 

As we exited, we dropped off the chicken... the dad said, "Thank you.  God bless you." 

So... is there a difference between a family of four vs. a shaggy looking drunk?  Yes...
Did the family really need to stoop so low as to use their kids to trigger an emotional response? I don't know...

Finally found one....

Since I lost my sunglasses on our Hawaii trip in May... I haven't been able to find a replacement that fits.  Been using my Air Force Pilot glasses for the past 5 months.

Yesterday... finally located a pair at Nordstrom Rack.  $50 marked down to $15.  Nice!! 

I like cheap stuff... who am I kidding? I'm cheap... the kids will certainly bend or break them.  If not... I'll lose it and need to find another pair.  Only now... I know here to go look!

I cried...again

Currently reading Hillary Clinton's autobiography (in preparation for her 2016 run haha).  And I started weeping uncontrollably when I got to the part where her father was reluctant to give her away to Bill Clinton on their wedding day.

I started thinking... what I would do when the day comes that I have to give Nn's hand away in marriage.  I don't think I'll be able to do it.... :*(

Ohhhh soooo jealous

Was flying red-eye to Philly, hoping to catch some sleep during the 5 hour flight since I had a long day ahead.  Next two me sat a mother and daughter... 6 year old maybe?

Within 5 minutes of taking off...they were snoring away.  And for the rest of the night... I kept on staring at them... green with envy, dying with jealousy..... begging, praying, hoping... that I too can just fall asleep.

But I left the neckpillow in the car and my seat didn't recline.

I cry...

Ever since that fateful day on my birthday... I find myself crying over the weirdest things. 

Is it old-age? Is it mid-life crisis?  Read some where that crying is an psychological state of mind that brings emotional relief.  In the most absurd and roundabout way... maybe I'm trying to find some "joy" in my life...and the only way of finding that joy is by crying.  As weird as it sounds... it almost makes sense.

So am I crying cuz I'm sad....? Or am I crying cuz I'm happy? 

Change is hard...

Been about 3 weeks since that decisive day that I need to change jobs... change career... change my lifestyle.  It's tough! Especially for someone as driven as me.

It's hard to get into work a little later than before.  And to leave work a little earlier than before. (I still get my 40+ hours in, don't worry).  But the days in the past where I toil and toil... gotta start weaning away.  It ain't easy!!  I'm still blessed/cursed with the responsibility that I have to do my best at anything I do.  I guess I get that from dad....

Life at home has gotten a lot better - exponentially.  Can't remember the last time Joyce and I got into a fight.  The other day... Nn spilled her breakfast and she didn't hesitate to tell me. That means she's not scared of disappointing me... which means I haven't ripped a new one into her for the smallest things.  SW is still scared of me.  He very much prefers mah-MEE.  In due time, I guess.

But I have to admit... this is a struggle.  I'm giving up high achievements to be at home more.  I'm giving up the satisfaction of knowing I work harder than anyone else.  I'm giving up control of my job... and to realize that the company/program CAN survive without me. 

This is all hard to do... hard to accept.  Hard to accept the fact that... I can be insignificant.  Maybe it's an ego thing.  Maybe it's a reality check.  I don't know.  In the end... I think it'll be worth it. 

Best day of your life...worst day of your life

In the movie City Slickers, there's a famous scene where the three leading characters each go through the "Best Day..." in their lives.

Daniel Stearn starts with his best day being his wedding day.  How he's grown up... no longer a screw up... and his dad, gave him a *wink*.  Then for his worst day...he says every day since has been a tie.

Then it was Billy Crystal's turn.  His best day was his first Yankees game.  And then his worst day..... ohhhhhh mannnnnn....

Turned out to be a great day.  But the whole day leading up to the point was the worst.  Joyce and I just experienced it this past week.

It might not be the worst day of our lives.  We've had worst... I can fathom.  But man... this certainly comes darn close.

As for the best day.... I'd really have to think about that.  

Ahhhh sh*t.......

I don't normally swear... but sometimes... that's all the words that comes out.... "Ahhhhhh sh*t....."

Last night at nursery, while we were helping out, a 10 month old boy had a little accident while playing around.  He fell and started bleeding from the mouth.  That was right when mom walked in...and anecdotally... she bursted into tears.  Tears of sadness...tears of fear... tears of pain.

What parent wouldn't cry when seeing their precious child bleeding?!?!?!?

It took almost an hour... but we finally calmed the situation down.  And we thought everything was fine.  Until today... we received an email that the parents took the baby to ER and found out that the tissue between the lips and gum is permanently torn.  And now the parents are afraid there'll be speech impediments or other side effects.

That's right.... "Ahhhhhh sh*t......"

To top it off.... the parents are soon-to-be-believers.  What will this situation do to their view of our church??  Man....what have we done?

Joyce puts it perfect.  "Logically, we know it's an accident.  But the feeling of guilt is suffocating."  And right now... I'm still suffocating.