Chinese New Year-The Year of the Dog

The official Chinese New Year celebration doesn't actually happen until February 16, but our local celebration was this past Saturday.

Every year, our local FCC(Families with Children from China), have several groups of girls do traditional Chinese Folk Dances. There is a set order that the girls go through. This year, Abbey did the Flower Drum Dance.

With her illness, I wasn't sure if she would be able to do it, but she has recovered enough to participate.

She did a wonderful job and enjoyed it so much. You can see the glee on her face.

Two of her really good friends were in the dance with her, here she is with one of them, Kylie.

I was so proud of her, especially when she had a mishap. Her stick came away from the string and went flying off. She didn't miss a beat, kept right on and finished the dance with one imaginary stick.

There were several other dances, traditional instruments, dragon dances and many other performances. Nana and Grandaddy came and enjoyed seeing Abbey. ( John had to go to a meeting out of town, where he actually won an award.) For the first time in all of his 20+ years working there, he got a trophy for being "Salesman of the Year"!

I love this tradition! It's a small way to connect Abbey and Elijah to their native culture!

Abbey's Illness

The Monday after Thanksgiving, Abbey came home from swim practice and complained of not feeling well. I took her temperature and indeed, she did have a fever. The fever was around 101 and lasted for about 24 hours. I kept her home an extra day from swimming, just because she seemed tired. When she went back to swimming, she complained of being dizzy.

This dizziness continued every practice, so on Dec. 13th, I took her to our pediatrician, who, upon examining Abbey couldn't find anything obvious wrong. She ordered bloodwork and said she wanted Abbey to stay out of swimming until she had been cleared by a cardiologist.

We got an appointment with Dr. Henry, a pediatric cardiologist for Dec. 18th. He diagnosed her with pericardial effusion and said she could not swim for two weeks and would then need to be seen again and reevaluated. Thus began the grand run around....

In the meantime, Abbey really did feel lousy. She would fall asleep at the drop of a hat and didn't eat much at all. (both sooo not my baby's personality). She was terrifically depressed to be feeling so rotten and also to be kept away from doing what she loves.

After Christmas, I called and asked about the blood work the cardiologist was supposed to get from the first sample. They had not called in time, and so no blood work had been done. At my instigation, we had blood drawn. I never heard results.

After New Year's holiday, I called and requested the "two week appointment" the Dr. said they would call me and make. They said they didn't have an opening until Jan. 23rd! Ludicrous, but it becomes even more absurd. Over the course of the next week, I called and asked for a return call to get the blood work results. Each time they assured me the Dr. would call. Each time he never did. I even asked the Ped. to call, which she did, still no response! I finally asked the ped. to give us a referral to another cardiologist. She did and I was able to make an appointment for the next day! I called and canceled our Jan. 23rd appointment, and shared, very nicely, my frustrations. The next morning, low and behold, the first cardiologist called and offered some excuse about a "family emergency", and stating he had been out of the office. Further expressing that he was "a very private person" and would appreciate if I wouldn't share this information with anyone else....fat chance of that, bud! I did not respond, so I'm not breaking my word.  I would hate for someone else to have to go through what we did. The first time I called after New Year's Day, the receptionist actually told me that he was in the office!

So on we went to a new cardiologist. Long story...but the gist was she saw nothing wrong with Abbey's heart and Abbey could return to swimming! Enter one happy girl...

On January 11, Abbey's ban from swimming was lifted!

She's not completely well yet, but is much better. She wasn't able to make it through a practice without dizziness and chest discomfort until Jan. 22. She's been to two practices and swam hard the whole time. She still suffers from fatigue, but it is better.

I've prayed so much for God to heal my baby. It's hurt my heart to see her so sad and not feeling well. I give him praise for the progress she has made. I pray that she continues to improve and can be fully back to herself!

Our budding photographer

Anna has always like to take pictures. Since quitting her job and moving, she's really developed an interest in photography. She asked me to allow her to practice on Abbey and Elijah and then me and John. These are the results. I think she does a great job!

Christmas 2017

Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year, so we went to church in the morning, just like usual. We had a relaxed day with a little last minute shopping, and then began our usual Christmas Eve festivities.

We read the Christmas story from the Bible, sang a carol and opened presents from siblings.

Then walked and looked at the lights. We had to cut it short, because Abbey has been battling an infection that had infected her heart. She was banned from any exercise.

Then began the Christmas Eve pig out!

Buffalo chicken dip, shrimp scampi dip, chips, cookies, spicy pretzels, cheese whiz, summer sausage and...

of course, horseradish!

Funny...those guys of mine! I love them and their macho attitudes!

It was a laid back Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning was ushered in with our usual tradition of the kids cooking breakfast and bringing it to us in bed. Followed by the gifts from me and John.

Anna, Jamie and the girls came rolling in around 2. I cooked my butt off! We had 3 main dishes!

Lots of food, but lots of relaxed family time. I missed Beth, Greg and Evie, but we did talk to Beth on the phone.

Rolls fit for Hercules

 Lots of sweets for the sweeties

Three of my baby girls decked out for Christmas.

After presents, Abbey, Daniel and John played Star Wars trivia to see who the biggest Star Wars expert is...John won!

I love all of my family so much and am so very blessed to be able to cook for them and enjoy their company!

Daniel stayed until the 27th, and then Abbey, John, Elijah and I went to the beach.

It was boooo chilly!

But, I did get some beautiful sunset pictures.

When we got there, we discovered both of our heating units weren't working correctly. Thank the Lord for emergency heat strips! John was working after the new year, so we needed to stay there.

We went to the USS North Carolina battleship. The kids had never been. It was absolutely frigid outside. Abbey and I spent a bit in the gift shop while Elijah and John explored some more outside.

Then in marched 2018!!