Category: Family

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Le Pauvre JJ

So JJ started complaining about his eye hurting last Thursday.  Soojin thought at first that it was his eyebrow(s) getting in his eye.  So we told him to wash his eyes.  Well, it continued.  For another day.  And then we were beginning to worry that he may have some infections… like pink eye or something.

By Friday, he kept crying and didn’t sleep through the night at all.  Now, I was WISHING it was pink eye!  Before you scream and yell at me thinking “How can you call yourself a father and wish that your son had a pink eye?!!!”, hear me out.  At least if it’s a pink eye, it’s a short-term problem.  What we were afraid of for his sake was that it was allergies!  😮

But sure enough, when Soojin took him in to doctor’s this morning, his doctor worried that is just it.  At such young age, developing allergies could prove more… lethal, as many kids also develop asthma and other worse things.  Pray for him.  Thanks.  🙂

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Good news for our “little” sister Christine!

Christine has entered our lives in a flash and have really changed our lives!  She has a very rare disease called Devic’s disease, one that affects one’s nervous system… well, as loyal readers would know, it has led her to temporary but lengthy blindness.  She can see a bit and one would think that such rare and difficult disease would bring you down, but not our Christine!

She has been more than a trooper over the little over past year we have known her.  She is very frank and honest and does not hold herself back.  Well, one of her doctors recommended her for an experimental treatment using Rituxan, a medication used to treat cancer.   The drug does similar things that needs to be done to treat someone like her.

Well, that was end of last year.  She has been bravely, and patiently, trying to get an appointment to be treated.  Yet, because her condition is so rare and the medication is for cancer patients, unlike herself, things have been… complicated.  But she has shared that she finally got through the red tape and got the appointment scheduled for 26th of the month!!  I am so happy for her… and how she has held herself through these past years.  If I had to pick my own “Person of the Year”, she would definitely get it.  Right Christine?!  😀  Hope this wasn’t out of line…  Soojin and I couldn’t be happier or more thankful to God for introducing someone so amazing to our lives.  I don’t think she sees how much an encouragement and challenge she has brought to us.

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Funny helping Anna with school work

So since past few weeks ago, our Kindergarten Anna has finally brought… work home!!  😮

She started having quizzes in spelling!!  I didn’t realize that K’s also have to learn to spell already!!  As I read out the words to her, it feels … weird finding myself helping her with studying.

It’s just odd… is all.  I just pray that I won’t become those “typical Asian parents” in lording education over their heads.  I want them to love studying and learning, and growing up.  Hope I don’t mess that up…

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Stress and Ash Wednesday

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday… the day to mark the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period to prepare for the agony and pain that Jesus went through and 40 days reflect the length of time he spent in the desert.  Prior to this day, my stress level has been … surmounting lately.  I thought I’d share this with the few that read this and ask for your prayers.

1. My mother-in-law’s health has been worsening with her liver no longer allowing her to take any medications, having gone through two surgeries for her eyes, and knees, and because of the liver, they can’t perform surgery on her neck, which has been giving her lots of pain.  Her siblings all but two have died of liver cancer, and she shows symptoms of the same disease.  I’m afraid that she may not have much time left…  🙁

2. Because of my mother-in-law’s health condition, Soojin has been stressed out about it, and cries a lot of times regarding this… even more so thinking that she can’t help take care of her mom.

3. So naturally, before her health diminishes even further, we planned to visit her this year in Korea, but as most know, plane tickets are not cheap.  I’m looking at easily $4000 to $5000 for 4.  That’s not a small amount and it’s stressing me out.

4. Unfortunate misunderstandings and timings have brought some bad situation to some of my relationships.

5. My parents haven’t been doing too well either.

6. I’ve had a severe headache for over a week where everything above my sinus have been giving me so much pain that I couldn’t concentrate.  Thought it was allergies at first but upon visiting my doctor, she told me that it’s more likely due to sinus infection.  I’m on 3 meds now and the throbbing pain in my cranium seems to have gone… for now.

7. Job has been… frustrating to say the least.  Not being appreciated at work by the higher ups, and too much internal politics are killing me.

8. Relatively big task came into my hands at work and that’s been giving me stress.

9. My body pretty much gave out on both Tuesday and Wednesday due to stress, and felt too weak to do much.

10. Both of our cars seem to need the transmissions rebuilt… either that or get a different car(s).  🙁

10. Finance (and managing it) has never been my forté and making ends meet is becoming more and more difficult.

Things, honestly, look very bleak right now… but as Ash Wednesday reminds me, I need to keep in my mind how much more of pain and suffering Jesus had to endure for our sakes.  May God give me strength to carry on, wisdom to manage, and the discernment to choose wisely.

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Kids and Houston Auto Show ’08

So I was brave enough to decide to take the kids this year to the Houston Auto Show 2008!  I knew JJ would love it but wasn’t so sure about Anna… well, they both loved it really!  And the unexpected part was that they both wanted to get in all the cars and take pictures!  😀  That was so cute…

We did total of about 2 and 1/2 hours of walking around and seeing all kinds of cars… my favorite was seeing the Audi R8!  That car was suh-wheat!  Here are the pictures of it…  Enjoy!  I know I did.

Oh yeah… Buick had a water fountain to show…

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Increasing Responsibilities of Parenthood

Anna’s first year in public school system has been great.  She loves going to school and is always excited about learning…  However, there has been a bit of… concern.

There’s this girl in her class that has been saying negative things to Anna.   It all started with “You are not my friend” type of simple (but common, unfortunately) negative comments whenever Anna didn’t play with this girl or wanted to control her.  Anna is mostly a very sweet girl who gets along with everyone else and tries to be kind.  Unfortunately, that’s her weakness as well and so even such statement makes her cry.  🙁

I remember the first time Anna mentioned it.  It kind of came out of the blue and she started to cry.  So both of us have been telling her to try her best to ignore what she tells her.  Well, unfortunately, things have been getting worse.  Last week, that girl told Anna that she’s stupid!  😡  Erg…  This girl is currently the only child and so tends to try to be controlling and authoritative.  Both of us were so mad.

It’s hard to advise a 5-year-old on how to handle such situation.  While being a Christian, we want to tell her to just love that girl unconditionally, I told myself that Ann’s 5 years old.  She has no concept on what all that means, let alone being able to process how to not let such negative things not affect her.  So until I believe she’s old enough to ignore those negative comments and still be able to befriend her, I told her (as calmly and nicely as possible) to avoid her and ignore what she says.

In her first year in school system, all I wanted for Anna to learn is adapt well into the system.  I could care less about how smart she becomes or capable or such things.  I want her to enjoy the school life.  After all, she will be in it for 12 more years!  So on Tuesday, we had our 2nd teacher-parent conference.  Anna’s teacher is great.  She loves her.  And the teacher is great for most part.  But she’s a teacher nonetheless and with all her responsibilities, this kind of situation was oblivious to her.  So after the teacher spoke about her academic progress (and she’s doing just fine even if others are doing superior), I brought this issue with this particular girl.

Now that she’s aware of it, I hope the teacher does a bit more.  And I do pray that Anna grows up to be a very understanding and accepting kind of person.  But until I think she’s ready to even understand what that means, I am advising her to avoid her.  Man, it’s tough being a parent…  🙁

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Yeah… 2008!

Well, really, I don’t know what the big deal is since the concept of “time” is man-made and so we are celebrating what?  I don’t feel any different… but I guess I will play along.  😛

We had a good visit to my parents’ for Christmas and New Year… my kids had a blast with their grandparents and cousins.  I also got to see some good ol’ friends I haven’t seen in some long time.

– Won Suk Lee, 7 years

– Christine Cho, met her fiancé, Clinton.

– Kevin Wu, 1 year

– Woosuk Sohn, 12 years!

Wish I had seen more friends (like Kwon Young, Will, Paidow, Yuri, Boris, and Ben) but we all have plans and family.  We didn’t get to see snow either… so that was disappointing.  Now, I’m back at work and just blah-ing…