O's party went well although there were some glitches (more on this next time) that didn't really pertain to the party, just personally.  Thankfully the weather wasn't freezing or crappy outside, so we had a nice turnout.  Food of course was SLAMMING, that's if you enjoy Korean food (big props to my mother who made some of the spread).  The vanilla custard/strawberry filling cake from Caputo Bakery was delicious although half of the cake was unfinished (our fault, we picked up the cake an hour earlier than they expected).  Best part was seeing everyone!  Crappy part was trying to catch up with everyone which is virtually impossible (a hazard when you're the host/hostess!). 

 

Good times, good eats, good company.  Many thanks to all those who came and celebrated with us!

 

And a big ups on those who helped organized and cleaned up:  my mother (she sure knows how to throw a party!!!), my father, my sisters, bro in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, Heather for the static guard, Dane & Drew for their heavy drape that we used as a rug for the crawlers) and Kenn who provided the background music.

 

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!  Mummy loves you xxoo

After reading this Sunday's paper, I think I figured out what my mother has- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  I'll have to look more into this and perhaps go to the doctor with her to ask him/her.

 

So two days after my va-jay-jay surgery, I should really have been resting.  Instead, I ran errands, went food shopping for O's party and such.  I really need to learn how to RELAX and chill. 

 

I forgot to mention that after my surgery I did not have any nausea thanks to this little patch that was put below my chin.  I couldn't really understand the anesthesiologist (she had a thick Indian accent) what was the name of the patch, but it worked wonders.  Hopefully that is a sign that everything is all honky dory.  We'll see in a few weeks when the new cycle comes in.

 

***

 

O has a dribbly nose.  And on top of that, she's been teething (third bottom tooth popping out, four on top), which means she's been waking up in the middle of the night screaming her head off (which equals my sleep time has been cut off).  She's walking a lot more by herself with more confidence.  The girl has spunk, much more independent that S.  I think Phil better watch her closely when she turns 13.

 

***

 

Ever since we hung out with S's friends, Justin and Drew on Saturday, S has been fighting with O much more.  I guess she observed how the brothers played together, or rather, fought.  The next day, S started reacting the same way- not sharing the toys, pushing O around, just plain ol' not being nice.  I've tried several times telling her the behavior is not acceptable.  Right-o.  As if she cared.  Sigh.  Gotta work on this.

 

***

 

S is taking soccer classes.  Two weeks ago was her first class and it didn't fare well.  S was very, very clingy, wouldn't let go of my hand when they had lessons.  And she cried.  Then again, she is the youngest and smallest kid on the team (everybody else is at least 4.5 years old).  I didn't go with S and Phil last week, but from what it seems, she's getting better about kicking the soccer ball on her own rather than having one of us tag along with her. 

 

***

 

January is almost over, which means that February will fly right by.  So many kiddie parties to attend, Chinese New Year, President's Day week, soccer classes, oh boy.  I still need to plan my quick getaway to Iceland!

Words from Love and Rockets-

 

Off to the hospital tomorrow.  Ugh.  First it was laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removing my gall bladder) nine months after I had Sophia.  And now, almost one year after I had Olivia, I have to go under the knife again because after I had my cesarean section, I decided to have tubal ligation (I REFUSE TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER ROUND OF PREGNANCY- NO THANK YOU!).   I'm not sure if snipping the tubes caused me to have an endometrial polyp, but, that's what I have.  I just can't seem to get enough of hospitals.  Thank goodness it's a quick procedure (so they say), so I don't have to stay in the hospital overnight. 

 

Pro:  Hopefully less menstrual bleeding.  There is nothing more stressful than worrying yourself to pieces that your tampon AND pad has overflowed and you have a huge red stain on your arse (guys have no idea).

Con:   Sticking a cytotec in my vagina.  Not allowed to eat OR drink after midnight.  Will be very very tired for the next few days.  The worse of the worse- anesthesia makes me feel nauseous as hell and I usually end up vomiting or getting the chills after surgery. 

 

Fucking paradise! 

Ah this time, my post is not about my lil' ladies, but about my two favorite and best girlfriends, Julie and Karen.  We've known each other since high school days, yet kinda lost in touch with each other during the college years and managed to rekindle our friendship around the time I was about to get married.  It's been a long, long journey together.

 

We originally planned to meet last Friday, but Julie got sick, so I had dinner with Karen (we ate at SoHo Park).  So we rescheduled for dinner tonight and ate at at Taj-Almoulouk (a spin-off of Moustache, we had falafel, babaganoush, hummus, Greek salad with grilled chicken) and for dessert, Max Brenner's fondue. 

 

Both were equally good although we came out of Taj smelling like grilled food (which really irks me).  But the best part is of course, the conversation (Julie's been working so hard, she didn't sleep the night before, so she was dozing in and out of our conversations).  We always manage to have good laughs to serious, heartfelt conversations.  I am very fortunate to have them in my life and me in theirs. 

 

Even though in the past we've vowed to get together for dinner more often and failed to, I think this time we will keep that promise. 

 

***

 

No progress on Mom.  This morning I briefly spoke to her and asked her if she called the doctor.  Her response was, "Oh just shut up."

 

Nice.

Last night I had trouble falling asleep because my sister Kim left my apartment with a disturbing statement- "Mom doesn't think she'll live much longer."  That left me really rattled.  I mean, I know realistically most of us won't live until the age of 90, but c'mon, my mother is ONLY 56 years old.  It's too early for her to go.  And I won't let her go that easily.

My mother has been very lethargic for the past year or two.  I think she's gone to the doctor once since feeling this way.  But she refuses to seek more professional help.  I don't understand her- you complain how tired you are yet you don't want to find out what's wrong?  Maybe it's just a simple change in her diet or medication that will fix  her up.   Why must she be so goddamn stubborn?  Why must she wait until it might be too late to cure her?

I truly don't understand it.  It makes me so fucking mad, frustrated and annoyed that she doesn't want to get help.  Last year, around the same time, I had gathered a list of doctors for her to see.  Her response was, "I'll go see a doctor when I'm up to it" or "I'll go when I'm ready to go."  What the fuck!  Sometimes I feel like I'm dealing with a child.

I'm not even sure where I'm supposed to begin.  Do I take her to a general practioner?  A specialist that deals her ailments?  At this point, obviously the money and the doctor's office is not an issue (she has insurance, but they are CRAP).  I seriously have to be a little more pro-active about this.

I want my girls to grow up with my mother.  To eat the delicious food she makes.  To learn grandma's creative side (out of her three daughters, none of us picked that up from her).  To be spoiled and adored by her.  I want her to be there for them.  I want her to love them a little longer.  And them to be loved by her.

Maybe we should plan a trip to Vienna this year.  She's always wanted to go there.

***

I'm going under the knife once again next week.  It's supposedly a "quick 30-minute procedure" per my doctor.  And if you must know what it is, well, it has to do with the female body.  (NO!  It is not plastic surgery.  I wish it was so I can get rid of my nasty beer gut!)  I am feeling pretty nervous about the surgery even though I've had two kids plop out via c-section.  Bad thing is, I won't be working for the week (I don't get paid if I don't go in, life as a freelancer) and I can't work out (ha, as if I'm that dedicated).  Good thing is, I get to pick Sophia up from school if I'm not in too much pain and I will get to  urge the girls' closet.  We'll see about that- from what I understand, I will be very tired for two days.

***

Funny story on Sophia.  Last week, upon returning from our long (and boy was it long to see Sophia in the mornings) holiday break, Sophia was puckered up by her classmate, Jax.  He didn't actually kiss her, just puckered up.  Not sure if he wanted a New Year's kiss, but the way he did it cracked me up.

***

Speaking of exercising- Phil and I discussed we will rotate our running schedule on the weekends- Saturday is his day, Sunday is mine.   I'm trying to get myself back into the running races NYRR usually holds in Central Park.  Not going to be easy, considering I haven't ran a 5 miler close to two years.

***

Turns out Sophia did a blood test for her allergies and most of the food allergies came up negative.  What the…  So her allergist doctor switched her medication back from Zyrtec to Singulair.  We'll see if the medication works on her.  With the mild winter weather, this isn't a good sign.  Spring is going to hit her hard.

Just tonight, O just took a few steps ON HER OWN!  I'll try to video this.

I had this for dessert tonight (sold at Dean & Deluca).  It was so good, I almost peed in my pants.

 

No wonder I gained two pounds since Thanksgiving.  Fuck!

Let me just say I SURVIVED THE HELLISH MOTHERFUCKING TEN HOURS OF TORTURE WITH THE KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT FROM NORTH CAROLINA.  I really ought to make a t-shirt that says that and save it for the kids to read it when they're a little older.  Guilt trip at its best.

 

To make it short and sweet, we had loads of fun in the Outer Banks, NC, compliments of my sister in-law, her husband and their two adorable girls beach house.  Weather was beautiful (with the exception of Christmas Day when it poured), house is beautiful, the kids had so much fun playing with each other, we collected shells, played in the sand, ate, snacked, relaxed...all good fun (Sophia did throw up, but very little).  EXCEPT FOR THAT HELLISH RIDE BACK HOME.

 

On the way down to NC, we stayed in Virginia Beach overnight.  Our drive down was actually perfect.  No traffic equals the kids napped for a good duration of the ride.  But on our ride back home, we got stuck in traffic somewhere in Northern VA which meant, the girls had a very short nap.  I was mentally exhausted.  Phil was tired himself.  We had no idea what day it was until we started seeing Redskin fans driving by with the banners plastered on their cars and BBQ grills in tow, attached to the trunk of their 4x4.  Then it dawned on us- It's a Saturday.  There is a FOOTBALL GAME!  The Redskins are playing against the Giants!  AAACK!

 

I hurriedly made a child-like poster with crayons saying, GO GIANTS.  I stuck it on the back of my father's 4x4.  Umm, didn't work because my dad's truck windows WERE TINTED, so all the passing cars couldn't see it!  Dumb ass.

 

At least Sophia behaved (THANK GAWD for new Christmas toys to entertain her).  O on the other hand, I scolded her so many times that she bursted out crying.  LOUD.  Almost deafening too.  When I dozed off (while the girls napped), I checked on Phil to make sure he was okay to drive.  Can you believe we left the beach house around 9:45a and didn't get home until 10:30p?  Ugh!  Never, EVER again.  Next time we go, the hell with driving.  I'll fly.  Oh and I love Cracker Barrel.  Yummy-licious biscuits and corn muffins.

 

Happy New Year!