English is Hard

One USA Unit wants me to write this down...

[Time] Around 9pm on 2/13/1026
[Place] Goole Chat (we use Google Chat even at home when we are in different rooms)
[Conversation]
Me: Why my foot's middle finger got infection?
One USA Unit: Your toes?
Me: Right...whatever...
One USA Unit: (Walking into the room where I am at and...laughing laughing laughing)

Apparently, I've been wearing wrong size of shoes for a long long time. I went to a shoe store which is owned by a retired podiatrist and the staff informed me that my right foot is half size bigger than the left. Hmm...no wonder my foot is always hurting.

[Baby] ER Visit and Coming Home Outfit

So...I had an ER visit in the middle of the night last weekend due to chill/shivering. My body finally can't function normally even with my gestational diabetes diet. Few days later, I've been prescribed Metformin (type II diabetes drug). We are hoping the drug would help me pass through the rest of the pregnancy without another crazy episode happening nor bad side effects. 3 more weeks!!! (I am glad that the glucose was well managed almost 9 weeks so that I didn't have to take the medications that early in the pregnancy. I know the drug should be generally safe for the baby, but still, I was trying my best to not be put on the medications). I guess once the baby is out, I will actually miss her being with me all the time.

By the way, we've decided her coming home outfit - a dachshund bodysuit with a flower headband! (I am hoping she can fit in this bodysuit since I am still not too sure about whether I should be newborn or 0-3 month clothing for a new born, and I can't really find a clear answer online nor from friends.

Dachshund bodysuit is actually for "boy," but we like it a lot so we still bought it. We decided to add the headband flower to make it more girly. We found a cute 10-pack-headbands on Amazon for about $11. Qandsweet Baby Girl's Headbands Chiffon Hair Flower (10 Pack) (10pcs 3.5x2.3" Flowers)


Anyway, I'm just going to bring a set of each to the hospital). Getting so close to meet Baby I! We can't wait!



P.S. Congrats on One USA Unit finished another quarter of his classes!

[E] Some Food

I haven't posted food photos recently - here is one with few photos. I made all of those besides the bottom right corner one - this one was the lazy Thanksgiving meal I ordered from local grocery store, and I only needed to pick it up, roast the turkey, and re-heat the side dishes. Basically this is kind of our "family tradition" :D Instead of spending tons of time cooking, we order yummy Thanksgiving meal from local store at the beginning of November. Last year, we bought smaller meals from two different stores to compare which one we like better.

[Baby] About Six Weeks Left

We got the crib set up in November. We are going to wash some of the baby clothes, and put the sheet in the crib later on. Earlier this month, some coworkers I used to work with threw me a baby shower. I didn't want a baby shower because I am just not the type of person who like to be the center of attention. However, these nice ladies were trying to convince me for a while and told me that it's going to be a low key shower. Anyway, it was very nice to see all of them, and I really appreciate their love, support, and friendship! I was very lucky to work with them at my very first full time job in United States. 

[To Baby I] Sleeping Gowns from Electrikkidz

Dear Baby I,

We've heard that baby like to be swaddled, and your dad thinks he has mastered swaddling skill after doing it once on a fake baby during the hospital class. Instead of testing our swaddling skill on you, I think we found a better solution - sleeping gowns.

Someone in Taiwan mentioned this cute Canadian brand, Electrikkidz, makes nice and cute sleeping gowns. Since my friend is going to have a baby girl as well, I've ordered some for you and for my friend's baby girl. Let's hope these gowns as magical as people advertised that you babies will sleep soundly and parents can just chill and have fun.

Love you!

P.S. Just want to be clear...if someone is tapping belly loudly, that's not me...it's your dad. You can mess with him after you are out.



Cheers,
Mom

[To baby I] Your Room is Kind of Ready

Dear Baby I,

Your room is almost done :) We added some decorations on the wall and a laundry basket in the corner to fill the empty space. We've also decorated the other wall with the arts I made which has your name on, so we don't want to post the photo on the blog. We only need to put the crib together and then your room is fully furnished. We've got your crib and mattress already, but we think we will put it up when the time is closer. By the way, your aunt (my sister) has been buying you cute clothing and other things already. All of us are pretty excited about you are going to join our family.

We went to two classes for you so far - What To Expect As A New Parent and Childbirth Preparation. The classes included a lot of useful information, and we are glad that we took those to be better prepared to welcome you to our little family. We are brainstorming about what we are going to do about your doggy and kitty siblings during the delivery?! Do we send them to the boarding place for a day or two?! If so, how do we know when to book the pet hotel?! I guess dad can run back from hospital to check on them since fortunately we don't live too far from the hospital. Hmm...we will see...maybe you can give us heads up about you are coming out early enough so we can better plan all this?! haha...

Your dad is taking two classes now on top of his full time job. After this quarter, he will have to take another two classes so that he can finish up his second B.S. degree. His classes just start this week, and his instructor wanted everyone to introduce themselves - he's so cute that he told people that his daughter is coming in January 2016 :) I can tell that he loves you a lot already :)

Love you! I enjoy your company everyday!

Mom 

[To Baby I] Update on Your Room

Dear Baby I,

We know we still have some time before actually meeting you, but we've put together your little dresser, storage bench, and a changing table. The dresser and storage bench help us keeping the things we've collected for you organized.

We've decided not to re-paint your room, however, we got you some wall decals that we will put those on later on. When you are a little bit older, you can choose a color for us to paint your room.

[Baby] Goodbye Office

Kat Boss and his General Workers no longer have an office anymore.

Our house is not big; we only have 2 rooms upstairs and 1 room in the basement. Since we can't just leave the baby alone downstairs, we have to turn our office/computer room into baby room. One USA Unit moved out all his stuff pretty fast, and it took me couple more days to move my stuff out. We have bought all the baby furnitures we need, and we will be slowly assemble all of those soon. 

[To Baby I] Smile!

Dear Baby I, 

Your dad and I slowly collect things for you. He has moved all his computer stuff out of our "computer room", and I am trying to empty my stuff as well...the room will become yours. We will be kind of busy in Fall, so we've drove down south to pick up some furnitures for you. I searched online about the things to buy and I happened to run into that cute & colorful rabbit toy, I have to get it for you because I know this smiley rabbit can bring you comfort and make you happy one day.

[E] Learning to be More Patient

I usually walk really fast - I meant really really fast...fast to a point that I can barely handle walking with coworkers to lunch nor walking in a group. I think walking slow is wasting time.

I also used to jump down from the bed quickly to let the dogs in and out of the house - mostly because of I didn't want the dogs pacing around in the middle of the night to wake everyone up. 

After being pregnant, I've noticed I can't walk too fast nor jump down from the bed quickly anymore. I guess I've learned to be more patient (which is a good training for me).

Announcement!

[E] June is Almost Gone!

It's been a eventful couple weeks - Asian Festival, PaintNite with friend, Bowling for charity, Anniversary with my lovely hubby, Bday low-key celebration with hubby bought me a new phone, and few dinners with some family members...etc.

About my new phone - I love my new phone, HTC M9!
It's user friendly, fast, and it has awesome camera! I really need to be very careful from now on and hopefully I don't break the screen within 3 months lol

[E] Mr. Dachshund

I was chatting with my friend who just broke up not long ago...and I am thankful that when I broke up with my ex, I had Mr. Dachshund with me...and then I thought about it more...I don't think Mr. Dachshund was really patient with me during that time period. 

I remembered that I was really busy being a full-time graduate student, an adjunct instructor, and a graduate research assistant, and I once in a while still had time to cry. Mr. Dachshund would watch me when I cried - - - pretty much there's no such a thing calls sympathy from his eyes...the messages sent out from his eyes were more like "Get done with your crying since it's time to take me on a walk" or "Again...she's crying again" or "I am just going to sit here and stare at her"...even that, I am so lucky to have him...I think his condescending attitude did shorten my grieving of the breakup.

Anyway, I love Mr. Dachshund; in a little bit over a month, we've been together for 10 years! Time for sure flies!

When I first met Mr. Dachshund, he was super skinny...not anymore :D 

He's now normal size and usually a little bit chunky in winter lol

[E] Merry Christmas!

聖誕快樂！

Merry Christmas!

This is the 5th Christmas with One USA Unit

We "celebrate" Christmas by going snowboarding

I don't snowboard enough to actually improve my skill,

and I am not really brave to go downhill super fast...so

I got stuck at the flat area a lot lol

I just couldn't be able to convince myself not to slow down...ugh

Poor husband always needs to wait for me to get myself back to the "hill" area

I feel bad for him but I also like that he's always on the other side waiting for me :)

[C] My Path to ASA

今天我考過了第三個精算師考試，這一切都歸功於家人朋友們的支持和正面能量，小的我無限感激。每一次走出考場，其實沒有多開心，比較像是鬆了一口氣的感覺。非常謝謝這兩星期，老公經過看書的我默默的幫我把杯子中的茶水加滿、幫我買晚餐、按摩肩膀、洗衣服摺衣服、他說不論我有沒有考過，我都是他最愛的人...我很幸福，有他全心全意的支持。聽說我爹娘大老遠的跑去廟裡幫我拜拜祈福...我上輩子應該是個不錯的人，不然怎麼能在這個家中被保護的那麼好。知道我要考試的朋友在我提到緊張可能考不過的時候，大家的回應都是像"你可以的"這樣正面的話，所以我沒有放棄...在考前不到十天時，不知道哪裡開了竅，突然覺得離考過的標準靠近了好幾步!我想我擁有這擊不倒的意志力，都是因為周遭的人對我付出無私的愛與關懷...我知道我會繼續帶著我說不出的感激努力達成另一個目標!沒有你們，就沒有今天的我!我會更加努力的!

[E|C] Thanks!

My favorite song this week: 

especially this part of the song:

"多勇敢 不再回頭看 燈火輝煌 到燈火闌珊 愛在人為 還是命運安排 我感謝 曾被善待"

I am not strong enough to look back
No matter love is man-made or determined by faith, I appreciate the past

"時間不能摧毀只能改變 我哭了 也懂了"
I can't stop the time so I have to make a change in my life
I cry when I learn to accept this fact

"眼淚無害 回憶是我的財產 這幸福的...悲哀..."

Tears has no harm and memory is my only wealth
I finally feel the grief in this happiness

[E|C] Goodbye, Half of my September!

*中文在英文後*

September has been crazy. We drove over 20 hours in three days to travel to/from CA, and One USA Unit also traveled back to Kansas with me. It was a pleasure to visit family and friends. Right before we left for KS, my parents told me they are traveling back to Taiwan...I knew something must be wrong and unfortunately I was right - my uncle passed away all the sudden at age 59. This makes me think of a lot of things...

My grandpa passed away in the middle of my second semester in college. I gave myself two days to get over the fact that I couldn't be able to make it back home to say the last goodbye.

I've missed tons of family reunions, best friends and cousins' weddings, my closest cousin's band performances and his graduation, child births, b-day parties, death...there's time I run through some memories in my head and do my "what if" scenarios...

I hardly call anyone, I do email, but unfortunately not everyone does email...and I haven't learned to chat with people through phone...I guess this is kind of sad that I miss out the chances to connect with many people who I love and care about. 

To family/friend that I didn't get you say the last goodbye - as a lousy person I've been and left many things behind back home, you've been in my thoughts many times. I've missed you and will continue missing you. R.I.P.

已經九月了...從我開始寫這一篇到現在，又過了半個月。這十五天來，發生了很多事，其中包括

我們三天內開了二十多小時來回加州探望親友，託我爸媽的福，這是我在2007年後再度拜訪，也謝謝親友們熱情招待。

我和大白又花了三天回我大學念書的地方探望我很久一直想探望的朋友，上次見面是2008年五月。

令我最驚訝和難過的是，就是聽到親戚過世的消息了。我過去十二年不常回台灣，念書時沒錢回去、工作時沒時間回去，就算回台灣十天，也沒辦法見到很多人。人在這種狀況下會變得很勇敢或是某些人會覺得我很無情，卻不知道我常常在夜深人靜的時候慢慢地回想過去在台灣的生活、默默的想著自己得到的與錯過的...人生如果能重來一次，其實我也不確定我會不會再有勇氣背著許多的不諒解，自己在太平洋的另一端努力的生存著。

我想對我終究沒緣再見一面的人說:我不是一個很懂社交的人、嘴也不甜，但...曾經,你出現在我也挽懷念家鄉的思緒裡...一路好走!

Just Another Year of Awesomeness

I got out of my comfort zone, and I like my new job more and more everyday. The job functions are not much different from 2.5 months ago, but I know more people now and people are nice. 

I had my 30's birthday. People had warned me that it's gonna be hard, and the funny thing is I don't feel a bit different than 29. I am now trying to run though my past real quick and reason out why I can't feel the sadness like what other people had experienced...

Taiwan

Besides some people, what I miss the most in Taiwan?

1. Kaohsiung 

(I love the weather, the pier, the seafood, the people...everything lol)

It's all GOOD

After about 40 days of studying, I took my third exam (MFE) yesterday and I failed it. I think I was pretty close to pass it - however, I wasn't too surprised that I failed either. There are tons of things happened in February that I wish I could openly share them here, but oh well...sh*t happens, and life goes on.