Canning

Late in September, J's aunt Peggy called me up and said, "let's can!"  I said okay, and she came over to help us can all our pears and apples.  She is simply amazing.  Unfortunately, we had already given or thrown away (due to overripeness or bugs) most of our apples and pears (unbelievable how much fruit our trees produced).

We thought our apples beyond saving, because we hadn't sprayed and quite a few of them had holes in them.  Peggy showed me that until you actually open up the apple, you don't know if it is good or bad.  Some that I would have thought would be completely ruined only had a small area that could be cut out and the majority of the apple was still good.  There were others that only had a small hole that I thought would be good, but when we opened it up, was completely eaten away.  Quite amazing. 

Most of our pears were either too overripe or under ripe to use.  We were able to get five cans of pears, however, so I call that a success.  Our apples took the majority of our canning, however, and we still have two boxes of apples that we didn't get to.  It was twelve hours of washing, cutting, peeling, and cooking.  It was fun.  I had never canned before, so this was a learning experience for me.  There is a deep satisfaction from knowing that we did all the work.  The fruit came from our trees--we picked, washed, cut, cooked, and now we will have fruit throughout the winter.  We made applesauce and apple crisp filling (which can be used in so many things, like apple crisp, apple pie, on top of pancakes, or even just by itself) with the apples. 

I was amazed at how big some of the apples had grown.  We are talking much bigger than the average supermarket apple.  More than a few were bigger than softballs.  Even though we thought we got all the fruit from the trees, we are still finding apples and pears falling to the ground that we missed.  Wow.  Well, we definitely know what to expect for next year!




I have been amazed at how sweet and good the fruit has turned out.  So much better than store bought.  I am excited for next year--now we know more what to do and expect, we will be better prepared.  It had been obvious to us that the previous owners hadn't pruned the trees for some time, so we didn't think we would get a good bounty this year.  We were certainly mistaken! 

On my wishlist is my own processor so that I can get the canning done a little earlier so we don't waste as much fruit.  We also have the cherry trees in the spring, and the four trees we thought were plum are actually called kumquat (it is like a mix between an apricot and a plum but they are tiny--maybe twice the size of a grape at most) .  They are so delicious, but not practical for canning.  We are thinking next year we will make some jam and preserves from them, but this year we just picked and ate them (they don't last off the tree for more than a few days). 

A Day Out

Early in September we had some daytime respite hours scheduled, but when the day arrived, we didn't have anything planned.  Not wanting to spend a lot of money, we decided to go to lunch and then go see the witches in Gardner Village.  Every year in September/October, Gardner Village does a "Witchapalooza" where they have witches all over the village and they have special plays, dinner theaters, breakfasts, etc.  It is a fun, family atmosphere and a great way to kick off fall.

Zuri, who has been in a "spooky" phase since the middle of August, was excited to see the witches.  There was a witch riding a bicycle in the air that I wish I had taken a picture.  We plan to go back later in the season, so I will get more pictures of the witches then.  They really do come up with some clever witches.

We wandered the village and stopped in several of the shops, including the candy shop, where we all picked out a treat.  We watched the ducks swim in the river from the bridge and enjoyed the cooler weather.

After Gardner Village, we still had a couple hours before our respite hours ended, so we took a walk through the gully behind our house.  I had been as far as the park across the road, but the trail went even further, so we explored a bit.  

Just beyond our house in the gully we came across this patch of wild sunflowers still in bloom.  I didn't have my camera with me, but my trusty phone did almost as well.

On our way back Zuri started to get tired and wanted J to carry her.  I couldn't help but notice how pretty the mountains looked with the clouds hanging around them, and what a great backdrop it would be for a picture!

K and Z

It has been a while since I have posted anything Kai related, so I thought this would be a cute picture!  Their matching colors were actually quite the accident.  My dad was the one who set this picture up--he wanted a side by side shot.  I don't know if he got a good one, but when I tried Zuri was all stiff and unnatural looking.  I like this one even though neither of them is looking at me--it is more natural.

One thing that has really stuck out at me since Zuri has started kindergarten is how tiny she is.  I have always known that she is short and tiny for her age--we have been battling that since birth--but to see her in line with 15 or so of her peers...and see she is the shortest by far really puts it in perspective.  A good five inches shorter than most.  There is one girl in her class that is within an inch of her height, but all others tower over her.  It is a hard thing for me--and I really can't explain why.

Both J and I are on the shorter end of average.  We both have tall fathers (six feet and taller) and short mothers, so our kids could be any height.  Zuri follows the growth curve perfectly; she is just below it.  

I have been told time and time again how I was just like Zuri.  My great grandmother used to say that the wind would blow me away because I was so tiny.  Then I hit puberty and sprouted...never to be tiny again.  Height wise, I fit right in the middle with my peers in high school.  I was neither the tallest, nor the shortest.

Will that happen with Zuri?  I don't know...and I worry...

I had intended this post to go in another direction, so I am going to switch topics... While Zuri is tiny, Kai is a solid chunk.  He now officially outweighs Zuri (but she still has several inches in height on him).

He is doing well.  In fact, we almost had him completely off oxygen.  For a while he was at 1/16 of a liter (that is pretty much as low as the pediatric flow meter will read), but for the last several days the nurses have had to bump up his oxygen while he is in a deep sleep.  During the day he does well on just the 1/16, so hopefully he will return to normal at night as well.  It might just be the change in the weather.

In other news, Kai has a new trick.  He will use his legs to scoot himself to the top of his crib and pull his blanket around his head.  Then he will bang his ballard across the rails of his crib.  He absolutely loves doing it--and it is noisy!  It also has the tendency to break his ballards after a while. 

It is great sensory stimulation for him so I really don't want to take it away, but we have been going through the ballards pretty quickly.  Luckily, I have a good stockpile and Kai doesn't require much trach suctioning.  It all seems to come out his nose instead of his trach.  It seems as though we are constantly wiping or suctioning his nose. 

Kai has also been making more eye contact lately.  He is thumping his legs or squawking at us (his way of greeting) when we come over to him.  He gets really excited and has a big smile on his face.

He still doesn't roll completely over, and has been spending more time on his back.  He is also developing a hump on his back from his positioning, even though we try all we can to keep him in alignment.  His pediatrician up at Primary Children's wants to put him in a back brace for up to 12 hours a day.  Pooh!  Unfortunately, we will do what we need to do...

We are still working toward the goal of Kai holding his head up, sitting up unassisted, and standing.  Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean we have given up.  Kai shows us daily that he too would like to attain those goals.  He works so hard to pull his head up--he will get it up and smile, then his head will flop back down.  He has grown to love his stander.  I think he likes the weight bearing on his legs.  So, each day we work toward our goals, and although it is taking a while to see progress, slowly, ever slowly, there is progress being made!

January Baby?

It's time for an update on the baby!  After three specialized ultrasounds at IMC, we were finally able to see everything that we needed to see!  Our little girl is stubborn and just doesn't want to cooperate!  At the first IMC ultrasound they found that just like the initial ultrasound at my doctor's office, she was measuring right around a week small.  During the second IMC ultrasound they officially changed the baby's due date from December 25th to January 2nd.  They were unable to see the baby's spine and heart clearly in the second ultrasound due to her positioning, so they wanted me to come back a third time so they could check those and measure her growth.  In the third ultrasound she was still being stubborn, but we were able to get a clear shot of her heart and spine.

Everything is looking really good, and her growth is right on for the January 2nd due date.  They felt confident enough that all is well that I don't need to go back in unless my doctor recommends it.  What a relief to hear that all looks well, especially her growth.  I was really starting to worry about it.  I am starting to get comments all the time, "you are pregnant?...I didn't even know...You aren't showing much at all."  Not very comforting when you are in your third trimester and have a history of small babies.

Zuri had a dentist appointment and the dental technician (who couldn't get over how cute Zuri is and kept saying what a heart-breaker she will be) was getting everything in place for the x-rays.  I started to shift from my position to get out of the radiation field and she asked, "you're not pregnant, are you?"  I confirmed that I was, and she said, "I would have never known, you must be all belly, then!"  because it was raining.  Even still, I feel like an elephant.I wish!  To be fair, I was wearing black dress pants and a loose flowing blouse with a light jacket

The baby is in breech and pike positions.  Which means that her head is by my belly button (remember I carry low) and her bum is right on my cervix and bladder.  Little stinker.  She likes to keep her legs right over her head (I think either Zuri or Kai did that too--must be Zuri because I remember being a little worried and asking the doctor about it).  Both the others were always head down, though (at least in all the ultrasounds), so I never worried about a breech baby.  Of course there is still plenty of time for her to flip.

Top: baby's head and hand.  You can also sort of see her foot up by her head.
Middle:  pike position.  Her belly and legs extending over her head are the clearest
Bottom: another shot of her head and hand near her face. 

At the third IMC ultrasound they tried to move her bum off my cervix so they could get a look at my cervix to make sure everything looked good there.  Every time they would push on my belly to get her to move positions she would move and then go right back as soon as the pressure let up.  They ended up doing a transvaginal ultrasound; it was funny to see her bum resting right on top of my cervix.  I wish they had taken a picture of it--and yes, she is still a girl.  The reason they needed to see my cervix is because of my history of preterm labor (even though in both there were extenuating circumstances).  All looks well, though--no fear of going into labor anytime soon.

At the second IMC ultrasound, we got to see a really good view of her face.  They had switched the camera view from the normal black and white coloring to the sepia/golden color that you often see in 3-D ultrasounds (they did that when they were trying to get a shot of her heart, but she didn't cooperate).  They were checking for cleft lip and we saw her open her mouth and swallow.  It was so cool!  It was also very reassuring, since that was an issue with Kai.  He wasn't swallowing the amniotic fluid like he should have been, which led to it building up; which led to the preterm labor.

We have had much love and support through this pregnancy so far.  There have been a few people who have expressed negative opinions, but they are by far in the minority.  There is one that stands out above the rest, however.  I was in a meeting and taking care of Kai, who was a little fussier than normal.  There was an older lady sitting near me, and when the meeting was over, I strolled over to meet up with J and Zuri who were in other rooms in the building.  The older woman was joined by her husband while I was waiting, and she said, "he's a full time job, isn't he." --Not a question.  I smiled and replied in the affirmative.  Then she said, "and you are going to have another....how are you going to manage that?"  It wasn't the question so much as the condescending tone.  I shrugged my shoulders and said, "we do what we must."  I was more taken aback then anything.  After she and her husband sauntered away, it flashed through my head that she most likely doesn't know that I also have a highly energetic five year old.  A thousand things flew through my mind at that moment--most of them not kind.

Sometimes I wish I had the ability to come up with quick retorts (I always think of the "best" thing to say after the fact), and other times I am glad that I am by nature inclined to be a little more kind in the moment.  I have mixed feelings on which I would rather have done at that moment.  I wish I could have put her in her place, or even given a better response than my wishy-washy answer.  "God always provides a way to those who have faith and try to follow the commandments."

You see, the amazing thing is, I am not worried about how to take care of this new baby, Zuri and Kai.  I have that inner peace that tells me this baby is right for our family.  Will it be easy?  No, of course not, but I have resources, and support.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  If I have to rely on extra nursing for the first few months, I will.  The hardest part will be outings with the new baby and Kai.  I haven't worked that one out yet, although Zuri is more than willing to step up and help push the baby in the stroller.

Which brings me to another point.  Zuri is absolutely in love with her baby sister already.  She is constantly wanting to "hug and kiss the baby."  Where she hugs and kisses my belly.  She even talks about comforting the baby when she cries, and helping to feed the baby.  She cannot wait until her little sister is born, and neither can we.

It feels as though this pregnancy is never ending.  With Zuri and Kai, until problems were found, I really enjoyed the pregnancies.  Even once I got over the shock of the SUA with Zuri, I loved the fact that J and I had created a life together and that life was being nurtured inside me.  While I still feel that way with this baby, the uncertainty and pain of the other two pregnancies have clouded it somewhat--and I just want to have this baby here (or rather, I want it to be January 2nd) so that I can know...

Of course, the baby will come when she decides it is time to come.  As for now, I need to get out of my head and take comfort in the fact that everything looks great for this baby, including her growth now that the due date has been changed.  I know that no matter the outcome, this baby will be perfect for our family.  She is already much loved and we haven't even met her yet!

Kindergarten

Zuri started kindergarten at the beginning of September.  She was really excited for her first day, but she had a rough transition.  She got out of class excited, but didn't seem enthusiastic about returning to school the next day.

When I talked with her teacher after school the first day, her teacher said that Zuri kept saying she was tired.  When I talked to Zuri, she said that she doesn't know how to write and that she didn't listen.  She also said her teacher got upset.

I couldn't clarify if her teacher got upset with her, or with other kids in the class.  Even still, it made me wary since this is her teacher's very first class, and to get upset on the first day?  That  doesn't seem to bode well for the rest of the school year.

The second day seemed to go a little better.  She came home with a smile on her face.  She said she met the principal, though.  I don't know what that is about--if the principle came into her classroom to meet all the kids, or if she didn't listen and was sent to his office.  For several days she talked about meeting the principle.  She also asked for a new school.

I also haven't been able to ask her teacher about it because there are some wonderful neighbors who are carpooling Zuri to and from school for me.  I scheduled respite hours for Zuri's first day of school, and the carpool has taken over from there, which has been wonderful.  I just feel a little out of the loop with Zuri's school performance.  Catch-22.

Since we live just inside the mile boundary from the school, we had to receive special permission to have the kids ride.  The permission form was sent the second week of school, and the kids were told whether or not they could ride by the last week of September.  The kindergartners only get picked up or taken home depending on if they have morning or afternoon kindergarten. 

Zuri and I were both really nervous about her riding the bus the first time.  I was nervous that she wouldn't know where to go, and she was nervous about the change.  When her carpool came to get her in the morning (my wonderful neighbor is still picking her up and taking her to the bus stop), she still seemed nervous (I tried very hard not to show how her that I was nervous as well).  I had asked an older girl who knows Zuri pretty well to make sure that Zuri got to the kindergarten area.  The older girl felt so grown up with the responsibility. 

The first few days of school we worked on Zuri's grip with the pencil (she wants to grasp it with all her fingers which leads to less control so she can't form the letters as easily), and a few other things.  Zuri and I also went over the importance of listening to her teacher and asking for help when she doesn't know something.  After that, she seems to have settled in to her class and is much happier.  She reports that she is listening to her teacher now and that she keeps her owl up during the day--it is a system where the kids put a paper owl on a paper tree and if they listen and follow directions, their owl stays up.  If they don't listen then they take their owl down, and then a note or a call home if further misbehaving occurs.  It seems like a good system and Zuri is always excited to tell me how she didn't have to take her owl down because she listened. 



Along with her first day of school came her first day of dance.  She went to a dance camp during the summer (I have a post on that coming) and ever since has been asking to dance again.  I looked around at a lot of dance schools in the area and found one that I am really impressed with.  The dance school is a little ways away from us (about a 20 minute drive) but I think it is worth it.  Her class size is small--there are five dancers--and she is doing a combination jazz, tap, and ballet.  Zuri loves it.  They get a sticker and a treat after every class and they have cameras in the studio so that the parents can watch comfortably in the waiting room.  I have also been really impressed with their teaching methods.  In one class they had little mats that they spread out on the floor and had the kids leap from mat to mat (the floor was water with alligators and the mats were the safety rocks).  When they took the mats away they had the kids perform the leap again and told them the corresponding ballet term with it.  Zuri executed the move perfectly.  It was so neat.  She is even repeating her dance terms and showing us the moves after her class.

This was after her first day of dance.  They were given two stickers and a tiara.  How cute!

Kimie's Visit

We came home late Sunday from Yellowstone, and my dad left Monday morning.  Monday afternoon we picked up Kimie from the airport.  She had spent a few days in Sacramento with my grandparents, and then spent a few days with us before returning to Japan.

Unfortunately, we weren't really able to do much while she was here.  I am at the point in my pregnancy where I cannot lift both Kai and his ventilator without feeling the strain in my back and belly, so we just stayed at home.  Kimie spent most of her time with us playing with Zuri, and Zuri ate up the attention. 

We really enjoyed our visit with Kimie, as most of the time when we get to see her, it is for a very short time, and we loved the extra time with her.  Hopefully, next time she visits we can get out and show her some fun sights around here!


Some Japanese treats that she brought for Zuri


Look at that high jump!
Below: Zuri showing off her somersault.  She is a little ham when she has an audience



Last time Kimie saw Kai he was still so tiny.  He has grown so much! 

Grand Tetons National Park

Saturday evening after Lewis falls we said goodbye to Yellowstone and camped in a campground which was located between Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Parks.  The good thing about the campground was that it had flushing toilets and free showers.  The bad thing is that the RV's were located next to the bathrooms, and the campers were on the far end of the campground.  Seriously.  RV's generally have a toilet in them; it is the campers who need the toilets... So, that put us exactly 107 of my normal strides away from the bathroom.  We were also the only "tent" so I had to wind my way around the RV's at night (why do they all look the same?), in the rain with lightning and thunder...and fog.  In order to avoid the restless sleep I had the night before, I got up more frequently to go to the bathroom (3 times), and anyone who knows me knows how directionless I am.  Recipe for disaster when I am not following a straight line to the bathroom.  I almost got lost on the first two trips.  By the last time I finally had it down.

We stayed nice and warm and cozy in the Tahoe while it rained.  It was awesome.  Once again I was grateful for J for thinking to camp that way.  It was even more foggy in the morning when we woke than the previous day, but as we drove up the mountain we reached a point where we were surrounded in fog and then we were out of it.



There wasn't much sightseeing done in the Grand Tetons National Park.  In an attempt to spot animals, J took a side road (not much traveled) that led us quite a bit through the mountain but ended abruptly with a fallen tree across the road.  Because it was a narrow one-direction road, we had to back-up several hundred feet before we got to a place where we could turn around.

Unfortunately, we didn't see any animals during our little detour.  I maintain that the sound of the Tahoe scared them all away (it is a loud vehicle).  We did see a buck before we took the side road, but other than some antelope and grouse, that was the extent of the animals we saw in the Tetons.




One of the sightseeing stops we made was up a windy road in the mountains.  It had a beautiful view of the valley below, and then when we hiked a little further, of the Grand Tetons.  We stopped at several outlook places and took many pictures of the same mountains.  It was fun!




The grouse had no fear of people.  There were (by our count) eight grouse just wandering around by our cars.  I was literally only a couple feet away from this grouse.  

My favorite moment in the Grand Tetons actually came from only what I can imagine is a city slicker.  J was up ahead taking some pictures and I had stopped to read a sign about the first photographs of the Tetons.  A couple in their late forties was also on the trail and the woman stopped to read the sign with me.  The man continued on to see the view.  A chipmunk ran in front of us, and the woman got all excited.  When the man came back over, she said: "I saw a squirrel! No, it was like a chipmunk but not a chipmunk...it was from the same family as a squirrel."  I resisted the urge to say, "no, it was a chipmunk.  Squirrels and chipmunks are very different looking."  It was all I could do not to laugh as I caught up to J on the trail.  I forget how funny tourists can be.







There you have it!  Our very packed anniversary!  We had so much fun, and although we got to see a lot, there is much more to explore.  We are hoping to be able to go again in the spring.  We also want to do more hiking since I won't be pregnant and will be able to do more.  It was my first time to Yellowstone, and I can't believe that we live so close (less than six hours away) and I was completely ignorant on how awesome it is!  I can't wait to go back!