Tuckered out

While Helaina was at pre-k today I got a call from the director of the school (I saw the nursery school name in our caller id and immediately thought the worst). She said that Helaina "still" had a headache and was complaining about it. "Still?" I said. Helaina told her teacher that she had a headache at home, which I supposedly knew about, and that it still bothered her. Little stinker never told me she had a headache this morning. So I picked her up, brought her home, gave her chewable tylenol and she plopped on the couch to watch some TV. She was fast asleep in no time. She had a case of the sneezes and a cough that lasted a few days recently so maybe she's got a little head thing going on still. Combine that with the fact that she has 4 therapy sessions at home each week, school 3 afternoons each week, as of about 3 weeks ago she no longer naps regularly (ugh!), and her high energy level - that all equals one exhausted little body. What's more innocent looking than a sleeping child?

She's happy, and she knows it

Helaina is definately a morning person. She wakes up and is on the go right away, especially with conversation. Sometimes Jim and I are still stumbling around the kitchen trying to wake up and Helaina's talking and asking so many questions that it hurts my head - but we wouldn't have it any other way! I taped Helaina singing If You're Happy and You Know It one morning last week when she was feeling particularly energetic. This was probably the 5th time she had sung her version and it was only 8:30am.

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Mid-Autumn Kite Festival

We headed out to Fair Haven on Saturday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with our local chapter of Families With Children From China. It's always a good time - flying kites on the beach, a great playground, plenty of food & desserts & traditional mooncakes, raffles for prizes, lots of friends to catch up with and Helaina gets to play with her buddies.


We brought Helaina's Barbie kite this year and she also decorated her very own kite to fly.

It was a cool, very windy day and there were no problems getting the kites up and keeping them up this year.

Make no mistake about it, though, Helaina comes to this party with one intention - to get on that beach and splash in the water. Last year we miraculously managed to keep her dry, only going in the water up to her ankles. This year was another story.

She quickly became bored with the kite flying and asked if she could put her "feet" in the water. Jim said "Oh brother, this should be interesting" as I rolled up her pants and cautioned her that it was cold & windy and she was only to get wet up to her knees. I am realistic though and I do know my daughter so I brought extra clothes and even a towel, just in case, uh huh.

Didn't take her long to forget about how frigid the water was and inch closer and closer to some major wetness. Helaina and her buddy Cecelia were the only brave ones to venture into the water, and even then Cecelia was smart enough to keep her clothes dry.

It was pretty rough and Jim kept saying that if she gets knocked over by a wave that I'm the one who has to charge in after her.

She was having a blast even though her feet were probably numb.

When a big wave would head her way we'd yell "Run, Helaina, run run run!"

Then she decided to sit down ...

... and then the water rushed over her ...

... and then she was soaked to the waist, so enough was enough and we headed back up to the pavillion to dry off, brush the sand out of every crack in her body and put on dry clothes. Yup, future Polar Bear club member indeed. Jim said next year just bring her bathing suit.

Some pics from the playground, wrangling this pony.

This climbing thing made me nervous because the tippy top was very high.

Helaina stayed on this tire swing for a very long time with these girls. They were all singing "ring around the rosey..." continuously and laughing like crazy.

Food, fun, friends and freezing water - doesn't get much better than this for our little gal.

89 degrees on Sept. 24th?

It's only fitting to close the pool when it's a record 89 degrees outside, right? We wanted to close it weeks ago but we've had lots going on and haven't had the chance. The water temp was a frigid 68 degrees but that didn't bother Helaina. She went in one last time shrieking. Jim didn't want to go in but he had to so he could get the 50 pound sandbag out from under the stairs. I swear, I think he was trying to come up with a way for Helaina to reach it and pull it to the surface - that's how bad he didn't want to go in.

Helaina did her usual 5 seconds on the steps then plunked right in. Not Jim though. He lingered on the steps screaming like a girl. "It's freezing! My toes are numb, my legs are turning blue! I've got hypothermia! I feel like I'm in the polar bear club!"

The sand bag was finally retrieved and Jim got out promptly. Helaina took a few laps across the pool then got out. Her skin was freezing. Jim thinks she's a future polar bear club member. I wouldn't doubt it.

We also finally had the mountain of excavated clay removed from our back yard by Dirty Harry. Ha, isn't that a hoot - Dirty Harry's Topsoil - clever name for a dirt and excavating company. The pile completely filled the dumptruck. He had to leave to dump that load then come back for the rest. We had a wicked slope in most of our backyard before pool installation - not any more though!

When the pool was finally covered and all was done, we told Helaina to say bye bye to the pool until next year. "Where it going?" (how funny is that). No, sweetie, it's not going anywhere. You just won't be able to swim in it again until after the snow comes and goes. "Ok, see you next Thursday pool" she says.

Reminiscing

The other day I pulled out a few boxes of Helaina's fall clothes from last year to see if anything would fit her this year (eh, not much - pants are way too short and shirts are way too tight across her chest and in the arms). In one of the boxes, packed away very carefully in a large ziploc bag, I found a treasure - the clothes Helaina was wearing when she was placed in my arms kicking, screaming and crying on March 9, 2008. Seeing them made me relive that amazing moment all over again and I just had to glance through some photos from China. Helaina's been with us 2-1/2 years already - it's just unbelievable to me.

Our first night together. We had dinner at our hotel then back to the room to get to know our daughter. She was a complete sweatball from her ordeal so a bath was necessary, and Helaina loved it. We did a lot of exploring around the hotel that night, which she seemed to enjoy. I remember the exact moment in this picture. Helaina liked to have something in each hand - didn't matter what it was - in this case a small lotion bottle and a sippy cup. We left our room and headed down the hallway when she stopped, put both things in one arm and reached up for my hand. Melted my heart, that sweet baby girl of ours.

The next morning in our room (2 things in each hand!), still unsure of the situation but accepting even so.

At the Civil Affairs office the next day, making things official with Helaina's blue footprint and our red thumbprint.

Helaina enjoyed the new food experiences but one sure thing was the congee. She loved it and probably found it comforting because it was a daily staple at the orphanage. She liked to feed herself and man-oh-man, DON'T touch that bowl when she's eating or the groaning began immediately!!! That's one of the things we found so funny in Helaina's initial paperwork that we received. It clearly stated that she didn't like anyone touching her food bowl and that held true for quite a while even after we were home with her.

Day 3 as a family at the Terra Cotta Soldier exhibit. Helaina finally smiled at us for the first time the night before and woke up the next day with her personality shining through.

Lunch that day was a hoot. When the food came Helaina immediately picked up the chopsticks and started spoking at the food with them.

One afternoon right after a nap, refreshed and ready to go. Love this picture with her little tongue sticking curled out of her mouth.

Wrapped in a satiny sheet in Guangzhou.

Helaina's first Pizza Hut pizza was a big hit.

Having some "good luck" tea with Edward, one of our guides.

Stopping at a store for the Chinese version of Pampers, the worst diapers on the planet.

Squeaky shoe shopping.

Finally, our first of 3 flights to get home - Guangzhou to Hong Kong - piece of cake compared to what we were up for next.

One of the few merciful moments when Helaina actually slept during our 13 hour & 52 minute flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. One of my (many) concerns on that flight was thinking that the plane would run out of fuel before landing in Chicago.

Helaina's first "American" meal - McDonald's at O'Hare. She had some nuggets & fries (see how she's clutching fries in her pudgy little fingers!) and then was interested in my burger. The only thing I was interested in was a COLD soda with ICE - oh my gosh how I missed ice in China!!!!

On the last leg of an amazing journey half-way around the world. While waiting for departure from Chicago I remember chatting with a man who was also flying on our final plane home. We landed in Chicago at 1:00pm on a Wednesday afternoon and he couldn't believe that we had already been on 2 planes totaling 15 hours in flight time and that we departed Hong Kong at noon on Wednesday. He was totally confused and couldn't grasp the extreme time change, the fact that China was 12 hours ahead of us, and the fact that we lost 12 hours when we landed in Chicago. "How could that be? Today is Wednesday and it's 1:00 in the afternoon - one hour later than when you left?" I agreed, yah, it's mind-numbing.

Oh what fun to see family and friends for the first time in 13 days!! I'll never forget that first hug from my sister.

And now, 2-1/2 years later and our little dynamo is going strong - and Jim & I are just plain pooped.

Daddy's birthday dinner, a day early

Helaina and I took Jim out to dinner tonight for his birthday (even though it is one day early). Here was my conversation with Helaina this afternoon about it:

Me: Why don't we take Daddy out to dinner tonight for his birthday?
Helaina: Great idea. Where we go?
Me: We should let Daddy pick the restaurant because it's his birthday.
Helaina: We take him to Tulley's.
Me: No, we're not going to Tulley's so you can get a free helium balloon.
Helaina: Darn it all. We go to Red Lobster?
Me: That's a good idea. Why don't you ask him.
Helaina: Daaaaad! (screamed really loud because Jim was in another room) You want to go to Red Lobster tonight for your birfday?
And so it was decided...

Helaina loves Red Lobster and scarfed down a bisquit, salad, mashed potatos, popcorn shrimp, rice pilaf and washed it all down with a Shirley Temple. On our way back from the potty we stopped at the hostess station and arranged for a Chocolate Wave to be delivered to the table as a surprise, complete with a candle and the Happy Birthday song. This is how it went.

When they both realized something was up (Helaina didn't know about it either because she can't keep a secret).

Delighted to sing Happy Birthday and have a candle on the dessert.

Oops, a candle in front of Helaina and waiting for the birthday person to blow it out? Unheard of - she jumped the gun and blew it out in a hurry. "Sorry, Daddy."

Even with a full belly Helaina kept up with Jim. It was a race between the 2 of them to see who could devour more of the chocoholic dream in front of them - five layers of dark chocolate cake with a fudgy frosting filled with mini chocolate chips, and a scoop vanilla ice cream. In true Helaina form, she attacked the frosting first, scraping it off and shoving it into her mouth. We couldn't believe how much she was enjoying this dessert.

I inched my spoon over to the plate to get a taste and managed to get 3 small spoonfuls of the sinful dessert, but in fear of losing my arm I quit after 3 tastes. It was a race to the very end to see who got the last messy bites. I swear Helaina was about to pick up the plate and start licking it - something she's done at home many times (believe it or not) with foods she really likes.

So much for the $6.25 Chocolate Wave. It was worth every penny.

More celebrating tomorrow with a family birthday party for Jim.

Helaina's first week of school went very well. No tears on Thursday when I left (guess she's finally secure with the fact that I always return to get her). She ran into her room so fast that the teacher had her come back to give me a kiss goodbye. Our big girl.

Racing to her room as I tell her "There's no running in the school hallway!"

Funny Helaina:

I have a shadow box on the wall in one of our bathrooms. It has in it a starfish, some sand and some seashells. This morning when Helaina was washing her hands she looks up to the shadow box and says "Oh, poor Mr. Starfish. Are you dead?"

This afternoon Helaina and I were sitting at the kitchen table doing something when all of a suddens he gets up and says "Where's my husband?" I cracked up because I never heard her use that word before. I said to her "You don't have a husband, you need to be married first. Daddy's my husband." Her response: "No he not. He's MY husband." and off she ran to find her husband.

Find your room & meet your teacher day

"What we do today, Mommy?" was Helaina's question as soon as I went into her room this morning, even before she got out of bed. She had a smirk on her face as she asked because she knew the answer. "Remember, we go to school today and meet your teacher." The legs started kicking and the squealing began. Excited, oh yah.

Sitting on the front porch before we left for school. I asked Helaina to smile nicely instead of squinting. Her reply: "I can't, the sun's too shiney."

Jim and I groaned as we saw the balloons at the doorway of the school. "These just decorations?" she asked. Yup, they aren't for you even though that's hard to believe. "They still be here tomorrow?" was her next question. Gadz, I hope not.

Sitting on the bench outside her classroom.

Helaina met her very nice teacher, explored the classroom, played with lots of toys & some of the kids, and asked her teacher lots of questions: "What's your name? How do we get outside to the playground? Where's the potty? What's that toy? What's that pipe on the wall?" When we were ready to leave she went up to her teacher, hugged her around the legs and said "Bye. I going now. See you tomorrow." and took off running out the classroom door. Too funny. Tomorrow while Helaina is in class Jim and I attend parent orientation in a room down the hall, so Thursday will be Helaina's first day when I drop her off and actually leave until later. She says she won't cry but that remains to be seen when reality sinks in for her.

Helaina enjoying her scooter one day last week when it was sunny but cool outside. "Look, I balancing!" That purse with the white pony in it hanging off the handlebar is one of Helaina's favorite toys. She named the horse Buckle.

Funny Helaina:

Last Friday Helaina woke up when Jim was dressing for work. She went into our bedroom and found Jim in his work clothes putting on his belt. She ran up to him, started tugging at the belt and said "Take that belt off and put on your play clothes right now!" Then when he came home from work and headed upstairs to change his clothes she followed him and said "I going upstairs with you to torture you." She gets that from him - he'll occasionally ask her if she's going to torture him about something. It was hysterical to hear that little voice use the word torture, correctly too.

Final few days of vacation

With Jim's last few days of vacation we hit the apple farm for the first time this year and the state fair for the last time this year. Helaina couldn't wait to ride the tractor into the field, pick an apple off the tree and take a bite. She talked about it all morning. Up the ladder she goes.

We could only pick one variety of apple on Sunday - Jonamac's - and I wasn't too impressed. They were small and didn't have much flavor so we only picked one bag. When the Jonamac's are picked out we'll head out to apple country again to try a different variety.

The fritter shack was open (yippee!) so we had cider and hot cinnamony-sugary apple fritters, yum.

The cutest little goat ever.

Then there were the squeals of delight when the Apple Ponies arrived in time for a ride. Helaina impatiently waited in line, grabbing the money from Jim's hand and practically throwing it at the horsie lady and running to Butterscotch, apparently Helaina's favorite apple pony.

Riding Butterscotch in apple country. Doesn't get much better for this 4-year old cowgal.

"Can we take this one home?" The apple ponies are available for birthday parties. Good thing Helaina's birthday is in February or I'd probably have pony doo-doo in my backyard every year on her birthday.

Sunshine, apples, tractor rides and ponies all put a smile on our daughter's beautiful face.

Bye bye state fair - see you next year. Saturday morning we did the buildings and the animals. Helaina was happy to see the face painting booth there again this year. Jim and I were happy to see that the line wasn't too long.

A few holes of miniature golf.

Helaina likes the cow building. So do I, except for the fact that you need to watch where you step.

Labor Day was sort of a take-it-easy day. Jim tried to recover from 11 days in a row of adventures with Helaina and prepare himself to set an alarm clock once again. Helaina whined when she found out Daddy had to go back to work on Tuesday but it's time to get back into the routine. Speech therapy starts up again this week and Helaina starts her 2nd year of pre-school next week. Monday is find your room/meet your teacher day and Tuesday is her official first day of school. I asked Helaina if she was going to cry when we leave her at school this year or if she was going to be ok with it (because she screamed last September for the first 3 days of school). This was her answer: "No. I won't cry. I know you come back for me now in 2 hours." We'll see about that next Tuesday.