Back To School Already?!

Maliana ~

The last couple weeks before school was to begin again was spent with crazy preparations, a trip to the Ohio State Fair, and a couple fun new additions to our family.

You got your teacher assignment the second week of August and immediately came home to check out your old yearbooks to get yourself all jazzed about the first day of school. You didn't get the teacher you had hoped for but the one you did get (Mrs. Young) seems nice so far with a good grandmotherly vibe going on. You say you like her so I'm hopeful about this year.

you and Cori looking at an old yearbook

Later that night, the picture below happened. Not sure what it means. You told me you're a "robert" (aka robber), but you actually reminded me of the latest computer hacker to join Anonymous. No?

"shhh...I'm a robert"

Then, the next morning Daddy snapped this picture (see below). Proof that I am not kidding when I say that I feel confined to one side of the bed at night and it's nearly impossible for me to get a full night's sleep. But, in spite of my many squished nights of tossing, turning, and getting kicked or punched in the face, I know I someday will miss these cuddly evenings with my number one snuggle bug. Someday, I will only wish you still wanted to sleep so close to me again.

Maybe not today (*yawn*)...but someday. Ha.

I guess my booty makes a good pillow

Anyway, that weekend we headed to the fair. It was just you, me, Lao Lao, Uncle Flint and Monica, and Uncle Forge and Kenzie. Uncle Flint was in charge of an art display at the fair and got us all free passes. While the day was very hot, it was nice to spend time together and enjoy all the sights, sounds, smells, foods, and people watching that the fair always has to offer.

excited to be able to climb on the farm equipment
(you look so tiny!)

'peanut' in a tire

on another winning streak!

Lao Lao stole your wagon for a little rest

face paint!

Captain Mali-America and Mommy the Cheetah!

Kenzie was adopting this bunny...so we sent
this adorable picture to Daddy to see if
we could bring one home too
(cute picture, right?...I know...we play dirty!)

Kenzie was the first one of us to get suckered into decide to buy a bunny from the fair. Once we got to snuggle her sweet bunny Theo, you and I decided to go check them out too. Lo and behold...we came home with a pair of chocolate brown bunnies.

look at these adorable brothers!
(how could we not take both of them home
when they fall asleep together like this?!)

and BAM! sold to this cute little munchkin!

Both are boys (or so we're told!). Their names are not set in stone yet (you are heavily leaning towards Bun Bun for the more calm one and we're debating Psycho for the other crazy more energetic one)...but in spite of having no solidly agreed upon names yet, they sure are cuties!

slowly getting used to sitting on my lap

I love when they stand like this

And finally, we rounded out the last few weeks with you beginning school! Already?! I know! Can you believe it? You are officially a second grader! Where has the time gone?

The night before school was to begin, I read you the traditional letter that I have been reading since the night before Kindergarten began. Do you remember the one? Among other things, it's basically a lesson on compassion. Anyway, here is how I shared about it on Facebook. I love your beautiful and inspiring additions to what you want to remember this year.

And I just had to send the following text to Lao Lao later that night. You crack me up, on the daily!

That night as we were going to bed, I mentioned that I would want to take pictures of you in the morning before your first day of school. You looked at me with a horrified face and said, "Noooo...not in front of my friends, Mom!" I reassured you that we could take the pictures at home and you were immediately relieved. However, it left me wondering if you are 7 or 14? Geesh. How are we starting this already?! But I digress...

Anyway, without further ado...*drumroll* please...here are the pictures I snapped from the morning of your first day of school (at home)! Second grade...here we come!!

you, Jos, Elyse in the back, Delaney on the left and Lucy on the right

cheers to a new school year from Mom and Dad!

When we got there it went so well, without any tears this year at all! It helped that you had a few of your friends in class with you and they gave you a nice warm welcome that morning. I really wish I would have had my camera ready when one of them suggested that you all do a group hug...it was so cute. Daddy and I chatted with your teacher while you chatted with your new classmates. When it was time to go in, you marched right inside with no more than a glance back. My, how you have grown up.

Daddy and I were both heading to work but not before we enjoyed a 15 minute coffee date to toast the successful beginning of a new school year and to celebrate the fact that he was out of the hospital and got to enjoy personally seeing you off on your first day of school. With us. As a family. We seriously didn't know if that would happen this year. We feel so lucky.

It truly is the little things that turn out to be the big things in life.

Be grateful for those little things, sweetie. Every. Single. Day.

Love,
Mama

P.S. And here's one more funny before I go...these are the kinds of things your daddy and I text about during the day. Thank you for being such a funny kid and giving us so much material to make us laugh.

xoxo to our future rock star ~
Mama

Summer 2015 ~ Part 2

Maliana ~

Ok, now where was I? Oh yeah, right. Home again.

So, we made it home safely alright, but then had a major learning curve when we had to figure out how to administer medications through Daddy's PICC line. Luckily, a home nurse came and worked with us at first to show us how to do it. It was unnerving initially, but then we got the hang of it. You even helped flush his line a few times too!

so excited to help

doctor (or nurse) in the making

Daddy was in good hands

Unfortunately after being home only a few days, Daddy began spiking another fever and having increasing difficulties breathing. Back to the hospital we went again and Daddy stayed there for another week! It turns out that he had more fluid in his lungs and in between his chest wall and lungs. I won't go into any more details (there are simply too many), but I think I can confidently sum it up as saying it was probably the second most painful hospital stay Daddy has had to endure (thanks to a horrible chest tube or two). The first most painful stay in a hospital being when he had his brain tumor removed.

Fortunately after many, many more doctors conferred on how to get Daddy better, they *finally* figured out the magic medicines and perfect dosages and we were hopeful that Daddy was on the mend.

Once again, we brought Daddy home and this time the medication he needed through his PICC line was no where near as cumbersome as the first time. And it seemed to be working! *Hallelujah!*

home just in time to celebrate Father's Day!

opening Daddy's Father's Day gift

reading the special set of questions and answers that you
and I did together to present to Daddy

one of my favorite pictures of you and Daddy

look at those smiles!
and that possessed dog!

breakfast with your pops at Gena's

Daddy and Memaw during our
Father's Day gathering

Daddy and his daddy, Papaw

with the dads

Given all that Daddy's poor body had been through, he took quite a bit of time off work in order to allow himself to get better. Was it less money coming in? Sure. However, it was really nice to have Daddy at home like he was. And to be feeling better was just icing on the cake! Thank goodness.

That being said...here are some pictures of us trying to recapture the feel of a typical carefree summer. I think we did ok, all in all.

this was one of the ways we entertained ourselves during
Daddy's visits with the home nurse

drawing a picture of the TMNT for
a special guest who came to visit us

Malcolm ~ a friend of mine (and now yours) who we met
at the Park of Roses for a picnic and time in the park
before he continued on his cross country adventure
(here you are walking with him and his dog, Grayson)

our annual picture with Uncle Dustin's
stone in the Park of Roses

Malcolm was so sweet to share this picture with us...he
appreciated your artwork so much that he displayed it
in his car after he parted ways with us!

Sponge Bob's looking a little 'randy', don't you think?
(just a little more artwork a la Mali)

Here is another of our little Facebook updates that were posted during all of the craziness...this one was shared once I had a moment to pause and reflect after Daddy was home from his third hospitalization.

And this one...just sharing my appreciation of having my family under one roof again. It really is priceless.

rainbow loom jewelry you made for Daddy
that he actually wore for multiple days in a row

the first 4 leaf clover we found together ~ does
this mean our luck is changing for the better?!

lazy, crazy breakfast outside on July 3rd

Abby loves Daddy

this is what happens when Daddy and I try to sneak outside for a
quiet morning cup of coffee together ~ invaded by our kid and critters!

we felt cute in our matchy-matchy bandanas

giggle fest

you told me, "Peace out, Rainbow Trout!"

grilling out for the July 3rd fireworks show in our
neighborhood...Daddy wasn't about to let a little
PICC line stop him from his grilling duties!

July 4th we got to meet up with some old family friends
of Daddy's ~ this is Bobby, a guy Daddy grew up
with and who has had his share of some serious
health problems and has the best attitude

he was so sweet to bring his I-Pad for you to play games

this is a perfect representation of my life ~ no personal space
ha ha!

waiting for Westerville fireworks...you and I decided to paint
Mark and Daddy's toes with nail polish

fancy toes ~ red, white, and blue!

setting booby traps of 'snap pops' along the sidewalk!

you and Natalia ~ your face looks silly because
you didn't want to draw attention by taking a picture
because people might notice your booby trap

your mom and dad ~ waiting for fireworks

snuggled with Lalie

watching the show

family adventure at Creekside ~ about to go paddle-boating

water balloon fun with Sammy and Cori

fishing

caught one!

celebrating our official Family Day of July 6th!

mmm...ice cream cake from DQ with a heart and
"Family" written inside it (your idea)

our little family ~ my heart

you insisted on taking this picture of us...*almost* everyone is in it

there's everyone! thank God for camera timers!

walking the dogs and you insisted on my
attaching a leash to you as well, ha.

hitting up the Westerville Arts Festival

visiting Lalie at work (Northstar) where we also
ate a yummy dinner after the festival

McKenzie and Uncle Forge at dinner with us

Lao Lao and I made you a cardboard car
after dinner...check out your bumper stickers
and license plate below...

Ha ha ha!
(and a Dr. Fart key chain ~ of course)

so, this deserves a bit of an explanation. your summer camp
program through the YWCA has been good but it started off
rocky because of some kids confronting you in the bathroom
because of your short hair. it was really hard for a bit but with
some creative thinking, communication, and courage, we found
some great solutions. and now look...my baby enjoyed her camp
experience after all ~ no matter how hard a situation, there is always
something good that can come out of it! proud of you, kiddo!

can you guess who I played Boggle with?

a tinier Fu group after lunch at Bucca di Bepo's
(Lainey, Alex, Matthew, and you)

same group except this time with little Cameron on
the left...the newest addition to the Fu kids!

at the Franklin County Fair ~ you loved the games!

learning the art of balloon darts

winner, winner, chicken dinner!

carousel with my kiddo ~ sun's out, tongues out!

water gun game with your pops

playground time with Daddy

trying Melt with Daddy

and we even helped Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina move into a new house!
it's a bit farther away but oh, so cool! welcome to C-ville!

you were in charge of putting all 60 drawers in
their library card filing cabinet ~ and you did it!

Unfortunately, our attempt at a carefree summer did not last for long (right about 3 weeks to be exact) before Daddy found himself in the hospital once AGAIN for the same damn thing. It's really inconceivable. Basically, the doctors dropped the ball and had not (going all the way back to May) been consistently following through with the prescribed treatment for Daddy's pericarditis and pericardial effusions and in turn, we all had to learn very fast that 1) doctors don't always know exactly what to do (and sometimes are downright ignorant); 2) getting a second, third, or even fourth opinion is always a good idea; and 3) you absolutely MUST learn to be an advocate for yourself when it comes to healthcare!

Arrghh.

It has been an insane summer (to put it mildly) but one that we will definitely change us all (for the better, hopefully)!

This last in-patient stay was not nearly as intense, painful or difficult for Daddy as the last few had been. It was still stressful but it was beginning to feel like "the norm" around here. Anyway, here are a few more pictures of us trying to hang on to some sense of normalcy for you and occupy our time while Daddy got better (once again).

took the pups to Hoover with Lao Lao and Iroh
(Suzy loved the water)

Abby ~ our queen of the mountain

enjoying your time back at daycare since camp ended

Kona Ice truck time!

another picture from daycare

with Daddy at the hospital, the night before he was
discharged (hopefully for the last time!)

A funny little Mali-ism.

Like I said above, through all of this we tried to keep everything as normal as possible for you. I hope we did an okay job. With something like this happening in our family, it's impossible to shield you from all of the stress. All in all though, you seemed to take it all in stride. You and Daddy, both. And I only needed to see my therapist once! Ha.

As of the writing of this post, Daddy is home with us, on all appropriate meds, and appears to be doing well. Let's keep it that way!

Love,
Mama