Feeling Helpless!

Last week, in between doctors and dental appointments for me and my girls (which with Krystin having an oral surgery scheduled was stressful) the thought crossed my mind, "Well, I don't have any appointments for Logan"...  As he is off at college now...  It was a mixed feeling. I was happy and proud of him that he was off making his way in the world, and sad too that he wasn't here...

I must have thought the thought too loudly, as I received a text from Logan Tuesday afternoon Hong Kong time, 10pm Monday Hawaii time.  He had been running after work, in the rain, on the cement and slipped... He fell back and the back of his head broke his fall...   OUCH!  Logan doesn't just run, he runs hard and FAST... I can't even IMAGINE how hard his head hit the cement, but he said people from across the way said they heard it smack, even through the sound of the rain!  Even just typing this is stressful for me... 

He texted me to let me know what happened, and I believe to have me tell him not to worry about it...  Well, while I might not be working as a nurse right now, my nurse instincts went into overload (accompanied with Mommy instincts)...  Head injuries are not something you want to mess with. :(  I asked him how he was feeling.  He said dizzy, nauseated with movement, bad headache (no doubt)...  All signs of a concussion! :(   I insisted he have someone look at him. Well, apparently there aren't ANY medical personnel available on campus after hours?????!   So, I asked him to find someone to take him to the E.R...  Nothing like having a head injury and having to stress about all this...  

It was SO incredibly hard for me to not be able to be there for him.  I couldn't look in his eyes and see if they were reacting equally.  I couldn't check on him at all, other than by a few questions on the phone...  I couldn't even take him to the doctor!  The hardest part was the reality that if something is wrong the soonest I could be there was maybe 18 hours, but more likely longer...   I felt completely and totally HELPLESS!!  It was a reality check that was seriously hard for me to swallow, and I did cry quite a bit about it... As a Mom, you want to be there for your kids... Todd did offer to send me out there, but really I was of more use in the next 24 hours being available to him, and hopefully he would be ok....He has always had a pretty hard head...  Besides the cost of the flight, ugh!

Logan's R.A. of his dorm, Tanner Farley, was awesome and drove him to the E.R.  He waited with him, and even arranged and helped to give him a blessing.  The E.R. doctor agreed he had what most likely was a mild concussion, but didn't do a catscan.  He did tell Logan he can go home, but he would have to have his roommate wake up every two hours and check on him.  If he got worse, he would have to come back. It was now 2am, and Logan's roommate didn't even know anything had happened and his phone was off. Tanner very kindly offered to have Logan stay the night on his sofa, and to keep an eye on him.   Thank You, Tanner!    

Logan was SUPPOSED to take Tuesday easy and rest, but even though I doubt he was asleep before 3am he attended his 7:30am Japenese class.  His head was still hurting, badly. I am sure lack of sleep didn't help. Luckily, on Tuesday he only has the one class. He talked to his boss at work, and she was kind and told him to rest.  He doesn't do rest very well...  He even went to a Japanese tutoring session that evening (to not get behind), but did try to rest a bit during the day.

He sent me this pic on Tuesday, Hawaii time...

Always good to see his face!

It has now been about a week since he hit his head, and while his head still hurts a bit (although, I am wondering if he is sleeping much) he seems to be doing well. Man oh man I worry about him!

I sure LOVE that boy and miss him so much too!!  I am grateful everyday to have him as my son, and December can't come soon enough (he is coming home for Christmas)!   I did make one request of him though, that being to please not RUN in the rain, especially on the cement at night ever again!  He agreed!

Funny side note:  Logan is a runner.  A long distance runner for YEARS.  He has the SLOWEST heart rate of anyone I have ever known, naturally.  His resting heart rate is usually in the low 40's.  Apparently, even after a concussion it didn't change, so the hospital staff was concerned and asked him if it was normal for him.  (Normal is usually 60-100bpm).  For him, yes 46 is normal.  

   

Super Typhoon Usagi

We were on watch for what was being called the BIGGEST Storm of the Year, which was  heading straight for us!  They said it would be the largest Typhoon that has hit Hong Kong  in the last 34 years.

This is what it looked like from a satellite photo:

(Photo Credit: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/super-typhoon-usagi-nears-taiwan-philippines-1.1861696)

As beautiful as it is ominous...

We watched for two days prior, very closely to the Hong Kong Observatory's projections...

(Photo Credit: http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm)

It appeared that the Typhoon was heading STRAIGHT for Hong Kong!

Here is the legend to go with the picture.

Legend		Color		Track Accuracy
		Analysed Position		Tropical Depression
		Forecast Position		Tropical Storm
		Past Track		Severe Tropical Storm
		Forecast Track		Typhoon
	(The colors of the symbols above will change with the classifications of the tropical cyclone)			Severe Typhoon
		Low Pressure Area or Extratropical Low		Super Typhoon

Yes.  A SUPER Typhoon is as BIG and BAD as they get...

We prepared by stocking up on groceries, supplies and water!  You never know if this Typhoon actually caused destruction we could be out of luck for days...

Then we taped the windows.

Todd and I were joking about how this thin tape would really help at all?  But, apparently, if the glass breaks it helps it minimizes the glass debris.  Considering every room in our flat has large windows, we didn't argue....

The clouds started to gather Saturday night.  

We were expecting the Typhoon to hit sometime Sunday...

The sky was beautiful and peaceful...

Sunday morning.  We were on alert, and Krystin was not feeling well (still swollen and recovering from teeth), so we made sure to stay close to home.

It started to rain early in the day, and the wind started to pick up...

Todd and I thought we were really funny and took this pic (under the waterfall).  It was actually raining, but not quite this hard yet.  :)

Sunday night the storm slowly crept closer and closer to Hong Kong, by 6:40pm we were at a T8 warning, which means transit is shut down....  Work and school are cancelled... Of course, since we don't get 'snow days' the kids were all hoping the storm would last long enough to give them an extended weekend.  Krystin agreed.  An extra day to heal (without additional homework) would be nice....

At 10pm we went to bed (after watching a few old episodes of Dr. Who), right as the storm started to cause the wind to whistle loudly through our building, jostling the windows, and rattling doors, with rain pounding as well...  I swear these storms ONLY happen in the middle of the night, much like children's severe illnesses...

Lily is terrified of storms and quickly hid in our closet.  She has claimed the bottom shelf as her own, and we even have a blanket for her in there.  Honey wasn't worried one bit and just went and slept in her normal bed!

To be honest, I was so tired I slept through the majority of it.  I woke around 6am to quiet outside.  I checked the HK observatory to see what the night had brought with it.  Apparently, the storm chose another course and was greatly diminished by morning, so we never had the full brunt of the storm here, thankfully.  Yet, because we were so close and storm direction can be uncertain we were  still on a T8 warning until 10am, just long enough to allow the kids to have Monday off, and for Todd to work from home... :)  

Honey was relieved!  

Lily and Kayla were worn out from the storm... 

Todd and I had a sushi lunch date (SWEET!), and were taken aback at how gray everything was.  It was as if everywhere you looked was shrouded in a gray-mistlike cloud....

I love the sky, right after the storm as the sun starts to peak through....

There is something magical about it.... 

Perhaps it is what I imagine hope to look like...  

We are thankful for our safety and to have been home together to weather the storm...

Even though, we did miss Logan!

The Last of the Wisdom has been removed....

It was Krystin's turn to have her wisdom teeth removed today.

Her wisdom teeth were a bit trickier than her brother and sister's...

They were impacted and the roots were right next to the nerves, so an oral surgeon was recommended.

The sooner the better, as the roots would just get longer and become more likely to entwine in the nerves.  Also, she was experiencing pain from them all the time in her jaw...

To be honest, I hadn't heard the BEST things about dental work in Hong Kong.

I have heard their medical can be good, but not dental.

In fact, they really don't cover anything dental related with insurance.

SO STRANGE!

I ended up finding an American Oral Surgeon that is also licensed here.

He has been practicing for more than 20 years, and had good reviews and keeps both licenses current....  

I know.  I know.  I found an 'American' Brand Surgeon, but really it gave me comfort.

I know the standards that he is accustomed to, and his English was excellent!

I was thoroughly impressed by his knowledge, expertise, thoroughness, and actually his professionalism.

Today was the day that I had to bring my baby to him and entrust that his skills were as they appeared.

We cabbed over thinking it would faster and easier, as his office is downtown.

Central!

The cab driver was confused and wasn't sure where the address was, even though it was in Chinese and in Central...  Ultimately, instead of arriving 30 mins early, we were 30 mins late! Silliness.  I did call at the scheduled time to let them know, but I still felt awful. 

I have this be-early always problem.  It is a problem because it totally freaks me out to not be early, and to be late oh my. I am working on it, but really!

In the cab there was a cute little Cappy waiting to go with her and give her love.

Before! 

After.  

A bit disoriented and dizzy, but otherwise pretty good!

Dr. said that it went very well, even better than expected.

Words a Mommy loves to hear. 

At home she happily cuddled up on the sofa to an unlimited movie time.

With the fun ice on, ice off routine that she is familiar with personally witnessing her siblings perfect the art in the last couple of years! 

Lily was super concerned about Krystin and kept jumping up to lick her face and make her better.

Lily had to settle for a nearby cuddle. 

Here is to a quick recovery!

We love you Krystin!!

25 Years of Kissing?

September 14th, 1988

Was the first time Todd and I kissed...

(This isn't the actual picture of the first kiss, but the best I can do!  It did happen more than that once.)

Todd was very smooth while courting me...

He knew all my weaknesses....

Playing music for me...

Poetry...

Flowers....

Adventures out in Nature....

Conversations about the universe...

and well

DEPECHE MODE!...

I had no chance really.

Our first kiss was magical and well planned out I must say...

I am a sucker for a creative, romantic soul.

Kayla was born on the 5th anniversary of our first kiss.

I didn't want to take away from her birthday, so posted this on a different day.

We have now been kissing for 25 years!

25 Years...

Like a Blink and a Wiggle!

Ok, lots of blinks and wiggles...

Happy 25 years since our first kiss...

Sorry kids for the T.M.I., but it must be remembered.  

After all without the first kiss you would not be here.  Just saying!

Singapore - Girl Style!

The girls and I have been trying to plan a 'Girl's Weekend' for years.  

Seriously.  The boys always seem to have weekends or even weeks together between Father and Son's Campouts, Scouts, or Cross Country Camp, but there really aren't any 'Girl weekends or what not'....   

So, before we ran out of time and my girlies move out or something we decided it was TIME!

Since it was Kayla's Birthday weekend, it made it extra special, and gave us an excuse to do something really awesome.  We planned a trip to Singapore!  One of the perks of living in Hong Kong is that so many neat countries are within a few hours of here, and thus the plane flights are pretty cheap too.  

We left at 8:15pm on Thurs (Sept 12)

-really, 9pm as plane was delayed-

Good Bye Dinner with Daddy

Waiting for our flight!  Super excited!

On the Plane and ready to go! 

We got to our hotel about 2am. 

We were super tired! 

But, they upgraded our room (for free) to a Harbor view!

No complaints there! 

 The view from our balcony

Super nice! 

For Breakfast we had donuts (remember HK doesn't have those).

They were decent, but STILL NOT US donuts! 

Krystin was working on some AP Art project on the plane, which was very bumpy.

Her drawing is on the right, based on the left.  Pretty nice indeed!

(Especially considering it was done on a dark bumpy flight!)

On Friday the 13th, during the day, we set out to explore on foot.

We came across this beautiful church. You can actually see it from our room.

The girls were enchanted with all of the details.

Did I mention Singapore is on the equator and is HOT and Humid, like always....

Yes, it is ....

The cylindrical building is our hotel, view from the church. 

  

As we were leaving, and taking pics, Krystin pointed out how cool this view was!

A little bit of heaven and earth... 

We ventured onward toward the waterfront.

Kay loved these trees. 

We found a little Air conditioned Art exhibit along our journey.. 

 Really loved the angel/unicorn one!  So cute.

We made it!

Kay was so warm, she thought a quick bath was in order! (hehee) 

 That weekend they were preparing for the celebration of the Autumn Moon Festival.

Which, apparently, as a part of the Autumn Moon Festival (as the girls pointed out), they also celebrate Monty Python's attack bunnies!  (I can't remember their names right now, darn it.  Where is Logan when I need him?!)

After walking around for a few hours, taking it all in, and partially melting we went back to the hotel to literally chill and rest up for the next adventure.

Our hotel room was icy.  Felt great to me, but the girls went into hibernation. 

After a little while, Krystin's need to draw compelled her out of her deep rest and to the balcony for some drawing time. 

That evening we set out to Singapore's uber amazing Night Safari!

There is a bus that picked us up from the Hotel.  :)

As we got closer to the safari, the view out the window transformed from city streets to an array of beautiful nature scenes...

Night Safari!!

Before embarking on our safari, first thing was first!

We had to get Ben and Jerry's Ice cream!!!

Oh, how I miss ice cream shops!!!

(I know, donuts for breakfast and ice cream for dinner, yes we were having sugar withdrawal.)

 The squidlings wanted to lick the bowl!

It is dark at the night safari!

The safari has a cool tram tour.

It is really amazing.  

The animals are all right around you and active and awake, and you are in complete darkness.

Well, assuming people actually listen and don't take flash pictures!

We had fun exploring on foot too, since flash pics aren't allowed most of the pictures are kind of hard to see, but here are a few. 

The moon was brilliant!

There was tiny free flying bat on these bananas.  Was too dark to see him clearly though!

 How can you NOT love the Wallabys?  

They hop all around you!

One of the coolest things at this Night Zoo, is their Bat enclosure.

There were BATS all around us.  You could literally reach out and touch them. You aren't allowed to, but physically it was possible and honestly no one was looking.

Krystin was very insistent we find this place, which took us a little bit.

I am very glad she did, as it was amazing!  Bats are so cute, and fun to watch.

Also, they are much bigger than I realized! 

 These little 'mouse-dear' types of creatures were on the ground beneath them.  

No space is wasted in the enclosures.

 We saw so many amazing animals.

Ones that we would never have seen in the states.

We headed back to the hotel on the last bus at about 10:15pm,

and ate a small dinner before bed!

In the morning it was Kayla's Birthday!!!

Yay!! 

Krystin helped blow up balloons and got a little crazy, hahahahah! 

 Kayla was shocked!

For breakfast we tried out a bunch of different places and just shared and sampled different things.

It was fun! 

Then we headed over to the Jurong Bird Park!

It is really so beautiful there!

Yes.  The Duffster was there.  He loves Lories.

Well, as long as they don't POOP on him.

Krystin's arm had to be exhausted.  She was feeding this shy bird for about 20 minutes.

Kayla spotted some cute yellow-bib babies, and was determined to feed them.

She was successful!

There were so many blue streak babies!

I was in HEAVEN!

Although, it did make me miss my baby all the more.

Side Note:  My Indy smells like the sweetest smelling candy, and these babies did too.

Blue-streaks are completely magical! 

The girls and I have a slight LOVE of the giant dinosaur birds!

Ostriches are amazingly cute!

We were able to feed this cutie!  

Look at that adorable face!

 The Cassowarys are pretty amazing too.

Relics of a time long since gone....

And the Rheas 

And my personal favorite:  the Emus!

The Jurong bird park has the Largest Waterfall AVIARY in the world....

It is truly an impressive Aviary. I  am willing to bet birds are on a waiting list to get in....

No predators, tons of food, egobs of space and beauty!

There is a bridge pathway above the regular foot path, and more paths the keep going from there and it is all contained with in this aviary.  Very impressive!

I believe they said there is something like 500 types of birds in there.

Quite a few African Grays!  

We came just in time for feeding time.

The beautiful (and LOUD) Sun Conures came together to feast.

So cute!

Apparently this little buddy doesn't like to share.

He found his own dish!

The diversity of birds was breath taking. 

My two that are still in the nest? 

We checked out their Research and breeding facility.

We so wanted to reach through the glass and snuggle those babies!

And we enjoyed the air conditioning, which wasn't present anywhere else in the park.

Look how tiny a humming bird egg is!

A few more fun pics. 

After a LONG, Hot, Super fun day we headed back to the hotel.

How can she still look that cute after all that heat?

Kay's request for dinner some 'home style' food....

Daddy had mentioned there was a Baja Fresh nearby, so we set out to find it!

Sure enough there was!

We didn't want to stay out too late, as we had to be up by 3am to catch our early flight home.

We ended up going back to the hotel and swimming in the pool that is on a roof under the stars until 10pm and they kicked us out!

Kay has a couple pics, maybe she can post them here:

We had a wonderful time, and were happy to be greeted by Todd at the airport upon our arrival!

Then we had had celebratory birthday breakfast burrito dinner and cake!

We couldn't find funfetti cake mix in Singapore, but they did have the frosting, so we pretended!

By the way, 20 candles is a bit dangerous to light! 

And can set off a smoke alarm!

Happy Birthday Kayla-Love!

Thank  you Kayla and Krystin for a wonderful weekend that I will always cherish!

Thank you to Todd for holding down the fort and keeping the pets happy and alive too!