Music Festival

Well, that was fun. Jia had a great time. She is a beautiful dancer. It was clear she was enjoying the performance. When the dance was done and she was exiting the stage she turned and grinned. Never in a zillion years did I think this child would go on a stage and like it. Her group placed 3rd. The theater was full. We knew sooo many people there. It was a late night for us so we put our heads down through the crowd and escaped then grabbed Wendy's takeout. Kai made it to bed at 9. Luk will be up another hour doing his flush. Mom is staying the night because the roads are snow yucky. Oh, and we weren't allowed to take pictures, so this picture is from after.

I got a call today with a surgery date for Luk. Next Wed. So that started a flurry of calls. Need a hotel, tap ferry form, ferry reservations, his walking leg braces aren't built yet, so calls about that. Queen Alexandra can't really explain why the funding was approved but there is no referral for the work. So they're getting back to me tomorrow. We're hoping for an emergency fitting in the next couple days. 

The universe is definitely telling me our spring break plans are just not happening this year. Luk won't be mobile so the hike to San Josef is off now. Then the 

2nd camping trip I planned is being interupted by a spinal cord clinic. Two weeks after the surgery. 

Jenny Pictures

Easter Island

I've been crying all day. Our hearts are broken watching Lili grieve. And yet life carries on. I went to pick up Kai from his playgroup today. The staff are trying to get the kids to come to the spring break day camp. It was being discussed while Kai finished up his hot chocolate before we left. He got all excited when he heard 'camp' and interrupted everyone to loudly announce he's going to Easter Island Camp. Haha. Love it. I interjected Easter Seal Camp. They were all happy for him. So, he didn't want to go but there has been enough hype about it that he's excited now. Then when I was telling Eric about Easter Island he told me Kai told his speech therapist the same thing earlier today.  

Lili came out of her room long enough to say nothing feels right and I got some juice, advil, blueberries, yogurt and then some comforting breakfast for dinner in her before she escaped to her room again.

Tomorrow Jia is dancing in the music festival. Fei is trying to come. We're discussing details of the day. She is definitely nervous but honestly doing way better than I expected. Oh and it's pink shirt day tomorrow. We thankfully remembered and laid the boys shirts out already.

In other news, there was a power outage last night. We all pretty much just went to bed early. It came back on a couple times through the night which made our smart bulbs go nuts and flash. The wind was strong so the boys slept on their futon. Lili took a couch.  

Eric started in the living room bed then moved up to the boys room. Jia was with me

, we went up when the wind died down. It was a long night. Hopefully we all get more sleep tonight.

Goodbye Jenny.

Sob. You were such a good girl. 16 years with you wasn't nearly enough. Watching Lili grieve her baby is hard. Really hard. Jenny was already in renal failure, she also lost 3 lbs in 3 months, was struggling to breath and was rejecting food. The vet could feel hard lungs so suspected lung cancer. Lili chose to let her go today to avoid a tramatic death. With not eating, she didn't have much time left. It was a brave gift. Today was peaceful for Jen Jen. Lili and I aren't feeling great. It's shocking and hard. Really, really hard. We'll all miss her. Lili needs all the hugs, Jenny was her baby.

Adventure Day

Four days at home is too long to let preteens and a teen stew. I insisted we find a plan to get out. Luk wanted an adventure day. Haha. Yes! A plan. However it may have always appeared to the kids there was no plan when we take off, there always was. Yes, added opportunities during the day but usually a destination or dinner planned.  

These guys are pretty much only interested in movies and food. I told Eric I could only think of food they'd like. So we did a food trail. Haha.

Started at 7-11 for a slurpie. To Crofton to pick out a dvd from the thrift store (Kai picked Jurassic World) and get penny candies at the store. Except they don't do penny candies since covid so we bought the premade bags. Worked great for Kai. Luk and Jia choose unwisely and regretted their choices. Then to Chemainus to buy my fave donuts that might cease exisiting since the grocery store sold. Then to Ladysmith to explore the thrift store but it was closed. We went to Red's instead. Eric found a dvd/tv combo and had it turned on and tried it out. It worked great so Cheese now has his own tv.  

We picked up white hot chocolates at Tims and took them to Transfer Beach and ate our donuts there. They were stale so that was a sad goodbye. From there we went back to Duncan to the bead shop to get number beads to make Walter a flexible necklace with his phone number on it. They didn't 

have any. Onto Dollartree for kids picks. I got scissors for Cheese and some sewing thread and a soft measure tape for Jia's sewing kit. Lili picked a toothbrush holder for her Taiwan trip. Jia picked make up. Kai a muscle man toy and Luk a blue Pic-a-pop. The plan from there was to go to Walmart for some groceries. In the car each of us had picked out a meal and I made the grocery list. However I wasn't feeling up to a big shop so we skipped it and went to BK for dinner.

When we got home Walter came running down the driveway meowing. He's 

been gone since the 4:30 am visit. We did bring him in and lock him in for the night. He slept in Jia's room. She made him a fort out of her pink blankie. Of all of us she misses him the most. This morning I put an old beaded necklace with the house phone number on him and we let him out. Lili went out to follow him but he stayed in the yard.

I got up today and told the family I was feeling a ton better today and was ready for an adventure day. Haha. No plans have 

been solidified yet. Eric and Lili are 

going to do the grocery shop. I do want to see a movie in town at 4 that Lili has agreed to go see with me. A Man 

Called Otto.  

Easter Seal Camp!

I registered Kai and I for an Easter Seal family camp weekend in Shawnigan! So fun. I think. Haha. Not until mid August.

Both boys were adament they didn't want to go. I was telling Mary about it last night and she told Kai he should go and that there would be food. Haha. Why didn't I think to mention there would be food?! Anyways, he said he'd like to go with me. Neither the boys or I are ready to send them on their own.

I figured I'd likely missed getting a spot since they opened for registration a few days ago. I was surprised there were spots left, yay for Kai and I. Or not. We really have no idea what family camp entails. There was mention of bunk beds in the question do you require bottom bunks. I said yes for Kai. Honestly 

though, I can't imagine me in a bunk either. I mean I have literally NEVER been in an upper bunk. Shared rooms and shared bathroom would also be a complete nightmare for me.

Can you all picture me calling Eric on night one to bring me the motorhome. Ok, off to go email and ask if we can bring our own moho. Also if we can swap me out for Eric.  

What seemed like a fun idea is quickly changing into something to create anxiety over. Arg.  

Fei's 20th Birthday

I normally get things posted on the right day. Her Birthday was yesterday. She had an exam, lab test and skills test. I probably got that wrong but suffice it to say she had a stressful day for her Birthday.

We picked her and Lili up and went for dinner. Our plan was Montanas but they couldn't seat us in a seemingly empty restaurant. We're assuming they were short staffed. They did offer us a high stool table but I could picture Eric having to lift the boys up and then sitting and waiting for one or both to fall off. They don't have core balance. So we went to Driftwood for Chinese buffet instead. It's just sad how expensive eating out has become. The value for what we got just wasn't there. Mediocre at best. I didn't enjoy the meal and it's unlikely we'll go back. It was nice to sit with family and visit in a relaxed state. Eric put a new muffler on her car as her gift, which isn't very fun, so I filled her a giftbag with little things and snacks.  

Then we went to friends with an ice cream cake and a little visit. It was a late night for us on a weeknight ;) Luk stayed home yesterday because his class went skating and again, no core balance so skating is super scary for him. He was able to do his flush in the afternoon so we could be out late.

We stopped at Value Village before getting the girls. The prices are stupid in there. I wanted jogging runners with grip on the bottom for the boys for our hike on spring break. We did find some for both boys. Eric found a couple nice camping chairs there too so that was a score. I'm afraid of the little hiking chair so the new one for me is a lounger that will fit in the Cheese storage bin.  

We've been so busy that we are going day by day. Kai let us know last night that they have 4 days off school. I had to look it up 

on the drive home. He was 

right. Pro D day on Friday and Family day on Monday.  

We don't have a plan for the weekend yet. Lili 

is on reading break so she is coming home for a few days. Luk is suggesting an adventure day. Which we haven't done in forever. So that's a possibility. What 

Luk doesn't know is that it appeared to be all surprise happenings but really Eric and I quietly had a bit of a plan for the day or at least a destination.