Orthotics

We met with Brianna at Queen Alexandra.  So fun.  She made his AFO's when he was five.  She casted his feet while we were there.  Amazing how fast it was.  

The rain cleared so we could go for a stroll on the grounds.  Such a gorgeous spot.

Luk trying to help Kai see a woodpecker.  

Max's first trip to China Town.  We went to the noodle house again. It was ok but not amazing like the first time.  The kids were still hungry when we left.

A Costco trip.  The four of them followed Eric in perfect unison with the promise of poutine for good behavior.  Haha.

No food court during covid.  This worked.  

Sasha is clever enough to quickly get the prime lap spot when I finally hit the couch.  Then Finn stares at me like this because she has 'the' spot.  They're just like a pack of toddlers.  Coco keeps her eye on me.  She takes her job of following me very seriously all day. Then when I finally sit she takes off for a bit of time on her own, checking often to make sure I'm still on the couch.

Serious TV binging here.  Eric and I are almost through season 3 of Sopranos.  

Rain

It was too wet to get outside today so Eric moved the treadmill in for me. He also offered to take us to Woodgrove but that felt like too much work today since we have to go to Victoria tomorrow. Luk has an orthotics appointment at Queen Alexandra. 

We've had Mom and Dad's recumbent bike here for a long time.  The seat is too far back for me.  Today Eric drilled holes in the metal frame so Kai and I could use it only to realize after that it doesn't change tension anymore and the setting it's stuck on is too hard.

Kai wasn't as thrilled as I was to have the treadmill back. However, he screwed up with his tablet again and the deal today was 1/2 hour of walking for an hour on the tablet.  He tried a couple weeks ago to sneak his tablet up to bed under his pajama top.  Eric caught him and he told him no way.  Friday night I woke up at 3 and could hear someone watching a show.  I woke Eric thinking it must be Jia but it turned out to be Kai.  The interesting part is that normally he plays clueless when he's in trouble, shrugs his shoulders, cries, and almost always refuses to admit his part.  This time he totally admitted he knew he shouldn't, he knew the rules and he was mad at us for taking his tablet away.  Saturday he was told no screens.  Which wasn't fair to Luk so TV was allowed but Kai wasn't allowed to pick.  So he was even madder at us.  Then we brought in the dreaded treadmill.  Kai is hating school and right now he's not so thrilled with home. However, he did do an hour on the treadmill. So did I.  It's not as nice as a walk outside but Netflix helps make it fun. 

School....the boys teacher saw us Friday at pick up.  Eric sent dried seaweed in their lunches and Kai tried to eat the silica sand pouch in the packaging and when he couldn'tget into it he took it to his teacher to help him open it.  She was quite shocked. We were told to do better with our packing. She then told us it was fruit and vege day and it was pears, and he ate it all, core too and the juice was running off him.  Haha.  She was pretty surprised.  He has never been handed a pear before.  We peel, cut and prepare all of his food in bite size to be eaten with a fork or spoon.  

Luk has barely lifted his head from his phone.  It's safe to say he loves it.  He went to Gramma's this afternoon and I told him to take his phone.  He didn't.  He left it here plugged in.  Missing the point of the 'phone'.  

This is how they're all watching TV with me.

Finn is back! Playing, biting , face mushing, running around being his normal goofy puppy self. Tonight he leapt up to the back of the couch. A new skill.  We're still struggling with re-potty training but sometimes he makes the trip to his pee pad.  About 50/50 right now.  

Dear Evan Hansen

Date night with the girls.  Dinner at Driftwood in Nanaimo.  Pricey but really good.  So fun to be at a buffet again!!

This is Bella, their robotic wait staff.  We adore her.  I didn't catch her face in the photo.  She's a cat.  She was super busy the whole time we were there.  She zooms around carrying all the take out orders to the front.  Watching people's reactions is hillarious.

Lili really wanted to see this movie, she loves the music.  The subject matter was depressing.  Not a feel good movie but thought provoking.  

This morning Walter has a groomers appointment but he hasn't come in yet today.  That's never happened before.  So I'm pacing around looking for him. Edit.  He came in, we were late so he was squeezed in at the end of cat day.  He's looking lovely.  Should last until the next rain.  He lays in the puddles.  

Finn initiated a wrestling match last night and was doing zoomies on the bed.  So that was encouraging.  He slept most of yesterday and that's worrisome.   Today however he is all over the place running with Coco.  Up and down the ramp checking on me and then off exploring again.  He's been awake all day!

The neighbors have set up for a party. Loud, booming music.  Luk and I are hanging on the porch to listen.  Walter has forgiven me for the grooming ;)

Luk's 10th Birthday

Double digits! A new phone.  Slipping out of the sleeve to be dropped in the first second.  It still works, no cracks.  

Safely on the table.  Haha.

So pretty and shiney.

I didn't set it up for him.  He gets to do it himself after school. His old phone was Jia's 1st phone.  It died a month ago.  It was month to month.  This is his first contract.  Responsibility isn't Luk's strong suit.  He loses everything.  I can't tell you how many times we've had to go back for his old phone and his coats. 

So grown up.  No toys.  Just the phone.  

Starting the day with Dad's homemade corned beef hash and hot chocolate.

I did a thing.  Quadruple Chocolate Cake Truffles!  Luk isn't all about the cake like some of us but he does like chocolate.  Cake would have been WAY easier ;)  Working from home has perks!  

A Braille card from Kai.

Legendary snack after school!!

Scatter Matter Moon Dust.

We went to see Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings. My first Marvel movie.  It was very entertaining but alarming how many fight scenes there are.  Bit scary for Luk and super scary for Kai. Jia however loved it and has declared it her favorite movie of all time.

We came home to butter chicken, a visit with Gramma and some time setting up apps on his new phone.  The Truffles were amazing. Overall, a pretty perfect day.

Dream Boots

The dream boots arrived.  She wasn't sure she'd even be able to walk in them.  

Just a wee bit taller now.  

Autumn Moon Festival

I dropped the boys at school this morning then hit Superstore.  Hey, do y'all know how quiet town is at 8:30?!  Amazing.  Yes, we're nervous to send the boys.  Jia has a sore throat or freaked out please don't send me near possible covid itis.  So she's still sleeping. I got what we needed for the Autumn Moon celebration tonight.  Also a bunch of thank you treats to take to the vet's office today.  

Facebook memory of Autumn Moon Festival past.  Ah.  They were so stinking cute.  

The girls had to come home to vote in their district.  Fei's 1st time voting!  

Gorgeous group of kids.  

We got to see the moon in all her glory. Fei gets photo cred.

Also taken by Fei.

Great night with friends!  The  weather was perfect.  

Finn update.  Eric witnessed his tail up.  He's  spending more time hanging out with Coco and Sasha just milling about.  He is tracking with his eyes.  Unfortunately he is no longer beautifully potty trained.  We're really hoping this skill comes back.  Today he reacted every time Coco barked. Which is sadly when ever anything moves and she feels we should all know about it.  Progress.  

Covid

Ok, covid exposure currently in our school community but obviously not in our kids classes or we would have been notified separately.  Eric is a HARD pass on sending the kids in tomorrow.  I'm not sure how I feel.  Anyone want to weigh in?  How do we navigate this?  For ANY other outing I would say no way, we'll just stay home thanks, but, it's school.  

Finn Update

He's doing more and more or his old things.  One of them is wanting to live on my face :) Insisting on face mushes and kisses. He drank water last night on his own and during the night he did his normal routine. Slow and steady progress.  A tail up and wagging will be cause for dancing in the streets.  Such a sweet angel.  

Our plans/play date fell through for today.  We were confident that Finn was good enough to leave on his own so Eric and I took off with the boys in the morning.  We found fun options for something to give to classmates on Thursday for Luk's Birthday.  Scatter Matter Moon Dust.  Plus a couple sciencey things to have fun with on his Birthday.

We went to Soul's Toast in Chemainus for lunch.  Korean street food. Oh em gee.  It was the silliest sandwich and incredibly delicious.  Luk has carefully planned out his Birthday food for the whole day but now he's conflicted because he wants Soul's Toast again.  Corner shop with two tables for two and I'm not so sure how well the sandwiches would travel and WAY too messy for eating in the car.  

The weather shifted and it was sunny and perfect for a walk around on sidewalks.  Different for us.  Then home because I needed to see Finny.  

2nd update today...he's eating on his own!  Sob.  One last hurdle to make on the quality of life checklist, tail up and wagging. 

It's not cold.  They're just choosing to cuddle.  Love it.

The Girls are Home

They've come home to pick up tuition cheques.  But I'm pretending they just wanted a visit while they do their laundry ;) Jenny is DELIGHTED.

I made Fei bring her stethoscope so I could get this picture.

The good news is that all the dogs have heart beats.

Finn continues to make slow progress.  He ate a big meal again today.  Mostly right now he seems scared, traumatized. He's wanting to cuddle and stare at me.  I'm a tad concerned he can't see very good right now.  

Joey and family came for dinner.  It was super cute watching the puppies play.

He Ate!!

This has been our day.

Finn ate!!  A lot.  Like he was starving.  Then he went down his ramp to the kitchen to pee on the pee pad and back to the couch.  Barely any movement since but I think he's back.

Continuing to pray for playing, tail wagging and his exuberant nutty face mushies. Also no brain swelling or any more seizures.

The vet called and was super shocked to hear how he was doing.  

I really appreciate out vet's office.  They got him in so quick and were able to let me know nothing was broken.  I'm overlooking that they wanted to end him so quickly.  Grimace. So, just more convalescing today.