I didn't think I would. I wasn't overly excited about the trip and if my mom, Kim and Nana didn't want to go so badly, I probably would not have set out to go before leaving Korea. I have now asked Keith to go two other times since we've been home. Can you believe he thinks the money would be better spent on a house? Seriously, sometimes he's so............. rational!
We had such a fun visit with the Chamness girls! It was jammed pack and looking back I feel a little guilty for making my 74 year old Grandmother do as much as we did! She was a trooper, the first one up and ready to hit the ground running.
I started the weekend with a girls trip to Seoul. Instead of leaving from Osan, we caught a bus from Yongsong. This put me a little behind schedule picking them up, and wouldn't you know they were EARLY. Sorry for the wait! And then another wait for the bus ride home! It was a long packed bus ride.
The next day we spent around the base. It was such a hassle signing them on and off with the day passes, fingerprints, double id checks... something should have triggered my brain for our Dragon Hill plan, but it didn't. More on that later.
We showed them around the base and walked around downtown. They hit up Cole's favorite, Dr. Fish. I can't believe Nana liked it as much as she did! We went to the blanket shop, purse stores, and back home for naps. I made dinner and we hung out playing the greatest game in all the land - Just Dance on the wii. So help me, watching Cole dance gives me such joy. I want 10 recorded hours of it to watch over and over and over again. My heart can't handle the shakes and shimmy. It's the single more adorable thing I've ever seen. Please God don't let him grow up!
Tuesday we ventured off to Kojeon Antiques. I love this place and I think they do it. I have to admit that her prices have gone up since we started leaving her our children's savings funds, but she's a nice as nice can be. After creating wooden bowl fanatics like myself, we treated them to a traditional Korean meal. They loved it. Blah! I can't believe how much kimchie Kimi ate, and Nana tried everything! That was officially my 4th Korean meal in a year and my tastes haven't changed. I won't miss the food. We took them to our favorite park for some "4 wheelering". Cole showed his skills while Brad made sure we each got a turn riding with him. Not that I don't trust him, but his ride with Nana almost gave me a heart attack! - on Nana's behalf!
Wednesday was another big day planned. We were going to spend the day in Seoul. First we had to sign them out of Osan to pick up their id cards and get gas, which was a huge headache. To top the day off it was raining. The plan was simple.... spend the day in Seoul, spend the night at the Dragon Hill Lodge and take the free shuttle to the airport the next morning for China. Problem. We couldn't get them signed onto base for a day pass, then signed off the next morning to get back on for the free shuttle. It was a logistical brain problem. We ended up booking a van/taxi to take us. In the end we probably should have just driven there ourselves and paid for parking, but the traffic on Easter Sunday would have not made us very nice Christians on such a Holy day. We spend the rainy day at the Korean War Memorial and Museum where the boys learned all about the Turtle Boat. Just ask them.
We went back to the Hotel and rested. A short walk to Popeye's for dinner and off to bed for most of the crew. Wouldn't you know it cleared up so Keith, Kimi, and I took off to the Seoul Tower for a night view. It was really pretty. I thought it would be like an outside lookout, but nope. All enclosed and somewhat of a bummer. Lots of people in a small enclosed area made the windows foggy - and the air stinky if you know what I mean.
The next morning was an early wake up call - CHINA BOUND! We got to up and checked out, back to gate 17 to sign them off base and pick up their id cards and off to Incheon Airport. Can I just say again it's the nicest airport in the world!
China is a post all it's own. We had a great time. The history, the food, the shopping, the food!! Heaven!
We came home Easter Sunday. Since our van was still at the Dragon Hill we thought it would be best to stick everyone on the city bus home and Keith and I would go pick up the car and drive it home in the traffic. We quickly put them on the first city bus and Keith and I headed to the Yongsong bus. We sat there for 30 minutes for them to tell us there wasn't room for us. Keith and I ran back to get on a city bus. We all made it home at the same time, go figure, and had a nice dinner together and a long night's sleep.
The next day I had to send Cole back to school. I don't he liked me much, but he already misses a week and the following one was Spring Break. We spent the day in downtown Songtan. The girls finished up some shopping and fake purse collecting. We also ran through Home Plus for some local entertainment. I think the real entertainment was me trying to get us OUT of the building.
Tuesday was Kimi's 31st Birthday! To celebrate we planned to go to Everland but it was raining again. Lucky girl because the skies cleared by lunch time and we were at the park by 2. It was busier than our typical empty. We had to wait like 15 minutes per ride. Not cool, but we managed to survive. We came home to pizza, cake, and ice cream.
Wed was their last day in Korea! Gege went out in style at Happy Quilt. We took some stuff (and her 70 yards of fabric) downtown to box up to be shipped back. We did all sit around and watch Kim pack her bags. I'm still amazed it all fit.
Thursday morning we shipped them off to the local bus station and pointed them in the direction of the airport. Sorry but that's how it works over here ;-) We had a fun time and I hope they liked Korea. It's been a fun place for the time being, but I'm anxious to get home too.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Stepping Backwards
My sweet B. If I could form the perfect words to describe my second born, I would. I would convey his tender heart, and charming smile. You would need to know about his creative sense of humor and his affection for dirt, bugs, and movies on repeat. Did I mention his charm and ability to win over everyone? He can be so tender and loving. He will do or say something daily that will shock you, make you laugh, and make you cry. He holds my heart. Mama Bear will fiercely protect this kid all his life.
We saw a behavioral specialist a few months ago. Ms Betty left us in December and really helped us out learning new ways to parent Brad and to help him when he gets incredibly frustrated. We've had our ups and downs, but nothing like it use to be.... until last Friday.
It was by far his worst day ever. If it was caught on video you would still never believe it. We would have been the season finale 3 hour episode of Nanny 911. For the life of me, if I knew his triggers I would do everything in the world to prevent it from happening again. Something set him off and his brain went into lock down mode. He threw a 40 minute temper tantrum outside by the front gate on base. He had an audience and looking back if we were in America the cops would have been there in a heartbeat. I couldn't hold him, put him in the car, comfort him. He hit the walls, kicked the bike racks, punched the signs, laid in the parking lot, paced, and threw rocks all while screaming death screams of "I want to go home". He thought he left his glow in the dark dinosaur at home when in fact it was in the car. But you couldn't tell him that because he was shut off. He wouldn't look, listen, or understand. It's more than a fit or an act of terrible twos even though we're approaching four. When you physically see it you can tell it's not the same. My mom said I should have taken him right to the ER. Maybe we should have, but we couldn't control him enough to get him the 1/2 mile down the road.
After 40 minutes, I finally was able to get him back in the car. But the rest of the day was horrible. We tried to do fun family things, but Brad's fits continued over one thing and another. Maybe we should have gone home, but where do we draw the line? Does the 3 year old dictate what we do together as a family when the weather is nice and Daddy has the day off? It was a hard mommy day, and I can only imagine how hard it was for Brad. So frustrated and mad at everything.
So for my own personal record, I'm jotting down what I noticed:
He kinda had a crappy breakfast (poptarts - sorry, I can count on one hand how many boxes I've bought for them). I know he's had strong reactions to large doses of sugar in the past, but I don't think poptarts alone would set him this far over the edge. His eczema wasn't flared up. He got an ok amount of sleep, but he's always the last to bed, first to rise. He was able to pick out his clothes and "toys" for his backpack. Nothing was bothering him (socks, shoes, jeans)
We're just at a loss. As a parent you just want to fix it. I just want to explain it to him, but during these fits NOTHING sinks in. You can't tell him/show him/explain to him anything. It's like talking to a wall. We just wait it out trying to keep him from hurting himself. I don't understand it. The best explanation we were given is it's a mixture of sensory and stress. At his age he can not understand nor express stress, but kids can sure feel it. And given what's been going on, who wouldn't be stressed? The kid has moved 3 times in 4 years, left all his "stuff"/pets/people he loves, lives in a foreign country without a lot of time with peers in his age group, visitors come and go, and we're telling him we're moving again. So his cry might be over a glow-in-the-dark dinosaur, but he's releasing EVERYTHING. (isn't Ms Betty so smart. I miss her)
So... what's a kid wired like this to do when you're a military brat? I haven't figured it out yet. The two margaritas at dinner helped me... next time I might share with Brad.
We saw a behavioral specialist a few months ago. Ms Betty left us in December and really helped us out learning new ways to parent Brad and to help him when he gets incredibly frustrated. We've had our ups and downs, but nothing like it use to be.... until last Friday.
It was by far his worst day ever. If it was caught on video you would still never believe it. We would have been the season finale 3 hour episode of Nanny 911. For the life of me, if I knew his triggers I would do everything in the world to prevent it from happening again. Something set him off and his brain went into lock down mode. He threw a 40 minute temper tantrum outside by the front gate on base. He had an audience and looking back if we were in America the cops would have been there in a heartbeat. I couldn't hold him, put him in the car, comfort him. He hit the walls, kicked the bike racks, punched the signs, laid in the parking lot, paced, and threw rocks all while screaming death screams of "I want to go home". He thought he left his glow in the dark dinosaur at home when in fact it was in the car. But you couldn't tell him that because he was shut off. He wouldn't look, listen, or understand. It's more than a fit or an act of terrible twos even though we're approaching four. When you physically see it you can tell it's not the same. My mom said I should have taken him right to the ER. Maybe we should have, but we couldn't control him enough to get him the 1/2 mile down the road.
After 40 minutes, I finally was able to get him back in the car. But the rest of the day was horrible. We tried to do fun family things, but Brad's fits continued over one thing and another. Maybe we should have gone home, but where do we draw the line? Does the 3 year old dictate what we do together as a family when the weather is nice and Daddy has the day off? It was a hard mommy day, and I can only imagine how hard it was for Brad. So frustrated and mad at everything.
So for my own personal record, I'm jotting down what I noticed:
He kinda had a crappy breakfast (poptarts - sorry, I can count on one hand how many boxes I've bought for them). I know he's had strong reactions to large doses of sugar in the past, but I don't think poptarts alone would set him this far over the edge. His eczema wasn't flared up. He got an ok amount of sleep, but he's always the last to bed, first to rise. He was able to pick out his clothes and "toys" for his backpack. Nothing was bothering him (socks, shoes, jeans)
We're just at a loss. As a parent you just want to fix it. I just want to explain it to him, but during these fits NOTHING sinks in. You can't tell him/show him/explain to him anything. It's like talking to a wall. We just wait it out trying to keep him from hurting himself. I don't understand it. The best explanation we were given is it's a mixture of sensory and stress. At his age he can not understand nor express stress, but kids can sure feel it. And given what's been going on, who wouldn't be stressed? The kid has moved 3 times in 4 years, left all his "stuff"/pets/people he loves, lives in a foreign country without a lot of time with peers in his age group, visitors come and go, and we're telling him we're moving again. So his cry might be over a glow-in-the-dark dinosaur, but he's releasing EVERYTHING. (isn't Ms Betty so smart. I miss her)
So... what's a kid wired like this to do when you're a military brat? I haven't figured it out yet. The two margaritas at dinner helped me... next time I might share with Brad.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
We're Alive
It has been a busy past few weeks!!! Our time on the ROK is coming to a close and we are trying to squeeze in every last bit of overseas experiences we can! I went with the girls for another fun filled weekend in Seoul. The next day my mom, sister, and grandmother came to visit to include a Chamness family vacation to China!!
I know I should write it all down before it becomes a memory, but I need a full day to disclose the whirlwind trip. I will state it's in Keith's best interest we went towards the end of our tour. I'm already trying to make my way back to China before we head to Texas. Loved it! Oh... If Erin or Ashley ever have to come to Korea you better bet that I am coming to visit just to steal them away to China.
I am without computer at this point. I need a new power cord. Until that happens I will have to wait to type out our last few weeks. Update on the boys: Cole is getting smarter by the minute. He cracked open a hard boiled egg today and informed us that it was cooked more like a four minute egg and he likes the standard eight minute egg better. Brad told me today "do you know that I am dangerous?". Yes you are son. 25 days and counting
I know I should write it all down before it becomes a memory, but I need a full day to disclose the whirlwind trip. I will state it's in Keith's best interest we went towards the end of our tour. I'm already trying to make my way back to China before we head to Texas. Loved it! Oh... If Erin or Ashley ever have to come to Korea you better bet that I am coming to visit just to steal them away to China.
I am without computer at this point. I need a new power cord. Until that happens I will have to wait to type out our last few weeks. Update on the boys: Cole is getting smarter by the minute. He cracked open a hard boiled egg today and informed us that it was cooked more like a four minute egg and he likes the standard eight minute egg better. Brad told me today "do you know that I am dangerous?". Yes you are son. 25 days and counting
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