Life and lost...

I am so sad right now. This morning, Julie and I woke up to news that our poor dog Abbey did not make it through the night. Julie noticed that in the last two days, Abbey seem to be sick. However, we thought it was due to the new treat she gave her. She threw up, but she's done that before whenever she eats something strange. She always bounced back. But after seeing how weak she got yesterday, Julie called around to find a Vet to take Abbey to. The vet put her on IV and wanted to monitor her through the night. We got a call this morning and found out this morning she did not make it. The vet said that she pass due to a kidney infection. He wanted to know about her parents because he thinks it could be congenital. However, due to the way we acquire Abbey, we did not have that family history. Julie mentioned that she seem so healthy and strong prior to this. The vet said that sometimes with a kidney infection, it's hard to see signs other than if she has a need to drink lots of fluid and urinates a lot. She has always drunk lots of fluid before and urinated that out, so it was hard to gauge here.

All this serves to really bring into light the concept of life and lost for me. To many people, a dog is a dog, an animal. But when you have a bond with something, it doesn't matter much what that is. The lost of that bond is still that...and you realized that the time you have together is really short. Try as you might...you can't wish for those moments back. But moving forward, we take these tough losses as life's tough lesson and we learn to become better people ourselves. The next time we get frustrated or angry towards a love one, we need to allow these hurtful memories help to remind and temper the way we react to that love one. I guess learning and doing this helps to memorialize those who have gone on and give sweet meaning to their life, even if they are a dog. Rest in peace my sweet Abbey. :~(

Standing on his own...

Terrence turned 10 months yesterday and he's progressing through his stages so well. He's already able to pull himself up and stands fairly well on his own. He amazes us and even completely strangers who are always in awe in the ways he is able to do things so well. We were at Frys the other day and a lady was watching Julie feed Terrence. She was so impress with how cleanly and eagerly Terrence ate his meal. When her husband came by, she had to point out how well Terrence was eating to him as well. I guess these types of things you don't appreciate until you have had or have a little one of your own.

Watching Terrence the other day in the little PJ jump suit I bought for him, I see him already so tall and standing so well. So I had to put him against the mirror to share with you all.

Stnading so tall and steady.

Look at those chunky cheeks. Sometimes I think he stores food in there like a squirrel.

I love the look on his face. I am sure this is the look I will get when I catch him doing something he is not suppose to. So cute though, can probably get away with murder.

Ready for take off.

X-Games athlete in training. Even posing at the height for a photo op.

He loves every minute of the short flight. I wonder if in his lifetime, human will be able to fly under their own accord?

Susan's surprise party...

Last Sunday, my dad threw a little surprise party for Susan in recognition of her achievement in getting into Western pharmacy school. However, to keep it a secret from Susan, he said the party was for Terrence in recognition of his milestone in learning to crawl. My sister thought my dad was being too prideful as grandparents and relay how silly he was being to all her friends. Little did she know...

***Warning, lots of pictures. And as always, click on the small photo if you want to view it larger***

My cousin and aunt taking in the mountain view from the back yard

My two sisters...Susan and Nancy

My mom and sis looks great in this shot

Before the surprise was sprung, the adults were having lunch outside on the patio. After a few margaritas in them, my dad and his old partner were very happy campers.

My dad's old partner Bac Thiet. He retired here to Dana Point and lives just around the corner.

Susan checking out all the cakes people brought to celebrate.

Nancy did a pretty good job writing this. Well...except for the misspelling in "School" ;)

Showing off the fact that the cake cutter is in the shape of a fish.

I was on fire or my sister Susan just looks great that day. All my shots were so natural and looks great like this one.

Always a challenge to cut a custard cake. This particular one felt more like a hybrid of custard and sponge.

Julie putting on the orange glaze on her cheesecake.

Nancy and Walton enjoying the cake.

Another candid of Susan. Looking great!

I like this shot looking back at Julie and framed by the two chairs.

When there is a party or guest, it's almost impossible for Terrence to fall asleep. Here he is after we tried to put him down, all red from fighting the nap.

Julie giving me a silly face.

Quick snaps...

Last week, Denny, Julie, Terrence and I drove up to LA in the middle of the week so I can visit my dentist. Afterwards, Denny and I roam the Monterey Park area for a little bit while Julie visits our friend Jess. Jess just gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Madison. After Julie came back, we stopped by one of the Chinese cafe for dinner where I took these photos of Terrence.

A couple of quick snaps...

I was playing with Terrence and saw that he was able to pull himself up on to his knees. That's one step closer to being able to walk do I figure I would document it. These pictures were taken with Julie's new FujiFilm F40fd point and shoot. My camera was downstairs so I used the closest thing to me.

Asking and doing...two different things..

I am sure as parents, we'll get to face this time and time again. We ask our children to do something...and them actually doing it may be a crap shot at best. In this case, we were hoping to catch Terrence dancing to the music of his toys. Often times when the music gets activated, Terrence starts to wiggle and bounce up and down. As if he is dancing to the tune. Julie tried to capture it on video, but once the camera is on the little boy, he decide to show for the record that his parents refuses to feed him when he is clearly doing the hand sign for food and that is the reason why he is so small for his age. Listen mister...you got us all believing you up to the part about being too small for your age due to starvation. But obviously, your round face says otherwise!!!

Good news...

Our friend Jessica called Julie last night and said that she's getting her labor contraction and was wondering if it's time to go to the hospital. If you guys don't know Jessica, she was Julie's maid of honor when we got married. Her husband Mike also talked to Julie while driving home from work but was wondering if he could work late as he had some stuff he needed to take care of. Julie was adamant that this is no joke and he needs to come home right away. Hahaha...I remember that feeling. For us first time dads, when the day actually arrives, it feels a little surreal. We are a bit removed from the actual feeling and pains of child birth so without being in the hospital with the doctors and nurses around, it takes us a while to finally realize that the day we have been waiting for is finally here.

Julie and I can't wait to hear the news whether Mike and Jessica's baby girl has been deliver overnight or whether she is late yet again. (I'll get back to what I mean by my "late again") As some of my friends who had kids of their own may know and can probably relate... when you go in for an ultra sound, the tech can approximate when the child is due based on your last menstrual cycle, length of the baby, etc. I think when the preggo mom first hears that, it's all about warm and fuzzy thoughts of the date when you get to meet you little one and hold him or her. But I think the week or two before the due date, all moms are more liken to feel very big, bloated, heavy, miserable and simply wants the beast inside them to come out as soon as possible. (The closest us guys can come to this is when we over ate on Thanksgiving) LOL!!!

I remember when Julie was near her due date. She was starting to feel miserable and envious of the skinny girls and moms who were able to deliver their baby a week or two early. Julie tried inducing labor once it was safe by eating things like Papaya, which Asian superstition said induces early labor. That of course didn't work. So finally, I remember driving home one night from the boys house, and seeing how miserable Julie was, I spoke to Terrence and told him he is allow to come out now instead of the 25th of March, the same birthday as Julie. I figured then I only have one birth date to remember and don't have to worry about doing anything nice for mom since I already gave her the best of gifts. (Hey, so a guy can wish and dream ya know) Later that night, Julie started the beginning of her pre-labor contractions and Terrence was born the next morning.

As for the "late again" comment. Mike has been wishing his Christmas wish and placing his hope on his little girl to come out before the New Year. My advice to you is to come up with the story of how you feel Jessica's angst and want to deliver her from that. Or that you want to really, really meet your new daughter. Those are all probably more acceptable than the story that you want her to arrive in 2007 so you can claim her as a tax deduction. hahahahah Good luck you two and let us know if you need anything. We hope that everything went/goes well and that Julie will get a call with good news soon. The first lesson that we dads learn about kids is that they often don't always do what we always want of them. Lesson learn for me and I suppose you as well. I can't wait to teach my kid a lesson about daddy's pain stick. ;)

Happy New Year...

What did everyone do to ring in the New Year? Here at the Mai household, we went to bed early. It seems almost like tradition now. The best way to start a new year is to be well rested. Not such a bad thing eh? Before that, Terrence got to open more presents from his aunt and uncle from Texas. The outfit he got was so cute, we had to put it on him before he got to play with his new toys.

One last one in a warm b/w. Awww....too precious!