Almost a Month Later...

I was doing so well with some kind of constant blog entry and then all of a sudden it's been a month! Sorry to all my faithful readers (um... who reads this anyway?)

Ok so this daddy is back in school and well I am being "schooled." I am right now a student of real life. Life has gotta hold of my head and is shoving me under the water. I feel like I am drowning in a sea of craziness.

I am so excited to finish this program, yet am horrified of the possibility of having nothing to show for it, but a piece of paper... I lay in bed at night asking GOD, how he will use me and where he wants me to step. I am trying to be content with living in the moment and processing what is given to me daily, but I think it is human nature to want to know the future.

As for Daddyhood... Kaden had been struggling with a stomach thing for almost two weeks. I was cleaning up after blow outs at least once a day. One day we went through 5 outfits. So between bathing the boy, rinsing out dirty clothes, and doing a basket of laundry a day, Kaden and I have been spending a lot of fun time together.

This last week Kaden has gone the other way and has been constipated. His poor little bum is all read from the straining. But what has been fun is that he has been poopped in the potty a few times.

Finally I'll give you an update on the health commitment. I started P90X two weeks a go and have lost 6-7 lbs. I am feeling fit and stronger. Hoping to get under that 200lb mark soon.

I could ramble forever since it's been a month, but I'll spare you.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

When changing diapers move the dirty one away from arms reach, rolling reach, and below the head and shoulder region. 

Take A Deep Breath...

Here we go...!! Today is my last day to relax and get myself focused. I am embarking on a four month roller coaster ride of fierce proportions. That's right, it's back to school time for daddy. 

When Kaden was first born I took a few weeks off and then took a few summer courses. It was much easier at that time because Kaden was much smaller and just ate and slept. I took intensive courses where I was only in class a few times and did most of my work on-line. (Oh the beauty of the internet its changed the face of higher education...) 

Oddly I am looking forward to this challenge. Or maybe I am looking forward to finishing this program and earning this piece of paper that seem to hold value only to the holder of said paper. Either way I am excited. 

For the next 4 months I'll be knee deep in books and will be writing and writing. But I still plan to blog... I think it helps keep me sane or at least it lets me get the insanity out. 

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

Daddy is one of the sweetest sounds a father can hear, but train the little one to say Momma early and often, this will come in handy during sick days, and diaper changes.

Are You Kidding Me?

I was recently at a friends house and she had recorded the most disturbing 20/20 episode I have ever watched. I don't think I have cringed and contorted my body out of discomfort as much as I did tonight!!!

It was a series of stories about parenting and birth, but I left saying to my self what in the world did I just see?? 

The first story was about women who are having sexual pleasure and orgasms during childbirth. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6569030 

I don't know but from what I experienced with my wife in the delivery room, I can tell you it was the farthest thing from our minds!! I have no idea how you prepare for this kind of "pleasurable" experience during delivery, but it just made me cringe. The couples were making out and touching each other, I mean come on there are other people in the room and there is a person come out of the woman's Va Ja Ja!!  

The second story was about people who buy dolls that are life like and cary them around like they are real.  http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6557305 

It was beyond creepy!!

The Last story was about breast feeding. Which is perfectly normal and healthy, but not when the child is 9 years old!!! Common!! Are you Kidding me? Really? This lady was still breast feeding her 9 year old daughter... Seriously a few more years and that girls body will could be ready to make her own baby. I really don't mean to be crude, but it's true. 

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6569743

Take a viewing of all the videos if you dare.

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

When watching Football with baby, it is wise to put the little ones aside during intense moments. 

Happy New Year!! (Six Days Later...)

Has it already been about a week since the New Year?

The Holiday activity took a toll on this Daddy... After three weeks of amazing snowy weather and travel to Seattle and back to Portland, I found myself in bed fighting off two different kinds of bugs. First was the achy sick bug and second was a stomach bug. This would have been fine, but Kaden also had his first serious cold. Boy are we thankful for mommy. Lisa some how found the energy to take care of both her boys and I'm not sure who was more whiny... Daddy?? or Baby?? 

It's unfortunate that we ended and started our years fighting colds, but at the same time it made our family slow down and separate ourselves from the business that we tend to put on our calendar. One other good thing about being sick is that I actually lost 10 pounds in a week!! I am well on my way to my "2009 Muscle Body Goal"(see "To Your Health" blog entry)

2009 is going to be a crazy year in this house, but we are going to trust God to give us the energy and the strength to manage each day.

I head back to school taking 3 full classes in order to finish my Masters Program. Mommy will be working and keeping the finances flowing so we can attempt to survive. Kaden will keep growing and learning new things and will get to stay with Auntie Amy once a week until I'm done with school.

It sounds very daunting, but after a lot of prayer we feel this is our best option at this point. We are praying that our finances stay in check while we maneuver through this season of life, and again it will all be by the grace of our Lord and Savior.

I'm sure in the next four or five months there will be great blogging material as we take on this task, please keep us in your prayers. If you're journeying with us hold on cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

When suffering from a stomach bug be very careful the types of games you play with baby... "Horsey?" Uh not so fun.

Snow Days...Shmow Days!

Wow the snow in Portland has crippled the city once again... I think people are always amazed at how snow and ice affects the Portland Metro Area. I'm not gonna complain, mostly because I'm an Oregon boy (born and raised.)

I get that Portland will always be unprepared for weather like this. We are spoiled with fair weather 90% of the year so when there is extreme cold or hot Portlanders crumble like blue cheese.

As for our house we tried to venture out to church on Sunday morning as the snow came down. I got about two houses down before we made the wise decision to turn around and hunker down. I wanted to worship Jesus at church on Sunday not in Heaven. 

Snow Days have been fun with Kaden. We bundled him up and took him outside to play. He didn't really know what to think. Well maybe he though his parents were crazy and should take him back inside.

Please remember that young ones have more sensitive skin so their little cheeks can get that freezing air burn. We were outside for about 15 minutes and Kaden's cheeks were rosy the rest of the day.

It has been a fun couple of days with friends dropping in and out and we are hunkering down for another blast of cold the next few days. More friends coming over as I type. 

One last thought... I have been calculating and I think there may be an influx of babies in the NW come September. 

Raising Daddy Tip of  The Day

Bundling your child up for snow days is wise, but make sure you are around if they fall down in the snow!

To Your Health!

It's that time of year again when I head to the Doctor for my annual check up. For some reason it is also the time of year I start to think about New Years Resolutions ;^)

I didn't mention it in my blog description, but on top of being a Christ follower, stay at home dad, Asian American, yadda yadda yadda..., I am also a diabetic. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in October, 2005 just over 3 years ago. Since then I have managed it fairly well (depending on who you talk to) initially I lost around 35lbs. within a two month period by changing my diet and exercising. This helped a great deal, but over the last year and a half I have let it slip and haven't been pro-active about the disease. Diabetes, like any other disease is one that you must be pro-active in order to stay healthy. 

After some urging from my wife I decided that I need to once again get serious about my diabetes and stay serious about it. So in the last two weeks I have gone to see the doctor and my diabetic counselor. 

"Good News," is that I am healthier then I was last year at this time. "Bad News," that's not saying much. All my test show that I am borderline in everything. Blood Glucose levels, High Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol. Sometimes I wonder if I have borderline personality disorder too. Ok so I am a wreck and I have to admit it. 

Lisa would turn a blind eye if she could, but she is seriously worried about my health. She tells me she doesn't want to be a widow, yet she is always threatening to kill me if I don't get this stuff under control! I want to tell her I am only 32 years old, but that isn't a good argument actually it weakens my case. All indications show that I am sick and if I don't do anything about it then I am headed to an early grave. 

So there it is ~ I am admitting it, "I am sick and I need to get my health under control. I must do something about it long-term."

I have three reasons that will motivate this change long-term:

1. A Beautiful Loving Wife - I don't want her to be left without me, allowing her to marry the man of her dreams.
2. My Amazing  Baby Boy - I want to play football with him and watch him tackle some kids.
3. Not Done Serving Jesus - I know I still have BIG things to accomplish with Christ.

Here are my health goals for this coming year. Feel free to pray for me and keep me in check:

• Educate myself in these three areas - Diabetes, Cholesterol, and High Blood Pressure.
• Portion Control - Understand food intake and how it effects my blood sugars and overall health.
• Weight Loss - Want to lose another 25 lbs. (currently @ 225 lbs. and want to drop under the 200 lbs. mark)
• Exercise - Want to be consistently working out 3 times a week by March.

I'll try and remember to keep you up to date while I blog. It will be an exciting adventure. So here is to 2009 a New Year and a New Start!!! 

(BigTo before) December 2008

(BigTo after) December 2009

Raising Daddy Tip Of The Day

Having a hot wife and a crazy advanced baby is no good if you're not alive to brag about it!

Super Nap...

(Started writing on Monday afternoon... didn't have time to finish till Tuesday afternoon.)

I feel energized this afternoon. Kaden is happy and playing while I again do a weekends worth of cleaning. It was a nice surprise this morning when Kaden decided he wanted to take a nap only 45min after he woke up. Daddy was so tired he decided to just hold the boy and nap too...

2 hours later we woke up smiling and laughing at each other.  I love naps like this when baby wakes up alert and refreshed. You know that things are just gonna go well the rest of the day.

Napping with your baby in your arms is so peaceful. It goes beyond the natural rest that one feels physically and mentally. Naps like this allow your heart and soul to rest. I think it is the dynamic that you know where your child is and that you have a little bit of peace that your precious baby is in your arms resting. 

It's not often I have the opportunity to nap like this so when I do I count it pure joy. I'm not sure who is more rested Daddy or Baby. I'm looking forward to this rare occasion again. 

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

If you play lion or tiger with baby make sure you know where their hands are when you play bite. Their little fingers aren't very tasty specially when they are crying out in pain.