March 2008

It's been an interesting few weeks with emotions running high and low. Outside the everyday business and busyness, my father was recently diagnosed with some news. He had some lumps in his neck and had a needle biopsy and was diagnosed with lymphoma.

Now I've learned there are many different kinds of lymphoma, which I won't get into. I'll simply say that there are some which may greatly affect his life and some which he could live simbiotically with. As we waited to hear the identification of what type it was, I was very impresssed to see how my father and my family was handling the news.

My father's attitude was one of calmness and philisophy. He didn't deny, get angry or get depressed...he started writing emails to the family about his thoughts. While we were anxiously awaiting the results of his subsequent node removal/biopsy, this was a great way to share our thoughts and feelings as well and come to grips with whatever was coming.

The test results were shocking and totally unexpected...

Negative. Inconclusive. And not lymphoma. Wow. Sigh. Exhale. It was wonderful and paralyzing at the same time.

Dad is still getting some test and has since had a bone biopsy, but the Dr.'s can't find a conclusive diagnosis. Despite not know what is going on, we're all enjoying our time together with our father while he is still active and healthy.

Mom and Dad still come over a few times a week and help us out often with Evann. Most recently, Evann has taken to helping hal-ah-bo-gee (grandfather) in the garden. It's so great.

Let us remember to enjoy every moment with our loved ones. Every moment is precious. I have been trying to reconnect and reach out to all those who have been important to me in my life.

Happy New Year 2008!

New Year's day is a very special day in Korean culture, it's a time to be with your family (extended) and pay respect to your elders of the family by bowing. After bowing, you receive advice and well wishes. Though who are unmarried get an additional gift of some money to show hope for prosperity in New Year. Following that the family eats, eats, and eats! Traditionally, Koreans have dumpling soup with rice cakes, it's a meal I look forward to all year!

Being married and with a child, I now don my "Han-bok" (traditional Korean outfit) as well. I'm still not sure why I have a pink...I mean "salmon" coloured outfit. Whatever...I don't think I could impress many in my MC Hammer outfit anyhow...well, not anyone other than MC Hammer.

I hope nothing but the best wishes to everyone to have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008!

Here are some pictures of the next generation of our family, the boys and the girls. I remember when they were all Evann's age, now they're teenagers!!! Time is truly precious. I must remember to value and cherish every day.

2nd Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

What a difference a year can make (especially when it doubles your life)! This year's Christmas has been so much fun with Evann, I can only imagine that Christmases will only get better and better. Christmas is truly a time for children (young like Evann and old like me)!

As usual, Evann was inundated with gifts from friends and family. This year was a little different because Evann was a much more willing and active participant. As you can see from his excellent arm action, he was a very good unwrapper (not much for saving the paper though).

As usual, thank you to all our friends and family for their incredible generousity. It was nice this year because instead of the obligatory crappy gift to one another, our family donated money to charity. At work, we had some great charity events as well donating to the Empty Stocking Fund and Canucks Place. The hard part is to think of the less fortunate only during Christmas time, I must try to be more diligent to be giving throughout the year.

Newest Canucks fan at his first Canucks game!

Today was a special day, not only as a father, but also as a Canucks fan. Evann went to his first Canucks game (and his first trip on the Skytrain)!

Despite the disappointing result (4-2 loss to the lowly LA Kings), it was a really great time. I was surprised for a number of reasons:

1) I was first surprised by Evann's focus on the game. He didn't squiggle or complain while the game was on. He sat, ate popcorn and watched the game.

2) I was shocked that a toddler's (2T-4T) Canucks jersey was $50!!! I can only say that this jersey better still fit when Evann is 4T!

3) Even the burliest, toughest looking people turn into big teddy bears when they see a cute little kid.

When the Canucks scored, I was really worried that Evann would freak out because it gets pretty loud (he doesn't even like it when mom and I cheer when watching at home). But once again, I was suprised by his calmness. Of course, being a good Canucks fan, he was high-fiving everyone around.

I lifted him by his legs and everyone in a 5 person radius wanted to high-five him. It was pretty funny.

I'm looking forward to a life-long love of the Canucks with Evann. I can't wait.

Newest addition to the family!

We recently did the smartest thing in a long time. We hired a nanny and not just any nanny, but the best nanny in the world. She's everything that we could have hoped for and more. I think that Mommy L and I can both agree that she has already significantly changed our lives for the better.

As working parents, it's tough to find proper child care. Of course, not having a child before, it's impossible to forecast the significance of this. Okay, maybe not impossible, but impossible for my limited mental boundaries. ;)

The Foreign Domestic Workers Program is one of the great programs the Canadian government sponsors. Basically, it allows for foreign domestic workers to come to Canada to work and eventually obtain legal landed residency status (after 2 years of continual work).

Although it's a LOT of paperwork and waiting, it's well worth the work and wait. Many people have concerns about having someone who is not supervised watched their children, but I have none (thus far). Evann and the Nanny have hit it off right away and for me, children are a great gauge on character.

Day at the Waterpark

It was a beautiful BC Day long weekend so we (Mommy L and I) decided to take Evann down to the water park on Granville Island. There's something about kids and water. Evann absolutely loves it!

Evann absolutely loves the water. He had a lot of fun with a hose (no symbolism) connected fire hydrant. It would go on and off intermittently which Evann couldn't quite figure out which resulted in him being inadvertently soaked a couple of times. The funniest moment is when the hose came on when he didn't realized it and I took a collection of pictures with the stream of water proceeding to engulf him. The cutest shot was when he looked over while I was howling with laughter. He hardly looks impressed.

Since we were married just over 2 years ago on Granville Island, we decided to take Evann down to "the Island" for a trip down memory lane. After we changed him, we walked around the Island to all the spots we took pictures and reminisced. This time around, it was much better with Evann around.

One Year Old!!!

Evann is one year old and had a big party to celebrate! In Korean culture, the first birthday("dol") is very important. In fact, the first birthday is probably the biggest celebration next to the 60th birthday ("haang-gap").

Historically, due to a lack of medical information, Korea's seasonal temperature differences, and many childhood related diseases, the death rate for children was extremely high. Many children died before their first birthday. After the age of one year, the survival rate steeply increased, making this milestone a very happy one for the child's parents. In modern times, due to the improvements in medicine, the influence of Western culture, and modern industrialization, the Shamanistic reasons for the Tol celebration have been reduced. However, the event is still celebrated as a time of congratulations for the parents and family.

Evann wore the traditional Korean outfit ("han-bok" - literal translation is "Korean dress") and was so great for the entire day. It was a LONG day since we started off at church then to his party. He fell asleep on the way to the party which probably helped his mood.

Evann was placed at a table to perform the "tol-ja-bee" event. In this event, Evann picks up items that attract him and his future is predicted according to the what he grabs. The first and second items the child grabs are considered the most important. Evann's future is predicted according to the items: bundle of thread (long life); book or pencil (successful scholar); $100 or money (rich); scissors (talented with his hands); and paint brush (artist). Evann chose the book followed by paint brush. There's also knife (good cook), but I didn't want to risk an accident. No matter how hard I tried, he wouldn't take the money. Looks like Freedom 55 is out for me.

Of course, we had lots of food and as usual, Evann was showered with wonderful gifts from our incredibly generous friends and family. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness. I feel that Evann (as well as Mommy L and I) are truly blessed to have such an incredible support network.

Peace and blessings to all of you!