Burned Out

School work is done... more free time... but since I haven't been blogging for a while I'm a bit lost at what to write about...

Adriel has been learning how to write numbers in school. The curriculum only goes up to the number 5. So he's a master at counting up to 5. Now he's learning to write the numbers. He's also learning how to recognize letter sounds in Bahasa Indonesia. I had taught him the sounds earlier using English so it was quite surprising when his teacher commented that he was doing well with the Bahasa Indonesia vowels.

Frank is busy at work. His major-major project has been successful, but he's spent the ENTIRE weekend at the office. Hope everything is smooth sailing from here on...

And that is our life at a glance. I've been back into the digi-scrapping mood lately, so I'll upload pictures soon...

Night Cough

I've really had a sleep-depriving cough for the past few days. I went to see the doctor before that and the medicine she prescribed....errrmmmm.... let me say this nicely. IS NOT WORKING.

I would like to give her credit for her what? Four years in med school, and I'm not sure how many hours of practice she has had already... but she DID NOT convince me of being a good doctor.

First, she needs to brush up on her bedside manner. I went up on the bed to be checked and she took my blood pressure. "Hmmm... is your blood pressure normally this low?" What? What? "Oh, it's 110 over 80" Then I answered, "Yes that sounds right." Whew... I breathed a sigh of relief. That isn't low... that maybe on the lower threshold, but that's still NORMAL. Or at least, in my layman knowledge I believe it is normal. Then she put her stethoscope on me and barely checked my breathing. I think I breathed deeply about.... TWICE before she pushed my tummy a bit (twice also I think, it might be her magic number) to say, "This doesn't hurt right?" "Open your mouth... " I was stilll laying down.... "No redness..." Then while I was still trying to recover from this speedster she whipped away and sat right back down... "No temperature right??" she called from her computer, tapping away... "No" I replied, while the nurse was still peeking at the thermometer in my armpit trying to decide if enough time has been given.... the nurse then pulled out the thermometer while I got up and patted my hair down. Oh wait... I was only laying down for barely 3 minutes so it should still be perfect... Okay, so not perfect but exactly as it was before.

Second, I was not happy with the way she diagnosed my symptoms. I explained to her my situation, how I had a cough before went there to get medicine, but it seems the cough is still there. Before I had yellow yuck coming out in the morning but now it's more of a dry cough that won't stop once I get started. But it's still itchy... The doctors at this particular hospital have an online medical record keeping system. That lets them record their notes electronically. Okay, good idea.. a more paperless and environmentally concious hospital... go green.... But that means they're typing away while talking to the patient. Looking more at the screen than the patient. It's a very impersonal feeling, maybe the doctors need to be trained a bit more on this... but this is not the disturbing part... She was having a hard time opening my previous file. She kept clicking and clicking but it wouldn't open. So she didn't know what was prescribed to be before. I told her as best as I could remember... but she wanted the specific name of the antibiotic which I couldn't recall... Then she started to tell me that she wanted to prescribe more antibiotic. I smiled in and asked her politely, "Antibiotics again? What for?" And her reply was another question for me "So how do you feel? Are you feeling better?" So I repeated my previous explanation, "yes, previously I felt bla-bla-bla.... but now I just have this very itchy cough and... bla-bla-bla" So she asked me again, "Well then just cough medicine?".... this is where my doubt began to become bigger and bigger because wait, the doctor is asking ME?.... "Errmm... yes?" I replied... Then she tried to sound doctorly as she said "Okay, well in a week I want you to come back if you still have the cough and you should get more antibiotics..." I nodded obidiently... "Oh!" she turned to me.."Do you want vitamins?" "Sure" I said... and started to ask me again, "Vitamin C?" Urghhh!! Why are you asking me? I thought... aren't you the doctor?? So she went tap-tap-tap on her keyboard again...

I walked out of her office feeling a bit disappointed with the meeting although wanting to give her the benefit of the doubt because I wanted to know what kind of medicine she had prescribed to me.

After paying I picked up the medicine and thought? See you again in a week? The medicine is enough only for about 4 days... this better be good...

And since that day, the cough has NOT gotten better, the medicine is helping I'll admit, to bring out all the things that didn't come out before but the coughing at night has not stopped and Frank is mad at me because he believes I am not getting the right treatment. He wants me to see another doctor or medicate myself with OTC meds. The cough didn't let me sleep but although I was choking and half dying... the boys slept soundly beside me... including the grumbling Frank.

Term break: came and went

Last week was our term break and Frank took the whole week off. We were mostly vegging at home. It was wonderful while it lasted but this week I'm back at work although you couldn't really say I'm 100% here because I'm SO SLEEPY!!

We had a day trip to Bogor on Thursday and Frank did some bureaucratic rounds on Wednesday. That was the highlight of the week. The rest.... just sleeping in, staying up and chillin at our favorite hangouts....

"That's how we did it before"

Paving a new road is always more difficult. If a path is there already, all we need to do is follow it. It may not always be the shortest way, but it is the easiest way.

Last year was hard work for me. Setting new roads in my new workplace, getting people to change their mindsets. Meeting obstacles and roadblocks.

But now, once we've done it before, all I have to say is "this is how we did it last year" and everyone agrees and follows along. hmmm.... not good, but useful.

Buried Under

This is me right now.



When I climb my way outta there I'll let you know. :)

To The Ends Of The Earth Lyrics

by Hillsong

love unfailing
overtaking my heart
you take me in,
finding peace again.
fear is lost in all you are.
and I would give the world
to tell your story.
'cause I know that you've called me.
I know that you've called me...
I've lost myself for good
within your promise.
and I wont hide it... I wont hide it
Jesus,I believe in you
and I would go,
to the ends of the earth
to the ends of the earth
for you, alone are the son of God...
and all the world will see
that you are God...
that you are God...

Just be thankful

When those things in your life seem to pile up...
When certain people just know how to push all your buttons...
When your body squeaks and aches...
When deadlines come and go and you still aren't done...
When responsibilities keep getting piled on your shoulders...
When your head throbs and your shoulders ache...
And you just don't know about tomorrow...

Just count all the goodness in your life.
The blessings.
The air you breathe.
The smiles you see.
The sunshine through the fog.
The wind through the trees.
The friendships that you have. Old and New.
The family that loves you unconditionally.
The comfort your small boy feels to be in your arms.
The listening ear of your dearest.
The eagerness of your students to learn.
The hard work and purpose in your colleagues.
The salvation you have in eternal life.
The sacrifice made on the cross.

You just look around.
Take it all in. Give it all up. Lift it up to Him.
Then it all melts away.

And I'm back.
Renewed. Strengthened. Content.

"Surat... kalo orangnya jauh..."

This month's theme is communication in Adriel's class. Whenever he comes home and is in the talking mood he'll tell me what happened in school. He will tell me about the telephone, letters, newspapers, TV and so on...

Yesterday I was on the floor doing something when he ran up to me, stuck his face into mine and hands behind his back he whispered to me. "Shh... keep a secret... be quiet... Adriel has a...... SURPRISE." And he whipped out an envelope and showed it to me.

It was addressed to Mama and Papa. So I said thanks and opened it.



The very first letter from my son!! I was so happy and so was he.

"Maybe she doesn't have any"

It was "America's got talent." The magician from Las Vegas was coming up, going to do his tricks so of course he has his show girls all lined up to assist him. So Adriel and I had this exchange:

Adriel: "Mommy, why isn't the lady wearing any clothes? Why is she bugil (naked)?"
If it was a swimsuit or underwear I'd say so, but in this case?? So I answer offhandedly.
Me: "Hmmm.... I dunno honey."
Adriel: "Mmmmm... maybe she doesn't have any."

Hahahaha... I was cracking up I couldn't say anything else.

Apple Pie Version Two

Yesterday I made my second apple pie. I've been wanting to try out the crust weaving thing since I saw how it was done on the Asian Food Channel. Adriel and I both love that channel by the way.

So... voila...