Sick and Stir Crazy

The 4 day holiday weekend was a bust as the girls were sick throughout the holidays. We thought the girls were recovering because they had picked up a cold the Sunday before and by mid-week they seemed better. We spent Thanksgiving quietly at home where daddy made an excellent dinner of turkey breast from Costco that was marinated, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and last but not least some pumpkin pie. The girls were not keen on the pumpkin pie, but Sophie did enjoy the turkey and mashed potatoes. Hannah my little carb baby only ate the mashed potatoes. Both girls didn't enjoy the pumpkin pie!!!

On Black Friday the girls were still coughing away, so we decided to take it easy but I knew they were a bit stir crazy so we took them to a deserted park up in the hills... Apparently other parents thought the same thing and they took their sick kids to that park, so mommy quickly packed us up and left the park because she didn't want us picking up anything else.

By Saturday Hannah took the turn for the worse and developed a fever. We had to skip out on a friend's get together Thanksgiving party and hoped that by resting that day Hannah would feel better. The afternoon looked promising and I can't remember what we did, but we did not venture out. Hannah's fever went away and we thought she was on her way to recovery.

Sunday Hannah's fever returns and mommy starts to freak out and starts doing research online before rushing Hann off to the ER. Mommy eventually gathers her cool and decides to wait it out until Monday. During the afternoon Hannah bounces back with no fever and we get some fresh air (because by day 4 the girls are super stir crazy) with some lunch out and grab some fruits and veggies from a quick run to a farmer's market.

Monday Hannah's fever becomes really high, so we take her to the doc where he confirms that she does not have H1N1 and that it's a cold that worked it's way up to an ear infection. Some antibiotics later, we are monitoring her. Two days of monitoring and it's all just the doc's theory! The doc tells us if she doesn't get better in two days Miss Hann will have go to back in. Sophie in the meantime is super stir crazy (and pretty much recovered except for that lingering cough) and tomorrow will probably go to daycare.

Daddy stayed home with the girls today as he caught the twins' cold. Tomorrow mommy will stay home with Hann Hann and make sure she rests well while Sophie goes to daycare and burns some of that energy out.

By Doctor's scale the girls weigh:

Sophie - 28.5 lbs
Hannah - 24.25 lbs

My poor Hannah eating some organic fruit cup for dessert.

Sophie scarfs on some chocolate pudding.

Emi gets a treat too.

Sophie and Hannah's new playground is hiding behind the pillows on the couch since they can't go outside and play.

In action on the new playground.

The Aftermath

After spending almost 2 weeks of sleeping in the bed with mommy and daddy it was a hard adjustment for Sophie to go back to sleeping in her own bed. We are still dealing with both girls transitioning back to sleeping on their own beds. Separation anxiety :(

Also Sophie can climb out of her crib and open the door. Hannah is trying and can get half way over the railing...time to convert the cribs to beds :(

Sophie and Hannah both grew on this trip. Sophie moved up a shoe size to a 6 - 6 1/2 and Hannah moved up to a 5. Both girls got taller too!

Another thing is that on this trip they both picked up a lot of English and can now communicate more with us.

Sophie and Hannah's favorite book at the moment is "Goodnight Moon" and they love the Diamond Head animal cracker cookies that Nana got them hooked on.

That's all for updates...

Aloha Oi

Mommy and Sophie, Auntie Stacie and Hannah.

On our last day on the island we spent the morning packing and prepping for our trip home. After arriving at the airport we were told our plane was not coming and there was a delay. After stressing out and having the girls restless we were told Hawaiian Air found a replacement plane and we were on our way back home (just a little off schedule).

Everyone asks me the same question "How were the girls on the plane?". Both ways going and coming home were very difficult, the girls do not sleep and cannot sit still. We will definitely have to come up with better toys, books, whatever the next time we take a long plane ride. :P

Last full day on the island

On Monday we ate lunch with Grandpa Kage and Nana to say good-bye as we were not going back into town on the day we departed. We headed to Waioli tea room (where mommy and grandpa Kage have never ever ate before and the restaurant is in Manoa!!!).

Nana watches as the rest of us walk into Waioli tea room in Manoa.

We had the chance to visit with our dear friend Janine out in Palolo Valley. Janine gave Sophie a beautiful hibiscus and the girls were again fascinated with her fish in her pond.

Here we take a group pic in front of her house.

They love those fish!

Soph and Hann explore Janine's huge yard.

Bothering Uncle Chris at work. The girls say good-bye.

The girls say good-bye to Uncle Jay at his work.

We stopped by briefly to visit with Uncle Ryan and Uncle Greg.
Daddy with Hannah, Uncle Greg with Sophie, and Uncle Ryan at Uncle Ryan's parents house in Pearl City.

Sophie rocks out in a chair made just for her at Waioli tea room.

Playing with Grandpa Kage at Janine's house. They really like all the flowers.

Sophie is a future rockstar.

Thank you to all our friends and family that made the trip back home so memorable! We are sorry that we didn't get to see some of our friends and family. Travelling with little ones is a little challenging and as the girls get older their schedules will be more flexible. Take care and hopefully we'll see you all soon.

Sunday marathon

The night before we stopped by to wish Kevin a happy birthday. The guys posed here with a missing Gareth, but not to fear we had his pic in so he wouldn't be missing. Kevin kissing his bro's pic, Derek, and Calvin.

Sunday lunch was at Helemano plantation (Dole) with Derek's side of the family. Hannah and Sophie have their first ice-cream cone. Here Hannah is so happy!

Hannah happily eating a chocolate ice-cream cone.

Took a while for the girls to actually eat the cone itself, but after a while they figured it out and ate the whole thing and wanted more. Sophie in action :)

Julius as a pineapple tourist.

My Sophie pineapple.

My Hannah pineapple.

Mommy pineapple.

Grandpa Sakai, Daddy and Hannah, Grandma Sakai, Julius, Auntie Joy and Sophie.

Grandpa and Grandma Sakai with the grandchildren.

Uncle Kip takes a pic from the front while daddy takes a pic of the back of Sophie, Hannah, and Julius.

Sophie and Hannah run to daddy at Moanaloa park.

A nice lady gave fish food to the girls and a little boy (the girls made friends with).

The girls have a deep affection for sea life and love fish!!! I don't know where they get it, but after watching them in action I will definitely need to take them to the Monterrey bay aquarium and the Academy of Sciences in SF.

Hann and Soph run and chase the birds under the beautiful trees at Moanaloa park.

We ate dinner later that night with my side of the family at Tanaka of Tokyo at Ala Moana. The food was sooooooo good and the entertaining chef was not bad too. Here he took pics around the table. Jayden, Uncle Chris, and Nana Kage.

Sophie, mommy and Hannah get their pic taken by the chef.

Grandpa Kage, Daddy, Sophie, and Mommy's turn.

The chef does the onion volcano.

Sophie enjoys her miso soup.

Hannah and Jayden are mesmorized by the chef's show.

Hann and Soph were not afraid of heights, but mommy was so she was on nerves while the girls were looking over the ledge at Ala Moana. That night people were yelling at the near-by patio bar as there was a huge football game on.

At the Anime store the girls find Ni Hao Kai Lan stuffed animals. Mommy let them play with it, but didn't let them buy it. Too much things to pack and too much stuff animals.

Jayden and Hann by the koi pond in Ala Moana after dinner.

Sophie really took a liking to cousin Jayden. They both had so much fun together even though in this pic Soph doesn't look too happy.

Jayden, Uncle Chris with Hannah, Mommy with Sophie, Grandpa Kage, and Nana Kage.

Running around chasing the birds at Moanaloa park.

Feeding the fishes with a new friend.

Watching the teppanyaki chef at work.

Mommy's Cousins

We didn't take much pics on Saturday and I'm not sure why, but we did go to Costco earlier in the morning and then ate some Fat Boy plate lunches in Waipio. Later we met up with mommy's cousins Sindy and Troy. Mommy misses her extended family dearly and really was glad to see Auntie Sindy and Uncle Troy.

Daddy's plate lunch from Fat Boy's in Waipio.

Cousin Trevin plays with the girls by pushing them around in the laundry basket.

Uncle Troy watches on as the kids play.

Cousins, fish, and Magic Island

This was a Friday and it was the island's school furlough day which meant that the girls could hang out with their cousins. Earlier in the morning and day we had a visit from Derek's Aunties, Uncles and cousins. Auntie Joy came by also with cousin Julius and the girls had such fun playing with everyone.

Cousin Carina gets persuaded by Sophie to go into the play cardboard house that Grandpa Sakai made for the girls.

Too cute as the girls peek out from the window of the playhouse.

Fishes! Grandma and Grandpa Sakai have a fishpond in the yard. The girls have a great fascination with fishes and the sea.

Here Sophie shares fish food with cousin Julius. Sophie and Hannah loved feeding the fish!

Later in the afternoon we picked up Nana Kage and went to Magic Island to go to the beach. Later we briefly met up with Uncle Chris, cousin Jayden, and Aunty Robyn. Ended the night eating at Big City diner which had some ono food.

The girls have so much fun running towards the beach. Mommy and Daddy really took in the scenery and really missed the beauty of the island.

Hannah runs across the park to the car. You can see Ala Moana park beach in the background.

Sophie running around the park.

They both love the sand so much.

The sun is going down and the girls didn't want to go home.

Mommy and Nana sit on the bench.

The sun was setting and it was time to go to dinner. Besides seeing a crazy woman half exposed, interesting people walking/exercising in the park, and a man that got knocked in the head with his own surfboard that the lifeguard saved, I'd say that it was quite an interesting day at the beach!