Category Archives: Family

Blog posts about family members (e.g., wife, kids, pets), family events (e.g., holidays), or family matters.

Swim Classes

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Right now I’m a few weeks into a beginners adult swim class. I never had formal lessons as a kid and that seems to be common with other Asians. I have always wanted to learn how to swim but was too embarrassed to ask for help. It doesn’t help as you get older because it feels like everyone else knows how to swim but you. Well I’m glad that I’m finally manning up and taking some classes. I will learn how to swim!

Daniel completed a course a few months ago too. He was in an 8-week introductory parent-child swim class and it was fun that I was the parent. We mostly worked on getting the kids more comfortable with being in the water.

Daniel’s last class was on Saturday, November 17, 2012. The class was memorable because there were only 3 kids, including Daniel. Normally there are at least half a dozen kids and their respective parents. Daniel was apprehensive of getting into the water at first because it was unusual to see so few people in the pool. Additionally Shannon, the course’s instructor, was really pregnant and was instructing from poolside instead of in the water.

Once Daniel got in the water though, he was a completely different kid. He loved being tossed up in the air while we sang the words, “The kids on the bus go up and down”. He really loved it when Shannon blew bubbles from the edge of the pool. He let me hold him by his chest and waist as he kicked toward the bubbles so he could pop them. It was really cute seeing how much fun he had.

The swim course was relatively expensive but I’m glad we bought them for Daniel. I’ve always hated that I didn’t know how to swim and I don’t want my kids to grow up with the same insecurities. Daniel has a bit of a reserved personality but I was so proud of how comfortable he became in the water as the weeks went on.

Halloween 2012

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As Christians, Halloween can be a tricky (no pun intended of course) thing. You certainly wouldn’t want to draw attention to things like devil or revealing costumes or Satanic worship. For most people with ourselves included, Halloween still is a fun time meant for kids to dress up as their favorite superheroes or Disney princesses and get some candy. I think other Christian families can choose to handle Halloween however they feel led to do so and I fully respect other families if they choose to abstain.

For this past Halloween, I rushed home from work and got home at around 6:30 PM. Daniel was wearing a Thomas the Tank Engine costume which was simply an overhead shawl. I brought him outside to go trick-or-treating. We visited our neighbors’ houses first. Then we went up and down several streets. Most of the people handing out candy thought it was cute when Daniel gently whispered “Trick or treat” or “Thank you”.

On our walk back to the house, I saw my mom and dad holding Matthew who was wearing his Mickey Mouse costume. I guess my parents decided to stop by while Daniel and I were out and to take Matthew trick-or-treating as well.

When we got back home, I spent the rest of the night handing out some candy. I was very pleased that most of the kids this year were very polite unlike last year where some kids were very pushy and demanding. I always make a point to give extra candy to the super polite children. For the rude ones…well all they got was a single roll of Smarties.

The C-Word

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In late September I received a phone call from my mother’s doctor’s office while I was at work. A recent biopsy of the lump found in my mom’s breast tested positive and that she has ductal carcinoma in situ. It hit me like a ton of bricks. My mom has cancer.

You don’t really hear about Asian people having cancer. Maybe it’s something unique about our diet and/or genetics but incident rates are lower than other races (Source: CDC). But I know we’re not immune from it. And many Asian parents may have cancer and purposely hide those details to spare scaring their kids.

The phone call triggered an avalanche of events. I booked an appointment with a breast cancer specialist for my mom and made sure I could be there to translate. The doctor reassured me that my mom’s diagnosis was the most common form of breast cancer and is considered only a “Stage 0″ cancer meaning it has the lowest risk level.

My mom had surgery on October 5th, 2012 to remove the lump and some surrounding tissue to make sure all of the dangerous cells were removed. A pathologist examined the removed tissue and additional cancer cells were found outside of a membrane. It was now upgraded to a “Stage 1″ cancer. This diagnosis required there be at least 2 cm margins of healthy tissue removed around the original site instead of just 1 cm. Unfortunately a post-op survey revealed that one edge only had a margin of 1.75 cm. My mom had a 2nd surgery on October 17th to clean up that edge and to also move a lymph node to check that the cancer had not spread there.

It has been several months since my mom’s procedures and everything seems under control at the moment. My mom is taking estrogen suppressants and undergoing regular radiation treatments to prevent a recurrence.

Cancer is an incredibly scary word. There is no real “cure”. All you can do is remove the bad cells, try to kill off the remaining ones, and hope that it doesn’t return any time soon. The scary part is not knowing when it may return. The selfish part of me doesn’t want to lose my mom and certainly not in this way. You can’t live day-to-day worrying about what may happen tomorrow. Right now my mom is healthy and for that I’m thankful.

Grandfather’s Fall

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I was at work when I got the news. “(Grandpa) fell in his room last night and was taken to the hospital” was what my mom told me over the phone. I received this call on October 10th, 2012. My mind raced. My grandfather had always been strong and active but less so recently. When asked how he was doing each week he used to always say “good” but lately just “okay”. I always feared a day like this would happen and he is 90-years-old after all.

After work I went to the hospital where he was taken overnight. The receptionist did not know where he was. What?! How do you LOSE track of a patient? She made some phone calls and eventually learned that he was transferred to Lowell General Hospital (LGH) about a half hour prior to my arrival. Whew.

I drove across town to LGH and went up to my grandfather’s room. I found out from his charts that he broke his left femur. Ouch. I was told that he would require surgery followed by about 8 to 9 months of recovery.

My grandfather was awake but in obvious pain. He could not sleep through it. I asked what happened and he told me that he fell in his room after getting a late night snack. He tried yelling for help and banging on the floor for about a half hour but no one came to investigate the noise. That’s a scary thought that there were people at home and he still couldn’t get help right away.

My grandfather had surgery the following day and was transported to a nearby rehab facility for several weeks. After a week or two there, the nurses told me that he was doing great. They said he could walk around and climb stairs and could return home soon. My grandfather seemed more pessimistic about his progress. I think he was just scared of attempting these same activities on his own and not within a controlled environment.

Fast forward to today and my grandfather is back at home. He can get around on his own with the aid of a quad cane walker. It’s great seeing him walk to the kitchen and bathroom on his own. I’ve set up a baby audio monitor in his room and now my parents can hear if he ever needs help. He says that his leg still hurts but that’s expected. I’m just grateful to have him back with us.

Jam Time

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We always feel bad when Matthew is too young to join in an activity. He missed the family camping trip in the summer. He couldn’t come along when Tary brought Daniel apple picking earlier in the Fall. We wanted to do something specifically for Matthew this time so we all went to an indoor playground called Jam Time in Maynard, MA (October 6th, 2012).

This place ended up being just right for Matthew. There was a section for kids 2-years-old and under where he could play. He LOVED crawling back and forth through a padded tunnel. He also enjoyed crawling over the padded mats and playing with the foam blocks. The area also had a jumper toy that was similar to one we had at home.

Matthew also ventured outside of the little kids area and played around Daniel by some tables. He also liked playing alongside an 18-month-old girl with some magnetic letters.

Matthew Tasting some Foam Blocks

Matthew Crawling Over Padded Mats

Daniel was content playing mostly by himself on a low table with some Thomas the Engine trains. There were some climbing structures and slides but they were a little too advanced for Daniel to use. He did enjoy scooting along on some riding toys instead.

Daniel playing with Thomas the Engine Trains

The place closed early at 1:30 PM because there was a birthday party going on and the playground is shared when those kids finished their lunches.

Overall we really enjoyed ourselves at Jam Time. The place was affordable at only $10 for both kids. There were lots of toys for both of our kids to play with. I liked that this place had an area specifically for younger kids like Matthew and I’m glad that he had lots of fun there.

 

Family Camping 2012

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Back in August Tary, Daniel and I went with some of our cousins on our first family trip in the White Mountains of NH. We stayed at a very family-friendly campground called Green Meadow Campground from August 17th to the 19th. We had a great time!

As with most trips, Tary and I stayed up really late packing the night before. I barely snuck 2 hours of sleep in and Tary didn’t sleep at all. It felt like forever to gather the supplies and transfer them to the car. We really need to get better at not procrastinating when it comes to packing.

I dropped off Matthew with my parents and picked up my cousin Joe in the process. I went back to my house to pick up Tary and Daniel and finish loading the car. The trunk was filled to the brim and I had trouble seeing over the top of everything. We were now on our way!

Nearly 3 hours into the drive Daniel threw up some of his breakfast as we got close to the White Mountains. He was coming off of a bad cold and I was concerned that he would be too sick to enjoy Story Land and the rest of the camping trip. We stopped at the Saco Ranger Station to clean Daniel up and take a quick break.

We got back on the road and found Story Land without incident. Once we got in I was very impressed at how kid-friendly the park was. There were lots of open areas, shaded places to sit, food stands, stroller parking, and bathrooms. I also liked how the park was not overly crowded.

First we rode the train around the park. Daniel was visibly more enthusiastic about this train ride than he was while riding Thomas at Edaville USA. The train circled the entire park. It was very cute when Daniel pumped his arm in the air and shouted, “Choo! Choo!”

Next we went on an Antique Cars ride. Daniel got to steer while Tary kept her foot on the gas pedal. Joe and I tagged along in the backseat. The car followed a guided track and auto-corrected when the car veered too far off center. Daniel was easily distracted by the fake animals which lined the track.

We then went on a Water Raft ride where you sit in a circular raft around a windy pathway. I knew Daniel doesn’t like to get wet but sometimes it’s good to be exposed to new things. He was a little tentative during the ride but he sat through most of it pretty well. A geyser splash startled him and he started to cry. Good thing the ride was over and held him to console him. He was not a happy camper after getting wet.

After a quick lunch, we continued walking around the park. We saw some live animals that were meant to represent the animals from popular nursery rhymes such as the Three Little Pigs, Goosey Goosey Gander, and Peter Rabbit. We then tried to take a picture of Daniel with the Cat in the Hat but like green eggs and ham, he did not like it.

We rode the train around the park one last time because it was Daniel’s favorite ride. I had to practically peel Daniel out of the train. It was getting late in the afternoon and the other cousins were due to arrive at the campground so we left for the campground to get the campsite and dinner ready for them.

We checked in and drove to our two adjacent campsites. Joe helped me set up the 3 tents while Tary started cooking dinner. Tary talked with the other cousins on the phone and they said they were close. However 4 hours later the cousins still had not arrived. I grew weary of waiting so Joe and I went and bought some firewood. Then we got changed and took Daniel and went swimming in the pool. It started to get dark as the other cousins finally pulled into the campground. They were lost because they ignored my directions and came from some other highway. I was annoyed that they basically wasted the first day driving in circles when they had multiple people in the car with smart phones and GPS. Ultimately I was glad they finally found the way and we were together.

We all went back to the campsites to eat dinner. Some of the other cousins had already eaten because they stopped to eat at a local KFC because they were on the road for so long. After dinner a few of us went back into the pool for a quick swim.

Later that night we gathered around a fire and made s’mores. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and have fun. I was pleasantly surprised at how much Daniel liked eating his.

The next morning we ate a pretty big breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, and bacon. It took a long time to cook everything. After breakfast we hopped in our cars and drove to see Arethusa Falls, the tallest waterfall in New England. We got to the parking area and a sign read that it was an hour’s hike to the waterfall. I was confused because I could have sworn it was only a half mile from the parking lot when I backpacked here last year. We drove back and forth along the highway for about 15 minutes pulling into random roads hoping I’d recognize the parking area that I used before. I was embarrassed that I had to admit that I could not find it and we had to turn back. It was only after the trip that I realized that I was thinking of Ripley Falls which was only a few minutes further down the road. I should have double-checked these facts before our trip.

We made it back to camp and we all went for a swim in the pool. We had the entire pool to ourselves and it was so much fun playing Marco Polo. I tried to learn how to swim a little bit more. After swimming we played some basketball, tossed a Frisbee, and played some beach volleyball in the sand pit. Seeing how happy everyone was made planning and organizing this trip entirely worth it for me.

It felt good to freshen up with a quick shower. The cousins played what looked to be a very competitive game of Uno. It was really late before we started cooking dinner. I cooked steaks over the campfire while Tary cooked burgers and hot dogs on the camp stove. It was a lot of fun to make s’mores again that night.

I spent most of the following morning packing things up while breakfast was being cooked. Breaking down and packing always takes forever and it’s my least favorite part of camping.  I had to hurry so we could be ready to check out on time. I finally finished packing and was able to quickly eat what was left of the food. Whew…

I really enjoyed our first family camping trip. I was really proud of Daniel and how well he behaved throughout the trip. I loved seeing how much he enjoyed riding the train at Story Land. Matthew will love this next year! It was great spending quality time with the family and seeing how happy everyone was together. I hope everyone else enjoyed themselves as much as I did and I can’t wait to do this again next summer!

 

Happy 3rd Anniversary

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Back on July 11th, Tary and I took the day off to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful sunny day and I’m glad we got to spend the bulk of it focusing on just the two of us.

After dropping off the boys at daycare, we started our day together at the Pheasant Lane Mall to buy some new shoes for Daniel. Running errands isn’t exactly what you’d like to do while celebrating an anniversary but sometimes being a parent requires squeezing in required tasks. The other consolation is that we did it together. There was a new crepes store in the food court that I wanted to try but they weren’t going to be ready soon so I settled for a pretzel dog and Tary bought nuggets from Chick-fil-A.

We then headed to the new Merrimack Premium Outlets. We were surprised at how quickly we arrived. It’s certainly a lot closer than the Wrentham Outlets and it’s tax free!!! I liked that there was plenty of parking. I also liked how the plaza was a big circle with stores on each side of us. I liked the open roof design which let light and fresh air in while providing some additional shade. It was a little confusing that there were no designated stores for kids or babies (e.g., Baby Gap, Baby Polo, etc.) but we quickly figured out that they were located in subsections of their parent stores. We will definitely come back here when looking for a bargain.

Next we drove for about an hour to Brown’s for lunch. I ordered a quart of steamers for $13. I’ve never really eaten steamers before but it was really fun to eat. First you rip off the “beard”, dip the body in cup of water that was used in steaming the steamers, and then you drown it in the clarified butter. Mmm!

Tary ordered a plate of fried clams and scallops with a side of fries and coleslaw. She also added an order of crab cakes and more fried scallops for us to share. The fried scallops was delicious but it’s weird how there’s something about them that always makes me feel full.

After lunch we headed to Hampton Beach. Being that it was a weekday, it was fairly easy to find a metered parking spot along the main strip. I sat on the beach while Tary enjoyed a dip in the water. I didn’t really want to get wet because we had to pick up the boys later in the afternoon and I didn’t want to go home to shower first.

We then walked along the water hand-in-hand. It was a really warm day and it felt good to get my feet wet. There were lots of other people playing in and around the water as well.

One thing that stood out was how much the area has been updated. The new facilities are clean and modern. I liked how the parking area takes credit cards. Who carries change anymore? I also liked the new posted signs that help guide you back onto the highway.

We walked along the strip enjoying the sights, sounds, and people. Tary was really happy to see a Hawaiian shaved ice stand and paid for an order. She then proceeded to tell me how much she loved them as a kid. I bought some fried dough from another vendor and we sat and enjoyed our desserts. I love seeing my wife that happy.

After a nice time relaxing on the beach, we returned home to pick up our boys from daycare. It was such a great day and I was glad that I was able to spend it with my lovely wife. The past 3 years have been amazing and I am incredibly blessed to be married to such an amazing woman. I love you Tary!

Edaville USA

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Last month (July 1st) we brought Daniel to a great kid-friendly amusement park called Edaville USA in Carver, MA. It took us about an hour and a half to get there. We picked that date because a few times a year they have Thomas the Tank Engine as the lead car to pull the trains around the park and Thomas is Daniel’s favorite show right now. I really did not know there were places like this that catered to really young kids in our area.

Temperatures were well above 90 degrees. We briefly stood in line to have our picture taken with Sir Topham Hatt but it was too hot so we decided to go on some rides instead. We rode the carousel first. Daniel did not want to ride high up on a horse so we sat in what looked like a sleigh. Daniel was pretty calm sitting between Tary and me.

Daniel and I got on a space-themed capsule ride. There was a bar hovering over our laps which causes the pod to go up into the air when pulled towards you. As we sat in the pod waiting for the ride to start, Daniel started to get upset from being in a confined space so I had to distract him with some music videos on my phone. He is way too dependent on that. The ride started and the centripetal force made me feel like I might fall out of the pod. I understand why they have kids sit on the inside now. Since Daniel was still distracted by my phone, he didn’t notice that I held the bar toward us and sent our pod up in the air for the last half of the ride.

It got too hot so we brought Daniel inside a building with various play areas. He loved tossing himself around in the ball pit. He also played with some trains and tracks that were set up on really low tables. Then he ran through a maze but easily found the exit.

We still had another hour to kill before we could ride on Thomas so we stayed inside the building as long as we could. We visited the Gift Shop and bought a few items for Daniel: a Thomas t-shirt and a Thomas-shaped whistle. Daniel kept urging us to blow the whistle and he would pump his arm in the air and yell, “Choo choo!”

After lunch we stood in line to ride Thomas the Tank Engine! While in line we met up with Tary’s coworker and her family. It was fun riding around the park. Daniel had a serious look on his face but I think he was inwardly excited. Toward the end of the ride, the conductor handed each of the kids on board a certificate. Daniel’s face lit up with pride.

After the ride we stood in line to have Daniel’s picture taken with Thomas at the front of the train. The line moved quickly but Daniel was cranky from being overheated and he did not want to stop and pose for the camera. I took a few pictures of just Thomas before we left. I hope he enjoys these pictures and remembers this day when he’s a little older.

Overall I really liked Edaville USA and enjoyed our time there. I’m really pleased to know that such kid-friendly places exist in our area. I liked how there were many other young kids and their parents there. There were lots of low-to-the-ground, slow-moving rides. Food prices were fairly reasonable. I liked being able to temporarily park our stroller anywhere and not worry about someone walking off with ours. I also liked that the park was small enough to explore in a day without feeling exhausted. It’s a bit far but it’s definitely a keeper.

Hampton Beach

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The stars aligned. The weather was perfect. It was the weekend and we didn’t have any other plans. We were finally able to go as a family to the beach!

On Saturday, June 30th we took the kids to Hampton Beach. I was surprised at the lack of traffic around the beach but maybe it was because of the route that my phone’s GPS led us on. The main strip was packed so we continued past until we saw a retaining wall to our right. I pulled over and found another less crowded beach just beyond the wall.

I parked the car and fed the coin-operated meters. It was a little expensive at 25 cents for 7 1/2 minutes ($2/hr). I used all of the change in my car and we only had enough for just over an hour.

Once on the beach we set up our new Kelty beach cabana. It was easy to set up with its 3-pole design. The wind made a little trickier because the wind kept blowing the material around. I’m really glad we bought it. It was spacious, provided lots of shade, and had good ventilation.

Now that Daniel is a little older and is more self-aware, he is very cautious about unfamiliar surroundings. So it was unsurprising that he did not like being in or near the water at all! Instead he was content sitting just outside of the cabana and filling his bucket with wet sand.

I brought Matthew toward the water and helped him stand in it. He definitely didn’t mind the cold water rushing over his feet. He also enjoyed rolling around inside of the cabana.

It was a relaxing time. It felt a little rushed since we could only stay for about an hour. But I’m glad we got to take the kids to the beach.

It has been several years since I last visited Hampton Beach but I was impressed with whatever updates were made in and around the area. It was remarkably easy to find our way back home. Once we packed up, we double-backed along the strip, took a right at the Route 95 sign, and followed the road for about 15 minutes to the highway. It was such a pleasant experience; I can’t wait to go back there again!

Mommy and Daniel Playing with the Sand

Gabriel James

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Please join me in celebrating the birth of my first nephew, Gabriel James. He was born on June 17th (Father’s Day) at 6:21 AM, 6 lbs 7 oz,  born 6 lbs 7 oz, 19″ long. I am an uncle!!!

The Proud Parents with Gabriel James!

The day before his birth, we were at the Sons of Italy function for his baby shower. I jokingly thought to myself that my sister-in-law was ready to “pop” at any moment and amazingly her water broke there. It was amazing that she carried on like nothing happened and most of the guests were unaware. She gutted it out and sat in a chair and opened all of the gifts!

It was kind of funny that Tary was starting to get a little frantic while my sister-in-law remained fairly calm through it all. After the baby shower was over, my sister-in-law called her doctor and was told to go to the hospital. I quickly installed the base for the new car seat that we bought them and they were on their way. The following morning they finally got to meet their baby boy! What a wonderful Father’s Day gift for my brother!

One interesting fact is Gabriel was born at 38 weeks just like my two boys. It must a Trinh family thing!

(Wow, I am really behind on my posts but better late than never. It’s good to have them for archival reasons.)