Back From the Bay (updated*)

We are officially back in San Diego after our mini trip to the San Francisco/ Bay Area.

It was a pleasant, yet non-stop family and friends filled five days. It seems like we need a vacation from our vacation. Maybe it is because we took the road trip route instead of flying.

I'm home everyone!

We made it in a record time of 7 1/2 hours (which included our 45 minute gas and rest stop break). Matt did all the driving since Jen was sandwiched between Bella and Kalista in the middle row. Poor Jo-Jo had to ride in the back of the car in his crate with all our luggage. Let's just say it was a well packed car.

We stayed the first few days at Matt's parents' house and spent time visiting friends and family. The remainder of our trip, we stayed at Jen's parents' house and enjoyed some down time. Kalista got to meet up with her baby friends while she was up there and even met some new ones.

Kalista and Beya had their first playdate

Spending time with Beya and her mommy

Kalista likes touching (more like poking) eyes and mouths now.
Watch out!!!

No tears for Tyler this time around

Kalista with Kylah's mommy

Kalista and Kylah also had their first playdate together

On our trip, Kalista got a chance to catch up with her cousins and play with them since they had the week off for spring break. Cousin Alex has a way of getting Kalista to smile when no one else can....he must have the magic touch! She has a natural migration towards him when he's in the same room as her.


Even Joey and Bella took some time to absorb the Northern California fresh air.

Joey sun-tanning again

Bella snoozing mid-morning

Kalista found one of her favorite items...the remote control

She even decided to do some yoga

We had many large dinners....three to be exact. We got to see pretty much everyone on both sides of the family. Jen's mom also celebrated a milestone birthday and turned 20 again for the third time. Kalista finally got to meet her aunt Dorothy and second cousins "once removed (???)", Naomi, Ethan and Ryan. This whole "once removed" family tree labeling is mighty confusing and ended up being one of the table topics ironically.

Grandma Susan's birthday banquet

The Lam Family banquet

Kalista with Grandma Susan and Great-Grandma Tam

As timing would have it...we were up in the Bay Area in time for a Chinese tradition similar to "Dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead)" called Qingming. This is the day where you tend to the graves of those who have departed and pay homage to their spirits. We took most of Monday on our trip to visit our loved ones who have passed; Matt's step-grandmother, maternal grandparents, Jen's paternal grandfather and maternal great grandparents. We burned incense, gave our respected bows, brought flowers and food (oranges, in our case) as part of the Chinese tradition. We even went to the temple in San Francisco Chinatown to pay respect to Matt's great relatives. At the end of the day, never did we imagine how tiring it was traveling to every resting place. We are trying to show Kalista the various Chinese traditions our family has followed in hope that they do not get abandoned as we move on from generation to generation.


On a different note...we have some medical and milestone updates for Kalista:

1. This IS the month of doctor appointments. Our visit to the dietitian is next week and we will be starting a new formula pretty soon instead of breastmilk and milk-based formula. Now that Kalista is getting older, we have been recommended to change her over to a higher calorie packed formula/nutritional drink called Peptamen. It looks like an expensive form of Pediasure, but is more easily digestible. We'll let you know how it goes in the next few weeks. As you may know...the ultimate goal is to end the gagging/retching and get Kali to eat and drink by mouth. Kalista has been more willing to put things is her mouth since we can see two little bottom teeth sprouting and the gum massages have been well received.

2. Our appointment with Dr. Gosman, our plastic surgeon, got pushed back another week, so we will have to wait until the very end of April to see if we are ready for tissue expanders as a precursor to Kalista's final stomach flattening closure surgery.

3. We have a sedated echocardiogram and cardiology appointment also planned to make sure her little heart can handle another surgery because of the WPW arrythmia.

4. Kalista can also show off her standing and partial crawling skills at our next physical therapy session in two weeks. She can pretty much scoot herself to any piece of furniture now and pull herself up to standing without any help. Ms. Tami is going to be so proud!

Standing next to the sofa after pulling herself up

Whew...that was our trip in a nutshell!

Goodbye Bay Area

Kalista got to see many of her friends on our trip. Last night, we were invited for drinks and dinner at our friends' house, where Kalista finally got to meet Tyler and Ethan for the first time. It was adorable seeing the babies play with each other.

Ethan, Tyler and Kalista hanging out with each other

In our final days in the Bay Area, we spent a good amount of time with our families. We had a lot of visitors and we did a lot of visiting. We wish we could stay for Thanksgiving, but we all need to get back to San Diego.

Here are a few more pictures of our time there:

Kalista with Auntie Claudia and Uncle P

Kalista smashed her cousin Alex while he was sleeping

Hi Mui!

Boo!!!! Family gone...

Kalista got to spend more time with her Uncle Bill this weekend

We had a fun and relaxing weekend with Grandma Susan (Pau-Pau) and Uncle Bill. It was a short visit, but we are so grateful to have them here, even if it was just two days. We even had Kalista's great aunt and uncle visit too this past Friday.

Hello Auntie Sue and Uncle Chick Fai!!!

I think Kalista is a popular gal! What do you think? Family from different parts of California all at one time!

Although this weekend was meant to be relaxing, there were a lot of out-n-about activities for the wee little one. We did a few shopping trips, some to the grocery store and some for retail therapy...which meant a lot of fun car rides around San Diego. Kali really does not mind the car rides at all since it jiggles her to sleep (...sometimes...most of the time).

Fun is my middle name!

Jen has also started the fitting process for Kalista's Halloween costume. It is her Project Runway Halloween challenge! We have decided on "Boo" from the movie Monsters Inc. and the cute monster costume she wore during half the movie. Jen has a Sully costume that has been put to good use in the past and this will yet be another year that she gets to enjoy wearing it. We'll post some pictures at the end of the month.

Kalista is sporting the beginning stages of the costume's headpiece

The weather is starting to warm up once more and we are breaking out our summer clothing once again. Kalista is not fond of these days since she breaks into a sweat so easily and hates the feeling of being sticky. If you think she is a quiet child, you have not heard the heat holler yet....ow wooo!

This Bumbo almost makes her look like she was in the jacuzzi

We are getting very sleepy from the weekend of excitement and are ready to head to bed. See you early in the morning for our nutrition appointment!

Family Fun!

Kalista wanted to blog about her weekend...so here it goes:

"My grandma came to visit me. I like it when she holds me.





I finally got to meet my cousins, Aly and Alex. I really like Alex- he's funny!









My Auntie Kat and Uncle Jimmie are pretty cool too.





I went to daddy's work picnic and met some other babies. They all kept crying though.





The weekend was too long and I need some sleep now. Time for me to rest."

Cheese...Picture Time!

Another prime opportunity occurred a few days ago.

When Kalista pulls out her NG tube, we always take advantage of her clean face to take portraits of her and family photos.  So yes....she did it again two days ago in one swift and subtle motion.  We usually see her curious fingers go for the tube, but this time we missed it.  Oh well....the nurses can put one in as fast as Kalista can take one out...so no worries. 

This is our latest family masterpiece:

Yay...Visitors!

Hallelujah!  We are able to have visitors again.  Unfortunately, not everyone can visit.  It's like VIP access to a club.  If you are not on the list....you don't get in.  Trust me, there are some tough nurses that can take you down if you tried.

Auntie Kat got a chance to hold Kalista when they came to visit this week.  They are die hard Kalista fans.  After they heard about the visitation ban being lifted, they drove back to San Diego after a long day at Disneyland just to see her and then drove back home to the Bay Area the next day.  Did I mention that they love to drive??? (Smiles)

**Parent Update **

Jen's pregnancy carpal tunnel issues have finally gone away and can not only wear her wedding ring again, but has regained feeling in her fingertips.  Crazy how swelling can affect a person! She spends most of her time at the hospital nowadays and is on maternity leave until September. In her spare time, she is working on small projects around the house and sewing/crocheting items for the baby. 

Matt is celebrating his first week and a half back at work and can't wait to celebrate his first father's day with Kalista. In his spare time.....he naps. Parenting = lack of sleep.  Such a simple equation we all know!