I always have a lot I can write about Jayden!  He's my baby!!!  He'll be two on July 11th.  And wow--- everyday is an adventure.  He's learning and changing and growing so much these days.  We're enjoying him more and more.

Today I attempted to give him another "home haircut."  Really this is Much much better than taking him to a barber to do it.  Talk about baby torture!  He absolutely looses it, and so do I!!!!  So, doing it at home means it's over quicker (I've been doing 1/2 one day and the rest of the haircut another day-- because it's still such a trauma for him...but better cuz it's his mommy!).  Today he was so brave---- he didn't want to do the haircut:  as soon as he saw the clippers he started crying and screaming and saying NO no no no and running away. But he came to me and let me hug him and sit him down as he was crying hard.  And I did 1/2 the haircut.

Really, he fights and squirms so much, I think I actually do a better haircut than they do at the salon-- they only made it look like I'd been the one to do a bad job!  By doing it over two times, it's twice the torture, but really easier-- he get's so sweaty from fighting it that his hair sticks to his head and I can't finish it off anyway!

So, I'm getting better at it each time. And I think Jayden is getting more and more brave each time. Maybe someday he'll see it's a treat and he gets a treat afterwards!!

I have to show off my kitty, Bailey.  He's been such a trooper though all our moves and comforts me so much.  And he's amazing with Jayden--never scratching or biting even when Jayden malls him!!

Bailey boarded quite a long time at Purrfurably Cats in Monterey as we moved there and moved away.  They loved him so much as he is soooo sweet and loves to lick and meow long hello's!  They put his picture on their web site-- I think he's the 6th photo down or so on the page with his name next to him (orange and white kitty with his mouth open).

I am longing for Kotatsu-- long chats at with friends around the table and toasty-warm feet.  It's COLD here in Newport, RI!  Mostly the wind.

I'm thinking about Bernie. About how he is a full-time "Caregiver" for me as I live with chronic pain and tiredness/weakness.

I'm having fun being with Jayden as he's getting so much more mature, capable, curious...  He's growing up!  I love the age of about 2yrs plus, and he's 20 mo now and already there in so many ways.  He knows what he wants!  He wants it now!  He wants it his way!  So, we are adjusting our training of him as he changes.....



It's sunny, though cold out.  Bailey is basking in the sun on his window perch.  I'm enjoying resting while Jayden get's to sleep.  My pain is present, but better than when we were transitioning to RI and into our home.  Things are NOT settled in the house, but they're better.

By Editor, ImmuneSupport.com, 03-09-2007

We all know that “Call me if you need anything” is a giant cop-out when you’re talking to a friend who is laid up or chronically ill. But what should a person say or do instead?

Consider this little paperback (it's about 4 inches wide and costs only $4.50) the best investment in friendly support that you could make. Every page of Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend, by Lisa J. Copen, is packed with creative little ideas – from the fun to the practical - that will really help and cheer your friend. And, besides suggesting things that you can helpfully do and say, this book tells you what not to do and say. It conveys a sense of what it’s like to have a chronic illness.

Following are a few examples of the many ideas we liked in the book. (When we compared our favorites, we discovered that kind deeds are like jokes – different ones will appeal to different people. So it’s great to have 505 to choose from.)

#28 – Purchase matching coffee mugs for you and your friend, and then commit to pray for one another each morning while using them.
#390 – Clean out your friend’s refrigerator and swear that yours has looked much worse. (Or # 18 – Mop the floors.)
#309 - Have your child pick out an item that will make your friend smile. For example, Veggie Tales videos of “Silly Songs” leave adults roaring with laughter.
#355 – Leave a May Day basket on your friend’s doorstep.
#21 - Ask, “Do you have an errand I can run for you before coming over?”
#348 – Help her color or highlight her hair.
#20 – Buy a brightly colored umbrella as a gift.
#289 – Do a crossword puzzle together.
#464 – Make a soup basket with mugs, bowls, soups, crackers, and a note that says, "Your strength just bowls me over!"
#377 - Books on tape make great gifts. [Public libraries offer books on tape or CD.]
#393 - Give your friend rubber stamps and ink. They are fun to use on cards.
#195 – Watch for local events that may bring a bit of joy to your friend’s life, and rent a wheel chair if necessary. For example, would your friend love a cat show, a harvest festival, or a local parade? Do something out of the ordinary.
#392 - Paint her toenails and add decals for fun.

Since I'm wanting to keep my blog entries personal but only for friends to view, I'll be posting my thoughts and woes and such on my new Facebook account.  Make your own account and add me as your friend-- Erin Himes Wang. Email me for more details, or leave a message on the front page of this, our homepage:  www.asianesq.net.

Just FYI-- not posting to my public journal for a while.  Gotta keep things private for various reasons.  Sorry to my friends- email me for news, huh?? :)

I'm faking it all.

...or boys...... :)

Just haven't written.  Too tired to do it now. Will try to write tomorrow. Been feeling pretty crappy.  That time again.  REAlly enjoyed getting together with the Japanese mom's and babies this week TWICE!!  Jayden loved it.  So good for him. 

I knew it'd take time to get our life going here.  Knew it'd be difficult.  It was more than difficult-- darn near deadly.... 



1. Got a car w/in one week of moving here
2. Got our house after 1 month (lived in hotel for 1 mo.)
3. Got our shipment of stuff from Japan soon thereafter.
4. Managed to get much of it settled:  after 4 months.  Aggravating 4 months of mess and disorder and frustration cuz I was in too much pain and too exhausted to unpack/ organize. actually still have boxes all around yet to organize....
5. Got Bernie a motorcycle so I wasn't trapped at home when he took the car to work/school
6. 4 months until found help to hire to hang curtains, pictures, help.....
7. 4 months until got first babysitter.
8. 2 months until found Japanese mom's group.  Now after 2 more months starting to make friends there.
9. 3 months till I found a therapist. 
10. 2 months until I found the chronic pain support group.
11.  4 months until I found the Pain specialist doctor.
12. 4 months until bernie got to a therapist.
13.  Still no friends here, but acquaintances w/ potential are around.....
14.  8 months until we move to the Philippines and do this all over again.

I soooo miss my friends.  I've said it before. 

I believe Allison Herling is my most interesting, intelligent, truely beautiful friend.  (Not to put down other friends, but she's *really* amazing!!) 




I miss her.

And--great news!! She's getting married to a fantastic, wonderful, stupendous man!!  I'm *so* happy for her (and him--whew he's getting quite a catch!). 

The question:  Can I make it to her wedding with my Fibromyalgia?  Found some travel tips for Fibroians (is that what is said?). 


        *************


On another note:  Looking to buy these two books: 



And got this one from the library and it's good enough to buy:  and her web page looks good too: 

Wish I could go to NY with Bernie.  Not for the reasons he's going, but just it sounds so fun to have a trip.  Had to cancel our last trip to Oregon because my pain is too bad to handle it.  But I found some info on how to travel with Fibro, and with my treatments ramping up, I'm hopeful we can have fun traveling again-- although there's baby to wrestle with!

Baby ate well this morning.  Yesterday barely ate food (teething again?).  I'm so glad I discovered frozen mixed veggies and squash for him-- he LOVES feeding himself, and they're just the right size and healthy and easy to prepare.  Also he's into scrambled eggs these days--not often into being spoon fed (which makes it hard to get him his prunes to get him to poop!).  Jayden "plays" piano after each meal...unless he's super fussy.  Maybe a reward for having a good meal?? 

He's still not crawling, the little squirt!!  Rotates in circles while sitting, and will strain and push off one leg while on his tummy to get stuff.  One time he kinda did the "army crawl" and made it forward a bit.  Never been up on all fours, so don't see how he can crawl if he doesn't even do that!  I think he has no arm strength to do it, since he generally has always hated being on his tummy and immediately rolls to his back when put down.  Oh well... just wish he could get to the things he wants so he doesn't have to just whine.  Trying to teach him signs for please and stuff, and not cater to him when he whines.  But, well, you know..... 

Love Ahna Phillips CD.  Heard it when she first made it, but finally got a copy!  Yea! 

Enjoyed the Japanese mom's group picnic/ farewell party last Sunday--
Can't get the photos to post, so here's the links to our flickr site so you can see them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asianesq/540145545/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asianesq/540145017/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asianesq/540033632/

Met our new babysitter today!  She'll start just occasionally, and hopefully be able to be regular soon. 

Finding hope online and from my new Pain doctor for help with Fibromyalgia. 
Fibromyalgia Treatment Center.

WAY WAY worse today with pain in my left arm and now into my shoulder.  Can barely move my arm. 

Therefore no more typing for tonight.

been sorta better for 2 days.  Pain, yes...mood, better??  Changing of meds evening out and went to see a pain specialist doctor who gave me ___? treatment which may help?  Researching about the treatment and others he suggested for fibromyalgia.  Had wonderful lady from church babysit for free all afternoon Thursday so I could go to doc appoints and bernie could study for his semester final.  whew, what a blessing (good thing I cried all through church service 2 weeks ago...now got an occasional babysitter!). 

Um, picture to share today?  not sure....

Dearest Ahna.  I love her and miss being near her.  How good to have a truly *good* friend.



I am feeling better.  A day *with* Bernie.  And baby is cute and good a usual.  And ending the evening with a long talk with Ahna.

definitively not feeling like this:

Beginning to oil paint and write songs on the piano again.

My current inspiration:



Pray for my husband.

worst migraine and body pain today.  Took Jayden to the drive thru Starbucks at 7:30 am (his nap is at 8am, he wakes at 5-6am).  Got the tripple grande 150 degree mocha.  Drove home.  Put him to sleep.  Took my migraine med.  and drank the mocha.  And I've been virtually pain free in a buz all day. Flying!

Feels like this (Doraemon).



Jayden got a better mommy today-- more ERiN.  Happy, bubbly, invincible.  He had fun.  We played tons.  Nice too feel good, though giddy and a bit out of it.  Probably overdid it today...hope i'm not in worse pain as a result tomorrow.