Hand, foot and mouth

Natalie and Lauren both have hand, foot and mouth disease and have been kept home from school for the week. Actually, all their cousins have it, too, except for Michael and Ashley. Aside from a 1-day fever, the girls are alert and energetic as usual, but possibly still contagious. To help keep Ashley HFM-free, Porpor took Natalie and Lauren to Lisa's to play yesterday and to Carol's today. Looks like the girls are having a great time!

They baked cookies at Lisa's.

Lauren had two red bumps appear around her lips. Natalie had no external signs except for inside her throat.

Everyday, the kids have eaten popsicles (lucky them!) which is cooling for their throats and hydrating, too.

At Lisa's, the kids made their own sushi rolls for lunch. Natalie ate two BIG rolls - she was extra hungry because she hardly ate anything the day before when she had a fever.

They also went shopping at the wet market with Por-por where they purchased a "live" turtle.  The turtle got made into a confinement soup for me (thanks Por-por!).

Lauren took some big naps.

At Carol's, the girls had a chance to play at the City Garden park again, just like old times!

Lauren is much braver at going down the slide by herself.

Natalie and her cousin Vanessa (who also had HFM) played barbies together.

The kids all got to watch a bit of TV while the adults eat dinner.

Lauren spent some quality time at Carol's alone with her yee-yee's while Natalie and Nicholas were at mandarin class today.  Here she is enjoying a light snack.

Lauren also enjoyed a slightly heavier snack of Michael's thigh. She bit him --again!

Sisterly Love

Natalie and Lauren are so sweet and love to carry and kiss their baby sister Ashley all the time. Below are pics of our girls together.

Por-por helps Lauren to carry Ashley.  Lauren loves to stroke Ashley's head and say "gentle" (which is the word we always repeat to her when she is around her baby sister).

Natalie is big enough to carry Ashley by herself.  Here the sisters share a bonding moment.

Natalie is a proud "big" sister now.

Natalie carries Ashley again as we try for a sisters photo moment. Lauren wasn't cooperative about sitting still and smiling at the camera. 

Here's the best shot we got.  (We still haven't managed to capture a photo of the full Wang Gang just yet. Hopefully to come soon!)

Cousins at the park

Below pics are of Natalie and Lauren and their cousins at out PFL Gardens "club playground" taken from Lisa yee-yee. It's been great seeing so much family over the past weeks!

Clark and Lauren's hike to the Peak

On Sunday, while big sister Natalie was at swimming lessons and little sister Ashley was home with me, Clark hiked to the Peak from our Pokfulam apartments with middle sister Lauren. Once there, they enjoyed a delicious brunch together and did some father-daughter bonding. Lauren fell asleep on the walk back.

All About Ashley

Ashley is now 18 days old and has been home for 2 weeks.  Below is a video and a (large) collection of photos from her time in the hospital to home.

See Video 405 of Ashley hiccuping at just one-day old.

First photo of Ashley with her eyes open while just 1/2 day old at Matilda International Hospital.

 Lisa yee-yee with Ashley.  Thanks for visiting every day and bringing my delicious drinks, soup and rice!

Ashley asleep with furrowed brows.  Wonder what she's dreaming about...?

Sweet sleeper.

Our first photo with Ashley. 

Big sister Natalie and the cousins come to visit Ashley and here they are - proud big cousins!

Auntie VIP with Ashley. 

Ashley in her diaper and crying.  She can look pretty mad when she's crying!

Look at the size of Ashley compared with 5-month old Scarlet.  Scarlet is 3 times her size!

Ashley gets a cuddle with Mandy yee-yee.

And a cuddle with big girl Ava who turns 3 soon.

Home time!  She doesn't quite fit in her car seat....

But the crib Lauren used to use seems just fine.

Big sister Natalie carrying Ashley and studying her closely.

When we ask if Natalie likes her new little sister, she says, "Yes!" (and later we found out she told her piano teacher that she loves Ashley because Ashley looks like her).

It's another Clark...

Ashley loves this newborn sling and can sleep forever in it while we're out.

 Here big sisters Lauren and Natalie help out by gently helping to cream her after a bath.

Wang Gang girl hands.

Ashley looks teeny tiny on our queen bed.

She's a sweet little sleeper.

Ashley giving me the finger.

 Ashley sticking out her tongue.

Ashley making a funny face.

Ashley rolling her eyes. (It starts so young!)

Ashley small smile.

Big yawn from Ashley.

Natalie is a really proud big sister.  She's always asking to carry Ashley.  Lauren also loves her baby sister and is super gentle with her.

Ashley had a bit of jaundice.  It wasn't serious enough to go under the lights at the hospital, but we did give her some time under the sun.

A naked and alert Ashley enjoys the warm sunshine.

  

Ashley has the forehead "train tracks" like her Ba-ba Clark and big eyes.  We think her double eyelids are coming in...

Big smile from Ashley caught on camera by Lisa Yee-yee.

Ashley enjoys a cuddle from Debbie Yee-yee.

Porpor has been with us for 1.5 weeks now.  It's so great to have her here with us and helping to care for Ashley, and also spend time with Natalie, Lauren and their cousins.  She's also been helping me with post-pregnancy soups and cooking. Thanks, Porpor! 

Porpor meets Ashley for the first time.

Ashley seems to love sleeping (and burping) on Porpor's shoulder.

Porpor burping Ashley.  She's the expert burper!

Natalie's Hallowe'en Class Photos

Natalie's teacher sent along images from their Halloween class party.

 Here she is with the other girls in her class. So many princesses! 

There's also a photo of all the boys in her class. So many superheroes!