Steven Curtis Chapman, "All I Want for Christmas"

Tonsillectomy

Waiting to be called to surgery . . .

Ahn-Bao had the next step in his palate repair today when he had his tonsils and some adenoidal tissue surgically removed. This is necessary to make space for a later palate lengthening procedure. He is such a great patient and since this is his third surgery in 9 months, many of the nurses are remembering him, and most remember his book.

His ENT surgeon discovered that one of his ear tubes had become dislodged and he had suffered a tear in his eardrum. She "patched" the eardrum and she will look at it again in a few weeks and he'll have his hearing tested to see whether he has any new impairment.

Ahn-Bao was such a model patient. He was pretty owly and confused when he woke up in the recovery room, but once he got pain meds, he's been very mellow all day since then. We will stay overnight in the hospital tonight and will probably be home tomorrow late morning.

While Mom and Ahn-Bao were at Saint Marys Hospital (or as Ahn-Bao says, "May-Mare-Mee") early in the morning, Dad and Kia took Yasmin and Elias to school (a little late due to a late night of TaeKwonDo last night) and then Kia and Dad got donuts at Kwik Trip. Kia was very proud to say that she ate her donut, "IN THE VAN," a special treat.

Away in a Manger

Yasmin and Elias participated in the manger scene "chorus" at the People of Hope Christmas pageant on Sunday the 14th. They practiced and got costumed on Saturday and were ready to sing on Sunday morning.

Kia participated in the 3-year old preschool program on Monday night, December 15. Zejna, Ahn-Bao and Mommy were sitting proudly in the audience to watch.

Yasmin's Board Breaking

Our family had our first experience with multiple kid events on one night, and one had to be sacrificed. On Monday night, Kia had her preschool Christmas program, Elias had wrestling practice, and Yasmin had TaeKwonDo belt testing. There are only two adults in this family, so one event had to be sacrificed and this time it was Elias' wrestling. Kia was absolutely fabulous on the stage at her program. Elias was just fine with playing at the RAC while Yasmin was tested for her red belt.

Yasmin had worked really hard to get ready for testing this time and we were so proud of her effort. But the Board-breaking is always an unknown, even for very advanced students. But she did it and got her red belt! And she has her designs set on a black belt!

The Ultimate Snow Ramp

The weather turned just a little warmer yesterday and today (mid-30's) so it was an opportunity to build the ultimate snow ramp. Bob and Yasmin and Elias spent almost 4 hours on Saturday and our friend, Chris joined after church on Sunday to get the ramp ready for the deep freeze which blew in on Sunday afternoon. Now we just need a new blanket of white stuff to make it the perfect jumping off point for sledding down to the neighbor's driveway.

The Hubert Elves

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Wrestling Action

Elias started his second season of wrestling action last week. This along with Yasmin's need for TaeKwonDo sparring practice has resulted in a very violent household.

Elias is in the center of the wrestling mat in the green shirt. And Kia maintains her position as pound-for-pound, the fiercest Hubert of them all!