Oliver Liddell: 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Our Crazy Life

Sorry it has been a while since my last post - things here at home have gone a bit crazy! The tests I had in Singapore showed that I need an operation but our heath insurace have decided they won't pay for it or cover me any more so mummy and daddy and I moved back to NZ - we had 3 weeks to sort everything out, say goodbyes etc. so things were quite hectic. We all have mixed feelings about leaving Vietnam - mummy and Jonathan are not enjoying the cold of winter however all four of us love being back to the land of yoghurt (amongst other things). We miss our friends, ourr apartment (and the pool) and I miss my school and being at school! Mummy has waitlisted me for three places here but so far no result. One of them has promised me a place in early September tho.

The nice doctors in NZ saw me as soon as we got home and then I had more tests (not nice as I had to have a catheter and IV line put in). We found out that I had a blockage on my urether where it exits the kidney so I had an op in mid may. I had to spend two nights in hospital and had a general anasthetic but I was very brave and the nurses all told me I coped very well. After 6 weeks I had a second op - a day procedure this time (but still with a general anasthetic). A few days later I got a UTI so was back in hospital for another 4 nights but I am all good now. I have to have MORE tests in early august and after that the doctors will decide if I need another op to deal with my reflux. I think all this has been harder for mummy and daddy than for me!

Jonathan has just turned 1, is cruising round the furniture and is starting to feed himself. Daddy has a new job which he really enjoys. Jonathan is having a party this weekend so we'll post some pictures after that so you can share in the celebrations.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Fun and Games

Playing with my trains in my den

Where's Oliver...

... peek-a-boo

Jonathan's first solids meal

Jonathan likes reading

Playing with cars...

... and the whirly toy

This jigsaw is just too hard...

Who says you shoud read one book at a time?

Teaching Jonathan about trains

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

My tet decoration

Where's daddy...

The boys in town during Tet

Tet decorations outside a shopping mall

Playing at home

The boys by the Saigon River

In the playgym

Jonathan sits unsupported

Playing with daddy

Playing at home

Hi again,

We managed about 10 days of 'normal life' when we got back from NZ and then I was ill - a kidney infection. I had to fly to Singapore to be in hospital so mummy, daddy and Jonathan came with me. Daddy was allowed to stay with me in hospital whilst mummy and Jonathan stayed at a nearby hotel. At first I just slept a lot, but then when I got a bit better I realised that hospitals are not very exciting places. Mummy and daddy tried very hard to find fun stuff to do but it was the rainy season in Singapore and rained a lot... often all day... They bought me a Thomas the Tank Engine dvd (there was a dvd player in my room) and activity book which were great. As I was allowed to leave the hospital between doctors rounds and medications we also did a few trips out - the botanical gardens the day it didn't rain and two trips to Ikea as they have a good kids play area indoors and yummy swedish meatballs to eat! Once I left hospital on the monday we had to stay in Singapore for two more days so the doctor could check up on me one last time on the wednesday. On tuesday we went to the underwater world at Sentosa island to see the fish. I like fish and really enjoyed the day. We got the cable car back to the mainland, but I think next time we will go by train. I like trains a lot. Because I was sick we have had to postpone our trip to Siem Reap, so we had a quiet Tet hoiday at home in HCMC. It was nice to be at home again, with all my toys, and mummy and daddy both home. Jonathan was glad to be home as well as he sleeps much better in his own bed.

Jonathan had a check-up last week and is growing well. He now weighs 7.7kg so I am feeing the need to try to put on some weight (I am 11.7kg) to ensure he knows who the big brother is. He loves food - especially when mummy makes it, so I wil have my work cut out for me. He also sits up really well now and I am teaching him to play with cars and to read books.

I have learned lots of new words (the most important being car, tunnel, tag (train in swedish), bro (bridge), help, eat and more), and use short sentences now. People don't always understand me though - apparently not everyone speaks swedish and english. I really like school and have been bringing home lots of artwork for mummy and daddy which they put up on the walls.

Last weekend we were in Singapore again so I could have more tests done for my kidneys to check they are OK. The tests were not very nice but I was a really brave boy. We did some shopping and found some good play areas in between hospital appointments. It is nice to be home though and back at school!.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hi,
After a couple of months absence, I thought it was time that I posted some more blogs so you know what Jonathan and I have been up to recently. I think I left you with some photos of my Mormor's trip to HCMC to see us. Unfortunately soon after Mormor left we received the very sad news that our Grandma (daddy's mummy) had gone to heaven. We headed back to NZ as soon as we could to be with Poppa and say goodbye to Grandma. So here's some photos of our time in NZ including some of our friends that we caught up with...

Love Oliver and Jonathan.