tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42565775049434361772024-02-01T22:54:07.000-08:00Journey Of DaddyhoodBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-10002028488921510442014-06-17T00:37:00.001-07:002014-06-17T00:37:19.366-07:00Time flies...Since the last post, apparently I got so caught up in life and never got around to update the blog in the year of 2010. Soon after that I got an offer from my company to move to China, when Christy also found out (Jan 2011) she was pregnant with our #3. 9 Months later, on Sep 2, 2011, I became the happiest father with Emma born in Shanghai Huashan Hospital. So much happened in between, plus the Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-11735934906637084872010-06-23T22:18:00.000-07:002010-06-23T22:20:57.366-07:00Distinct PersonalitiesIt's amazing how personalities get carried into our children. "it's in your genes" as they say. Derek has undoubtedly gotten his refined features, petite figure, and feisty personality from Christy. He's very sensitive to his surroundings - always with open eyes to carefully observe everything around him. He's very particular about everything as well - totally got it from his graphic Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-87296720156001294262010-06-23T22:05:00.000-07:002010-06-23T22:41:04.741-07:00GenerationsGrandma and Great-Grandma came timely when we're about on cruise control. Great-Grandma prepared "red envelops" as good fortune according to Chinese traditions. (Hsieh Lao Lao 解姥姥 is super healthy. At age 90 she has full set of original teeth, and can walk faster than me - shame on me, I know.)(Wen Nai Nai 溫奶奶 was there with us when the twins were born. She comes once a week to supply Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-38836119380309427082010-06-23T21:53:00.000-07:002010-06-23T21:53:00.568-07:00Let the fun begin!Going into second week at home, I've already picked up a set routine where I get the night shift (12am to 6am), and rest before and after. My mom-in-law would get the shift when I'm resting, and rest when I'm running the show. During the day, both of us take turns to care for the twins and rest in between. The boys still feed every 3 hours, and it gets challenging when feeding them both at Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-40251609802004716022010-06-23T21:28:00.000-07:002010-06-23T21:28:44.352-07:00Day #8, Shower #4Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-68985052700490390612010-06-23T21:04:00.000-07:002010-06-23T22:49:45.110-07:00Surviving the first weekAfter five days of hospital. We were finally discharged. Below is Andric sitting in the brand new ride getting ready for the real world!
With all the early warnings from my new-parent friends, I was at least mentally prepared for this. The expectation going into the first month is that I wouldn't get much sleep. Sure, but no one went through the list of things we as new parents had to do!! Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-14510137592643451272010-06-23T20:38:00.000-07:002010-06-23T20:38:09.559-07:00Postpartum hoursImmediately following the operation, we were sent to the postpartum unit where we would spend the next four days in. It's a basic patient room, with a fold-up bed where the husband (or a care-taker) can crash out on.
First thing first, calling both of our dads in Taiwan to announce their promotion to "grandfather"!
In the first 24 hours, there was still lots of pain medication in Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-40844840090429553192010-06-08T21:40:00.000-07:002010-06-23T20:32:03.737-07:00My life is forever changed.No, not because Steve Jobs introduced Apple's revolutionary iPhone 4. In fact, I will probably never again find a reason to indulge myself in things that will eat away the college fund, which I will need to start thinking about for our newly arrived twins.
Introducing the newest addition to our family - Andric Hao-Ran Wen (left) and Derek Huai-Ning Wen (right) born on Monday June 7th, at 6Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-5349660268647805992010-06-07T10:43:00.000-07:002010-06-07T10:43:25.178-07:00Final count-downMost expectant parents *probably* envy our situation. A calm, planned delivery, rather than waiting for the water to break, and sending everyone into a state of mayhem. At 6pm today. we will go into the operating room to retrieve the twins, which means the weekend that went by so fast was my last weekend to F around, be immature, and irresponsible. But no, I didn't even get to sleep in!!
I just Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-83619770516423608042010-06-07T10:34:00.000-07:002010-06-07T10:50:00.759-07:00A memorable nightJune 6th was a memorable night. If nothing else, my boy Rajon Rondo led the Celtics to win game 2 against Lakers with a tripple double! But while the game was hot, Christy and I went down to Huntington Beach Mazda and made a deal with them on a 2010 Mazda 5!
After months of looking for a suitable car, which hasn't been an easy task, given a twin tandem stroller, two infant car seats and a Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-90723690122024989762010-06-02T16:41:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:41:22.748-07:00Roaming with styleSo in the past few days we've totally enjoyed the priority parking privilege City of Los Angeles has given us because we got the temporary disability placard. This this is beyond sweet. Never more do we need to worry about finding a parking spot, and we get to park FREE at meters. IT IS AWESOME!!
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-45735496629436883072010-06-02T16:36:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:36:00.198-07:00wk 37 - The calm before the storm
It's week 37! If the twins continue to stay in the belly, our scheduled C-section will be coming up next Monday at 6pm. Just this morning I got an email from a colleague who is also a parent of twins to advise me to stay in bed for the whole weekend, because that will be the last of it.
Yesterday Christy could not wait to get a fix of KFC and Marie Calenders, so we went and got the 10 Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-5504946009116664212010-06-01T14:39:00.000-07:002010-06-01T14:47:29.580-07:00Found the ride!So this is what we've been waiting for...
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-22329615273870629922010-05-29T22:08:00.000-07:002010-06-02T16:17:36.820-07:00Wk 36 appointment documentaryShot this with Nikon D90 DSLR
36 week check-up from Brian Wen on Vimeo.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-25500677689836071352010-05-29T22:05:00.000-07:002010-05-29T22:05:24.457-07:00Beautiful baby faces~These are the 4D ultrasound photos that I haven't posted.
This is baby B at wk 30, look at his defined nose! Directly on his face is actually Baby A's leg resting on top. It's definitely cramped in there.
Below is baby A at wk 32 sucking on his fingers.
And I believe this is baby A at wk 34 crying inside the belly!
This is Baby A at week 36. At this stage you can see how they have Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-66580420994965616532010-05-26T16:25:00.000-07:002010-05-26T16:25:10.670-07:00Wk 36 Let's Go For a Run..The twins are getting ridiculously heavy at this point, the expectant parents (us) are getting ridiculously impatient as well, and yes, we're aware that the quiet days are about to be over so we should really treasure what's left of the pregnancy. But they've grown so much in the last two weeks (Baby A is now 5lb and 3oz, Baby B is now 5lb 13oz), Christy is often losing her center of gravity whenBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-33330806300111688662010-05-18T21:25:00.000-07:002010-05-18T21:25:51.555-07:00WK 35, Okay, now we're getting impatient!
BAM! Here we are at week 35.
According to babycenter.com: The twins don't have much room to maneuver now that they're over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up two honeydews). Because they're so snug in the womb, they aren't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times they kick should remain about the same. their kidneys are fully Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-91949380166731365262010-05-09T16:01:00.000-07:002010-05-09T16:01:19.413-07:00WK 34!! Happy Mothers(-To-Be) DayWeek 34, another milestone completed. The twins are kicking harder than ever, and it seems like they're able to interact with / respond to pressures from outside the belly now. Though fun for me, the sheer weight is painful for Christy. From time to time she'll have difficulty breathing, aside from the constant back and shoulder pain. She's one tough woman, and will Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-87030960701865212332010-05-05T15:15:00.000-07:002010-05-05T15:17:03.504-07:00SWAGGER WAGON
Thanks to Juan Bruce for sharing this. I hope I can finally convince Christy to accept the idea of minivan with this....
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-56299777375982501592010-05-05T15:10:00.000-07:002010-05-05T15:10:21.200-07:00Delicious goodies~Both Christy's mom and myself have been pretty efficient at pulling together quick bites to satisfy Chrity's high-freqency, low-intake meal consumption patterns. By now she will need to eat roughly 6 times during the day. And up to twice a night. During the night I just simply heat up milk, or feed her Ensure. But during the day it gets exciting:
Above is the Papaya-Milk that my mom used to make Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-2110683150541395942010-05-05T14:48:00.000-07:002010-05-05T14:49:43.987-07:00WK 33!!Thanks for everyone's lovely letters and prayers, we had some good news from the doctor this week that Christy's bedresting is clearly working! The cervix shortening is stablized, and the funneling miraclously went away, which is a huge relief for us. Christy's mom has been a tremendous help in these few weeks. and I'm very grateful for her emotional support for both of us. C'mon guys! hang Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-72279391505573181292010-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:002010-04-30T15:15:46.745-07:00Through Christy's own wordsThis was an email Christy wrote to a friend of ours, and I was CC'ed on it. But I thought she totally nailed it in terms of her physical and emotional stress at this point:
"I am doing well, still bed resting at home and waiting for the babies to come. To tell you the truth sometimes I find it unreal that I am carrying two in there. I feel kinda strange having two babies moving and kicking in myBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-91213432620737024392010-04-28T14:29:00.000-07:002010-04-28T17:27:34.563-07:00做月子. The healing monthNow that all the prep work for the twins arrival are almost in place, I need to think about getting ready for Christy's recovery as well. In the Chinese medicinal philosophy, there are three time periods when women can rebuild the health functions of their bodies: first period, after birth, and menopause. In thousands of years of practice, there has been a rich accumulation of studies on how Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-66056411590427151892010-04-28T07:34:00.000-07:002010-04-28T17:29:41.152-07:00WEEK 32!!!!!!That is right, ladies and gents, we're past the critical point of 32 weeks!!! Christy had promised the twins if they behaved and stayed in until this point, she would celebrate and feed them cakes!! So, as first step of being a "promise-keeping" parent, I went to Beard Papa in Sawtelle and got all of us some delicious treats to celebrate this milestone. According to doctor Silverman, we're safe Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4256577504943436177.post-68215736910285241132010-04-27T21:58:00.000-07:002010-04-28T17:30:00.804-07:00Getting the "Nursery" lookAn excellent way to dress up the baby room without having to worry about introducing toxic fumes from the paint, we find, is to use vinyl wall arts such as the one by Wee Gallery
It only took me 20 minutes to bring this room to life!
Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02459545909204044869noreply@blogger.com1