Saturday, September 29, 2012

Less than a year left in Korea...I should be happy right?

We have nine more months left in the land of "The Morning Calm."  I should be excited to go back home right?  Most people here are counting down the days until they get on the plane...not me I love Korea.  I do not love Paul's work here, kind of have a very strong dislike for his job here.  But God has been so good to us here in Korea (not that it will change when we move).  This little house has become our home, I love it so much!  I do want to visit our families, but I cry when I think we may never come back to Korea.  Here are a few reasons why I love this place so so so much.
1.  We can do dinner for under $10 total.  Folks that is not fast food that is salad, meat, kimbap, and sides!
2.  Asher's babysitter here is so sweet!  We love her to pieces!
3.  Speaking of which every time we get on the subway we have free babysitters...I will miss the people who play with Asher and entertain him on the subway.
4.  The best doctors I've ever had are here!  And even without health insurance they are affordable.
5.  I mentioned it earlier, but since I love it so much I'll say it again.  I love our little home and sweet neighbors!  My son was born in this house how could it not be special!
6.   Biking to the DMZ is an awesome experience.
7.  Strawberries.  They are perfect here.
8.  Running along the roads by the rice fields, they are so green and peaceful.
9.  Always feeling safe, I never worry when Paul is in the field.  I trust our neighbors and have never seen weird people driving in our neighborhood.
10.  Kimchi this stuff is so yummy!
11.  Driving through Soyosan and seeing the older Koreans who have had a bit too much soju...always makes me laugh.
12.  If only Asher were older he would have the perfect opportunity to learn Korean. 
13.  Fall in Korea is the best season, the leaves change colors, there is a slight chill in the air.  It's perfect!
14.  Family snuggle time.  Our house doesn't get warm enough in the winter so what better way to keep warm than to put on your favorite sweater and cuddle up in bed with a good movie or perhaps a hot breakfast.
15.  Not understanding people.  At first it drove me crazy not knowing what people were saying.  Now if I need to communicate something hand signals go a long way, and the times I don't I don't have to listen to "OMG did you hear...."

I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunity to have lived in Korea.  I really hope we get the chance to go to Europe next.  But if not I know we will make the best of where ever God puts us.  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."  Isaiah 55:8-11

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Naturopathic vs Western Medicine

I have never completely agreed with the western approach to medicine.  I think there are many doctors with good intentions.  Unfortunately the western view of medicine is exactly that, medicine.  If something is wrong we need medicine.  A pill for every ill, or so we've come to believe.  Once Asher was born I was no longer able to simply avoid going to the doctor.  I found myself doubting I was doing the right things for my child.  Even more frightening if nothing was going horribly wrong with Asher my pediatrician really didn't care.  She never even cared to know my name, to her I was, hold on let me look at the chart...oh Asher's mom.    Now I must say not all pediatricians are like the one I had...in fact I am sure there are some wonderful ones out there!  But the fact remains they do not promote health.  They can be great when something does go wrong, but that is sick care, my child is healthy, so what I'm left with is a doctor who is constantly trying to find something to fix with some medicine or a shot. 

Yes, I will admit I am a bit, okay extremely obsessed with everything that affects Asher.  Especially things that go in his body (food, vaccines, supplements, and medicine).  This is where naturopathic medicine comes in to our new and improved health care plan for Asher (sounds official right?).  After hours and hours of research I managed to find the only naturopathic doctor in South Korea (maybe there are more and if so let me know but as far as I can tell she is the only one).  She is the complete opposite from his previous pediatrician.  She emailed me herself, she came out of her office when we got there to introduce herself and spent an hour going over everything that affects Asher.  Not just medical history (she did look over all of his medical history including my prenatal care and how I felt during my pregnancy), she wanted to know how our family was doing, how he sleeps, what his personality is like, how he is developing, and the stress levels of each person in the household.  Turns out that the parent's stress levels directly effect the child's stress level.  She had info on feeding that she took the time to put together.  Not only are a bunch of foods listed, but the reason why you should start with them is also listed.  For example at 6 months she lists lots of iron rich veggies.  At 9 months foods rich in zinc to promote a healthy immune system.  We had previously talked about how I was concerned about the current vaccine schedule and she took time to discuss this, along with providing me information from both sides of the argument. 

At his next appointment we are going to talk about ways to support his immune system before and after vaccines along with some more info on feeding.  Until then Asher and I have homework...well not so much Asher.  I have to keep a food diary for the next four days, read the articles she gave me and look at changing some of his foods.  In case you haven't gathered it so far, I am loving the approach naturopathic medicine takes.  There is so much that affects are lives and causes our bodies to react in different ways.  Dr. Oh was respectful, and knew her stuff.  She took time to understand Asher's unique needs.  Plus Asher liked her.  So in the end she gets two baby thumbs up and two mommy thumbs up!
Here is the website incase anyone wants to check this place out!  http://www.createwellnesscenter.com/

Monday, September 10, 2012

Thailand

What is a Thailand vacation without an elephant ride?
 We spent the day at Silver Beach...Asher slept everytime we went walking by the water.
 Beanbags on the beach = perfect baby chair

 Asher was too busy looking at the fish, no time for pictures
 "Thai dancing is easy"
 
 After a long day on the beach it was time to relax and watch some TV
 
This is what I think about while I am doing yoga!  It was the best vacation of my life and I can't wait until we can all do it again!