After a busy day, it was time to head back to Beijing.

In the early morning, I decided to travel through Changsha instead of the original plan to Beijing. We visited Xiaoyan’s aunt at the hospital, where we were relieved to find her recovering well.

Later, Hamer and I had a great time playing with her cousin. After dinner, I visited Xiaoyan’s aunt again with her siblings.

At night, Hamer was excited to travel by sleeper train, though she was initially nervous about sleeping on the top bunk—yet fell asleep peacefully soon after.

The Last Day at Home: A Warm Farewell

This morning, the sun was shining brightly, and the weather felt perfect. I brought my uncle outside to walk and soak up the warmth.

After lunch, I took my mom and Hamer into town to buy groceries for dumplings and snacks for our train ride. In the afternoon, the sun gradually disappeared, and the air grew colder and colder.

In the evening, the whole family gathered to prepare dumplings, with the kids enthusiastically joining in.

I woke up late today after staying up watching Family Matters, making the day feel much shorter. In the morning, my dad kept calling for me repeatedly, which frustrated me.

In the afternoon, I napped while Hamer went to town with her aunt, returning happily with new toys. Later, I struggled while changing my uncle’s bandages and discussed adjustments with my dad.

The day ended warmly with a family dinner, bringing back a comforting sense of togetherness.

A Day of Exploration and Family Time

I took Hamer to explore the Xinjiang River, where she turned our walk through harvested fields into an obstacle course. At lunch, she enjoyed leftovers more than expected.

In the afternoon, we went shopping with her Grandma, played the claw machine, and stocked up on snacks and toys.

In the evening, Hamer helped make dumplings and experimented with adding firewood to the stove in my Grandma’s house.

Lunar New Year - Day 8: The Last Days of Celebration

My uncle’s wound still isn’t healing well, but he was more active and engaged with the family.

At noon, my sister and nephews came over, filling the house with laughter and games.

In the evening, we visited my eldest sister’s house and had meaningful conversations, strengthening our family bonds. Walking home through the dark village, Hamer reflected on the day, calling it “both happy and sad.”

Lunar New Year - Day 7, I decided to extend my stay instead of returning to Beijing as planned, so I could take care of my uncle and spend more time with family.

Hamer learned to ride a bigger bike, her joy radiating as she mastered it. I took the kids to the movies while also dropping Yaoyao off at school. The roads were congested, but I managed well.

I’ve been feeling incredibly sleepy at night, barely staying awake while writing my journal.

Lunar New Year - Day 6, we attended my cousin’s engagement ceremony, traveling as a family on a large bus, which felt like a fun group trip. At the groom’s house, we enjoyed a spread of local snacks before touring the area.

In the evening, we had dinner at my cousin’s place, where his daughter impressively prepared two full tables of delicious food. After dinner, I had a heartfelt conversation with my sister-in-law, realizing how valuable it is just to listen and connect.

Last night, Hamer had multiple vomiting episodes, showing signs of gastroenteritis. She remained calm, but it was a restless night for both of us. I consulted DeepSeek and ChatGPT, both confirming similar symptoms.

In the morning, I accompanied my brother to take our uncle to the hospital for his constipation issue, but the enema didn’t work as expected.

Despite the exhaustion, we continued our family visits, having lunch at my aunt’s and dinner at my second sister’s place. Driving all day was tiring, but the warmth of family gatherings made it all worthwhile.

Lunar New Year – Day 4, we visited my aunt’s house for lunch and my eldest sister’s for dinner. My driving has become much smoother after these days of practice.

My uncle was more active today, doing light exercises in the morning and walking with my brother’s help in the evening. We’re gradually helping him regain independence.

However, I’m feeling under the weather—my throat is sore, and painful mouth sores are making eating and speaking uncomfortable.

Lunar New Year - Day 3, I drove Xiaoyan to the high-speed rail station for her trip, handling the drive smoothly but feeling slightly tense. Later, I picked up family members from my aunt’s house and refueled the car for the first time.

The evening was filled with simple moments—Hamer and Coco playing before doing homework, and my brother making extra egg fried rice when the kids couldn’t get enough. For the first time, I observed the kids managing their bedtime routine independently.

Today started with unexpected news of a fire in the mountains. I helped guide the fire truck and joined villagers in putting out the flames. Later, my brother changed my uncle’s dressing, and I was shocked by the severity of his injury.

In the evening, we gathered at my maternal family’s home. We enjoyed a lively dinner followed by an energetic card game, filling the house with laughter.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we visited family and friends in the village, starting from Grandma’s house and ending at my cousin’s. The day was filled with warmth and laughter.

The sun was intense in the afternoon, and the courtyard was lively with chatter and laughter. In the evening, I was surprised to find Hamer doing her homework, determined to catch up on her schoolwork.

As I write this, I feel very tired, ready to rest and recover for tomorrow’s festivities.

Lunar New Year’s Eve was filled with traditions and joy. I started the day early, exploring DeepSeeK and enjoying a serene frost-covered morning.

The kids helped put up Spring Festival couplets, taking pride in the tradition. After lunch, I drove Xiaoyan and the kids to town and later played chess with Doudou.

The evening was lively, with a big family feast, fireworks, and games. At midnight, we celebrated with more fireworks, welcoming the new year together.

Happy Lunar New Year!

On this sunny 28th day of the lunar month, we gathered at home for New Year’s preparations.

In the morning, I practiced driving a manual car, gradually gaining confidence despite some initial stalling. After lunch, I drove my sisters to town and back, improving but still finding intersections tricky.

In the evening, we celebrated with fireworks, with each person contributing to the fun. The laughter of children and the warmth of family made the night truly festive as we approached the Chinese New Year.

After the rain stopped, the house felt calm and refreshing.

I took my uncle for his IV treatment and picked up a package at a chaotic delivery station. In the afternoon, I played cards for a while before Yaoyao, Sisi, Hanghang came over because they were worried about their Mom. Later, I picked up bicycles in town and played chess with the kids.

We ended the evening with firecrackers and laughter before I turned in early.