For a good six weeks at least, probably since I last made a post here, I've been doing my very best to exercise at least five times a week. It all started when quite inadvertently I discovered I had some residual diastasis in my abdomen (the separation of muscles that occurs during pregnancy). I had been cuddling in bed with Hayden and went to sit up. As I did so, I had put my hand on my stomach and was horrified when my fingers sank into my middle. Shudder.
After some research, it became evident to me why any exercise I had done over the last few years had really had no impact whatsoever on my midriff. Any abdominal exercise I had done had only served to maintain the diastasis. Yuck.
I found a fabulous book, Lose Your Mummy Tummy, by Julie Tupler. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is pregnant, post-partum or has a diastasis. Julie's exercises are easy to do and all it takes it a little stick-to-itiveness to get back on track. Of course, be sure to consult your doctor ahead of time.
While it took a little less than the six weeks Julie recommends to repair it (mine was pretty minor as it turns out), I kept at it and have just now begun to reintegrate abdominal exercises into my workout routine. The nicest thing about this is that it got the ball rolling and I am now in a place where I enjoy my workout and look forward to it. In fact, I rarely am able to exercise on the weekend and I find I quite miss it.
I started with just fat burning on the elliptical machine. I had decided that since music did nothing to motivate me to exercise that I would try something different. I carted out my Buffy Season Seven and watched those on the portable DVD player while I worked out. And like magic the time flies by and I barely notice the agony of working out, as long as I am watching something high action. From a year ago when we purchaed the elliptical to now (with huge lapses in between because of my cosmetic surgery), where I could only do about 3 minutes on it, I can now easily do 30 and sometimes more. I am not at a super high level but I am proud of myself for doing this much.
Recently in an effort to head off batwing arms at the pass, I have started doing some arm exercises on the BowFlex. Thanks to Laura, who is my go-to person for all sorts of things, she has helped suggest some good ones for me and I hope they work.
I have done some serious self-talk and convinced myself that this will take time, results will not be immediate. I have set a year deadline before I start to freak out. I want to point out that it has been suggested to me in the past by various fitness trainers that once a woman crosses thiry-five, it "becomes twice as hard" to lose weight/tone up, etc. I feel fitness trainers do women a disservice everywhere by sending them this message, because personally I had the "why bother then?" attitude. If it's going to be that much harder, why even start? But the fact that I can do my entire workout without taking Ventolin, have a lot more energy and generally feel healthier speaks in volumes to me. I have also incorporated my own high fibre/high protein style of eating into this and have significantly cut out refined white sugar (candy and pop) and carbs (chips and other starches). That is not to say that I don't eat them ever. A person has to enjoy their life at the same time. But I am cautious to not overdo it and usually I find I don't enjoy the treat as much because of the guilt that goes along with it.
Not all of this has been terrific. As I have fought to strengthen my abdominal muscles, the layer of fat over my stomach has gotten jigglier. This is because my muscles aren't pooching out as much any more (I consciously activate them whenever I can), so nothing is supporting the fat. I was quite dismayed at this until I figured it out, which is why I am still intensely trying to fat burn as much as possible.
Anyway, I'll try and mark my progress here when I think of it, but I have also been limiting my computer and television time. I have been really struggling with a lot of sciatic pain in my right side (chiropractic has done nothing for it) and sitting for extended periods of time only aggravates it.
In other news, Hayden is now able to spell and I believe is just starting to write letters...and he's not even four yet! I went for parent observation at his preschool the other day and he spelled 16 three letter words as I watched! I was mightily impressed and really hope he will be just as avid a reader as the rest of the family. Boys don't always have the same amount of interest in reading as girls do. By the next day, the teachers informed me he was beginning to spell four letter words. Yes!
My beautiful Hannah is graduating from high school and will be off to Concordia University in Montreal in the fall! Gulp! I don't know quite what to think of it. She did get accepted into three universities here as well, so we'll see what happens, but right now Concordia is pretty high on her list. And, um, who doesn't want to go to Montreal? I love it there, so I don't blame her!
Miss Kestrel is reading like a house on fire now. Once she got the basics there was no stopping her! She reads well above her age level and I am so happy abou that. She also has flow when she reads and is not stilted, which indicates to me that she is mastering reading ahead. Yay Kes!
The weather here is fantastic, so I am going to go and enjoy it now!
Showing posts with label kta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kta. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sleep, Or the Lack Thereof...
When she doesn't get enough sleep, anywhere will do:
When he doesn't nap, an injection of Spiderman 1 works:
When he doesn't nap, an injection of Spiderman 1 works:
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Update!
Sorry folks, last week was a bit haywire and my computer has also been acting like a dork again. Sometimes I hate technology.
So I took Kestrel out to see Dr. Pirani on Tuesday and we surprisingly didn't have to wait very long. Believe me, I had packed like we were going to be there overnight. But we really only waited a half hour beyond our scheduled time. So the cast technologist Milt showed us in and I gave him the x-ray disc, which he set to work getting to load on the computer. Dr. Pirani came in, I gave him the lowdown including her history with Nursemaid's elbow and once the pictures finally appeared, he walked over to the screen, and immediately said "there's the fracture right there", pointing to the finest dark line you could ever see! In addition to that, he showed me the dark areas around her elbow where a hematoma was forming already to fix the break. So I think the actual break is called "subluxated supracondylar humerus fracture", apparently the most common elbow fracture for kids her age. It's right at the elbow end of the humerus (bone in your upper arm) and likely goes all the way through. Thank goodness we got that and not the exotic break! He told us to keep the cast on and come back next week for further x-rays and a cast change. Big sigh of relief! He was so gentle with Kes and most kind, too. And once again I am awed by his professionalism and knowledge. By the way, the "other"place wasn't even going to be able to see her until the 12th!! WTF?! Um, what if it wasn't fractured, but popped out and was being held in that position for TEN DAYS? I have zero faith in that hospital's orthopaedics department.
So much of the rest of the week was spent controlling my allergies and trying to get Kestrel not to run around like a psycho! She unfortunately fell today while we were out doing a bit of shopping and landed right on the cast. She cried and said it hurt her, but she was fine later. I suspected her knees and other hand hurt worse than the casted arm. Nevertheless, I shall have to mention this at our follow up on Tuesday.
I purchased the game "Guess Who?" for Kes in case we were stuck in waiting room hell, and she's been pretty stoked about playing it. I'd say she gets it right about 75% of the time. The biggest confusion for her comes from the subtle differences in hair colour and also the differences in facial hair. I can remember playing this game when I was a kid and it's been like a trip down memory lane. It's fun to pass on tradition!
I DID finally get down to some sewing and it's been baby blanket bonanza around here! I've finished four more, have five more half sewn and three more cut out. Whooo!
So I took Kestrel out to see Dr. Pirani on Tuesday and we surprisingly didn't have to wait very long. Believe me, I had packed like we were going to be there overnight. But we really only waited a half hour beyond our scheduled time. So the cast technologist Milt showed us in and I gave him the x-ray disc, which he set to work getting to load on the computer. Dr. Pirani came in, I gave him the lowdown including her history with Nursemaid's elbow and once the pictures finally appeared, he walked over to the screen, and immediately said "there's the fracture right there", pointing to the finest dark line you could ever see! In addition to that, he showed me the dark areas around her elbow where a hematoma was forming already to fix the break. So I think the actual break is called "subluxated supracondylar humerus fracture", apparently the most common elbow fracture for kids her age. It's right at the elbow end of the humerus (bone in your upper arm) and likely goes all the way through. Thank goodness we got that and not the exotic break! He told us to keep the cast on and come back next week for further x-rays and a cast change. Big sigh of relief! He was so gentle with Kes and most kind, too. And once again I am awed by his professionalism and knowledge. By the way, the "other"place wasn't even going to be able to see her until the 12th!! WTF?! Um, what if it wasn't fractured, but popped out and was being held in that position for TEN DAYS? I have zero faith in that hospital's orthopaedics department.
So much of the rest of the week was spent controlling my allergies and trying to get Kestrel not to run around like a psycho! She unfortunately fell today while we were out doing a bit of shopping and landed right on the cast. She cried and said it hurt her, but she was fine later. I suspected her knees and other hand hurt worse than the casted arm. Nevertheless, I shall have to mention this at our follow up on Tuesday.
I purchased the game "Guess Who?" for Kes in case we were stuck in waiting room hell, and she's been pretty stoked about playing it. I'd say she gets it right about 75% of the time. The biggest confusion for her comes from the subtle differences in hair colour and also the differences in facial hair. I can remember playing this game when I was a kid and it's been like a trip down memory lane. It's fun to pass on tradition!
I DID finally get down to some sewing and it's been baby blanket bonanza around here! I've finished four more, have five more half sewn and three more cut out. Whooo!
Monday, March 03, 2008
We Interrupt This Message...
So, my happy little glowing post yesterday was brought to an abrupt halt when my five year old was injured by my two and a half year old.
I was talking on the phone when I heard Kes start to cry and say that Hayden hurt her arm. I told her to go sit in the living room and I put him in time out, which he promptly ignored. Anyway, fast forward to about fifteen minutes later when I finally hang up and I go to check on Kestrel and she says in a teary voice "how am I going to dress myself with my arm like this?" I asked her where it was hurting and she pointed to her elbow. I asked her what happened and she told me "Hayden sat on my arm and twisted it". I think "Great. Nursemaid's elbow - AGAIN." I inform hubby and we decide that I should take her to the hospital and he'll hang with Hayden.
Okay. I guesstimated three hours and we were there for three and a half. Now not all of that was waiting, but it was torture nonetheless. There were obvious infectious kids in the waiting area (can't they quarantine them?) and I was squirming in my seat every time a kid hacked or sneezed. Thank goodness they had antiseptic gel everywhere.
So we consulted with the doctor and I explained what happened and that this was, like, the fourth time. He tried to "reduce" it (as they call it) twice and she screamed her head off. I told him that it wouldn't go in the last time either and they had to x-ray, blah-de-blah-de-blah. He decides it should be x-rayed. Back to waiting room, wait some more. Get escorted to x-ray. Wait. Try to console child as she screams her head off for the x-rays (three different positions). They give her a stick-on tattoo and a bendy pencil. Back to waiting room. Get called back into room by another doctor who asks some questions, like "was the arm pulled?" I say no and at this point, Kestrel's story has now changed to "Hayden was twirling around and fell on my arm". He decides since she is kind of old for nursemaid's elbow and that it wasn't pulled that it should be casted. They can't see any fracture on the films, but tell me that doesn't mean it isn't fractured. At the very least, since it hurts so much it will be immobile. Back to waiting room while another kid gets a cast on his foot. I promise her a pink cast and cross my fingers that they have that colour. Previous kid comes out with blue so it looks promising.
Help doctor by holding her arm in position as he applies cast. Bright pink as promised! Then he tells me that he is referring us to the Orthopaedic Department. Giant alarm bell goes off. Brain goes "HELL, NO". In case you are wondering why I will never ever visit the ortho department at BC Children's again, please read this, the clubfoot saga. I leave and immediately spring into action (bit slow on the uptake that girl she is) to get an appointment with our beloved Dr. Pirani.
Most of today was spent obtaining a referral and the x-rays to take with us tomorrow when we see him. So I will be putting aside the sewing yet again to attend to this, but hopefully it can be resolved by the end of tomorrow. Plus, if she needs a different cast, I totally trust the cast technologist there - Milt rocks!
Poor muffin. She woke up crying tonight as she was in pain. We gave her some pain relief and I reassured her that it will be looked after tomorrow. Pray God it is so.
I was talking on the phone when I heard Kes start to cry and say that Hayden hurt her arm. I told her to go sit in the living room and I put him in time out, which he promptly ignored. Anyway, fast forward to about fifteen minutes later when I finally hang up and I go to check on Kestrel and she says in a teary voice "how am I going to dress myself with my arm like this?" I asked her where it was hurting and she pointed to her elbow. I asked her what happened and she told me "Hayden sat on my arm and twisted it". I think "Great. Nursemaid's elbow - AGAIN." I inform hubby and we decide that I should take her to the hospital and he'll hang with Hayden.
Okay. I guesstimated three hours and we were there for three and a half. Now not all of that was waiting, but it was torture nonetheless. There were obvious infectious kids in the waiting area (can't they quarantine them?) and I was squirming in my seat every time a kid hacked or sneezed. Thank goodness they had antiseptic gel everywhere.
So we consulted with the doctor and I explained what happened and that this was, like, the fourth time. He tried to "reduce" it (as they call it) twice and she screamed her head off. I told him that it wouldn't go in the last time either and they had to x-ray, blah-de-blah-de-blah. He decides it should be x-rayed. Back to waiting room, wait some more. Get escorted to x-ray. Wait. Try to console child as she screams her head off for the x-rays (three different positions). They give her a stick-on tattoo and a bendy pencil. Back to waiting room. Get called back into room by another doctor who asks some questions, like "was the arm pulled?" I say no and at this point, Kestrel's story has now changed to "Hayden was twirling around and fell on my arm". He decides since she is kind of old for nursemaid's elbow and that it wasn't pulled that it should be casted. They can't see any fracture on the films, but tell me that doesn't mean it isn't fractured. At the very least, since it hurts so much it will be immobile. Back to waiting room while another kid gets a cast on his foot. I promise her a pink cast and cross my fingers that they have that colour. Previous kid comes out with blue so it looks promising.
Help doctor by holding her arm in position as he applies cast. Bright pink as promised! Then he tells me that he is referring us to the Orthopaedic Department. Giant alarm bell goes off. Brain goes "HELL, NO". In case you are wondering why I will never ever visit the ortho department at BC Children's again, please read this, the clubfoot saga. I leave and immediately spring into action (bit slow on the uptake that girl she is) to get an appointment with our beloved Dr. Pirani.
Most of today was spent obtaining a referral and the x-rays to take with us tomorrow when we see him. So I will be putting aside the sewing yet again to attend to this, but hopefully it can be resolved by the end of tomorrow. Plus, if she needs a different cast, I totally trust the cast technologist there - Milt rocks!
Poor muffin. She woke up crying tonight as she was in pain. We gave her some pain relief and I reassured her that it will be looked after tomorrow. Pray God it is so.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Cranium's Got Some New Things
We've all played the game Cranium right? And loved it, right? Well, now the lttle ones can have fun AND learn with some new products by Cranium.
Cranium Bloom is a new line of preschool games that are aimed at helping kids learn while they have fun. My five year old daughter Kestrel and I had the opportunity to try out a couple of their products: the Let's Go to the Zoo Seek & Find Puzzle and the Let's Play Count & Cook Game.
We started with the puzzle and it was relatively easy to assemble, with big sturdy pieces and identifiable markings. The goal is to find certain items in the puzzle and circle them with a pen. Oddly enough, the puzzle we received was slightly misprinted only on one piece, so it did not match up entirely. Nonetheless, Kestrel had a great time going through first the "beginner" booklet, finding and circling all the items easily. The nicest thing about this is that it comes with a dry erase pen and the ink comes off easily so the kids can play again and again. She moved over to the "advanced" booklet in no time, and even though she can't yet read, it was pretty easy to figure out what she was to look for. I wondered if she would get bored after a few times of playing it because she already knew where everything was, but the beauty of the five year old memory, or at least hers, is that she could remember a few and still had fun finding them again and again. I love this game and would definitely recommend it to parents.
The Count & Cook Game comes with a gameboard, dice , tokens and playing pieces, as well as a "recipe" book with real recipes. The tokens are put into slots on the gameboard. You select a recipe from the book and roll the dice. You can move your playing piece in either direction to collect the required tokens to complete the recipe. The person to put the last ingredient down is the "winner". It was a simple enough game, but a great introduction to more complex board games later on, I thought. My son fought with my daughter over the little playing pieces (cute little people in chef's hats) and they both seemed to be interested in the game for more than an average length of time. This game is an excellent way to help kids with counting, as well as introduce them to cooking. While we did not actually make any of the recipes together yet (a project we shall save for a rainy day), Kestrel gave this one the thumbs up too!
Thanks to Mom Central for giving us this opportunity to try out some fun new games!
Cranium Bloom is a new line of preschool games that are aimed at helping kids learn while they have fun. My five year old daughter Kestrel and I had the opportunity to try out a couple of their products: the Let's Go to the Zoo Seek & Find Puzzle and the Let's Play Count & Cook Game.
We started with the puzzle and it was relatively easy to assemble, with big sturdy pieces and identifiable markings. The goal is to find certain items in the puzzle and circle them with a pen. Oddly enough, the puzzle we received was slightly misprinted only on one piece, so it did not match up entirely. Nonetheless, Kestrel had a great time going through first the "beginner" booklet, finding and circling all the items easily. The nicest thing about this is that it comes with a dry erase pen and the ink comes off easily so the kids can play again and again. She moved over to the "advanced" booklet in no time, and even though she can't yet read, it was pretty easy to figure out what she was to look for. I wondered if she would get bored after a few times of playing it because she already knew where everything was, but the beauty of the five year old memory, or at least hers, is that she could remember a few and still had fun finding them again and again. I love this game and would definitely recommend it to parents.
The Count & Cook Game comes with a gameboard, dice , tokens and playing pieces, as well as a "recipe" book with real recipes. The tokens are put into slots on the gameboard. You select a recipe from the book and roll the dice. You can move your playing piece in either direction to collect the required tokens to complete the recipe. The person to put the last ingredient down is the "winner". It was a simple enough game, but a great introduction to more complex board games later on, I thought. My son fought with my daughter over the little playing pieces (cute little people in chef's hats) and they both seemed to be interested in the game for more than an average length of time. This game is an excellent way to help kids with counting, as well as introduce them to cooking. While we did not actually make any of the recipes together yet (a project we shall save for a rainy day), Kestrel gave this one the thumbs up too!
Thanks to Mom Central for giving us this opportunity to try out some fun new games!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Snow Candy
Well, the snow has come and gone here leaving behind no evidence of its visit whatsoever. I guess we can look forward to at least a month of rain now. Nice.
Just before the rain struck and eliminated all of the wonderful white stuff, I scooped a bunch of it up, placed it in the freezer temporarily and then got to work. I melted about two cups of white sugar (that was way too much, by the way), added a little vanilla and then poured it on the snow to harden. The thing with heating white sugar until it melts is that it tends to have this slightly burned flavour to it, but I don't really mind that. Unfortunately, the "candy" also had a tinge of "Vancouver Smog" flavour to it, so I ended up chucking it all out. It was fun, though! The kids had a blast in the snow while it lasted. They got all geared up (I was exhausted by the time they went out the door) and played for quite some time out there. It's nice to see them get some great activity outdoors.
While it was still snowing, I was sitting in the living room and started noticing this odd noise out the front of my house. I thought someone was on the front deck, so I looked out the window and lo and behold! Our neighbour was busy shovelling off our steps! We truly have moved into the twilight zone here! In our old neighbourhood, a scary drug addict came to the door asking for money to shovel our walk. I do give him credit for wanting to actually do something for the money, but I wasn't about to support his disease, so I sent him away. Things like that were a daily occurrence for us there. We can't believe how different it is and how un-stressed we are now. Later our neighbour took Kes along with his daughter (who is in her class) and his son over to toboggan at a nearby park. How much do you love a neighbour like that?
It's been a little while since I posted and I wanted to share something that happened to me. Just over a week ago, I had this very strange "attack" on my system. It was late at night and I had been laying on the couch, drowsing. I'd had a couple of drinks, but was by no means drunk. I got up to go to bed and brushed my teeth, etc. When I rounded the corner to my room I suddenly got this very tight feeling in my chest, couldn't breathe and my arms went numb to my elbows. I instinctually started to breathe slow, deep breaths (one of the times that being asthmatic actually came in handy because I am so practiced at it), found my husband and sat with him for around ten minutes until it began to pass. We thought perhaps it was a physiological event, where I was maybe slightly dehydrated and then standing up to quickly made all the blood rush down from my head. I have fairly low blood pressure and tend to get head rushes all the time when I stand up. While it was happening, I was quite scared and thought the word "ambulance" more than once. It was hard not to panic and took quite a lot of effort to keep my breathing slow, rather than giving in to hyperventilating.
Research showed up a few things. The thing about the internet is it can give you too much information that may or may not be correct. All of the symptoms I had matched the criteria for angina or a heart malfunction as well as a panic attack. I knew it was neither because a) I was not having pain in my heart or on that side, I was only slightly numb and b) the cognitive part was missing for anxiety or panic. I am quite the opposite since hubby and I have been more in love than ever and therefore happy. Laura suggested it was heartburn because she said she had something similar happen to her once. This made some sense to me since I have been having a lot of digestion problems lately. But looking around on the internet did not turn up these symptoms in association with heartburn. Unfortunately, I was so freaked by the event that my anxiety was high for the next few days and I kept feeling like it might happen again. Curse my overactive brain!
I had to see my doctor yesterday to get a flu shot, so I asked her about it. Turns out that Laura was correct. Or at least close. It wasn't heartburn, but in fact an esophageal spasm. Apparently the acid rises suddenly to the esophagus and it seizes up, causing all of the symptoms I had! So the combination of alcohol with a caffeinated/carbonated drink and my current reflux problems made this all happen. Phew! Thanks Dr. Laura! I shall be taking a stronger antacid now to prevent that from ever happening again. Oh, and if that is what a panic attack feels like minus the mental panic? I NEVER want to experience that EVER!
So I got my flu shot and Hamster Boy was due for some vaccinations as well. Or should I say overdue. He's always been behind because of the whole casts on his legs for seven months thing, but we are now officially caught up! I thought that he needed one more vax and was thinking I'd toture him with the chicken pox vax since Kes just got that one too. Ahem. He needed two more shots and our doctor suggested the flu shot as well, so we skipped the chicken pox one for now and I'll get it done sometime before he goes to preschool. The first shot went well and he barely noticed it. The second one he started screaming "owie! owie!" and pummeled our doctor's stomach with his feet (sorry Sylvia!). By the third one he was hysterical and she barely got it in. That one bled because I was trying to control all of his limbs at once and he was kicking so hard that the needle moved sideways slightly. I am so glad he is the last of my kids. Really.
Poor guy is limping today on that leg.
Here's some yumminess:
Just before the rain struck and eliminated all of the wonderful white stuff, I scooped a bunch of it up, placed it in the freezer temporarily and then got to work. I melted about two cups of white sugar (that was way too much, by the way), added a little vanilla and then poured it on the snow to harden. The thing with heating white sugar until it melts is that it tends to have this slightly burned flavour to it, but I don't really mind that. Unfortunately, the "candy" also had a tinge of "Vancouver Smog" flavour to it, so I ended up chucking it all out. It was fun, though! The kids had a blast in the snow while it lasted. They got all geared up (I was exhausted by the time they went out the door) and played for quite some time out there. It's nice to see them get some great activity outdoors.
While it was still snowing, I was sitting in the living room and started noticing this odd noise out the front of my house. I thought someone was on the front deck, so I looked out the window and lo and behold! Our neighbour was busy shovelling off our steps! We truly have moved into the twilight zone here! In our old neighbourhood, a scary drug addict came to the door asking for money to shovel our walk. I do give him credit for wanting to actually do something for the money, but I wasn't about to support his disease, so I sent him away. Things like that were a daily occurrence for us there. We can't believe how different it is and how un-stressed we are now. Later our neighbour took Kes along with his daughter (who is in her class) and his son over to toboggan at a nearby park. How much do you love a neighbour like that?
It's been a little while since I posted and I wanted to share something that happened to me. Just over a week ago, I had this very strange "attack" on my system. It was late at night and I had been laying on the couch, drowsing. I'd had a couple of drinks, but was by no means drunk. I got up to go to bed and brushed my teeth, etc. When I rounded the corner to my room I suddenly got this very tight feeling in my chest, couldn't breathe and my arms went numb to my elbows. I instinctually started to breathe slow, deep breaths (one of the times that being asthmatic actually came in handy because I am so practiced at it), found my husband and sat with him for around ten minutes until it began to pass. We thought perhaps it was a physiological event, where I was maybe slightly dehydrated and then standing up to quickly made all the blood rush down from my head. I have fairly low blood pressure and tend to get head rushes all the time when I stand up. While it was happening, I was quite scared and thought the word "ambulance" more than once. It was hard not to panic and took quite a lot of effort to keep my breathing slow, rather than giving in to hyperventilating.
Research showed up a few things. The thing about the internet is it can give you too much information that may or may not be correct. All of the symptoms I had matched the criteria for angina or a heart malfunction as well as a panic attack. I knew it was neither because a) I was not having pain in my heart or on that side, I was only slightly numb and b) the cognitive part was missing for anxiety or panic. I am quite the opposite since hubby and I have been more in love than ever and therefore happy. Laura suggested it was heartburn because she said she had something similar happen to her once. This made some sense to me since I have been having a lot of digestion problems lately. But looking around on the internet did not turn up these symptoms in association with heartburn. Unfortunately, I was so freaked by the event that my anxiety was high for the next few days and I kept feeling like it might happen again. Curse my overactive brain!
I had to see my doctor yesterday to get a flu shot, so I asked her about it. Turns out that Laura was correct. Or at least close. It wasn't heartburn, but in fact an esophageal spasm. Apparently the acid rises suddenly to the esophagus and it seizes up, causing all of the symptoms I had! So the combination of alcohol with a caffeinated/carbonated drink and my current reflux problems made this all happen. Phew! Thanks Dr. Laura! I shall be taking a stronger antacid now to prevent that from ever happening again. Oh, and if that is what a panic attack feels like minus the mental panic? I NEVER want to experience that EVER!
So I got my flu shot and Hamster Boy was due for some vaccinations as well. Or should I say overdue. He's always been behind because of the whole casts on his legs for seven months thing, but we are now officially caught up! I thought that he needed one more vax and was thinking I'd toture him with the chicken pox vax since Kes just got that one too. Ahem. He needed two more shots and our doctor suggested the flu shot as well, so we skipped the chicken pox one for now and I'll get it done sometime before he goes to preschool. The first shot went well and he barely noticed it. The second one he started screaming "owie! owie!" and pummeled our doctor's stomach with his feet (sorry Sylvia!). By the third one he was hysterical and she barely got it in. That one bled because I was trying to control all of his limbs at once and he was kicking so hard that the needle moved sideways slightly. I am so glad he is the last of my kids. Really.
Poor guy is limping today on that leg.
Here's some yumminess:
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I Shouldn't Be Blogging Today
I am in the worst mood. My day is hideous so far and it's only just after 8 am. It's probably all the fault of a little someone with the initials P, M and S. I am feeling much like going on a murderous rampage. Hide the axes.
The last week or so has been pretty fine, I guess. Nothing major to report. Actually there are a couple of things. On Monday, November 19th, Kestrel woke up on her fifth birthday and announced that since she was five, she was now going to throw out her "uggies" (soothers). In fact, once we got downstairs, she handed them to me and requested I chuck them out. I complied, expecting immediate regrets, but there were none. In fact, even though she mentioned them a few times over the next day or two, there were no tears, there was no whining and there was no asking for them back (good thing because I did NOT want to go garbage can diving!) She's been promised a pretty special present if she lasts a week, which is tomorrow. I think she is going to make it!
Remember when Hayden smashed his front teeth? About two weeks ago I had looked at the displaced tooth and thought to myself "well, it looks like it's going to stay there". That was okay with me because at least he HAD the tooth. A couple of days ago I was changing his diaper and he was giggling at me for some reason and I realize that the tooth is back where it should be! It is almost exactly back to normal! Yippee!! I was so excited I had to phone my hubby and tell him. Give it up for the human body! We really ARE regenerating miracles aren't we? I guess that was why he'd been so miserable for a few weeks - maybe the tooth was repositioning itself and it was bothering him?
The last bit of news is that I converted Hayden's crib to the toddler bed. This is a bit earlier than I might have done it ordinarily (I wanted to say for Kes, but she never slept in the stupid crib), but I am so fed up with being "paged" to get him out in the morning that I thought I would just make it easier for him and me. We are on day four and each night he has gotten out of the bed about three times and then settled down. Interestingly, when I've put him into it for his nap, he has stayed there?!?! That kid is weird.
I've got several knitting projects on the go right now, but I finished my snowflakes. I think they turned out GREAT! Have a look:
I also made these guys from the Mochimochi Blog. They're blades of grass and I named them after shades of green: Jade, Olive, Fern and Myrtle (if you don't believe me, check Wikipedia):
The last week or so has been pretty fine, I guess. Nothing major to report. Actually there are a couple of things. On Monday, November 19th, Kestrel woke up on her fifth birthday and announced that since she was five, she was now going to throw out her "uggies" (soothers). In fact, once we got downstairs, she handed them to me and requested I chuck them out. I complied, expecting immediate regrets, but there were none. In fact, even though she mentioned them a few times over the next day or two, there were no tears, there was no whining and there was no asking for them back (good thing because I did NOT want to go garbage can diving!) She's been promised a pretty special present if she lasts a week, which is tomorrow. I think she is going to make it!
Remember when Hayden smashed his front teeth? About two weeks ago I had looked at the displaced tooth and thought to myself "well, it looks like it's going to stay there". That was okay with me because at least he HAD the tooth. A couple of days ago I was changing his diaper and he was giggling at me for some reason and I realize that the tooth is back where it should be! It is almost exactly back to normal! Yippee!! I was so excited I had to phone my hubby and tell him. Give it up for the human body! We really ARE regenerating miracles aren't we? I guess that was why he'd been so miserable for a few weeks - maybe the tooth was repositioning itself and it was bothering him?
The last bit of news is that I converted Hayden's crib to the toddler bed. This is a bit earlier than I might have done it ordinarily (I wanted to say for Kes, but she never slept in the stupid crib), but I am so fed up with being "paged" to get him out in the morning that I thought I would just make it easier for him and me. We are on day four and each night he has gotten out of the bed about three times and then settled down. Interestingly, when I've put him into it for his nap, he has stayed there?!?! That kid is weird.
I've got several knitting projects on the go right now, but I finished my snowflakes. I think they turned out GREAT! Have a look:
I also made these guys from the Mochimochi Blog. They're blades of grass and I named them after shades of green: Jade, Olive, Fern and Myrtle (if you don't believe me, check Wikipedia):
Saturday, September 08, 2007
What's with the Weather?
I've had to break out the knee socks and my warmer sweater. This is my favourite time of year, as I think I've mentioned once or a million times. Unfortunately, it's that exact time of year when you don't know how to dress to go out because the weather can end up being anything. If you're smart, you'll dress in layers so you can peel them off or put them back on. So confusing! As much as I hate the endless rain we get here, we keep getting teased into thinking it's not coming. And then one day it will just start and not stop. Okay, there's my season rant for the year.
My brother and SIL are doing as well as can be expected during this difficult time. My feeling is that we need to get them past that critical due date and then the true healing journey can begin. Even then, time will be measured in terms of "what might have been" for a long time. Our family operates this way. We think something into oblivion because this is how we integrate bad experiences. Speaking from experience, it has often taken me YEARS to work through something and I've never been through something as hard as this. All I know is the adage is true: "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger". It also makes us more compassionate, more understanding and maybe even more long-suffering. I know they will take as much time as is necessary to grieve together and comfort one another and thank goodness they have that. They are smart people. They won't rush the process and I hope they can take as much time as possible from outside obligations. I'm thinking about them every day and I want them to know that I would go to the lengths of the earth to help them. {INSERT GIGANTIC HUG HERE}
(Shhh....don't tell them...I'm working on a little project for them and I have to use the old lady magnifying glass that hangs around my neck to do it!)
The first week of school went just well with the only problem with Kes being that she does NOT want to leave the after school portion of her day and gets quite irate. One of the days she cried half of the way home. So I don't think we're going to have any "I don't want to go to school" issues! It's nice to be able to plan a day out and not juggle it around having two kids home.
As per usual, I am trying to do too many projects at once. And my brain hates that I can't do them all together. At the same time. I'd get SO much more accomplished that way! Argh! Why was I cursed with this creatively hyperactive brain? I never complete anything because I'm always working on too many things. I can't order them into a list of importance because they are all important. Argh.
My brother and SIL are doing as well as can be expected during this difficult time. My feeling is that we need to get them past that critical due date and then the true healing journey can begin. Even then, time will be measured in terms of "what might have been" for a long time. Our family operates this way. We think something into oblivion because this is how we integrate bad experiences. Speaking from experience, it has often taken me YEARS to work through something and I've never been through something as hard as this. All I know is the adage is true: "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger". It also makes us more compassionate, more understanding and maybe even more long-suffering. I know they will take as much time as is necessary to grieve together and comfort one another and thank goodness they have that. They are smart people. They won't rush the process and I hope they can take as much time as possible from outside obligations. I'm thinking about them every day and I want them to know that I would go to the lengths of the earth to help them. {INSERT GIGANTIC HUG HERE}
(Shhh....don't tell them...I'm working on a little project for them and I have to use the old lady magnifying glass that hangs around my neck to do it!)
The first week of school went just well with the only problem with Kes being that she does NOT want to leave the after school portion of her day and gets quite irate. One of the days she cried half of the way home. So I don't think we're going to have any "I don't want to go to school" issues! It's nice to be able to plan a day out and not juggle it around having two kids home.
As per usual, I am trying to do too many projects at once. And my brain hates that I can't do them all together. At the same time. I'd get SO much more accomplished that way! Argh! Why was I cursed with this creatively hyperactive brain? I never complete anything because I'm always working on too many things. I can't order them into a list of importance because they are all important. Argh.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Lost in Translation
Both of my daughters began talking at an early age, with first words being around 9 and 10 months respectively. The boy took a lot longer in my opinion, but certainly didn't fall outside "the norm". Right now, his speech is a mixture of gibberish and totally clear statements. He also has some quirky words and phrases that I love and admittedly don't try to change just yet. Gimme a break, he's my last baby and I want to keep him that way! While his slightly older sister (who starts Kindergarten on Tuesday - yahoo!) speaks perfectly clearly, she has some pretty funny replacement words that make me wonder if she just doesn't hear them properly. A couple that I can call to mind right now are:
She calls the fast food restaurant A&W, "Alien and W"
While away in Tofino, she was calling the anemones that we found "sea enemies"
But Hayden has some good ones too. In the mornings, he'll say to me "I want offa shoes on", which means "take off this stupid orthopaedic brace!" He has a plastic toy wolf and donkey and he calls them his "rain-dogs" - occasionally he actually will say "reindeer" - either way it is funny! If he actually uses the word "donkey", he means "doughnut" (it comes out more like "done-key" - but we laugh at the irony of it since he has the above toy. "Mighty Machines" and "medicine" both sound like "my shee-sheen", but with a subtle difference that only I can detect. He calls my mom "Nina" (all the other grands call her "Nanny") and my dad "Gumpa" (all the others call him "Grandad"). He has some pretty normal pronunciations of things, where the letter k is replaced with a t (kitty=titty, Kessie=Tessie), etc.
Every once in awhile he'll surprise me and come out with a sentence that is clear as a bell. For example while we were away, he had to sleep in the same bed as us (it was torture and I don't even want to talk about it) and one morning he head-butted me in the face and said into my ear "MOM WAKE UP, I'M HUNGRY!"
All in all I'd say his speech is right on track and there is only the odd time where he says something that I just cannot translate and he gets very frustrated with me.
In other news, Kestrel starts Kindergarten next week (as mentioned above) and she is pretty stoked. It's the end of another era in my life and also hers. She will now be in the clutches of the school system and everything that I say will have no value against what the teacher says. not that that isn't happening already tho'. I hope things get more normal around here now that school is back on track.
Oh, and we still have a garbage strike on here with no other community services. Nice. I guess it's a good thing that I don't frequent the library and would rather buy books instead!
She calls the fast food restaurant A&W, "Alien and W"
While away in Tofino, she was calling the anemones that we found "sea enemies"
But Hayden has some good ones too. In the mornings, he'll say to me "I want offa shoes on", which means "take off this stupid orthopaedic brace!" He has a plastic toy wolf and donkey and he calls them his "rain-dogs" - occasionally he actually will say "reindeer" - either way it is funny! If he actually uses the word "donkey", he means "doughnut" (it comes out more like "done-key" - but we laugh at the irony of it since he has the above toy. "Mighty Machines" and "medicine" both sound like "my shee-sheen", but with a subtle difference that only I can detect. He calls my mom "Nina" (all the other grands call her "Nanny") and my dad "Gumpa" (all the others call him "Grandad"). He has some pretty normal pronunciations of things, where the letter k is replaced with a t (kitty=titty, Kessie=Tessie), etc.
Every once in awhile he'll surprise me and come out with a sentence that is clear as a bell. For example while we were away, he had to sleep in the same bed as us (it was torture and I don't even want to talk about it) and one morning he head-butted me in the face and said into my ear "MOM WAKE UP, I'M HUNGRY!"
All in all I'd say his speech is right on track and there is only the odd time where he says something that I just cannot translate and he gets very frustrated with me.
In other news, Kestrel starts Kindergarten next week (as mentioned above) and she is pretty stoked. It's the end of another era in my life and also hers. She will now be in the clutches of the school system and everything that I say will have no value against what the teacher says. not that that isn't happening already tho'. I hope things get more normal around here now that school is back on track.
Oh, and we still have a garbage strike on here with no other community services. Nice. I guess it's a good thing that I don't frequent the library and would rather buy books instead!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Projects, Projects
As if I don't have enough of them, I have started a small sewing project (I should be doing my LARGE sewing projects, but well, you know...). Inspired by a suggestion from my mother and totally flummoxed by how I am going to get my daughter (never mind my son) off of her "uggies" (soothers), I am attempting to design a satin soothie for her. See, one of the things preventing me from weaning her off of them is that she has this whole ritual set up that doesn't involve just sucking on one of them. There's the two that she rubs on her nose. But how do you take away the one for her mouth and leave her with two that could potentially go into her mouth? It won't work. And forgive me for being so lazy to not want to try and set up a completely different set of comfort tools for her. While pondering this with my mother one day, she suggested perhaps a blanket with a satin edge (this has been a family favourite for years), which then sparked the notion of making a satin pacifier that she could still hold and rub on her nose in the same manner, but might be kind of yucky if put in the mouth. Anyway, my first trial has failed abysmally and I may have to consult with Mom for some input. I'll keep you posted on that one. Oh, and I found this picture of Kes when she was small with all of her "uggies", just so you get an idea of how much of a problem this is:
My kids are addicted to what they call "hot dogs", which are in fact "Hot Rods" - those little pepperoni sticks that you can buy at the corner store. Yes, they're salty and fatty and probably loaded with nitrates, but sometimes they are the lesser of the two evils when they are constantly ragging on me for sugar treats. This morning Kes got each of them a "hot dog" and Hayden wolfed his down in a matter of minutes. He returned, informing me that it was "picey", but that he wanted "more more hot dog". This is how he makes a request for everything right now; "more more milk", "more more rice", "more more chapchup" (ketchup) and it is in this sing-songy voice that makes him sound like some sort of talking elevator or something. I asked if he wanted milk and he said yes, so as I got that for him, he helped himself to another "hot dog" from the cupboard. he then came over to me and said "Aha! Hot dog!" I got a giggle out of that one! Oh, and when I kissed him on the cheek later, he rubbed it off and said "dose", which means "gross". Nice.
That's about it for now - still dying from allergies and feeling particularly disgusting and under the weather today, but have to "stiff upper lip" it because there is a street festival today nearby and we have promised Kes we will go with the neighbours to ite. Wish me your best!
My kids are addicted to what they call "hot dogs", which are in fact "Hot Rods" - those little pepperoni sticks that you can buy at the corner store. Yes, they're salty and fatty and probably loaded with nitrates, but sometimes they are the lesser of the two evils when they are constantly ragging on me for sugar treats. This morning Kes got each of them a "hot dog" and Hayden wolfed his down in a matter of minutes. He returned, informing me that it was "picey", but that he wanted "more more hot dog". This is how he makes a request for everything right now; "more more milk", "more more rice", "more more chapchup" (ketchup) and it is in this sing-songy voice that makes him sound like some sort of talking elevator or something. I asked if he wanted milk and he said yes, so as I got that for him, he helped himself to another "hot dog" from the cupboard. he then came over to me and said "Aha! Hot dog!" I got a giggle out of that one! Oh, and when I kissed him on the cheek later, he rubbed it off and said "dose", which means "gross". Nice.
That's about it for now - still dying from allergies and feeling particularly disgusting and under the weather today, but have to "stiff upper lip" it because there is a street festival today nearby and we have promised Kes we will go with the neighbours to ite. Wish me your best!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Bits and Pieces
Well, where to start? Okay, first of all the dental experience went just fine. At least it went reasonably how I expected it to, other than the waiting half an hour past our scheduled visit time - but like I've said, the place is where kids want to be! Video games, toys, puzzles and books, t.v.s with headphones, a dressup corner....which when I went to check on Kes at one point, she had disrobed to her skivvies and was putting on one of the princess outfits. I had to explain to her that the clothing was designed to go over top of what she was wearing! Hayden wandered after big boys, saying "hi!"
Once in, the hygienist asked Hayden if he wanted to "get his picture taken" (x-rays) and he immediately errupted in a screaming "NOOOOOOO!" Even with him on my knee and trying to soothe him, he was hysterical within minutes so we abandoned the idea. I kind of thought they were dreaming and wondered why they wanted to do it when two months ago they told me they didn't do them on kids that young? Weird. He and I got escorted to the "quiet room" so other kids did not get upset listening to my son flip out. We got through the exam quite quickly - it was just a follow up and I didn't learn anything new, just that the teeth are "retruding" and they look fine. I'm wondering if it was just another time they could ding my dental plan $42.00 for a 3 minute look. In the meantime, the other hygienist had asked if she could get started on Kes, who seemed willing, so I just had to let her. With nary the bat of an eye, she sat through x-rays, a check by the hygienist, a polishing, flouride, scaling and a check by the dentist - who pretty much told me the obvious (but nicely), that the "uggies" have to go. All in all, a good visit.
Since then, nothing super new has happened. Preschool has gotten a little chaotic for the next couple of weeks as our sweet teacher lost her beloved husband suddenly to death. We have no details about what happened and the kids have been told nothing other than she won't be back before they are done. They've had to combine the two classes and the kids are really confused and upset. We're thinking about pulling Kes early and trying to contact the teacher later once the dust settles. Very sad, though, as the rumours are it was an accident.
Kes had Kindergarten orientation yesterday at her new school, which went fab. Everyone met in the library and after a brief introduction by the principal, the kids were led away by the two K teachers and then we got to hear a bit more from the principal (who is wonderful and really cares), the PAC leader, the librarian, the community health nurse, a rep from VPL (Vancouver Public Library) and one of the teachers who had returned to say a few words. Their focus at this school is early literacy so they encourage to read at all turns, which I think is terrific. I have always been a voracious reader and even though I hold no degrees, I feel that I have a wide knowledge base due to the fact that I read a lot and often. Plus I think my vocabulary is pretty good, too!
This morning Hayden counted to twelve completely on his own! I was very surprised and pleased! Some other things he's been doing include volunteering "sorry" in the right context, being a jokester (he will truly be the class clown) and singing more songs from memory.
That's about it for now!
Once in, the hygienist asked Hayden if he wanted to "get his picture taken" (x-rays) and he immediately errupted in a screaming "NOOOOOOO!" Even with him on my knee and trying to soothe him, he was hysterical within minutes so we abandoned the idea. I kind of thought they were dreaming and wondered why they wanted to do it when two months ago they told me they didn't do them on kids that young? Weird. He and I got escorted to the "quiet room" so other kids did not get upset listening to my son flip out. We got through the exam quite quickly - it was just a follow up and I didn't learn anything new, just that the teeth are "retruding" and they look fine. I'm wondering if it was just another time they could ding my dental plan $42.00 for a 3 minute look. In the meantime, the other hygienist had asked if she could get started on Kes, who seemed willing, so I just had to let her. With nary the bat of an eye, she sat through x-rays, a check by the hygienist, a polishing, flouride, scaling and a check by the dentist - who pretty much told me the obvious (but nicely), that the "uggies" have to go. All in all, a good visit.
Since then, nothing super new has happened. Preschool has gotten a little chaotic for the next couple of weeks as our sweet teacher lost her beloved husband suddenly to death. We have no details about what happened and the kids have been told nothing other than she won't be back before they are done. They've had to combine the two classes and the kids are really confused and upset. We're thinking about pulling Kes early and trying to contact the teacher later once the dust settles. Very sad, though, as the rumours are it was an accident.
Kes had Kindergarten orientation yesterday at her new school, which went fab. Everyone met in the library and after a brief introduction by the principal, the kids were led away by the two K teachers and then we got to hear a bit more from the principal (who is wonderful and really cares), the PAC leader, the librarian, the community health nurse, a rep from VPL (Vancouver Public Library) and one of the teachers who had returned to say a few words. Their focus at this school is early literacy so they encourage to read at all turns, which I think is terrific. I have always been a voracious reader and even though I hold no degrees, I feel that I have a wide knowledge base due to the fact that I read a lot and often. Plus I think my vocabulary is pretty good, too!
This morning Hayden counted to twelve completely on his own! I was very surprised and pleased! Some other things he's been doing include volunteering "sorry" in the right context, being a jokester (he will truly be the class clown) and singing more songs from memory.
That's about it for now!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Gulp!
Today is a big day - gulp - I get to take the two littles to the dentist! Kes will be having a cleaning for the first time and Hayden will be getting checked over to see if the teeth he smashed are ok. They've almost shifted back in place, so I think they'll be fine. I am bracing myself for the soother lecture for the bajillionth time and am planning my witty comeback. I love it when health professionals browbeat you about stuff - NOT. So, I will try and fill you all in about how it goes. The best part is that the dentist's office that I am taking them to is like Playland. There is video games, a dress-up corner, a mirror tunnel, televisions, books, toys - situated everywhere in the entire office. Plus they have the GIANT baskets of prizes for the kids to choose from. Hopefully all will be ok.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Gettin' There!
Okay, so three weeks in the new place and I still have some boxes to unpack, not to mention the entire garage full of stuff that was all boxes of things in our old basement (that sat there for 6 years untouched), but I am beginning to feel like I'm almost there. I have been trying to channel my twin sister, who would have had all of this done in two days, but it's not working out so well. Naturally there are the considerations of newer household furnishings (new couch) to purchase as well as accessories (flat screen t.v.s), but all in good time. By way of an aside, the UGLY couch and loveseat that have been featured in many of the photos I have posted are GONE!! I am jubilant! Know why? They were a WEDDING gift from my SECOND husband's parents in 1994. All I can say is "ding dong the witch is dead". Every time I looked at those things they represented something less than savoury to me. The local chapter of the SPCA was more than happy to take them off our hands to resell to someone who will love them again.
Oh, and my office/slash sewing room has become a reality! Can I hear a "what-what"? Or better yet, how about a chorus of angels all singing that one perfect note? I've actually already made a baby blanket and given it as a gift - the ones for sale will come eventually, but for now I feel I must get back into the swing of things.
I have a lot on my plate right now. Household things aside, I've got Hayden's fundraiser coming up and did I mention I agreed to be a coordinator? What on earth was I thinking? I haven't even collected one cent for the walk yet and it's next Sunday. Boy when I choose to be dumb, I go all the way.
I need to unearth all of my fabric and crafting supplies and get them organized. I'm a little terrified of digging out all of the rubber stamps because I have been buying them willy nilly over the past few years and stuffing them anywhere and I really think I've lost track of the ones I've bought and exactly how many of them I have. Gulp! The fabric situation is no better. I notice that most of the plastic bins in the aforementioned garage have "Heather Material" written on the side of them. Oh boy.
I am continuing to work on the Ugandan project for Dr. Pirani. I got stuck on one piece that was much longer than the others and much harder to decipher (these are notes that were transcribed from tape and I am rewriting them and putting them into more of a "professional" format). It was also a very gut-wrenching piece for me to read as it got into more detail of the poverty situation over there and what people have to go through to survive, never mind getting treatment for their clubfoot kid. No wonder the rate of correction is only 60% as opposed to over 95% here. I now have a new mission that coincides with my desire to pay a visit over there. I have an appointment set up to talk to Dr. Pirani for early June and will fill you in when the time comes. Let's just say I am feeling very passionate about it.
I've been trying to write for myself as well. Not sure if I mentioned the children's story I have written, but I also have a piece of adult fiction that I've started and am not getting very far with. The time! Oh the time!
Here's the thing: having my "own space" to set up does not necessaily mean that I get the precious minutes to do it in. How about that? Huh!
The days seem to go by in one foggy haze for me right now. The kids being together in the same room has generally worked out - Kes will just roll over and ignore Hayden if he's bothering. But I notice that Hayden's nap is starting to play a key role in how well he settles down. If he gets to sleep later than around 1:30, then he's awake for much longer (like right now I can hear him thrashing his brace against the crib right above me - turkey). This, of course does not mean that he won't still wake up at SIX-FREAKIN'-FIFTEEN in the morning, like he's been doing for the past couple of weeks. I feel like the walking dead right now. Or like I have suddenly acquired ADD (not too unlikely as it is already in the family) and concentrate on one thing at a time. Ay me.
On Kes: the bribery technique for the toileting issue has worked WONDERS! It worked almost from the get-go and I have let a couple of little near incidents go. I wasn't going to today, but she was so devastated that she wasn't going to be able to put a sticker on the calendar that I made a deal with her and it all worked out. I have to say that as bad as people think bribery is, it WORKS. Plus as a friend's husband put it: "I wouldn't go to work if they didn't pay me" - so technically the world is made up of bribery, ain't it? HA!
On Hayden: his language skills are still reasonably immature, but progressing. I can understand most of his gibberish and now and again he comes out with expressions such as "Oh, NO WAY!" and "Oh God!" that sound hilarious. I find that even though his speech is less advanced than his sisters' was, he is much more mature in many other ways. For example, this morning I sat him on a big chair at the kitchen table so he could eat a fruit cup. We got rid of the high chair before we moved and bought a little inflatable booster seat, but I bypassed it today. He calmly sat and ate his fruit, stopping to sip the juice out of the cup when he noticed it was dripping off his spoon onto the table. Had I ever tried that with Kes at this age, she would have been off the chair and running around splashing fruit juice all over the house.
Recently I bought a CD for Hayden at his sing-a-long group by this woman (who runs the group) and both of the kids love it**. It's a CD of fun songs for kids that aren't necessarily all kiddie songs. I think some of them might be old pub songs actually! When "The Cat Came Back" starts to play you can hear Hayden singing "back", "day", "away" and it is just so darned cute. I really need to get him into music as early as possible. He just loves singing. He also sings along to his Learn to Dress Elmo doll, which I love!
Well, that's about all for now folks. Bye for now!
** My favorite song on the CD is "Paddy McGinty's Goat" - way too funny:
Mister Patrick McGinty, an Irishman of note,
Came into a fortune, so bought himself a goat.
Said he, "Sure, of goat's milk I mean to have my fill!"
But when he got his Nanny home, he found it was a Bill.
And now all the ladies who live in Killaloo
Are all wearing bustles like their mothers used to do.
They each wear a bolster beneath the petticoat,
And leave the rest to Providence and Paddy McGinty's goat!
Missis Burke to her daughter said, "Listen, Mary Jane,
Now who was the man you were cuddling in the lane?
He'd long wiry whiskers all hanging from his chin."
"Twas only Pat McGinty's goat, " she answer'd with a grin.
Then she went away from the village in disgrace,
She came back with powder and paint upon her face.
She'd rings on her fingers, and she wore a sable coat,
You bet your life they never came from Paddy McGinty's goat.
Little Norah McCarthy the knot was going to tie,
She washed all her trousseau and hung it out to dry.
Then up came the goat and he saw the bits of white.
He chewed up all her falderals, and on her wedding night
"Oh turn out the gas quick!" she shouted out to Pat,
For though l'm your bride, sure l'm not worth looking at.
I'd got two of ev'rything, I told you when I wrote,
But now I've one of nothing, all thro' Paddy McGinty's goat.
Mickey Riley he went to the races t'other day.
He won twenty dollars and shouted, "Hip Hooray!!"
He held up the note, shouting "Look what I've got!"
The goat came up and grabbed at it and swallowed all the lot.
"He's eaten my banknote," said Mickey, with the hump.
They ran for the doctor, he brought a stomach pump.
He pumped and he pumped for that twenty dollar note,
But all he got was ninepence out of Paddy McGinty's goat.
Now old Paddy's Goat had a wonderous appetite,
and one day for breakfast he ate some dynamite.
A whole box of matches he swallowed all serene
and then he went and gobbled up a quart of paraffin.
He sat by the fireside, he didn't give a hang,
He swallowed a spark and exploded with a bang.
So if you go to heaven you can bet a dollar note....
that the Angel with the whiskers on is Paddy McGinty's Goat.
P.S. I got my hair cut on Friday. Nothing really to report. Just happy to have it cut is all.
Oh, and my office/slash sewing room has become a reality! Can I hear a "what-what"? Or better yet, how about a chorus of angels all singing that one perfect note? I've actually already made a baby blanket and given it as a gift - the ones for sale will come eventually, but for now I feel I must get back into the swing of things.
I have a lot on my plate right now. Household things aside, I've got Hayden's fundraiser coming up and did I mention I agreed to be a coordinator? What on earth was I thinking? I haven't even collected one cent for the walk yet and it's next Sunday. Boy when I choose to be dumb, I go all the way.
I need to unearth all of my fabric and crafting supplies and get them organized. I'm a little terrified of digging out all of the rubber stamps because I have been buying them willy nilly over the past few years and stuffing them anywhere and I really think I've lost track of the ones I've bought and exactly how many of them I have. Gulp! The fabric situation is no better. I notice that most of the plastic bins in the aforementioned garage have "Heather Material" written on the side of them. Oh boy.
I am continuing to work on the Ugandan project for Dr. Pirani. I got stuck on one piece that was much longer than the others and much harder to decipher (these are notes that were transcribed from tape and I am rewriting them and putting them into more of a "professional" format). It was also a very gut-wrenching piece for me to read as it got into more detail of the poverty situation over there and what people have to go through to survive, never mind getting treatment for their clubfoot kid. No wonder the rate of correction is only 60% as opposed to over 95% here. I now have a new mission that coincides with my desire to pay a visit over there. I have an appointment set up to talk to Dr. Pirani for early June and will fill you in when the time comes. Let's just say I am feeling very passionate about it.
I've been trying to write for myself as well. Not sure if I mentioned the children's story I have written, but I also have a piece of adult fiction that I've started and am not getting very far with. The time! Oh the time!
Here's the thing: having my "own space" to set up does not necessaily mean that I get the precious minutes to do it in. How about that? Huh!
The days seem to go by in one foggy haze for me right now. The kids being together in the same room has generally worked out - Kes will just roll over and ignore Hayden if he's bothering. But I notice that Hayden's nap is starting to play a key role in how well he settles down. If he gets to sleep later than around 1:30, then he's awake for much longer (like right now I can hear him thrashing his brace against the crib right above me - turkey). This, of course does not mean that he won't still wake up at SIX-FREAKIN'-FIFTEEN in the morning, like he's been doing for the past couple of weeks. I feel like the walking dead right now. Or like I have suddenly acquired ADD (not too unlikely as it is already in the family) and concentrate on one thing at a time. Ay me.
On Kes: the bribery technique for the toileting issue has worked WONDERS! It worked almost from the get-go and I have let a couple of little near incidents go. I wasn't going to today, but she was so devastated that she wasn't going to be able to put a sticker on the calendar that I made a deal with her and it all worked out. I have to say that as bad as people think bribery is, it WORKS. Plus as a friend's husband put it: "I wouldn't go to work if they didn't pay me" - so technically the world is made up of bribery, ain't it? HA!
On Hayden: his language skills are still reasonably immature, but progressing. I can understand most of his gibberish and now and again he comes out with expressions such as "Oh, NO WAY!" and "Oh God!" that sound hilarious. I find that even though his speech is less advanced than his sisters' was, he is much more mature in many other ways. For example, this morning I sat him on a big chair at the kitchen table so he could eat a fruit cup. We got rid of the high chair before we moved and bought a little inflatable booster seat, but I bypassed it today. He calmly sat and ate his fruit, stopping to sip the juice out of the cup when he noticed it was dripping off his spoon onto the table. Had I ever tried that with Kes at this age, she would have been off the chair and running around splashing fruit juice all over the house.
Recently I bought a CD for Hayden at his sing-a-long group by this woman (who runs the group) and both of the kids love it**. It's a CD of fun songs for kids that aren't necessarily all kiddie songs. I think some of them might be old pub songs actually! When "The Cat Came Back" starts to play you can hear Hayden singing "back", "day", "away" and it is just so darned cute. I really need to get him into music as early as possible. He just loves singing. He also sings along to his Learn to Dress Elmo doll, which I love!
Well, that's about all for now folks. Bye for now!
** My favorite song on the CD is "Paddy McGinty's Goat" - way too funny:
Mister Patrick McGinty, an Irishman of note,
Came into a fortune, so bought himself a goat.
Said he, "Sure, of goat's milk I mean to have my fill!"
But when he got his Nanny home, he found it was a Bill.
And now all the ladies who live in Killaloo
Are all wearing bustles like their mothers used to do.
They each wear a bolster beneath the petticoat,
And leave the rest to Providence and Paddy McGinty's goat!
Missis Burke to her daughter said, "Listen, Mary Jane,
Now who was the man you were cuddling in the lane?
He'd long wiry whiskers all hanging from his chin."
"Twas only Pat McGinty's goat, " she answer'd with a grin.
Then she went away from the village in disgrace,
She came back with powder and paint upon her face.
She'd rings on her fingers, and she wore a sable coat,
You bet your life they never came from Paddy McGinty's goat.
Little Norah McCarthy the knot was going to tie,
She washed all her trousseau and hung it out to dry.
Then up came the goat and he saw the bits of white.
He chewed up all her falderals, and on her wedding night
"Oh turn out the gas quick!" she shouted out to Pat,
For though l'm your bride, sure l'm not worth looking at.
I'd got two of ev'rything, I told you when I wrote,
But now I've one of nothing, all thro' Paddy McGinty's goat.
Mickey Riley he went to the races t'other day.
He won twenty dollars and shouted, "Hip Hooray!!"
He held up the note, shouting "Look what I've got!"
The goat came up and grabbed at it and swallowed all the lot.
"He's eaten my banknote," said Mickey, with the hump.
They ran for the doctor, he brought a stomach pump.
He pumped and he pumped for that twenty dollar note,
But all he got was ninepence out of Paddy McGinty's goat.
Now old Paddy's Goat had a wonderous appetite,
and one day for breakfast he ate some dynamite.
A whole box of matches he swallowed all serene
and then he went and gobbled up a quart of paraffin.
He sat by the fireside, he didn't give a hang,
He swallowed a spark and exploded with a bang.
So if you go to heaven you can bet a dollar note....
that the Angel with the whiskers on is Paddy McGinty's Goat.
P.S. I got my hair cut on Friday. Nothing really to report. Just happy to have it cut is all.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day?
Today, on what is supposed to be a day celebrating mothers, I want to quit. I resign from being a mother. Maybe I will reconsider tomorrow, but it really depends on how much sleep I get.
The kids have driven me absolutely bat-sh*t crazy today. Hayden is cutting his two year molars - one. at. a. time. Can we just say "painful" and not just for him. I'm not sure what is happening with Kes, but her behaviour has gotten increasingly worse. She is combative, contrary and contradictory. She would literally argue that the sky is black right now. Every little thing that comes out of my mouth is met with a "no, (insert long explanation of why "no" here)". To top it all off, she has been wetting her pants continually, much to our frustration. I have tried to be really nice about it and not get upset. So far the "understanding approach" has not worked. Getting angry doesn't work either. I'm going to have to pull out the big guns and revert back to the bribery method. We aren't sure if this is just a by-product of the move and all the changes that have been going on around here, but whatever it is, we're darned sick of it and it has to stop. This is my second bout of nightmarish toilet training and I can just hardly WAIT for Hayden to start. Oh boy.
Blergh. Ahhh...anyway.....
The new house is fab and we are slowly emptying out boxes and revealing more space as time goes by. I am finding though that just trying to keep on top of the daily stuff, PLUS unpack - kind of sucks the life out of me. You know once you've unpacked all of the necessities that you really lose the drive to carry on. But I will prevail! The new neighbours seem excellent so far and have made us feel very welcome to the area. We had one amazingly delicious dinner out this weekend at a Filipino restaurant called Rekados that was so good I think I might be dreaming about it for weeks to come!
Well, gotta go and check out my new MP3 player that hubby bought for me today!
The kids have driven me absolutely bat-sh*t crazy today. Hayden is cutting his two year molars - one. at. a. time. Can we just say "painful" and not just for him. I'm not sure what is happening with Kes, but her behaviour has gotten increasingly worse. She is combative, contrary and contradictory. She would literally argue that the sky is black right now. Every little thing that comes out of my mouth is met with a "no, (insert long explanation of why "no" here)". To top it all off, she has been wetting her pants continually, much to our frustration. I have tried to be really nice about it and not get upset. So far the "understanding approach" has not worked. Getting angry doesn't work either. I'm going to have to pull out the big guns and revert back to the bribery method. We aren't sure if this is just a by-product of the move and all the changes that have been going on around here, but whatever it is, we're darned sick of it and it has to stop. This is my second bout of nightmarish toilet training and I can just hardly WAIT for Hayden to start. Oh boy.
Blergh. Ahhh...anyway.....
The new house is fab and we are slowly emptying out boxes and revealing more space as time goes by. I am finding though that just trying to keep on top of the daily stuff, PLUS unpack - kind of sucks the life out of me. You know once you've unpacked all of the necessities that you really lose the drive to carry on. But I will prevail! The new neighbours seem excellent so far and have made us feel very welcome to the area. We had one amazingly delicious dinner out this weekend at a Filipino restaurant called Rekados that was so good I think I might be dreaming about it for weeks to come!
Well, gotta go and check out my new MP3 player that hubby bought for me today!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Chaos Reigns Supreme
We've been frantically trying to get ready for an Open House this weekend and I have to say I've felt like vomiting the last couple of days, my anxiety is that high. Not only am I not keen on moving, but the whole process is completely overwhelming and stress-causing for me (and don't think I haven't had my fights with hubby over this - boy howdy, have I!). We've looked at a total of three places so far and none of them was suitable. Immediately, I despair because I don't want it to be a situation where we end up selling this place right away and then are panicking to find something and just settle because we don't want it to take a year. I can see why moving is Number Three on the list of Most Stressful Things. Man, I cannot WAIT until this is over, in whatever form that takes. Good news for us is that the place next to us on the corner (which is actually two very small lots, but there is only one house) just sold for $990,000. This now changes our pricing slightly and therefore what we can afford in terms of a "new" house.
I found my dream home on MLS yesterday. Anyone have a spare $1.4 million? Best part is that it is on Heather Street! How ideal would that be? It literally has everything I would want in a house. But alas, we are not millionaires.
The kids have been picking up on the stress and Kestrel's behaviour in particular has been atrocious. By the end of the day I am pulling my hair out and ready to walk out the door and never return. I think one of my biggest problems with this whole process is trying to keep the place in order long enough for someone to buy it and that being an unknown length of time is crazy-making for me. Hey, what can I tell you? I'm a Cancer and I need to know these things well in advance! Now where did I put my crystal ball?
Last night I worked really hard to get the living room photo-ready and my back is paying the price. Of course, as I predicted, the kids have already almost undone it and it is just past seven in the morning! Although, Hayden did at least take a look at the book shelf and comment "Oh, ni!" before he destroyed it. He also told me the same thing when he felt my wet hair, as I had gotten up early to take a shower - busy day ahead today. He touched it and "Oh ni!" I think it's my favorite thing that he says.
He's been quite a mimic lately, but will only repeat something once. So far he's tried "egg", "sissy" (sister) and "baby". He loves "Elmo" (which he now says correctly), "Doda" (Dora) and "Bob-Bob" (Spongebob). Incidentally, his sister used to say "Bob-Bob".
But back to the moving business for just a moment. The basement has now been cleaned up and sorted and organized and looks more like a basement now than it ever did in the last six years. The last time I was down there helping hubby (I've been limited by my asthma, 'cuz there's a whole lotta dust down there!) we found a large bag of Hannah's stuffed animals, a variety of them that date back to her birth. At first I was going to let her just go through it herself, but then hubby said "let's just get it over with", so we did. Good thing, too, because as we started to sort through it, a nasty odor began to waft out and it was obviously "Eau de Dead Mouse". Sure enough, there it was stuck to Hannah's straight-from-Australia koala bear. Some of the toys had to be tossed immediately and I tried to salvage the rest by washing them. But you know, the smell of death is a hard one to get rid of and you can see why burning is the only way to really deal with it. So they still smell. The only scent I know stronger than "Death" is Patchouli, so here's my plan. I've sprinkled some tissues and paper towel with patchouli, carefully folding them so the oil doesn't stain any of the toys. I've tucked them in and around the toys in their plastic box and we'll see what battle ensues between the two odors while they're in there. I'm rooting for Patchouli! Give it up for dank, earthy, moss smell!
Phew, I'm exhausted just from relating all of this! Later, then.
I found my dream home on MLS yesterday. Anyone have a spare $1.4 million? Best part is that it is on Heather Street! How ideal would that be? It literally has everything I would want in a house. But alas, we are not millionaires.
The kids have been picking up on the stress and Kestrel's behaviour in particular has been atrocious. By the end of the day I am pulling my hair out and ready to walk out the door and never return. I think one of my biggest problems with this whole process is trying to keep the place in order long enough for someone to buy it and that being an unknown length of time is crazy-making for me. Hey, what can I tell you? I'm a Cancer and I need to know these things well in advance! Now where did I put my crystal ball?
Last night I worked really hard to get the living room photo-ready and my back is paying the price. Of course, as I predicted, the kids have already almost undone it and it is just past seven in the morning! Although, Hayden did at least take a look at the book shelf and comment "Oh, ni!" before he destroyed it. He also told me the same thing when he felt my wet hair, as I had gotten up early to take a shower - busy day ahead today. He touched it and "Oh ni!" I think it's my favorite thing that he says.
He's been quite a mimic lately, but will only repeat something once. So far he's tried "egg", "sissy" (sister) and "baby". He loves "Elmo" (which he now says correctly), "Doda" (Dora) and "Bob-Bob" (Spongebob). Incidentally, his sister used to say "Bob-Bob".
But back to the moving business for just a moment. The basement has now been cleaned up and sorted and organized and looks more like a basement now than it ever did in the last six years. The last time I was down there helping hubby (I've been limited by my asthma, 'cuz there's a whole lotta dust down there!) we found a large bag of Hannah's stuffed animals, a variety of them that date back to her birth. At first I was going to let her just go through it herself, but then hubby said "let's just get it over with", so we did. Good thing, too, because as we started to sort through it, a nasty odor began to waft out and it was obviously "Eau de Dead Mouse". Sure enough, there it was stuck to Hannah's straight-from-Australia koala bear. Some of the toys had to be tossed immediately and I tried to salvage the rest by washing them. But you know, the smell of death is a hard one to get rid of and you can see why burning is the only way to really deal with it. So they still smell. The only scent I know stronger than "Death" is Patchouli, so here's my plan. I've sprinkled some tissues and paper towel with patchouli, carefully folding them so the oil doesn't stain any of the toys. I've tucked them in and around the toys in their plastic box and we'll see what battle ensues between the two odors while they're in there. I'm rooting for Patchouli! Give it up for dank, earthy, moss smell!
Phew, I'm exhausted just from relating all of this! Later, then.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
No Parking
I loathe the park. First off, I am not really an "outdoorsy" person, nor am I at all sports or exercise minded. Taking the two littles to the park is akin to torture, as far as I am concerned. It ends up being like pig-wrestling, hide-and-seek and tag-you're-it all in one. That being said, I decided that since the sun was shining so brightly today that I'd take them over on the condition they both had naps. No problem there for Hayden, since he now asks for naps - but Kes agreed to it and she actually slept for an hour and a half. I braced myself for the next unknown length of time. Now, you should know that this park has a lot of sand and there has been so much rain lately that the grass is pretty much mud with a few strands of green poking through. Within moments, my kids were filthy. Thus commenced the chasing of the toddler, while trying to keep an eye on the preschooler as she darted from one end of the park to the other. I was exhausted 4.7 minutes into the game. Total length of visit: 35 minutes. Possibly a record for me. Yes, I stink as a mom. I'm sure they'll forgive me when they have their own kids.
And the word on history repeating itself, here is something I used to do being revisited by my son:
"Sittin' in a Box"
And the word on history repeating itself, here is something I used to do being revisited by my son:
"Sittin' in a Box"Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Crisis Averted
Whew! We made it through the weekend. Hayden was not well at all on Saturday, although his mood showed otherwise as he was in fine shape. After he vomited a total of three times, he continued with wicked diarrhea. By the time he was through, I had to wonder if there was anything left in his intestines, bowel or colon, poor guy. But by the next day he was restored to full vigor and you'd be none the wiser that he was sick.
His vocabulary slowly evolves on a daily basis and his favorite thing to say - a lot - is "OH NI!", that is to say, "Oh nice!" There is something he says when he sees me and I think he is trying to say "Hi Heather", but comes out something like "Hi DayDah". It's definitely not "Hi Daddy" since that is one of the phrases he says clear as a bell. Elmo sounds like "Melmo" and when I try to get him to say "Hi Nanny" on the phone, he grins and says "HA HA!"
He's a cheeky little monkey and already uses humour to diffuse negative situations. When I get after him for touching his sister's computer, he will do this hilarious thing where he opens his mouth and then tenses it so he starts shaking. I have to get a video clip of that one as it is priceless!
He does what I like to call "crib surfing". He starts by throwing everything out of his crib and then throws his weight around until the crib begins to move away from the wall. Here's how far he got it the other day:
The photo is taken from hubby's attic office. The crib is usually flush with the wall beside the bookshelf there.
Hubby thinks I am too indulgent of him. He's been waking up kind of earlier than normal lately and squawking at us to get him. When he doesn't get results, he thrashes the sides of the crib with his brace - nice. A delightful sound at 6am, I can assure you. I usually end up getting him and either trying to keep him quiet in our bed, or going downstairs. I don't think this is any more than I did for the girls. But, one thing I NEVER let the girls do was touch my hair. I have never been one of those people who likes their hair being touched or played with and this is where my weakness for the boy has pervaded even my most stringent standards. Every night when I place him in bed, after I kiss my fingertips multiple times and tap the kisses all over his body (which he giggles at), I lean in over the side so he can stroke (what's left of) my hair for a bit. He enjoys it and it doesn't bother me in the least. Hubby, on the other hand, came down from his office during this ritual recently, snorted, and asked "Are you two finished making out?", which I thought was very funny! I think he is a tad jealous of the other man in my life!
Kes is back to preschool, thank the blessed stars, and I can breathe again! Oh, and the troublesome, punching child that was in her class has been shifted over to the other class, so end of problem there - hurrah! Hannah caught a cute photo of her in her "princess ballerina", outfit (given to her by our neighbour Jennie) the other day:
And I can barely stand the "cheeky" bum:
In Heather World, not much new and exciting. I have not had time for reading, writing paper-crafting or sewing. I've managed some knitting, which you can see here. That's about it.
His vocabulary slowly evolves on a daily basis and his favorite thing to say - a lot - is "OH NI!", that is to say, "Oh nice!" There is something he says when he sees me and I think he is trying to say "Hi Heather", but comes out something like "Hi DayDah". It's definitely not "Hi Daddy" since that is one of the phrases he says clear as a bell. Elmo sounds like "Melmo" and when I try to get him to say "Hi Nanny" on the phone, he grins and says "HA HA!"
He's a cheeky little monkey and already uses humour to diffuse negative situations. When I get after him for touching his sister's computer, he will do this hilarious thing where he opens his mouth and then tenses it so he starts shaking. I have to get a video clip of that one as it is priceless!
He does what I like to call "crib surfing". He starts by throwing everything out of his crib and then throws his weight around until the crib begins to move away from the wall. Here's how far he got it the other day:
The photo is taken from hubby's attic office. The crib is usually flush with the wall beside the bookshelf there.
Hubby thinks I am too indulgent of him. He's been waking up kind of earlier than normal lately and squawking at us to get him. When he doesn't get results, he thrashes the sides of the crib with his brace - nice. A delightful sound at 6am, I can assure you. I usually end up getting him and either trying to keep him quiet in our bed, or going downstairs. I don't think this is any more than I did for the girls. But, one thing I NEVER let the girls do was touch my hair. I have never been one of those people who likes their hair being touched or played with and this is where my weakness for the boy has pervaded even my most stringent standards. Every night when I place him in bed, after I kiss my fingertips multiple times and tap the kisses all over his body (which he giggles at), I lean in over the side so he can stroke (what's left of) my hair for a bit. He enjoys it and it doesn't bother me in the least. Hubby, on the other hand, came down from his office during this ritual recently, snorted, and asked "Are you two finished making out?", which I thought was very funny! I think he is a tad jealous of the other man in my life!
Kes is back to preschool, thank the blessed stars, and I can breathe again! Oh, and the troublesome, punching child that was in her class has been shifted over to the other class, so end of problem there - hurrah! Hannah caught a cute photo of her in her "princess ballerina", outfit (given to her by our neighbour Jennie) the other day:
And I can barely stand the "cheeky" bum:
In Heather World, not much new and exciting. I have not had time for reading, writing paper-crafting or sewing. I've managed some knitting, which you can see here. That's about it.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Watching Time Fly
Why is it that as soon as you get to December, the days start to zoom by almost without you noticing? Before we know it, we'll be well into 2007. Should be a big year for us here at Chez 'Amstair Boy. We will be listing our house probably by the end of January, beginning of February and will be searching for a new home ourselves. Kestrel will start Kindergarten in the Fall - that's a tough one for me to swallow. Is this happening already? Seems just like yesterday I was looking a couple of pink lines on the pee stick. But I'm sure I will be waxing emotional on this more, come September. Some changes in daycare are probably upcoming, too.
I haven't had the chance to get a decent photo of my hair mostly because I've looked like crap ever since I was sick and I make a policy to never publicly humiliate myself if I can help it! But I did snap a couple of the kids, so you could see.
The boy can see again! It was getting ridiculous, him looking through his hair, but I was way too afraid to try and cut it myself! I just knew I'd botch it and thn hate it until it grew again.
I haven't had the chance to get a decent photo of my hair mostly because I've looked like crap ever since I was sick and I make a policy to never publicly humiliate myself if I can help it! But I did snap a couple of the kids, so you could see.
The boy can see again! It was getting ridiculous, him looking through his hair, but I was way too afraid to try and cut it myself! I just knew I'd botch it and thn hate it until it grew again.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Give It Up For Stomach Flu!
Well, who would ever think that there is a silver lining to throw-up? Not me, but there IS!
Yesterday, Hayden had a morning nap of two hours (usually it's an hour and a half) and Kes laid around in the couch. Sweet. Then in the afternoon, Hayden went down for a second nap and I had small hope that it would be for very long. Kes objected mildly about laying down for awhile, but then I noticed her hovering at the bottom of the stairs (it's gated) with her soothers and stuffed rat. I read her a story and her eyes were rolling up in her head, so I knew she'd sleep for a little while at least. Yep - two and half hours and then Hamster Boy managed three and a quarter hours! I didn't know what to do with myself!
Then the unthinkable happened! At about six o'clock, after everyone had been fed, I was sitting at my computer (Kes has been monopolizing it lately) and Kes came over to me and asked to get ready for bed!! Yahoo! That never happens here!
In the night, Kes came into our room around 3am-ish and snuggled in. She asked me to get her some water so I did. We were lulled into a false sense of security. At four I woke to the inevitable "BLAH" sound and leapt out of bed, narrowly escaping a puke bath (sorry for that). Fortunately it was mostly water. We had to turn on a light, which unfortunately disturbed Hayden, but once everyone was settled back in, Kes safely restored to her bed with a bucket waiting, we all fell back to sleep until about 7. Then Hayden woke up and was demanding to be retrieved. I guess since he technically slept for 13 hours, I couldn't really complain, but boy it hurt to get up. Ow.
There has been no barfage since then, so we may be in the clear. Sadly, Kes could not go to preschool today and if you read my previous post of a couple of days ago, you know that is not a good thing in either of our worlds. Fortunately she likes this website a lot. It has over 750 free games, most of which she has figured out on her own.
I can't wait until tomorrow...hopefully we will be have returned to our regularly scheduled program.
Yesterday, Hayden had a morning nap of two hours (usually it's an hour and a half) and Kes laid around in the couch. Sweet. Then in the afternoon, Hayden went down for a second nap and I had small hope that it would be for very long. Kes objected mildly about laying down for awhile, but then I noticed her hovering at the bottom of the stairs (it's gated) with her soothers and stuffed rat. I read her a story and her eyes were rolling up in her head, so I knew she'd sleep for a little while at least. Yep - two and half hours and then Hamster Boy managed three and a quarter hours! I didn't know what to do with myself!
Then the unthinkable happened! At about six o'clock, after everyone had been fed, I was sitting at my computer (Kes has been monopolizing it lately) and Kes came over to me and asked to get ready for bed!! Yahoo! That never happens here!
In the night, Kes came into our room around 3am-ish and snuggled in. She asked me to get her some water so I did. We were lulled into a false sense of security. At four I woke to the inevitable "BLAH" sound and leapt out of bed, narrowly escaping a puke bath (sorry for that). Fortunately it was mostly water. We had to turn on a light, which unfortunately disturbed Hayden, but once everyone was settled back in, Kes safely restored to her bed with a bucket waiting, we all fell back to sleep until about 7. Then Hayden woke up and was demanding to be retrieved. I guess since he technically slept for 13 hours, I couldn't really complain, but boy it hurt to get up. Ow.
There has been no barfage since then, so we may be in the clear. Sadly, Kes could not go to preschool today and if you read my previous post of a couple of days ago, you know that is not a good thing in either of our worlds. Fortunately she likes this website a lot. It has over 750 free games, most of which she has figured out on her own.
I can't wait until tomorrow...hopefully we will be have returned to our regularly scheduled program.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Even Insaner Sundays!
Okay, I went and said it and I shouldn't have because I know that I cursed myself. I said the boy wasn't sick. Not quite twelve hours after the first episode, around 10pm last night, Kestrel woke up doing "that thing". She proceeded to do it about three more times in the next hour. It wasn't too bad because at least she's big enough to use a bowl when given one.
All was quiet until around 4am, I heard Hayden doing the "gulp". Oh yeah, in the hair and everything. 4:34am - again. 4:49am - Kestrel again. Oh, it was a helluva night! I laid awake convincing myself I also had it, but was probably just really grossed out.
This morning has consisted of a bath first thing for them and a lot of laying around. Had a couple of commitments today, so those will have to be a pass!
All was quiet until around 4am, I heard Hayden doing the "gulp". Oh yeah, in the hair and everything. 4:34am - again. 4:49am - Kestrel again. Oh, it was a helluva night! I laid awake convincing myself I also had it, but was probably just really grossed out.
This morning has consisted of a bath first thing for them and a lot of laying around. Had a couple of commitments today, so those will have to be a pass!
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