Today - November 9, 2009

Today…

Outside my window: It's dark out. I like the time change - easier to get Duncan to bed

I am hearing: The dishwasher and Cordelia fighting sleep

I am thinking: Not a whole heck of a lot. I have a cold. My head is fuzzy.

I am hoping: Several things - first is that Duncan feels much better tomorrow. Poor kid. Throwing up, running a fever, low energy. I just have a cold, and while it makes me feel miserable, it's not the same. Second is that I hope my Mom has a good trip tomorrow as she's going to Orlando for a conference. Third that Tanya has an awesome delivery. We look forward to welcoming Bun.

I am reading: still Echo in the bone. I'm enjoying it though! Nancy, I think I might need to pick up the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - sounds awesome

I am creating: Not a lot this week. Still want to do some projects for Christmas gifts, but being sick, I'm pretty much parking my butt on the couch.

I am wearing:My pjs. It was a pj day for all of us. In Duncan's case, 3 sets of pjs.

In the kitchen:

• Monday: pork stir fry (I can say for sure b/c we had it tonight, thanks to Bill for making it)

The rest of the week is kind of we'll see as we go. We have on the menu - hamburgers, goulash, chicken with veggies and another side, and I think chicken strips and fries, but a. The Bell's were supposed to come over tomorrow but since we're sick we don't know if they are and b. with Duncan being sick, we might need to wing it. He barely ate anything today.

Around the house: I'm ignoring the house this week

Plans for the week: Just to make it through the week. Bill is supposed to go to Geek fest on Friday night but he's told the guys that if we're still sick he might need to tele-geek-fest from home.

A few of my favorite things: My husband. My kids. Giggles. Coffee. Being able to breathe through both nostrils. *grin* Tanya having a baby.

A picture thought:

It's 1 AM

I'm up having a cuppa tea - what are you doing? Hopefully sleeping! Duncan and I came down with colds (flu?) today (well yesterday). Duncan had a bit of a fever, and threw up a little, but now seems more cold like as his energy levels are good. I think mine is just a mean cold - no fever or anything, but chills, aches, runny stuffed up nose, coughing... just cold symptoms.

I went to bed at 10 PM all chilly and achy, and Cordelia woke me up at midnight again. And then I couldn't fall back asleep! And Duncan woke up too. He wanted to come downstairs. No, it's time to sleep buddy. But he seems to have fallen back asleep, and no return of the fever, so let's just pray it's a cold. Easier to treat.

Anyhow, now I'm watching House Hunters on HGTV.

Tomorrow I was invited to go to a new women's bible study group, and I've totally been wanting to join one, but now I can't go tomorrow b/c Roo and I are sick! I'm not going to expose the rest of the women (and children) to sick germs. I also called Nikki and told her I was keeping Duncan home. I'll certainly need to keep him home on Tuesday from school too. Wednesday is Remembrance Day, so we'd be around anyhow (although regretably may not be able to go to the cenotaph this year).

See, we always go, rain or shine. After what those men and women have done for us, the least I can do is stand in the rain for half an hour and, well, remember. And usually we've brought Duncan because it's important to us. But if he is sick, standing out in the cold rain is not going to do him any good. Perhaps I'll go and represent the family.

So that's what's going on at 1:14 AM. I hope you had a good night!

Early Saturday morning

Cordelia has been doing this waking up early and staying up thing. I remember when Duncan was little we used to have some really early mornings too, starting the tradition of short straw/long straw for who gets to sleep in. But quite honestly as long as I'm nursing, I need to get up. I try to be quiet so Bill can get some extra sleep - one of us might as well! I'm more prone to napping than Bill is too, so I can recoup if I need to during the day. But as it is, by 6:30 this morning Bill was downstairs with me. It is now just after 7, both kids are sleeping, but we're both up.

So after our shots on Tuesday my arm was stinking sore on Wednesday, and then I started feeling quite cruddy. But it turns out it was kind of a side effect of getting the shot b/c later on I was fine, and still am. Duncan seems to have suffered no side effects at all that's he's told us of.

Our friends from Edmonton were supposed to come in on Wednesday, but they were late getting off, so they didn't come until Thursday. But it's been great seeing them. This is Cynthia, Gus, and their son Connor. Cynthia and Gus went to University with Bill - they are from Newfoundland too. Gus works for the Army and is a medical doctor. He just got his Emergency Medicine designation (not sure how that all works in doctor world). Cynthia is the angel who has been giving us all of the awesome hand me downs that Duncan wears (she is responsible for probably 90% of his wardrobe), and thereby Warren and some other little boys around here wear. And of course she came with a bunch more, including winter boots. Cynthia rocks. So I need to return the one's we'd already bought Duncan from Superstore. See, last year we waiting way too long to buy some and ended up getting whatever we could, as opposed to what we wanted.

Anyhow, it took Duncan a little bit to warm up to Connor (who is 9 months older then Duncan) b/c frankly, as we said, Duncan is used to being the sharer of toys (using Brayden and Riley's toys at daycare) not the sharee - having someone come in and use his stuff. But once he warmed up the two of them were a hoot to watch. Playing trains, running around. At one point I went and checked on them and they were sitting on Duncan's bed chatting away to each other - who knows about what - but they were having a blast. We (less Bill, he was working) met them at the Vancouver Aquarium on Friday. That was fun. I'm glad I didn't need to pay for the kids though - it's kind of steep! I had a blinding headache though. So after lunch we went to get Bill from work. We were early, but his boss let him take off early. Both kids had fallen asleep in the back - which worked out great for nap time. I think they will be visiting again this morning before taking back off eastwards. And then this afternoon Jesse and Laura are coming for a visit. We haven't visited with them in ages, so that will be awesome.

And then it's my Dad's 70th birthday in 2 weeks and so some of his siblings from Holland flew in last night (dad is 13 of 14 kids). I think it's awesome they've come out for him. So Mom and Dad have company for the next 2.5 weeks. I'll need to go and visit at some point b/c it will be good to see them. Because Dad's family is so large (honestly, I don't even know all my cousins on his side) I'm kind of the "representative" child from my parents. But I don't mind. I love my aunts and uncles (some of whom are the same age as my grandparents on my Mom's side were), and it will be fun to have them meeting Duncan and Cordie.

Alright, Duncan is waking up now. Question - are my blog posts too long? Should I not babble on, and just keep them short and easier to read in your RSS feed? Or does this work for you? let me know. All 5 of you. *grin*

Duncan and Stand Up, the horse

Playing catch up

I was going to do one of those "Today" Posts, but now it's Tuesday already... so forget it. Next week. Colorado Nancy says it's a special blogging month where you're supposed to post every day... but I already ruined it as it's the 3rd, so oh well! But Nancy, I enjoy your posts! So keep writing.

There is both a lot and so little going on right now.

• Duncan and I got our H1N1 shots today. My arm is already sore. Duncan did awesome. He yelped right away, but I'd brought a special thing for him and right away said "hey Duncan look!" and it did the trick. And when we left he even said thank you to the doctor (totally unprompted) which just tickled our doctor.
  
• But at that, he missed his nap today. He was still really well behaved in the afternoon, but tired.
• Theresa, bless her heart, came and hung out with Cordie while we were gone. We ended up being gone for an hour and a 1/2 (doctor's office is quite swamped, so they were further behind than normal) and so I'm glad I didn't need to drag her along for all of it. Cordie napped almost the whole time we were gone, so all Theresa had to do was veg on the couch. She is home, with the flu. Nice, 'eh? I ask my neighbour who has the flu to come watch my kid so we can go get flu shots. I wouldn't have asked if she wasn't up for it.
  
• Tonight Mom and I went to check out the place where we're having Dad's birthday party, pick up menus, and then we were going to go eat. But it was so quiet in there and Cordie was along, we opted for the Olive Garden instead. Most of Mom's co-workers happened to be there, so we joined their table (thereby avoiding a 20 minute wait) which ended up being awesome. Just a nice group of women who are always so welcoming to me, even though I don't work there.
  
• The new teacher was sitting beside me... we're chatting... went to the same high school (although graduated 9 years apart), turns out we also went to the same church in Burnaby for some time - which is why she seemed so familiar! So that was really great chatting with her.
• Cordie was just over done. She just doesn't do well in other settings. Duncan could crash anywhere. Cordie, while a super laid back baby, does not do well in the "oh, I'll just sleep in my car seat" type deals. This means I really need to get her taking a bottle soon b/c I have a few nights out coming up.
  

So that was today. It was a good day. Most days are. I'm very blessed. Oh, and Bill and Duncan had boys night - supper together, played trains etc...

Oh, so Halloween was fun. I'm quite surprised Duncan actually dressed up, but he was his little cowboy self, and we picked up a stuffed horse (he insisted he have a horse) and he's named him Stand Up. Is that not an awesome name for a horse? Anyhow, we went to Oma and Opa's in the afternoon, and then came home and went around our complex, to maybe 14 homes. That was enough for Duncan. Cordie stayed home and helped Bill hand out candy. And like Nancy said for her boys, Duncan likes the idea of candy much more than the actual candy. Give him a choice for something from the bowl - he chooses the Craisins my parents gave him. Open a box of Smarties (which are kind of like M&Ms for my American friends) he'll eat maybe 5 and be done. This means we're helping him out a bit. This also makes me glad we did not go to more houses.

Bill is doing much better. The drugs they gave him seemed to do the trick. So while his energy is still really low, and he has a cough, he is no longer as sick as he was.

Tomorrow our friends from Edmonton were supposed to be rolling in, but I just got an email saying they'll be in on Thursday instead. This gives me more time to clean. Will be good to see them. And then on Saturday Laura is coming up (and possibly Jesse) for a visit. That will be awesome b/c I've been wanting to spend time with Laura but Cordie does not travel well.

This is probably too long already. So I'll sign off and catch up on the 38 emails and 142 Reader items that are unread. Oh, and I need to change the template for my blog b/c I've decided I don't like this design too much. But honestly, who actually goes to a blog these days? Doesn't everyone use RSS? *grin* Just kidding. Good night!

Today - October 26, 2009

Today…

Outside my window: it's dark now. It was pouring all last night and into this morning and this afternoon was glorious!!

I am hearing: The music over the monitor from Duncan's room.

I am thinking: I should be in bed. I'm wondering if I should wake Cordelia or let her sleep until she wakes up hungry. If I let her sleep I get to go to sleep earlier, but then I'll more likely have to wake up 2x in the middle of the night, and that's brutal!

I am hoping: Bill gets better soon and that none of us catch it. Oh, we've determined it's a nasty cold, not the flu.

I am reading: Still An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I told you I'm a slow reader!

I am creating: still working on quilts. Lots of them to make! But I suppose this week we'll be doing pumpkins too.

I am wearing: my pjs!

In the kitchen:
Monday - home made pizza (was good). Oh, for Duncan (he doesn't care for pizza) I made this recipe I just received today from Weelicious.com called Freaky Franks. It was awesome! You stick uncooked spaghetti through pieces of hot dogs and then cook it so that the spaghetti is cooked into the hotdog. Duncan devoured it!
Tuesday - Pork chops
Wednesday - chicken drumsticks
Thursday - left overs? I am so uninspired for meals this week. *sigh*
Friday - we'll figure that out on Friday

Around the house: There is always something to be done. Got some good work on Cordie's room last week, but still lots to do.

Plans for the week: Duncan's preschool Halloween Party is on Thursday so I need to bring something for that. Otherwise, trick or treating for Halloween on Saturday. But I'm wondering if Duncan is going to get dressed up this year. Last year he didn't. So far this year he doesn't want to. We'll see. Oh, and I'm planning on seeing Tanya and Warren on Friday! Let's hope the weather is dry so we can go to that awesome park.

A few of my favorite things: Cordie has discovered how to really use the jollly jumper and she just loves it!! She is so funny.

Picture Thought:

Oh yeah

Earlier today I was talking to my Mom (for the 1st time... we talk a lot. When there is a day we don't speak for one reason or another both Bill's and my Dad's reactions are "what, are you guys fighting?" *grin*) she said "go write in your blog, I need something to read". Now, seeing as we talk multiple times a day, there really isn't going to be much in here that she doesn't know, but hey, here you go Mom. Love you lots.

Oh, there is something new. We think Bill's got "it". It Being the flu. It being the H1N1 as they are saying if you have the flu it's 99% likely it's the H1N1. At 1st we thought it was a nasty cold, but I think if tomorrow he has a fever (he hasn't yet) then we'll change it to flu. Poor guy. I complimented him tonight and said I was impressed b/c he hadn't been sterotypical sick male yet. Bill says "just wait". So tomorrow I need to get him in to see the doctor if for no other reason than he'll need a note for work. He might be off for the whole week. We've been hearing some employers insisting that people take at least 7 days (Ronnie, and I think Andre too), but we don't know what his work's policy on that is. Hey, I don't want him sick, but it's nice to have him around, even if on the whole I pretend he's not there b/c it helps my routine. I just folllow him around with a can of Lysol "Did you touch that? Yes? Okay" *SPRAY*. *GRIN*. I really hope the kids and I don't get it (duh, of course I hope that), but more so the kids than me. Not that I want it, but little kids don't understand being sick, you know?

Otherwise, not much going on. It's time for bed. I think that is a theme in all of my blog posts. I need to check on Cordie and see if she wants to eat.

Oh, funny thing, since I've started doing that datebook thing on Monday's that I stole from Colorado Nancy, I've totally been holding myself accountable to the meal plan. We always make a meal plan, but it's always so easy to say "oh let's just get take out instead". But since I've been writing it down I actually feel like I'm accountable to the 3 people who read this blog, and we're sticking to it. I'll ask Bill what he wants for dinner and he'll reply "I don't know, whatever you wrote in your blog". Oh, the power.

Okay, I'm yawning. Good night. Be healthy. Love you all.