As They Grow Up

That may seem rather strange to many of you, but really, it doesn't matter how much or how little we have, we still need more, don't have any, and can't figure out how to get the accounts to balance! I am frustrated because I have been getting very few calls to teach, and this really puts a stress on the family. Matt's not working as he's finishing his practical in Windsor and working hospital shifts. That makes it hard to see us let alone figure out where to slide in a shift at work! Therefore, I'm the sole income and I haven't had one!

Today that is changing. I worked today! First time in nearly a month, but I decided I need to think differently. As odd as that sounds, it seems to have worked. I was going to bed planning out the next day as we all do, but I kept saying to myself, "if I don't get a call then..." where as last night it was, "after work I need to..." and "I need to do ___ before I go to work". I got a call at 6:45 this morning! And what a great school it was! Grade 8 has become a niche for me, and while a lot of people think I'm nuts, I rather enjoy the 7/8s! I hung out in the staff room and snagged a half day for tomorrow too! Hopefully I can stop hating money and go back to ignoring it! :)

As most of you will know, September 8th was the first day of school. Some boards went back earlier, and Monkey's cousin was one of these unfortunate students. We got off to a grand start for grade one though and Monkey has a terrific teacher. They've made cupcakes to illustrate their birthday calendar (which he couldn't eat so she brought him cake in a mug the next day)! They've mixed yellow, red, and blue playdough to discover colours! And most importantly in my mind, she is supportive of our efforts to have a great year!

A vacation is grand isn't it! We went camping Friday to Sunday, and then up to Glen Miller (in Quinte West, just outside of Trenton) Monday to Friday.

Camping:
We went up to Conestogo Lake and had a wet and wonderful time. We checked in on Friday and had great weather. Our across the way neighbours announced ever so kindly that it's supposed to rain all weekend, and we refused to believe it until we saw it. Unfortunately we did.

Saturday morning, we went to the playground by the lake again, and planned to go to the beach after lunch. We went back to out camp site, and as lunch was cooking, the sky began to darken, and the wind began to pick up.

At about 1:30 the rain began. No swimming, but rain dancing an option! :) We crawled in the tent, and Kanga had a nice nap. 4:00 she woke up and the kids watched a movie (2? I don't remember) on the portable DVD player. Then Monkey and I played checkers, then he played with Matt. Then he wanted to play with me again, and as it was supper time, we had a decision to make. I voted to go into Listowel to get McDonalds as we could use some time out of the tent to stretch out legs. Not real camping I know, but necessary for 4 people in a tent all afternoon.

In we went and found a new movie. When we got back the DVD player wouldn't go, so we listened to Harry Potter for a bit until the kids fell asleep. We roasted some marshmallows in the rain first, and that was fun. Matt kept the coals hot all day just incase the rain stopped for a campfire.

It stopped raining sometime in the night, and we woke up dry although I can't say the same for the air mattresses and tent floor! We got everything packed up, and then I used a towel from the swimming bag to mop up the floor as best as I could. We were on the road by 8 to my surprise! Apparently Matt figured that when Kanga woke up at 6:30 we should all just get up and going! Makes sense, but early start! :)

Kanga didn't sleep too well, and thus didn't sleep on her air mattress (playpen didn't fit), she slept better the second night and was a daddy suck both nights. I slept great! I went to bed when I was tired, and didn't have the option of a TV to drone me to sleep (other wise known as keep me awake with the flickering screen), so I fell asleep soundly and only had Kanga to distract me. Love it!

Stop 2 Glen Miller!
I ♥ Glen Miller and I'll say it till the cows come home, or rather I get there and am happily living in my cottage like home, with my big back yard and the river to lul me to sleep. Okay, I have set my heart on a certain property, that will not be mentioned after this because my husband thinks I'm crazy for telling people (read 2) and getting my emotions involved.

If you've read or heard of "The Secret" however, you will understand that I believe in positive thinking bring you what you need and want. I went up there with the thought in mind to live in a certain area, and this property happened to be there. I will think positively that it will be mine! :)

Anyway, the vacation! I always love going up to visit Matt's brother as they have such a wonderful place. A nice home, a big back yard, and the canal right across the street. Forest in the back yard, conservation area within walking distance, and 2 great puppies! Not to mention they're great company! ;)

Monday we arrived a little before supper around 3 I think. We hung out, caught up and got everything set up for the week. We hit the beds early, and I slept wonderfully although Kanga was again not sure of her surroundings. Daddy suck once again. It was weird to have Monkey downstairs in the basement. This is the first time that he has had his own room to sleep in while we visited. Usually we break out the air mattress (always in the trunk for sleeping convenience) but this time he got to sleep in his cousin Jessica's bed, while the rest of us hunkered down in Zack's room (thanks!).

Tuesday we hit the beach. It was Amanda's only day off and we had a wonderful time. There was a great shallow area on the bay that they showed us, and Kanga was doggy paddling. Yes she was swimming on her own a little bit. She would crawl until she couldn't any more and then go a bit further before she sunk and I had to grab her up again. She thought it was the best! Not so great at back floats though and the panicked look on her face was only there the first time she sunk. Then it was a great game! What a kid!

Monkey went swimming with Matt and Zack, and Jason for a bit. Then he came in to play with Kanga, Amanda and I. Monkey had a riot playing with the big kids and once I convinced him to swim with his t-shirt on because we forgot his swimming shirt, he was good to go!

Wednesday, Matt, Monkey, Kanga, and I went to the airforce museum to check out the new planes that they were working on. They have done a lot of work in there! Monkey loved looking at the planes, and Kanga hung out in her Mei-Tai baby back pack style!

Thursday we hiked over to the "big rock" and Monkey got a huge kick out of it! Kanga back packed it again and fell asleep shortly after we got to the park. I don't think she saw the big rock! :) Oh well, we had a great hike and then headed back to chill out some more.

Friday we headed back home again. I miss it already. The closer we got to home, the more I wanted to turn back. Oh well, the count down is on!

Well, Kanga started walking. She walked for dad ages ago, for Matt soon after that, but wouldn't walk for anyone else! Well June 22nd off she went at S*S! Back and forth even it was histarical!

Weeks have gone by, but almost to the day she's decided maybe this walking thing is okay. Slow, but okay. :)

(Excuse my type-os in this post, as you can likely guess my finger is bunged up.)

Sunday at my baseball game, my finger was hurt. It was stupid. I made sure I was in perfect position for the grounder, turned and went down on my knee to make sure I had my body in front of the ball, and the darn thing rolled up my glove so I missed it. I tried to grab it with my other hand and it dinged my finger. Well, at the time, it hurt and I turned to get the ball, looked down and said, "I'm bleeding." Chris, the team's short stop, looked at my finger, told me I was now dripping and to go to the bench. I suppose I was in a bit of shock, because I had no intention of going in!

I jogged to the bench, said to the girl there that my finger was bleeding and off to second she went. I put my glove down and asked Matt if he had a bandaid. He said, no and to get over there so he could check me out. I thought it was just my fingernail, as that was why I was bleeding. It was pretty much torn off, and I was annoyed as all get out that I couldn't play.

I got cleaned up, sat a couple fast innings while that happened, and then finished the first game. I headed out for the second, as I couldn't really hold a bat, and I was feeling a bit light headed. Shhh, don't go telling everyone! ;)

Well, meet day two. My right ring finger is the size of my thumb, purple, and no longer moves. I broke it. Not badly enough that it didn't move right after I hurt it and convince myself that it wasn't broken, but now it doesn't move, it's gigantic, and hurts from the tip to my wrist. Apparently if you jam your finger, crack the bone and give it a good sprain (my pinky is still sore too) then there's a chain reaction back to your wrist! Go figure Einstein! *lol*

Anyway, it's now Wednesday, and I can move it for the most part. The nail is getting pretty gross as expected before the thing falls off. Still pretty swollen, but if I didn't keep typing then it'd likely be better faster! ;)

On Sunday, mum took me to IKEA for my birthday! It was fun although a long drive! :) I am however a practical gal, and while there were lots of things there I would love to get, until I have my very own house to set up, vs a rental, there really isn't a point. I got a bath mat, cheese graters, dish rack, and that sort of thing. I also got my very own blue ghosty (check IKEA.ca and search spooka to see him). Kanga got a canopy and a new mobile she picked out herself. It has six fishies and they hang from a blue star. I got it hung up on Monday and pined the mobile to the inside so she can see it up there. Well, she's slept through the night ever since. Every night and nap time, she sees her fishies and wants to lay down in her cocoon to go to sleep. It's amazing! My little girl is getting so grown up! She's just awoken from her nap though, so I have to go get her. Awaking and saying Hi is much nicer than screaming too! YAY!

Well, it has now been two weeks since the accident. Almost healed, but she is still picking at the bit of peeling skin. What happened? Well let me tell you.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @ 8:40am
Monkey, "I want to help you cook breakfast!"
Me, "I'm just making tea, and your toast will be ready soon. Don't get the stool out."
The stool is pulled out and Monkey is now standing beside me as I turn off the burner and move the kettle back to get his toast.
"Get you toast so I can cut it for you."
Monkey brings me his toast and sits down. I pour my tea, and pass him his toast. I hear a scream.
"No you didn't!"
Monkey, "Yes she did!"
I turn. Kanga has climbed up the stool and put her hand on the burner.

She has three rings on the palm of her hand where she has burned her hand. The top one is the worst, as she pushed with that part of her hand the most. It did blister and peel.

I took her to the doctor at the walk-in again. She said it was superficial 2nd degree (i.e. blistering, but no nerve damage) and to keep it clean and give her tylenol. By the afternoon she was crawling around and didn't care anymore.

Over the last week she's been picking at it, but no infections happened, and it's healing well. I'd say she learned her lesson, but she's one. She's not likely to remember this at all! It could have been a lot worse. At least the burner had been off for a few minutes and wasn't red hot, and at least she didn't get both hands!

Alas allergy season is upon us and poor Kanga is once again experiencing symptoms. Last spring I asked her doctor if there was anything I could do to ease her nightly stuffiness and coughing. Last fall she got a horrible cough that we were sure would turn into croup. This spring, she got stuffy right before her birthday party, and hasn't been run free since.

Well, last week, on Wednesday, her cough got bad enough for me to seek medical attention, so I had the option of an emergency room for 3-4hrs, or a walk-in clinic. You can guess which one I chose! She was just in for her 1 year check up the week before, the cough was there, and the runny nose was at 4 weeks, but her doctor said she was fine. Maybe she was, but my own allergies went crazy the weekend between, so I can understand hers getting worse too. Her runny nose was never yellow, green, etc. so that makes me think it was always allergies.

Anyway, Wednesday we went to the doctor, and he said he was worried about her, listened to her chest for about 5 minutes, her crying all the while (good inhalation that way though!), asked if she has asthma or any family history of it, and carefully chose the medicine he wanted her to take from his book. He gave her azithromycin for her cough (thought she had bronchitis) and a Ventolin syrup for her tightness.

Off to the pharmacy...Well, they had the azithromycin no problem, but no Ventolin syrup. We got an alternative, and it was delivered to our house after she got to bed. As soon as she woke up I gave her medicine to her, and back to sleep she went.

In the morning she had her medicine, well wore it more accurately. She got enough of her Ventolin wanna-be to be able to breathe better, and her breathing had only gotten worse as the night went on. I had to give her a second dose of the azithromycin though (good thing there was an extra!) because she spit out ALL of the bright red syrup.

Anyhow, the doctor also said he wanted us to bring Kanga back to the office in 3 days to see how she was doing, and prescribed 3 days of the Ventolin syrup. On Saturday, we got another pediatrician, and she recommended we continue the Ventolin. She was not congested at all, but still had tightness in her chest. I said we would need more as the first doctor had only prescribed 3 days worth, and mentioned that the pharmacy had given us an alternative to the original script as they didn't have any Ventolin syrup in stock. She asked us to get the pharmacy to call her, and I brought up the fact that Kanga wasn't really taking it! We would try and she would spit it back out... This is when inhalers were brought back up. It would be much easier to get the medicine into her if she took a huge crying breath in while fighting an AeroChamber rather than spitting syrup in my face that has to go all through her body before getting to her tight bronchioles.

Off to the pharmacy! :) We picked up her inhaler and AeroChamber, gave her the first dose, and there is a definite difference. The second pediatrician also briefly talked about if the cough doesn't subside quickly enough, then we may have to start a steroid inhaler as well. Sounding a lot like my baby girl has allergen induced asthma, but only time will tell.

Well, I had a taste of working full time. I was worried about that point in time, and was sure that I only wanted to work part-time until Kanga was in school. JK at the least. The change in Monkey when I went to school full-time was huge! He was 3 1/2 and the behaviour, the self-esteem and such that I saw was just sad. He's been recovering from that over the past year while I've been home with him, and he's been doing much better knowing mommy loves him, and having mommy and Monkey date days once a month. He loves it!

Now the truth of things. While I was at work full time, Monkey's behaviour didn't change. He had one bad day, and that's not unusual when you're 6! Kanga took a couple of days to adjust and was clingy on the weekend, but really, can you blame her!

While at work however, in the class situation that I ultimately want to achieve, I felt so accomplished, and just ready to be me, ready to move forward with life! That's not to say I want to drop everything I've set up, and as all working mom's do, I felt guilty for feeling this! How ridiculous is it to feel guilty at feeling fulfilled! What has society done to us!

I've decided I'm ready to apply for LTOs (Long Term Occasionals) in the fall. The change is that instead of ideally half days every day, ideally it would be full days every day financially, and because I think my kids and I can handle it. We had home cooked meals every day, got to the activities fine, maintained routines, and best of all, I was making money, not shopping! *lol*

It's strange, but the week that I found myself in this unexpected position was the week that my maternity leave officially ended. I'm now in the position where if I don't work, we don't have money. Just like everyone else. I didn't get any calls on Monday, was sick so that was okay, but that's money I didn't bring in. Tomorrow I have to take a 1/2 day to get the house ready for Kanga's 1st birthday party on Saturday, and I'm taking Monday off for a mini-vacation. I hope I can get consistent calls for the rest of the school year! I won't have worked enough to get EI for the summer, so we need to find magic money to get through 2 months and then that LTO will come and I'll be doing what I've always done. Teaching kids to be themselves, and be productive in society, and I suppose some math and science in there too!

I've also found out how much my friend support me. Berry watched Kanga for 3 days, Donna for 4, and Donna has a full-time spot for Kanga in the fall too. It does take a villiage to raise a child, and I am so lucky to have found such great friends. Friends at Monkey's school watched him for me, took him to and from school and everything. Thank you so much to all!

Well, it's that time of year when I start worrying about summer work! My friend Berry just started a company cleaning houses called Earth-Friendly Maid Service www.earthfriendlymaidservice.wordpress.com to check out her services! If she can find enough work, I'm going to help out and try to get some bills paid!

On that note, I worked every day last week! My mentor had surgery and needed me to cover her special needs class. It's been a riot! She has great kids, and it's always a privledge to cover for her.

Who knew it would be so hard to get a full day! I have had about 8 jobs since that last post, and although it seems like I'm getting calls regularly, when I really look at it, I have barely scratched the surface. My total days worked is 5. 3 full days, two from my mentor, and 4 half days. That means that I still need to get 11 more before the school year is over to get off of probation (I had 4 last year)! Time is running out! 20 days of probation is not that much, but when I can only work two days a week, and keep getting half days instead of full, it's tricky. There are 18 days left that I can work in the school year. Keep your fingers crossed for me! :)

Well, it's happened. I got a call that I could take and off I went. At 11pm on Thursday night, I got a call for a full day at a school in town. I listened, and then bravely pushed the accept button. I went online and reread the instructions, wrote them down, put the job # in my planner for the school just in case and went to bed going "OH MY GOD/DESS!"

Woke up at 6am to make sure I wasn't going to be late. Got the kids out the door for 7:30, dropped Monkey off happy, and dropped Kanga off. She didn't want to eat her breakfast before we left, so I left it for her teachers to do. She was a happy gal too though!

Got to the school at about 8:15, checked in, they had my name printed off and ready so there were no worries! I was concerned that I only had instructions up to 12:15, but soon found out that the teacher had only planned to be away half the day! The school found me something to do in the afternoon and I worked the full day.

It was a challenge being my first day, and I do still need to work on controlling the volume of the class, but these tings will come with time. For my 1st day back, it went pretty well, and I look forward to getting called again on Sunday night for Monday!

Two weeks ago I hosted a candle party. My friend Rebecca just became a consultant, so I hosted to help her out, plus I love PartyLite! Well, my stuff is here! I have been going a bit crazy getting it out and enjoying the scents!

Go here to see what I got! http://www.partylite.biz/sites/rmaclary/productcatalog I got $210 of product for $40 though! That's awesome! I could pretty much go through the catalog and pick what ever I wanted! Yay shopping spree! :)

garden lites lantern
mini barrel shade
herbal leaves (green) scents of ambiance diffuser plus black orchid and w.g.t. oil
gaia branch pillar holder
island nectar barrel jar and mini barrel jar
sabor ileno aroma melts warmer

How the time flies! Monkey has now turned 6 as of 1:04am on January 29, 2009. He went into school with his macaroons to share for the class, but was convinced that he didn't turn 6 until Jan 30 for some reason. The only thing we can think of is that he knew his party was the following day and that there was some connection there.

On Friday, I dropped Kanga off at daycare and Monkey and I played some Wii. He got a second controller for his birthday, so now we can play together. Around 11:30 we went to the bank, and then to Wal-Mart to get some goodie bag stuff. By the time we left Wal-Mart, goodie bags, a new spring coat for Kanga, and some new indoor shoes for Monkey in tow, it was 12:20. The movie we were going to see started at 12:30 and we hadn't had lunch yet! We raced to the car, got to the theatre, got our tickets and grabbed some pizza from one of the stands. I got Monkey some root beer, and apparently there's artificial colour in there so he can't have Barq's anymore. Anyway, after searching the theatre for seats, we ended up in the front row, the very front row, but hadnt' missed the start. It was still in previews. Monkey picked Hotel for Dogs and it was okay. I wouldn't have picked it if there had been another option, but Monkey liked it.

After the movie we went to get Kanga, and get the goodie bags ready for his party. We rested for about an hour and then headed off to Fleetway for his glo-golf party! It went really well. Kanga was a backpack baby for the golf, and all the kids did really well. My group finished way ahead of the other group, so we played I-spy with the mural. That really worked to keep them occupied for about 15min! Then we had a potty break, I paid and the other group came out. Dinner was served and then cake. While cake was eaten, Monkey opened his presents because we were running out of time, but he got to finishe once the presents were opened. He loved his day and felt so special! Thank you everyone who came and celebrated with us!

Monkey has been having trouble socially at school from the beginning. Last February we considered taking him to team with his teacher, the principle, the learning support teacher, and the school psychologist to see what we could do to help him. This fall we started a communication book where he gets check marks if he's good, and x-es if he's bad. He only has to work toward two: listen, and play. He's been getting the listen check marks quite consistently, but the play are fairly spaced out.

Long story short, I've been thinkin of having him assessed for ADHD for a while. I've always sort of suspected that he may have ADHD as I see a lot of my own behaviours in him. That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with him, or that he is going to have a hard time in school. His teacher has said that he is very bright and that she has no concerns at all with his academics. He just has to touch. He needs to learn how to control his impulses to touch his friends. He's starting to get a reputation at school, and this makes me so sad!

Last year he hated school, but so far this year he likes it. I think it makes a huge difference that he's getting to spend more time with me too though. Last year we were out the door by 6:45am and I didn't see him until 12:30 at which point I drove him home, took him to the washroom and walked him to school. Then it was 6:00pm or later before I saw him again. While it was a great part-time job, it took me away from my child. By 7:00pm we were getting ready for bed, and the poor kid never got to see me. This year, I can walk him to school, hang out with him after lunch, and just get to know my kid again!

The assessment did show that Monkey has ADHD, so we're going to be eating the Feingold Diet. Dr. Feingold designed the diet in the 1970s to help kids with Autism, Asburgers, ADD, ADHD, bedwetting, and a variety of other issues. Basically we go back to eating like we would have 100 years ago when these disorders were unheard of. Stage one is no artificial flavours, no artificial colours, no BHA/BHT/TBHQ (preservtives), artificial sweeteners, salicylates. Stage two is
Calcium Propionate (CP), Corn Syrup (CS), Sulfite (SF), Sodium Benzoate (SB), Monosodium Glutamate (MSG/HVP), Nitrites/Nitrates (N), and Natural Smoke Flavor (SM).

Now I just have to figure out how to implement the program and we're off to the races!

So after the last post I was put on a medicine that is a definite no-no for breastfeeding and babies. Read will cause developmental delays. Why was I on medicine again you may ask? Well, following the bladder infection, I got colstridium difficile colitis. The main symptom of this fun infection is diarrhea. Every half hour to an hour. No fun, and after two weeks of this I called my doctor. His booking secretary said that I didn't need to make an appointment and that I must have the flu even though I feel fine and the above is my only symptom. Right.

I insisted on an appointment which was snowed out. I booked one for a Dec 13. So It has now been nearly 3 weeks of this fun business, and I'm sent home with test kits to take into the lab. I diligently fill them, and take them to the lab to wait a phone call so I can be cured.

Friday, I get a call that I have colstridium difficile colitis (aka c. dif). My doctor calls and tells me that the public health unit has informed him that one of his patients aka me has a reportable communicable disease. C. dif has been going crazy of late and can be communicable if you don't wash your hands or the toilet well enough. As no one else in my family or friend circle got sick, I'm pretty sure I washed adequately!

Anyhow, I am put on this new med and my prescription is faxed in to the pharmacy I use. I call them a hour later and they haven't seen it. I call them two hours later and they haven't seen it. I then call my doctor's office to find out that they don't close at 5:00, but at 4:00 on Fridays. Great. I don't want to go through another weekend of this! I was so excited to get it out of my system! I listen to their message machine and try the on call Dr. that has been left. Thankfully they're open until 5:00 so I get them to fax my prescription in. It goes, I pick it up, and get to start the potion in the morning. Matt and I decided that so Kanga would get a good night's sleep before we start her on formula. Yeah, we get to try this again.

On that note, I told my doctor that she had reacted to every formula we had tried. He pretty much said good luck and that there wasn't an option.

So, next day...

I had 9oz of milk in the freezer to send to daycare with Kanga. I gradually got her to drink the formula and thankfully she didn't get any diarrhea. Really, what would we have done if she couldn't though! Over the 16 days (10 of meds, and 6 to clear my system) one of my friends nursed Kanga a few times to get her some antibodies yet and THANK YOU to her. Another friend tried, but Kanga just wouldn't go to her. She'll cuddle and hug her, but didn't want her milk. Don't feel bad though! Thank you so much again for offering it to her!

Meds over the holidays was okay, it just meant that I had to give Kanga a bottle and then pump to keep up my supply. This was further complicated by the fact that when I tried to rent an electric pump from Cheeky Monkey I was given a run around.

That story starts fair enough. I went into the Oxford store and they were going to bring a pump from the Wellington store for me on Monday morning. Monday morning I get a call that they're not allowed to do that due to pumps being assigned to specific stores. Fine, I can run to the other store, but when I get there I'm not allowed to take it because it is only allowed to be charged to a credit card which I don't carry, especially during holidays! I avoid spending if I can! I said I'd call in my number and pay debit for now. Not allowed. I felt quite hassled.

Long story short, I had to buy an electric so that I could pump faster and efficiently enough so I didn't get a blocked duct again. I did twice in the first week, but mum ultrasounded it and I haven't had it block since! Holy cow I am so thankful!

My c. dif cleared up though. Now I just have to watch my dairy. I have a bit of an irritable bowel yet, but I always did. It's just more sensitive than usual as it's rehabilitating!