Marginally Better

Am I allowed to start breathing again? The boys are back in school and sleeping through the night without coughing again. We've had a couple of good-ish days and I'm hoping they keep coming. I'm still not feeling great myself since my sinuses are as blocked as....well, something really blocked and I think I have a tooth infection, but I'm trying to look at the world with a more positive lens.

I should actually thank my friend Elly for this new outlook. She sent me two interesting books about finding peace and quiet in your mind, something I could really use help with. I've only just started reading one of them - Loving What Is by Byron Katie - but already its had an effect on me. I'm trying not to stress about things I have no control over or that have not happened yet and am really trying not to live "in other's people's business", meaning not to worry about what other people are thinking or feeling, since again, I can't control them and I certainly can't know for sure what they're actually thinking. How am I doing, Elle?

Here's a little photo proof from the boys that we're feeling better:

Actually playing, rather than sitting on the sofa in our jammies watching Curious George over and over
And not crying either. Amazing!
How much fun can you have with a book of construction stickers, a couch and your mother's enormous baby belly? Lots!

Will giving a highly decorated Bobine a kiss

Mummy was decorated with stickers too. You can tell how much fun I think this game is, can't you? I actually had them all over my face before Owen ripped them off (who needs a trip to the esthetician's? Just have 3 year olds come over with their sticker books).

It Never Ends!

We're still on the sickness train, and I for one, am ready for this ride to end. The boys apparently have H1N1. They're on Tamiflu and painkillers. I'm on my last remaining stock of energy. Mark is ridiculously busy at work but is trying very hard to be home early to help. He's downstairs making me some dinner right now. And maybe after dinner I might shower for the first time in four days.

All I can say is that these kids had better have the world's best immune systems by the time they get to kindergarten or I'm giving up entirely and moving to some remote island from October to April from now on.

Baby Bobine is hanging in there, although I think she'd probably be happier if I wasn't stressed out and exhausted all the time. I honestly can't even begin to contemplate how I'm going to manage three children next spring. I'm overwhelmed at the mere thought of it.

I've decided over the past several sleepless nights that the worst part of parenthood is the worry. It would be so much easier if we just didn't worry. But then I guess that's when people start calling Children's Aid...

Please send some healthy vibes, we need all the help we can get this week!

My poor little guys passed out in our bed yesterday, shortly before spiking fevers again and crying all the way to the doctor's office.

More Dinner Conversation

Just another one for you with a bit more Will this time. Can any of you actually understand what their saying, or do you need an expert to transcribe it for you?

Some Dinner Conversation

Its been a while since you've seen the boys "live" - here they are chatting away about who knows what at the dinner table this evening.

We've Got The Plague

Okay, maybe not the plague, but definitely nasty colds as well as ear infections for the boys. Welcome to the house of fun!

Once again, I'm very glad I listened to my maternal instincts and took the boys to the doctor today, even though they were only exhibiting signs of a bad cough, which usually you can't do much about. But since they were also keeping themselves up all night long (all. night. long. Do I need to repeat that for you?) with their coughing, I figured it was a good idea to go in. And lo and behold, there are ear infections hiding in those little bodies.

So now they're on amoxycillan, which Will's body doesn't seem to keen on already. We've had some nasty side effects in the diaper department, not to mention he threw up on me as well as on himself this evening. I'll have to give the doctor a call in the morning to see if I continue with the course or if we switch it to something else.

Owen and I are having daily battles that usually end in ineffectual time outs for him and teeth clenching for me. I have to keep reminding myself that he's not feeling well either, but not quite to the same extent as his brother, so he has more energy and is feeling bored. But boredom and three year olds are definitely not a good mix, especially when the outlet is poking a sick brother or tormenting the dog or throwing temper tantrums every 15 minutes.

Did I mention that I'm sick too? I have a nasty cough, sore throat and stuffed up nose, but you really don't have time to be sick when you're a mummy, do you? I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself today and definitely overwhelmed. But I have to say I'm amazed that my poor 6 months pregnant body is holding up under all the lack of sleep and stress. All I want is for us to get better and for this concert I'm organising to be over and for our lives to get back on track.

Yeah, yeah, I see that tiny violin in your hand. Whining over. Here's a few cute shots of Dr Will yesterday when he was feeling better, preparing to give me and the baby belly an H1N1 shot (more on that particular brand of crazy another time, maybe)

Eep!

Please don't leave me. I'll try harder, I really will. Its just that things have been so busy...I'm organising a fundraising concert for the boys' school, I've been doing duty days at the school every week, I've been growing a baby, I've been waking up at 5am with my three year olds who refuse to go back to sleep. But I think about you every day and I write stuff for you in my head constantly. It just never gets to the computer because something/someone else distracts me before I get the chance. Are you there? Hello? Hello? Aw man. I think they left.

Birthday Month

Thanks to all the many family members and friends who've visited over the past month or so, William and Owen have managed to have an extended birthday. Here's a little look at some of the highlights:

Happy 3rd Birthday!

It always surprises me when another birthday comes around. I look at William and Owen, amazed that all this time has passed by already. And I automatically think back to what Mark, my mum and I were doing at this time three years ago today. Waiting for those little bobs to emerge, we were all excited, nervous and tired already. When they finally did arrive, at 6:02pm and 6:10pm, the room was filled with cheers. Its amazing how so many people can love you so much before they really know you.

And now my birthday babies are becoming independent little boys, chatting away about all that they experience with an infectious sense of joy and wonder, and a large dose of mischief added in for good measure. I laugh with them everyday, I probably fume at them everyday too, but more than anything, I love them with all my heart every single day.

Happy Birthday Lambies. I love you.



making birthday cookies - we need ear protector because the Kitchenaid is so "youd"


Waiting for Cookies - the title of a 3 year old's blog?


It takes a lot of concentration to decorate a sugar-cookie properly