The Eve Before All Hallows Eve

Here's our two little trick or treaters ready to take on Halloween tomorrow.

Single Parenthood and More

Well, two days down, only two more to go. All I can say is that I am ever so grateful for Darrel and all he does. Several times in the past 48 hours I have thought, "I wish Darrel was here!" Namely when Jack threw up after dinner last night and I was trying to clean it up before Eric crawled in it, and Jack was crying his poor little head off. Oi! Jack rebounded today and there were no repeat incidents of that at least, but I still miss my sweetie. It's almost like I don't know what to do with myself, what to do during the day, who to talk to, what to do when the kids are finally in bed. It's a little weird. I guess if everyone were feeling well we'd be out and about more but with them sick we've been cooped up at home and I feel like a hermit.

I have been reading a lot on Celiac disease. People with Celiac disease cannot tolerate any gluten, so no wheat, rye, barley etc. Also oats are suspect as they are usually processed around wheat. More than just a simple allergy, celiac disease is an auto-immune disease, the small intestine is destroyed by gluten consumption, thus robbing the individual of the nutrients in their food. (They can eat extremely healthy and still be malnourished.) I've been doing research as I've noticed that Eric is still having allergy like symptoms to wheat but I have eliminated wheat itself from his diet. Apparently though spelt (a substitute for wheat that I've been using) still has gluten and therefore is still problematic for Celiacs. Symptoms vary widely depending on the individual but can include headaches, depression, sinus problems, skin rashes and lesions, upset stomachs and digestive systems, and on and on. There is a genetic component to the disease and approximately 10 -15% of children of Celiac parents inherit the disease. Which strikes me as extremely interesting. Darrel has basically felt like crap for the last five years and despite numerous doctors visits and removing known allergens from his diet still experiences extreme fatigue, headaches, digestion problems, depression and many other things. Could this be the cause? Apparently Celiac disease is much more common than previous thought, current research puts the incidence rate at 1/250 persons in North America. More common than Alzheimers or MS. In the past in order to be diagnose a scope of the small intestine would have to be performed to determine if there was damage to it and thus probably the individual was a Celiac. But now researchers have found that by doing 3 different tests on a blood sample they can accurately determine who is and is not affected by the disease. So, I'm off to the doctor with Eric this week to ask for the blood work to be done. I hope I don't come off as a crazy woman, doing her own medical research and coming up with my own diagnosis. :) All I know is that Eric's system really does not like it when I give him anything with wheat or wheat substitute and I have a husband who despite "nothing being wrong" has been in bad health for a long time. So if need be I will be quite firm and insist that they do the test, just to rule it out. While it will make our lives a little more complicated if they do have Celiac disease, (good bye to eating out except maybe sushi and even then you have to watch the soy sauce,) I'm almost excited by the prospect that we will have an answer and be able to actually do something about it.

What Do You Love?

I find it interesting to note what toys my children are drawn to. I wonder if it speaks to their personality so far, can I make assumptions/predict anything based on their choices? It's partly the classic nature vs. nurture argument. Theoretically Jack and Eric have the same family experience(s) but they are definitely two different individuals. Jack will play with the potato head if I'm actively engaging him in it. Like "oh, isn't that funny, I put a nose on his ear, hahaha". Otherwise he moves on in about 3 minutes. But Eric, this little guy will sit and play with it for a half hour or more. That is eons in toddler time. All I have to do is get the bucket out and I am guaranteed some shower time or just non crankiness.

Of course, having said that I will have now jinxed myself -he'll never give it another look and I'll be back to finding a sure fire kid entertainer. :)

sushi

Jack really loves it when we have sushi night. I was pretty surprised as vegetables aren't really his thing and I thought the seaweed would turn him off. But he really likes it. He's graduated from simple kappa maki and avacado maki to dynamite and california rolls. He's even eaten tuna and salmon maki.

Children never cease to surprise, really. They are always doing what you would least expect. I guess that keeps life interesting. :)

Long Time Gone

It feels good to be scrapping again, I was going through withdrawl.

Imagination at Work

Jack's imagination is growing by the day.

Some recent conversations between he and I:

Saturday as Jack does a little shuffle/waddle in the kitchen.
Mom: "Jack what are you doing?"
Jack: "I a penguin!"

Yesterday afternoon as Jack prances around the kitchen and living room.
Jack: "I running!"
Mom: "Yes you are."
Jack: "Me a horse! I running!"

Yesterday throughout the day.
Mom brings up a bag of chicken from the freezer.
Jack: "That's my favourite!"
Mom: "Oh you like chicken."
Jack: "YES!"
Later in the day after I run to the store for some supper ingredients. I put the bag on the counter, I'm not even sure if he can see what is actually in the bag.
Jack: "That's my FAVOURITE! Thanks Mom!"

Last night at 4:21 am as I put him back to bed after a drink of water. Jack pulls the covers over his head, I pull them down saying he'll get too hot if his head is covered.
Jack: "I'm afraid. There's monsters in the dark"
What? Where did he get that from???? Generally we don't talk about monsters at all let alone a boogey man waiting to get you in the dark. Quick thinking and tired Mommy replies that there are no monsters when you have a night light, monsters don't like night lights. I don't know if this is going to bite me later as I've now confirmed the existence of monsters. But I figure that there's no convincing a child there isn't monsters. When I was six I imagined that the orange shag in my bedroom was a tiger and despite repeated efforts by my mother I think we moved to a new house before I truly believed there wasn't a tiger lurking in my room.

At any rate, I love watching Jack's imagination take off. It is often quite entertaining to see the wheels turning in his brain.

Eric's First Haircut

Darrel pointed out on Sunday that Eric's front hair actually touched his nose when combed straight. Ok -fine, it is time to cut this child's hair. :(

Last night I took the plunge. Despite having a very squirmy baby who wanted to play peekaboo I think it turned out pretty good.

I only trimmed the back a little as I adore those cute little curls. Darrel now thinks his hair is a little mullet like. Poor 70's throw back baby. :)

He definitely looks older, although today dressed in pale blue and tan overalls I thought, "Hmmmm he could be mistaken for a girl with all those curls growing long in the back." Maybe some more trimming is in the future.

Sandbox Fun

I think the sandbox has been the best home improvement of the year. I know it has Jack and Eric's votes!

Eric at nearly 15 months

Eric has definitely beat Jack's record of learning to walk...he took his first steps this past week, at least two months ahead of his older brother. He is so proud of this accomplishment. I'm sure by the end of this coming week he'll be doing a good 8-10 steps on his own. This little guy is just so darn charming. He now says thank you, likes to play telephone and say hello, enjoys jumping on Jack's bed, and thinks saying no repeatedly is really funny -especially if you say "yes" in response to his no. I am working up my courage to cut his hair this week. It needs to be done, the front bits actually reach his nose! But it's such cute baby hair, I almost can't bear it. Plus after you cut a baby's hair it just makes them look even older all of a sudden. Yup, he is definitely turning into a little boy and not just my baby.

The KinderWagon

Last night we picked up our "new to us" Ford Winstar mini-van. Now we will have room for more than just the essentials on trips and room for a little brother or sister if the need arises.


Anybody want to buy a Toyota Matrix?

cheers,
Darrel on behalf of Kirsten