Pneumonia, Pills and Parent/Teacher Interviews

So, somehow January is over and we're nearing the half-way mark of this shortest/longest month of the year.

I think winter has finally hit our part of the world. We've had a little bit of snow and some very cold days, with more in the forecast.

We've spent the better part of this week bunkered in. After being back and forth to the doctor for a bad cough several times, each time coming home with different medications to try out, The Bean was diagnosed with Pneumonia. He finished his antibiotics this morning and was back to school for just the one day this week as tomorrow is the first day of a four day weekend. Of course, now Sprout is coughing, but I'm hoping it doesn't develop into anything. She's also all but given up her mid-day nap, which is another thing all together, but to continue the theme from my last post: Tired Mama.

Thankfully before kid-sickness hit in full force I was able to get myself in for a few long-overdue doctor's appointments. One of those included a chat with my GP and the starting of some anti-depressants. It was time. I don't like the idea of them (for myself) and I resisted even considering them for so long, but the truth of it is that things have been getting worse rather than better. My mood has been impacting my interactions with both Jen and the kids in a negative way. Something needed to change. And, though it's only been a week, I feel like it's making a difference. I am so glad.

Tonight we had our first-ever parent/teacher interviews with The Bean's teachers. His report, which I only picked up this morning, was more or less what I expected. It's hard to read between the lines --the teachers mostly select comments from a drop-down menu so it doesn't say a whole lot and what it does say isn't neither very specific nor backed up by examples. Talking it through was good. We had requested the interview a while ago since he had been resisting going to school quite a bit before the break and we wanted to follow up on that. His teachers spent nearly 45 minutes with us, which is about three times what we were scheduled for. (They didn't have any interviews scheduled immediately following ours, so I guess they didn't feel rushed.) Most of what they had to say was about what a bright and social student he is, but they also seemed to have a pretty accurate insight into other things --his perfectionism and desire to please, his sense of social justice and his tendency to "police" others. We walked away with the feeling that they know our kid pretty well and are doing a good job supporting him. We also got some reassurance that they making efforts to challenge him academically despite him already meeting many of the curriculum expectations.

It's only 10:30pm, but it's been a long week. Tomorrow I will have both kids home again and with -20*C temperatures in the forecast I think it will be another long day spent indoors. I best rest up.

{this moment} a neighbourhood walk with a small and very eclectically dressed raccoon

A Friday ritual. A single photo  - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama.

Restless

I know it's not just me who's feeling the relentlessness of this winter.  Generally speaking I like winter, but this year it seems like it's never going to end.  Sprout is just getting stable on her feet, and while I'd love to take her out and let her walk around our quiet neighbourhood streets, or find a park with a nice path, there's too much snow and ice and slush for that to be a possibility.  She also seems to have inherited my sensitive skin, so if there's even the slightest bit of wind or a chill in the air her cheeks are bright red and chapped within minutes.  I feel like The Bean has been feeling cooped up too.  He's been spending a lot of time indoors both at daycare and at home, which is not easy for him.  He likes to move far too much to be content in closed areas.  But again, the weather isn't making it easy to get him outside.  This weekend we did driveway bike riding in snowpants.

Spring cannot come soon enough.

I'm also feeling the busy monotony of being a SAHM.  There's always plenty to do, but it's not the most engaging.  I love, love, love spending time with kids, but really the only thing I do love about it.  I'm ready to be working again, but job postings seem few and far between with a lot of competition for the few positions that do come up.  I've started subbing at one school, but they don't call often.  In fact, it's been nearly a month since I was in.  I've tried to get on other school's sub lists, but they must be set for the year, as most of my calls have not even been returned.  I miss the classroom.  I miss teaching.  And I really, really miss the kids.  I feel the emptiness of not having these things as a part of my life more than I expected to, and I expected to, so that's saying something.

I feel like I do a lot of complaining, and I really hate that.  (I know, complaining about complaining, please humour me.)  I love so many things about my life and am bursting with gratitude for them.  Especially the three main ones.  I mean, how I ever got so fortunate to have these people in my life, I just don't know.  They're amazing.

Maybe I should just bundle that baby up and go outside when she gets up from her nap.  Chapped cheeks are not so horrible, right?

So This is the New Year, and I Don't Feel Any Different

After a long drive yesterday, we spent today getting settled back in at home.  We unpacked and found places to put things away, while playing with both new toys and old.  Jen made soup from the few things we had in the refrigerator and pantry.  Both kids napped in the afternoon.

It was nice way to ease into the new year.

I have no idea what to expect from this year.  2010 was full of anxious anticipation and hope.  2011 was exhausting and amazing as we welcomed The Bean into our family.  2012 was hard, but brought us Sprout, who has filled our hearts beyond belief.  2013 we have grown into our lives as a family of four, with all the growing pains that includes, but also the overwhelming peace and joy of being a family.  Of being complete.

I feel guarded in my hopes for 2014.  I know it will have its ups and downs.  I also know that in another year we will all have grown and learned and changed in ways I may have never anticipated.

I hope for the best and wish all of you the best too.

Happy New Year.

Ice Storm

Saturday night when we while we were sitting on the couch, Jen asked me "Is it raining?"  It sounded like it, but neither of us were really motivated enough to get up and check.

As I half-woke up to nurse Sprout during night, I noticed the clock flashing.  We'd lost power.  Later the clock was off completely.  When I got out of bed in the morning, the power was still out.

There had been rain.  Freezing rain.  I've read that about a quarter million people in the city were without power.  Many are still without power.  Fortunately ours came back up Saturday evening.  Our apartment never got too terribly cold, but I was worried about the temperature dropping overnight.

More than anything I missed being able to boil water for tea.  Not having phones, computers, radio or television was sort of a nice (temporary) break.  I was slightly concerned about the contents of our refrigerator and freezer, but Jen was resourceful and packed ice and snow into bags and put them into the fridge to keep things cool.  She also spent a hour chipping ice off the car and came in with fingers a concerning purple colour.  Fortunately there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage.

We haven't put away our flashlights, lanterns or candles just yet.  We've decided we should keep more batteries on hand.  Our pantry was well-stocked enough that we probably could have gotten by for another day or two eating peanut butter crackers and cereal.

There's a lot of damage that the city still needs to deal with, and still a lot of people still waiting to get power back, but thankfully our little family is doing just fine.

Wordless Wednesday: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

This past Saturday we got our first "big snow" of the season.  The Bean and I decided to venture out into the city and see what downtown looked like under a blanket of white.

We took the subway (a hit!) to Nathan Phillips Square where we "skated" in our boots across the rink (another hit!).  A few blocks later we were in front of The Hudson Bay Company's Christmas Windows (another hit!).  The Bean then accompanied me while we picked up a Christmas gift for my mom's boyfriend (not such a hit, but I redeemed the event with a gingerbread cookie).  Sadly there are no photos because I figured for a solo venture I should keep my eyes and hands on the toddler rather than a camera. ;)

Sunday, on our way home from swimming we stopped at the local hardware store and bought a little sled so we could get out and enjoy the snow some more.  After showing Mommy and Sprout our new purchase, we all got into our snow pants, and snow jackets, and snow hats, and snow mittens, all the while (Mama and Mommy) worrying just a little that the getting ready was going to take longer than the playing would last.

Once dressed we ventured onto our still untouched lawn.

 

 

 

The snow was a hit.  We played until it was too far past the little ones' nap times to play any longer.

We draped our wet clothes over railings and radiators, had some snacks, and then snuggled under blankets and all dozed a little.

Perfect wintry weekend.

{this moment} decorating

A Friday ritual. A single photo  - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama.

Fall Foto Fridays: First Frost

Yesterday morning as we were eating breakfast we opened the blinds to see if it had snowed.  Our view was obscured by frost creeping along the window.  It melted quickly, but not before I caught a couple of photos of it.  I don't think it was really the first frost of the season, but it's pretty nonetheless.  And even though I didn't manage to keep up with the photo challenge, at least I made it back for the last one. 

Book Review: Books for Winter

Winter is on it's way.  Though I didn't see them, Jen told me there were some flurries on her way home yesterday.  We haven't put these books out for the kiddos just yet, because goodness knows winter will last long enough for us to read them many times, but they're ready for when we finally are willing to admit that winter has arrived.  

*You can see another review of winter books here.  I included some again in this list, without really thinking about it.

When Snowflakes Fall by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
The close up photos of animals in this book and the Winter Friends (below) are pretty cool.  This book is about various animals preparing for the coming of winter.  The Bean likes talking about the animals and what they're doing, and Sprout loves books with real photos, so this appeals to her too.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keates
I love "classics" like this book.  I'm sure everyone here is familiar with this book already, but if you're not it's truly lovely.  The artwork bold and appealing, illustrating the main character, Peter's, activities on a snowy day.  

Winter Friends  by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
As I mentioned above, the photos in this book are great.  It's a simple story with lots of animals to point out and make the noises for.  Both kids like this one.  

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Jane Chapman
A super-cute rhyming book about a bear who sleeps through the winter while his other woodland animal friends seek reprieve from the snow.  Fun to read and to listen to.  Perfect for preschool-age.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz
This is a new one to us and the kids haven't heard it yet (it's intended to be a holiday gift).  That said, I think they're going to like it.  A little boy excitedly notices the snow beginning to fall and happily announces his discovery only to have everyone tell him that it's not really snowing.  But, of course, it is really snowing and so the little boy goes out to play in it.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
This book has become favorite for everyone at our house.  So much so that The Bean has brought home drawings of "The City of Geopolis" from daycare.  For those not familiar with it, Katy is a crawler tractor who puts on her snowplow and helps plow out the city after the "big snow." Love. Love. Love.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
This is also one we have tucked aside as a holiday gift.  I fell in love with the illustrations and being a bit of an animal geek I couldn't resist picking it up to share with The Bean hoping to inspire some discussion about what various creatures do during the winter months.  I think it's a little "old" for him, probably better suited to school-aged children, but I'm hoping we still get to enjoy it together.  

Zoe's Snowy Day by Barbara Reid
This is in the "Zoe" series.  The text is quite limited, but the plasticine pictures are unique.  There's a lot going on in the pictures to point out and name to your baby.  The Bean still enjoys this simple story and after having been read it a few times can recite it by memory.  Like her brother at this age, Sprout seems to enjoy looking at the pictures.

The Snow Day by Komoko Sakai
Another book I picked up after falling in love with the illustrations.  A little bunny wakes up to find the snow falling, falling, falling.  He stays home with his mother on the snow day and waits and waits for the snow to stop so he can go outside to play.  It's a little solemn  and it's apparent the little bunny is a bit worried about his dad who's plane home has been delayed because of the weather, but the ending is optimistic.  I think it's particularly nice for kids who live in urban settings (the bunny and his family live in an apartment) and for kids whose parents have to travel for business.

What books make your winter favourites list?

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from our little Heart Throb and his sister, the Love Bug.  

Wordless Wednesday: Winter Storm Nemo