HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I don't know who is more excited, the kids or moi. I loooove Halloween. Avery has been asking every day if the next day was Halloween and now it is! Brennyn just said "I go trick or treating like Caillou and Yo Gabba Gabba" (we've been watching a few TreeHouse Halloween specials).

Pictures to follow!
Happy Halloween everyone!!!!

House of germs

Once again, our house is officially plague ridden. My poor husband started complaining of a sore throat last week (and I may have ignored him), but by the weekend he was a mess. Finally convinced him to see the doctor on Monday and he has bronchitis and sinusitis. He is on some serious antibiotics and finally can speak again. He did have to pay $20.00 for a doctors note, even when the doctor was the one who insisted he could not go to work. I'm sure the retirement homes and hospital would have loved to see him come to the door and wheeze all over the residents/patients (he's a paramedic). Not to mention that he could barely get out of bed anyway.
Avery was up half the night last night complaining of a sore throat so I gave in and let her sleep with us. I could tell she was better in the morning because the first thing she said to Brennyn was "I slept in Mommy's bed last night" which started Brennyn crying.

Here's hoping the germs move on by this weekend. We have some serious trick or treating to do!

Odds and Ends

A few more fair pictures. Avery was too cool for her mom to help her on the pony ride. "Mom don't touch the pony and don't hold on, I'm big now". I still had to stand beside the pony because the man in charge of the ride may have felt differently (probably not good for business if a kid falls off a pony). I tried to snap a few pics, but apparently she was too cool for pictures as well.
She does love the pony rides though (although she would never admit it).
The other picture is of Avery dressed in an old Star Trek mask. Avery just about gave me a heart attack when she came down the stairs in that get-up. Avery and her Dad laughed for a good 10 minutes after that.

Let's see, what else??
Applied for the perfect job. I saw the job posting in our local paper and almost cried with excitement. Seriously, this job was made for me. Unfortunately, it is considered a town job and half the town will want it because of the pay scale (puts my retail pay to shame but what job doesn't pay better than retail). I haven't heard back so I may be out of luck.
However, I am proud of myself. I think I've mentioned this before, but I am a little on the shy side. It took a lot for me to go in and ask for the HR person and apply but I did it. I think I should have spoke a little more while I had the chance, but it was my first time applying for a job in more then 8 years. Next time I will just be more assertive!

Let me set the scene:a very rare family dinner (Blair and I seem to be on opposite schedules these days). Avery is chatting (being interrogated by Blair and I) about school when she says "Dad, you are smart like me". "We are very smart aren't we Daddy". "We know everything". I interrupt to say "uhhh, I think Mommy is smart too". Only to be shot down by my 4 year old "mommy, it isn't all about you, you know".

I don't believe that she is only 4, I think she is a 20 year old in a 4 year old's body.

On a totally unrelated topic (hmm, or maybe Avery is on to something and it is all about me)I'm thinking about joining a half-marathon clinic in the spring. The only problem with a half marathon clinic is that one is expected to actually run a half marathon (20km) by the end of the clinic. That seems like a lot of kms, yikes. I did run 6.5k yesterday but it wasn't pretty and that is a far cry from 20.

Oh, and the resume is complete (with a little help from my darling husband, who is kind of scary in his creativity and wording).

It's our annual put out the Halloween decoration day. Avery loves when we pull out the orange coloured Tupperware bin. She's been asking to decorate for weeks now. Of course, she has also been talking about Santa and Christmas since July.

I am the Halloween nut around here. I've always loved Halloween. I don't know, something about ghosts and goblins, dressing up, and don't even get me started about the chocolate and candy (I have a sugar addiction, it started when I was young). My affection for the holiday has not waned as I've aged. I love it now just as much as I did when I was 10. I'm not sure who is more excited, me or the kids?

I'm really just procrastinating right now. I'm in the midst of typing up my resume, and it's been about 8 years since I've last done one. It's a work in progress (in other words, I've been at it for 2 days now).

Thanksgiving recap

Busy weekend with work, visiting family, stuffing my face, hanging out at the fair. This year I was spoiled and did not have to cook a meal. We ate at Blair's parent's crib on Sat. and my parent's on Sunday. I think I may actually be turkeyed out (may have taken some leftovers/handouts and ate it all today).

I did make a pie, from scratch. I think my pie making ability is much improved (if I do say so myself). Nothing like whipping up a pie (pastry and all), homemade brownies and having to be at work by noon.

Anyway, the girls loved the fair, lots of junk food had by all. Did the old pony ride, bumper cars and space ships. Spent $10 on $1.00 stuffed animals, the girls just had to play the fishing game. It was worth the money just to watch the looks on their faces when they "caught" the fish.

I'm off to succumb to my turkey coma.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

We'll be eating dinner at my in-laws tonight, parents tomorrow and hitting the World Famous Rockton Fair.
Okay, it's not world famous, but the sign does say that. It's the fair of my youth, so many amazing memories. Funny, how your perspective of the fair changes as you age. I'm sure the girls will love it. Rides, games, and cotton candy for all!

Interesting day, a little panic gets the heart racing

The day started off good, beautiful fall weather, girls up and ready to go to school. Bus on time, Brennyn off to Teddy Bear school, morning to myself. I decided to park the car in the garage, even though I had to go pick Brennyn up again in a few hours. I set off for a morning run around the neighbourhood (did I mention the beautiful weather, 18 degrees and sunny, leaves changing colour on the trees). Anyway, 20 minutes before I have to head out I hear a loud bang somewhere in the house. I checked around, but nothing seemed amiss.
Finally, I'm in the car and hitting the garage door opener and nothing. Okay, I'll just manually open the door, no problem. Umm, wait, did I suddenly get very weak because this door is not budging. My car is being held hostage by the garage door.

Thank goodness my In-Laws live the next street over. I raced to their house in a calm orderly fashion (ha, I was in full blown panic, had to get Brennyn and make it home in time to meet Avery at the bus stop).
My FIL drove me to the school and we made it back with 1 minute to spare, crisis averted. I do not know what I would have done if my in-laws weren't home.

$150.00 later and the garage door has let free my car. My FIL even knew exactly who to call to fix the door, phew! Who knew a little spring could cause this much trouble??

The things they say

"Oh ma god, you have a necklace mommy". Perhaps one should watch what they say around here. You never know what kids hear.
I did fall off my chair laughing last week when Brennyn said "oh f@cky F#ck". What she was trying to say was "oh foxy fox" (at least I think that is what she was trying to say). I know, laughing only encourages these things but I could not help it, I have a sick sense of humour.

Brennyn's latest favourite "oh, don't worry mommy". That goes for anything, say for example when I point out that she broke something or made a big mess.

Waiting

It's October. We are still waiting to hear from the surgeon at Sick Kids. Originally, Brennyn's first operation was to be in the summer, then September, now we don't know. I am so happy that she is being seen by such a well known specialist, but I'm not so happy that this is taking so long. It's a double edge sword in a way since the best has so many other more urgent cases that bump us out (for a good reason, just stinks to be waiting for almost a year).

We are also still waiting on the genetic testing. I think I have found the answer to my questions on that end. It still would be beneficial to have the genetic results for a concrete answer. I have been fortunate to "chat" with another mom whose daughter seems to have a similar condition as Brennyn. Unfortunately, it is a very difficult syndrome to diagnose.

Time passes so quickly, but I feel like we are stuck in this waiting game. I don't think I'm very patient anymore. I want the best for my daughter and I would really like some answers for her sake!

On another note, I finally sent a letter and some pictures to Avery's birth family in China. I should have included a return envelope but didn't think of that at the time. I'm crossing my fingers that they receive the package and respond.