Happy Birthday

I'm 29 again! Sadly, that doesn't even work with my kids anymore. Avery just looks at me and says "no you aren't, you are 38". Busted! The scary thing is, I was telling the girls about a fun suprise party my friends threw me one year and I realized that I am now double that age. Won't be any parties this year, husband is working, Avery has gymnastics and the house needs some serious cleaning. Adult birthdays just aren't the same, ha ha. I do know that there is a cheesecake sitting in the fridge that we will be having for lunch tomorrow between school bus timings. I'll take it!

Soon there will be pictures

My dear old camera has seen better days, and I have been dropping a few hints that I am desperate need of a camera. I guess my husband does listen to me (once in awhile) because he took me camera shopping for my birthday. Now I just have to do a little internet research on cameras. I don't need a super fancy camera (my photography abilities are not exactly great) just want something a little better than my old point and shoot. I can't wait to start taking some pictures again.

Bedtime at our house

Brennyn just snuck out of bed and said "mommy I don't have to go to bed because owls are nocturtles". Avery shouted "you mean nocturnal". I am fairly certain that I did not learn about animals being nocturnal until I was at least in grade 3! Both girls are into animal role playing lately. Not sure why an Owl is the choice, but whatever floats their boat!

Not so easy going all of the sudden

Miss Brennyn has suddenly become very, very strong willed (okay, so she has always been that way but with some easy going mixed in), or as the Sick Kid Dentist said "well, at least you know nobody will push her around, EVER". As you can surmise, the dental visit did not go smoothly this time around. Oh, things started off great, we had a nice visit with our physiotherapist and she wants to convince the doctor to push up the next surgery (we're all for this plan). Things went downhill once Brennyn sat in the dental chair. She told the dentist that she wanted to go back to "her nice dentist in Orangeville", and that "she wanted to leave sick kids now, she was all done". X-rays were a bust since B wouldn't even turn her head to face the dentist or open her mouth. The dentist didn't want to push, but next visit the x-rays are a must. Brennyn's teeth do look good so far, which for a patient with Etodermal Dysplasia this is great news! We just aren't sure what they look like under the gums. At least we will have 6 months to prepare! Oh, and she did not want the x-ray because the bite wings "are disgusting and yucky". I tried to explain that they just came out of their package and were fresh, but it was a no go. Brennyn kept saying "no, nope, not going to do it".

Found all my pictures in the back up hard drive thingy

First moment we laid eyes on Avery! She was one of the last babies brought in that day (she is in the yellow sweater). Poor baby was so hot, scared and overwhelmed! Hard to believe it was over 5 years ago.

This was the first time we met Miss Brennyn. She sure has changed a lot. We did not realize just how sick of a little girl she was at that time (Giardia, staph infection among just to name a few). These pictures make me feel like our time in China was months ago, not years ago. How I long to go back for a visit!

More questions (I know I posted about this before, but Brennyn keeps asking)

I always find that bedtime is becoming question time for Brennyn. It's interesting, Avery has never been one to ask a lot of questions about birth family, adoption or any other heavy subject. Yet, we know she is thinking about it. I just make sure to bring the subject up every now and then. Brennyn, on the other hand, does not internalize. Whatever thought pops into her head, comes out her mouth. Brennyn wants me to find her birth mother. She told me that she wants to say "ni hao". It's difficult to explain to her that I may not be able to find her birth mother. It's also difficult to explain that why her birth mother could not raise her. I don't want to say that it's because she was born with syndactyly and a missing finger but I am fairly certain this is the reason. I tried to say that I don't know the reason, only her birth mother knows for sure. Of course, that answer did not cut it with Brennyn. I also explained that she was probably very sick as a baby (she was probably born with a bad rash, red skin, part of the syndrome). We have officially started the search for Brennyn's birth family, but I'm not so sure if the search will even get off the ground this time (we are using a different search organization this time). It's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but sometimes someone finds that needle!

Avery's new friend! Her Dad took her to another science fiction event this weekend. She loves it, somehow he has converted her into a Star Trek loving girl. I know he uses her cuteness to get more time with the stars, and it works like a charm.

Blair's favourite Actress (from Star Trek of course). She thought Avery was "adorable". I try not to attend these events, I just don't get that people pay money to get autographs, and that these actors charge so much to be there, just saying. To each their own, and obviously my husband disagrees with me, lol.

I will admit that I am a worrier, always have been and can't see that personality trait changing anytime soon. I worry about being a good mom, I worry about my daughter's medical syndrome, I worry about what to make for dinner, I worry that my daughter is too shy and the other one is too outgoing, I worry that I am too shy, I worry that I don't have a great career and should go back to school, I could go on. Most of all I worry that I am making the right choices for my children. I know that I can't control everything in their lives, and they are going to be the people they are no matter what. Sometimes I wonder if Avery is getting overlooked a little. Brennyn requires a little more attention, it's just the way it is unfortunately. Brennyn has to go to sick kids every few months to visit one specialist or another. She needs a little more help getting dressed some days (and it has nothing to do with her syndrome or missing finger, it's just Miss Brennyn). I imagine this is a common event in the life of a child who has a sibling with a special need (and I dislike typing that phrase because it feels like a label), but it doesn't make it right. I am going to have to make an effort to spend a little more one on one time with Avery. I think we take it for granted that she is so self sufficient. She has always acted more mature for her age (in some ways, not in the anger management department, lol).

Cheeky Monkey

Brennyn has been attending gymnastics class for over a year now. She loves it, and gymnastics has really improved her balance and coordination. Avery has an unnatural upper body strength and is very flexible, so the gymnastics coaches wanted her to join the advanced dev. team. Avery doesn't love gymnastics yet she has such an amazing talent for the sport. Brennyn loves gymnastics and can't wait to go every Wednesday. The point of this backstory is that Brennyn also loves her gymnastics coach. I can't lie, Brennyn also tends to get in a wee bit of trouble every other week by her coach. Her coach still loves her though, ha ha. Unfortunately, this week Brennyn got into a bit of trouble again. She was pinching her coach's bum. Brennyn, of course, thought it was the funniest thing ever. Me, not so much! Yes, my sweet daughter almost got another time out at gym class. At least her coach has a sense of humour though!

Easter Fun and a little dress up

The Bunny ate some of the carrot!

Easter

Relaxing at Grandma and Grandpa's after a fun filled weekend of Easter Egg hunts, a little shopping and a few hours at the YMCA pool. Easter Bunny won't be arriving at our house until tomorrow since Daddy had to work all weekend. Probably the last year we can get away with changing a holiday with children being none the wiser.

Busy picking out paint, tiles and carpet

Basement is coming along nicely. The drywall is complete, primed and ready to go. I cannot imagine ever attempting to construct a basement on our own. I think it would take years (seriously). Thank goodness we somehow managed to hire a great contracter. He, and his team, have been so good (not that I know much about construction). Brennyn has been entertaining the workers, especially while they have been drywalling the staircase (because they can't shut the door and escape). Actually, she even managed to tell the guy that he was making such a mess, and that he better clean it up, or else! He was laughing so hard. Brennyn loves to race home from the bus and tell him all about her day at school. Poor girl is going to be so sad when the basement is all done and the guys aren't here anymore! Off to decide on paint colour, have a few chips scattered around the basement!