Sleepover

Last night Drew was away at a conference and earlier in the week I had promised the kids a sleepover. So we all got our sleeping bags and at 6:30 laid down to watch a movie. I went with Daddy Daycare. You would be amazed at this age at how hard it is to get a boy and a girl to agree on a movie. Horses and dogs or superheros? My hip was killing me by the end and I craved for my soft bed. In between the movie I got a call from Drew about how he got his parents car towed. Remember last month when he got the $100 fire hydrant ticket? After daddy daycare we watched Sky Runner about aliens and then Rocky and Bull Winkle and after that I couldn't take it any more and went to my own bed at 10:30. Hey, 4 hours on the hard linoleum is pretty good! They stayed up to watch Superman. I said they could knowing they would be asleep as soon as I left. Drew finally did get home. Amazingly Mazie woke up and wasn't stuffy. What do you think is in her room to make her sick? Carpet? Mold? I wonder.

We spent the rest of the day being lazy. Drew ended up staying home instead of back to the conference. It was a heck of a rain storm and he didn't want to drive downtown. I was glad for that as we cleaned a bit of the house and I made breakfast for everyone. I finished another book and it was awesome - RUn by Ann Patchett thanks to Aunt DOnnas donation.

I'm feeling a bit at peace today because I think our big decision is over at least for now. I don't have to sit and ponder every second what my future will look like. Instead, I can settle in for another year here in Toronto. WHo knows what tomorrow will bring but for today that's ok. THen again, it is May. Ask me how I feel in November. I'm just looking forward to visiting California soon. I can't wait although I wonder if I'll feel sad coming back here or happy. We'll just have to see.

I'm on my way to Mandarin right now. We're going to celebrate MOther's Day and it will be our last big meal with Grandma and Grandpa before they leave next week. I plan to really pig out. Know what I am craving the most? Green beans. LOL

Cinco De Mayo - They don't know what that is in Canada. Hehe

THis morning while sitting on the pot (come on - everyone does it) I noticed that there was an earring on the bathroom floor. NOt just any earring either. It was precisely the same earring I spent over 30 minutes last night fighting w/ Mazie to put in her ear. Obviously daddy was too rough when he dried her hair after getting her out of the bath and it fell out. Now it had been out all night and I was devastated. No time to panic - gotta wake her up at 6:30 am and see if I can put that darn thing back in. NOw, on a good day, she doesn't let me touch her ears so I knew that was going to be tricky. I tried and tried until Leo yelled at me to stop talking and get out (he obviously wasn't ready to get up yet). NO go. She was so cute. She asked if I could wait until she fell back asleep. I couldn't - I had to go to work and the fact that my daughter's earring fell out is not a good excuse to cancel an appt. especially when the interpreter was already lined up. I then did the next best thing which was ask Drew to ask Paige if she would take her to Claire's and see if they would do it w/ the gun again. I thought if it wasn't fully closed it might go in easier. Fortunately Paige is a miracle worker and was able to push that thing back in. Oh, and it helps that she isn't the mom so little miss doesn't throw a fit. Plus, I heard Uncle Jason held her hand. Ahhhh. I didn't know about all this when I got to work however. I just though she had one closed ear and I was so upset. Not becuase it was $50 although that thought crossed my mind. I was mad becuase of all the time and energy I spent cleaning and fighting with her to keep them clean these last few months. Have I mentioned how grateful I am to AUnt Paige?!

I am not sure if I discussed our allergy issue. Perhaps I did. Mazie is allergic to cats. We have 2 long haired ones in our tiny basement. We were advised to get an air filter. I thought the ionic air purifiers were a great deal at $150 at Costco so we bought them. Turns out they were emitted this awful odor which I later learned was ozone. I also learned that ozone is really bad for persons with asthma. Mazie was coughing like mad and her eyes were red and watery each morning and she was miserable. Away w/ the ionic breeze. Luckly Costco took it back. Three cheers for Costco! We called up the allergist to ask for some help. She actually spoke to us! #3 cheers for Dr. Rhoda! If you call our ped and ask a quesiton you have to pay $25. It isn't covered by OHIP. She suggested perhaps Mazie is allergic to dust mites. DUH! She is. We knew that when she was 2! So, she suggested we get a new mattress pad and pillow case and dry all her stuffed animals in the dryer ot get rid of all the dust mite poop. I went to walmart and just changed her bedding. I took out all the stuffed animals (I am very surprised by how many she has and think we should get rid of most of them although its going to be tough. She's sort of a hoarder). I think though if given the choice - the cats or the stuffed animals she'll choose the Mickey MOuses and Care Bears. THen I looked at my own stuffed animals and I almost cried. I could never part w/ them. What if they are making her sick. What if I am now at this point a total germafobe? I'm freaked out about everything and I just wish we could figure out what is making Mazie so sick. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ugh!

My work caseload is beyond manageable and I work my butt off from morning to night. I come home and do the same (minus the fact that my MIL is cooking the best meals so I don't have to and my hubby cleans the cat box). Ok, maybe I am exxagerating but I sure am tired. Tonight's commute was 1 hour and 15 minutes in total traffic hell!

Nothing really to report about so that's why I've been MIA. That and my life is in complete limbo right now and it's stressing me out to the max. I am trying very hard to have faith and trust that it will all work out but its not an easy thing for me to do.

Say some prayers if you have some handy.

Little Pig

Mazie had the big show last night. SHe was adorable all dressed in pink for her part as the little pig.
Afterwards we gave her a dozen pink roses and went out for Ice Cream. We were so proud of her!

For Easter we got Leo a new bike as he had really outgrown his old one. He unfortunately saw it Saturday night so ended up giving Mazie her Nintendo DS that night as well. Surprise spoiled but still very much excitement abounded.

Nancy and Leo were able to make it for Easter. Leo attended Good Friday services with Drew and Nancy attended Saturday night services with me. Drew was of course busy all week and exhausted by the end when he got home Sat. night at 3:30 am only to wake up and hunt for Easter eggs at 7:30 am. I think he has recovered though. He is now busy getting ready for his comps which take place in a month.

The kids are enjoying having Grandma and Grandpa here to play with and Drew and I are enjoying a little extra quiet time while we all await the birth of Keaton which I have predicted will happen on the 17th. We all have made our predictions and put them on the calendar. Nobody is competetive around here that's for sure!

God Laughs at plans

This was not at all the weekend I had envisioned or hoped for. I was excited for a nice time of fun and relaxation as I drove home Friday afternoon from work. I got home only to find my little Mazie with what I thought was a bad cold. We decided to go out for dinner (not advised when fasting - you spend a great deal of money on food that really isn't worth spending so much money on. If I go out to eat I want to fully enjoy my meal - not eat rice and potatoes and veggies). During the meal Mazie was looking bad and wanted to lay down so I left early and we went home. I was up much of the night with her. Saturday she said her throat hurt and when I looked I was astounded at the size of her tonsils and worried about how she would possible breathe. I tried to go to 2 walk in clinics but they were both closed already so I had to wait until Sunday morning to get her to the doc for what I knew would be strep throat. In case you don't remember - she had it in Dec. and Jan. I was up all night with her. SHe was crying and miserable iwth a high fever and coughing non stop. I slept (or didn't sleep) on the living room floor and watched teletoon retro all night. I finally got her to the doc this morning but she really didn't like her medicine. I tried to give it to her 4 times and each time she would vomit on me. Got some new medicine - thank God insurance covered another antibiotic on the same day! Note to self - Mazie does not do well with cherry flavoured medicine even if you put it in grape koolaid and don't tell her. She finally got a dose and it was a miracle how quickly it started to work! She seems better already. I almost took her to the ER for a 2 hour non stop cough which I thought was an asthma attack. Luckily Drew got some sleep last night so his brain wasn't altogheter fried like mine and he thought of using the vaporizer. Duh mom! ANyway, I did nothing fun this weekend and it wasn't relaxing at all and the house is a mess. I guess there's always next weekend which happens to be Easter. NO hubby for a week at least. I hope he doesn't get sick!

March Break

I thought I might provide a little update into our lives the past few days as there have been some exciting new developments.

On Monday Mazie once again complained of her tummy hurting her and we've talking about taking her to the doctor for months now but hesitated because we've been there before for this issue and never really got any answers. I felt enough was enough and we were all home so we called the doc and got an afternoon appt. He sent us downstairs for an x-ray of her tummy and we waited a really long time and finally got it. Not without also getting a parking ticket for parking too close the a fire hydrant. Another lady in the waiting room also got a ticket for the same thing. Don't get me started on that though becuase I was fuming about it. As if we have money to throw around.

Later that night I made dinner and as we were sitting eating I noticed Mazie's neck was very red. Upon further inspection we found hives all over her body! Big ones and it was spreading to her face as her eyes were beginning to swell and I thought for sure this was going to be my chance to pull out that epi pen. We were mystified as we were aware of her grass allergies but she was fully buttoned up in a coat outside playing in the little grass there was after the snow had melted and didn't think that would be the cause. After 4 doses of benadryl she was out and the hives subsided but I was restless all night worried for her. I checked the ingredients on the bag of chips and my hunch is that she is allergic to safflower oil. Safflowers are related to dandilions and I know she is allergic to those so I figure that's it. We have an appt. with the allergist on Monday to find out. I am not at all looking forward to dandilion season. It was hell last year and I fear it may have gotten worse.

The next day the doc called and wants to try a laxative regimen for Mazie to see if we can get rid of her tummy aches. That has been fun. I'll spare you the details. DId you know that if it says do not crush or chew and you do it really doesn't make a difference?

The kids have been home having fun with dad on their week off- going to the park, playing video games, making forts, etc. Mazie went to daycare yesterday - we paid for the spot and she wanted to go - and Leo got some one on one time w/ dad. Friday I have a vacation day and we hope to do something fun. Not sure what yet.

How could I forget? Last night was St. Paddy's and we had corned beef. I bought 2 of them - one for yesterday and anotehr for the future. They were $13 a piece and barely feeds the 4 of us. It was delicious - Drew did the prep work of boiling it with the carrots and I baked it later with a delicious glaze and made the potatoes and cabbage. THis was the first time I tried cabbage and I found it to be pretty good. I was a bit down last night and in need of some TLC and guess what Drew did? You'll never believe this and if you dont' know him you won't be impressed but he made me brownies! That's amazing for him and it cheered me right up!

Lenten Greek Cooking

Trying out some new recipes for lent. Tonight is stuffed tomatoes and peppers along with greek green beans (they were a bit shy for the camera though).