{SOOC} - Beauty

Head on over to Life on Delgany Street and link up to this week's challenge - Beauty.  I've just recently taken my 'professional' camera back out (I was afraid to drop it in the winter!), so I've only a few shots.  However, I captured my baby penguin right after nap time yesterday...she's my beauty.

Come have some creative fun!

My Monkey is sick.

I feel like I'm in an episode of House.  

Here's what we know:
Monkey fell at school almost 2 weeks ago (2 weeks this Friday). We are unsure if she just fell on ice or if she was pushed on the slide or fell on the play structure on the playground at recess - we have received little pieces of information from her but are not able to tell if she's remembering a past incident or not.  The office was not notified of any injury on that day and so far, no one seems to have witnessed it directly.  She got home on Friday complaining her bum hurt and that she had fallen. 

That Sunday her father took her to the hospital as she could barely walk, was crying all the time and was not acting normal.  It was discovered that she had a fever that had been masked by the Tylenol she had been taking every 4-5 hours for the pain she was having.  She was examined, Xrays were taken (which showed no fractures) and then she was sent home to rest and take it easy.  She was prescribed Tylenol for the fever and pain as well as Omoxicillin (sp?) for a slight ear infection.

I had her home with me all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  She limped the entire time.  Her fever returned as soon as the Tylenol wore off and she was just not herself - but there was no bruising from her fall.  She also wasn't eating very much at all.  By Wednesday she was able to maneuver around mostly on her own and had started to show interest in playing with toys again.  So we figured she was improving...

We sent her to school Thursday.  I received a call at lunch saying that Monkey was not acting herself.  She was not participating in activities or engaging with her friends, she would not eat her lunch, and she had put her head on her desk and fallen asleep.  When she got back to my house I put her down for a nap.  She woke up screaming and complaining of pain in her neck.  Her fever was high and she had difficulty walking again.  I took her to the hospital.  They did a urine test and 3 blood tests.  After getting the results that her white blood count was within normal range, they switched her to Advil doses to combat the inflammation reading that came back - apparently common in young children if they had an infection present when injured.  We went home.

Friday and Saturday she was mostly fine as long as she had a full dose of Advil in her.  She would smile and laugh with her little sister, but not up to her usual self.  She laid down a lot and complained of pain "in her bum" when the medication was wearing off.  Her fever kept returning.  Sunday with her father was more of the same - she would "play" with her cousins, but was not fully in the activities.  She was still limping and complaining of pain and asked to go lay down at one point.  But she wanted to go to school on Monday and again, we thought that she was slowly improving.

Monday was better at school.  She was attempting to play at recess - although she fell again - but was reportedly alright.  Her father received a call on his cell from the hospital in the early afternoon.  They had received the results of the other blood tests and were looking to have Monkey come back in for a re-test to see how she compared.  The person on the phone mentioned the possibility of a bone scan, but could not release much information as she wasn't the doctor.  Her father picked her up from school and headed over to the hospital.  At this point we thought it was only blood work and waiting.  At 10pm he was told that the hospital wanted to keep her overnight and that an ultrasound was being scheduled for the morning.  Her inflammation score was 68 - a normal range is in the 20's.  And her white blood count was now raised. 

The ultrasound yesterday showed fluid in her abdomen area and a surgeon was called in to consult.  They started looking at her appendix.  I arrived at the hospital at 3pm to be with her and let her father go home to rest.  She was only cleared to eat anything at 6pm (a full 24 hours since her last meal) as the surgeon said that surgery would not be required and they didn't believe her appendix was the issue.  Her IV dosage was lowered around 9pm and the questions continued from the pediatrician.  It's now a process of elimination - but without the proper language from Monkey, we don't know 100% what happened and she can't describe the pain properly for the doctors.  So they are looking for something, but they don't exactly know what.  I got home around 2am this morning after her father returned to be with her for the night.  She slept well and actually ate a full breakfast this morning - a big improvement.

She went for another ultrasound this morning.  They keep checking for improvements.  I was told last night that she will be tested over the next couple of days by different doctors.  At least she is in the best place and can get the tests she requires relatively quickly.  However, she is not reacting well to doctors at the moment - understandably! - and is crying and screaming when touched, making it harder to distinguish where pain is actually occurring.  The bone scan to look for hairline fractures has been placed on the back burner for now as it is a pretty serious procedure.  They are eliminating the other possibilities before subjecting her to that.  She is able to walk on her own again mostly - although she still limps, but her fever is still consistently returning.

All we know is that she's not getting better. Her symptoms change and some days she's worse, but she's not improving much.  She's being so brave through it all though!  I'm just at a loss for the moment, she's in pain and I can't make it better. Hopefully they find out something today.  She will be seen by a bone specialist and an infectious disease doctor shortly.

What is wrong with my baby?

It's official!

January 10th has come and gone!  I officially started my home daycare on Monday.  It's been so much fun!  I have 2 little ones, plus Baby home all day and then Monkey gets off the bus in the afternoons.  I've wanted this for a long time, but now that it's here, it's even better than I had hoped.  Sure, there is crying and some small toddler 'fights' to deal with, but I get to lay on the floor and sort blocks and colour all day!  I get to bake and cook all the time - ALL. THE. TIME.  I have time during the day to keep my kitchen clean and make grocery lists and even get some laundry done while the little ones nap.

The best part?  I'm home for my girls.  I'm home but also paying my portion of the bills!  It's a wonderful thing.  Goodnight all!

*hugs*

Birthday planning

I need ideas...we are making the beginning plans of Monkey's birthday over the next month and I need help!

Some stats - 
She will be turning 6 years old (my BABY!!).
She LOVES the movie Cars and everything that goes with it.
She is an active child.
There will be both boys and girls invited.
She has requested it be at home, but I think if it were the right activity, she may want to go somewhere.
She wants to have pasta for the meal and blueberry cupcakes for dessert.
Also see here.

Thoughts?  Ideas?  I'm pretty creative when it comes to food and decorations, but I'm at somewhat of a loss over the activities...what would be fun?  What did YOU enjoy at a birthday when you were younger?

*hugs*

Welcome 2011.

Well.
I can officially say this holiday season was nothing overly special.  I eventually put the tree up on the 18th, but I didn't decorate it (the lights are built in) and I didn't decorate the house.  I gave gifts, including 2 Secret Santas, but not much else.  Monkey and I baked and I shopped with each of the girls individually for the gifts for some family...but...meh?  I just wasn't feeling it.

With the stress of leaving my job and all of the work that entails and Mr. Penguin in exams and working his tushie off...sleep was so much more important.  If I could squeeze in a tea and snuggle/chat date with my husband, I did.  Screw everything else!

As for New Years?  I fell asleep after my shower at 8:30 at night!  People, I'm not even 30 yet!  How sad is that?!!?  Mr. Penguin woke me up at midnight to wish me a Happy New Year and then I fell back asleep.  I'm such a loser.  Geezer?  Whatever.  I'm a blast to have around, whatever you want to call me (SARCASM).

*hugs*

The Santa 'issue'.

The holiday season is in full swing.  There are cranky people everywhere just waiting to push past you on the street, jump in front of you in line at the mall and sneer in utter unhappiness at the slightest...well, ANYTHING.  I don't know why this season seems to bring out the worst in people.  Seriously.  If buying gifts makes you THAT unhappy - STOP. BUYING. GIFTS.  It's not that hard!  Your kids are taught what to think of the holidays, they don't need that expensive toy or a room full of crap.  It is the parent's job to show them why.

In the spirit of the season, I do give a couple of gifts.  Our parents, my nephew, Mr. Penguin and the girls (as well as a few Secret Santas).   Which brings us to our new predicament...Santa.  With Monkey's speech delay, we never brought up the story of Santa and how he supposedly comes to the house, as she didn't have the vocabulary and we didn't want to scare her.  So until school, where she is now learning about Santa, she just knew that we bought each other gifts and opened them on Xmas day.  And that Santa could be found at the mall.  However, Baby Penguin will be coming up next year on when kids are normally taught about Santa.  But we're not sure we WANT to start Santa at our house.  I don't want to lie to my kids, I don't want to give gifts from someone else, and I definitely don't want Xmas to become about GIFTS.

At the Penguin household during the Xmas season, we bake: cookies, muffins, cakes, bread - anything we feel like.  We cook: spaghetti, chili, casseroles and pasta dishes.  We donate: our time, our money, our toys, our clothes.  We cherish: each other, our friends, our family,and what we have.  But most of all, we create: drawings, paintings, things out of play doh, blanket forts, play picnics, whatever we feel like!  We choose to use the holiday season to spend time with our girls and experience the joy that can be had during this holiday season. 

On Xmas Day, I like to give my girls colouring books, art supplies, books and usually one toy each.  This year the baby is getting a soft chair for the toy room, a colouring book and a stuffed puppy - with crate and accessories to take care of it - to prep her for the puppy we may be getting next year.  Monkey is getting 4 books, Play Doh, some toy cars (she's obsessed) and a storage case to store them in - to help her learn to organize her smaller toys.  That is it.  There will be The Grinch movie, a wonderful breakfast by Mr. Penguin and tons of snuggles on December 26th this year (Monkey has Xmas with her father, so we'll be celebrating late).  It all sounds wonderful to me.  Even if the girls had no gifts under the tree, I know for a fact that it would still be an amazing day at our house.  <3

So, did you pass the tradition of Santa and gift giving on to your kids (or will you)?  How do you celebrate the holidays?  What is your favorite thing about December that just makes your heart soar?

Happy Holidays!
*hugs*

December

I purchased Mr. Penguin's 30th birthday gift.  He is one lucky man - well obviously as he has moi, but now he's REALLY lucky.  I cannot wait.

It's also my Mom's birthday, my best friend's birthday, Xmas and the holidays.  Decembers are always crazy, but I love them!  I love the family moments and searching for personal gifts for everyone.  I love that people think about one another during this time of year too. 

We have a tradition in the Penguin household of taking the girls food shopping for donations to the Food Bank.  They get to help out and pick some of the food and also learn about charity and helping those in need.  As Monkey is 5 this year, I am also choosing a child's name off of the Xmas tree at the mall who is in need of clothing.  It will be a good thing for her to understand and also pick out some cute clothes for someone else.

Happy Holidays folks!  Remember to hug someone close, call someone you haven't heard from in a while and donate - whether food, clothes, time, money or whatever.  'Tis the season for love!!

*hugs*
 

Thoughts

There are so many things going on in my head/life right now. 

Monkey is in school and dealing with all the ups and downs of her first year in kindergarten - I never realized how much of a relaxed mother I am until she started...some mothers need to uncork it a bit!  Baby is now walking and into everything - especially things she's not supposed to be in or things that will annoy her sister.  Mr. Penguin is back in university and trying to maintain his A+ average (I am SO proud of him!!) and working long hours into the night on his contract jobs on top of it all.  And me?  I am dealing with issues at work and making plans on the side.

I just wish my plans didn't hinge on my ex.

Seriously?!  You'd think after a divorce that someone wouldn't have that kind of power over you anymore.  But when it comes to children involved - and especially MY child - there is always a link.  So now I wait.  Does he want to help ME?  Hell no.  Is it better for Monkey?  I think so.  Will he go for it?  Meh...50/50 at this point.

That's all I have to think about.  How my job is killing me inside, how I want so much for my ex to be reasonable, how I miss my husband as he works his butt off, how I need to finish the laundry and keep decluttering...What?!  Xmas is coming?  Damn...I have things to get!  And cards to mail and, and, and...!!

And I may be getting sick (again) as my glands are a little swollen, most likely due to my work/ex stress.

AWESOME.

It's 9pm here...goodnight!

*ek*

Photo Roulette Friday - __(9)

This week for photo roulette we get to pick the folder!  Then it is the th photo in that folder that gets submitted.  I couldn't pick just one.  LOL  The 9th photo in some of my folders were just too great, and so very random from one another, not to share (but the first one will be my entry).  So here we go:

This is the hot air balloon that Mr. Penguin and I rode in for our 1st anniversary back in 2008 - before it was inflated.  It was about 5am in this shot and the team was about to turn on the burners for the hot air.  This ranks as one of the best experiences of my life to date.

I hate winter.  I hate snow.  This is the amount of snow we received in March 2008.  The trucks started filling the mall parking lots with snow as there was no where else to put it.  I was SO ready for spring/summer that year!

This is my wonderful man walking his step-daughter to the Peggy's Cove lighthouse for the first time.  She's so little here!

This is baby at the sugar bush this year.  I love the colours.

This is one of my shots from our first trip to Kingston.  The reflections are from the building across the water.

Want to link up?  Head on over to Mischief and Laughs.

Ramblings

Work has been hell this week.  That is all on that.

I have continued to read "The Happiness Project" and I am now into her month of August.  As I get further into the book, I have grown and tweaked my own project.  I am modifying my goals and challenges and making it unique to me.  I am also stealing some of the challenges from the book!  I have many of the same issues as the author.  We both have 2 young girls, work, run a household, aren't very religious, have a spouse and find it hard to make friends.  I am taking some of her ideas to push me further, but also trying a different spin on others that may not have worked for her.  I am very excited.

In 17 days it will be my and Mr. Penguin's 1st wedding anniversary!  Yes, we did things all backwards...what can I say?  We're those kind of people!!  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  I was thinking of going to the local nature spa for dips in the hot/cold pools and maybe a treatment or a steam train ride with dinner.  But we'll see what Mr. Penguin has in mind.  Whatever it is, I have baby Penguin at my parent's place for the night and Monkey is at her father's place.  It is just me and my Penguin.  Sounds perfect already.

*hugs*

Raw(e) - Girly

This week's theme is GIRLY.

The quality is crap (taken on my BB phone) but I thought it fit the theme perfectly...

This is baby in her 1st birthday get-up.  She loved all the attention it got her!

Head on over to Sailor &Company to link up.

Raw(e) - Smiles and laughter

I have two for this weeks Raw(e) challenge!

This is Monkey - taken last year at the Tulip Festival.

and....

This is Baby Penguin - taken last month at home.

Click here to link up!

Lot# 170

We survived our first family trip camping!  I can't wait to go again next year.  I think we'll even stay on the same lot we had.  It was close to the washrooms/showers, had a water pump on site and was somewhat private from the road.  And the park wasn't far from home either - about 2 hours.

Relaxing.

We went with friends and our little ones.  The babies seemed to have fun.  Baby was interested in getting into everything and wanted to explore more of the site, but until she can walk she couldn't really do so.

Waving at her friend.

It drizzled a bit and we had some winds, but overall it was good weather.  A little cooler, but that just made for better snuggling time!

Hammock snuggles.

The mornings were so peaceful...

Our tents.

There were interesting things to be seen...

MUSHROOM! MUSHROOM! (no snakes...)

And baby napped REALLY well!  Her sleeping bag was great and she actually slept in it with it zipped all the way up the second night.  It was adorable - but unfortunately too dark for a photo. She napped so soundly for her last nap, that us taking down the tent around her didn't even wake her up!

Sound sleeper.

Overall a great family experience.  I cannot wait to take Monkey next year for a few days!  I love creating memories for my babies.  And for me and Mr. Penguin too.

<3

*hugs*

Raw(e) - Back to school

...or STARTING school, as it is for my big girl.

This shot was taken last Tuesday on her very first day of kindergarten.  My baby, all grown up!

Head on over to Sailor & Company to link up!

Raw(e) - Yellow

This week:

YELLOW

 

Head on over to Sailor & Company to link up to Raw(e)

Have FUN!

Remember:

Straight out of the camera shots ONLY.

Link up to your ONE photo so that people

can find it easily and you can win!

 

 

#86

I ended up crossing something off my list tonight!  Kind of funny actually.  My brother and his girlfriend just moved into their new apartment yesterday and we happened to go there for a visit tonight.  They served up hotdogs, my parents brought chips and pop and I brought the kids.  We all sat on a blanket and had a picnic in the middle of the living room.

It counts!

#86 - Go on a picnic

Preparations

We're going camping!  It's my second time out and will be baby's first.  Mr. Penguin is fully trained in search and rescue tactics and survival - so we don't count him.  Today me and the girls went out to pick up some things for the trip.  Monkey won't be able to join us as she will be at her father's place, but she was excited to get things ready and plan for our future family trips.

I bought the CUTEST little sleeping bag today for baby!  It's so small!  But should last her until about age 3.  Then I picked up some pants, a long sleeved shirt and hat at Mountain Equipment Coop.  She's all ready to go!

*hugs*

Raw(e) - 2(6)

This week's challenge for Raw(e) is 2(6)...what we had to do is go into

our 2nd folder of photos and post the 6th photo there. Didn't matter what it was.
How silly, how beautiful, how awful, how embarrassing-didn't MATTER!!!

So here's mine:

This is my eldest at a friend's princess party 2 years ago.  All the girls dressed in their nice dresses and came together to play, have some cake and socialize.

Opposites

My babies are the exact opposite of one another.  One hates being dirty, the other loves to make a mess.  One loves quiet, the other loves yelling.  One listens and does as she's told, the other looks around to see if you're watching her as she dives into anything and everything she's not allowed to be touching.  Amazing how two little girls can be so opposite from one another.

They both love each other madly though - and that's all that matters.

*hugs*

Raw(e) - Mirrors

This week's theme for Raw(e) is mirrors.  Quite the theme to jump in on!  Well, my first thought was of a picture I took of my eldest when she was learning to brush her teeth.  It was taken with a film camera and I'd have to scan it, so it didn't really qualify.  Bummer.  BUT!  I recently made that picture into a scrapbook page for an album and took a picture of that (to send to a friend) which was taken with my digital camera and untouched.  So I'm using it.  :P