Double Trouble

Since the family has been sick Madelynn is really missing her friends. She's not had playmates over for about a month. Yesterday I babysat Madelynn's 3 year old twin playmates, Tineke (pronounced Tee-nee-ka) & Oliver.

Not only are they good fun for Madelynn and Aidan, but because I do it, we get free video rentals because their parents own the local video store.

Now these two are pretty good, good as any 3 year old can be. The dynamics of twins is very fascinating. I love watching these guys. Sometimes Madelynn gets left out as they don't quite understand that they can do something without their twin. But yesterday was really good, I only had to take a couple of toys away because they were fighting over them. And they have finally reached an age where they can do something without adult interaction. They asked for the table and chairs and next thing I know they had all sat down, including Aidan and were having a tea party in the toy room. Talk about cute!

By the time they left at 12:30 pm...as much as I like having them around I'm even more happy that I didn't have twins or triplets!

Back from the living dead

We are alive! After being sick for weeks I've just had enough. Bring me summer NOW!

If you remember from one of my previous posts my brother in law came over nearly 4 weeks ago and brought his infected children. We really got it bad. 1st Aidan got it, nasty cold and thinking back I think he might have had an ear infection but he never showed any signs so I didn't worry about it.

Then I got it. I think I had a version of bronchitis. I never had the runny nose but it hurt to breathe and cough etc...It was just the same as when I had bronchitis just before I got pregnant with Aidan.

Brendon, the biggest baby of them all got it next. He got the same as Aidan and I combined and he went days without sleep. He also had a business trip in the middle that couldn't be cancelled so that didn't help. All the stress on his body of being sick brought out a cold sore for him too. Try explaining that to Madelynn, she just couldn't understand why Daddy couldn't give her kisses.

And finally Madelynn....The strongest horse of us all. My girl who has only had 1 course of anti-biotics her whole life. She got it and she was bad. Ear infections in both ears, cold, cough. High fevers of 103 degrees. She was so bad that the snot was coming out her eyes. Talk about gross, I thought I was gonna puke when that doctor told me that was what it was. I'd never heard of it. She said that there was so much snot that it didn't have anywhere to go.

Dr. Mom once again nursed everyone to health. Why is it everyone can get a sick day around here but me?

Roughing It

We got a notice in the mailbox over the weekend that our power would be out today for about 3 hours. I of course forgot all about it in the chaos of dealing with a sick household. I was brought back to reality real quick this morning at 9:00am when everything went dead.

I instantly had two upset children who got cut off from Blue's Clues. So what was I going to do?
EEK! I would really have to be creative for these guys.

I've never been without power in the middle of winter with 2 babies before. This was going to be fun. No tv, playstation, computer and no phone to call for reinforcements.

After 90 minutes of playing blocks, dress ups, doll house, pretend with the teddy bears, making up games with Madelynn and a episode of chase. I was spent. They only toys Aidan and Madelynn really don't care too much about are the battery operated ones. But not today it's the ones they wanted. Maybe they were craving anything that was operated by some sort of "juice"? Sadly, most of them didn't have enough battery power to run. Since they don't normally play with them I don't replace the batteries and they don't seem to mind.

Around 10:30, I decided to bundle them up and go outside. I thought, they can go and play with the swingset, the slides, trike etc...maybe even go for a walk. I hauled out my load of laundry to go on the clothes line and out we went. Sadly my enthusiasm was short-lived.

The garage door is electric. No way to get toys. Then I remembered the left side garage door was a key and I raced inside to get them. No luck, I could get the one lock undone but I just couldn't reach the top lock and nothing could help me reach it.

Off to the swing set I said and they raced to the slide. I thought well these guys like to help me hang the laundry so I grabbed my basket and then realized all my pegs were in the garage.

Oh, we can go for a walk I thought, I'll just grab the pram...strike three, I'm out. Pram in the garage and the other in the van which Brendon had taken. These kids were looking at me like I was the Grinch who stole Christmas.

I got brave and took them for a stroll just up the street to stretch their legs a bit. Can't go too far as Aidan is just too little without a pram.

We came about 11:30 for lunch. It's amazing how quickly one can forget the electricity is gone and how we take it for granted. I had no way to heat up the left overs or canned food in microwave or the stove. I managed to persuade Madelynn that it was fun to make our own sandwiches out of left over cold corned beef and cheese. I even let her make me one so it looked more appealing. She really had her heart set on chicken nuggets. After scrounging for a lunch for them. I realized after lunch there would be no way to heat up Aidan's milk.

So I put his bottle in the window sill while we ate. It still wasn't warm enough for him and I managed to get enough luke warm water out of the tap to take the edge off it and sent him to bed. Where the highlight of my day was he took a 4 hour nap! He must be trying to catch up on all the sleep he's missed out on since being sick for a week.

No toys, no electricity, how the hell did our ancestors do it? We are one spoiled society. I think I could handle not having the dvd player, vcr, tv, computer, phone etc....I wouldn't WANT to live without them but I could do it. Just please don't ever take away my stove and microwave!

Sharing Bugs

My baby is sick, I'm sick, Brendon's sick, so far Madelynn is NOT sick.

Aidan gets them the hardest and the poor lad is just miserable. I've not had a cold since I was pregnant with Aidan I think. So I'm probably overdue one. Brendon isn't too bad but you know men, they are dying if they stub their toe!

I know we get colds etc...What bugs me is how we get them. We ALWAYS get them from my brother in law and his kids. No matter how many times we ask them "If you or your children are sick, please don't visit us" they just don't listen or care. They are good people but I swear they are thicker than pig shit in this category. ugh!

I must admit my kids are pretty strong and avoid quite a few colds etc...But I also believe that it has heaps to do with the fact they were breastfed for so long and that Brendon and I tend to shield them from all the bugs going around the best we can.

My two best mates in town are also immigrants in New Zealand too. Nikki, from PA and Coralie from Zimbabwe. If our kids have a play date scheduled we will let the others know that they are sick or have symptoms etc...giving the other parent a choice whether to expose the kids or not. It's just common courtesy I think.

For the last 7 years I've heard it over and over again from various New Zealand parents, regarding illness. "Oh, no matter just bring them over, let them catch it" "It will help them get immune" "So-and-so has the chicken pox, flu, cold...etc..Why don't you just stop by and expose your kids so they can just get it over with?"

What?!?! Kind of mentality is that? Maybe I'm and idiot but I cannot see the rationale in exposing someone to an illness if they don't need to be. Both of my immigrant friends feel the same about New Zealand in this department.

These are our children. We know how they are when they are sick, we know how they keep us awake at night. We know how they cry, wimper and whine because they are achy and have fever and chills. They depend on us to take care of them and keep them healthy and happy. So why would anyone in their right mind knowing expose them for the hell of it?

With this mentality if and or when Bird Flu hits I'm sure there is no way we can avoid it because Brendon's brother will bring it over to "share" with us.

Ok, maybe I've gone off on a tangent but I'm just so #$%*& pissed off about this share a cold thing in Brendon's family that I've just had enough.

Thank you for reading my venting, I'm off to get some cough syrup and some pain killers.

ACHOO!!!!

It's off my Christmas wish list.....

Dear Santa Claus,

Please send Cheerios!

Every year I add it to my Christmas wish list. Last year I must have been very good because last year Santa brought me 2 big boxes! (Thanks Jenean)

Usually with every box of items I request from home I ask for them, especially now that I've got kids. How can they grow up without them? Every baby needs them on their high-chair tray to snack on while Mommy gets dinner. They need to be in the diaper bag for emergency snacks. And a spare bowl in the van for long trips home when mommy has forgot to pack stuff.

Well no more shipping it from home now. Look what has arrived in New Zealand grocery stores! I'm gonna save tons of money on postage. Madelynn had 2 bowls for breakfast and I had one for breakfast and lunch!

It seems funny to not see them in a yellow box with the company General Mills. I found the press release for them online. I know I'm giving them free advertising but I don't care. I just want them to stay around.

Tuesday, 1 August 2006, 10:35 am
Press Release: NESTLE

Give Your Family Smiles All Round With Cheerios

- World famous breakfast cereal launches in New Zealand -

If you want to give your family a great start to their morning, you'll be pleased to hear CHEERIOS has now reached New Zealand. CHEERIOS is one of the worlds most popular breakfast cereals, with more than 13 million bowls eaten daily.*

With the goodness of four whole grains corn, oats, rice and wheat, plus the added goodness of barley, CHEERIOS is a breakfast cereal that the whole family will enjoy. CHEERIOS also contain a number of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals and are not high in sugar containing just one teaspoon per 30g serve.

Courtnay Brien, the New Zealand Business Manager for CHEERIOS says the company is pleased to offer New Zealand consumers a nutritious and great tasting breakfast cereal that already has worldwide appeal.

?We are excited about the launch of CHEERIOS into New Zealand providing consumers with a healthy all family cereal that provides the goodness of four whole grains, plus a great taste. New Zealanders love cereal, shown by our second highest per capita consumption of ready to eat cereal in the world. Combining the popularity of cereals, and their great taste, CHEERIOS are sure to be a hit!

So often breakfast time can be very stressful for busy families now CHEERIOS provide an alternative that caters to everyone's needs with the additional nutritional benefits, says Courtenay.

Look out for CHEERIOS in store now 375g box at $4.49 RRP** and 600g box at $6.99 RRP.

Have a tasty and yummy family breakfast with CHEERIOS and give your family morning smiles all round!

Madelynn Doodles

I know every mother is proud of their offspring and so they should be! All kids are pretty cool in my book. I love it when mine amaze me. Last Sunday Madelynn was coloring with her cousins and my sister-in- law told me I should come over and see. To my surprise I sat and watched her draw faces.

Top left to right: Daddy, Mommy, Uncle Fester. Bottom left to right, Papa, Aidan and Nana.

Nothing exciting I know she's 3 1/2 years old. What I found the most intriguing is she's only been to preschool 5 times and they only do paint and pasting. Nothing she has brought home has any people like qualities. Also neither Brendon or I have taught her how to draw faces. In fact she always asks for us to draw a cat or a dog.

I also thought it was neat to see her interpretation of the family around her. Why is Daddy the only one smiling? Mommy looks like she's been up all night and needs a nap. (which was true, I was up all night with Aidan that night) Uncle Fester, hmm..well that's pretty accurate looks just like him. No hair! LOL As for Nana and Papa, she only really knows them from their picture. Last time she saw them she was 7 months old so I wonder why Nana has a big eye?

Picasso or Michaelangelo in training? I highly doubt it but it's kind fun wondering.