Day 21 of 31 for 21

Well, Finding time to blog is not as easy as I thought it would be!

I did find a few things I wanna share with the world!


NEW BLOG FUN THE SPARKLING MARTINS
Not a DS blog but an Unschooling blog. Even if you aren't into Unschooling or home schooling, it's still a great blog for creative ideas and great family fun! Thank you to My friend Mary for Sharing!

And here is a video for everyone to show that I love you !

The Afghan Officially Arrived!

Yesterday the postal lady pulled up in front of my house and got out of her van with a parcel under her arm. Coleen was over visiting with Hunter and as soon as I saw her walking towards my house I jumped up and ran to the door, accosting her, asking if that parcel was for me. She said that no, in fact, it was for # 52 and NOT #56. The neighbours are always getting parcels!

I told her I was expecting something important and went back to my lonely corner of the living room.

Two mins later she was walking back towards my house with yet ANOTHER parcel, only this time she walked up MY sidewalk!

THE AFGHAN IS COMING! THE AFGHAN IS COMING!

In February of 2009, one of the most wonderful and passionate advocates for Down Syndrome that I personally know of, started a project called the T21 Traveling Afghan Project.TY CJ!I instantly signed up knowing how amazing and wonderful this adventure was going to be to follow.I HAVE BEEN WAITING EVER SINCE!!!And today I have been informed that the Afghan is headed my way. En route even!I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to share in such a wonderful, WORLDWIDE Adventure.It feels to me like we are weaving the afghan with our hearts and our stories, with our love and our families. With every new family that receives the Afghan, the afghan gets bigger. With every new child who holds the afghan, it gets stronger. I don't ever want it to stop. Here is a run down of the The T21 Traveling Afghan Project.(I'm sure if you have been following my blog you will probably already know a little bit about it)There is a T21 Afghan is making an amazing adventure!!

The handmade blanket is traveling from one family to another who has a family member with Down Syndrome. The family member can be of any age, from birth through the senior years. The family can also be located anywhere on the globe.

The afghan will travel from one family to another, along with a journal.

Each family, upon receiving the afghan, takes a picture of their family member with it and we post it on on this blog under the Label "T21 Travelling Afghan". After having the afghan for bit, the family writes a note in the journal and sends it off to the next family,who's address I will email to them.
As soon as we get our global gift in the mail I will be sure to take lots of pictures and post of our own adventures with the afghan. I am also hoping to get both of my wee babies an Afghan of their own. I would be more than honoured to have a little piece of the whole enormous project!I also want to thank CJ for all the wonderful work she has done, hand making all the afghans, working so hard to unite the Down Syndrome world and giving everyone a tie that binds.

Hear this prayer
of the
wampum

This is the tie
that will
bind us

Back in the Game!

Soooo... I've come back into the land of ADULTS!!!!

MATERNITY LEAVE IS OFFICIALLY OVER!

Some of you may wonder, "Why on earth would you be excited to go back to work?"

Well... I'll tell you why!

Because by 3pm I am ready to run away from home with nothing but the clothes on my back!

I change one butt after another after another! And LET ME TELL YOU, they might be the cutest little butts on earth but they don't smell like ROSES!
I cook, feed, clean, feed, clean, feed, then sweep, change, sweep followed by MORE Cleaning!
I think I sweep the kitchen floor 4 - 8 times a day, depending on what the babies are EATING.
I chase children, I play with children, I reprimand, and discipline children.
I Laugh and dance with children. I sing ridiculous made up songs to them all day long!
I let them sit on my lap. I share my ice cream with them WHILE they are sitting on my lap, hands and fingers all up IN my ice cream bowl.
I forfeit hot tea for luke warm tea sans cream and sugar, just so I can get a MILD caffeine fix!
I forget to eat because I am too busy running around cleaning and feeding and catering TO the babies...
I love them to the end of the earth and back... but hot dang! I want a hot meal!
I need the private time. The quiet time. The Me time. The adult time. The sanity!

So here I am... Happy to be back at work.

And Now that I'm back to work I will use my time... to blog about my babies! LOL! AND WORK! I WILL ALSO WORK! I PROMISE!

Well CRAP! Time for an overhaul I suppose.

I havent really had time to blog! If you haven't noticed.


~~KIDS~~

Well... I think I will start by redecorating.

Day 2 of 31 for 21

It's only day two of the 31. If I should forget to post one day, I ask that someone please comment on my blog so that I get an email telling me to get my act together.

Today is Oct 2nd, which means I have 3 more working days till I am on Maternity leave and 47 more days till the baby comes.

I am getting kind of worked up about the baby lately. I wish my momma had some time off at the beginning of November to come and help me get the house ready. I am having a harder time with the last trimester of this pregnancy than I was when I was knocked up with Hunter. He was quite small for dates (4lbs, 14 oz at birth, 36 weeks 3 days) and I really am beginning to think he didn't move very much. At the time we called him Kickypants Ross because he was so active, but I didn't have anything to compare his movements to. With this child, there are days when I am honestly sore from all the kicking and rolling and moving and the pressure is intense.

As for getting the house ready, I am a little overwhelmed because I am so pregnant and uncomfortable and irritated, tired and sore, and just all around cranky. I wish I had more energy to take care of everything that I feel is PRESSING. I think the best way to get the house ready for the new baby will be to make a decent list of all the things that I would like to get done and just start working away at the list.

We cut Sam's old loft bed down into a toddler bed for Bean the other night and got him a Mattress. I had NO idea that a single twin mattress was so expensive. We spend over 350$ on it, but it is an excellent mattress and considering how little and light he is, I'm sure that he will be able to use it for probably more than 15 years. I will have some pics of the old loft bed and the new toddler bed posted here asap so you can see what we have done.

That said, we have to do a little furniture rearranging to get the new baby's room in order. There are some things I would like to do in the room to make it a little more inviting as well. Just a few decorating ideas I have. After that, I think I will feel more comfortable and less stressed about the baby coming.

Tomorrow, My Girlfriend C, Dave, Beany and I are going to the Cardel Place Kids Garage sale. I'm hoping to find a few things for the new baby and some sleepers for Hunter. He has pretty much out grown all his pj's and when he wakes up in the morning he usually has a few snaps open and one if not both legs hanging out. He apparently IS getting taller. I also want to find him some big boy toys for learning. Something more suitable for toddlers so that we can put his old baby toys in the new babies room and he can have some new and fun things to play with. Rattles are sooo last year.

I must say that having another baby is exciting and terrifying at the same time. I really wanted Hunter to have a little baby brother or sister to grow up with so that he wasn't an only child. The age difference between he and Sam is so large that he is considered an only child and I didn't want him to grow up alone and bored. Nothing more entertaining than beating on your younger siblings! We weren't expecting, planning or trying for the new baby, but I am glad that it happened. This way we get all the baby nonsense over with ASAP and Hunter will be very close in age to Phoenix. But I have days where I wonder if my head is gonna pop off with the intensity and fear of it all. Two Babies Still in diapers. Double Strollers. Dueling Playpens. Double stuffed Diaper bags. Two different nap schedules. Three if you include Dad! Toddler food and baby food! Crawling and WALKING! I only have TWO hands! They will out number me. And then there will come a day when Phoenix and Hunter are working in cahoots against me! "Quick, Mom just went into the bathroom! Lift me up so I can get to the cookie jar!"

Is it just me or does anyone else ever go... "Holy shit! I'm not responsible enough for all of this!"

/sigh... I can do it.. I just need some help... Mom? Momma!!?? Mommy!! !!?!?

GRAMMA!! ??!

31 for 21!

IT'S OCTOBER 1ST!

Today is the first day of the 3rd Annual 31 for 21 Blog Challenge. I knew it was coming but now that it's here, I must admit, I'm not prepared. I have a terrible string of laziness lately that I can't seem to shake but, I'm gonna do it! The goal, in a nut shell, is to blog every day for the 31 days in October, which is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. You don't have to blog ABOUT DS but it's a way for Bloggers to show their support for Down Syndrome. Tricia has started her first post with a Mr. Linky so you can see who is getting involved this year.

So, if you are a blogger, I challenge you to the 31 for 21!

Start blogging!



ETA ~ Perhaps this will help shake the laziness. If anything It will certainly make up for the COMPLETE lack of September posts.

Helping out Household 6

Here is a link to the Household 6 blog. They are currently working on their 3rd adoption from overseas and are in the process of raising some extra funds for the costs associated with adoption. The family is raising money by making handmade, one of a kind colouring bags. I totally love these cute little bags, perfect for colouring books, crayons and all kinds of crafty on the go kinda goods. The bags are available for purchase through HERE. Please check them out. All proceeds will go to help their 3rd Adoption from Bulgaria! Here is a link to their Adoption blog.

Baby Leah

I don't know if any of you remember my post about baby Leah. I called about her. I wanted to know more about adoption and about the agency she was with. Unfortunately, you can not adopt a child from a Hague agency that is not in your own country and because the Hague adoption agency that Leah is with is in the States, there was no way that we would ever have a chance of adopting her. I was on Reece's Rainbow tonight and have discovered that Leah is in the process of being adopted!

Here she is! If you scroll down she is three pictures down! I am Sooooo Happy to know Leah is going to have a forever family. I cross my fingers and hope her family starts a blog so we can follow her progress in life!
http://www.reecesrainbow.org/familysponsorshipinprogress.htm

If you have a moment, I suggest you check out Reece's Rainbow. If you can help some of these families with a donation towards the cost of their Adoption, please do. These kids are well worth it and their lives will be forever changed.

I also want to take this moment to thank Charissa Urban and family. I know she only does what she does out of the undying love and goodness that she has in her heart, but i want to thank her. She and her family are amazing people! You are an awesome mother and an inspiration!

Rolling Around In My Head

I spent a few hours tonight catching up on blogs that I read.

Hunty has an Occupational Therapist from the Alberta Children's Hospital who comes to see him every month like clock work, provided mommy remembers she is coming! Tsk Tsk!

Last month our OT mentioned that she was going to Halifax for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society's Annual Conference, and I wondered aloud to her if Dave Hingsburger would be there as a speaker, as he speaks at so many conferences and this would have been a fairly large one. I told S (our OT) who he was, what he was about and kind of described him.
Sure enough, when S came over this morning she mentioned that she did indeed see Dave at the conference. He was talking to a young man with Down Syndrome who was a self advocate. S mentioned that Dave had asked the young man if he could write about him in his blog, Rolling Around In My Head, nee Chewing the Fat.

I told S that I had been slacking off in the blog upkeep department lately. Not just the upkeep of my own blog, but also in the general keeping up with of blogs I enjoy reading.

I found the post that Dave wrote about the CDSS Conference and I would like to share it with you. I cried! I know, I'm a suck. Dave is an amazing writer and I love the way he sees life. Today was his 1001st blog post! I thank Dave Hingsburger for his wonderful blog that constantly keeps me coming back for more. He opens my eyes and helps me to see the world a little differently. He constantly reminds me that I am human, that life is funny, and that people are just people. He is a wonderful advocate for people with disabilities and a teacher to all who have disabilities or people who love someone with a disability. On top of all this, he is a fabulously funny Canadian!

I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!

I was Tagged By Mary at Hurricane Riley and His Big Brother Rex!

Best thing about Riley is he reminds me sooooo Much of Beany! I can't wait till Bean is Riley's age!

So Mary Tagged me, I've copied the post and will answer the questions and tag a few bloggers my self... Here we go!




What’s your current obsession?
Uhh Sleeping, Chocolate, Sleeping, Oooh Canada's Worst Handyman started a new season this week! And City and Colour! I'm dragging Dave out to see them on May 20th! I'm Pretty much Obsessed with this song lately SleepingSickness

If you could do any job in the world and know you’d be 100% successful, what would it be?
Crane Operator or Stay at home mom. But I would have to get paid to stay at home because I have an endless need for THINGS!

What are you wearing today?
Green Cargo Capri Pants, Pink V neck, Green Tank top, and a gray sweater cause I'm BRRrrr.

Why is today special?
Because Teeny Peeny Beany and I went for a bike ride to Home Depot and Superstore to buy stuff for the garden and IT'S MY FRIGGING FRIDAY!!!!

What would you like to learn to do?
Speak Spanish Fluently so I can teach my babes.

What’s for dinner tonight?
I had Chicken Korma on rice with A side of Curry Veg. And D made Chili for he and the Kids with leftovers for me in the fridge. Apparently, based on the 3 times he called to tell me, he makes good chili.

What’s the last thing you bought?
I bought a bunch of seeds, soil, and gardening garb at Home Depot. And then I bought Bean a Sun Hat, me a sundress and two pairs of flip flops, a Rubbermaid bin for all my gardening garb, and 3 50l bags of soil, Which, funny as it isn't, Dave and I forgot to put in the back of the pickup before we left Superstore, so I will have to go get them tomorrow.

What are you listening to right now?
The air system at the office humming, because it's so quiet here right now. I'm going to put some City and Colour on. Thanks for reminding me.

What’s your most challenging goal?
Wow... It's pretty similar to what Mary answered for this question. My biggest challenge in life I think it being positive and not an emotional basket case. Which is Particularly hard for me right now as my doctor has asked that I stop taking the anti-depressants that I was on due to the pregnancy. It's an awesome combination. I was in tears before bed last night and first thing in the morning yesterday too. Fricken frack!

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
I think Mary is a fun blogger to read, and I think she and I are a lot alike in many ways. Plus I think she and I have the two most handsome sons ON EARTH! I really don't know a tonne about her but I would like to know more about her that's for sure. Plus, I envy her for having the time and "balls" to join the softball team! I don't have the guts to do that kinda thing.

If you could have your house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere, where would it be?
I think If I had to choose, it would be in North Vancouver. I want to live close to my Mother, father, and brothers so that they can spend time with my kids. Right now they live so far away. I'm happy to be in Calgary because I have an Aunt and Uncle here, and my grandparents are only 4 hours away. But they just aren't Nana. Plus!!!!! If I lived close enough to Nana and my brothers, I would always have a BABYSITTER!

What is your favorite vacation spot?
Probably the Lower Mainland, Vancouver area, OR Ryan's Cabin in Kelowna. It's stunning there on the lake in the summer. The orchard and the beach.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
My little boy's hand :'( Or a multi million dollar winning lotto ticket

What would you like to get rid of?
About 100 pounds of goo from all over my body!!! Sorry Mary But I'm stealing this cause it's true. And The Withdrawal from these meds that never seems to fucking go away!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Omg I would have a margarita on the beach in Brazil with A topless Ani difranco!

What super power would you like to possess?
I think I would like to either, be in two places at once, so I can be at home Gardening with Hunter, or cleaning the house, or visiting with Dave, but still have half of me at work making money. Or Perhaps, I wish that I could be Supermom. I feel like such a failure some days. I just don't have the patience and time and energy for everything. There are the things I WANT to do and there are the things I NEED to do. And you all know that the NEED's aren't as much fun as the WANTs. I WANT to hang out in the sun in the yard all summer with the baby and read my book, garden, relax in the lil pool, and just have a great time. I NEED to clean the fucking house and vacuum cat hair, do the copious loads of laundry, work the night shift, get up at 5:30 when the baby says it's time to get up, empty the dish washer, fill the dish washer, feed the cats, feed the Bean, find time to feed myself. And to top it off, I have to do all that while growing, harboring, and giving my body over to a new baby! FFS!

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?
Yoga Pants my mommy bought me, cause I'm so fat and gross in everything else. Though I did buy myself a comfy looking maternity dress today that I suspect may become a favorite.

What is your dream job?
Honestly, I wish I could stay home and be a good momma. I know I'm not super hot shit at it, but I would much rather be at home puttering about, taking care of kids, then being at a job with people and managers that I hate.

$150---what would you spend it on?
Night out with Dave to see City and Colour and go for dinner. It will be our first date in forever.

What do you find annoying?
Oh dear. Uhh let's see, Stupid, ignorant people, Slow people, People who are in front of me, people who are standing too close to me, people who make constant repetitive noises for no reason, people who just want to constantly argue with me, liars, my boss who is an absolute BUFFOON, Working weekends, working nights, working till midnight then getting up at 6 am. Wait! Working Weekends is so far my biggest one. It's on the top of the list!


Describe your personal style.
Uh Quasi hippy/casual

Whose closet you would want to raid?
uhm Well Sassy, cause she has like.. two rooms full of clothes that she has bought, worn once and then hasn't bothered to put away or reuse. And probably some uber organic all natural hippy chic momma.

What are you most proud of?
My Hunter Bean! For every little amazing and wondrous thing that he does. For the fabulous sounds that he makes when he is riding in his bike trailer. For his silly fear of touching grass. For the hilarious way that he looks at you when he has a mouth full of food and for some reason thinks that you are all of a sudden super funny. And For his awesome hand clapping and Stair climbing skills as of late!

What are you planning to do tomorrow?
I am hoping to sleep in till 7 ! I am hoping to fit in a nap at some point, or whenever Bean Wants/Needs a nap. (sometimes they are one in the same). I am hopping to plant some seeds for my garden in some little potters in the kitchen. I am hoping to eat some chili and watch Survivor. I am hoping to go to bed at about 10!

7 bloggers I’d like to know more about:

Tricia - Unringing the Bell
Nana Pam - Pam's Pages
Sam (as per usual) - Blatherings of an Alter Ego
Charissa - Country Living the Urban Way
Sandy ( The Other Bean's Momma!) - Mundo Bean
Dee - Wanderings of the terminally bored
Chelly - The Hobbit Hole


I am going to Tag an Additional Blogger here as well.
Mama Wong - The Journey of a Princess
She is a new Blogger who I discovered today, through the T21 Traveling Afghan Blog. She is a Fellow Canadian and I would love to get to know her a little more! So You're it too Mama Wong!


Now the rules of this tag:
1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention.
2. Tag 7 other people you would love to learn more about.

Dear Blog

Dear Blog;

For some reason, lately, I find you boring and useless. Typically you make me feel good when I come to see you and talk to you, but lately you do not motivate me. I think you need a make over, as the gray is depressing. It's summer for heaven's sake. Put on something colorful. Maybe I might be more interested in talking to you if you put a smile on your face. No one wants to hang out with a Negative Nancy!

Till you get your shit together.

Ssej

Keeping it Real

So The idea is to take a picture of yourself right now, no touch ups, no primping, no changing clothes, and post it before you can change your mind!

Here are my two pics! They are both awful. And I'm way fat! I took them with my cell from my desk at work! SECKSI! See me rocking the Head set! Aww Yeah!

Now to tag some folks!

I Tag Sami of course. She's my one and only constant reader.
I Tag Nana of course. She's my one and only constant reader.
I Tag Shannon from HSB as I'm sure she would play along.
I Tag My newest Blogger friend but long time RL Friend BIG DEEEEEEEEE.
I Tag Cj from her Many fabulous blogs cause she is stellar and lots of fun!

That's 5~!

I found a new BEAN!!

I have found another Bean Blog!


Meet Lucas! The Second Cutest Kid in the world!
I am officially in love! He is just the coolest little guy!
Besure to keep up with his momma's blog now and then!

Chewing the Fat

I have again found another fantabulous blog! It's Chewing the Fat!

Dave Hingsburger is a fellow Canadian, a writer, a speaker, an advocate for people with disabilities, and a witty well written blogger!

Ironically, whilst getting swept up in Chewing the Fat I stumbled on his nieces blog as well. SHES A WICKED KNITTER! Half Soled Boots is where you can find her. So now I have a knitting blog to follow.

My mom also suggested I check out Knitting harlot and her blog. I'll see if I can find her blog. For now... I'm gonna read and knit! Beat it.. I have thinks to make!

Blogger Awards!

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.

And in the spirit of passing along the love, here's how it works:

Step 1: respond and rework -- answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

Step 2: tag - eight other bloggers to do the same.

1) What are you wearing right now?

Black Cords, My "Holland, Never under estimate its beauty" Shirt and A gray cardigan.

2) What is your biggest fear?
Losing someone in my family and being alone.

3) Do you nap a lot?
ha ha no not really

4) Who is the last person you hugged?
Evad

5) What websites do you visit when you go online?
Blogger, Facebook, Youtube, Wowhead, Wowarmory, Wowwiki, A&E TV to watch intervention.

6) What was the last item you bought?
A bunch of yarn and a new knitting bag from Michael's crafts.

7) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Baja with my family. Or Bali with Chelly. Or Australia with Evad.

8) If you could go to the Oscars, who would you want to sit next to?
Evad and Will Smith. Evad loves Will Smith. Otherwise I don't pay much attention to celebrities.

9) Where is the last place you went on vacation to?
Last Summer Evad and I took the kids on a road trip to Vancouver to See Nana and Granddad and we saw the aquarium, Stanley park, Science world and all sorts of cool sights.

10) What is your most embarrassing moment?
I think one of the most embarrassing things to happen to me is my Ex husband who was always embarrassing and rude and drunk and I hated going anywhere with him because I knew I would be ashamed.

11) What was the last movie you watched?
Shrek 2

12) What is the luckiest thing that ever happened to you?
I can't think of anything. I met D and that makes me feel very lucky. I wouldn't have the life i have now if it were not for D.

13) If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments or interruptions what would you do?

I think I would play wow. Or I would actually get bored of nothing and clean the house, do laundry all that. Or I would call Sass and tell her to come out and play!

14) Is there a major goal you have that you haven't yet achieved?

Uh Well I bought a house. I had a baby. I got married (epic fail). I think I want to achieve great harmony and balance in my relationship with D but it's hard for me right now as I'm very negative about myself lately.

15) Drinks are on the house!! What do you order?

White Russians!!!

16) Name one thing you would change about your life.
I would make my self slim and fit and healthy again. Right now, being over weight makes me feel awful and I'm not a very good girl friend because I feel gross and unattractive. Being fit would give me more time for my family.


Now to Tag people!

Momma! Aka Nana! Pam's Pages
Sammy! Blatherings of an Alter Ego
Lil Miss E's Momma! @ Little Miss E!
Tricia @ Unringing the Bell
Mary @ Hurricane Riley and his Big Brother Rex!
Dave @ Chewing the Fat
Tara Marie @ EmmaSage
Kacey @ Ella Grace with the Pretty Face!

For all of you, for the exception of Dave who posts nearly as often as I do, I'm tagging you because I love your Blogs and I'm hopping this will encourage you to post more! I need something to read when I'm at work!!

T21 Traveling Afghan!

What An Amazing Idea!

Little Miss E and Her Momma are making an Afghan and they are going to be sending it around the globe to fellow bloggers and families with loved ones who have T21 (Trisomy 21)
We have signed up and look forward to the day when the T21 Afghan reaches the colds of Canada! Then we get to take a pic of the Beany Baby with the Afghan and write in the journal and send it off to the next family! This is just such a wonderful idea to bring families with down syndrome that much closer together! I'm just so excited!
Thanks for the great idea and we look forward to seeing the Afghan!

I Found A New Blog!

As I surf the Blog world, bouncing from link to link, catching up with all the Momma Bloggers, I discovered Adrienne!

Adrienne has a beautiful blog, wonderfully adorned with Bethany's artwork as seems to be the fashion. She is expecting her third child! Her First boy, Bennett. Bennett has been prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 21 and I look forward to following their family's journey and of course seeing pics of baby Bennett.

Knit one, Purl two!

Say What!?

I feel like an old lady today. I have been working since the beginning of January and pretty much every night since I started I have gone home with a headache, sore neck and sore eyes. Chelly suggested that I ask the maintenance crew to take the florescent lights down from over my desk area because the flickering can cause eye strain, but when I got to work I realized I don't actually have any lights above my desk so that can't be the problem. So I figure it's probably an eye site issue. I have to use a lot of programs with small numbers and I have been finding glitches with my eyes lately that I can't really explain. Nothing seems blurry but there are moments where I think I see things that aren't really there. So I decided to try to lessen the strain tonight by using the Microsoft Desktop Magnifier. I put it on one of my monitors and it magnifies the area around my mouse. I am basically using the mouse on the left monitor but actually LOOKING at the monitor on the right. Kinda funky. Seems to be a bit better so far. I usually would have a bad headache by 9 pm.

AND! Chelly turned me on to knitting last time she came to my house to visit. We went to Michael's where she picked out some new wool and I bought a pair of needles. When we went back to my house I brought out my granny's old wool and she showed me the very basics. I have been practicing for the last month or so and I really like the progress but boy do I suck at it. I have always been fairly crafty with hemp, beads, jewelry and the like but I have never picked up knitting or crochet. So far, I like it but it can give you one hell of a hand cramp.

Well here I am, sitting at work, KNITTING, PURLING, with this HUGE old lady magnifier on my monitor because I can't see anything and all I can thinks is "OMG I'M OOOOOLLLLDDDDDD!"

Needless to say, I have made an appointment for the optometrist for next Friday.

I feel like I spend half my life either booking or attending appointments.

*Beany Eye doctor this Monday
*My eye appointment next Friday
*Shaunee (Respiratory Therapist) comes some time this month but damned if I can remember when and I forgot to put it on the calendar
*RSV shot on the 16 (which is actually family day)
*D and Mr. Sam went to the Pedi today!
*Shirley the OT comes I think on the 21st,
*March 5 is the Sleep study
*Every second Friday is the DS Drop in clinic
*At some point I have to call Deb at Medigas and pay for the CPAP machine!

And I actually have to work 5 days a week!

I had no clue that being a mom meant 4 million appointments! I knew as kids get older they like to do sports and activities and the like but I wasn't expecting all these doctors and therapists... Mind you I wasn't expecting Beany to have Down Syndrome but I can adjust. I wouldn't have it any other way! How does that saying go? Idle hands are the devils play things? I'm too busy on my days off to be idle! I'm so blessed to have this job!! LOL

Yay for Blogging and Knitting!

Sleepy Bean! Cranky Bean!

SOOOoooo... We were having some issues in January with the Bean not sleeping well. He was waking up about every 2 - 3 hours which was enough to make his poor momma crazy. Fortunately this was happening while Nana was here visiting so I had the divine pleasure of being able to sneak in a few naps in the early afternoon to make up for the late night crying fits. This seemed to have been a teething issue and quickly resolved itself after The First Tooth appeared. Bean was once again sleeping about for about 6 hours at a time.

But there was still an issue with his sleep. Now D and I understand that the Bean has sleep apnea so we realise that he has more restless sleeps, but he still doesn't sleep as long as he should. Quite often he will wake up a 4:30 am for no real reason other than he is cold and uncomfortable. David will then bring him to bed with us and spoon with him till he falls back to sleep again, which usually doesn't take long. We tried to resolve this issue with a sleep sack but it wasn't much help. Either D would forget to put it on or we wouldn't be able to find it, or it was in the wash... we are lazy parents!

But through trial and error we came to realise that THIS KID CAN ACTUALLY SLEEP LIKE THE DEAD! But only when he is in mommy and daddy's bed. If I put him down for a nap in his crib, I'm lucky if he will sleep for 45 mins. If I put him down for a nap in our bed under the duvet with a lil pillow, he'll sleep for 3 hours! The other day we woke up at 7:30am and he was still zonked out between us and we had to wake him up to put him in the car seat.

Soooo... we got to thinking.. "Maybe his bed is cold and uncomfortable." We usually pile him up with lots of cozy blankets but he kicks them off and is always uncovered when D goes to get him at 4 - 5 am.

So the solution!!!

IKEA CRIB DUVET AND PILLOW SET!



We got a crib duvet and pillow set from Ikea on Saturday after work. He also got a brand new fancy sheet set for it too! We also bought a second duvet for UNDER his fitted sheet. This has made the mattress Uber comfy and a lot softer, and most likely makes his bed much warmer.

And low and behold last night the Sleepy Bean slept till 8:30 AM in his new, cozy, snuggly warm bed. It looks so gosh darned comfy that I want to climb in there with him. LOVE NEW SHEETS!

While we were at Ikea I picked out a new book shelf for the Beans room because I have been collecting books for him long before he was born and I haven't had anywhere to put them.

Hey Tricia, I'm going to organize his books by color! I'm stealing this idea from Tricia of Unringing the Bell Fame. This post is one of my faves! I think the ABSOLUTE best part of this post is the last picture of Georgia in her baby legs with her pig tail just spilling off the top of her head. I know I have said it before in an earlier post, but I am just addicted to Tricia's blog. She is an amazing writer and is just so creative, colorful and always a joy to read. If you have time or even if you don't, you should stop in and have a read.

We have been worried about the Beany a bit today. He just hasn't been himself. He slept till 11 am in our bed after waking up in his crib at 8:30. He had his breakfast and I gave him a bath. I put him in his swing with his morning bottle of formula and at 12:41 I turned around to check on him and he was out cold. He slept in his swing till about 3:30. D fed him at around 4 or so and let him play on the floor for a bit but he said that Bean was being a crank. I guess Motrin didn't help and when D tried to put his fingers in Beans mouth to see if he was teething he burst into a tiny fit of pain. So he gave him some Nummy Gummy (which is an Erinism that I love) aka Orajel. Apparently that tamed the beast for a lil bit but I suspect he is either coming down with a cold or he is breaking in a new tooth. I guess we will know for sure tomorrow. D is taking Mr. Sam to the Pediatrician for a referral and they said they will take a look at Beany too. If he doesn't have a fever or any other flu or cold symptoms by tomorrow it will most likely be a tooth.

Another tooth will be exciting. Today he yawned in the bath tub and I could see his tiny lil white tooth, glaring at me.. saying "Ima Bite you when You LEAST expect it momma!"

Let's hope he's feeling better soon. He was just so blah and lethargic and unBeanlike. Made me worried!