Summer recap - aka yes, I'm still alive!
It's been a really long time since I've written anything in here so I thought I'd better do a little update before someone files a missing person's report on me. I am still alive and as busy as ever! We've had a busy summer and tried to enjoy whatever little bit of warmth and sunshine we could find. It's been a rather wet and chilly summer for the most part followed by a huge heat wave and now that we're in September, it feels more like late July. El Nino is screwing with us all.
Work:
I've been trying to pick up as many extra shifts as humanly possible...so needless to say, I've been there a lot. Trying to pad down some bills before I go back to my part time in May and have to enforce the iron clad budget. We have been having an up and down summer. In pediatrics, you become very involved with a lot of the patients and their families. We have our "chronic kids" and our "chemo kids" that we see quite often. Some have been dealt hard blows, which in turn is hard on us as a staff. We've lost a couple. And, unfortunately we have gained a couple. We've also heard news of one special little guy who is on his way to better health. We celebrate and grieve right along with the families. It can be an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. On top of that, I seem to have the knack for sending patients to the critical care units this week. Here's hoping that streak is well past! In October, I'm going to be spending a few days at IWK taking the chemotherapy course and when I'm finished, I'm going to see what steps are needed to become fully certified. I think there's another course component and some hands on experience. Looking forward to it!
Social:
When I'm not at work and not hanging out with the kids, I've managed to somehow keep up a bit of a social life. Mostly coffee chats with good friends, out for dinner or a couple of movies. Jeff and I did manage to take in some of the Irish Festival up home and plan to take in some of Harvest Jazz and Blues this month. We're also hoping to see Pauly Shore and Ron James (comics). We did the Bon Jovi concert and opted out of ACDC though from what I hear, the show was pretty amazing. I wonder who's coming next year? We also celebrated our 5 year anniversary! Nothing special, though we considered Bon Jovi to be our gift to each other.
Cole:
4 years old and all the joys that come with it! And a few somewhat irritating qualities like this new not listening thing. He's still pretty emotional and sensitive over little things and I worry about him starting school and if that's going to be an issue for him. I hope the other kids don't tease that out of him. It's his big sweet heart that makes him who he is. He's so innocent. I'll be so sad to see that leave him. He played t-ball this summer and really, really liked it. We'll definitely do that next summer! The teams were really small so there was more one on one and more chances to actually play. Swimming lessons are coming up again and preschool starts next week!
Madison:
She's in full swing with the terrible two's! I don't remember Cole being nearly as bad as she is! She throws tantrums and can be downright mean! She's stubborn and defiant and trying so hard to be independant. But then she turns on a dime and is so sweet and cuddly. She's my moody diva for sure! She's getting big into pretend play and loves her kitchen and her baby dolls. She's cutting her first 2 yr molar and actually lets me play with her hair! She's starting to learn shapes and colors too...thanks mostly to Blues Clues hehe
Love:
Big. That's about all I can say about her. She's 4 months old now and probably close to 30lb. She still sucks walking on the leash but she's getting so much better in other ways. She hardly ever has an accident in the house and is starting to get the hang of going to the door when she needs to go out. The problem comes when you don't see her there and then she messes in front of the door. She's more gentle with the kids and has pretty much stopped nipping at them. She's getting more used to her kennel and goes in with very little issue. Still pees in it but hasn't pooped in it for ages. She loves to fetch...especially her squeaky rabbit toy. She knows a few commands and has discovered the joy of chasing the cat. Priss mainly keeps her in her place, but Love gets a good chase in every now and again.
Places we've gone and things we've done:
Spent some time at Killarney lake
Went to Magic Mountain
A couple of trips to Shediac and Parlee beach
2 weeks in Miramichi (Irish Festival, boat rides, Dad's wedding, exhibition)
Canada Day on the green (I had the day off! Whoo hoo!)
Coming soon:
Preschool!
Harvest Jazz and Blues!
Balloon festival!
FREX!
Work:
I've been trying to pick up as many extra shifts as humanly possible...so needless to say, I've been there a lot. Trying to pad down some bills before I go back to my part time in May and have to enforce the iron clad budget. We have been having an up and down summer. In pediatrics, you become very involved with a lot of the patients and their families. We have our "chronic kids" and our "chemo kids" that we see quite often. Some have been dealt hard blows, which in turn is hard on us as a staff. We've lost a couple. And, unfortunately we have gained a couple. We've also heard news of one special little guy who is on his way to better health. We celebrate and grieve right along with the families. It can be an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. On top of that, I seem to have the knack for sending patients to the critical care units this week. Here's hoping that streak is well past! In October, I'm going to be spending a few days at IWK taking the chemotherapy course and when I'm finished, I'm going to see what steps are needed to become fully certified. I think there's another course component and some hands on experience. Looking forward to it!
Social:
When I'm not at work and not hanging out with the kids, I've managed to somehow keep up a bit of a social life. Mostly coffee chats with good friends, out for dinner or a couple of movies. Jeff and I did manage to take in some of the Irish Festival up home and plan to take in some of Harvest Jazz and Blues this month. We're also hoping to see Pauly Shore and Ron James (comics). We did the Bon Jovi concert and opted out of ACDC though from what I hear, the show was pretty amazing. I wonder who's coming next year? We also celebrated our 5 year anniversary! Nothing special, though we considered Bon Jovi to be our gift to each other.
Cole:
4 years old and all the joys that come with it! And a few somewhat irritating qualities like this new not listening thing. He's still pretty emotional and sensitive over little things and I worry about him starting school and if that's going to be an issue for him. I hope the other kids don't tease that out of him. It's his big sweet heart that makes him who he is. He's so innocent. I'll be so sad to see that leave him. He played t-ball this summer and really, really liked it. We'll definitely do that next summer! The teams were really small so there was more one on one and more chances to actually play. Swimming lessons are coming up again and preschool starts next week!
Madison:
She's in full swing with the terrible two's! I don't remember Cole being nearly as bad as she is! She throws tantrums and can be downright mean! She's stubborn and defiant and trying so hard to be independant. But then she turns on a dime and is so sweet and cuddly. She's my moody diva for sure! She's getting big into pretend play and loves her kitchen and her baby dolls. She's cutting her first 2 yr molar and actually lets me play with her hair! She's starting to learn shapes and colors too...thanks mostly to Blues Clues hehe
Love:
Big. That's about all I can say about her. She's 4 months old now and probably close to 30lb. She still sucks walking on the leash but she's getting so much better in other ways. She hardly ever has an accident in the house and is starting to get the hang of going to the door when she needs to go out. The problem comes when you don't see her there and then she messes in front of the door. She's more gentle with the kids and has pretty much stopped nipping at them. She's getting more used to her kennel and goes in with very little issue. Still pees in it but hasn't pooped in it for ages. She loves to fetch...especially her squeaky rabbit toy. She knows a few commands and has discovered the joy of chasing the cat. Priss mainly keeps her in her place, but Love gets a good chase in every now and again.
Places we've gone and things we've done:
Spent some time at Killarney lake
Went to Magic Mountain
A couple of trips to Shediac and Parlee beach
2 weeks in Miramichi (Irish Festival, boat rides, Dad's wedding, exhibition)
Canada Day on the green (I had the day off! Whoo hoo!)
Coming soon:
Preschool!
Harvest Jazz and Blues!
Balloon festival!
FREX!