Issues

First of all, Happy Birthday AB! I know it was your birthday on Saturday, but I didn't post then because I know you don't read my blog on Saturdays. And may I say that you're looking young. Very young. Youthful, even.

So now my issue. Let me start out by saying that this issue is not about doctors, although it has to do with health care. I adore my doctor and dread the day he retires. I have a wonderful friend who is a doctor and I adore her as well. My issue is with the person who answers the phone at the doctor's office and won't give you an appointment to see the doctor. And if you are reading this post and this happens to be your job, it's not you, it's the girl at my doctor's office. And if it is you, then that's just plain weird that you would be reading this.

Okay, okay, back to the story. So Husband has been sick since Wednesday. And I've been sick since last weekend, but he's been sicker so he got to rest on the couch all weekend. On Friday he had a meeting; you might remember that I had mentioned that Thumbelina and I were going to go along and galavant...that didn't happen because I wasn't feeling well enough to galavant...and I tried really hard to talk Husband into staying home and skipping his meeting. But men can be a tad, um, stubborn at times. By the time he was on his way home from the meeting, he was really sick and called and asked me to make an appointment for him to see the doctor. You know he's sick when he's requesting an appointment. So call I did. The girl I talked to said that my doctor was busy. I asked if there was somebody else available that Husband could see. In evil Ontario (I don't know about the rest of the Great White North but this is how it is here) you have to sign up to be a part of your Family of Physicians which is supposed to mean that you will always get to see a doctor if said doctor is part of your Family. So when I asked if Husband could see someone else, I was told that they don't do the Family of Physicians (this isn't what it's actually called, but you get what I mean, right?) on Thursdays or Fridays. You can only see your own doctor. Nor do they have evening appointments on Thursdays or Fridays. I felt like saying So what good is it having a Family of Physicians then? But I didn't.

I took him to the walk-in clinic, which incidentally isn't part of our FOP, because Husband was feeling like he had strep throat, and was seen by a doctor and given a prescription. It was for 3 days, the drugs are supposed to stay in your system for 10 days, but Husband is only feeling minimally better. I called our doctor's office again today and asked for Husband to see our doctor. I answered her questions of his symptoms and she had the nerve to say to me, "Well, if it's just a low-grade fever, don't you think he's getting better?" Excuse me? Excuse me?? Are you a doctor??? I told her that I still wanted Husband to see our doctor. But guess what - he's booked for the whole week. And guess what else - our doctor is the Family doctor this week who gets to see all the patients that can't get in to see their own doctor. Ironic, isn't it. So I didn't like this girl's attitude, and called the office back about 10 minutes later and talked to somebody different. She gave me the same answer about our doctor being booked for the week, but said to call at 4:00 to see if there were any cancellations for the evening. I did and there weren't.

At 7:00, Husband said he was going to go to the doctor's office anyway and hope he could see our doctor without an appointment. The receptionist wasn't going to let him, but our doctor happened to see Husband in the waiting room and examined him regardless. Because he's a great doctor. And I adore him. Did I mention that already? So Husband has a very bad case of bronchitis and is on a different antibiotic.

I'm feeling somewhat better, thanks for asking, but my throat and ears are still very sore. And while I'm not up all night coughing (I'm only up half the night coughing), I'm thinking I'm going to be needing something stronger soon. Except I don't want to call the doctor's office. Because I'll be told there are no appointments available.

Did you ever see the Seinfeld episode where Elaine was labelled as a difficult patient? I get the impression that the receptionists at our office have little notes about us in their computer, because before they answer if there are any appointments available, they want to know who the appointment is for. And I can hear them click-click-clicking away on their computer before answering me. Just tell me yes or no.

I have more issues that just this one, but I think that's all you can handle for today.

Pretty Pretty

A huge Thank You to Amy at The Masthead Factory for fixing my header. I absolutely love it.
A request for anybody who has my blogged linked - would you mind please changing the name from The Funny Farm to Moments in Time? I appreciate it so much.

New New New

New Blog Title

New Blog Format

New Blog Header

Unfortunately, I haven't figured out yet how to put it where it needs to go. And I'm too tired now to keep fiddling with it. Anybody know what I'm doing wrong? I get the outline of the header and then in the centre a red x where the actual picture is supposed to be.

Change

I'm thinking about changing the name of my blog. Gasp. I know; this name is so appropriate for my life, but I'm thinking something that's more my personality...something like Just Hand Over the Joe Louis ... and nobody will get hurt. Whadaya think?

Tomorrow I'm galavanting with Husband and Thumbelina. Husband has a meeting in another townish-city, so we're going along for the ride. We are going to hit a Toys R Us and a mall because it's the Little Missy's birthday soon. And because I like to shop.

I think I have bronchitis. My throat is terribly sore and my chest hurts and I can't stop coughing. I'm going to start taking the antibiotics that I took with me to China but never used. I am a self-diagnoser when it comes to medical issues.

Shaggy has been getting his schoolwork done at school and when he does have homework, he comes home and gets it finished right away. Why, you ask? Because the cousins are living 3 houses down for a few months since their house is not ready for them to go back to because of the fire. The fire was a terrible thing, but it is having a good outcome in my after-school-life.

Thumbelina is sometimes feeling neglected when the boys go out to play and don't spend their afternoons doting on her. Except today because it was raining and they were stuck indoors. She even had 3 extra kids doting on her. It was way cute. I went to check on the kids as they were in the boys' room playing, and my 7 year-old niecy was playing with Thumbelina on the floor and calling her Princess. Priceless. And after school, the Tran has become a very popular hangout as Little Missy is quite the kid magnet. Even with 9 and 10-year-old boys. Who knew?

So changes happening all around.

Hmmmmm

This Far Side funny from my desk calendar reminded me of Melvin...

Open House

Saturday was our Open House for Princess Thumbelina and she was even polite to all who came out to meet her. We came home with lots of loot, and I was so tired, I almost didn't even open all the presents...but I knew people would ask me at church on Sunday how I liked their gift, so I forced myself to stay up past 8:00 pm. You know how dumb I am? I didn't even get anyone to walk around taking pictures, nor did I have anyone take a picture of our family. I only got like 6 shots that I took myself. How can I scrapbook with only 6 pictures??

And I'm trying to think of something to blog about, but I'm coming up with a blank. Nothing extraordinary happened at the Open House; my life is full and rich, yet it consists of do we have time for a bath this morning or should we wait until tonight? and Thumbelina is crusty so I wonder if we can squeeze a trip in to town before lunch? and Will Sammi light the match and kill EJ or not? Oh, sorry, that last one isn't really my life, just my friends on tv. Because you know it's on right when Thumbelina has her afternoon nap, and she still insists on being held for her happy nappy.

So before I bore you to tears, I will leave you with some pictures from the weekend.

Photo Shoot Gone Awry

Thumbelina and I have some new friends at church - a new mom who just had a baby in January. And this was the outfit that she so generously bought for the Little Miss. Isn't it just the sweetest? So I took some pictures this morning to e-mail to my friend. And I have a question for you; I didn't get anything for this lady's baby, even though I meant to (January and February were a tad stressed with craziness)...and now, if I get something for Thumbelina's new friend, would it look like I just gave her something because she gave us something? Has too much time passed? Should I just leave it alone? That's today's dilemma.

The other day, Husband brought me home a triple chocolate donut - this months feature at Tim's. And it was delicious. And I shared with Thumbelina who thought it was pretty grand as well:


So I've been absent this week and I've missed you all. Really, I have. I've been busy doing my office work in the evenings after Thumbelina has gone to sleep; Husband has been home to hold her, thus my free time. And I've been doing it at night before my assistant comes in the next day to do it, because it needs to be done right. It's not her fault really; more mine. I should have hired someone with experience. Now I'll know better for next time.

Tomorrow our families are having an Open House for us, so I'm sure Thumbelina will have her game-face-scowl on. Stay tuned for pictures!

What Finger Are You?

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird.A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone.You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are. You get along well with: The Ring Finger Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/

Does anybody know why, since switching to Beta Blogger, the html codes always come up with an error whenever I copy and paste it? Is there something else I should be doing? It's driving me crazy. Short trip, I know.

So which finger are you? And oh yah, it shows up in the preview but not the actual post - in case you couldn't guess, I'm the Pinky Finger.

A Medley of Stuff

Yesterday, Miss Thumbelina decided that our day should start at 4:45. In the morning. Before any human being should ever be allowed up. Oy. As a result, I was crabby. Extremely. So much so that I just didn't want to go home, so I didn't. Thumbelina and I went to my Mom's instead, where I thought for sure we'd stay until she finished her morning nap. Oh what a fool I was. She had other plans that did not include napping of any sort. So then Muther and I decided to go for a drive to put the Little Miss to sleep, and we ended up at Wal Mart. Where we shopped. And Thumbelina had a Farley's cookie for lunch as she was wheeled throughout the store. Then, since we were in the same town as my Grandmuther, we decided to go visit her and Muther's sister - Aunt. We had a nice time with Grandmuther and Aunt and got back home in time to get the boys from school. But no happy nappy for Miss Thumbelina. Oh no. And remember, she'd been up since before 5:00. In the morning. We had take-0ut for supper and I was able to get her asleep by 6:30. In the evening.

But it was a long night. Extremely long. The longest we've experienced yet. So I'm thinking she had way too much stimulation, coupled with being extremely overtired.

Today she was up at her regular 6:15 ish. In the morning. And it was a more normal day with more normal happy nappy's.

*****
So this month the CCAA only sent out 2 days of referrals. 2 days. My heart goes out to everybody who didn't make the cut. It's mind-boggling, really.

*****
My friend, RDC, who was supposed to be in our travel group but was skipped because she was asked a question in the review room, is with her daughter Cassia in China right this moment! And what a sweetheart Cassia is! So precious. Congratulations RDC!!!

*****
I put pig tails in Thumbelina's hair today. She was not impressed. At all. Extremely unimpressed. And I gave her another Farley's after lunch, which, after she put it to her mouth, she threw down on her highchair with disgust. Have you ever seen an 11-month-old look disgusted? It's quite something. But she willingly ate an Arrowroot. Tigger at the Farley's when he came home from school. I know.

*****
We've convinced Thumbelina that it is okay to actually bring food to her mouth by herself. None of the babies in our group would put food in their mouths at first...but finally Thumbelina has overcome. Bring on the mess!

*****
We have had Thumbelina in our arms for exactly one month now, and I had a flowery post all planned out in my head, and there it sits. In my head.

*****
I do believe I'm out of things to talk about, so I'll sign off now.

I am so cute! Like my new shoes??


I can touch my head!


My Daddy is so silly, putting my tights on my head!


I am so embarrassed! My Mom didn't even wash my face!


What on earth did you do to my hair???

Thank God You're Here

Did you all watch that show last night? Thank God You're Here. I laughed so hard I about peed my pants. So funny. But then again, I'm easily amused.



So Beastly is just fine after eating all that chocolate. Stupid dog. He got sick on both couches, on the living room floor, on the office floor which happened to include Shaggy's coat because Shag just left it to drop where he took it off, and in his cage. Too much information, I know. It was just really, really disgusting.



Thumbelina likes Molly now, and even sticks her piggies into Molly's mouth and giggles. I mean her toes. We call them piggies (this little piggy went to market...) . And I'm so excited because this girl loves to shop and loves shoes!!! Today I put a teeny pair of runners on her, and as I was loosening the velcro, Thumbelina stuck her foot into the air toward the shoe. Then once they were on, she kept banging the shoes together to make noise, and she was banging her feet on the floor. It was way cute.



We had a nice Easter spent with Husband's family, except only half of his siblings could be there. Everybody loved Thumbelina and she even smiled. Shocking, I know. Not that she would smile at the family, but that she would smile. At people she doesn't know.



She's still not sleeping unless she's being held. Last night was pretty rough, but she did have a new kind of food, so maybe that was the problem. Tonight she only lasted an hour and a half in the play pen. Right now she's with Husband on the couch. They might even both be asleep. She had a peaceful afternoon nap, so I'm still hoping she'll sleep better tonight and not awaken so much, even if we do have to hold her.

So hang on to your seats and get prepared for cuteness overload:



Conducting business with Grandpa (notice my hairbrush...I like my hairbrush):



Playing with Shaggy:


Almost up on my knees:


Cuteness overload:


Meeting my Auntie (we almost have the same birthday):

Ugh

When your son leaves the closet door open, and the dog goes into said closet and finds hidden chocolate bunnies and eats them, and then is sick for the rest of the evening, even though the vomit is chocolate, it is rather disgusting. Just thought you should know.

Less Sleep Deprived

Wow, it's been a few days since I blogged. I don't blog when my assistant is here working, because she doesn't know I have a blog, and I don't want her to know. It's just our little secret.


So last night, Thumbelina slept pretty good. Husband is feeling better - did I tell you he was sick? I made him start taking the antibiotics that we took to China in case of emergencies, and he's feeling a lot better now. So he's able to help me out more at night with the little Miss. She went to bed last night at 8:00 pm, got up at 11:30 pm but Husband was able to get her back to sleep, then she slept until 2:30 am! In the playpen no-less. She was up again at 5:30, I changed her diaper thinking that we'd be able to appease her with sleepy playtime in our bed, but she fell back to sleep in my arms until 7:20 am. 7:20 am!!! Good thing it was pizza day at school today.


I am having trouble getting her to sleep when I put her to bed. When I lay her down in the playpen, she wakes right up and starts to cry. When Husband lays her down, she stays asleep. So my house is still messy but it is what it is. I'm glad that it's Easter and the boys have a 4 day weekend, because she adores them and they can keep her happy while I get some cleaning and laundry done.


So pictures:

Helping Mom at the office:


I have silly brothers:


Lovin' my bath:


Playing with my food:

Happy April

Tigger has been enjoying April Fools Day - Mom, there's Tweety behind you! April Fools!!! This has been going on all day. He's quite the character.



Alfred's Mom asked how old Thumbelina is - she will be 11 months old on Friday. Her birthday is May 6. The 9 month sleepers that she wore home from China aren't fitting quite as roomily as they were a week ago; this girl has really grown in the 3 weeks since we've had her. As has her hair.



AM also mentioned that she'd like to hear how we are getting along with a little one. I love it! I love having a baby in the house again! I'm not loving the clutter and unswept floors and clothes everywhere, though. Today it's making me crazy. I told Zoomer that he needed to do the dishes for me this afternoon. He asked why. I said because I can't keep up. My dishwasher broke last fall and it hasn't been an issue, being without one, until this week; Husband is going to buy me a new one, hopefully tomorrow. We've started using paper plates, and we've been eating a lot of cereal for supper.



So we are very sleep deprived here at The Funny Farm. Last night Thumbelina went to bed at 8:00 pm, awoke at 11:30 pm and 12:30 am at which time I gave her a bottle, then awoke again at 2:30 am, 3:30 am and 4:30 am, at which time she had another bottle, and then she was up at 6:00 am for the day. Last night the poor little dear was screaming, but she wasn't awake. At least Husband said she wasn't awake. I was rocking her with my eyes closed. She starts out sleeping in the playpen beside our bed, but when she gets up for her bottle, I rock her in our bed and we fall asleep together. I do know this is normal behaviour for babies who have just recently joined their families, but I don't know if it would stop if I were alert and awake enough to put her back in the playpen.



It feels very much like having a newborn in the house, in that we're both getting to know each other and we're trying to figure out sleeping and a schedule.



There are a lot of people who decide not to let anybody (not even grandparents) hold their baby for the first 6 months after they are home, to help promote attachment and bonding. And that's great if that's their choice, but for our family we are letting close family members hold Thumbelina. We are still the only ones who will be doing her basic care, such as feeding, changing, bathing, etc., so she's knowing that the stupid nanny with glasses will change my bum, so I'll complain and hold my arms out to her, and the other stupid nanny tickles my belly and makes me laugh so I'll hold my hands out to him. That's my lame attempt at trying to be funny.



And because Cute One asked to see more pictures, here is a mini photo-shoot I did this morning of Thumbelina all dressed up and ready for her first appearance at church. We lost her bow in the Tran.

Small Miracles and Bizarre Changes

Small Miracles - last night I had 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That hasn't happened since last spring. Wow. Although, I did say to Husband, 6:30 on a Saturday morning is really an ungodly hour to have to get up. He responded with, She was raised Buddhist.

Bizarre Changes - Before we went to China, I couldn't eat breakfast. All I could handle was my 3 cups of coffee. Lunch was usually a bowl of cereal around 11:00 am, and then supper. While in China, I had breakfast everyday because one never knew what lunch would be. Especially on the days it was MacDonald's - I don't like MacD's here in the Great White North, so I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it in China. Now after coming home? I'm starving when I first get up, lunch is usually around 2:00 in the afternoon, and I'm not hungry for supper. So I haven't been eating supper. My stomach is still on China time.

Thumbelina has been practicing her crawling skills. She has quite the technique as she pulls with one elbow and pushes with one knee, but it gets here where she wants to be:

Please ignore the shnozzy nose and carrots all over her sleeve. I'm blaming that on Husband.

One Week Home

Our first week home together with Thumbelina has flown by. I guess when you're in a constant state of exhaustion, it's easy to forget what day it really is.

On Monday I had to work; and I was resentful for it. And as a result, Thumbelina slept way too long and was up all night. When you have a family business, you don't have a choice but to work and things needed to be done.

On Tuesday, I had personal space issues. I decided not to work and to spend my day with Thumbelina, playing with her and doing all the stuff I've been dreaming about for the last two years. Except my assistant had other ideas and followed me from room to room asking me questions. Our office is attached to our house which really sucks sometimes. I think she got the hint when she said to me, "You don't mind me following you around, bugging you, do you?" and I didn't answer; I just smiled. I need my personal space, people. Don't enter my personal space.

Or maybe that happened on Wednesday. I really don't know. But yesterday she was mad at me and wouldn't look me in the eye or talk to me. Whatever.

Oh, I remember Wednesday. Wednesday my brother's house caught fire and I looked after my 2 nieces and 2 nephews for the day. Their neighbour saw smoke coming from their garage and banged on the windows, waking them up. Their garage, mudroom and back bedroom were destroyed and they won't be able to go back into the house until the water and smoke damage is cleaned from everything. I'm really thankful nobody was injured.

So today is Friday. I've been having a hard time staying awake past 6:00 pm, but last night I was able to stay up until 8:30 pm. Party on! Thumbelina slept okay in Beijing, but has since regressed. I knew it would happen, but I secretly hoped that we would be part of the chosen few who would come home with a baby that would continue to sleep. Last night she slept in my arms - she had to have her cheek touching my bare arm continuously, and she awoke a few times screaming. The screaming is new.

She adores her brothers and now hollers at them. It is the funniest thing. She just looks at one of them a yells at the top of her lungs. Not because she's angry, just to get their attention. Tigger is feeling a little left out, so I'm trying to give him extra hugs.

Sorry, no pictures this post, the Little Miss is starting to crab and needs some lunch.

We're Still Alive!

We're home! Had a great trip! Are experiencing jet-lag! Thumbelina is awesome! Will write more once I'm coherent!

I just love this picture - it was taken about 30 minutes after Thumbelina met her brothers:


I wasn't going to buy an excersaucer, seeing as how she'll probably be walking soon, but Husband talked me into it. It was only 60 bucks. At least half the cost of when Zoomer was a baby. Who knew. Anyhoo, as you can tell, she loves it:

This Is It!

This is it! It's really happening! This will be my last post until we're home with Thumbelina - March 24th. You can follow along on our journey at The Story of You with our personal page being Kallie. Wish me luck that I don't mess anything up in sending e-mails and pictures to Tina...

So. I'm trying not to be sad about something because I've got better things to do with my time than worry about someone who obviously doesn't like me, but when everybody and their uncle says, Have a great trip! even people I've never met but whom I talk with on the phone because of the business - one girl I've that I've talked to a total of 3 times in my life, including yesterday, is super-excited for us - yet still one of the boys' teachers hasn't even acknowledged our referral or trip. She walked right on by me yesterday as we're both calling our kids at the school snow-hill. Just very hurtful. But that's her problem 'cuz I'M GETTIN MY BABY!!!

Our itinerary, in case some of yous are wondering, we leave the city tomorrow at 7:00 am and arrive in Vancouver at 12:15 pm (9:15 local time). Then we read some books, snack on some snacks and leave Vancouver at 12:35 local time (3:35 home time), arriving in Beijing on March 10 at 4:00 pm local time, which I think is 3:00 am home time.

Sunday, March 11: Fly to Hunan (1:45 - 4:10 pm)

Monday, March 12: Thumbelina Day (Yippeeee!!!)

Saturday, March 17: Fly to Beijing (1:50 - 4:05 pm)

Saturday, March 24: Fly Home, leaving Beijing at 2:40 pm and arriving back to the city at 4:10 the same day. I can handle a 1 1/2 hour flight. Bwahahahahaha.

And now I'm off to pack. Really.

Husband is Funny

He keeps me sane. His saneness cancels out my craziness. We are a good combination.

This morning Zoomer was quite upset with me because I didn't do laundry last night. I told him he didn't ask me to do laundry. Apparently all of his clothes, and I checked each and every drawer in his room, are in the washing machine washed, and he just presumed I was going to put them in the dryer for him last night. I would have if he had asked, but since I didn't know this was his plan, I didn't. He can be frustrating at times, that one. He's stuck wearing church pants to school today.

So Husband informed me this morning that he wants to leave the house tomorrow morning by 9:30 (TO CHINA - OH YAH!) And that's after dropping the dogs off at the vets.

And I told him that I needed to do all the paycheques tomorrow before we go.

And he said I could stay up all night tonight and do them.

Me: But what are we going to do all day if we're only spending the night in the city? (Our flight is Friday morning)

Husband: Shop.

Me: And where are we going to put all our purchases?

Husband: In the Tran.

Me: And where are we going to put all of our luggage and souveniers that we bring home from China?

Husband: Oh, we won't have Zoomer with us. He'll be staying at the orphanage.

Me Laughing: Good one!

We tease Zoomer that we're making an even trade - he's staying at the orphanage and Thumbelina is coming home with us. We're so bad. And this morning was one of those mornings when we're tempted to go through with our idle threat.

Busted!

Can you guess what this is:

1 Browser pay per use @ $30.72/MB x 3.4804 MB, totalling $106.92
161 Text Messages Sent
60 Text Messages Received
1 Download of a Screen Saver

Anybody? Anybody?

Give up?

This is what happens when your 12-year-old sneaks an extra company phone and uses for 2 weeks before getting caught. 2 WEEKS. 2. Totalling $202.96. TWO HUNDRED BUCKS. Yah, he'll be paying that from his own money. It was kind of funny though, as Husband and I were going over the details of the bill with him, I could see Zoomer gulping every now and then. Kids.

Oh, and I'm still at a big fat zippo for R-R-Roll Up The Rim.

Spring is in the Air

Not everywhere I look around, just at Tim Horton's. It is officially R-R-Roll up the Rim time again! I must admit, since having the flu a few weeks ago, my coffee consumption has gone down, but I still do average 1 a day from Tim's (instead of 3), and that's not including my morning coffee. So Husband has already won a free coffee - with his first rim even. AND he was the first customer to get a R-R-Roll up the Rim cup because he stopped in just after midnight on the day it started. Me? Zippity-doo. This is giving me a feeling of de-ja-vu. Last year I think I won a donut. For the entire contest.

So yesterday was a snow day and the boys enjoyed being lazy. Tigger wanted me to draw him a spider-man, and while I'm no artist, anything I draw is wonderful in the eyes of my 7-year-old. He drew Doc Oc, I drew a web, he drew a spider and he cut everything out. I cut the spider out for him because it was tricky around all those legs. He spent hours playing with his paper super-hero and villian. Hours. It was way cute.

I did some more painting in Thumbelina's room. I love the colour I chose, but I just wasn't happy with how it looked. It was boring. And I needed more paint anyway for touch-ups, so I bought some a shade darker, and some glaze. My idea was to just kind of rub the paint on the wall for interest. But I didn't like it. So before I finished, I decided to sponge over top of it. When I did the last wall of the rubbing, I used a lot more water than I had been using, and when it dried I loved it. Except I had already started the sponging...which was looking hideous. So I re-did the rubbing over top of the sponging, using extra water. I think I like it. I haven't actually looked at it today but my arm feels like it is literally going to fall off so I'm leaving it. I'm also going to paint a vine with leaves and small pink daisies around the edges where the paint technique meets up with the flat paint on the ceiling. I hope it turns out.

But today I need to shop and clean but I think Muther and Sylvie (my SIL) are coming on Monday to help me paint.