Ten Days

It is amazing the things that can happen in ten short days. The ten short days that Kelly is away. The Wednesday after Kelly left it snowed probably two or more feet. It never seems snow when he is here, the very first day I made an attempt to take the van to class, we got there and ALL the way back and got stuck pulling into our driveway. I had to dig out, and huff and puff and shovel the entire driveway. Needless to say I was extremely sore the next day. It was heavy (BC Style) snow. No problem for us though we jumped into trusty Karen the truck and went on with our business as usual.

Flash forward 4 or 5 days. Kelly is still away. We were at the Perc playing, on the way out Ethan fell on the ice/snow in the parking lot. I really didn't think anything of it, he falls all the time. I plunked him in the car and we headed home. The entire way Ethan was whining about his arm, I still didn't really think anything of it. But for the rest of the afternoon his left arm was just hanging there limp and he wouldn't do anything with it, he didn't want to get out of bed and just layed there. This was kind of unusual but I figured that perhaps after a nap he may have forgotten that his arm was hurting. Unfortunately when he woke up from nap his whining increased and it seemed so did his pain. I plunked him in front of the TV in his chair. He then peed himself and the chair because he couldn't push himself up from the chair. NOW I KIND of am thinking that perhaps his arm is hurt slightly more than first thought. I contemplate for awhile then decide that I should probably take him in.

So we suit up. I drop Wyatt off at Virginia and Ethan and I head to the drop in Clinic. They tell us to go to the Stollery. Really? The stollery? I'm not driving all the way into the city. So we go to the Stony Plain Hospital. They admit him pretty quickly but the process took forever. Ethan was very good, of course we stopped at Tim Horton's for dinner so we had plenty of snacks and foods. They didn't have beds so Ethan and I were put in the hallway. THe Xrays were brutal and clearly not enjoyable for Ethan but he didn't complain. At about 10:00 (we got there at 6) the doctor comes to tell us that there is a crack just below the elbow but it was difficult to see because of some fluid build up. I feel terrible as I honestly thought that Ethan was faking because he was angry at me for making him leave the perc lol. So they put a splint on his arm and tell us to return to the hospital for Xrays in a weeks time.

Flash Forward two more days. Time to go to the airport to pick up Kelly, we are dropping something off at Virginia's and I get back into the car. Wyatt has projectile vomited ALL over himself and the car. Just so you can have a visual (Chunks of mandarin orange all over the place). Ok moving on. So I drag him out of the car put him into some of Caleb's clothes and wipe his carseat out the best I can. We continue on the drive to the airport. The drive is about 40 minutes, half way I hear Wyatt coughing a little then I turn around just in time to see another HUGE puke again all over himself and the carseat. I can't stop, we are on the highway and its dark. We go through Devon (and I have to meet a lady at 7:30) I hear another very big puke.... So at this point Wyatt is completely covered. We arrive at McDonalds (Where I meeting this lady). Thankfully I have an extra outfit in the car, So I change him and wipe him up as best I can, his seat is completely puke soaked and he is still covered but it was the best I could do.

I check Kelly's Flight, one hour late, So now we have an extra hour to wait in a completely puke smelly car, i'm dry heaving. We stopped for some food and it really was almost as if the food had been puked on I just couldn't get the taste and smell away. Wyatt Pukes one more time before we pick up Kelly, again thankful for ANOTHER outfit I managed to find in the car (And Kelly thinks it is a good idea to clean out the car, I disagree). We go and park in the 7-11 at the airport parking lot (because i'm too cheap to pay for parking). I texted Kelly and told him that we would not be coming in tonight but picking him outside. Both boys fell asleep. ahhhhhh good times.

Flash forward again. On Saturday I give Ethan a bath and take off his splint, he wanted to leave it off for awhile. Caleb then came for a visit in the afternoon, Ethan and caleb made a HUGE tower of toys and some toys, Ethan was being a complete goof (and not in a good way), I watched him for awhile, there he is using his arm like it had never been hurt!! WHAT THE HECK!! So i'm just going to say that we pretty much wasted an entire night in emergency for what I suspected from the beginning......nothing.

Flash Forward until today.
It is Monday, Tuesday is tomorrow. That means Kelly leaves.... Oh what wonderful things can possibly have in the next seven days :)

 Just showing off some of my latest Value Village finds :)

 Breakfast Time

This is how I found the boys when I woke up, the crackers where all gone. They said they were on the plane to Granny's house.

FIVE MINUTES' PEACE

Today is one of those days that you just want to stay cuddled up in bed, relax, sleep and wake up when you are ready. Unfortunately for me at 7:00 am I had little feet kicking me in the side over and over and over until i opened one eye to see Ethan staring back at me asking if he can watch a show. I can hear Wyatt in his crib jabbering away to himself. I roll over and hope that maybe Ethan didn't see me squint open my one eye, but of course he saw me, time to get up. I plunk them both in front of the TV and head back to bed. But of course today is a morning they choose to go downstairs, push the chairs against the counters and attempt to cut up a banana with a butter knife. SO I get up. 

I plunk them back in front of the TV so I can have a shower and get dressed. Half way through my very enjoyable hot shower I see the door open slowly and Wyatt walks in. He stands in front of the glass shower door and cries because he doesn't like it when I am in the shower (for some reason). Ahhhh so I get out. I just want to try to get dressed before I go downstairs to start the day. At this point Ethan has entered the bathroom and is now asking for goldfish and a drink. I told him that we will not be having goldfish for breakfast and this then leads to a mental breakdown on his part. Wyatt has just pooped and is crying that I am not getting dressed fast enough because it is 'Breakfast time'.  So I ignore everyone completely and get dressed.

I change Wyatt and get them both dressed and we head downstairs. The irritating whining continues. Ethan does not like that I have to take the peel off the mandarine orange (insert another mental breakdown here). I thought I would try doing the turtle trick with the mandarine (you know you roll up the corners of the green paper and roll it along the floor) but no one but me is impressed. The breakfast saga continues, the kids want certain milk and certain spoons and just when i'm about to snap I burn the flippin bagels. Ethan is angry that I am putting peanut butter on his bagel but I have to cover up the burned bagel somehow.

AHH the joys of having a husband that works away. I really don't know how all the single parents out there do it. IF any of you single parents are reading this I think you are simply amazing! It is times like these, when my head is about to explode because it is so full of the sounds of whining and cries, that I think about the 'FIVE MINUTES PEACE' book my mom used to read us. I know I have blogged about this before, and as I'm sure I said before I never really used to 'get' the book. I always thought of it as a great book about an elephant family. OH do I ever get it now. WHY is it so hard for them to understand that ALL i need is FIVE MINUTES to get dressed in peace, or pee in peace or five minutes for anything in peace.

It is now 9:40 and the kids morning snap-show seems to have diminished and they are now loading every single toy from the toy box into a huge pile on the floor. FRUSTRATING that they are making a huge mess but SO happy that it is quiet and they are playing nicely. I'm going to allow it lol.

SO completely unrelated but we have a SERIOUS fruit fly infestation. I can't figure out what they are living on (and before all you nay-sayers say anything about my compost, I will let you know taht it has been outside for three weeks). I've taken out the bottles, Kelly has tried the apple cider vinegar trick) NOthing seems to be working they are still here in swarms. Ideas anyone?

Snow

It really seems like today might possibly be the longest day.... EVER!  The snow has arrived in Alberta in a big way. I'd say two feet and seriously still snowing. I was determined to get up and go to the gym this morning but was far too lazy for that so instead I loaded the kids up in the TRUCK and headed out on the roads to Superstore. The roads were surprisingly good, they had all been plowed and we made it there just fine. We wandered around Superstore for what seemed like hours but really it was only forty five minutes so then I decided we should probably go to the local Thrift Store (I won't say which one though its too good to give up my secret). Of course we scored some sweet deals then headed home. 11:30. Now what? 

We can't go outside to play...The  problem here is that Ethan LOVES being outside but Wyatt will literally just stand and SCREAM until we go in. So what do you do? I'd rather be inside and have silence rather than screaming. 

Naptime. Ethan didn't nap. Joy. Instead he peed on the carpet.

Leading into a whole new issue. Lately Ethan has been waking up and just heading into the bonus room to pee on the floor. Its like his cat box or something. Kelly and I can't understand why he is doing this (and after this he pees just fine in the potty). We can't figure out how to deal with it. Honestly the whole thing is just driving me nuts. Some days he is fine and the next he just saunters right into the bonus room and pees. ARG.

So I turn on THomas because I am SO not in the mood to entertain while Wyatt is sleeping. But I left the carpet cleaner out so when I go to check him clearly Thomas isn't doing his job of babysitting because Ethan is busy spraying everything with carpet cleaner.

It is finally dinner time, Ethan just came down the stairs with no clothes on... Again I wonder ?? WHAT???  is going on in his head!

OK that is all

But here are some items I highly suggest you purchased. Just a few things that got me through this day which wasn't bad by any means just LOOONG

-Presidents choice Sweet and Salty Popcorn (Careful highly addicting)

-Presidents Choice CANDY CANE 'Eat the Middle First' Cookies

-The Zac Brown Band's newest CD

And of course I will always reccommend to get a Steeped Tea from Tim Hortons :)

Ethan's playschool photo

Another Playschool Photo

Yesterday off to class in the morning

The Perfect Day... Only in my Dreams

In my mind today was going to be a calm, wonderful day. A day to spend having fun with the kids. We have been so busy lately with classes, work and other events I was looking forward to spending sometime with my boys. I thought we were off to a good start when we woke up and Wyatt wasn't screaming like he was being murdered. AWESOME a happy Wyatt definitely means a perfect day. We   had a quick breakfast, jumped into Rhonda the Honda and headed to the Scarecrow Festival in the city.

Wyatt isn't too keen on costumes (well besides the pink kitty and the girly Strawberry) I let him choose between a Bug, Monkey, Dog or Lion. He chose the dog today and to my surprise he actually put it on without freaking out. Another success!! The Scarecrow festival was wonderful. Wyatt had a ball jumping in the bouncy castle, we decorated some yummy cookies with candy (and of course ate all the candy and got covered in icing), we painted pumpkins and Wyatt took a trip down a huge bouncy death slide (which Ethan was too terrified to go out). We were just heading out the door to leave when I thought perhaps we should take just one more walk around to waste some time....BIG mistake... this is where things went downhill....

Wyatt doesn't believe in the stroller so he was taking off on me constantly, thankfully Ethan was being a very good listener today (Told him Santa was watching...lol). WE made it halfway around the festival and were walking by this dark area that had been closed off. As I was chasing Wyatt I suddenly look up and there is this giant snake in a man's hands right in front of me. YIKES! I snatch Wyatt and get the heck away from that (and I would just like to say that this 'snake man' should stay behind the sheets, doesn't he know some people are deathly afraid of snakes???)

We keep walking, both boys walk into this Egyptian style maze, I figure this looks fairly safe so I give the lady our tickets and the boys literally take off into the maze. Little did I know that this infact was NOT a maze but really a little showroom for the reptiles and they are all OUT. Before I realize this I start to chase after kids and walk RIGHT into this man with this huge lizard. I scream. My heart is beating out of my CHEST! I told him my kids have run off and for some reason I thought to ask if there were snakes in there. He said yes and laughed like I was stupid. Then I think he saw the tears in my eyes, my shaking body and the sweat that had instantly developed on my forehead. I told him my kids had taken off and I needed to get them but I could NOT bring myself to take another step.... He then understood that I was completely FREAKED out, he went in ahead of me and made sure that all the reptiles had been put away and had sheets over them. I walk in probably looking like a COMPLETE crazy person, grab my kids are sprint out of there. The kids were of course devastated to leave but I couldn't cool down it was TIME to GO!

We jump in the car, its lunch time so we stop for lunch. Usually I do the drive through but the line up was out on the road so I figured I would go in (Kelly swears it is always faster to go in). Well this time this was not the case, the line was SO long, the kids were starving and running wild in their costumes. I defiantly did appreciate the 'look at those adorable kids' comments I heard people saying. I started talking to a lady in the line, she asked if we had gone to the scarecrow festival and how we liked it. I told her my snake story, she then tells me that she has a HUGE boa constrictor at home. I almost wanted to move away from her just incase she had the thing in her purse (I mean you can never be too careful).

When we got home the kids went up for a nap and I sat down to do some work. An hour into their nap I heard Ethan get u to pee (or at least I thought he was just peeing). Ten minutes later he was still crashing around up there so I went to check on him. Can you guess what I found? Oh yes that's right POOP everywhere. Ethan trying to be independent and wipe his own butt. Poop all over the seat, all over his legs and on the bathmat. I swear poop just follows me. I could say nothing as he was really trying to do it himself and was so proud of himself.... but oh dear, in some sense I understand why diapers are just so much cleaner lol.

Tonight I have promised the boys to watch a movie with them and have some popcorn, here is to hopefully for a very relaxing night!!

A Poopy Nightmare

I know it has been awhile since my last blog but today I have another chapter in the Poop diaries to share with everyone. It just seemed like something that needed to be shared (in other words I just needed someone, anyone, to listen to my rant about poop).

So lets start yesterday. Kids are all sleeping upstairs, Virginia and I are in the basement working on Peanut. I her Ethan's voice from upstairs asking me to come upstairs. I figured he was just whining as usual so I ignored him. Five minutes later he says "Mommy I need you". Again I dismissed him loudly and told him to come downstairs. I hear him coming down the stairs, he gets to the top of the basement stairs and says "My legs are dirty". I look up and see a half naked Ethan with poop ALL down his legs. Crap (literally), this sucks. I start with cleaning his legs off, then I look up the stairs and see a small trail of poop (on our recently cleaned carpets). So I follow it with some antibacterial wipes and clean as I go. When I get to the bathroom upstairs it seriously looked like a murder scene, except instead of blood there was poop. Seriously poop everywhere, all over the front of the toilet, all over the bathmat and the bathroom door and floor were soaked with pee. WHAT happened here? I still don't really know, the only possible explanation was that Ethan sat on the toilet with the seat up and slipped. I don't even want to think of the possibility that he did this on purpose!

Ok so poop cleaned up fairly confident that we are in the clear. Virginia and I are off to the mall to buy a new macbook and iPad. We bring Ethan with us. While the salesman is talking with us I look down and see Ethan holding himself. I ask him if he has to pee and he says yes. I ask the salesman desperately if they have a bathroom we can use. Infact my exact words are 'PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE A BATHROOM'. The salesman pauses JUST long enough that Ethan just lets it all out. I think I had made such a scene that everyone in the entire apple store saw the pee running down his legs and felt sorry for poor Ethan. Fantastic so its off to a store to buy some new pants.

We head into Old Navy and buy a 12 dollar pair of jeans. TWELVE DOLLARS!!! (And trust me $12 is an insane amount of money for me to spend on a pair of children's jeans, I prefer the value Village $2.49 special). We are walking back to the Apple store and I look back and Ethan's pants are around his ankles. Come on Old Navy, who makes toddlers pants without an adjustable waist.  Anyways we made it back, got our amazing new stuff and head off.

Moving on to today. We wake up around 9, Wyatt was due for a bath tonight so in hopes of saving time tonight I bring him in the shower with me. After we finish I dry him off and set him loose into the bathroom while I dry off. I turn my head for ONE minute and I hear Ethan saying 'Wyatt pooped on his leg mommy'. Half dressed I run out into the hall and ALMOST step on two big blobs of poop in the middle of the hallway (again on the carpet). I look down and again see another trail of poop, so I follow the trail and find WYATT with poop ALL down his legs and all over his feet. ARRRRGGGG.... So here we go, half naked mommy, poop everywhere and Ethan telling me he just pulled his pants down and peed all over the tv room carpet. I didn't believe him until stepped in a very wet spot. I'm still hoping that Ethan was lying and it was in-fact Wyatt that had peed on the floor because Ethan CERTAINLY knows better than that.

So now the poop is cleaned up, a new scentsy scent is in to try to cover the stench of poop.  We are loading into the car to get a tea. I've been trying to avoid Timmies  to save some money(well kind of, but lets be honest i'm not doing to well and perhaps i'm only saying this to make Kelly feel like i'm making an effort) but today I think a tea is very much needed and justified.

PS just incase you need a visual here is part of this mornings lovely disaster....

Gouda and Lentil Soup (SO Delicious)

Ingredints
1tbsp Butter
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup thinkly sliced celery
4 cups peeld, diced sweet potatos
1/2 tsp cumin
4 cups (1L) reduced sodium chicken broth
19 oz (540 ml) can lentils (drained and rinsed)
1 cup of shredded Gouda
Salt and Pepper
1/2 cup grape tomatoes (Quartered)

In a Pot, melt butter over medium/high heat. Add onions and celery and saute for 3 minutes. Stir in sweet potatoes and cumin and saute for 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 8-10 minutes.

In a blender (in batches) ... And friends be careful!! Don't forget to put your hand on top of the blender (or maybe i'm the only idiot who wouldn't)....quite the mess.... Anyways In a blender (in batches) puree soup until smooth. Return to pot. Stir in lentils. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half of the gouda. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with remaining gouda and tomatoes!!

Yummy! Enjoy

More Poop, Tantrums and Walmart

So heres the deal, I know I said I was no longer going to rant on my blog, well, I lied. Who am I kidding, I am a ranter, I get myself all riled up and I have to get it out! So please let me tell you about my joyous day!

This morning we woke up early (as usual). I have been sleeping on the couch because I am painting my room. Got the kids dressed and fed and was preparing to headout to check out some garage sales. I smelt poop, figured one of the kids pooped or farted. I ignored it at the time because I was busy, thought I would change them before we left. Ethan was playing with this trains and Wyatt was stnading with the paint tins. Everything seemed as it should.

But the poop smell just got stronger and stronger, I looked around, didn't see poop, I saw Wyatt army crawling his way to the pantry so I followed him so I could grab him before he made it. That is when I saw it. Poop SMEARED from one side of the kitchen to the other. I look over at Fabian and he is cleaning his boy cat parts in a non-discrete way. Wyatt had just slide his way through the poop and was leaving a poop train behind him. So I quickly grabbed Wyatt as I was dry heaving and ripped the clothes off of him and washed him down completely. I snagged Fabian and looked for the problem. Ahh yes just as I suspected, poop stuck in his long white fur. Completely nasty. So I took a diaper wipe (traditionally used on infants and toddlers butts) and wiped the CATS FREAKING butt. But Fabian had some fight in him, Hair was flying everywhere, nails were out and he was meowing. He got away before I could get it all. THen I cleaned the floor. Of course Ethan has an obsession with cleaning so he was attemping to help clean the poop and was having a tantrum because I wouldn't let him help.

I went upstairs to get Wyatt a change of clothes, and OH JOY, at the top of the stairs what do I see, THATs right! POOP on the carpet. So back downstairs I go to get a cloth to clean up poop. As I am cleaning the poop I am gagging oh and then I puked a little, but not to worry I was already cleaning up poop, may as well clean up puke too!

Finally we are all cleaned up and ready to go, get the kids in the car and head out. Half way up the street I realize that I should probably have gone and checked the basement to see if there was poop smeared everywhere down there, so we turn around, both kids screaming. THANKFULLY there was no poop in the basement.

We did a little garage saleing then we had to go to Walmart. OH dear, what an adventure. First, it was Walmarts anniversary sale, great deals to be had but oh what dirtbags a sale produces. We get in the cart, Ethan won't sit down, freaking out. He sees a box of smarties and is then FIXATED on me buying him a box of smarties, will not stop screaming for smarties (Mom I blame you for this). We get what we need, make our way through the crowds of people to the tills. I chose to do the self-checkout so I didn't need to pretend to be happy to a teller. Of course it only accepted cash or debit. So I thought that I would use debit. Tried my password three times, didn't work, DECLINED. So lets lay this out, two kids screaming in the cart, no socks on, my debit card got DECLINED, boy did I feel like an ALL star Walmart shopper. I threw everything back in the cart and whizzed over to the next lane. GOt Ethan smarties just to shut him up (maybe this was a bad idea but I was sick of listening to him). Head back to the Van, apparently the automatic door wasn't working, one side opened and the kids slammed into the other side which wasn't working. Get to the van, look at my receipt. The genious teller charged me twice for a $20 item. ARGGGHHHHH

Throw the kids back into the cart and steam back into Walmart. I was ready for a fight (thinking they were going to give me a Walmart gift card and not my money).But thankfully that went smoothly. Get the kids back into the car, give Ethan his smarties and drive home.

It is 1:00 in the afternoon, bother kids are sleeping and I am completely DONE. Still have to steam the poop out of the damn carpet!