SERIOUSLY....?!?!?!

Today is a Wednesday, July 29th to be exact. And it is the kids 3rd Wednesday at daycare and the 3rd time we have picked one of them up, turned straight around and drove to the doctor!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps I should just make a standing appointment at the doctors office for Wednesday afternoons.

This time it was Charlotte, again. She was (of course) feverish and said that her throat was sore. How can that be? she is still on her antibiotics for strep throat, and we've not missed a dose. Well it seems that the 'bug' beat the antibiotic and has reared it's ugly head again. So here we are again... tomorrow Mike will watch Charlotte because I should maybe try to work on a Thursday. And lets just hope this new antibiotic works better.

It is frustrating because she was doing great. I thought it was gone, but again I really can't say too much because in my opinion I don't see my kids enough to make a solid judgement. But she was great on the weekend, and I did see them both Monday and Tuesday when Mike brought them downtown for lunch. Then I obviously see them in the morning and evenings and they were both themselves. But I guess this is just how these things go. Lets hope these antibiotics work better.

Funny little story about Mike being home with the kids for two solid day. The first is that he was completely frazzled and said the words every mom wants to here "I don't know how you do it". He also said those words as he finished his apparently much needed super-time beer. Back to the funny story, on Tuesday Mike and the kids met me downtown for a lunch time picnic of Bud the Spud french fries, these are the saltiest, yummiest french fries ever. I arrived first and went to the truck got the fries and found a place on the grass. Spring Garden Rd is packed at lunch so I just waited and then I saw Mike's head popping through the crowd. I walked to where they could see me and called to Charlotte. She came RUNNING as fast as she could. I couldn't help but roar with laughter. The only instructions I gave to Mike (after seeing the kids on Monday) was 'at least brush Charlotte's hair'. Well she came flying up the road with an elastic band across her forehead like a Hippy with her hair was poofing out the top like a mushroom, she was wearing her big Timberland hiking boots with ruffly socks poking out, a tanktop that flares out a bit AND... bright pink PANTIES!!!!! No pants, No shorts, No skirt... nothing. Just her panties! The most fantastic thing was she was as happy as anything and had the biggest smile ever. When I asked Mike where her pants were he responded "But she's wearing a dress"... another lady at the park heard him and she burst out laughing with me.

I am starting to hate Wednesdays...

Since my trip out west was cancelled it allowed Mike and I to take the kids to the Tall Ship festival together. I always like doing things together as a family, I find with Mike's schedule that often we have to do things apart. The weather co-opeated and despite Robbie being a bit fussy at first, the kids had a fun time. We went early and took the ferry across the harbour for the pancake breakfast, which I personally always enjoy. The highlights for the kids were different, Robbie loves boats so he was super excited about that part, he also got painted up like a pirate, a even got a tatoo of a boat that he would proudly show off to anyone; Charlotte had fun at the treasure hunt, and the jewerly making table and they both loved the bouncy castles! Charlotte was a little disappointed that we didn't see any mermaids, but is convinced we'll see some next time the Tall Ships are in town.


The fog hadn't burnt off went we first arrived at the harbour. This is the Bounty (the ship in the Pirates of the Caribbean) siting at dock.

We arrived just as they were re-enacting the British landing in Nova Scotia. Again the fog proved to be quite pleasant for the re-enactment. It was almost spooky seeing the boats coming out of the fog.

Argh! Pirate Robbie.

Charlotte making pirate jewerly of skulls and cross bones.

The fog burnt off and the ships started to sail. This was one of the tiny ones, we didn't stick around for the big ones, but have heard they are beautiful with all the sails out.

After our Tall Ship adventure, we went home and Mike packed up for his week long trip to Montreal. Mike obviously travels alot and it is something we are used to. But this was his first trip in quite sometime AND it was our first full week at work and daycare. I was really nervous.

Monday surprised me, the kids weren't thrilled with being at daycare but still the day went smooth, which was making me feel confident about the week. Tuesday went okay, the dog ran away in the morning and it was a little bumpier at the daycare drop off, but still we survived. My motto was organization, there was nothing that I didn't have planned or packed for the next day. Remember we need to be out of the house by 7:15 and my kids don't rise until 7 or 7:30. For this reason I wasn't shocked when Charlotte didn't want to wake up at 6:30 on Wednesday. She kept saying "bunny is sleepy". (currently she is a bunny). I managed to coax her out of bed, she ate breakfast and we began the whril wind of combing hair, getting dressed, forget making beds that day... and lets just get in the car. I dropped them off and it was terrible. Robbie wouldn't let go of me and Charlotte just kept screaming. I made it to work, frazzled and tried to get busy.

Later in the morning the phone ran and Charlotte had a RAGING fever!!! I told them to give her Tylenol and off I went to get her. She was still burning when I arrived and we went back to the doctor. Does this sound familiar to anyone!?!?! Doctor checked her out and found that Charlotte's fever was caused by strep throat. So more antibiotics. We picked Robbie up and the kids happily said good bye to the daycare as they need to be out of daycare for 24hrs+ with strep throat. I must just mention here that I know I work for good people because they were understandable and didn't give me any guilt for missing 2 days when I've barely been there a week. Now Charlotte was pretty darn sick. I was up most of the night trying to keep her fever under control and keep her cool. In the morning she was perking up and by that night she was back to spunky Lottie. Then I had to break it to her that they had to go back to daycare. I know they have fun at daycare, I just think that right now they'd prefer to be at home. I am confident that the day will come when the tables are turned. Well Charlotte must have pondered this and attempted a new strategy in the morning. She explained that she needs to stay at home so that all the germies in her throat go away. Smart kid, but sitll no luck. Then the tears started, and started, and started. Thank Goodness It was Friday!

Oh but the drama doesn't end there... no way this is the Hudson's. The very next morning who wakes up with another fever... Robbie. Yep, now he is again on antibiotics and I was up all Saturday with him trying to keep him cool and his fever controled. By Sunday I was exhausted from our week, and was in pure disbelief that the next day was to be Monday again. Robbie was perking up pretty quickly and after having a long nap he woke up a new boy. I packed the kids up and decided that we needed some fun so we headed to the beach for a few hours. What a fantastic thing to do. We all had a blast and it finally felt like weekend in the summer. Mike arrived home from his trip that evening and we were all konked out in our beds and only the poor desperate-for-love dog was there to greet him. Mike took the day off work today and spent it with the kids and they even popped into the office to see me and bring me flowers.

Here are some photos of the kids making a river (and working together Yeah).

I just want to mention that I am keeping all of this in perspective, and thanking my lucky stars that our illnesses have all been minor. There have been so many sad and worrisome things that have happened to some friends recently, that I don't want you to ever think that I am crying a sob story. On that note I do have to say to Niki (since I've not posted on your blog lately) how thrilled I am that Kelly is on the mend and back home. Hooray!

Before I go I have to share a funny little story. And finally it has nothing to do with fevers, or infections. One day this week (I can't remember which it is all a blur) the kids were in the bath and Robbie looks at me and says. "Pee". I said "Robbie do you have to go pee?". He responded "No" (his favorite word). Then I said "You didn't pee in the bath did you?". Again his response was "No". But then he stood up, placed his hands on the side of the tub, lifted his leg exactly as a dog would and pee-ed in the bath. I screamed, Charlotte screamed even louder, and he sat back down with biggest splash and the biggest smile. Bathtime was over!

We survived... barely

We have survived 3 days of me being back to work. And lets say they weren't what I would call smooth. Lets rewind 4+ years ago, to the worst event in mine, Mike's and our families lives. For any of you who don't know what happened to James, here is a brief recap. On a normal Wednesday we were called from James's daycare saying that he was feverish. Mike and I went to the daycare, gave him Tylenol and took him to a doctor. It was then that James was given antibiotic for an ear infection. We went home, blind to what was ahead of us, and sadly James passed away in his sleep that evening. So lets come back to 2009, and my first day back at work, and more importantly the kids first day at daycare... it was a Wednesday. Taking a deep breath, I tried to not panic simply because it was a Wednesday. Mike took the kids to daycare and I went to work. I was doing the usual meet and greet on your first day and finally grabbed a few seconds to call the daycare. As any mom I wanted to check how their first day was going, and what I heard is "Robbie isn't doing to well. He has a fever". Yes, Robbie's first day of daycare and he has a fever. It was still considered Low Grade (not sky high like James's). But still this was quite disconcerning to me. I gave them permission to give Robbie Tylenol and said Mike would be there to get him. I work right downtown and Mike is less than 15 minutes from the daycare so it made more sense for him to go. That is... when Mike has a car. Our new car was getting some work done, so he was carless. Urgh. I called back the daycare, and they said that Robbie was perking up, and was starting to play. Long story short, Mike got his car went to get the kids, turned around and met me downtown at the doctors office. My doctor was as much in shock as us, she couldn't beleive that Robbie came down with a fever, caused by yes and ear infection on his first day at daycare. My nerves where shot. Then Mike had to go coach so I faced rush-hour with two tired, hungry, and one sick kid. We picked up the prescription and got home at 6pm, ate supper and took the dog out for a quick bathroom break. It was at this time that Robbie managed to fall off the slide (that incidentally he has been on a million times) and gives himself a fat bleeding lip. We all go scrambling inside to stop the bleeding, mend the wounds have a bath and get to bed. Once the kids were in bed I took the dog out for his bathroom break (that he missed) and my neighbour yelled across. How was your first day? The only thing I could do was sob.

The next 2 days went a bit better. Robbie started to feel better, and that is a relief to everyone. Both kids still have colds and coughs. I guess that is part of daycare, I just hope they can tollerate all the illnesses. I too have come down with a bit of a cough which is draining me of any energy I do have. Overall, Charlotte seems to quiet like daycare. Thursday she had a fantastic day, it probably had to do with the fact that one of the kids in her class brought in his pet frogs. And they talked, and read about frogs all day, she really is an animal lover. On Friday one of her teachers wasn't there and a sub was filling in, so Charlotte wasn't as thrilled about that. Plus the novelty of new friends/teachers/daycare wore off by Friday, and reality was setting in. As for Robbie, he had a rough start, and still isn't taking super well to the drop off. They say he is has good moments and sad moments throughout the day, plus he isn't napping terribly well. We are only at day 3, lets just hope he feels better and has a better week next week. And it will be a long one, a whole 5 day week! I will also have to do both the drop off and pick up since Mike is away. Normally we try to share the duties so I can get to work earlier, but this week it is all on me. It would be nice if I knew the kids wanted to go and would run into their classrooms excited to be there. But there will be a lot of tears I am sure. People also claim that there are more tears when mom's do drop offs than when dads do. We will make it one way or another. People have faced worst challenges and survived. As for my job. It has been good so far. I like the project I'll be working on, and the people seem fantastic. I am going to be the primary developer on the reporting section on Nova Scotia's Colon Rectal Cancer Screening program. I have a steep learning curve, and there are some high expectations. I am excited and the good thing is that while I'm at work I am pretty focused on it, so the day goes quickly.

Here are a few photo's of our last couple of days with me home.

At the beach. It was a beautiful day, but their nap schedule and the tide schedule didn't really allow for a true beach day... this was about 5pm, so no bathing suits. The kids prefer running from the waves than actually being in the water anyway. And I am happy about that... I'm a prairie girl and still don't like the thought of swimming in the ocean.

Looking for Bunnies at White Point.
Charlotte figured if she could catch a bunny she would bring it home, and it could live in her closet. She came pretty close too.

At day at the Sprinler Park, Playground and Picnic with Friends

Charlotte was the bravest of all the kids.

Robbie was pretty good, but like filling his buckets up the best.

Sarah running through the sprinkler

John Micheal didn't like the sprinklers at all. Here he and Robbie are on the swings.

Lunch time!

Lastly I just want to send a BIG congrats to my cousin Sentura and her new husband Greg. Their wedding was today, and I am so sad that I missed it. I've been thinking of them and my entire family all day. I'm sure they are all in high spirits and having a fantastic time.

Busy Busy Bees

Time has been flying! With my recent news of a job there has been so much to get prepared for, and so much that is slipping behind. Times of transition can be stressful, and in this case expensive. Wow are we spending money and I've not got a cheque with my name on it yet. Now that we've found a daycare spot that we are comfortable with we have to pay them (obviously), and we need duplicates of everything to leave at daycare. Then we need a new car and this is very challenging because we don't want to get a new one just yet but are scared of getting burnt by a used one, also add in two new carseats. Then last night I went shopping for some updates to my waredrobe. Things sure have changed over the last few years, starting with the styles and my figure. I don't really know how to get the two them to agree right now. After spending hours in a mall trying on what felt like everything I only left with 3 things. I couldn't get over the prices either!

We've been trying to make the best of my last few days as a stay at home mom. But since we've been so busy we've barely had time to just hang out. We did that this morning.

Sprinkler fun in the backyard and on the street

Mmmm Freezies!

Sydney has an automatic jeep. We all took turns driving it today, and the one who wasn't in the jeep 'pushed' it. Funny thing about boys and girls... Robbie is the youngest and the best driver. The girls were all over the place. He did need a little help reaching the gas, Charlotte was more than happy to put her pedal to the medal.

Back to the topic of transition. The kids spent the morning at daycare on Friday, and I was able to stay with them. They did okay. Neither was thrilled while in the classrooms, but once they got outside their moods picked up tremendously. This was a huge point for us for choosing this daycare. The kids can go from their classroom to outside in seconds. Other daycares had the playgrounds across the street, or through a building, which I could only see has making the outdoors less accessible. And our kids love to be outside. In Charlotte's room she is one of the younger ones, but the girls were like a fly to honey seeing a new 'friend' come through the door. She met a Jocelyn, Katie, Antonia and Kennedy straight away and I hope they can all get along and build the friendships I desire for Charlotte. By the way she introduced herself as Lottie, so I will have to get with the program and start calling her Lottie. In Robbie's room there is Drake, who is actually our neighbour, and Drake is a sweet kid. Not surprising Robbie is the youngest but also one of the biggest. He did get pushed around a little by one of the boys and that made me sad, the teacher was right ontop of it. And I decided to stand back and let Robbie watch that the teacher could help and comfort him and not just Mommy. That was pretty tough to do.

Right now Mike is out car shopping, then we are going to try and get the kids to the beach when they wake up from nap/quiet time. Charlotte wants to go to "Bunny White Point", so I'm trying hard to find time in our schedules to squeeze that in.

To everyone back home in SK. I'm so sorry I'm not there right now. All yesterday I was thinking how I should be on a plane and today I'm thinking I should be with my family. It has been a tough thing to miss this trip. But I know it was something we had to do to not only obtain this job but make the transition to daycare/working mom go smoother.

Here are some other photos from Canada Day, and the kids at the soccer field.

Robbie in a real fire truck. Do you think he was happy about it! He wouldn't come out. I think I spent 30 minutes in it with him, and Mike spent close to the same.

Charlotte lining up for the bike parade judging.

Robbie in the bouncey castel. Charlotte wouldn't go in because she had to take off her shoes. She loves her shoes.

Mike ran a summer camp all week and we would go afterwards to pick him up and let the kids run around.

New Post and some News

Yes, I have been delinquent about my blogging. Sorry. I will post again soon (with photo's) but just wanted to tell everyone some changes to the Hudson household. It seems that I managed to get a job! Yeah! That is the good news. The bad news is that it starts next week and I have to cancel my trip to Regina. I am sad to cancel as I was so looking forward to seeing everyone again. It has been a year and a half since I've been home and the only reason I waited this long was for my cousins wedding. Now I have to miss both. But given the job market I best take the job and get working. It has been a tough go to find work, and I consider myself lucky to be back making money. It has been a scramble to get some other details worked out such as childcare but I think we've found a good fit for everyone. I will be posting a lot about the kids transition to daycare. Again this is a tough thing for me to do, but I keep reminding myself that lots of kids (including me) went to daycare and turned out okay. In fact I have some very fond memories of daycare, and I can only hope for the same for Charlotte and Robbie. Really the biggest glitch is the timing not only did I have to cancel my trip, but the majority of this tranistion will be on my shoulders as Mike's busy time at work has arrived and he will be going everywhere from the US to Quebec. With Mike away I'll have to take the kids to daycare at 7am, he'd be able to take them at 8:30. Getting two kids up, fed, dressed and out of the house by 7am! We've been so spoiled, they don't get out of bed until 7 or 7:30 these days! The other member of the household that will suffer is Colonel. Poor thing, no attention, no walks and barely enough time to pee. I've got to think of something to keep him happy while Mike is away and we are transitioning to a working mom lifestyle.

That is all for now, I will post with recent photos soon. I am just too lazy to download them but here are two you've not seen.

Robbie 'driving' the boat at Hennigars Farm in the Valley a few weeks ago. He looks so different now that he has his hair cut.

Charlotte recieved purple lip gloss in a loot bag from a birthday party. She attacked herself with it, and had so much fun!