For Mrs. Trotter (special edition post)

Today my mum and I went to the One-of-a-kind show in toronto, where, like last year, I met with the wife of a former art teacher of mine. Mr. T. dealt with the WORST class in my elementary school's history (my class, although I was certainly not part of the problem...ahem) (seriously, one of the kids from that class went to jail. FEDERAL jail.). His lovely wife and fellow teacher, Roz, helped me barf on a class trip once. We go way back. Now Mr. T. sells his artwork at shows around Canada, one of which being the show we were at today.

We were discussing other family members and telling Roz about my brother and his recent health issues. Here is a pic of Jamie when he was wee:

As Joseph in the church pageant

 

And here is one of him recently:

In the back, at Charlie's baptism.

I hope Roz remembers, but if you don't, that's OK. You probably saw 10,000 kids during your time as a teacher. Plus, you remember me (who could forget all that barf?). :)

In April, Jamie was complaining of headaches, bad enough to stay home from work for. After some tests, it turned out he had a brain tumour and an operation was scheduled. During the month of April, he had 3 brain surgeries in 4 weeks. My dad had an operation during this time, too, and I fell and broke my arm. It was a rough month.

Dad is fine, my arm healed, and Jamie's brain (while still crazy ;)) is doing OK now too. He had a hematoma (now dissipated) and while the tumour will be in there forever, it's something he can live with through the corrective actions that the surgeries did. Thank goodness. We're very glad he is sticking around.

Last year I said '2011 tried to kill us - bring it on, 2012!'. This year, I say '2013 - please be kind. Please lead to all kinds of wonderful things for a family that has been through so much in so short a time. Thanks in advance.'

Let's hope for the best.

 

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The Alphabet Song

I promise I'll update more from now on. I've been getting complaints from people who I didn't even know read this blog (hi, Lynn!) so I will try to be better at keeping everyone updated.

Things are normal, which is amazing. I had a flu (which I am pretty sure I got from charlie - it seemed the same as whatever hell-fire illness he has in September) for Thanksgiving, and it was a sad dinner around here. Then, I got a cold which I am just getting over now, and I'm pretty sure Charlie is picking it up. And charlie's g-tube site had an infection which we are finally seeing the end of now.

The g-tube thing has been an interesting experience - Charlie's site started looking iffy a couple weeks ago. We just monitored it, but when it started looking really gross, we called the hospital and needed up taking him to Emergency (not our local emergency, because the docs there would have said, "WOW! A g-tube! Haven't seen one of those since medical school! So...what's the problem?") but the emergency department at Sick Kids, OUR hospital. As trips to the emergency ward go, it was a stellar experience, but it was still 4 hours of germs, late hours and waiting. We ended up on an antibiotic, but the spot kept getting worse. We ended up taking him BACK down this past Monday, after the 'spot' exploded (sorry if you just ate) and we were assured it would now go away on it's own with some TLC. Just one of the many gross things are having a tube.

Charlie has been lifting my shirt, looking for MY tube. And so begins the careful dance to make Charlie realize that no, not everyone has a tube, and while you need it now, you WON'T need to have yours forever - without making him feel shame about having one. When I ask him if he has a tube, he pulls up his shirt and points and says "Nooooo....". Oh boy.

All of that aside, though, it has been strikingly normal. Charlie is eating well (with the help of some somewhat distracting toys). He is gaining a lot of weight (yay!). Sick Kids is happy with how he is doing. He goes to daycare one half-day a week so that I can train in the pool for the triathlon. He went through the 'mamamama' phase - I could not be out of his SIGHT or he would lose his shit and start screaming 'MAMAMAMAMAMA!'. His dad was heartbroken - but this morning, Charlie woke up with a 'DADADADADADADA!' so I think we are over it now (hopefully. It was an annoying phase). So, even though we are ill, it's all been very, very normal.

The Alphabet!

 

I can't wait for Christmas, but I don't think that's news. ;)

The Alphabet Song

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

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Hot Fun in the Summertime

It's been a while, I know. Almost a month! I am....not sure how that happened. But, with the beginning of school so begins the beginning of my back-to-normal life, so hopefully there will be more posts.

Charlie had a rough July and a great August. I think he really enjoyed the latter half of the summer. He hung out with both sets of grandparents, swam, played with his friends and kissed his parents a lot (once he learned to kiss, it's been a real smoochfest at our house). In the DCM world, he was eating better, developing fine and all of his various health care professionals are pleased. *sigh* No more drama, indeed.

September has been great so far, too! Can you believe I am writing a post like this?! No wonder you haven't read anything new in a while - I was busy having FUN with my kid! Who woulda thunk it?

Charlie was sick for a week (leading up to his baptism, no less) but he has recovered well and is back on track now. No weight gain in a month, but when he was sick he didn't eat for 5 whole days so that's understandable. No need to worry. And he got 'upsized' to a new g-tube (size 12, for those in the know) which means we can transfer to a 'button' (lower profile and thus less of a pull-out concern for daycare) whenever we want. Exciting stuff.


Charlie got baptized. He looked adorable, as proven here:

Our little gentleman.

Charlie and I.

It was a lovely, lovely day.

Being a stay-at-home mom (to be referred to as SAHM from now on) is amazing. I feel like such an important part of Charlie's upbringing and I love that I'll be with him until he is well over two years old. I also feel good about going back to work - Matt's Department Head's wife (follow that) is going to be our daycare provider and I'm pretty sure she's the most amazing daycare person ever. The kids have agendas, do letter and number and colour work, and she is lovely. Oh, and they have dogs. Perfect!

In 'us' news - Matt has good classes this semester, which is great. He's enjoying teaching and although he misses Charlie, he's glad to be back. My big news is that I'm training for a triathlon next summer in support of our ward at Sick Kids. It's partially a fundraiser, partly a let's-lose-the-baby-weight mission. So far, I've lost 24.8lbs and the training itself is going well. I went for my first run this past weekend where I didn't have to stop! I treated myself to a 'Ta-ta Tamer' (Lululemon sports bra - hence the ridiculous name). I am - this is so weird - looking forward to running again.

That's the news from our neck of the woods. Hope all is well in your little corner. :) Smile all around.

It's getting cold up here...

Charlie's first ice cream cone!

Ready for Mummy's birthday!

 

Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & the Family Stone

End of the spring and here she comes back

Hi, hi, hi, hi there

Them summer days, those summer days

That's when I had most of my fun back

High, high, high, high there

Them summer days, those summer days

I 'Cloud nine' when I want to

Out of school, yeah

County fair in the country sun

And everything, it's true, ooh, yeah, yeah

Hot fun in the summertime

Hot fun in the summertime

Hot fun in the summertime

Hot fun in the summertime

First of the fall and then she goes back

Bye, bye, bye, bye there

Them summer days, those summer days

'Boop-boop-ba-boop-boop' when I want to

Out of school

County fair in the country sun

And everything, it's cool, ooh, yeah

Hot fun in the summertime

Hot fun in the summertime

Hot fun in the summertime

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Time

One year ago today, we received devastating news about Charlie. He had a huge heart, a huge liver, was retaining fluid, and things didn't look good. We were admitted and this secondary journey - the journey parallel to being a parent - began.

A year later, we are grateful to have Charlie in our lives, alive and well. His boundless energy and never-ending smiles, his tantrums and mood swings, naps and feeding schedules - its all a blessing and we cherish each and every moment. The other night, Charlie woke up at 4am and started to cry. I went in to rock him, and as I sat down, and turned to me with still-sleepy eyes and kissed me on the mouth. He then tucked his head into my shoulder and went back to sleep. He just wanted a kiss! And a year ago, while he was so sick,that kind of magical moment seemed out of reach and improbable at best.

He has a huge heart, and a good heart. He goes for echos and ECGs and Holters and has lots of nurses who would like to adopt him and/or be his girlfriend. Charlie is remarkable, adorable, frustrating, trying, intelligent and emotional. He is everything we wanted and more. I can't imagine a more different place from a year ago today. I am thankful for the support of good friends and family. And we look forward to continuing to share each moment with our special little boy.

 

Time - Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today

And then the one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking

And racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the same in the relative way, but you're older

And shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time

Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way

The time is gone the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again

I like to be here when I can

When I come home cold and tired

It's good to warm my bones beside the fire

Far away, across the field, tolling on the iron bell

Calls the faithful to their knees

And hear the softly spoken magic spell

 

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No more drama.

The last few weeks have been tough. Charlie hasn't really been 'well' since we left the hospital post-g-tube - he always seems to have a fever or be lethargic or vomiting. We have made a few trips to emergency departments - once down to Sick Kids because we thought his side look distended (a sure sign of fluid retention) and once because of his 39.9C fever. Then, early Tuesday morning, things to a turn for a worst.

I heard him around 2:45 quietly whining to himself. This is SO unlike him - he's usually asleep or screaming for me to come in and snuggle. He is not generally whiny. But there he was, on the monitor, whining away. Quietly. To himself. I thought perhaps he had rolled on his g-tube, so I quietly went in, only to be greeted by a pair of wet eyes and outstretched arms. I picked him up and as I did so...saw vomit. Everywhere. With blood in it.

Yes, blood.

I put Charlie down, went and got Matt (who was sleeping with the fan on and wouldn't have been able to hear me had I called) and by the time I got back, Charlie was vomiting MORE (how the child even had any more in his tummy is beyond me, and the realm of science) and panicking in his crib. I held him as he threw up and then went into uber-mom mode. I detached him from his pump, carried him to our room, ran a warn bath and got in the bath with him. By this point, Charlie was so entertained by the fact Mummy and he were getting in the bath in our CLOTHES he forgot about being upset.

Matt called the cardiologist on-call, who eventually directed us down to Sick Kids. I say 'eventually' because he was just a fellow (cardiologist in training) and he had to call the real cardiologist to consult before he could tell us to come. By the time he called us back, we were packed for an overnight and at the door, waiting. We would have been going whether or not he called back.

I set the cruise at 120 km/h and we sailed down to Toronto. There isn't a lot of traffic at 4am. It's lovely.

From there, things were pretty efficient, although I had to get all Mama Bear on the emergency nurses. They were trying to put in an IV into Charlie's very dehydrated, 'flat' veins and couldn't get it in. The poor kid would cry every time they poked him, and then fall asleep between attempts. After two tries, I asked WHY they were putting in an IV. They told me it was 'just in case' he needed fluids later. So, I told them he wouldn't be getting an IV unless he actually needed one, and they could just find someone who KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING for the blood draw.

Charlie didn't get an IV, and they found the Vampire Nurse who got blood from his arm, no problem. :S

We ended up spending the night there (so, from 5am Tuesday to noon on Wednesday) but all of Charlie's cultures came back negative. It's been deemed a 'virus' (thanks, specific doctors!) and we're just to ride it out. We also got some of his g-tube healing issues worked out while there, and we also met the new cardiologist follow from Singapore who is LOVELY, and took the time to explain to us how Charlie's Ejection Fraction is measured. We really appreciated his candor and kindness, and the fact he didn't assume we were stupid.

We also found out while there that Charlie's BNP (a hormone variant that informs heart failure) is now in the NORMAL levels. Amazing. It's 72, which is great for someone who has been in heart failure before. When we were admitted last August it was 1100. :(

So, that's the news. I am ready for some major regular-ness. Eating, normal days, healing arms and elbows, and no more drama. Please.

No More Drama - Mary J. Blige

So tired

Tired of all this drama

You go your way

I go my way (no more no more no more)

I wanna be free

(singin)

Broken heart again

Another lesson learned

You better know your friends

Or else you will get burned

Gotta count on me

Cuz i can garuntee that i'll be fine

No more

No more pain (no more pain)

No more pain (no more pain)

No drama, no more in my life (no more drama in my life no ones gonna make me hurt again)

Why'd i play the fool

Go through ups n downs

Knowing all the time

You wouldn't be around

Or maybe i liked the stress

Cuz i was young n restless

But that was long ago

I don't wanna cry no more

No more pain (no more pain x2 )

No more game (no more games messin with my mind)

No drama (no more drama in my life no ones gonna make me hurt again, no more~)

No more tears (no more tears i'm tired of cryin every nite)

No more fears (no more fears i really don't wanna cry)

No drama (no more drama in my life i don't ever wanna hurt again)

Wanna speak ma mind wanna speak ma mind

Uhhhh it feels so good

When you let go

Of all the drama in your life

Now you're free from all the pain

Free from all the games

Free from all the stress

So find your happiness

I don't know

Only god knows where the story ends for me

But i know where the story begins

Its up to us to choose

Whether we win or lose

And i choose to win

Ohhhh...

No more pain (no more~, tired)

No more game (no more games i'm tired, i'm so tired)

No drama (no more x7)

Background Singers : (No More Drama) x4

MJB:NO More

I'm tired of all this drama

Go 'head go 'head

U demons getting out of my face

Go get out of my life

I'm about to lose my mind

NO.....

Help me help me sing

Choir : (NO MORE DRAMA) x6

MJB: No More Drama

No more, no more, uhh. Yeah~

No more, no more drama

Ohh help me sing

I need a (peace of mind x3)

Yeah i need

Hide but nicely i need to know that u r free

Oh nox2

No morex2

No more dramax2

In my in my... life.

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I feel better. (maybe not Matt, though)

 

In the interest of multitasking, I decided to write a blog entry while on the elliptical today. I am using Dragon dictation which is my new favorite app. Or so please forgive any minor grammar or spelling issues it may make.

Charlie has been doing well as of late. Matt and I had a rough day last weekend when we ended up taking Charlie to the emergency ward because he his right side looked slightly distended. He wasn't eating any solid, and he wasn't his normal cheerful self. We call the cardiologist on call, and she thought it was a good idea to bring him in. Long story short after some blood work, his white cellcount was slightly high, leaving them to believe he did indeed have an ear infection. Afters some anti biotics, we are basically back to normal.

So now, Charlie is eating pretty well and getting into everything. He is walking everywhere, and is very busy boy. He is eating almost 1000 cal per day which, from my calculations is about 150 more than what he was eating prior to the G-tube.

We went to the splash pad yesterday with our friend Grayson. Both boys had a great time. Charlie didn't know what to do with himself going through a tube with water spraying in all directions. There are some very cute pictures of yesterday.

The other big news in our lives is that Matt broke his arm last week playing baseball. Honestly I don't know what else could go wrong this summer but I don't want to ask that question,lest it get answered. He may have to go to surgery today, and definitely will this week. He broke his elbow so badly that they have to put in a metal plate to help with the healing. Matt is being pretty pouty about the whole thing, mostly I think, because he can't hold Charlie.

Now, our planned vacation later in the summer is in jeopardy. Honestly, though, I am just glad Matt is okay, and Charlie is doing well. Really at this point, it's all we can ask for.

I feel better - Gotye

There was a time I was down, down

I didn't know what to do

I was just stumbling around, around

Thinking things could not improve

I couldn't look on the bright side

Of anything at all

That's when you gave me a call

Now I feel better, better, better than before

I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more

And there were times I was sure, so sure

I couldn't turn it around

I couldn't care any more

About the good things I found

That's when you gave me a reason

To make me smile again

I only have to see you and then

I feel better, better, better than before

I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more

I feel better, better, better than before

I feel better, better, better, now I'm not down any more

Life sometimes seems to get the best of you

Like everything just brings you down

Just when you think there's nothing you can do

A friendly face will bring you around

And you'll feel better

You'll feel better, you'll feel better,

Better than before

You'll feel better, much better

 

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I need some sleep.

I know it's been a while since I posted. It's just that I've been so busy doing FUN things with Charlie (and some fun things for myself, too!). Life has improved dramatically of late.

So, the meat-and-potatoes first: the g-tube is working out well. I say 'well' and not 'beautifully' because it has yet to heal and that's frustrating, and there are always some growing pains with these kinds of things. It is much, much easier then the NG tube, though, and while we felt duped about the actual procedure itself (there were a lot of things no one told us), the real-life applications are incredible.

No longer do Charlie and I spend 4+ hours each and every day feeding through his tube. He now eats his formula overnight, and then just focuses on solids during the day. He is eating 1000+ calories on an average day, and 1100+ on a great one. We are calorie boosting everything with butter, but he is eating a good amount and our dietician is pleased with his progress so far. Once he was home, he really started to take off, eating and healing-wise. We've backtracked a little on the healing - the site has looked a bit gooey for the past few days - but it's looking better as of tonight and I'm hopeful for tomorrow.

Charlie started walking, and now is getting into everything. It is so. Much. Fun. And exhausting.

In other news: Charlie, my mum and I had a HUGE day today, and I am exhausted. Charlie is switching from one blood thinner (Enoxaparin) to another (Coumadin) so we had to go for a training/buying supplies/ informal nursing visit today. The only bad news is that the new drug makes his hurl if he takes it by mouth (it's super chalky). All of the good news: no more injections, one blood test every two weeks by the time we're level, it looks like our insurance company may cover the super expensive testing strips, and Charlie weighed in at 10kg.

Wait. What?

Do you like how I slipped that in there? Yes, after many months in the 9kg zone, Charlie is a porker at 22lbs or 10kg. Right on the button, too - 10.000. I was so pleased.

There's more but I'm too tired to write it. It boils down to I am enjoying Charlie's toddler phase and his new little personality, even if it is trying at times (my day: "Charlie, no. No. No. No. Mummy said no. No. No. NO! No. * sigh* No."). He is growing and changing and kissing everyone and enjoying life. It's wonderful. Goodnight.

I need some sleep - The Eels

I need some sleep
It can't go on like this
I tried counting sheep
But there's one I always miss
Everyone says I'm getting down too low
Everyone says you just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
I need some sleep
Time to put the old horse down
I'm in too deep
And the wheels keep spinning 'round
Everyone says I'm getting' down too low
Everyone says you just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go

 

Donate.

I know it's been a while. Suffice it to say that Charlie's g-tube makes us happier by the day, he is doing very well, and generally things are great. I went away this past weekend and saw some friends (sans Charlie) and am feeling recharged.

Cheating, I give you videos instead of writing:

Farm animals.

Giggles.

Walking.

Reasons to donate.

How to donate.

Enjoy.

Home.

We are finally, thankfully, restfully home. Our 48 - 72 hour recovery time turned into 6 days in the hospital - longer then our original stay when Charlie was diagnosed. He had setback after setback, albeit minor ones, and every day just dragged out to the eventual conclusion that meant another stay. It got very tedious by the end.

Tuesday was probably the easier, Charlie-wise. We got to the hospital early, as expected, and had a nice relaxing tea while we waited to be admitted. Then, we were taken to the step-down room in the cardiac ward, and from there it was vitals, transport, and by 11:00am we were in pre-op. we waited there for what seemed like FOREVER (they were having trouble locating the pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, so we were happy to wait for him!). They finally look him around noon. Charlie had already fallen asleep on his own, so they just out the sedative through his NG tube and away he went. We got some lunch and went to wait.

It really seemed like no time at all before they were coming to get us to see him! We only apart for about an hour and a half, but I thought the time would drag. I guess we had good distractions (iPad, crazy people in the waiting area).

So, he was still asleep when we saw him (which was awesome; I had been having dreams of him waking up, and not seeing us (well, me, really) and freaking out). He woke up slowly and was fine, initially. We were taken back up to cardiac (4D) and he spent the rest of the day sleeping, kind of waking up and crying because he was thirsty. I started (without nurses permission, but whatever) giving him wet facecloths to suck on. It was pretty sad.

On Wednesday, things turn a turn. Charlie started getting a fever and turning red and flushed. By the afternoon, his fever leaked at 103.5F (with tylenol) and he was waking up from his many naps shaking and screaming. It was really scary. We had a lot of nurse and doctor visits, but ultimately we had to just let it run it's course. His fever broke over night and he was getting better by Thursday. He also pulled out his NG tube that day, negating any dreams I had of having a 'no more NG tube!' party.

Sick. :(

From there, the next four days pretty much went like this each day: wake up, eat, sleep, wake up, eat, barf, sleep, wake up, have slightly less, play, sleep, eat, sleep. Notice: no poops, and barfs - neither of which were good things. His little system took forever to gear up. But on Monday, finally, he started pooping normally without...ahem...'assistance'...and keeping down most of his feeds.

Awaiting the poop fairly.

There is occasionally a real lack of common sense in the medical profession. For example: Charlie used to throw up all the time, and only stopped when we started cruising during feeds. Makes sense, right? We're dumping in formula to his tummy, and after a certain amount, if he's not using it, he's losing it. When he started cruising, he started using it. Well, at the hospital, he was sitting for entire feeds (because where are you going to cruise around in your hospital room?) and not moving much between feeds, either. Also, he's had less in 4 days then he would have had in ONE at home, AND he went 72 hours without a thing in his tummy. OF COURSE he is going to throw up for a while while his tummy recovers its previous size, and while he heals and recovers from the surgery itself. Duh!

So, when the doctor who didn't know Charlie said that because he threw up, we may need to stay one...more...night...I literally laughed. I would have just left without being discharged! After explaining the situation to him, though, and getting him to talk to our team, he 'was willing to let us go'. Geeeee, thanks. :S

We were so lucky in the hospital to have good friends and family visit and (more importantly), bring FOOD! We were at the hospital for 6 days and we only bought ONE dinner. Amazing. Thank you to everyone who visited, or sent food, or even just Facebooked or emailed with words of encouragement. That made it much easier.

Ready to go with our new bravery beads!

So, we are home. Charlie is willingly wearing his backpack and being pumped while cruising, and I'm thrilled he's not complaining about it. :) I'm ready to start trying new schedules, but I don't think Charlie is. Hopefully, once we've been back on the old schedule for a week, we'll get going on something new, and easier. Library classes at 11am, here we come! :)

Home - Michael Buble

Another summer day

Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me
Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Sweet Baby Charlie

That was a quick week. We are all packed up and Matt is slumbering away, getting ready for his 4am wake up time. He has volunteered to be the 'get one last feed in before the pre-op 6 hours time limit on food', which will be a 4am - 5am fees. Oh joy. Please, please, Charlie - don't wake up. Just sleep through that feed and wake up surprisingly full from your slumber.

Tomorrow we are off to Sick Kids, leaving ridiculously early in the morning. Charlie's surgery isn't until 11am, but we have to be there by 9am for settling in. The traffic recently has been atrocious, so we are leaving realllly early in order to get there, on time and stress-free. We'd rather be early and sit together and have a tea, then be late and running around.

Here is Charlie today:

Mischievous little monkey, eh?! He's crawling EVERYWHERE. It's awesome. I so enjoy him when he's just hanging out with me in the kitchen, or we are just playing together. He loves to chase me around upstairs on the carpet (better on the knees). His giggle is infectious.

So, tomorrow is what it is. We'll update Facebook at least once, post-op, and I'll update the blog later. Keep Charlie in your good thoughts tomorrow. He's such a sweetie.

Sweet Baby James - James Taylor

There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range. His horse and his cattle are his only companions.
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons, waiting for summer, his pastures to change.
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire, thinking about women and glasses of beer.
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire, he sings out a song which is soft but it's clear
as if maybe someone could hear...


Goodnight you moon light ladies, rock-a-bye sweet baby James.
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose, won't you let me go down in my dreams?
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James.


Now the first of December was covered with snow
and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
Though the Berkshires seemed dreamlike on account of that frosting,
with ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go.
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway,
a song that they sing when they take to the sea,
a song that they sing of their home in the sky, maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep,
but singing works just fine for me.

Good Vibrations

Charlie goes in for his surgery one week from today. One week from this moment, I will be watching him sleep at Sick Kids, recovering from his first surgery. Matt and I have struggled with this decision, as many of you know, with the Great Tube Takeout of 2012. I still wonder (and probably always will) whether this was really the right decision. He loves his solids and is doing so well...it's possible that he'd just figure out he needs to drink, but it's unlikely and so we're left with the other, best choice.

I'm actually not worried about the after-surgery stuff. I know we'll keep the site clean, we'll have him in his little 'gay' shirt to hold down his tube, we'll probably love the pump and the time it allows him to scurry around. What we are worried about is the surgery itself. The head of anesthesia (who was lovely - which, from my albeit limited experience, seems to be a rarity in anesthesiologists (thank you autocorrect)) reallllly put the fear of god in me in regards to Charlie being knocked out. He said that because the anesthesia affects the left side of the heart more, they'd have to more carefully monitor Charlie and make sure his heart could take it, and that he'd find a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist (and how long did THEY have to go to school for?!) to take care of him. I'm pretty sure that hour or three is going to be the longest wait of our lives.

Rock Star Baby: 'Could you keep it down? Last night was wild, man.'

So, in the meantime, we are kind of pretending nothing is happening next week. We're just hanging out - Charlie is really becoming a toddler and less of a baby every day - and enjoying the summer weather that is finally here. Partly, the living day-to-day is because we are getting our basement finished and it eats every waking thought that isn't about Charlie. when we get home from the hospital, we'll have an exercise space, a TV space, and a Charlie-dedicated reading and playing area space. Sooooo exciting.

For the next week, we are just enjoying the last of this schedule and looking forward to the next. Bring on the g-tube.

 

Good Vibrations - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

Yeah
can you feel it baby
I can too

Come on swing it (4x)
1 - 2 - 3 - now we come to the pay off

(Chorus:)
It's such a good vibration
It's such a sweet sensation (2x)

Yo it's about that time
to bring forth the rhythm and the rhyme
I'm a get mine so get yours
I wanna see sweat comin' out your pores
On the house tip is how I'm swinging this
strictly hip hop boy I ain't singing this
Bringing this to the entire nation
black, white, red, brown
feel the vibration

Come on come on
Feel it feel it
Feel the vibration

(Chorus)

Vibrations good like Sunkist
Many wanna know who done this
Marky Mark and I'm here to move you
Rhymes will groove you
And I'm here to prove to you
that we can party on the positive side
and pump positive vibes
so come along for the ride
Making you feel the rhythm is my occupation
so feel the vibration
Come on come on
Feel it feel it
Feel the vibration

(Chorus)

Donnie D break it down

Donnie D's on the back up
Drug free so put the crack up
No need for speed
I'm anti d-r-u-g-g-i-e my
body is healthy
And rhymes makes me wealthy
And the funky bunch helps me
to bring you a show with no intoxication
Come on feel the vibration

Yeah
Can you feel it baby
I can too

(Chorus)

Now the time has come for you to get up
The rest had you fed up but yo I won't let up
on the rhythm and rhyme thats designed to
make your behind move to what I'm inclined to
Pure hip hop no sell out
If you ain't in it to win it
then get the hell out
I command you to dance
I wanna see motivation
Come on now feel the vibration

It's such a good vibration
Come on come on come on
Its such a sweet sensation
Feel it feel it

 

Happy Mother's Day

Some of the reasons I was never having kids...

...and the reasons I'm glad I did.

Happy Mother's Day, whether you are a mother or are thinking of your own.

Adventures

The great thing about a really shitty week is that when things start to go well again, you really have to notice. My arm is better, dad is ok, Charlie is fine and my brother is recovering. Can't get much better then that.

The updates:

My arm is OK. It turns out I had ligament damage and some muscle strain, but with a little physio I'll be OK in time. It aches constantly, especially at night, and I wonder if that will ever go away. I'm sure it will, again, in time.

Dad is fine, a little sore, but fine. They 'got' all the cancer, so he's back to his old self.

My brother is recovering. He's in a lot of pain (3 brain surgeries in 4 weeks will do that to do) but other then that, he's recovering nicely. He's home (thanks goodness - he was starting to lose it in the hospital) and healing until the doting and watchful eye of my mother.

Charlie! Charlie is great. We tried a few 'tube-free' days last week to see if he would suddenly, start magically eating more and drinking, but to no avail. He couldn't keep much down (I think he eats too fast) and we were worried about him getting dehydrated, so back in the tube went.

We went from this:

To this:

Really, the experiment just let Matt and I know know two things: yes, Charlie really does need the g-tube and no, it is not forever. He clearly likes to eat, and just needs to learn how - how to know he is hungry or full, how to eat at a reasonable pace, etc. He's doing really well with textures these days (eating bit of cheese puffs, croissant, bread) but its just not enough. In time, though, he'll come around.

What an adventure this month was! May 29th, we'll start a new one.

The Adventure - Angels & Airwaves

I wanna have the same last dream again,


the one where I wake up and I'm alive.
Just as the four walls close me within,
my eyes are opened up with pure sunlight.
I'm the first to know,
my dearest friends,
even if your hope has burned with time,
anything that's dead shall be re-grown,
and your vicious pain, your warning sign,
you will be fine.
Hey, oh, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Any type of love - it will be shown,
like every single tree reach for the sky.
If you're gonna fall,
I'll let you know,
that I will pick you up
like you for I,
I felt this thing,
I can't replace.
Where everyone was working for this goal.
Where all the children left without a trace,
only to come back, as pure as gold,
To recite this all.
Hey, oh, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Tonight,
hey, oh, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
Tonight,
hey, oh, here I am,
and here we go, life's waiting to begin.
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
I cannot live, I can't breathe
unless you do this with me
Hey, oh, here I am (do this with me),
and here we go, life's waiting to begin (do this with me).
Hey, oh, here I am (do this with me).

Pictures

Helllooooo up there... (October, 2011)

Ooo. Who's that present for? (Christmas, 2011)

I will beat the pablum outta you! (January, 2012)

...but I'm the only gay in the village! (February, 2012) (and if you don't get that joke, go here. And laugh.)

Shark bait! Oo ha ha! (March, 2012)

Blue steel. Or, 'Ladies, this isn't the only kinda 'chick' I like. *eyebrow*' (April, 2012)

Goooood morning, sleepyheads! (May, 2012)

 

Pictures - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow

[Kid Rock]
Livin' my life in a slow hell
Different girl every night at the hotel
I ain't seen the sun shine in 3 damn days
Been fuelin' up on cocaine and whisky
Wish I had a good girl to miss me
Lord I wonder if I'll ever change my ways
I put your picture away
Sat down and cried today
I can't look at you while I'm lyin' next to her
I put your picture away, sat down and cried today
I can't look at you, while I'm lyin next to her
[Sherly Crow]
I called you last night in the hotel
Everyone knows but they wont tell
But their half hearted smiles tell me
Somethin' just ain't right
I been waitin' on you for a long time
Fuelin' up on heartaches and cheap wine
I ain't heard from you in 3 damn nights
I put your picture away
I wonder where you been
I can't look at you while I'm lyin' next to him
I put your picture away
I wonder where you been
I can't look at you while I'm lyin' next to him
I saw ya yesterday with an old friend
[Kid Rock]
It was the same ole same "how have you been"
[Both]
Since you been gone my worlds been dark & grey
[Kid Rock]
You reminded me of brighter days
[Sheryl Crow]
I hoped you were comin' home to stay
I was headed to church
[Kid Rock]
I was off to drink you away
[Both]
I thought about you for a long time
Can't seem to get you off my mind
I can't understand why we're living life this way
I found your picture today
I swear I'll change my ways
I just called to say I want you to come back home
I found your picture today
I swear I'll change my ways
I just called to say I want you to come back home
I just called to say, I love you come back home




 

The Rainbow Connection

Ug. Blogger made the switch. This is so much more difficult on the iPad now. *Update: bought Blogsy. Am a real blogger now. Much easier from iPad. :D*

Anyways...things have improved since the last post - most things, anyways. We'll begin with the negative...

My brothers surgery, although successful in relieving the pressure on his brain, did not produce the biopsy of the tumour they were hoping for. He spent a week in hospital before being discharged for the weekend, and checked back in last Monday. His neurosurgeon really wanted a sample of the tumour, so they scheduled James for another surgery this past week. The sample of the tumour was recovered, but because of the second surgery, the pressure on his brain increased again, and now they have to put in a shunt. You can read more about this procedure here, if you're interested. So, a third surgery is imminent and my poor brother is bored out of his tree, sitting in a too-small hospital bed for his 6' 4" frame (Mum and I are on that one, don't worry). We are all visiting as much as we can, but for the most part he is just laying, watching tv, staring at the ceiling, and waiting.

So that's the bad news. Not really bad news, as a shunt is a fairly permanent solution to his issue, and the biopsy results have not been returned yet. We are all waiting on pins and needles for those.

The good news:

1. Dad recovered from HIS surgery just fine.

2. Turns out my arm wasn't broken, just a severe sprain with some ligament damage. Because I had it in a sling for so long, it's healed a bit...short, so I can't extend my arm. It aches constantly, so I start physiotherapy this week.

3. Charlie got used to not having me pick him up, and all of the super-helpful guests we had through the house.

4. Charlie's doing great, walking, CRAWLING, and getting into everything.

5. We got a date for Charlie's g-tube. You can read more about g-tubes here, if you're so inclined. We make the Big Switch on May 29th. I still don't know if it's for the best, but it will hopefully be easier and hopefully not permanent. This makes May a very busy month, with meetings at Sick Kids, prepping us in different ways.

6. We are getting our basement finished. Hurray!

It's been an exhausting two weeks. It's not even over for my mum yet, who is driving down to see my brother almost every day. There is a small, growing light at the end of our Medical Week of Nightmares, though, and hopefully it's upon us by next week's entry.

The Rainbow Connection - Kermit the Frog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

One Week *Updated*

If I ever have a week worse then this one, I won't be doing this blog anymore. Honestly. I feel like I have become one of those whiny people - I work with a woman like this - where everything is wrong, all the time. Only this week, it's true! Forgive my whining and indulge me, will you?

Monday: my younger (27!) brother is diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Tuesday: my dad goes in for prostate cancer surgery.

Wendesday: I go visit my dad in hospital, and am told that my brother will be in a different hospital the next day for BRAIN SURGERY.

Thursday: Brain surgery day. More hospital. Jamie comes out of it fine, but they were unable to biopsy the tumour, so the future is hazy as to a plan. :(

Thursday late/ Friday early: Charlie, teething, is up from 2am - 4am. Matt stays up with him and then is too wired to go to sleep for an hour before we leave for the hospital. Matt functions almost all day on 4 hours of sleep.

Friday: trip to our hospital for an echo day with Charlie. We were excited about said echo because at last check, he was doing so well, remember? Well, it turns out that he really wasn't doing all THAT much better, and today's results were exactly the same. There were 'indications of possible progress' in January, but that progress didn't happen. He is still on a blood thinner, the coming-off which was the Great Hope.

Friday, also: our genetics FINALLY came back (a 'two to three month wait' that was 7 months long) and although there was only a 30% chance of finding a variant, they found one. Charlie has a unique variant on his V-something gene - but it's not a helpful gene, as in while they know that variations on that gene cause DCM, they can't predict any outcomes from it. So, useless. Matt and I gave our blood samples today, which means in 6 weeks we'll find out if we can have more kids, or if the chances are too high to risk it. It's 50/50 that either we passed it on to Charlie, or Charlie mutated that sucker all on his own. This is hitting me hard - there is a very good chance I won't be pregnant again. Sincerely, in that case, I took Charlie's pregnancy for granted.

ALSO Friday: Matt pukes on the way home from the hospital. Not. Kidding. He's been sleeping since 6pm. It's now 10, and I have made him a little 'apartment' in our room until he gets better. Honestly, though, if he has the flu, we all have it.

This is not, by the way, a cry for help. I am fine. We are fine. Really. This is where I vent. So don't go Facebooking me about how I'm doing or being me a casserole. Really, I'm FINE. :)

Have you had a worse week? I hope not. Tomorrow will be a better day? How could it be worse?!

**Update** Hilariously (or not), I fell and broke my arm the day after I wrote this. That's how it can be worse.

One week - Barenaked Ladies

It's been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side and said I'm angry
Five days since you laughed at me saying
Get that together come back and see me
Three days since the living room
I realized it's all my fault but couldn't tell you
Yesterday, you'd forgiven me
But it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hood wink
As I make you stop think
You'll think you're looking at aqua man
I summon fish to the dish although I like the Chalet Swiss
I like the Sushi 'cause it's never touched a frying pan
Hot like Wasabe when I bust rhymes
Big like Leann Rimes
Because I'm all about value
Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through
Gonna make a break and take a fake
I'd like a stinkin' achin' shake
I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavors
Gotta see the show 'cause then you'll know
The vertigo is gonna grow
'Cause it's so dangerous
You'll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad?
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Threw your arms in the air and said you're crazy
Five days since you tackled me
I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
It's been three days since the afternoon
You realized it's not my fault not a moment too soon
Yesterday, you'd forgiven me
And now I sit back and wait till you say you're sorry

Chickity China of the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin' X files with no lights on
We're dans la maison
I hope the smoking man's in this one
Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic
Like Sting I'm Tantric
Like snickers guaranteed to satisfy
Like Kurasawa I make mad films
Okay, I don't make films
But if I did they'd have a Samurai
Gonna get a set of better clubs
Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back swing
Gotta get in tune with sailor moon
'Cause the cartoon has got the boom Anime Babes
That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad?
Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Dropped your arms to your sides and said I'm sorry
Five days since I laughed at you and said
You just did just what I thought you were gonna do
Three days since the living room
We realized we're both to blame
But what could we do?
Yesterday, you just smiled at me
'Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry

It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
Birch mount stadium, home of the Robbie

This little light of mine

Charlie has had a (fairly) good week. He is teething, again, and so all perceptions of a schedule go out the window. Nighttime is especially bad. He refuses to go to bed until he is dog-tired, and even then it requires a big snuggle and lots is soft singing. Unlike certain other people, though (ahem, Matt) I don't mind it at all. It serves to remind me of what we could've been missing.

He is barfing less right now, which is nice - we changes his bottle amounts so that he has less in the morning, and that seems to be making some difference. I am really interested to know what his weight is next week...if my tired arms are any indication, he is still gaining like a champ.

Although he does require carrying some times, he really is motoring around now as long as he has something to hang onto. Theoretically, if we put his Dino in the right place, he can get from the living room to the back window of our house with no assistance. He is also getting bold - he'll let go of the end of a chair if we aren't there fast enough, not caring that he lands on his bum/arm/head/whatever. He cares once he lands, of course, but there isn't a lot of logic to the desicion making process right now.

In other exciting Charlie news, it looks like he is finally going to be baptized. I waver on a lot of my personal beliefs, but I wanted Charlie to a) believe in something bigger then his parents, b) know that if he died, he would go somewhere else, c) give religious holidays a deeper meaning, and d) have the community I did growing up through the church. I'm Anglican by birth, and Matt is R.C., but I have issues with both of those churches because of their stances on gay rights, female clergy, reproduction rights, etc. So, after some research, I decided on the United Church, where I happened to have called home for a few of my teenage years. I called, expecting a Spanish Inquisiion (which is what I got at our local Anglican and R.C. churches) and instead was received into a lovely community who, in one day, returned my call and wanted to know if it would be easier for them to come to us and bless Charlie in our backyard or home? I couldn't believe it. I am so pleased this ball is rolling. We still don't know what we are going to decide in terms of location, but it was nice to find out that there is at least one church out there that is truly being 'Christian'.

This little light of mine

This little light of mine/I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine/I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine/I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine

I'm so tired.

Who knew there was a song - a Beatles song, at that - that had the perfect title for how I'm feeling right now?

The day-to-day drudgery that is Charlie's schedule is getting to me today. I didn't even have anything else do to - its not like I wanted to go out and couldn't because of a barf or a nap. I'm just realizing, slowly, how long a battle this is going to be.

Charlie (and thus, I) spend 4 hours a day, minimum, 'on the drip' (his NG tube/ gravity set). We sit from 6-7am, 10-11am, 2-3pm and 6-7pm). Then, I sit, alone with my iPad, from 10-11:30pm, dripping in the final feed. This time does not include getting his solids into him three times per day, right before these structured feeding times. I have been doing this with Charlie since August. Every. Single. Day. I make an effort to get out of the house from 3-4:30pm, because we have to be home by 5pm for medication. I like structure and I know it's good for Charlie, but this is definitely too much of a good thing.

Lately, and I don't know if I'm getting sick or what, but I have just been so frustrated with...everything. I have a smidge of a sore throat and I'm finding it really difficult to wake up from my morning nap. I'm feeling run down and a bit sad again, and I don't know why. Charlie is progressing well, walking and moving around, and usually happy. I really think I am just tired. Soul-tired.

Today was not a great day. Charlie is recovering from his vaccines last week, and the MMR shot has affected both his mood and his ability to keep food down this week. Today, he threw up half of his morning feed, and then his solids at 2pm (fairly rare for him to throw up solids). Then, he would have kept down his 2pm bottle, but he decided a navy blue thread on the carpet looked delicious, and so in his mouth it went. Of course, this elicited a barf. I was so mad. The rest of the day was fine, but I really don't think Matt can understand how tired I actually am, all he time. I am hoping tomorrow is a better day.

It'll have to be a better day, because I get a night out! I am going out with my sister-in-law tomorrow night to see Gotye. If you haven't heard this song yet, give 'er a go. It's great. We get to have dinner out too! There is nothing I like better then dinner downtown at a brewery. :) I intend on imbibing a little. I am being driven home.

If we look at the positives today, it could have been worse. We switched out Charlie's tube, which becomes better every time. He did keep down more then he was before we altered his feeding amounts (rather then doing 5x175 mLs, we now do various amounts depending on the time of day - less in the morning, more at night). He was in an ok mood for most of the day. Super chatty.

That said, I honestly hope he's an asshole tomorrow night while I am out. It is so unfair that I get all the bad moods. ;)

I'm so tired - The Beatles

I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder, should I get up and fix myself a drink?
No no no

I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
I wonder, should I call you? But I know what you would do

You'd say I'm putting you on, but it's no joke
It's doing me harm, you know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain, you know it's three weeks
I'm going insane

You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get

You'd say I'm putting you on, but it's no joke
It's doing me harm, you know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain, you know it's three weeks
I'm going insane

You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
I'll give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
I'll give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind

Crazy & A Much Better Day

Two topics this evening: 1. "Am I out of luck? Perhaps I am just crazy." and 2. "A much better day". Let's begin, shall we?

1. Am I out of luck? Perhaps I am just crazy. Does anyone else think that they are 'lucky' in their day-to-day lives? I'm talking little, tiny things, like getting the dirty clothes IN the hamper when you throw them across the room, or the tea bag doesn't hit the floor when you accidentally fling it across your kitchen, or the paper jam in your printer is easily fixed. I have always considered myself one of those kinds of 'lucky' people. Just to be clear: I am aware that I am lucky to have a great family (two, really), a wonderful husband, an adorable child, a fantastic education and a career I find fulfilling. I'm not talking about those things. I am talking about the tiny, miniscle things that make up an ordinary day. Like winning a draw at a fundraiser. Or spellcheck getting your word right every time. Or, once you are a mum, not getting poop on your hands when you change a diaper.

I feel like these things suddenly stopped happening for me.

At first, I thought it was a shift in my perspective. Have a gone from a 'glass half full' to a 'glass half empty' person because of Charlie's diagnosis? I don't think so. So, I started paying more attention to those little things - its hard to not pay attention when you're suddenly making more messes and mistakes then before. I noticed that, yep, I was missing shots more often then I was getting them in, spilling things, getting poop on my hands, etc. WAY more often then before. Before what? Before Charlie? His diagnosis? Being pregnant? I can't be sure when it started, (or stopped, rather) but it seems that kind of luck has run out for me. I wonder if it's the lack of quality sleep I get, but then how would that affect winning things? Or my paper jam? No, I definitely think luck has turn it's back on me. So, the question becomes, why?

Here's what I am hoping: when Charlie was really sick and in the hospital, I divorced and made up with god (God?) several times. During one of the times we were on speaking terms, I offered to swap anything - pronounced EN-EE-THING - for Charlie to get better. I think my luck has been taken and given to Charlie. I think it's taking extra attention from whoever/whatever to make him well, and well he is getting.

So now you see where the crazy part comes in.

Anyways, that's thought #1 for today.

2. Today was a much better day. Since I last posted, Charlie has gotten over his terrible reaction to his vaccines. Whoa, that was brutal. Poor dear didn't know what to do with himself. You could tell he noticed feeling better when we woke up on Thursday - he opened one eye and cautiously stretched one arm over his head, and then the other, and then both eyes popped open and he gave me a HUGE smile. He has been in a pretty good mood since then, and then today, this happened. I could not believe it.

This child is, clearly, not going to crawl. Thank you, Nannie and Grandpa, and Fisher-Price. :)

Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

I remember when, I remember
I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space

And when you're out there without care
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly

And I hope that you are
Having the time of your life
But think twice
That's my only advice

Come on now, who do you
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control?

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart
To lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember
Is thinking, I want to be like them

Ever since I was little
Ever since I was little
It looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

But maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Probably

It's a good day - Peggy Lee

Yes, it's a good day for singing a song,
and it's a good day for moving alone; (ALONG)
Yes, it's a good day, how could anything go wrong,
A good day from morning' till night

Yes, it's a good day for shining your shoes,
and it's a good day for losing the blues;
Everything go gain and nothing' to lose, (TO GAIN)
`Cause it's a good day from morning' till night

I said to the Sun, " Good morning sun
Rise and shine today"
You know you've gotta get going
If you're gonna make a showin'
And you know you've got the right of way.

`Cause it's a good day for paying your bills;
And it's a good day for curing your ills,
So take a deep breath and throw away your pills;
`Cause it's a good day from morning' till night.

Bad day

Charlie had his one year immunizations yesterday, and he was amazingly good about them. With the first shot, he literally gritted his teeth and just looked at the nurse as though he was saying, 'you bitch.' I should have known something bad was around the corner - we don't seem to get off easy!

This morning Charlie was SUPER sleepy, which is rare but not unheard of. We've had a weird, busy couple of days, so ok, you're tired. As SOON as I picked him up, though, the shrieking began. And it didn't stop. All. Day.

His arms hurt - I get it. I remember once, I think I was 10, I had a booster and holy shit! did my arm hurt. I remember my mom telling me 'oh god, Kristina, it can't be that bad. And if it IS that bad, you'll have to move it before it'll get better! So stop complaining!'. If I could have said that to Charlie today, I would have. There is only so much 'oooo, you're ok, let's snuggle' one can say, people. I hit the limit today.

So, all day I had a whiny baby. Oh my goodness, the child whined about everything. Plus, he couldn't seem to make up his mind as to what he wanted to do! 'I wanna be on the floor! Whaaaaaa!' 'Gimme that toy! I said THAT TOY! Whaaaaaaa!' 'THAT TOY! Whaaaaa!'. It just went on and on. Matt couldn't believe it when he got home. This was not our child. Plus, he barfed a TON today - apparently, one of the side effects of the vaccinations can be nausea, but nausea for Charlie means barfs because he doesn't have anything stopping the barf from coming up! So, lots of clean up today. He even threw up his solids, at which point I (actually) threw in the towel and just snuggled him for the rest of the day.
I'm now wondering if tomorrow will be worse. I seem to remember my arm getting sorer and sorer until it just stopped being sore. Hm.
So, that was my day. How was yours?

Bad day - Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time

I'm shipping up to Boston

I feel sad every time I leave Sick Kids. I don't know why. I'm excited to go and sad to leave, and I think it should be the other way around. I wonder if it has to do with the fact I know we'll always come back, or if I feel a sense of protection there...I just always feel sad when leaving.

Our trip yesterday was excellent, even if it held some slightly disappointing news. We left home at 7am (well, 7:20 by the time I got my act together), and because it was a Friday and it was March Break we flew down to Toronto. We were in 4A, the clinic ward, by 8:20, awaiting Kristen. Charlie played shy when he first saw her but warmed up quickly - I think he's starting to know her and Judith. Judith stopped by the say hi, which was great (Charlie remembered she was the one who taught him to blow kisses, and blew a few her way for effect). He was weighed (9.205 kg) and measured (71.5cm) and the staff were very happy with his progress. We saw the g-tube people (for, like, over an hour!) and we got our surgery date: 'early JUNE'. Ug.

All-in-all, it was a fine day. We were disappointed that the surgery is so far away, but it's going to happen, and in the meantime we have some new tricks to up the calories in his solids (adding cream, and oils, to his solid foods). I still wish we could just take out the tube and see how it went for a week, but alas, apparently we can't. :(

Today was St. Patrick's Day, as well as a birthday party for Nannie! We had a very nice day with lots of members of the family, including Buddy, our favourite canine. Happy St. Paddy's everyone!

I'm shipping up to Boston - The Dropkick Murphy's

I'm a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
I climbed up the topsails
I lost my leg
I'm shipping up to boston
(whoa oh oh)
x3
I'm shipping off
To find my wooden leg
I'm a sailor peg
And I lost my leg
I climbed up the topsails
I lost my leg
I'm shipping up to boston
(whoa oh oh)
x3
I'm shipping off
To fing my wooden leg