In the Mommy Trenches

Valentine Bust

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:32:00 +0000

You would think that since I pretty much spent the weekend cutting out dozens of hearts so that my girls can make adorable Valentines for there friends that I'd be more aware of the fact that today is Valentine's Day.

I have to confess that I have absolutely diddly squat for my husband. Zip Nada Zilch Nothing. In fact, if I hadn't reminded Hubs about picking something up for the kiddo's last week, I wouldn't even have had the cheesy little heart shaped boxes filled with kinder egg surprises to give the kids.

It occurred to me at precisely 4:15 pm on February 14th while I was driving two of the kids home after dropping off E at her extra learning classes that I hadn't even thought about getting something for my darling husband. I briefly contemplated stopping somewhere on the way home to grab something only to dismiss the idea as I remembered that one child was sick with a racking cough and was wrapped up in her blankie and the other declined to wear a jacket and was equally snotty trying to get over a cold.

Add to that a trip to the emergency room on the weekend and the business year end to be struggled through where it seems that every opportunity I have to work on the bookkeeping immediately gets derailed by (a) a sick kid and/or (b) a school holiday and there you have it folks romance in a nutshell. Nonexistent.

Our oldest child was knocked down at church on Sunday and managed to hit the floor so hard that she went a little loopy for a while. We actually were concerned enough to take her to emergency and turns out she has a concussion. What a scare. While she seems fine now apart from the enormous bruise along her jawline, it can't help but concern us since this is the child that they are telling us may be brain damaged. It may be silly for us to worry, we're not medical doctors so have no idea if our fears are rational or not. We are supposed to keep her relatively quite for a few days and if I let myself stop to think... I can see myself getting absolutely paranoid that she's going to fall and hit her head again.

I keep thinking we were supposed to go away this weekend. If we had, it never would have happened.

So it's no wonder that I'm all Valentined out this year.

The Look

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:11:00 +0000

We needed to pop into Home Depot tonight to check out area rugs. We had found a really nice one online that was on sale and was hoping that they'd have it in store so we could actually see it in person. Of course, we had to do this errand with three kids in tow. Normally, I'd rather have a root canal than take three rambuctious kids into a store loaded with power tools and sharp pointy objects. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Naturally the kids are bored and choose to entertain themselves by giggling like crazy, running around and hiding in between all the display racks of the hanging area rugs. So they're being a little loud and a little crazy but they were entertaining themselves and hubs and I were actually able to look at the rugs. The kids weren't climbing on anything, hurting anybody or anything. Then I turned and saw this young couple staring at my kids and that's when I saw the look.

You know the look, the one that says... "Look at these kids, I can't believe their parents" and then the couple turns and share the look with each other and walk away.

I don't know why but it really bothered me. I went and grabbed my kids and decided it was time to leave. As we were walking away I asked hubs if he had seen the look that woman was giving our kids and he said "yeah" and added "they don't have kids".

Obviously, they don't have kids or they wouldn't have been so judgmental about mine. Realizing that didn't help though because you know it would be really nice if we could just go to the store without having to constantly get after our kids for acting up. Then we wouldn't get those looks and we'd be a lot less stressed shopping for what we need. The only store our kids truly love going to is Cost-co... for the samples. Yup. Free Food makes Cost-co just about the best store on the planet for our kids. If we say.. "hey kids, do you want to go to Cost-co?" They start to cheer. "yeah, the sample store" I actually don't eat the samples at Cost-co because I feel bad because we almost never buy what they sample.

In the end kids will be kids. Give them a bit of space and they will run, give them boring surroundings and they will make their own entertainment. Come to think of it, it would have been oodles of fun playing hide and seek inside those hanging rugs. It's too bad that couple couldn't appreciate the good, clean fun my kids were having and it's too bad I let it bother me.

So when's the last time you got the look?

Zeemaid

Minds out of the Gutter

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:56:00 +0000

Cause it's dirty.. heh heh

The conversation started innocently enough. Hubs had made chili the night before and ~~we were forcing~~ the kids were eagerly scarfing it up when I threw out the encouraging remark about how the chilis is good for you because you know ... it makes you poop. Cause you know when you want to get down to their level, you gotta mention body functions. Even hubs raised an eyebrow inquiringly. Well duh... cause of all the fibre. Beans = Fibre. So yes, it's healthy for you and makes everything work properly to which my daughter jumps into the conversation with..

"My teacher has a ginormous ball" Uh pardon?
"yeah", pipes up daughter #2, "and it's black" *snicker*

"Really so your teacher has a giant black ball?" Hubs and I make eye contact and snicker some more.

To which my eldest daughter tries to convince us that no, they are not joking, they are telling the truth.

That's nice sweetie, we believe you.

And we prove that both hubs and I have our minds in the gutter... completely.

Zeemaid

You Still Need Your Mom when You're 40

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0000

One of the truths that you realize as you get older is that no matter what you always need your mom. At least if you had a good relationship with her and even if you didn't, I think there's still a part of you that longs for your parents love, support and advice. I just hope I remember that bit of comfort when my own children grow up and leave the nest. That while not expressed, there's still that deep need of your parents.

So when we were dealing with the whole bad news from the psychologist, I naturally turned to my mom. Like you'd expect she listened, she sympathized and helped me try to puzzle the whole thing out. While there isn't a whole lot she can do it's nice being able to talk to someone about it. Because it feels like a big burden on my heart right now.

So it shouldn't have surprised but it did when I received a call from her mid week asking what our plans were for the weekend. Turns out she wanted us to come up for the weekend. Now my parents live about an hour's drive away so we generally make the drive once a week. Only this time she offered to put us up at a hotel so we could stay the weekend and have a bit of a break. At first I'm thinking how's that a break. It's us and the kids and a hotel. But then I realized, no housework, no preparing meals etc for the whole weekend. Add to that we'd be on their property which is a veritable playground of exploration for my children with their aunt, uncle, cousins and grandparents all to shoulder some of the burden of entertaining them.

While a stay in a hotel with two kids (the third stayed at Nana's) is not my idea of a good time, the kids were excited to go and explore a different room, watch a movie and snuggle in bed. In fact, I even managed to get a stellar sleep because in trying to get the kids to settle down and sleep, I fell asleep at 9:00 pm. Earliest bed time, I've had in ages.

So I guess moms really do know best even what their 40 year old daughters need. I just hope I can be that insightful with my own kids.

Zeemaid

Can you catch a cold over the internet?

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:32:00 +0000

Serves me right. I'd been just a tad smug lately. You know, because my family managed to make it through the holidays etc without succumbing to the flu. It seemed like everyone around me in person or on blogs was coughing or sneezing or throwing up but my family's been just fine thank you very much.

Until Saturday. What do you do with a 4 year old little boy who won't nap and feels fairly fine all day long as long as we have plenty of tissues and Advil but wakes up repeatedly throughout the night asking for medicine? A little boy who should be kept quiet because his racking chest cough gets pretty scary if he doesn't.

Add to that I'm supposed to be working at our store, I had an entire month of bookkeeping to do on a sleep deprived brain and a multitude of laundry because of puke boy and a pee girl. Sigh.

Now I have to beg my MIL to babysit a sick kid because we have no one to work the store tomorrow and as i sit here feeling tired and nauseous... I wonder if it's because of puke boy or possibly because a diabetic woman without a gall bladder has no business eating fish and chips for dinner.

I need some tea.

Zeemaid

If…. You are a Better Mom Than Me

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:43:00 +0000

If you proudly wear your child’s painted macaroni necklace for longer than five minutes… you’re a better mom than me.

If you happily wipe your four year old’s bum when he poos to make sure he doesn’t leave any “track”s… you’re a better mom than me.

If you cherish and store each and every art work created by your little darlings, never tossing even the barest and strangest of scribbles… you’re a better mom than me.

If your child has a bath/shower more frequently than ~~once a week~~ every other day… you’re a better mom than me.

If you enjoy chauffeuring kids to after school activities… you’re a better mom than me.

If one of your children wants to add in another after school activity and you say no problem… you’re a better mom than me.

If you remember a head of time to pack the appropriate snacks for those after school drives… you’re definitely a better mom than me.

If your child has their own small pet like a hamster or a mouse, snack or lizard or anything in the reptile family…. you are a better mom than me.

If your house is tidy, homework’s done and dinner is on the table by the time your husband walks through the door… you are a better mom than me.

If you laugh at all 100 and 99 of your child’s original knock knock jokes.. “Knock, knock, who’s there? Banana, Banana Who? Cause it’s an orange.”.. you’re a better mom than me.

Want to play along? Just leave your “you’re a better mom than me” quote in the comments.

Zeemaid

I feel Angry

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

This is a hard post to write and yet I need to get it out because I know there are many of you out there who have been in the same place as me and can perhaps emphasize with our situation.

You see, my beautiful daughter, of whom I had just been boasting about last week, may be brain damaged. At least that's what the psychologist has told us. In fact, there isn't really any "may" about it. She will be referring us to the Child Development Centre where we'll get a "team" to work with her. In fact, she won't be surprised to find that E falls on the Autism spectrum.

Are you kidding me? We go from a few learning difficulties to brain damage and possibly autism. I am told to prepare myself for the fact that E might not leave the home until later in life and that she may never learn to do those things that she can't currently do now. Again, are you freaking kidding me? At worst, I thought she had Central Auditory Processing Disorder. I've always thought she didn't hear things quite right but right from the get go all initial assessments dismissed autism. No, she's just quirky they said. Now I'm told that as she's my first born I've just gotten used to her and consider this to be normal. Now I'm told to watch Temple Grandin because thanks to her we know so much more about animal behaviour. That's supposed to make me feel better? How about a little time to adjust first before you start throwing out successful autistic people at me to make me feel better.

Right now I'm either racking my brain trying to figure out if I had done something to cause this to happen or grieving because I know how hard it's going to be for my child to walk this path. Add to the fact that I know she is getting tired of all the extra tutoring and just know how hard it's going to be to have to take her to a whole bunch more appointments.

Her last tutoring lesson didn't go well. Apparently she told her teacher she wanted to die. Now I am pretty certain she didn't mean it and was just trying to express her frustration at not being able to have play time. She doesn't see all the time she does get to play just when she doesn't get to play. This was on the same day when we got the news from the psychologist so as you can imagine I was pretty much an emotional basket case.

The worst is that I continue to run over all the times I've been impatient or angry with E when it was most likely not that she won't do something but that she can't do it and here I've been berating her. Can you imagine how bad we feel?

Sure it could be worse and there are dozen of situations or conditions that would be much more difficult to live with. It doesn't take away from the fact that we need to have time to come to acceptance of the situation and when we do, we will be able to put off the tears and take up the cause that is our child.

When I read about how people say it was a relief to get a diagnosis, I can't relate to that. I can honestly say I don't feel relieved.

I feel angry

*Please, if anything I've said in this post offends you do not flame me. I'm being real here and am expressing my feelings. Good or bad it's how I feel at the moment as I work through this new curve that life has thrown us. Through it all she's my child and I love her dearly no matter what.*

I’m Proud of My Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:51:00 +0000

I’m really proud of my girl.

She has had a tough go of it ever since we had her assessed last summer and learned just how far behind she was in school. A fact which was only made more glaringly aware once she started at her new school. To say that our girl had thrown her teachers for a complete loop is a mild understatement. From venting her extreme frustrating with change by getting in their face and yelling to downright tears and shut downs.

Once we had a firm diagnosis of ADD and began a low dose of medication we saw big changes in her. While she still gets frustrated and teary when she’s tired, she has become much more easier to manage. Even the school has noticed a big improvement. Finally Emma can focus on learning. While I don’t necessarily agree that Emma completely falls into the ADD category, I do think she may be on the low end of the scale.

Still, life hasn’t been easy. What with starting at a new school, taking extra classes 3 times a week after school, attending learning support in school she’s been made to realize rather forcibly just how far she is behind her peers. Add to that the fact everyone is throwing around the term “learning disability” and she pretty much feels like a freak no matter how much we tell her it’s normal and everyone learns different.

While I hurt for my baby and ache for the tough time she is going through, I can appreciate that she is learning some really good life lessons here. After all, I don’t ever remember being in a situation where my mom has had to say to me “sweetie, this is just the way it’s going to be and there is no point in whining about it”. Thank goodness she got it because really the last four months would have been hell if I had to have listened to her whine about going to tutoring after school 3 days a week.

With a lot of effort and hard work my girl has managed to go from reading at practically a kindergarden level to almost reading at her grade three level. In fact, I think she’s reading even better than her own teachers realize. By the time Christmas break had arrived my poor girl had had about enough schooling. Give her two weeks Christmas break though and she’s back to her normal cheerful self and reading up a storm.

I’m so proud of her. She has accomplished so much this year. She still has a tough road because let’s face it, learning disabilities don’t disappear overnight and while the reading is coming along beautifully the writing isn’t.

She will get it though because even though there are days that she feels like giving up, that it’s all just too much and that she can’t do it… underneath it all she is determined that she will get it, that she will do it.

Enough to make a mama’s heart swell with pride.

That’s my girl!

Is it Really My Job?

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:31:00 +0000

So you know you are tired when you're ready to lose it over a couple of missing school library books. I end up lecturing and nagging and going on and on to the point that I frustrate myself even more because they don't care.

So I question, is it really my job to keep track of their stuff? I wouldn't have thought so after all I'm supposed to be teaching them how to become self-reliant and independent little beings. Teach them? HAH that's a laugh. I can organize, show them and "take time for training" till I'm blue in the face and they'll smile at me and the next thing I know they've left the washroom without flushing or washing their hands, they promptly drop their clothes beside their laundry baskets, ignore the napkins I've placed in front of them and wipe their faces across the back of their school uniform sleeves. Ohhhhhh the list goes on.

So no wonder I begin to feel just a bit like a failure of a mother. Especially when well meaning people (scream in-laws) make me feel like it's me cause I don't clean or organize. Because, of course, they don't see it when it's all neat and tidy (after I've had to stand over them and finally pitch in myself) oh no, they just see it after the bomb has gone off and let's face it with three rambunctious kids the bomb goes off often at my house.

It's no great wonder that I'm ready to lose it today since I've been only asking J to find her library books since the last school library day last week. But you know she's too busy to do anything like that and unless I stand over her and push her into looking, it doesn't get done. So who ends up looking, I do. Then I go to the next child, where are your library books... "I don't know" to well the "computer says I have books out but I know I returned it". Sure you did, the books you took out over Christmas vacation magically got returned to the school when?

The problem is we can designate a library book spot but no one seems to follow it, not even their dad. Books get dropped wherever they happened to be read and rarely even make it back to the bookshelf until we do a big clean up or I get tired of the sloppy mess of a bookshelf and clean it up myself. The kids like to play with the books and drag them all over no matter how many times I ask them not to because you know nothing holds a fort together so well as a couple of good heavy books and playing library or bookstore without books is just plain old silly and why would we use a bookshelf to store the books when they look so much nicer on the floor.

Of course, I'm just griping about their library books. I haven't even mentioned their homework, backpacks, lunch kits, school supplies, mittens, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, shoes, boots, hair do dads, water bottles, crafts, etc. Never mind the drama that occurs if I don't know where something is. I will literally be greeted with tears and frustration if I can't tell them where they happened to sit their toy down on coming into the house. WTH! I know that I'm supposed to have eyes in the back of my head but really I draw the line at psychic abilities.

So what say you? Do you feel like you have to be their personal assistant or are you trying to train your little beings to be self-reliant? Are you making any headway or like me are you just one step away from banging your head on the wall?

Zeemaid

Things That Make Me Angry

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:16:00 +0000

1. People that have no clue how a four way stop works. Yes mam, you were first so you shouldn't be waving for me to go then looking at me like I'm the retarded one.

2. Go to load the breakfast dishes only to find hubby did a 3/4 load the night before. Damn it, I could have squeezed in the breakfast dishes. Now I have to empty the dishwasher before I can clean up from breakfast and get on to the rest of my day.

3. When I find out two out of my three kids have peed the bed on the same morning. Add to that the fact that one kid peed the day before but didn't tell us so we didn't find out until bedtime so i have three sets of bedding to wash on the day that we're volunteering at a bottle drive.

4. People who make snarky side comments about how "expensive" video stores are but not actually to you but to their friend so you can't respond. Um hello prices haven't gone up in over 10 years in the industry. We're still making the same 5.00 bucks a vid as we were doing in the 90s and yet, inflation has gone up, minimum wage keeps going up along with our lease, hydro etc and these people bitch about $5.00 and walk out if we don't give them the same special deal we offered two years ago.

5. Rude people. There's no need to be rude, especially to people in the service industry. The job is tough enough serving the public and they are human too, cut them some slack. A smile goes a long way.

6. On the other hand, I hate it when I'm being served by two teens or young adults who think it's appropriate to carry on conversations about how much they had to drink or how drunk they were at the party last night while they scan my groceries and bag them. My kid doesn't need to hear what your boyfriend thinks about your new tattoo. Seriously.

7. Finding dirty socks everywhere but the laundry basket. Better yet with toys in the toes.

8. Asking your child to put socks on only to have them come back to you saying they don’t have any socks in their drawer because you didn’t do the laundry.

Those are a few things that make me angry. What makes you angry?

Zeemaid

A New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:30:00 +0000

Well we have officially reached that point where I am more than ready for my Christmas decorations to go away. While I love my decorations and am absolutely delighted to see it come out of their boxes and be distributed throughout my house, I find that four weeks of delight is enough. Put the ~~crap~~ er heirlooms away until next year when I’ll be happy to see them again.

Things have been just a little too hectic around here for me to actually stop and contemplate the transition from 2011 to 2012. Frankly, it was a quick toast at midnight, hugs all around, a kiss for hubs and then I couldn’t wait for the family to get out. Seriously. I had the kitchen lights off and was literally clicking off the Christmas Tree lights while shooing my inlaws out the door. I did for decency sake wait until they started their car before I flicked off the outside lights but barely. I don’t know why but having the family over this year really got on my nerves.

A Year in Review

When I look back at 2011, it’s hard not to focus on the negative so I am going to sit here and try to come up with positives.

We are all healthy.
E got to learn a dance routine and perform on a real stage in a real theatre.. finally.
While we didn’t get to Disneyland or Alberta, we did manage to get in two camping trips which were a lot of fun.
All three of my children learned to ride their bikes without training wheels.
I got a great new haircut.
We had a great summer playing in the pool
We won two gift certificate to really nice restaurants in our area
We joined a new Church, which we are really enjoying;
I learned how to throw my first pot and discovered a new passion
The girls started a new school in September which has been amazingly supportive.
I started selling on Amazon which gives me some spending money.
I lost 20 pounds (So I gained a few back, I still lost 20)

As for what we’d like to to in 2012 well the list is rather long

Go to Disneyland
Go up the mountain and take the kids tobaggoning
Paint our house
Do some necessary renovations on our house
Possibly sell and buy a new home
Get our business in a better financial position
Improve our own finances
Love our kids more
Play more with our kids
Yell less
Lose weight
Improve our physical fitness, I d’ like to get on my treadmill on a regular basis and do some yoga and pilates to help our backs.
Get our kids to either eat more iron rich foods or take a multivitamin consistently.
I’d like to finish one of my stories and submit it for publishing.
Write more., Blog More, read more blogs
Knit more, crochet more, craft more
Find more time for myself
Watch less t.v. doing nothing.

What are your New Years Resolutions?

Having a Good christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 23:13:00 +0000

What’s the secret to having a successful and happy Christmas?

Well, it certainly isn’t the presents, the decorations or even the turkey dinner.

It seems silly but it was the message in a Christmas movie that the children were watching that actually got my attention.

“Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to have a perfect Christmas.”

Trust me, we’ve had our share of less than perfect Christmases over the past few years from financial woes, bickering, fighting depression to downright unrealistic expectations of ourselves and our children.

This Christmas wouldn’t have fared any different. I started off December with plans to host both a birthday party and a cookie decorating party which meant I had to have the house cleaned and the decorations up in record time, I had to bake several dozen sugar cookies for decorating and figure out when I was going to make my signature chocolate truffles. Throw in a tonsilectomy, a 40th Surprise Birthday Party, after school activities and a new extended work hours and Christmas shopping in there somewhere and well … I’m sure you’ve been there and understand what I mean. It seemed like every time I turned around I would remember someone else who I needed to buy a gift for.

So how did I get through it? Well, a supportive husband helps but most of all it took checking my expectations at the door. Laying off some of the pressure on myself and on the kids. So what if some things didn’t get done. So what if a pillow has hit the Christmas tree for the umpteenth time and the ornaments keep falling off and the garland looks atrocious. The kids love it anyway. That’s why we don’t put glass ornaments on the tree anymore. Oh well that the cats keep messing up the tree skirt. If it’s not the cats it’s the kids anyways.

So I didn’t get all of my chocolates done but I got enough to give to my family as gifts and the rest are in the fridge waiting. I did get sugar cookies baked for the party but no other Christmas baking. Who cares. My mother does enough for both of us and I don’t need the extra calories anyways. The kids still got to decorate cookies and that’s all they care about.

So we had to wait until the last weekend before Christmas to do all our shopping. We still managed to find everything we wanted and got the kids some really cool presents and we supported the local economy by not buying online.

My biggest tip for success is to keep the kids busy instead of expecting them to entertain themselves. They are all hepped up on excitement for the big day. Of course they are going to be a little crazy. Staggering out the activities over several days really helped.

Taking more than one drive around the neighbourhoods looking at lights. It didn’t have to be all on one night. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie and we’re good to go almost any night after dinner.

AND.. we stayed home. This year we visited with my folks on Christmas eve day and then stayed home on Christmas Day and did our own dinner with his parents that afternoon. I really thought I’d miss being with my family but it was just so nice not to have to rush out anywhere. It was a lot of work putting the dinner together but again, instead of fussing too much I opted for simple prep vegetables instead of getting all fancy. Turkey tasted amazing and the rest of the meal was familiar to my picky eaters.

I’m not saying I breezed through it all without a care. I had my moments of shame but mostly when it began to become overwhelming again, I’d just tell myself.. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It’s so true.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

From my home to yours,

Zeemaid

Keeping the kids busy

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:53:00 +0000

So what do you do with the kids when the countdown to Christmas is on and the kids are jittery and hyper from being too much inside and when you think you might just go crazy if you hear one more. “MOOOOMMMMMYYYY (insert name) is hitting/touching/bugging/looking at me”?

Why,you keep them busy.

First you ….

String Popcorn

Bake Sugar Cookies for Santa

Make a Gingerbread House

and then you clean, clean, clean and then clean some more.

I have to say it has worked well for me this week and more than once I’ve been thankful that we didn’t get to these projects earlier. As soon as the rowdiness or fighting starts up, I whipped out another activity. Of course, it’s the 24th and now I am all out of fun stuff to do (worn out is more like it) but we’re heading off to my parents today so I’ll leave it up to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to entertain them.

What Christmas projects has your family been working on?

My Own Domain

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

I finally did it. I broke down and bought my own Domain. You can now point your mouse to http://www.zeemaid.com. Of course, my blog is still hosted on Blogger and all the old links still work but I'm really excited to have my own little parking spot in the big old internet universe.

I have been thinking for awhile now of changing my blog title to just Zeemaid especially since there is another blog out there already with a very similar title as mine (she's been blogging much longer than me). I've always felt a bit like a plagiarist about it even though I didn't consciously steal the title idea. I think most of you probably know me more as Zeemaid but I'm just not sure.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Chipwrecked

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:30:00 +0000

I can't believe we're taking the family to see another Alvin & the Chipmunks movie. But everyone has been saying how great it is and it's rated G and Arthur's Christmas is no longer playing. The downside of living in a smaller community.

Still it's hard to keep the kids entertained over Christmas especially since J's recent surgery means anything more strenuous is out. I'll let you know how it turns out.

What do you do to keep your kids entertained this close to Christmas? Because I have to tell you it's almost like an episode from Kids Gone Wild in my house.

My Girl’s a Trooper

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:50:00 +0000

You are never quite prepared to let your child go especially when it comes to trusting relative strangers to care for her. Especially when every tragic story relating to children and hospitals are running through your head. Especially when your baby girl picks daddy to go with her down the operating room to hold her hand while she goes to sleep. I have to admit that hurt just a teeny weeny bit.

So when the waiting was done and they called us to go to the recovery room, there was no way I was letting Dad take over on this one. Thank goodness they let us both go in because I really needed his strong, yet silent support as I had to calm down my extremely agitated child. It’s not so much as what he did as just by being there he helped me be stronger because I knew that I couldn’t show how much I was affected to my agitated child. It may sound odd of me to say but it fills me with a sort of motherly pride to know that instinctively I knew how to reach her and by stroking her hair and doing a quiet shushing sound like I did when she was a baby worked.

Still it was difficult to watch her be in discomfort and was with relief that the morphine kicked in (although it’s somewhat scary to think of morphine being given to a child) and she was able to sleep. Still it wasn’t for another 6 1/2 hours that we were allowed to take her home. A very long night of urging sips of ice water on her and watching her doze. I’m not generally an inactive person and I have to admit it was hard just to sit there and be quiet and yet it was so peaceful watching her.

Too it was funny watching her alternate between the worst day ever and how much she hates this place to being a not so awful day because she got a stuffed bear from the Hospital and then Westjet had come by with toys for kids and even though she was in surgery her thoughtful nurse saved a toy for her. You should have seen her face light up when the nurse asked her if she liked Little Pet Shop. Boy does she ever and now she has a LPS Hotel just like her big sister. Then the drugs wore off and it was back to “I want to go home”.

My highlight was when I was telling her about how wonderful it was to have the surgery done because she was going to be able to smell things again and she told me “I can smell already” and gave a little sniff. Hooray!

Still through it all she tried her best to keep taking sips of water even when she threw it all up later. Even when she didn’t want to swallow I was still able to coas her into taking her medicine. Her tongue is swollen which I wasn’t expecting and so she talks a little funny but it is the most adorable sound in the world.

Now she’s back to looking pretty tired and I feel bad because I’m going to have to lay down the law and make her nap. It’s bad enough being the bad guy making her take the awful medicine. Still she’s so much better today and I’m thankful that we are through it and look forward to seeing her grow healthier day by day!

That’s my baby J!

Holidays with Hallmark

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:49:00 +0000

I have had such a wonderful time this past year exploring all the great Hallmark products. I have to admit that when I first signed on with this review opportunity with Hallmark that it was this particular holiday that I had been looking forward to the most. (Although Halloween did move up to a close second with all the great spooky stuff Hallmark had to offer.)

Of course, I just love decorating at Christmas and Hallmark has so many really neat items that it’s hard to just pick one. So here’s what I’ve been playing with recently.

Rockin’Talkin Hat Elf or Santa
Value Priced: $19.95
MRSP: $24.95
`The Rockin‘ Talkin‘ Elf‘ and Santa hats ―dance‖ to music like Jingle Bells and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Guaranteed to crack you up! The top of the hat actually moves and dances along to music. Lots of fun!

Merry-Okee
Value Priced: $14.95
MSRP: $14.95
Ever wanted to know how you’d sound like an Elf? Well this microphone changes your voice so you sound like one (or a chipmunk). It has six pre-recorded holiday songs to sing along to and comes with a book of original lyrics plus silly versions too! This was a lot of fun and a big hit with my kids. I even used it to start an Elf-Oke sing off at my daughter’s birthday party in an attempt to get the kids to calm down. (It didn’t work to calm them down but they had fun).

Jingle the Husky Pup Interactive Storybook and Story Buddy
Value Priced: $29.95
MSRP: $39.95

This is a Hallmark favourite, and winner of 2 Dr. Toy Awards, ―Jingle the Husky Pup” is ready to bark, whimper and even sing when he hears the magic words. Now available with DVD and mobile app
for downloading on iTunes.

This is truly one of those magical toys for the kids. My three just love to listen to me read the story book and watch Jingle respond to the magic key words. Lots of fun!

Make-A-Wish ® Recordable Bear
MSRP: $24.95

A feel good gift for the holidays, this bear will record a message or wish to send to someone special. A
portion of the proceeds will support Make-A-Wish® Canada, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill children.

My six year old was instantly drawn to this bear. He or she is unbelievable cuddly and soft and literally warms your heart. When my daughter learned that we could record a message in the start, she asked me to record “I love you bubba J”. Doesn’t that just melt your heart? My daughter will be undergoing surgery this week and this is one bear that will be going along with us to the hospital. When I can’t be there by her side, she will have her bear to remind her that I love her. Best of all every sale sees a portion donated to the Make-A Wish Canada foundation.

Wayne Gretsky Ornament and Don Cherry Bobble-Head
MSRP: $ 24.99

A great gift for true Canadian hockey fans, The Great One will surely find a prime spot on the Christmas tree -alongside Grapes on the mantle – this year and
for years to come!

Of course Hallmark has so much more to offer like the Prep and Landing collection (if you haven’t seen this Elf animated film, you and your children will love it) and of course, gorgeous cards like their cut-out Snowflake Christmas cards.

Be sure to check out Hallmark.ca for more great gift or decorating ideas!

It's Happening too Fast!

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:25:00 +0000

My just turned 6 year old daughter is scheduled for surgery next Monday to have her tonsils and adenoids removed. I knew it was coming, we've been on a wait list for over six months. It's just when we finally got the call, I didn't expect it to be happening quite so quickly.

I rashly agreed to the date thinking that, of course, we're available we've been waiting six months for this appointment. Only afterwards I realized

she is going to miss the last week of school before Christmas vacation
which means she is going to miss singing in her Christmas concert
which means I now have to look after her when I'm supposed to be working with hubs
which means we can't schedule any vigorous activity for 1 - 2 weeks afterwards
which means going up the mountain and tobogganing is out.

You see where I am going with this?

Of course the benefits are going to be huge. The circles under her eyes are going to disappear because she will finally be getting a good night's sleep, she is going to start gaining weight finally and just be all around so much healthier once it's done.

However, I wouldn't be a mom if I wasn't just a teensy bit worried about my baby going under the knife. Okay let's say a whole lotta worried. I know, I know, it's just her tonsils (and adenoids). I mean hasn't almost all adults my age had theirs removed? Yet, I can't help think of how sometimes complications arise and of others who lost their children during so called "routine" surgery.

Still if it wasn't for the fact that her overall health and development is going to be improved by this surgery we wouldn't bother. Nowadays we're a whole lot more cautious before rushing to put ourselves through the dangers of surgery. It's funny how 30 years ago we didn't recall surgery as being dangerous. At least I didn't, I was only ten and younger than that when I had my tonsils out and it seemed like they recommended the surgery at the drop of a hat.

Whereas now our family doctor is reluctant to send our oldest daughter for an x-ray at 8 years old because while yes it does appear she's missing a bone in her spine, if it isn't bothering her why expose her to radiation needlessly just to see.

Have you had to face surgery with your child? How did you cope?

Crayola - Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Okay, so if you haven't already checked out my great Crayola Products Review, check it out here and then come back and enter the giveaway for the Crayola Fragant Bud Vase.

TO ENTER:

1. MANDATORY: check out my most recent Crayola Product review at the above link then come back here and leave a comment about which product you liked the most or any that you've tried etc.

2. Extra entry: Follow In the Mommy Trenches on GFC

3. Extra entry: "like" In the Mommy Trenches on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/zeemaid

4. Extra entry: Follow In the Mommy Trenches on Twitter http://twitter.com/zeemaid

Contest Closes: December 16, 2011. Open to Canadians only!

Need Gift Ideas? Check Out Crayola!

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000

If you are anything like me, you’re having a hard time figuring out what to buy your children for Christmas. After all, aren’t their rooms stuffed chock full of ~~junk~~ toys already?

Not only do they want practically everything they see but then we also feel like we should buy it for them. Why, I don’t know. So for the past two years, I’ve been trying to find more balance. Buy less toys thereby teaching them less is more and also throwing in practical gifts like new quilts for their beds. Things they will actually use.

Which is why I love Crayola! I have been so fortunate in participating in Crayola product reviews this past year. It has been a great reminder of just how amazing their products are and how Crayola goes way beyond crayons and markers.

Four products that I have recently had the opportunity to review are:

Pop Art Pixies fab snaps jewelry Ages 8+ $9.99

This is a great creative product for older girls. My eight year old daughter loved this. She made her own customizable bracelets and necklaces that simply snapped together. Get bored with that design? No problem! It’s a snap, and I do mean that literally, to redesign a new creation. Which means that this is not just a one-time use kind of product. It comes with 32 fab snap patches, 6 snaps, 2 necklace cords, 3 bracelet bands and 5 multi attachments. What I liked about this product was that it gave my daughter an opportunity to make something pretty that didn’t involve gobs of glue or dragging out the sewing machine. I basically handed her the box and she was off.. creatively speaking.

Model Magic Fragrant Bud Vase Ages 5+ $8.49

I’ve actually tested the Model Magic Presto Dots before and I do mean, tested because this is a product that even grown ups can’t help but try out. What I like about the Presto Dots is that there is so much you can do with it. It’s almost like using modeling clay but without the mess. The scented model magic; however, is new. It’s a nice touch which makes the flowers smell almost like real roses. A big hit for my six year old.

Dry Erase Fun & Learning Firehouse Pre k –k $6.99

Okay, I wasn’t a big fan of the dry erase crayons because the last time I used them I ended up with a big mess, but I love LOVE this item. This is so great for my 4 year old son. With two older children having to do homework every night, it’s been a struggle finding something that O can do because he wants to have home work too. The pages are bright and colourful and full of great activities from tracing letters to connecting the dots. Best of all, when he’s done he simply takes the mitt included in the Dry-Erase crayon package and wipes it all off. I just make sure that I’m there to clean up the crayon bits that get erased so that it doesn’t end up on the floor. Sometimes, I just let him do his thing and do the “erasing” myself. I’m sure you could use dry erase markers with this book if you prefer; however, considering my son is a scribbler I’d rather stick with the crayons myself, felts having been banned until he turns 21.

Be sure to check out Crayola.ca for more gift giving suggestions.

*Disclosure note: I received the above products to try out. The opinions and experiences herein are my own as always!*

I'ts Beginning to Look a Lot like....

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Okay, okay. I'm a little early in dragging out my Christmas Blog theme but if the stores can do it, I figure why not me too. After all, I just had to decorate our store last week, we've already had Christmas light up ceremony in town last weekend and the annual Christmas parade is this weekend.

Of course, making changes is never easy when you work with Blogger and widgets. So if there is something missing off my site that I'm supposed to have on here, please let me know so I can add it back on. Like if I entered a contest and posted your button and now it's gone.... this would be why. Thanks.

By the way... only a few more days for Canadians to take advantage of my Pizza coupon giveaway. Be sure to enter. I've only had one real entrant so far and there are four winners so chances of winning are pretty good!

Take A Bite out of Hollywood

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:37:00 +0000

How would you like to star in a cameo on CBC’s hit show, Being Erica?

Well on November 17^th to the 19^th McCain® Ultra Thin Crust pizza is hosting an open audition in Vancouver to give one talented Canadian their 15 seconds of fame by starring in a cameo on the show. Vancouverites are invited to attend TD Square from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to audition and enjoy the delicious flavour and crispy, ultra thin crust of McCain’s newest line of pizza. To ensure entrants are camera-ready, audition locations will be outfitted with a casting director, lighting and a stylish Hollywood-themed lounge. You can also audition online by uploading a 15-second video to www.cbc.ca/15seconds from now until November 20^th.

The Grand Prize is valued at $10,000 and includes return airfare to Toronto for two, 3-nights’ accommodations, and $1,000 cash. Secondary prizing includes free “Pizza for a Year” from McCain® Ultra Thin Crust (valued at $400).

Canadians will also have the chance to vote for their favourite from ten finalists at cbc.ca/15seconds or facebook.com/McCainCanada from November 28^th – December 12^th.

To help celebrate the 15 second of fame auditions, McCain® is offering 4 of my readers a chance to try out their newest pizza line. That’s right, there are four chances for each of you to win two coupons each.

To ENTER:

Mandatory: Leave a comment below telling me what your dinner strategy is on those busy nights.

Extra Entries:

Follow In the Mommy Trenches on GFC

“Like” me on Facebook Zeemaid

Follow @Zeemaid on Twitter

Santa Can Do Anything

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:56:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again when children turn their thoughts to Christmas which inevitably leads to Santa and their wish list. Normally, I’m all for the list and even don’t mind them discussing it a little early so it gives me hints and ideas to keep an eye out for.

This year, however, I am in big trouble.

E wants a parrot. A real one. She has been on a parrot kick ever since her dad took her to the pet store and she saw this beautifully gorgeous one that’s rainbow colored. We told her she could get a hamster. She wants this bird. Would you like to know how much this bird costs?

$997.00

That’s right. $3.00 shy of a full grand. Why don’t they add the $3.00 and call it a day? E was pretty disappointed that we couldn’t afford such an expensive pet. Not to be daunted though, she said she’d ask Santa. We had a pretty good response to this and explained to her that Santa knows our situation and would know that we couldn’t afford to take care of pet like that cause I’m sure it’s pretty expensive to care for a bird like that.

That worked for about a week.

Now she wants a robot, rainbow coloured parrot that talks. I told her that I didn’t know if Santa could get her that because I don’t know if they make that. To which she replied. “Santa and his elves can make anything, mom” like DUh.

So basically …. I’m screwed.

How would you handle this?

Show and Tell

noreply@blogger.com (Zeemaid) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:19:00 +0000

A while back I think I might have mentioned that I have found a new passion. Rather I think I might have moaned and groaned and whined about how money is keeping me from pursuing this new passion. Which is still true but I’m learning to wait. While the early lightning bolt has somewhat diminished, it’s still smoldering and I know that eventually I will get there.

I mean, course, pottery making.

Imagine the reaction when I told my sister-in-law that I had thrown my first pot. It was complete and utter shock. I’m sure she actually thought I had thrown a pot. What bizarre ritual was this? It’s amazing how quickly I slipped into a new language, forgetting that less creative people weren’t apt to follow my meaning.

Lessons were made affordable because I was able to pay for one at a time. That and the fact that my “teacher” was busy with her own life made scraping together the $20.00 fee every few weeks easier. I still love it so much that I am planning on taking a course at our local college when I can afford it.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share the fruits of my labour. While not perfect I am immensely pleased with the results.

While my husband was trying to be supportive, I know that he felt that this was just something that would have to wait, that the time for this wasn’t now and probably not until the kids are bigger. I have to admit I felt crushed like someone just stepped on my dreams. I had always wanted to try pottery, I just never expected how deeply it would affect me. I didn’t want to wait years to do it again, not when my fingers are itching to get back to it.

Still I kept my hurt inside and told myself, when he actually sees what I have done he will think differently.

I was right. He’s absolutely amazed and even now considers it something of a priority to make sure there is space for a pottery area if we decide to move. If we don’t move, we are going to figure out how to make it possible for me to have the space necessary. He even apologized for telling me that this wasn’t the time for it.

Of course, he can’t make money where there is none and so I still have to wait. We are going through a terrible financial time right now. I say this not to whine but would appreciate any supportive prayers from believers if possible. We are facing the loss of everything if things don’t turn around but still I’m trying to keep my joy in the Lord and not to be bound by my circumstances.

In the meantime, since we don’t have room for a proper wheel, I am going to buy myself a kid’s wheel just so I can keep playing.

What’s your passion?