Sleepy in Seattle

We (me, the kids AND Dan) just had our "summer" vacation in Seattle. Let's drive there, I said! It's just 2 days! Obviously, I learnt nothing from our screaming-filled trip to Castlegar.

Yes, so. There was screaming. A lot. Stella screamed until she was a red sweaty mess. Francis screamed to drown out Stella's screaming. Stella screamed louder because Francis' screaming scared her. Ah, yes, the fun-filled screaming death spiral. Family vacations, just like I remember. ("Moooooooom! She's TOUCHING meeeeee! Moooom! She's on my side! Mooooom! When are we going to stop? I have to peeeee!"). And silence from Francis is almost worse than the screaming because then you know that he is going to barf.

Dan found this amazing house rental for the week. It was a cute (read: small) craftsman. It was so comfy and nicely decorated. Ahhhh. Soothing -- because THERE WAS NO CRAP. None of the flotsam and jetsam of our normal life -- the papers and magazines (we're addicts) and toys and dust and shoes an and and.....

We got to visit with our friends, the beautiful and talented Natalie (aka "Martha") Brewster, Gabrielle Sukovaty, Danielle Giroux. I got to have a MNO with Danielle, Denise, Heather, Brenda, and Jasmine, and catch up over beers and just be me. (The Untouched Version). Ahhh. Thank you, my friends!

I splurged and got to go and see a dance performance at Meany Hall -- Momix. It was amazing. And I was so grateful for the opportunity to see something that would have NEVER comes to bland and uncosmopolitian Calgary. I mean, it was Avant Garde, and the theatre was full, and the audience appreciated the performance!

Isn't Seattle beautiful? We do miss it -- the climate, the greenery, the food, the vibe. (Oh, and the shopping! The sheer breath of consumer items available for sale is mindnumbing). I miss walking down the street and having complete strangers say hello, how are you, and stop TO LISTEN TO YOUR REPLY. Amazing. A huge city, and drivers still LET YOU IN their lane when you signal.

Remarkably, the weather was really nice while we were there -- absolutely no rain. And then we drove back (more screaming) and hit a blizzard that got worse the farther we got from Rogers Pass. We got back to this:

Francis went skiing in the backyard with his new poles! (yet more brainwashing -- "isn't skiing FUN? Don't you just LOVE SKIING?!") Ah, home, flotsam and jetsam and all.

Itchy and Scratchy

Mr. Itchy and Scratchy .... hmmm ... can you guess who that is? Yup, Mr. Francis P. Doll. I have met with ultimate and complete failure at trying to stem his eczema. His eczema now covers his entire body. His bum and feet are completely red and bleeding. His family medicine doctor is of absolutely no help (we had a heated disagreement last time we were in about how I rejected Dr. Cohen's suggestion that we treat Francis' eczema by using steroid cream for the rest of his life). We have an appointment with a dermatologist on Monday because I phoned them and cried, literally, over the state of Francis' health. I think that some of the discipline problems we are experiencing with him right now might be because he is just so uncomfortable. I am trying to keep him on a yeast-free diet as much as possible to see if that will help. The research that I have done suggests that eczema is an allergic reaction to .... something. The suggested somethings are dairy, wheat, yeast, citrus, corn, preservatives, soy ... let's see, pretty much everything edible, no? I've also made an appointment with a Naturopath for Wednesday ($150!!!) because I am at a complete and total loss as to how to help my poor boy. The eczema, since appearing for the first time a year ago, has slowly and steadily gotten worse and worse.

Other "good" news is that Stella's eardrum ruptured yet again (we are going to see her E&T guy on Tuesday) and that her Opthamologist has confirmed a diagnosis of intermittent exotropia. Apparently this is highly genetic and she gets it from me -- Dan calls it my "quibby eye" and it goes wonky when I am tired. There is no cure, or exercise, or anything. We are just hoping that it doesn't get worse. I am quite upset about the eardrum rupture -- the ear tubes were supposed to prevent this from happening. I am worried this is affecting Stella's hearing and language during this very important first year.

OK, enough whining. I even get tired of listening to myself go on and on. Time for a hefty dose of gratitude -- some things I am grateful for;
--(great!) coffee in the morning! (thanks, Dan!)
--Stella is almost sitting up independently
--huge hugs from my little man Francis
--huge smiles from Stella
--the chance to dress up Stella matchy-matchy girly-girly
--our house, to change and claim and love as we please
--sunshine (aah! why does it feel so good?)

Lights! Camera! Smile!

Finally! A picture of Stella smiling. Need I say that this smile lights up my world?

Thanksgiving today -- this is my favorite holiday. Food (and lots of it), communion with family and friends, a gentle reminder to embrace gratitude, and very little consumerism. Ah, perfect. I cooked an gigantic organic turkey (turkey recipes, anyone?!), brined overnight. Served with yeast-free apple-pecan stuffing (I am trying to reduce the yeast in Francis' diet to see if that helps his eczema), lemon-hazelnut green beans, maple roasted yams, and a dried berry/bacon/tomatoe salad with a simple vinegrette. For dessert I made an apple-cranberry tart and a tofu-pumpkin pie. Yum!

Speaking of gratitute, I am in love with this. Maybe it's the breastfeeding hormones, but I was in tears the first time I saw it. When we moved back to Calgary from Seattle, I was struck by just how unfriendly the city is. In Seattle, people will smile at you in the street. And even say hello! Good morning! And let you in in traffic! Imagine that, Calgarians! Since moving back to Calgary it has been my (personal) mission to -- gasp! -- smile at people when walking. I think that I should start to keep tally, because it is remarkable how many people don't smile back, or even look away. (Careful, honey, she smiled at us, she must want something! Hold onto that purse!)

So, smile, people!

Fall has Fallen

Yup, it is definitely fall. The seasons tend to turn rather abruptly here in Calgary; one day you wake up and all the leaves have turned yellow, and then a few days later they are falling like rain. No gradual cooling or gorgeous array of reds, oranges and yellows a la Quebec. Calgarians like to joke that there are two seasons in Calgary -- winter and construction.

Fall also rings in the return of Cold & Flu Season. The kids and I have been fighting off a cold for about a week now. All three of us have runny noses and Francis wakes me up in the night with his coughing. Still not too bad (anything but the barfing flu) except that Stella suffered yet ANOTHER ear drum rupture. It is always the right ear. The ear tubes were supposed to prevent the ruptures from happening. Of course we couldn't get in to see the doctor (not that we have one! Our pediatric neurologist, pediatrician, and family doctor are all on leave because of cancer! no wonder no-one is willing to take us on as patients ...) so we spent six oh-so-entertaining hours at the new Children's Hospital waiting to see someone there. The hospital is known around town as the "Lego hospital". It is actually pretty neat -- the design team involved a posse of children to collaborate in the plans. I just wish that it's opening wasn't such a significant event in our lives.