What a crappy couple of days we’ve been having! Kris has had a hacking cough for a couple of weeks now that I kept thinking would just go away. On Sunday, I realized he needed to see a doctor soon. I was going to call for an appointment on Monday from work. When he got up on Monday morning, his eyes were bloodshot and had eyesnot everywhere. I knew he had an eye infection for sure and kept him home from school. I got Emma ready to go to daycare so that I could work at home for the day and hopefully get Kris in to see the doctor. I dropped her off and she seemed absolutely fine. I told her caregiver what was going on with Kris and that I’d be at home instead of at work. Then I drove home and made Kris some soup while I waited for the doctor’s office to open.
I called the office and they told me that our dr. wasn’t taking any appointments and was only available for “walk-in’s” in the afternoon. I took a deep breath and told myself he’d live — it was just pink eye and a cold. I made him comfortable and thought I had everything under control. Emma’s dayhome then called and said she’d woken up from her nap with a pink eye and that maybe she should go to the dr’s too. By the time I got there to pick her up, she was crying and had one eye almost swollen shut. I brought her home and washed her face as much as I could and nursed her until she was calm. Then I gathered up everything I’d need for the dr’s for and took both kids in. We were there for about 2 1/2 hours waiting to see our doctor which is completely crazy. I wonder how many other people in the waiting room with us came down with pink eye afterwards — it is sooo contagious. Kris was diagnosed with bronchitis and given antibiotics as well as drops for his eye infection. Emma too got the drops and the doctor even gave me a bottle in case I got them too — thankfully, Mark and I’s eyes look okay still.

Yesterday, we enjoyed visiting with Mark’s mom and Dad at their house and then later at ours for dinner. Gramma took Emma swimming in her new pink ruffly bikini and then brought her home for dinner. Mark barbecued ribs and Uncle Chris and Grampa came for dinner too. When it was time for everyone to go home, Emma was really tired — a little past her bedtime, oh well! We tried encouraging her to say bye-bye or blow a kiss or at least wave goodbye to Mike and Laura to no avail. We even took her outside to see a rainbow and say good-bye. Everyone was waving frantically at her as they drove away. Just as everyone was gone, she started saying bye and waving and blowing kisses. Why do they always do stuff like that when no one is looking???

For my last birthday, Paula got me a bike carrier for the truck, and yesterday, we went to some garage sales and found a great bike trailer. So, we decided to go out for a little ride. Paula came along for a walk and we all went out to some flatish trails in a nice natural area by a stream. It was a really pretty place, and it was really nice to get out to a bit of nature (except of course the misquitoes). I think that it took us longer to get everything together than the actual ride, but we had fun and Emma did great in the trailer. Since Kris usually rides more than I do, I think that next time I will have to find a way to convince Kris to let me attach it to his bike! Kris and I came to the conclusion that we really have not been riding enough and are a bit out of shape for it.

The only downside was that Paula does not have a bike. However, she took Kris’ bike for a spin (and hurt herself a bit), now she wants one too, so I am looking forward to some family bike rides this summer! We went looking for a bike for Paula after the trip, but did not find one that we liked. So, if anyone knows where I can find a nice pink cruiser with tassles on the handlebars, please let me know!

I happened across this hysterical picture and thought I’d post it here for everyone to see. It’s taken at the Nanton Air Museum I think, around October of 2006.

On Wednesday this week, I gave Emma a bath before bed because Mark and Kris went out to run some errands. Usually Mark is the bath giver while I am the milk giver — everyone has their roles (Yes, I’m still breastfeeding, I’ve decided to do it until she’s 8). We have a little seat in the tub to help make sure she doesn’t stand up too much and slip in there. Emma loves her bath and although she thought it was a little weird Da-Da wasn’t there, happily complied with getting undressed and into the tub. I put her into the seat and proceeded to dump her toys in and wash her up. Some of the toys floated around the seat to the other side of the tub so she stood up and turned around and sat back down into her seat. She got one leg through but the other one was stuck straight up in the air. She started crying and her leg appeared to be stuck so I went to pick her up and found that she was wedged in there really good.
Everytime I tried to pull her leg out, she would start to howl so I put the second leg in as well. I tried to stay calm as I was coming up with a plan. What are you supposed to do when you get your baby stuck in the tub? Mark and Kris had just left so I knew they were going to be a while. I tried calling my Mom but there was no answer. I kept playing with her to distract her from the fact she was stuck. I tried removing her leg over and over to no avail. I tried encouraging her to turn around on her own by moving the toys to the other side. I considered calling the fire department but who wants to be a teenager or an adult with a story like that to tell — I can relate, when I was little I got stuck behind the toliet naked somehow and my mom had to pour a whole bottle of canola oil on me, but that’s another story. I put warm water into the tub every now and then to try to keep her warm and comfortable.

Well, one of the things that keeps Calgary interesting is the weather. It can do anything at any time of the year. This is nice when we are wearing shorts in the winter, but not so nice when we get winter in the summer!

Last weekend was the May long weekend, which is traditionally held as the official start of gardening season. So, everyone packs the garden centers and starts planting like mad trying to make the most of our short summers.

This morning, it is right around freezing, and there are several inches of heavy wet snow everywhere, with several more expected before it turns to rain later this afternoon. There are lots of broken branches on trees that got their leaves just in time to catch the snow and break from the wieght! Hopefully our flowers and the plants that Paula and Emma just planted will do OK!

Yeah, we are all real concerned about global warming here…

The second weekend in May we decided to plant flowers and vegetables at home. The weather was beautiful. Emma helped by breaking up the dirt in the pots and helping to plant. I think all of the plants made it, even though it snowed on Monday here. Emma was a great help and really seemed to enjoy it! The neighbors across the street were outside too at one point with their baby girl. Emma and I went over to say hi. The neighbor asked what was all over Emma’s face and I said, oh she’s just been eating dirt. She said they didn’t let their daughter do that…they don’t know what they’re missing! Hopefully Emma stops flinging all the dirt around now that the plants are all in!

With Gas prices rising like crazy, every little bit helps. The site http://www.calgarygasprices.com lets you check who has the best prices. I am all for anything that encourages lower gas prices.

Whatever happened to that whole “everyone won’t buy gas on the 15th and the gas companies will be sorry?” OK, I didn’t think that it would work either (and actually it could save the gas companies money if they staffed it right).

Check out Geekologie at http://www.geekologie.com. They have a wide range of wild uses and abuses of technology and are just plain odd. It is a fun read!

I am a meddling sister-in-law trying to find my brother-in-law’s soul mate, as well as a new sister for me! He is in his late twenties, a firefighter/paramedic, loves cycling and long walks (beach optional), loves hockey and beer (together or separately). Enjoys helping others through his work, has a unique sense of humour (see gory and gross because of his work), and seems to like kids (well, at least he puts up with mine!). He is funny, spontaneous, outgoing, energetic, and an awesome uncle and brother. Loves his family and friends and has just finished classes so suddenly has time for you!
If interested, and I know that you are, please send me a line at pjkmitchell@hotmail.com. I will be perusing resumes and will keep readers posted as to wedding dates.