DPoD Good Friday 2007

We had a fantastic time at Foley Mountain this year with the Good Friday picnic. The boys were in fine form and had a wonderful day. Heather and Monkey had a great time taking a walk to Spye Rock and looking at the water flowing underneath the path that lead there. There was the rock that everyone, including Ross, Drew and Monkey, was trying to show off their snowboarding skills. The barbecue (errr, Coleman stoves set up in a line) cooked a fantastic lunch of burgers which was not to be outdone by the selection of fine desserts - Aunt Jane's butter tarts, grandma Carol's almond covered sugary treats, 2-bite brownies and some yummy shortbread cookies from a mystery source. As the first set of photos shows, it was a great time had by all.(more to follow)

DPoD April 5th

Ok, so I just had to put another really really cute brotherly love picture in here. I know that there might have been some confusion last week over the briefcase picture since there wasn't much explanation to go with it. Well this week the boys have decided to take their briefcases everywhere. Monkey's contains books (paper ones that Big C isn't allowed to read yet) and Big C's contains whatever can be shaken to make lots of noise. These two trapse around the house most of the day with their briefcases pretending to go to work. It's about the cutest thing in the entire universe.

The story of how I become known as "The Monkey"

Long long ago, while I was still receiving womb service strange people would touch my mommy's belly and ask all sorts of personal questions about her pregnancy. She mentioned this to her sister who bought her a snotty shirt that says "touch my monkey". A nick name was born!

Mommy and daddy didn't know if I was a boy or a girl, so they called me monkey. As I grew and grew the name really seemed fitting. Thanks for the great name Heather Massi! Now my little brother seems to be acting like a monkey (or other marsupial since we actually already have a big monkey in our family) and I am more and more of a little man.

Maybe it is time for a new name...whaddaya think?

DPoD April 4th

WIGGLY FINGERS!!!!

Big C, like his older brother, just loved to have books read to him. His favourite by far right now is Happy Baby 123. As you can see on the '5' page there are 5 wiggly fingers. This little guy knows how to make those little digits dance. Way to go little guy!!!

DPoD April 3rd

Big C was working on his peek-a-boo today with a little help from the pantry in the kitchen. He was also able to tie this in with his adorable little game of 'sitting on the dock of the bay' (Otis Redding I believe and then later destroyed by Michael Bolton). He sits on the edge of the pantry and kicks his feet back and forth. It's really really cute.

We're all looking forward to Good Friday. We'll be sure to have at least one update that day if not many.

DPoD April 2nd Big C the Climber Part III

Ok, so I notice that there was about 5 seconds (literally) of silence coming from the kitchen from when I had left BIg C playing in the tupperware cupboard. By the time that I got in there this is what I found. I picked him up, ran and got the camera and then put him back in to capture the moment. Anyone have any ideas on how to slow this kid down from climbing??? Anyone??? (we're going to have to do some kitchen renovations in order to keep this little guy safe)

DPoD April 1st

Big C discovered the curtains in mommy and daddy's room today. At first he wasn't sure how they worked, but all too soon he was moving them back and forth a little. Then he played a little hids and seek / peek a boo once he learned that someone on the other side couldn't be seen. By the end however he got distracted by something behind the chairs, which he tried to get to so hard that he nearly got his head stuck. Nearly, so he's still got a good deal of coordination in him to get his head out.

DPoD March 31st Big C the Climber Part II

Here we go again. This time he used the little activity centre to try to climb towards the TV. What will he think of next?

DPoD March 30th

Ahhhhhh...Friday afternoon. Time to line up the briefcases and call it a week.

When I got home this afternoon and set down my briefcase, Monkey grabbed his and placed it next to mine. What a way to end a work week. Thanks buddy.

Update to the day care fiasco

So we narrowed it down to three finalists. Two home care providers and a girl from the day care centre the boys had been going to who was willing to come in to the home to babysit. In the end we hired Sarah to care for the boys in our home.

We are thrilled with the arrangement. Dave doesn't have to wrestle with coats and waking Big C up if he is sleeping. The boys are in our home so we know that the environment is safe for them. They are having a blast and the transition was easy since they both already knew her. Did I mention that she also does the luandry and starts dinner? This solution will last until the end of June since Dave will be home for the summer.

We have made arrangements for September and are gladly putting this whole crazy experience behind us. Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way, we could not have done it without you.

DPoD March 29th

Episode 2: The Monkey Wears Pink

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was a little Monkey who loved to dress up. He loved earrings (pirates wear earrings you know), hats with flowers, a little purse and pink pearls. He has the BEST time and we couldn't be happier. You go monkey!

Big C's Check up at CHEO

Here's a rundown of what was said this morning.

Big C was weighed at 9.435 kilograms (20.75 lbs) and measured for height (he's grown 4 cm or an inch and a half in the past 2 months). We went in and met with Dr. Barkey and she said that the Barium swallow showed a normal esophagus and normal stomach . Both sphincters are allowing emptying well. It isn't 100% diagnostic however since they can't be sure he was refluxing at the time.

She asked about the prevacid delivery (we're doing it about 5:30 am with some difficulty), how his sleeping is (good overnight and good naps), his activity level (it was obvious in the room), any signs of eczema (none), fever (none) and if he was still breastfeeding (twice daily at about 6:10 am and 9 pm). She advised that we keep on the Prevacid for the next 3 months, but after this current bottle of the suspension to switch to the capsule. 1/2 of a 15 mg capsule once per day for the next 3 months, then the 4th month would be 1/2 a 15 mg capsule every other day.

We will meet with her again at the conclusion of that 4th month (end of July). The capsule can be mixed with yogurt (which he loves) or applesauce. We are to track any spit ups on a wall calendar and bring that with us to the July appointment.

As for any regression he would demonstrate this through rejecting food his currently eats or thoroughly rejecting new textures. If there is any regression with 7.5 mg then we should go back up to the 10 mg, however she is optimistic considering how much time he's spending upright.

In terms of a potential dairy allergy, we are to look for loose stools (looser than what he's been having right now) and blood. His growth has been spectaular (they measued height 3 times) so keep up the dairy in his diet. HIs energy and activity are high, which are signs that the dairy is having a negligible effect.

His esophagus will only get longer in the next few months and his upright walking is definitely going to contribute positively to him "walking away" from this. This should peak towards 15 months (May). She believes that if all looks good in July that we can discontinue Prevacid for August, but we can discuss that then.

She doesn't expect any regression and feels that Big C is doing very well. The nurses just loved him and both boys were well behaved. The only follow-up that we have on the horizon is with her in July since he's not involved in any other studies.

DPoD March 28th

What's good for the goose....

Is good for the gander.

Don't stop making us smile little guys.

DPoD March 27th

Just in case you were wondering 2 things are abundantly clear regarding Big C:

#1 : The boy knows how to climb the stairs

#2: He has a body awareness that defies genetics

DPoD March 26th

When I came home today the boys were in need of some high energy activity. So off to the slide we went. Monkey had a great time playing hide and seek in and around the slide and Big C was his usual silly self. Keep the laughter coming guys. You're a great ab workout.

Happy Birthday Grandma Carol!

(Insert audio here)

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Grandma Carol,

Happy Birthday to You!!!!!!!

We love you grandma

Your boys

I fought the wall and the wall won DPoD March 25

I fought the wall and the wall won.
Ok, so it was more of a trip into the wall as Monkey quickly tried to avoid getting a time out, however the location of the fall in that corner was actually quite beneficial when you look at the corners next to it and the ceramic tile beneath it.
Suffice it to say that Monkey (after a brief stint with an icepack and a freezie) has now agreed that trying to run away from a TO is a poor idea.

DPoD March 24th

Does this really need more explanation than the 1000 words it's worth?

Monkey ABSOLUTELY LOVES dressing up like a little princess...the high heels, the

pink dress, and what outfit would be complete without the princess wand?

We'll get you that tiara and the earrings soon enough. I promise.

Our daddy is a hero!!

Our daddy is very modest. If you ask him, he'll tell you that he is a good father and a good husband. He will tell you, if you ask, that he is also a volunteer and gives to his community. He likely wont spend a lot of time on himself or on the effort that he truly gives to make the community that he lives and works in better places just by his being involved with them.

Our daddy recently received a really fantastic email that he didn't share very widely. Mommy helped us to post some of it since we are all so proud of him.

Daddy has been nominated for a national award! "Canadian Blood Services will hold our eighth annual awards event to honour donors, volunteers, employees, community partners, corporate and media sponsors, as well as Lifetime Achievers that have supported Canada's blood system in an extraordinary way.

(that's our daddy, pretty darn extraordinary!!)

Dave, you were nominated by our Canadian Blood Services location in Ottawa, and have been selected to attend this prestigious event as arepresentative of our exceptional Donors in the North East & Nunavut region."

Please join us in congratulating daddy on this recognition of all of the hard work that he puts in. Dave himself has donated over 100 times and has organized clinics where more than 1000 other donations were made. He is truly a hero.

If you have not given blood recently, ask yourself if you can spoare some time to save up to 4 lives with one donation and make a difference. Call 1-888-2-DONATE and book an appointment. Tell 'em Dave sent ya!

DPoD March 23rd

Today is the greatest day I've ever lived (thank you Smashing Pumpkins for that one)....at least when the weather is this gorgeous. The boys were both out in the backyard this afternoon and were soaking up the sunshine. What a great day for it. Big C was doing laps in 'Rolling Thunder' (the little orange car) and Monkey discovered the sandbox (even though it was a little damp in there). They just loved it and here's looking forward to a beautiful sunny summer.