Update on the sickies.

Well we survived, by the skin of our teeth.
I was sick from the 23rd until pretty much yesterday. Glen started with the fevers and same symptoms as me on the night of the 26th.
He went to the Er this morning as work sent him home, and he has strep. I probably have it too, but I have had it in my system for over a week now, so I am not sure if they will do anything for me.
I am off the next 3 days from all of the kids, so I am going to take it easy and just have some quiet time with them.
The kids had a great Christmas.

Not sure if we are going to have people over like we had decided to, since we are still recovering.

Will keep you all updated on that. WOuld be nice to have an adults night, but we yea... wont be great hosts feeling like a hot mess.

few more photos to add.

The boys new Jammies from Santa





the boys playing with the hotwheels track that I put together all by myself!!



Helyn and Daddy having cookies

Merry Christmas!

It was a smaller Christmas this year as compared to last year, but the kids still love their presents and appreciate them so I am happy.

I wasn't feeling too hot yesterday evening and I went up to bed for a nap after Glen came home. After I slept for a short bit, I heard him telling the kids that we couldn't open a gift because mommy was sick and it wouldn't be fair if I didn't get to see. Well sick or not, Christmas was going to happen. I dragged myself out of bed and jumped on the couch and the kids were allowed to open one gift. They were pretty happy so that made my day.

Glen went out and got me some more Tylonol Cold and we got the kids to bed, he went to finish assembling the gifts at our Friends Crash and Mark's and I tried to get some stuff done, but felt too yucky to do so... so after he got home, I went up to bed around 11.

The kids got up at 7 ( as I requested the night before... they are so good) and we all went downstairs to see what was under the tree.

Liam's favorite gift is his Guitar Hero Air Guitar toy, Aidan's is his pokeball game toy and Helyn's is the Wonder Pets FlyBoat.

They got some really cool gifts. Thanks to everyone.

We have New Years with Nana and Papa so they get to open presents with them that day... Christmas Part 2... Aidan was asking when we were going to have Christmas again. LOL.

Glen took the kids sledding this afternoon with their new sleds, they really enjoyed that. Then we had a very early dinner ( 330) LOL and now they are free to play and they can have a snack before bath. I think next year we are going to have our turkey dinner on Christmas EVE. Every year, they aren't hungry enough for dinner no matter what time we eat at or if they eat lunch or not.

So here are some pics... enjoy.

Boys opening their stockings



Opening Presents from Daddy





Helyn's turn

I was just nuts..

Last night I developed a fever and aches and shakes.
I wrote down emergency numbers for Liam, just in case... I didn't want him to be worried or concerned but said just in case buddy. LOL

I talked to a few people on the phone who said I was right out of it too.

Funny Stuff.

I am feeling slightely better today, but still trying to recover. No fever or aches.. just the headache and fatigue and sore throat.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers that no one else gets sick for Christmas Please.

Flu for Christmas?

I dont know what I have, but its not good.
My head hurts, my body aches, my throat is sore..

Shoot me now.

The kids seem to be healthy and fine... but Glen isn't feeling well either...

What a great Christmas this will be for us.

Pray that the kids don't get it.

Wow... she is a girl

I was talking to my mom last night telling her how Helyn isn't into the dress up stuff, then tonight Helyn says " Mommy, I want to be a princess".

So we went up to her room and got her crown and a princess dress and got her done up.







And I couldn't help but get a picture of her little piggies...

Poor baby girl.

She went 4 days this time.
Poor little thing. It was so big.

I wish I could make it easier for her.

Tomorrow is the last day of school before the Holidays. The kids are uber excited. I am too. It will be nice.
I am off for 5 days next week ( 24th until the 29th) and then again the next weekend for new years. I am hoping we can have a few nice family days together. Glen is off the 24th-27th so we can get in some quality time there.

Liam is going to be reading this Sunday for Church. The kids make ornaments for the tree and each of them symbolize something. This week is Butterfly and it symbolizes resurrection, new life and the resurrected body of Jesus.
Liam has to do the introduction for the children to put their ornaments on the tree.

Aidan has 5 or 6 loose teeth that are just hanging in there. It would be so cute for him to finally lose one. His gaps are getting so big as it is.

The kids have really been enjoying their space in the basement for the last few days. Its amazing to have it. Thanks Glen for finally finishing it.

Here are some pictures of the boys skating this past Monday. Their last Class is on Monday next week.

Aidan








Helyn



Glen looking all crazy



Liam

No, Not yet Liam

Liam approached me today about something his friends have been talking about at school. They seem to believe that its the parents who put the presents under the tree and fill the stockings. He asked me if it was true.

I asked him what he thought.

He said he thinks that it is Santa.

I told him that to stop believing in Santa is to stop believing in magic, in god or in miracles. We never told the kids that Santa exists or doesn't. We have told them that Santa is a feeling and is a part of everyone like a soul and part of you.

I am not ready for him to stop believing.

What am i going to do?


I searched the net and found the article from The New York Sun to a little girl Virginia who wants to know if he is real. It makes me teary each time I read it.

Is There a Santa Claus?
From the Editorial Page of The New York Sun,
written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897


We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, , romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood

http://www.stormfax.com/virginia.htm

More Poo

Helyn went today again.
Seems like we have an every 2 day pattern going on.
We are still giving her the lactulose, but a smaller dose now.

So... who knows... maybe we will knick this thing in the bud... I have to keep giving it to her for a couple weeks and then ween her off. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers that this works please.

Sunday School Play

We have been going to Church for the last couple months as per request from Liam.
He really likes it, Helyn is unsure and Aidan really doesn't like to go, but he has agreed to come a few times.

Today was their Christmas Play. Liam was an angel and his friend Kyle was a sheppard. The play went really well.
Helyn was rolling around in the aisles for a bit but then joined her brother on stage for a couple of songs. LOL

Here are a few pics, enjoy.

Liam and Kyle



I love this one, look at Kyle's face.



Helyn rolling in the aisles



Helyn joining in on stage



Group photo



Helyn wanting me to take a picture of her. I think that is why she jumped up on stage in the first place.

Updates

Helyn went poo today.
That is 2 days in between.
Poor baby girl fought it all day. I think she may still have some in her, but maybe after dinner.

She is in good spirits, we just have to teach her that poo shouldn't hurt and won't each time she goes if she goes regularily.

Aidan has really really loose front teeth. He might be singing that favorite Christmas song before we know it. He bit into an apple last night and I don't think he will be doing that for a while until his teeth stop falling out. Poor little guy.

Liam is doing pretty good. He is a little social butterfly who is barely home lately. He is in the school choir and is really into his art stuff lately. He is harely resembling a little boy anymore.

The basement is pretty much finished. We just have to paint the doors and trim and we can move things down! Its looking so good. Glen and his friends did an awesome job.

Deck The Halls at Arklan

The boy's school decided to forgo the regular Christmas Concert this year and held a celebration instead.
The kids got to decorate gingerbread men, do crafts and had free hot chocolate and coffee for parents.
The Choir sang and a few kids played carols on the piano.
Liam is in the choir so I got a couple of pics.

Helyn and her cookie



Liam waiting to sing



The whole Choir

New pics of the kids

I tried taking photos of the kids today in their Christmas outfits...

Tell me what you think?
Any of them worthy to develop?

We have movement!!

Helyn had a little one this afternoon... I am expecting more.. but yea... 9 days... UGH.

She had a half dose last night = nothing.
She had a dose at 630 this morning = Nothing.
She had a dose at 12 with lunch and booyah... little poo.

Helyn's appointment.

First of all thanks Kirsten for the ride to and from the appointment and the coffee.

The nurse checked her and she doesn't appear to have any hemorrhoids and couldn't tell from the angle Helyn let her check her at ( in my arms) if she had any fissures.

I am to keep her on the same diet she is on right now. Lots of good fats, fruits and veggies, high fiber. She recommend Laculose ( thanks Aimee) at 10 ml's twice a day for the next few days to make sure she is cleaned out then I am to decrease it to 10 ml's once a day for 2 weeks and see where she goes from there.

If that doesn't help it, she will refer me to the paediatrician.

I am pretty confident it will help. Pray it does. I want to stop worrying about this. I want her to be normal. The good thing is this stuff is over the counter and it doesn't cost much, and doesn't taste bad.

Busy Busy.

Today is Helyn's appointment with the Nurse Practitioner. Hoping she can give me answers or a referral to a specialist for Helyn. Her last Bm was on Thursday and I gave her a suppository for that. Its been 5 days since her last one.

This weekend was pretty busy.

Saturday we had breakfast with Santa with the kids in the morning. Saturday afternoon our friend Christine watched the kids while Glen and I went to the Pens/Sens game. We won 3-2. Great Game.

Sunday we got up early and brought all of the garbage out of the basement and dumped it in our portable dumpster from Home Depot from the rennovation, I brought the kids to Church, came back and did some more work on the basement, did groceries, we put up the tree and went to bed. Oh what a busy day.

Yesterday I only had Helyn and Jorian so we played around all morning. We did some colouring, played with toys, I put Jorian down and helped Glen clean up the tools and construction dust while Helyn watched a movie.

So we just have to get the old washer out of the basement and vacuum the gaps in the floor and then I can move things into the room!!!
Oh This is so exciting! I will take pics once the room is empty.

And just in time for the snow we are getting over the next couple of days! LOL.

Here are some pics from the weekend. I will post more later.

Liam and Aidan at the breakfast with Santa



Helyn not participating



Aidan


At the game.





Doesn't Glen look crazy here?



Our optional Christmas Trees





"Mommy put this one up."



Putting up the Angel