striving for happiness...

My life feels pretty small sometimes, especially when I have little moments of success with my kids. Anytime I can get them to try (and like) a new food, it feels like I have conquered the world. Like no one else anywhere has ever gotten their kids to like a new food. Silly, I know...

It was a lovely day here in Edmonton yesterday - so warm, which seems out of the ordinary now that we've seem some pretty chilly days! It's hard getting this family up and about before 10am, especially since G has his first really long nap in the morning, and because he's been waking up at 6:00am the past few days, he (and I!) really need that quiet time...

But we did get out to the grocery store and for a walk which was better than nothing. I love shopping at this time of year because I love Halloween and decorating for fall. I'm not so inspired to actually get my house in the season, but I sure love looking, and for us it's more about the food of fall. We start gettting the slow cooker out more for stews, soups, and chicken dishes, and yesterday I made my first apple Brown Betty of the season. It was delicious, and I got to use the apple peeler/slicer I got for Christmas last year. You need to get one, especially if you do any kind of baking with apples (and if you have kids - Hailey got a kick out of turning the handle and watching the peel come right off!)



I have found a recipe for pumpkin scones which I'm going to try next - if you have not tried the ones at Cobs bakery yet, get there now. They are definitely a guilty pleasure this time of year. I also found a little recipe to make a pumpkin spice infused coffee. The recipe was written and made for what looks like a French press coffee maker, but I've made it a few times in my regular drip coffee maker, and it has been such a treat, especially in the afternoon when I need a pick-me-up. And to tell you the truth, I almost prefer this to a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte...don't tell anyone. You can use the regular premade pumpkin spice, but I just made some up using these measurements:

1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (I have store bought...)
1 tbsp ground ginger
3 tbsp cinnamon

This makes way more than you actually need for your coffee so keep the extra in a small mason jar. I put about one teaspoon of the mix right in my filter and stir my grounds up with it. Seriously...it's a treat.

I made these sweet potato fries a few weeks ago, and they were so good! You would think the cinnamon would make them more of a sweet treat, but there's no sugar added to them so they just have a delicious flavor.

Here's a question to you: what do you make for lunch? Or do you even have lunch? This is my most challenging meal - I get stuck in ruts and have a hard time thinking of new foods my picky kids will eat.

 Thanks! Happy Sunday...and happy baking...

They have to be standing on the same chair at the same time now...

So my friend posted a link to this article on Facebook yesterday, and I cannot tell you how it completely hit home for me (plus, it made me laugh out loud the entire time I was reading it). Hailey is a pretty good kid most days, but at least once a day she's on a timeout. It usually happens because she is just so rough with her brother, or because she completely ignored what I say. I know it's just a phase and that every kid goes through it, but some days it feels like I am the only person in the world at that moment who is dealing with a toddler.

She starts preschool in September, and I am so pumped for her. She already mentions school all the time and gets so excited when we walk by it. I'm so interested in finding out how she deals with sharing toys and other things with kids because that is something we fight about at home. She takes everything out of Gavin's hands: toys, food, diapers, soothers, and more toys...(don't ask me why he would be holding a diaper...)

With that all said, I love her, and she has made my life so much fun. Especially now that she is in major pretend stage. She wants to cook for me, and go to Africa, and take a train, and play with all of her little Fisher Price people in her dollhouse. It's a pretty good time.

I'm off - have a lovely weekend. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

• seeing a long lost friend
• attending a margarita party and having a night off without the kids (thanks mom & dad!)
• days outside in the beautiful weather
• taking Hailey to her first soccer team meeting!!
• watching a movie with my sister
• seeing how many dresses Hailey picks out to wear

Have a good one!

c.

I'm ticked off right now, and it's because my husband was proactive. I know, right? Ridiculous. I started making this yummy looking recipe but when I went to get the chicken to finish everything off, I discovered that Sal had taken it down to the freezer for another date. Probably because he thought it was what I wanted. Needless to say, I have a jar of peanut sauce sitting in my fridge for later in the week :(

We are having hot dogs and roasted potato fries. It's not thai chicken thighs, but still a pretty tasty supper for this lovely spring day!

c.



...some outtakes from Gav's nine month pictures a few months ago...he does not.stop.moving.

...especially Tracey!

I got an email a few days ago saying that the Posterous website was closing down, thus closing down my blog. So here I am, back to where it all began. Back at the space where Jeaninne, Tracey and I shared this funny blog...I don't know why I like the idea of having one, especially since I hardly ever post. I mean, I could post photos and stories about being at home all day, but who wants to read that?


I've been stressing out a bit over the past few days as I got a letter in the mail from the damn guv'ment, saying that I have received my last EI maternity leave payment, despite the fact that I've still got over a month to go on my leave. Apparently, this is nothing new when it comes to the EI department. Have you had issues with them? Anyway, I'm still waiting for my promised phone call, although I'm not going to hold my breath. In the meantime, I'm going to start applying for new positions that are not full time, and hopefully something pans out. I still cannot imagine being away from these two little ones...


Sal is (finally!!!) done school for the summer. I can't wait to have a normal life once again, and now that the weather is nice I'm really looking forward to busting out our new trailer. He's already promised a daddy-daughter trip with Hailey which will be fantastic!!

So not much going on here - things are good, especially now that spring has finally come. For some reason this year I feel like I have finally come out of hibernation. I cannot tell you how much I love not having to put on the winter boots, jackets, toques, and mitts.


Have a lovely hump day!


c.

Ok - it's official.

I am no longer going to post on this website, although it will still be around so we can check out all of the old pics!

See me at my new site!

ciao...

So I have created a new website that I am testing out - I like it because it is simple and easy to use (I write my posts and email them in) and I really like the way photos get set up. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I was supposed to have made a lactose-free pumpkin pie by now, but somebody threw out my chilled dough. Seriously!! For those of you that may have just cringed after reading "lactose-free", I have been assured that the pie tastes just as good as the real stuff (the only difference is that rice milk is used instead of the evaporated kind.) I don't like making pumpkin pie because it is one of the few desserts that I do not like. And who likes making something they can't/won't eat? So I am going to have to improvise.

I promised myself that once I got a job I was going to start going to the gym again. I am actually really excited at this prospect. I think I am going to try Millennium Place in Sherwood Park, only because they have childcare (for those days when I've got to drag the little one around!) Now I just need to figure out a workout routine. Any suggestions? Maybe the facility has trainers I can work with...

Anyway, I hope you enjoy/enjoyed your long weekend and got to eat as much as you could stuff in your belly! We are off to mom's tonight for turkey. So excited for that post-turkey sleepy feeling...

Here's a little video to brighten your day:



-casey

I really mean to post on here more often than I do - really! Things around my place have been nuts this week! I have been doing orientation at the hospital, which has been, umm, slow. Yep, that's right - I finally found a job! Working on a stroke unit here in the city, as well as on a women's surgical unit. It is going to be a busy next few weeks as I navigate my way through these new places. And if I wasn't busy enough with a new job, a 10 month old baby who is cruising around like crazy, and a husband who has torn out our upstairs bedroom, I also have another job interview at an IV clinic. Yes, I am crazy. Actually, not really. I just want to become an expert in sticking people with needles!

Speaking of renovations, Sal has indeed torn apart our upstairs bedroom/open area. He has also taken the bathroom wall down, as well as the closet, which means the end result will be a huge bedroom with beautiful light coming in, and a brand new bathroom vanity! I cannot wait. Our current bedroom has become quite snug as we have had to move Hailey's crib in it - I love it. It's just like when she was a newborn and slept in the bassinette right beside me. There's nothing wrong with her sleeping in our bedroom until she is six years old, right?

Sal and I have been watching lots of movies lately, which has been a nice change. This week we finally watched 'Date Night', which I loved. Tracey, you were so right - it was hilarious! I think Steve Carrell is so, so funny. Also watched 'Salt' which was ok. Nothing to write home about. I would love to go and see a really good movie in the theater - have you seen anything good lately that you think I should go see?

Dear Tiffany,

I have been thinking lots lately about the regular posting I was going to put on my blog in honour of you and your former neighbourhood: "Happenings in the Hood." Now that you don't live there, there seems to be a lack in my crazy inner city sightings! Now that I am working in the hospital, I will surely see and experience a new side of these folks - maybe I will call it "Happenings in the Hospital". I am going to keep my eye out for people like the man in the wheelchair who beat up his friend (not in a wheelchair!). Whenever I drive past 'our corner' at 97 street and 107 avenue, I will think of you fondly.

With regards,
Your friend Casey (the one who lives on the good side of the tracks!)

...for those of you that don't know Tiffany, she is a good friend (I almost said was - ha!) who recently moved away - far, far away to a land called New York. She's doing her Masters in Media Studies in a school in Manhattan, which is a bit further away from Edmonton...I miss her and her husband and her cats. Well, I miss Kitty...

I have to come to a realization: I don't think I could ever be a stay-at-home mom. Don't get me wrong - I love my daughter to death, but it is exhausting! Hardest part is setting up a routine and sticking to it. This week my goal is to not turn the tv on during the day, and to take Hailey and Jasper out for a walk every day. Tonight we went to the park and played on the swings. My little girl sure does love being up in the air!

I have still been on the lookout for jobs, though things are moving slowly. Some interviews, some talking. For now, I am just going to enjoy my time off. Getting some sewing done (more baby sleeping sacks, placemats, little quilts), doing some new baking (homemade lemon tarts, chicken stew, granola), and visiting family (going to Medicine Hat to visit the grandpa). Between all of that I am trying to do some reading, teaching my baby, and taking photos again.

Anyway, here are some shots I took tonight at the park. It's kind of amazing how much I love this little one. It's a bit overwhelming at times…

Oh boy. I am sitting here listening to my little girl cry and cry, refusing to go to bed. One of the hardest parts of being a parent - letting the little one cry and choosing not to do anything about it! Both of us are still getting over our colds. She's still got a pretty runny nose and slept with us in bed last night as she was up coughing and pretty upset all through the evening. Poor thing...

Anyway, we had a pretty busy day around here today. Got the roof done (finally!), which means no more leaks in our front room. Yayy! Then tonight I watched the tv show 'Glee' for the first time. I kind of feel like I am the only one around who hasn't seen this show yet (besides my sister, right?) I'm going to say that I was not totally disappointed. Tracey, you were right - I love Sue Sylvester! What a funny character. Kind of unbelievable what they get away with on tv now, hey?

Anyway, all about books. I thought that when I finished school and my placements I would have so much more time to read, but by the time I get through my day and into bed, I'm too exhausted to do any reading! I did just finish one: 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides. Here is a little blurb about it: "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974." And so begins Middlesex, the mesmerizing saga of a near-mythic Greek American family and the "roller-coaster ride of a single gene through time." The odd but utterly believable story of Cal Stephanides, and how this 41-year-old hermaphrodite was raised as Calliope, is at the tender heart of this long-awaited second novel from Jeffrey Eugenides, whose elegant and haunting 1993 debut, The Virgin Suicides, remains one of the finest first novels of recent memory."

(Umm...did you know that you can read entire novels on Google? Not sure how I feel about this yet...thoughts?)

Next up for me is going to be the last book in the Millennium series, 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest'. So, so excited. If you haven't started the series yet, you should. But really try and keep going and get through the first few chapters of the first book. They are dry and political, and boring, but it gets so much better! I also have the latest Vinyl Cafe book on the go, which I try and read when I can. And finally, mom gave me her copy of Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb. It's meant to be a Christmas story, but you should really try to grab a copy of it. I am only three chapters into it, but it is so funny. I have laughed out loud a number of times already.

So what's keeping you busy? What are you reading?

So I have really gotten into some tv shows lately. As I have mentioned in the past, my favourites right now are Top Chef, Mad Men, and Rubicon. Now with all of the new tv shows starting up again, I think I am going to be in trouble. Grey's Anatomy, V, and Law & Order: Los Angeles? I don't think I am going to be seeing my friends for a while. Also, I may be asking for a babysitter more often then not! Ha…

This has been a bit of a brutal weekend around our home. Hailey and I have both come down with a cold, and I feel so bad for the little one! She can't fix herself like I can do with myself (hello Tylenol and lemon tea!) I even tried to get some sewing done tonight, but I had no interest and no energy to do it. Now that is sad. Especially since I have a ton of projects to get going on: Halloween quilt, two Christmas ones, a costume for Hailey, maybe a tablecloth? I am so excited…

Anyway, that's all I've got for tonight. Tomorrow I am going to take a hint from Tracey and do a little write up on some books! I love having time to read now that school is done!

Hope you had a good weekend...

I have decided to join a playgroup with Hailey so that she will be able to start socializing with other babies and kids. Today is the first day. I so do not wish today was the first day. It is 9:00am and I need to leave in 20 minutes and I haven't showered and I haven't had my coffee and it is 10 degrees outside and I want to go back to bed.

I will let you know how it goes - oh, and I am engorged because the little one has stopped breastfeeding.

SUPER!!

wow...I am not even really sure where to start! So much has happened over the past month with me finishing up with school, starting the job hunt, and dealing with a teething-crawling-walking/shuffling little girl.

So I will just start off with a video (click to watch it bigger - it's getting cut off a bit):



So, so great. I love watching dancing, and so badly wish I could do it well myself. I mean, don't get me wrong - just ask my friends about my "three" awesome moves!

So what have I been doing for the past month? Let's recap:

1. I did finish my final school placement on a gynecological surgery unit, which was absolutely fantastic. I saw so much and learned an incredible amount of information. I saw a major hemorrhage, a major abdominal surgery which the surgeon let me scrub in for and participate in, and started a whole bunch of IVs! Next up, I've got my provincial registration exam on the 15th - wish me luck!

2. Went to Moose Jaw for a week to visit Slappin' Grandma in her new home. P.S. Hailey is a fantastic traveler!

3. Speaking of Hailey, let me tell you what is new with that little one. She has a total of FOUR teeth coming in her top gum. Four giant big-girl teeth! She is going to look so different! She is crawling over the place, almost at break neck speed! She is also pulling herself up to stand whenever she can, and her Grandpa is definitely her favourite person of the moment. Also, she decided last night that she is done breastfeeding. I wish she would have let me know ahead of time...

4. I have been trying to stay caught up with my sewing, but between school and Hailey and studying, it has unfortunately taken a place on the back burner for just one more week. But I have finished a few projects including this stuffed bunny which I made for Lynette's little girl:




5. I have gotten into a few tv shows lately, and am especially in love with Mr. Draper. Am also enjoying this show, as well as this one, which I am still trying to figure out.

6. Some of my best friends have moved to a land far, far away called New York. We are going to plan a trip next year which will be exciting. Especially with all of us cramped in their little Manhattan apartment - I can't wait! In Tiff's honour, I have told her that I will keep her up-to-date on happenings in the hood. We shared some great stories about funny folks we ran into down in the inner city, close to our homes. I will try to keep my eye out for you, my friend!

Anyway, that's about it for me for now. Again, I apologize. Hope all is well with you.

c.

4:37am - just realized that I am more than halfway finished my first night shift. Up at 8:00 this morning, one 2.5 hour nap this afternoon/evening, and then out to the hospital for 11:00pm. I am doing much better than I thought I would, although it is a very surreal feeling sitting in a dark hallway, knowing that I am surrounded by other nurses and about 20 patients lining the outside of the unit. On night shifts we take one long break (a whole hour and a half) so that nurses can sleep if they would like to. I sat on a couch (and by sat I mean I sprawled out on - ) and read my book for half an hour and then had a very short doze for maybe 10 minutes. A friend of mine told me that whenever she slept during her night shifts, her eyes would feel like sandpaper as soon as she woke up! I had this in the back of my mind and really tried to put off a sleep! So I am back at my desk, looking up medical terms and disorders that I read about, and think about how good it is going to feel at 7:15am when I can finally drag myself back out to my car and slide into bed.

I think tomorrow is going to be the real test - I have told Sal that during the day he is going to have to physically place baby H. onto me to breastfeed her. Either that or hook up the breast pump and let it do its thing.

Isn't that a lovely image to end on...
c.

I love going through the archives on this blog. We used to write so often on here, and would write about and post the most ridiculous things. I am going to try and go through the old stuff and post some of my faves. Found this little nugget - it's pretty funny.

TOP REASONS TO LIVE IN NEW BRUNSWICK
1. One way or another, the government gets 98 per cent of your income.
2. You're poor, but not as poor as the Newfies.
3. When listing the provinces, everyone forgets to mention yours.
4. The economy is based on fish, cows, and ferrying Ontario motorists to Boston.
5. No one ever blames anything on New Brunswick.
6. Everybody has a Grandfather who runs a lighthouse
7. Just as charming as Maine, but with more unemployed fishermen
8. You probably live in a small seaside cottage with no television.

Tracey, I don't know why but whenever someone asks me where your family is from I always say Nova Scotia first. Speaking of lighthouses, this article was mentioned on CBC a while back and made me feel a bit sad. Canada has declared 976 lighthouses to be 'surplus' and are now looking to individuals, businesses, etc. to step up and buy a lighthouse. How about that? I think I have changed my retirement plans - forget relaxing on a beach when I am old. I am going to buy a lighthouse and just stare out of the top window, snooping on my neighbours.

Ha! I can just picture it...

I received an iTunes gift certificate for my birthday this year - I always have a hard time figuring out what to buy off of iTunes because I am such an avid user of my local library and get tons of cds from there.

Tonight I thought I would share some of the music I have been listening to lately:

Love this song by K'naan.










How about you - what's playing on your stereo lately?

I hate having bad days - as I have mentioned before, I don't have many bad days. I have bad moments, but whole days of unhappiness and crappiness are rare (yes, I do consider myself very lucky).

This past Monday? Horrible. Absolutely rotten. Got to the hospital and was thrown into a shit storm of patients - very acute patients with lots wrong and lots to be addressed. For the past two weeks, my families have been pretty healthy - maybe a high blood pressure here or there or a baby with high jaundice levels, but nothing like Monday. I think what made me feel so out of sorts is that I was so disorganized. I came home and vented to Sal for about half an hour. And what was his response? "Now you know what to do in situations like that. Now you know what it is to be a nurse!" He is totally right. I did learn. And for that I am grateful.

Cut to Tuesday. I began the day by having a sleep with my little girl on the couch (heaven!). Then before my shift I ran by the mall to pick up a new strap for my favourite watch which broke a month ago. The girl was so nice, despite having just been completely bitched out by a customer. She was having a day like my Monday! I could totally relate. And instead of selling me a new strap, she just took the old clasp off of a clearance one and slipped it right onto my watch and let me walk away. Didn't charge me a thing. She ended up venting to me about that awful customer and I let her, keeping a smile on my face the whole time. "I hear you" was all that was going through my mind. So she made my day yesterday and I ended up having a fantastic shift. Met a couple who have gone through five years of trying and heartbreak before finally giving birth to the most perfect little baby. Meeting and caring for them made my previous shift just disappear from my mind.

It was a good day.
c.

I cannot believe it, but I am already more than half done my placement on the maternity unit here in the city. What I also can't believe is that I have loved it so much! Being in an inner city hospital absolutely has its challenges - dealing with families living just at or below the poverty line, single mothers, very young moms and dads...etc. The toughest part yet has been seeing and working with the babies who are born to moms who used drugs during the pregnancy. These poor little babes are born already going through withdrawl symptoms. Day one for us brought a little thing who had horrible shudders go through his body every few minutes. And once he was held, they stopped - he just needed some love. All I am thinking as I see these little babies is tremendous sadness for them and their future, but then I give the best care I absolutely can. I suppose that is what being a good nurse is - being empathetic on the outside while hiding your sympathy and raw feelings on the inside. Frick, it's hard!

The best part about this placement is being able to hold brand new little babes who just entered this world. It's pretty incredible...

(I want another one...)
c.