Detours

Arriving at becoming a mommy took me some time...like about six years of work! I assumed that being a SAHM (stay at home mom) would be my calling. I would have bet a lot of cash on that.

It's been over a year that I've had the desire to go back to work. I've tried to dismiss the feeling, hoping once I settled into being a SAHM the feeling would pass. Not so.

For the pass month I've been looking for work. My cover letter now includes an explanation why I went MIA for two years: I have been out of the workforce for two years raising my little boys. I am now prepared and committed to return to work. Sounds good, right?

It's not the best time to look for work when the word recession is running rapid across the world. However even the process of tweaking my cv, searching the web for jobs and having interviews feels good.

The African Calendar

My niece, who is a beautiful teenager, surprised me with an original calendar of African women for Christmas. Being a proud mother of James who was born in Africa I treasure this item.

Below each photo has a brief summary. Here is the summary for this photo:


Hamar woman, Ethiopia - Omo River Valley
The Hamar tribe raise livestock and crops. Hamar families frequently pool their animals and herd them together. The women and girls tend crops, and look after the homestead. For larger home maintenance projects - such as building a new roof - a Hamar woman will ask neighbors to lend a hand. In turn, she will provide homemde beer or a meal from an animal slaughtered specifically for the occasion.

Mama Salma Knows Breast

Actress and humanitarian Salma Hayek recently spent time in
Sierra Leone, Africa on a UNICEF mission to raise awareness for tetanus.

*One child dies every three minutes from Tetanus, a preventable disease.*

At a clinic, Salma Hayek was so moved at seeing the suffering of a starving baby who was born on the same day as her little girl, Valentina, that she picked up the baby and nursed him. Her action stunned, inspired and scandalized the world. Go to YouTube to see her nurse this sweet baby.

What are your reactions to this story? Would you have nursed the baby?

I know I would have. Not only because of the circumstances but because the thing I loved most about being blessed to conceive was the ability to nurse. I loved it and miss it!

Treat with TLC

Today James had his umbilical hernia repaired. We arrived at Kelowna's General Hospital at 6:30 AM and by 12:30 PM we were back home having lunch! The service that we received was top notch. The nurses were kind, the anesthesiologist from South Africa was lovely and Dr. Sullivan was prompt and said James was a real trooper. James loved the 'all you can eat popsicle' rule at the hospital!

If we didn't know he had surgery we wouldn't believe it. He is his happy go lucky self. Parker was a trooper too. It was his first time waking up not seeing mommy or daddy. Our sweet babysitter Amanda was his companion today!

We couldn't ask for a better day!

Flying high...

I'm posting in Calgary!
Daddy surprised me by dropping me off at the airport yesterday like a ton of bricks and said, "See you tomorrow. You're going to Calgary!"
He got me good. I turned thirty something on Thursday and was wondering why my gift was late from Daddy!
The wait was worth it!
I arrive back home tomorrow night to cuddle my three men!

Tough Enough?

It's a cute and funny face now.
But when he's 16, a few feet bigger than me and he gives me this look when I say, "No, you can't stay out till 3 in the morning." I think I'll be scared.

PuZzleD!

UNICEF sells beautiful toys for kids. This UNICEF puzzle/blocks can be done in six different ways and the little people have different skin color. Love that!


Visit their on-line gift store!

Clubfoot Treatment

Parker has been sleeping with his boots and bars since he was five months old. During the day he wears his New Balance shoes. At $55 a pop we make sure he is wearing his runners all the time. Though he is very good at taking them off or convincing us that he needs to wear his winter boots when you go get groceries.

The first Monday in April Parker has his appointment with Dr. Alvarez at the BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver. This appointment is to ensure his club foot is in the corrected position. Our last appointment Dr. Alvarez was very impressed with Parker's progress. His ability to squat impressed her. It is near to impossible to squat if one or both feet are clubbed...try it!

His foot looks great to us too: it no longer turns inward or points down. If he's lucky Parker will only have one more year of wearing his boots and bars.

The Modern-Day Mary Poppins

I bought this book a month before Parker arrived. It collected dust for about 5 months. Then one day I dusted it off and it hasn't left my bed side since than!

It's my mommy manual. I haven't read it page by page. Instead I check the index for the subject I want and read it.

Here are a few topics and techniques: my 'smart' comments are in ()

• timer technique to teach kids to share (this actually works)
  
• faddy dressing and how to deal with it (your going to wear that shirt, so deal with it!)
  
• car journeys - coping strategies (fly, don't drive)
  
• tantrums and how to deal with it (laugh, walk away, or run)
  
• how to talk to your child - the three essential voices (screaming wasn't one of them, darn!)
  

This by far, is my favorite parenting book! You really should get it.

How did I hear about this book? A good friend of mind, who wasn't a parent at the time, suggested this book to me. Thanks Barbie! And yes her hubby's name is Kenny, and she doesn't like that I call her Barbie!