Our Singing Christmas Tree / Whatever Would We Do Without Her???

Let's begin by telling you that I spent a long time preparing this felt Christmas tree and it comes with HOMEMADE, PERSONALIZED, FELT ORNAMENTS for her to enjoy the whole decoration process over and over again.  Alas, Eleanor has found great joy in using it in ways of her own thinking.....

In the end, I suppose it's still spreading the same joy I had envisioned :)

An Evening at the Parkinson Theatre!

Today Phil brought home a bunch of things we had been storing at our friend Steve's house. Most of of the stuff is for Goose (baby toys, 0-3 month clothes, the baby swing, etc.), but included in the stash was a sweet little playhouse made by my grade six students last year.   Nory, of course, was instantly intrigued by this "house" and I think I've had my most fun "bed rest evening" to date!  She is a DRAMA QUEEN and I'm not sure if it's being a toddler or if it's being my daughter that is the cause of it!  (Let's just say my Dad nicknamed me "Hollywood" for a reason!) 

You can tell she is completely OVER the mamarazzi in the last video.  Enough is enough, Mama!  (So I secretly took ONE more....and it is also quite entertaining!!!!!!  Will post it soon!)

WE LOVE YOU CHICKEN! xo

Our World Rulers.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but we're slowly learning that it takes a village to grow one too!  The amount of love and support we've received this past week has been overwhelming and it reminds me just how many good, good people exist on this Earth.  In case you were having any doubts of your own, allow me to share with you the type of people that actually RULE THE WORLD (sorry to contradict you, Dear News Networks):

There are people that sit with you in boredom because you're not allowed to do anything too exciting or sit with you in silence because they know you're on the verge of tears and just need a single moment to get it together.  

People that bring you cupcakes of multiple varieties because they aren't sure what flavour is your favourite but things that are delicious always cheer you up.  

People that make you your favourite food and send it home with your husband, although they also offered to make the 30 minute trip to deliver it in person.  

People that come over to cook an American Thanksgiving dinner (in-house!!) while you rest on the couch and get to enjoy a meal that is not traditional in your family.  

There are people that send you magazines to peruse in bed - knowing full well the value of a western magazine when you're a Canadian woman living abroad.  

People that keep your water bottle all full and make you hot water with lemon when you need something more tea-like.  

People that go to Hallmark for you, buy your Christmas cards, and get them to your bedside table ASAP because they know it's tradition for you to hand them out on December 1st.  

People that take over your classes for you and do their best to teach (out of their subject area!!!!) because they know your students are REALLY, REALLY important to you.  

People that bring your daughter to you when she's a bit less wiggly, so you can enjoy some quality time together before the Nornado reappears.  

People (little people!) that make their own "get well" cards that you'll never, ever throw away because, well, it's amazing to see a 12 year old treat this kind of gesture like a summative assessment.  

People that send those out-of-the-blue, "thinking of you", "how are you doing?" messages that make you feel loved times a billion...... 

A very big THANK YOU to this extraordinary village that is helping us to both raise our daughter and 'grow' a new one ;)  We will be sure to PAY IT FORWARD as we begin our random acts of kindness advent calendar tomorrow - December 1st!!! 

Love,
The Parkinson Family

It's that time again......

....that time where we send a BIG THANK YOU to Mr. Steve Jobs (and ye olde iPad) for turning our daughter into a calmer, more cuddlier version of herself when we need it most!  Think DAY-LONG flight plans and the more recent "please snuggle Mama in bed" moments.  This morning I got a whole 40 minutes out of her before she insisted it was time for "TOYS!!!!!!!!!"  Kumari whisked her away so I could rest and it made the entire separation process THAT much easier.  (The last few days have been a bit weepy in the "am I a good mom?" realm of things.)

I love you Eleanor Douglas!  I promise this BORING MAMA phase will pass quickly and we can get back to all the good stuff we're known for.  XOXO.

Really Exciting Stories from A Gal on Bed Rest.......(at what point will my optimism fade?).....

Yesterday's BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

*  a solid 7 hour sleep with ZERO interruptions (including trips to the bathroom!)
*  a two hour nap shortly after (who am I?)
*  one episode of Beverly Hills Housewives, one episode of NYC Housewives, three episodes of The Mindy project........(go ahead and roll your eyes - the shows kept me horizontal, people!)
*  countless bottles of water (I am forbidden from getting dehydrated and Kumari is like the water police!)

Other than this, I spent a lot of time laying on the couch and watching Nory play.  She got a bit upset with my lack of activity (like when I said no to dancing during "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"), but she got over it relatively quickly with the help of distraction.  The bunch of balloons dropped off by friends were a big help.  Nory whipped around the living room like you don't even know with the colourful balloons "FLYING!!!" behind her.  That eventually led to a big crash (which anybody could have seen coming) but she got over that moment too.  In the evening, the Macy's Day parade caught her attention with her favourite moments being the musical performances.  Of course, total TODDLER-STYLE, she DID get angry at the parade more than once.  Where did that Hello Kitty float go?  Why won't it come back?  I said "PEEEAAAZE!!!!!!!"  Haha.  Eleanor the Fierce. 

Morning snuggles with Nory.  A real treat considering I don't get to see her on weekday mornings when I'm working!

This morning hasn't started out with as much Bed Rest Pizazz as yesterday.  I was pretty restless and uncomfortable throughout the night (sorry Phil!) and I woke up with a nosebleed before 6.  So - I've relocated to the couch where it's just me and the Christmas tree (which isn't such a horrible way to begin a Friday morning).  Nory will likely sleep another hour and - fingers crossed - Phil is able to sleep even longer because that man of ours is SLEEP-DEPRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday to everyone back home!  Do you think we could convince the Americans to start calling it.........hmmm..........Yellow Friday?  It just sounds so much kinder :)

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Breaking news, everyone!!!!  I've cuddled with Nory!  I've had a shower!  I've had a spoonful of peanut butter!  I've enjoyed a decaf tea! And.....wait for it......I JUST HAD A NAP!!!!!!!!!!  All of these wonderful things can only mean ONE THING:  I AM HOME SWEET HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The easiest bed to say goodbye to.  EVER!!!!

Today the hospital allowed me to leave right after lunch and I am reporting to you from our extra-cozy, king-size bed - set up with water bottles, snacks, my computer, magazines, books, a pen, a notebook, lip gloss, hair stuff, lots of pillows, a warm "beanie" for aches and pains, and anything else that a resting girl might desperately need.  Hmmmm......I better stop bragging or else my live-in nurse (PHIL!) might accept a more reputable position at the hospital.  Let's just say my husband is "alright" ;)  I LOVE YOU HUN!!!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon, I was wheeled down to my official doctor who told me a few key things:

1)  The baby is healthy and at the ideal weight for 32 weeks, although she is quite insistent on staying put in the low-lying breech position.   I am encouraged to sit with my legs elevated and - get this:  CRAWL! - periodically to encourage her to flip around.

2)  I am not allowed to return to work before Christmas.  I am to "take it easy" for the next three weeks - at which point I will be 36 weeks and any major concerns will be a thing of the past.  I made the doctor (the poor woman!) go into detail on this whole concept, just so we were both clear on the idea of "bed rest".  Basically, there's lots of bed/couch and very limited un-bed/un-couch.  I am allowed to shower, make a tea and other little things (to prevent blood clots), but standing on my feet for long is a no-no.  As is the basketball tournament I was so looking forward to this weekend.  As is helping to make an American Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday.  As is going on a super CHRISTMAS SHOP at the Avenues every weekend between now and the 25th of December.  Sounds awesome, doesn't it?  Pfft - speak to the people who love bed.   

3)  We are "counting up" rather than "counting down".  It's no longer "only 8 weeks to go!"  Instead, it is "wow, we made it another day....and another day....and another day!!!"  I think it is a great way of thinking about it, but I'm sure I will need reminders of that mindset in the coming days.  Or, heaven help us, HOURS.

I was disconnected from all medicines after my big trip to my doctor's floor and, despite a a few contractions in the early evening, things went well.  For the most part.  I mean, I MIGHT have had a huge breakdown at 11 p.m. when they woke me up to give me more antibiotics via intravenous.  I was EXHAUSTED and had finally relaxed enough to sleep and they scared the heck out of me when they grabbed my wrist without warning.  Then, there were complications with the drip and they were contemplating putting in a brand spanking new IV.  I was SO DONE with it all and really, really, really wanted to be left alone.  TO REST!  Like they kept telling me to!  So, once the IV was figured out, I fell asleep and they promised no more interruptions until they wanted me to eat at 6:30 this morning.  PRAISE THE LORD!  I got the most sleep I had in three days and woke up much less angry with the nursing staff.  GO TEAM!  

Anyways, I am starting to accept recommendations for really fun things to do that are best enjoyed laying down and with limited movement.  Movie recommendations?  Books?  Tv shows?  Online shopping sites?  Keep in mind I am almost 29, yet my entertainment preferences seem to align more closely with that of a 12 year old girl.  I've already seen Frozen.  But, yes, you're right in thinking that I should watch it again soon.  'Tis that time of year!

Thanks again for all of your kind messages!!!  It's amazing how quickly love travels the globe when you need it to!  Way faster than the swankiest of international airlines ;)

Sending my love!!! XOXO 

"Bed Rest".....At the Hospital

Since my computer is refusing to play any of the darling chick flicks from my hard drive and sleeping is not an option given the circumstances......the blogging shall resume!  Aren't you lucky?  Hearing from me TWICE IN ONE DAY when the norm has been.....hmmm.....maybe once every two weeks (my apologies, friends)!!!

Let's talk RESTING.  The cause of my preterm labour cannot be confirmed 100%, but it has been noted that stress and exhaustion likely contributed to my experience with it.  Working about 12 hours a day - on my feet - and then returning home to the most energetic toddler alive, well, these things weren't exactly recommended to continue with the same level of vigor by our OB/GYN here.  I was told to take it down a notch - especially after my umbilical hernia and especially after the tiniest Parkinson was deemed not only breech, but a low-resting breech baby.  In response to this, I really feel I did lay off a bit in terms of picking up Nory and chasing her around (ah-hem, Phil is THE BEST MEDICAL ADVICE ENFORCER when it involves ME and NOT HIM).  BUT.  A BIG BUT.  In terms of work, I'm an ALL or NOTHING kind of gal and forever have been.  No, I can't sit at my desk while I watch my students struggle with density calculations at their desks.  No, I can't excite them about new material at my work desk with my little, high voice (a full song and dance is generally required).  And no, safety cannot be sacrificed during labs while I rest easy on an office chair nearby.  So - this half tilt, minimize standing, only do what you can sort of idea?  I don't buy it.  So I worked.  And worked.  And worked.  And the hours I've put in preparing for lessons, contacting home, marking, etc. have since reached an incredible tally.  But that's part of the job.  And that's how I choose to do it:  PERFECT or...........NOT AT ALL.

Dana and I chilling in my room.  It's quite large!  You wouldn't believe the size of my bathroom or lobby way either!

That being said, I'm certain you understand how bored I am already - Day Two in the hospital.  And with THAT BEING SAID, this boredom exists despite the wonderful people who came to visit me at the hospital yesterday (for many hours at a time)!  I like to keep busy and being isolated in this bed - without any company at all - is not so conducive to that.  I have my one English channel on the television (BBC), my iPhone (which is getting old - FAST!), my computer (which, I admit, has opened up the world of blogging again), and the series of nurses and on-call doctors that cycle through my room non-stop.  There's also the option of sleeping, but this hasn't been going so well due to the following factors:

1)   I am a terrible sleeper to begin with, never a napper, and a complete worry wart.  These three things together make for an unlikely sleeping situation.

2)  Who sleeps well at 32 weeks pregnant anyways?  KICK/KICK/KICK.  PEE/PEE/PEE.  I mean.....mamas out there get it!  (Minus the one or two that make me really jealous because their babies are super sleepers both inside and outside the womb!)

3)  I'm on the labour and delivery floor.  Night one, I was on the delivery side as no alternative rooms were available.  Screaming ladies, crying babies, frantic nurses, alarm calls...........ALL NIGHT LONG.  Thankfully I was moved to the "observation" side yesterday morning.  But it's directly opposite the emergency triage station.  Screaming ladies, frantic husbands, alarm calls.......DAY AND NIGHT!  Speaking of which, apparently the last screamer who was admitted was dilated 9 cm upon arrival.  After having a C section round one, my eyes have been considerably OPENED UP in the last however many hours.  Let's just say that ACTUALLY having a baby seems scary NO MATTER how the baby enters this world!

4)  I'm connected to a lovely IV machine that has both spontaneous alarm sounds and planned alarm times.  I'm also connected to a CTG monitor that keeps track of contractions and the baby's heart rate.  And I admit that it is REALLY nice to hear a lovely stream of thump-thumps from Goose (it means she's doing well!) but due to her activity, the heart beat is not exactly regular enough to be considered a suitable source of "white noise".

5)  I must be disconnected from both the IV machine and the CTG when I have to pee.  Which is a problematic issue of mine (ah-hem, frequent urination) whilst NOT pregnant, pregnant, and pregnant on an IV that encourages urination even further.  Every hour, I buzz my peeps to release me to the bathroom!  Lucky them.  Lucky me!  

6)  Nurses and doctors.  LOVE ME.  Poking me.  Prodding me.  Checking in on me.  Which is all good and fine.  Minus when you're trying to get some legitimate shut eye.

Yesterday's breakfast.  REAL FOOD!  YAHOO!!!!

7)  Meal service.  It's delicious at this hospital and the trolley it's served on wins big-time presentation points.  BUT.  Meal times involve the process of ordering, having your nurse verify your dietary needs, a twenty minute wait period, food delivery, eating the food, having the servers return to pick up the trolley.........It's a 1.5 hour affair that the nurses constantly inquire about. "Did you eat?!  What did you eat?!"  Ugh. 

8)  My bum hurts.  It's the truth, people!  Bum injections make you feel like you've been working out the buttox for hours.  And I haven't been.  But that's how it feels.  It's quite uncomfortable laying here at times.

9)  Window washers.  The call to prayer.  Random arguments in the hallways.  Construction.  Bedding removal.  Replenishing of room supplies.  The usual hospital activity that creates a problemo for sleep wishers.

10)  To be honest, this is probably my biggest reason for NOT sleeping.  My mind.  Is the new baby going to be okay?  Is Nory okay?  I miss her.  Is Phil okay?  No - he's stressed like you don't even know.  Are my students okay?  They have a test on Thursday.  Are my subs okay - did I give them enough information?  What if I can't return to work?  What will happen to my position?  How much will my pay be cut? Is insurance going to give pre-approval for this visit?  When does that insurance lady return to talk to me anyways?  Will I be asked to go on best rest when I'm finally discharged?  How will I survive that.....HAPPILY?  What if I can't play with Nory?  Will Nory ever forgive me?  (You get the picture.....my mind is a racing one!) 

So - there you have it:  bed rest at the hospital!  The best part is, every time a health professional checks in on me, they ask how I've been sleeping.  Or when I'm going to sleep.  Or why I haven't already done so....haha.

Fingers crossed they let me out of this place SOON!!!!!

The last doctor that popped in (the really cool one with blue hair) says that MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I MIGHT get to leave tonight.  But then she proceeded to tell me I will likely need medical leave until Christmas holidays.  We shall see what my usual doctor says later today!

A decaf hazelnut latte - IN A RED CUP! - thanks to Gem :) xo

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday spirit back home!  All of your beautiful, snowy landscape pictures make me feel SO HAPPY INSIDE!!!! XOXO

WAIT - one more thing.  I LOVE YOU GOOSE!!!!  Keep growing my girl!  The thought of your sweet little face makes "sucking it up" so much easier.  Love, Mama XOXO

Baby's First Christmas???

Last year our friends Scott and Maria gave Nory a "Baby's First Christmas" stocking.  As we were decorating for Christmas last weekend (yes! it happened!), I pulled it out of the holiday bin and decided we should add a question mark to the end of the "Baby's First Christmas" cursive - embroidered ever-so-sweetly at the top of stocking.  I mean, babies DO come early (sometimes, right?!) and I was certainly not going to let our newest addition celebrate her first BEST HOLIDAY EVER in a non-traditional way.  NO WAY JOSE!  And so I told Phil we must let Santa know what's on the new baby's wish list (which she shares with me nightly via morse-code-kicking) - just in case she happened to appear before her mid-January due date.  Three weeks early seemed like a normal thing and I wanted to be prepared! 

Moving on to the next part of this random story....

It wasn't our intention to go the mall this past Friday.  In fact, the plan was to keep Nory on her morning schedule, get her to nap well, and then take some maternity pictures with Emily once she woke up.  But then Nory woke up with even WIDER FEET than her widest shoes and it was off to the mall to find some extra-wide Clarks she could wear for our planned OUTDOOR photo excursion.  This released the flood gates for a whole other series of extraordinary events:  rain in Kuwait (so much for the beach pictures!), an unhappy-and-unwilling-to-eat-or-sleep-because-back-molars-are-popping through toddler, a sick to her stomach/bathroom bound photographer, and a random "PHIL I AM HAVING SOME SERIOUS PAINS" at the mall incident contributed by the pregnant lady herself.  Just a few hiccups in the road, yes?  

Well, based on my not-so-settle encouragement, the four of us were able to regroup as best as we could given the aforementioned events.  Nory got shoes (not exactly photo-shoot material, but they light up when she stomps and plays and that's a big hit with her).  Emily rested and got her stomach back in working order before cabbing to our place.  Nory crashed for a couple of hours....EVENTUALLY.  And ate (ice cream, nonetheless!)......EVENTUALLY.  My pains subsided......EVENTUALLY.  And although the rain kept up, Emily was able to make our inside space work A-OKAY!  We had thoughts of postponing the shoot until the next weekend (which probably made the most sense) but I KINDLY (or not) insisted we got the show on the road, fearing the consequences of my mall pains as a looming early delivery.  Ah-hem, what good are bump photos without the bump?!  The show had to go on!!!!  IT HAD TO!!!!!!!! 

And so the miraculous crew of dedicated individuals persevered!  Through Nory's extreme disinterest and all (have you noticed my lack of Nory pictures these days?!), photos were taken and there's living proof I had an honest-to-goodness bump at 32 weeks.  Here are a few snapshots from Friday's session.  A big thank you to Emily for all of her time and effort in taking/editing these pictures!!!! XOXO

Charming, yes?!  We planned on heading to the beach early this coming Friday to approach it from our initial angle, but as the series of unfortunate events continues, I think this plan has already been axed.

I'm in the hospital, people!  Admitted on Sunday night with some spotting and premature uterine contractions.  It's been a big scare, with Goose already listening to Phil's "if you're not early, you're late" speech at a mere 32 weeks and 2 days of gestation.  I mean.......I can name a few 12 or 13 year old's who listen to my husband's words out of 100% fear....but I feel she's too innocent to even recognize such a sincerity in this brief, yet influential speech I've heard a billion times.  (Have any of you heard him say it with intention?  It even gets ME ON THE MOVE!).  

Back to the baby.  She's okay.  I'm okay.  And we've been receiving the best treatment the last two days to encourage her lung development and stop my contractions.  Tonight I am supposed to be disconnected from the medicine and then observed for 7 hours to see how my body holds up!  FINGERS CROSSED!  I'm hoping to be discharged tomorrow morning, at which point the doctor is to discuss with me what this means in terms of work....(sore subject 'round here).

Perhaps I will get the chance to do some more blogging while "resting" at the hospital today.  Those quotation marks are there with purpose, y'all.  Maybe that will be my next blogging topic:  "Resting" at the Hospital.........

Thanks for all the love that has been sent our way!  XOXO..........

YOU GUYS!

MTV was on in the background after school - Lady Gaga's "Applause" to be more specific.  Nory's reaction to the video?

"UH OH........SICK!!!!!...........DOCTOR!!!............."  (proceeds to get her little doctor kit)

She's less than two and yet we're both already in agreement that, yes, THAT VIDEO IS WACKO.

Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, however?  It's our family's most recent theme song!  Stay tuned - we hope to capture Nory's "SHAKE! SHAKE! SHAKE!" moves on video!!!

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR (DECAF) TEA.

*  Whoops!  I went on an unintentional 10 day hiatus.  Sorry about that.  The past week has been ROUGH (perhaps an understatement?) and all I can say is that today is the first good day I've had in a while.  I haven't cried (yet!) and I actually came home from work before it was dark (WOOT, WOOT!).  Teaching is not all fun and games, people! 

*  But sometimes teaching IS fun and games.  Today we did a super fun lab using Oobleck.  If you don't know what Oobleck is, you should Google it ASAP.  Then go to the grocery store to purchase the materials required to make it!  Hearing things like "I can't wait to tell my Mom about this!!!" are perhaps the sweetest words a teacher could hear.  Engaged times a billion.  It rocked. 

*  Although we haven't started decorating for Christmas yet (that's still two sleeps away), we HAVE started our Christmas shopping!  Mmmmm hmmm....we ran to the mall without Nory to pick up some on-sale items at the Early Learning Center.  Let's hope I can keep them all a secret until Christmas Day gets here!

*  This weekend I met the doctor that will be delivering Goose.  She's a busy woman but we're officially a patient of hers!  What did we learn?  Odds of me having a regular delivery aren't in my favour, although the possibility isn't ruled out.  Goose is healthy and rocking it breech style (which makes teaching quite tricky when you're the farthest classroom from the bathroom).  And.......believe it or not.....but the doctor actually blamed the baby's breech-ness on her "big bum".  That's right - our baby's GOT BACK!  Haha. 

*  Nory had her nails done for the first time ever on Friday.  We purchased some "Piggy Paint" when we were home in the summer but didn't get around to using it until now.  She selected the blue colour and sat so nicely as Emily put the polish on each fingernail.  Her toes were a different story.  She absolutely REFUSED to have anything put on her toes!  Maybe she will warm up to it next time :)

*  I am EXHAUSTED.  Times 100.  Plus 1000.  I think it's stress.  But Phil raises great points when he reminds me that our wake-up time is 4:30.  Our come-home-from-work time has been 5ish.  And...."Lindsay, you're pregnant!" is another common phrase he says to me.  I've actually been reminding myself of this lately too, because - despite all of the kicks to the bladder - I always try to carry on as ONE PERSON rather than two.  Phil's been a rockstar - encouraging me to rest and go to bed early in order to stay in the best baby-growing shape possible :)

*  Taylor Swift's the greatest.  Nory agrees with me.  We have some serious dance parties to "Shake It Off" in the evenings. 

*  Kumari's medical tests have FINALLY been completed!  We have to wait about two weeks for the results and we are looking into the next step of this long and confusing process to transfer her sponsorship to Phil's VISA.  Wish us luck!

*  Basketball try-outs started yesterday and Phil will have his team picked by Wednesday night.  You can bet he's in heaven now that volleyball season is over and he can run his basketball program with purpose.  Regular season games don't begin until January.  You know how much we love having babies during basketball season ;) 

*  I wore a scarf and a jacket today.  It's been around 7 degrees these mornings and I've heard the "BUT YOU'RE FROM CANADA!" remark more than I've ever heard it in the past.  I wonder if it's a side effect of working at an American school ;)  P.S.  Give me a break!  It's been 7 years! 

*  We started potty training last Tuesday night.  It wasn't supposed to start until Wednesday, but she got really excited about the Disney princess and Mickey Mouse underwear I pulled out to show Kumari.  So - it started in that VERY MOMENT (as she demanded to wear the Princess ones)!  We're going to see how it goes and try not to stress too much about it.  There have been many accidents so far, but there have also been many jumping-up-and-down-because-she-did-it parties!!!  She loves to push "the button" when she's finished and we've been using that as her reward for going :)  Fingers crossed that we make progress as the week carries on!!!

Trick or Treat! /// "Treat.......PEEEAZE!!!!!"

Last night we had so much fun trick or treating with Nory!  She loved the dressing up part to start the evening - making it very clear that she wanted her cat and dog in her pumpkin pail and that she wanted to carry both her pumpkin pail and her Vet kit all by herself.   

It's Dr. Nory!  (The best costume we could think of FOR HER that required no face paint struggles or headband removal issues!)

Ready to go see her friends for a pizza party in the courtyard! 

A spooky face for Grandpa before heading out the door!

Hooray for Halloween!  I'm all suited up - let's DO THIS!

After the pizza party outside, Nory started to knock on the apartment doors with her little friend Seton.  Seton was an adorable bumble bee and so the two of them made a real impression on all of our thoughtful candy distributors :)  It wasn't long, though, before both of them started to sit down during our elevator rides and the novelty of saying trick or treat began to wear off.  Collecting candy is TOUGH WORK for a toddler!  We decided against visiting all of the participating apartments and went back to Seton's flat to enjoy some quiet play time instead.

Then Nory crashed HARD - before 7 o'clock!  Which we didn't know until this morning because when we got home at 6 p.m. last night, she decided to knock on Kumari's door, say a confident "BYE!!!!!!!!" to the two of us, and then slammed Kumari's door on our faces.  That felt really good for Phil who hasn't seen much of her the past few days :$  We were no longer the most desired playmates and ended up making dinner plans with some friends instead.

We can't wait to hear all about your Halloween costumes and see pictures!  It's unfortunate that I have to wait that ONE EXTRA HOUR for people in Canada to wake up today!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (And we hope you made use of that extra hour of sleep!!!)

WELCOME NOVEMBER :)

We are only a few daytime hours into November and we can already tell it's going to be a great month!  En route to a birthday party this morning, Nory threw up all over the car.  ALL......OVER......THE......CAR.  We were 5 minutes from the venue when it struck and Phil had to make a quick turn off the highway so that we (but mostly ME) could get things cleaned up.  You see, Phil was significantly grossed out when he opened the door to the backseat that he almost started vomiting too (it was dry-heave, walk-away-from-vehicle CENTRAL).  So there we were - one of us almost puking, one of us finished puking, and one of us cleaning up the puke whilst laughing at the person who might start puking next.  It was great fun!  P.S.  Laughing in such situations NEVER, EVER helps the situation.  I really should take my own advice. 

Once semi-organized, we decided it was best to turn around and come home for two reasons.  Number one - we didn't want to get any of the party attendees sick if Nory was carrying some bug.  Number two (and most importantly to Phil) - we didn't want the vomit to bake in the car at 30 degrees Celsius while we attended the festivities.

Five minutes before getting into the car this morning.  SO HAPPY AND EXCITED for the "PAAAAA-RDY!!!!"

Now we're back at square one!  Nory is napping, Phil headed back to school for the volleyball tournament and I'm having a decaf coffee while intermittently scrubbing my hands to rid myself of that awful, awful BILE smell.  Maybe I'm just paranoid.  Maybe my senses are playing tricks on me.  Or maybe I had to sit in the back seat of a vomit-covered car and with a previously-covered-in-vomit baby for 30 minutes.  Either way, the hand scrubbing will continue until I stop smelling GROSSNESS.

Moving forward, we have a new rule in the Parkinson house:  EVERYONE MUST EAT CANDY ON HALLOWEEN.  Small children included!  The poor girl hasn't even had a single TREAT from her Halloween stash yet and she's already sick :$  This could be proof that there's something to going ALL-OUT on sweets every October 31st!!!!

Happy November, EVERYONE!  Wishing you a happy month of Christmas shopping, Christmas baking, and Christmas decorating.  (Yes, I know it's November.  And yes, my wishes to you REMAIN!!!!)