Tuesday morning we started off the day with a tiny bit of excitement – a package in the mail! Echo’s Canadian God-parents sent her a belated Christmas present… a lovely purple winter jacket! I will have to put her in it and take pictures! I think it may be a bit big… ok I KNOW it is, everything she gets always is, but that is a GOOD thing!

Pretty purple coat

The boys coloured their pages from the MAG and have decided they want to learn MORE about the Inuit people. So I have spent a nice amount of my day on the library catalogue ordering some books for them to read. I love it when they show interest. I figure we will make a lapbook. The hunt for worksheets has not been very helpful but I am going to keep looking. 

Tuesday evenings are library evenings of course… for Trinity and Emanuel. This week was no exception. It was a snowy series of books and the kids actually went out of their way to talk to the other kids  this time. They really do enjoy themselves there. We had to make a quick run by the other branch to pick up my holds and then Ken, Karyn and I sat around and watched Ken play a computer game on the tv. 

Crafting with friends

Gotta show them off the next day

This morning was the dreaded yearly physical and Echo’s 1 1/2 year check up. Echo was VERY unimpressed with the nurses. She has drawn the conclusion that ANYONE in medical scrubs is NOT to be trusted. Thankfully our doctor wears just normal street clothes and is a very friendly and soft spoken woman. She weighed in at 17.8 lbs in clothing and was pronounced adorable and healthy. 

Reading with baby

My own appointment was experienced solo with Ken and the kids back in the waiting room. Much easier that way. My blood work came back with flying colours which was a wonderful relief. Even my iron levels were good a week ago! I am on the low low side of normal weight wise… I am advised to add on 5lbs for my own health. My bloodpressure was low (it often is) and she did indicate that I need to keep my fluids up more. This breastfeeding added to the stress of the last few months is not good and with my family history the best choice is to work hard to remove the stress and work on eating and drinking more. I really am very happy with our new family doctor. She is a great listener and very willing to explain things and give suggestions. 

The main suggestion that we came up with is us calling the office that schedules the surgeries and letting them know that a last minute spot WOULD be ok. Both our doctor and ourselves is a little concerned that they keep emphasizing how FINE she is, we do NOT want to wait until her PDA is causing issues and concerns to have it dealt with. 

Because of our loss of a morning today we declared the bulk of today (after some of the math workbooks were done) a Lego random creation day. They are allowed to play and make as many things (and unmake) as they want as long as in the end there is something for everyone to admire that they are PROUD of! 

Creations

Dinosaurs

Other than the math, and some reading the boys did with the books in the waiting room our day has not been spectacularly exciting or education packed. However, the kids have been trying out some of the computer games we have been given. 

And a little bit of reading

The part for our poor limping van is on its way here from out of province so we had to borrow (she) Chris’ van for the day. We have them tentatively lined up for NEXT weekend and the 1 1/2 hour drive to mom’s for the boys’ party as well. The hope is that the part and the repair will beat that deadline though. 

And so I am faced with further searches online for the boys, some Valentine’s themed ribbon that happens to be WIRED (not a fan of it myself) AND the knowledge that the week is half over and I am ready to hibernate. 

GIGGLES

Testing has been done, appointment with doctor accomplished and the next two appointments booked… what a day! Ken had his yearly physical and came through with flying colours. Since he and Echo could not get in to have their blood work (and her x-ray) done sooner we are still waiting on those results BUT his bloodpressure was perfect, weight right on etc. etc. AND when he came back and picked up Echo there were able to get the x-ray done AND the blood taken. Apparently Echo was less than enthused as first off they had to have the nurse hold her for the x-ray (big no no in Echo land) AND then they had problems finding a vein on her. She is very tiny! 

Today Trinity was my busy learning bee… first it was fun with her workbook (some actual following instructions some random colouring lots of ADORABLE chatter) and then later on Daddy’s netbook for “ABCD” time on Starfall. It has been a while since I have mentioned this site I think. We do not pay a subscription fee so there is SOME stuff we cannot access but more than enough to keep even our two almost 8 yr olds happy! I love listening to her repeat along… G… and then the sound it makes… she is so proud of herself and a pro with the touch pad.

Starfall

The boys did their usual quota and added in copious reminders for Gavin to WIGGLE HIS TOOTH!! Ken talked to our physician and she said wiggle the heck out of it and if it is not out in the next while to bring him to her. We absolutely LOVE our new doctor… friendly and calm and so nice! Sadly she could NOT schedule Ken a vasectomy yet… there have been some changes in the health care system as to what is and isn’t covered and she wanted to be sure (a friend of mine who is a doctor said he thought it was still covered so we are keeping fingers crossed). Seriously, with 5 kids… 4 of which have needed some form of additional medical care you would think they would throw him a parade and walk him right on up to the door!

Note Gavin (in yellow) with his finger in his mouth wiggling as they play the PS3

Echo had her learning time too… in her favourite chair, though I am not sure how much was learning and how much was making the lights flash. She does love a noisy toy!

"Hey kids, welcome to Alphabet town"

We are going to get started on Chinese New Year next week, I will share my links. I have some books requested and am hoping some friends can suggest a good food to try as part of our learning. This is the year of the dragon, so there are some colouring pages to be done, word searches… a maze… and of course the story of the Zodiak to read. Since the boys want a poster I am hoping for lots of brightly coloured pictures. There is even an event on the 18th for Ken to take all 3 boys to to learn at the library (it says 6 and up but a 5 yr old who turns 6 in like 2 weeks… why not?). And if anyone reading this has links to share please DO!!!

There are days when I am reminded of how alike our twins really are and there was a moment like that today… we were talking about Gavin’s tooth and the need to take it out when I brought up the tooth fairy. I told them that Ken and I TALKED to the tooth fairy last night and that she said this tooth was a TWO present tooth… in unison, same look on their faces: “How do you talk to the tooth fairy?” I couldn’t help but giggle… it was ADORABLE… of course I told them that once you loose ALL your baby teeth you get a special phone number so you can CALL the tooth fairy for when YOU have kids… after all sometimes she needs a little help and vice versa. 

Tinker Bell is coming along nicely on the afghan and I have messaged the newest parents for information on their baby for a sampler. January may have nothing to do with Christmas but it has a lot to do with crafting still! I hope to have something to show by the next week but am holding off, I want to have something substantial and exciting with my Tink! Of course there is cleaning to do… kids to teach and a house to run so progress is not swift… but there will be more to show next week, along with Echo’s 6 month cardiologist appointment… wish us luck!

Baby with baby and popcorn