Little Rio - Part 1

I haven't been very inspired to write lately, if it hasn't been obvious. But with my baby girl on the verge on turning 6, I've been a bit nostalgic looking at old photos of her. Since baby-Rio pre-dates the blog, I thought I'd do a series of photo posts honouring our first born and her cuteness.

He Looooves Da Cake

On April 2, and then the following couple of nights because of leftovers, we had cake for dessert. I admit, I am a dessert lover, but generally hide "real" dessert until after the kids are gone from the table, because their dessert is fruit. But since the cake I have no heard the end of it. Every night Nolan and I have the exact same conversation, that goes something like this:

T: Nolan what do you want for dessert?

N: Cake.

T: No Nolan, we are not having cake, I keep telling you that. What kind of fruit do you want?

N: [Something unintelligible, then..] Drawbees. Appo.

T: Good boy. Do you want strawberries or apple Nolan?

N: Ya drawbees, ya appo....no....cake.

T: Nolan, I told you no cake. I am getting you strawberries ok?

N: Ya.....Cake.

Seriously. Every. Single. Night.

So Different

Apparently the boys are identical, so says their shared placenta. And so say them, in the mirror. 

On many occasions however, we beg to differ. I often look at them and think they are so different the testing must be wrong. If it weren't for strangers constantly asking how I tell them apart, I would be challenging those results.

Here's some evidence of what we normally see when we look at our boys.

Exhibit A - Surprised face

Exhibit B - Kiss face

You get it?! Not very alike! I know sometimes a disability can make identicals look quite different from each other, but I don't think Asher's CP has changed his look at all (aside from the obvious differences in quality of movement). But in most cases, their personalities could not be further from each other, and clearly that shines through in their faces. They're sure identically cute though aren't they?!

O Brother Where Art Thou?

Asher and Nolan have each been responding to their own name for a long time. Don't ask me how long, but you know there's that time in a baby's life when they're supposed to know their own name? Since then.

But I have often questioned however, how well they know the difference between themselves. Being an identical twin is CONFUSING I tell you!

Case in point: Nolan and I were in front of the mirror and I said "Who's that?". Nolan responded "Mommy". I then said "No the other one" and he said "Ash-oh". He then proceeded to bang on the mirror yelling at "Asher" because he was not responding to him. When I said "That's you Nolan" he just looked confused and kept yelling at the mirror.

So you know that time in a toddler's life where they're supposed to recognize themselves in a mirror? Ya, we're not quite there yet. They recognize somebody alright - but that would be their brother.

That's Not the Ending We Wanted!

It wasn't a very long 2 months now was it?

We are sad about our Canucks. Anyone who knows us well knows we are very sad at this quick and disappointing exit from the playoffs.

People laugh at us and wonder how we can be such fans, how we can care so much. I know, it seems silly. It's crazy that with so much stuff going on in our lives, really important and often stressful stuff, we can invest so much emotional energy in a hockey team.

But maybe all that "stuff" in our lives is why. We love having something fun and completely unrelated to us to focus on. Let's face it, we've hit some pretty big lows in our family, and yet we've never gotten low enough to give up on our Canucks. If that ever happens, you know things are really bad.

So again, with a big sigh, we say "next year". Hrmph. At least I had game 2.

The Friday Night Haps

I realize I've been a bit absent from the blog lately. I think March sucked the life out of me. Of course though, life has been continuing on outside of the blog so thought I'd give a little update. Here's what's new with all of us, in no particular order:

The boys are talking LIKE CRAZY. They've had what our speech therapist referred to as "an explosion". They went from 30 words to probably now hundreds. Nolan is speaking in 3-4 (or more) word sentences, and Asher is in 2-3 words. A lot of their words are unintelligible to anyone but their parents, but it is pretty amazing. Now when Nolan speaks he is always trying to get something meaningful across, and it is just a matter of figuring it out. Asher is the same but he is much more tentative - always the watcher and the thinker before trying things out. If he's comfortable though, look out, he never stops. Especially in his crib at night when Nolan is trying to sleep.

Jordan and Rio are away skiing for the last official weekend of the season. That leaves me and the boys holding the fort. Looks to be a sunny weekend so lots of outdoor time when they're awake and spring cleaning/organizing when they're asleep.

Our summer vacation is officially booked, and looks a little something like this. Friends, family, 2 weddings, some national parks, some dinosaurs, and a whole lot of driving. Ask us how we feel after 18 days in a car with three kids, but seems like a great idea right now. I figured if we got to Mexico and back with 2 very heavy, squirmy, 23 month olds on our laps, we can do this. If you think otherwise, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. How many times have we been told we're crazy to do this? Every time I've told someone. So if you have the urge, change your mind and give the appropriate response that goes something more like "Fun! You guys will have a great time!".

I am so proud of my hardworking husband! He is taking a 6 week teaching position, leading a practicum for a group of first year students. This will be great experience and a change of pace. His current manager was very accommodating by giving him a leave, so when the teaching gig is done he goes back to his regular job. Really he can't lose, and it means we get 6 weekends off in a row. Unheard of!

Which leads me to tell you that we might actually enjoy some adult time on those weekends, because our respite worker search is officially over - in a good way! She is lovely. We have a few dates booked for the coming weeks and when Jordan's schedule figures itself out we'll book a bunch more. And, if by the grace of God our Canucks survive the next few games, we'll be taking full advantage of playoff action.

Rio lost her 2nd tooth. The tooth fairy was a bit less of a production than last time, but she was thrilled nonetheless. She let it hang in there, unattached for so long that it actually died. So gross. It finally came out when she was brushing her teeth but I swear a hard sneeze would have done it. That thing was hanging on by a thread.

Asher's MRI is upcoming on May 1 and it looks like our schedules may not align until June to get the results and have Nolan referred for an MRI of his own. I am toooootally ok with that. The way I see it, Asher's brain is injured and that's not changing, so if we've waited 2.5 years for the results of the exact specifics of the injury, what's another month. And Nolan - well the longer we wait the better. I know if he isn't walking soon he should have an MRI, so let's just hope by the time we see her he is and all this worry is for not. Because between getting the solid answers on Asher's injury, and the bedside manner that I can only imagine will greet us, this is probably going to be just about the worst appointment ever.

I think that about sums it up. Notice how there's nothing new with me? Right - the theme of my life. If I starred in the Real Housewives of Victoria* it wouldn't make for very good ratings.

Annnnnyway, the house is quiet right now, so I'm going to take full advantage of it because it never happens. Happy weekend!

*If you have any urge whatsoever to watch the Real Housewives of Vancouver - I beg of you DON'T DO IT. I am embarrassed to share the Strait of Georgia with these women, much less call them fellow BCers/Canadians. Eww. 

Our Missing Ride

Dear whoever stole our double umbrella stroller:

Life without a double umbrella stroller is difficult for those of us that have two 32+ pound boys who can't walk.

Yes, we still have our chariot, thank goodness, for incredibly important tasks like walking big sister to school. But that stroller is a beast. It is a pain to take to a store, or any appointment, or anywhere that requires you to not take up the space of a school bus.

And thankfully, if going a short distance, Nolan is able to push Asher in a single stroller that we kept from Rio's days. It makes it easier for him to walk, using it as a walker of sorts, and both of them love it. But it is not practical for going anywhere far unless I want Nolan to have a meltdown yelling "UPPY" when he gets tired, or better yet, have his legs continually just give out on him.

So we're not going to replace it...yet...as we are hoping we can get by without it in the mean time and that Nolan will be walking SOON. But its absence makes our life that is already a bit complicated even more so. To make matters even more difficult, it came from the States because NO ONE IN CANADA seems to sell a small, foldable double stroller. So add shipping and duty to the price of that bad boy (that I researched for about a million hours before we committed to it) and it was not a cheap or easy purchase.

So our thieves, whether you're adults who thought it would come in handy for your own family, or teenagers who took it for a joy ride and trashed it, shame on you.

Farewell stroller, we'll miss you. You served us well.

Girls Weekend

Last weekend I went to Vancouver with my girlfriends and while it included the normal "girls weekend" kind of stuff, like eating, shopping, and gossiping, it also included this:

Last minute tickets to Canucks vs Kings Round 1 Game 2 - HOLY MAMA! Yes, I was EXCITED!

Towel power!

Japadog. YUMM!

BC Ferries on a gorgeous day home

The kids were great and hardly noticed I was gone and the house was still standing when I returned home. All in all a success I'd say!

The Big City

Tomorrow I am heading off the rock to Vancouver for three days and two nights of girlfriend time.

I cannot wait...

To roam the streets with only a purse and a coffee - no little people requiring carrying or pushing in a ridiculously wide stroller.

To wear nice clothes and makeup without my shirt being someone's kleenex or napkin.

To stay up late without worrying who is going to wake me at some ungodly hour of the morning.

To catch up and laugh and cry about all the things that are new since I've last seen these girls.

The list of reasons why I am excited is endless, really. The city is going to be electric with playoff fever, and although we are not going to a game I cannot wait to experience that alone.


Yes, I will miss the kids and Jordan very much. But this time away is treasured.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must attend to the pile of clothes and shoes (strewn all over our room) that have been deemed appropriate for big city shenanigans.

Playoff Central

Today marks the start of what we hope is 2 months of exciting playoff hockey.

Yes, it took me a while to get on board with the Canucks this year given the disappointing end to last year. But I've had all season to mentally prepare for it and today is the start of another Stanley Cup run.

Last year, to commemorate, we had a playoff board in our kitchen:

Pretty cool, eh? Nice chalk art by Jord.

But this year we upped the ante. I present to you our 2012 playoff board:

Look at that quality workmanship!

Yes, that is one of our living room windows. No messing around - front and centre. 16 teams logos printed in black and white, painstakingly coloured by two grown adults*, poor man's laminated (packing tape), et voila! We have a re-usable, movable playoff tracker.

Our kids don't know what's about to happen, but needless to say that dinners and bedtimes will be scheduled accordingly around intermissions and their parents may lose their minds a little bit.

Come on. It's our year. Right? BELIEVE!

*You wonder what busy parents of three kids do with their spare time - sad isn't it?

Happy Easter!

We spent the past three days on Pender Island for our annual Easter festivities. As usual, it did not disappoint. Good friends, endless food and drink, BEAUTIFUL weather on the ocean, and lots of fun treats. The small hitch is that I ended up with a strange combo of head cold and stomach bug so spent a good part of yesterday in bed, and it's not letting up today.


So I don't have a lot of energy to write about the weekend, and as usual I was terrible behind the camera. Here are some snippets:

Rockstar parking on the ferry! Front row centre. When does that happen?

Really bad self timer

Cutest bunnies

Rio and her BFF putting together the Easter Bunny's clues

Hair

I was asked why the first thing that came to Jordan's mind when I said Asher was "hair".

Because Asher's looks like this:

and like this:

And Nolan's looks like this:

And those don't even begin to do justice to how ridiculous their hair is.

But we're not cutting it, at least for now. So don't tell us to.

Colour Theory

Ok let's face it, there's not much that Asher and Nolan are advanced at. Of course there's cuteness and strength and overall mind blowing amazing-ness, yes. But I'm talking the "typical milestones". In most areas they're delayed, and we are thrilled if they anywhere in the range of normal for their corrected age.

Nolan, however, has shown some recent brilliance. The kids knows his colours! Wed, bwue, lellow, onj and geen. I have to admit I didn't believe it, but this morning I tested him and sure enough he does.

So please concur - knowing your colours at 26 months old is pretty darn smart isn't it?! And if you're wondering, YES I AM BRAGGING!*

*While on the subject of bragging, he has begun identifying numbers and letters when he sees them in books. I know, sheer genius.

No Answers

Today I saw my surgeon regarding the lump in the left (remaining) half of my thyroid. A month ago he biopsied it, but it was only 4mm so he wasn't sure he would get results.

Well, he didn't.

It's funny, because although I said I WANT ANSWERS, good or bad, my tune suddenly changed last night. I got so nervous about the thought of another surgery that I decided I was ok with no results because that means I've bought myself more time before this is reviewed again. Sure, it's not great to have to hold tight and wait on a lump that is potentially cancer, but there is really no other reasonable path. The endocrinologist, the surgeon, and Jordan and I all agree that at this point it is way too preemptive to have surgery without knowing if it actually needs to be removed.

So in six months I will have another ultrasound and then depending on the size, the surgeon will decide if he wants to attempt another biopsy. By the sounds of it, he won't try again until it's at least 8mm, so unless it doubles in size in 6 months, we could be waiting a good long time for answers. He actually wanted to wait a year to look at it again because it is so small, but conceded when reminded of what a worrier I am.

Good news? Not really. But not bad news either. Just more waiting. Something I'm really good at.*

*If you haven't figured it out, that's sarcasm.

Has It Really Been Two Years?

Two years ago today we were doing this:

Taken for granted by most families, synonymous with a healthy birth, is the day you bring your baby(s) home from the hospital.

But for us NICU survivors, it is a HUGE day, likely for most of us (for us certainly) a much, much happier day than the actual birth. It took 152 days to get there but was it ever sweet when we did. I still can't believe we spent almost half a year in the hospital and now I can barely remember that time. But boy do I remember that day. Looking at that picture above makes my eyes well up with tears - happy ones.

Last year we celebrated, but today is just a regular day* that we will always remember and be eternally grateful for.

*Not by choice. Jordan is working so that puts a halt to any actual celebrations other than the kids and I baking and eating a cake. Can't let the day go by unnoticed!