Guess what! If you missed our Christmas giggity gig at Clearcut this week, you still have a chance! If you’d like to sit, sip, eat, and sing along a little, PLEASE come join us IN DALMENY at Granny B’s on Wednesday the 18th at 6:00pm!

We knew that many wouldn’t be able to attend our Clearcut gig for one reason or another. It was the opening night of the high school’s production of The Sound of Music. That was a big one locally. We had a number of people say they’d love to come, if not for that. Well, folks! I hope you show up, because we made it happen! We may not have a coffee shop here in town but we have a restaurant with a warm owner who loves a good community event and was happy and willing to host us for the evening.

This particular gig is on a Wednesday, but the week after kids club wraps up for 2019. So if you’re looking for something to do with your kids that Wednesday, you know where to come!!

We’re SO excited to play locally!! Hope to see a bunch of you there!

Last night was one of the most fun coffeehouses we’ve done! Thank you, Clearcut, for always hosting us so willingly!

We got there yesterday around 5:45, and already had some people there waiting for us! Hailey and her three kids, plus a couple we don’t know personally who came to a gig a while back and wanted to see us again! Its kind of cool to have people like our music who don’t have a predisposed loyalty to us, haha! We chatted with them and found out they had to leave a little early, and told them we’d squeeze in as much music as we could. We set up our stuff and were ready to go a little early. We doddled and chatted and joked around until 6:00, and our group hadn’t grown at all. Now we knew more people were coming, but we also wanted to respect our people who had come out for 6:00, so we started.

Somewhere around 6:20-6:30, a big group of our friends showed up and settled in. We were about a song or two away from the point where we normally pause for a coffee break. And intermission, if you will. But since people had just arrived, we decided to skip the coffee break and just get some after.

We played, and the kids who had come danced around in front of us like crazy, getting all of their donut and hot chocolate wiggles out. They were amped, and it was super cute.

Because we skipped our usual coffee break, our hour worth of music was over in an hours time, hahaha! Usually its about 1h15 with the break. It seemed short. As a group, Brady, Carrie and I decided to grab a coffee and then play the first half-ish over again. I hung back for a second, and Brady and Carrie headed up to the order counter.

Aaaaand came right back down. Apparently there was a long line, and lots of people had come to listen to us! They were just late! Some who were there earlier had cleared out and a whole group of new people moved in! So, we skipped our coffee break and decided to go again!

We skipped a few songs, but for the most part, we played our entire set again! Like at least ten songs. And once again, it went over great. The kids danced, people clapped, and the music played. The atmosphere was a solid 11/10.

We called it quits at 7:45, fifteen minutes from closing. We ordered quick coffees and they put them in to-go cups. We visited for a few minutes and then packed it up.

It always feels so invigorating when we step out of there, happy with how it went and excited to go again 🙂

Who wishes they could’ve gone but couldn’t make it this time?? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

I hate to even admit it 😩 I got sick yesterday. I was feeling fine all morning, went to physio, and then felt a bit nauseous upon returning home. I wrote it off because I realized I had forgotten to eat lunch before I left for Saskatoon, and thought I was just hungry. I ate some crackers and drank water, but my nausea didn’t go away. Then I started to feel it lift a little in my body and knew I was in for it. I went upstairs and Brady ran me a bath. I sat in it while I waited out the foreboding doom. It came on, as expected. My body ached SO bad after that, oh man!!! How dare I be sick the day before an event I was very committed to!

So I loaded up on meds and hit the sack. My stomach stayed settled all night, but I struggled to sleep because my back and neck hurt SO badly. I lay flat on my back and cringed all night. Brady had cancelled his work for today, for my sake, and thank goodness it was one of his more flexible jobs where he could just go when it suits him. He let me sleep in, and brought me more medication, for my stomach and my head.

I spent the morning in the bathtub and in bed. Brady brought me a heated rice pack to try and shake the pain that was right at the base of my skull, and as my pain was relieved, I dozed off to sleep.

THREE HOURS LATER, I woke up in a panic! I had so much to do before our gig at Clearcut! Ack! I got up and ate some lunch, and then had yet another bath, for muscles and also cleanliness. I did my hair and minimal makeup. Cher had been studying in the basement for most of the day, and she came up and re-shaved the side of my hair. My poor hair is SO neglected, and has been looking pretty haggard. But it finally came together, and we ended up rushing out the door really last minute to get to our gig on time.

I’ll tell you all about Clearcut tomorrow, but it went well. I feel healthy again, just sore in the neck and body still. I think I’ll take a drowsy gravol or something tonight, to combat possible leftover illness and also make sure I sleep after my enormous nap. Guys, I never ever nap. Not even when I have a newborn baby. I wasn’t built to nap. But today, no regrets. It was excellent.

Sorry for the late post! Talk tomorrow, friends!

Guess what happened last night.

No. One. Barfed. NO ONE!!! 🥳 So we slept way better! Yet, full disclosure, Brady and I both are still completely wiped. Goodness 😴 So tired.

Thank goodness he had a short day today, for a couple of reasons. Reason number one is that a gentler day when you’re tired is appreciated. Reason number two is that I could go to physio without having to haul the kids there during nap time for Brady to watch, and then him having to go back to work. It was definitely a win.

I drove to Saskatoon and listened to good music. Spotify has opened my eyes. Its SO nice to have! What a huge gift that was for Brady and I. I made it there in good time and even got into my appointment a few minutes early.

In case you don’t remember, I was seeing my physiotherapist about my weird shoulder pain. When she asked me how it was going with my shoulder, I kind of caught her up on the week and what it all was. How my friend had gotten in an accident and I seemed to carry a great deal of sympathy pain for her, therefore increasing my shoulder pain, among all my other new pains. She was SO warm and reassuring, and seemed to think as I did that really, it was nice that I cared so deeply about my friend, and that this sympathy pain will find its way away eventually. But that I shouldn’t stress or overthink it. We know what it is, and thats just that! Plus, for the first time in maybe five days, my wrists feel WAY better, and I can grip with my fingers again! It was a difficult handful of days where I couldn’t bear any weight in my hands (think pouring cream into coffee, changing a diaper, opening a gate, putting on my own pants, etc.) and I’m SO relieved, emotionally and physically, that there has been some improvement.

My shoulder was the main reason for the visit. The pain I’ve been having so consistently in my one shoulder had ended up moving to my right as well, so she checked over and treated both. She said my mobility is much better than it was a week ago. She told me I could stop one of the exercises and do the other a bit more gently. Apparently I was pushing too hard, but I’m glad for that because there is proof that I have been doing them! She gave me one more to do, and I tried it out. Seemed good. I understand the general gist of what she wants from me. I need to open up more in the chest and shoulders, as though wanting my shoulder blade to meet. But not actually. But, you get it.

We talked about a couple of factors. I have hypermobility, which means my joints have a larger range of movement than others, so I can bend a little further but then I can also overdo it without really being prepared for it. She also says I’ll “hear about it” from my joints for a bit longer than average. She also said I clearly have a sensitive nervous system, and that the bond between my mind and body is strong. And thats a great thing. We all have that bond, but that clearly, when I feel something strongly, it’s going to show up in my body maybe a bit stronger and for a bit longer than others.

It was oddly a very encouraging appointment. We laughed about a lot of things, as we often do. I snagged a few of her business cards when I left, because I really believe more women should seek out pelvic floor physio, and if they’re going to, MINE is the BEST one!! She’s just the best ☺️ I took my exercises and walked out feeling centred in my body and capable of doing what needed doing to strengthen my muscles.

Its a good day ❤️

Another man went down last night. Waverly Violet woke us up in the night, heaving and barfing. We sat with her, but it was over pretty quick and there was very little we could do. Brady changed her bedding out and I comforted her and tied her hair back. She went right back to bed, no problem, as did we. Because exhaustion.

As it looks this morning, Rowan hasn’t thrown up since yesterday morning but he’s also very content to just lay unmoving on the couch, so I can tell he’s not feeling 100%. Wavy seems pretty bright so far, and ate Cheerios happily for breakfast. Almost better than usual. She’s not seeming sick at all, but I know she is. Dekker and Laela are at school, seeming fine, and Solly remains healthy 🤞 Knock on ALL the wood. So we’re not bad, but we’re not good.

We have a new predicament. With the yucky season of illness upon us, our childcare for our coffeehouse is also down and out 😕 Like BAD sick. So I’m on the hunt for a babysitter for Thursday evening. Except they’re all sick! Or are they? 🤷‍♀️ I don’t really know what to do!! Can a person hire a babysitter when their kids are sick? I’m unsure of what to do. We’re committed to this gig, and have been planning it for months. We can’t just bail. But lets be real – our kids are probably contagious. Ugh. I don’t know what to do.

Assuming we get our stuff together, PLEASE come to Clearcut Coffeehouse Thursday evening for some music and yummy treats! Their drinks are really yummy, and they’ve brought in a bunch of new flavours for winter. They’re really upped their baking game and their food is delicious. And I hear their live music is pretty fun to listen to and that the musicians work pretty hard. 🤷‍♀️ All rumours, though.

If you could possibly help me out with the kids, please let me know ❤️ And if not, I hope we’ll see you later this week!

Parts of this story won’t be for the faint of heart. You’ve been warned. 

***

This weekend was such a fun time, and Laela had perked right up and was good to go! She could eat anything, run around, and be totally herself. I was SO relieved she was in the clear. WAS. 

Last night, Brady and I were particularly exhausted and needed sleep badly. We had been sleeping for a few hours when I woke up to Rowan beside my bed. His more common midnight wake-up consists of him standing in the doorway super nonchalantly, playing with his underwear, looking around the room, muttering something about needing to pee. Pretty annoying, as he’s more than capable of doing that on his own every moment of the daytime. But last night was different. He was right beside me, saying “Mommy” over and over, shrucking in between. I figured out immediately that he was dry heaving. I grabbed for my garbage can, but it was a bit over from where it usually was. “Garbage! Garbage!” I said over and over, in hopes that either he or I would find it in time. 

Buuuuut we didn’t. Do you remember that delicious description from the other day, where Laela covered her mouth and barfed anyway, spraying it everywhere? Yup. Rowan did exactly that, and I had the pleasure of being in the immediate splash zone. My face, specifically. In that second, Brady clicked the lamp on and I grabbed the garbage. The bulk of the next batch made it in there, and Brady had officially sprung into action. He was over by my bed, on the floor with Rowan, holding a real bucket up to him and reassuring him. 

Once the immediate situation was calmed, we took stock. There were little shreds of vomit evvvvverywhere. Our blanket, my pillows, and our sheets. The floor. My heating pad next to the bed. And, poor Rowan, his face. We grabbed wipes and wiped him off. In that moment, I remembered my own face. (Yes, parenting sometimes means you actually forget that someone barfed on your face.) I just touched it. Just for a second. And I took a chunk of vomit off of my eyebrow. Nope nope nope. Give me ALL the wipes! NOW! 

Eventually, Rowan stopped heaving. I got down on the floor with him and braided his hair back for the night. I’ve been having a problem with my hands recently, so it was actually pretty hard to get it braided, but it worked partially at least. 

And thank goodness for that braid, because that kid got up three more times through the night to gag and heave and barf into his bucket. This poor kid and his unproductive barfs. This morning again, I sit and watch him hover over his bucket and choke and heave with no result. Between his gags, he sputters “No! NO!!!” Or he’ll cry that his throat hurts, which of course it does. 

Poor poor Rowan ❤️ Please say a prayer, if you’re the praying type, that he recovers and that no one else picks it up. Without sounding super selfish, Brady and I cannot be sick right now. We have our Christmas coffeehouse gig this week, and it’s the ONLY time we can get there this month! We cannot reschedule! So please pray for health and wellness over our family this week!!! 

My husband has been gone away this weekend, and now that he’s on his way home, I feel I can say it openly. Lol! Not that I’m particularly worried, but it wasn’t something I felt needed to be broadcasted on the internet. However, I was not alone! Cher came and spent the weekend with us, and I am SO grateful!

The extra set of hands was obviously nice. If I was making food and Wavy was needy (as she tends to be when she realized food is in the making) there was someone to hold her, rather than my trying to juggle her and cook. It was possible, but this was WAY nicer. And that was all great, but regardless of the areas of help that she provided, it was just so nice to have her here as a friend for me ❤️

She said to me over the weekend that this was like the sleepover we didn’t get as teenagers. I LOVED that. If you don’t know, Cher and I went to the same school for a good chunk of our lives, but never really interacted. We knew of each other, but ran in different circles and had a two year age gap. We just never really came in contact. But, better late than never! I’m SO thankful we’re so close at this stage of our lives.

So in true “teenager sleepover” form, we ate a bunch of bad food, drank and lot of pop and coffee, and watched funny movies WAY too late into the night/morning. But in true adult form, we also both got a ton done, and felt very accomplished and productive at the end of the weekend!! Woot! We had fun with the kids all day, of course. I think they really loved having Cher over all weekend! As did I. She’s gone for the day now, but something tells me we may see her again one of these days 😘 Hopefully really soon!

But, all that to say, Brady is on his way home! 🥳 He is the main event today! That man almost never ever gets a break, or a weekend away, and I hope very much that he feels refreshed and renewed! The girls weekend was SO WONDERFUL, and I’m so thankful that I get to go from an amazing weekend to an amazing week with my husband back home!

Myyyyy milkshake brings all the kids to the city! Thats how the song goes, right? 😆

Cher is hanging out with me and the kids today, as we find ourselves without our Brady. This morning, she asked me what I was going to blog about, and at that point, I didn’t have a plan. She made a joke about how my blog would bring all the boys to the yard. That idea spiralled and we ended up loading the kids into the van and heading to the city for milkshakes, among other things.

We listened to Christmas music as we meandered our way in. We stopped at the post office, ran an errand or two, and stopped at McDonalds on our way home to fulfill the promise of milkshakes for Cher and I, and an unnamed treat for the kids. Chocolate chip cookies it was. They were exciting, and completely content with just sitting in the van while I ran into a couple of places and picked up a couple of things.

It was a super relaxed morning, and our “field trip” was exactly what the doctor ordered, because we got home right at lunch time! Woot! The kids tidied up their stuff, and ate their lunch better than usual, considering the promise of the cookie at the end.

Now, 3/5 are down and the other two are quietly colouring and drawing together. Meanwhile, Cher and I are both a bit tired and achy, but will be powering through, as there is never a shortage of things to do. Have I said on here that she got into a bit of an accident the other day? She is SO achy from the stress and tension, and without stealing her thunder, I am SO achy, too! Sympathy stress, I suppose. Sympathy tension. But we’re both sore and and sleepy, so we’re a bit of an odd pair!

Wish us luck for the rest of the day! These kids are SO good and SO chill, and if they day could run out this way, that would be ideal! ❤️ Lifting people is extra tricky for both of the adults around here! And also, no vomit would be great, too!

I’d love to say today was productive, because in some ways it was! But in more ways, it wasn’t. 😬 Lol!

I made a meal for another family, and got the island cleaned off. But the dishes are still a mess. Whoops.

My floor is clean of laundry, but the laundry is not done.

I didn’t get any work done on any Christmas gifts, but I spent quality time with my children and my husband. Brady also got no basement stuff done today, but we took time with each other on purpose. One of those good days where you nurture the friendship side of your relationship, where you actually enjoy being together. It was so nice.

I had a soak!! I’m calling that both productive and slack, because I enjoyed it while it soaked my sore muscles. Did I tell you guys I’m super sore?? Thats another story for another day.

Tonight will be productive in the craft-doing and movie-watching department. Perhaps also snack eating and sleep lacking. I’m very much looking forward to it!

Weekend plans for you, friends?

Two days ago, I wrote about Laela being sick. She threw up in her bed overnight, and took the day off of school. That night, she fevered, so I decided to keep her home the next day as well, so as to protect everyone else from catching whatever she was fighting. By the end of the day, though, she was super energetic, completely back to herself, and begging to go to kids club. We told her that missing school meant missing kids club, but she should be able to go the next day.

Then there was this morning. She was up easily, dressed and ready and at the table, eager to eat breakfast and get moving. I realized within five minutes or so that she was doddling pretty hard. I asked her to pick up the pace, and she took another bite, but her zeal was gone. A few minutes later, she told me she had a tummy ache and asked to stay home. I asked a few questions, about tried to decipher what kind of tummy ache she had. Was she actually sick? Was she just nervous to go back to school for some reason? Maybe she simply hadn’t eaten enough yesterday, and thats why she hurt! I asked her if she felt sick, and she said no. Just had a tummy ache. She said she didn’t want “the students” to get her sickness. I suggested that she should maybe go with her tummy ache and it might even itself out. Her chin quivered and she said again “I don’t want the students to get sick!” In that moment, I believed she was nervous to go to school, for fear of throwing up again, but at school this time. I wouldn’t want to barf at school either. I agreed that she could stay home for the morning, and we’d see how she was then. I want to be conscious of her needs, even if she’s anxious more than actually “sick.”

Aaaaand then she barfed. The lightweights can skip this paragraph 😉 I know you’re out there.

Laela was sitting on the couch, reading a book, while I chatted with Cher and my mom. It was a total pleasure to have them both over at the same time, and it was also really handy, turns out. We were all in the living room when Laela asked me for a bucket because she thought she might throw up. I was caught off guard, and hesitated for a second before I got up and headed for her room in search of a bucket that I thought had been beside her bed overnight. I had made it two steps in that general direction when she covered her mouth, and spewed barf evvvvverywhere!!! I picked up into a run towards her room, and intercepted Waverly, who was heading towards the action. I deposited her in Laela’s room, but found no bucket. I foolishly ran upstairs for one while my mom just grabbed a dish in the kitchen and caught the second burst of vomit. And the third and fourth and how many more after that. I made it back down to her, where my mom was holding a pan in front of Laela and Cher had scooped Wavy up to keep her from splashing around in the vomit. Thus began a quick moving half hour of wiping down my child, couch, and floor. My mom lovingly scrubbed my living room rug and put Laela’s blanket, clothing, and some dirty towels into the laundry. Cher brought paper towel and cleaning stuff, and kept Waverly out of the mess. And in the centre of it all was Laela, feeling worlds apart better, being super strong and brave through it all. She was pretty tired, but knew when she was done and was totally patient while we cleaned up around her. She kept her spirits high and didn’t complain at all. She’s handled her boring day and boring food like a champ. I’m SO impressed with how brave she is when she’s sick.

So in case it wasn’t clear, we’ve rocked another full day of quiet play, reading a lot, drinking lots of water, and lots of naps.

I’m going to keep her home tomorrow, too. Its just too much sickness, and I don’t want to spread the “fun” around. While this is not the season I want my family to be sick in, rather now than even closer to Christmas! Let’s just hope and pray that Laela keeps it to herself! ❤️🤞