Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

I don't even know where to begin.  I've been busy with work and then getting home late and only having time to eat and a bit of Fionn and me time before he goes to bed.  Then I have a little bit of time to myself to prep for the next day and it happens all over again.  It gives me a newly rejuvenated love for the weekend.  So a couple of weeks ago we went through the break of Fionn's leg and I was hoping for a nice quiet weekend since today we had my nephew's 3rd birthday party.  But that was asking too much since while we were out and about town on Saturday we managed to get Fionn's little index finger stuck in the bathroom door at Starbucks.  It was bad, bad enough to merit a trip to the ER and  it ended up needing 3 stitches.  Seriously, will it never end?!  What next?!

4 hours post injury, after cleaning and before an x-ray.  It was still bleeding.

In the middle of all that I managed to get some baking done.  Some mini cupcakes for Dylan's daycare and then his birthday party today.  He wanted 'Where the Wild Things Are' theme so I found a cute cake online which I did my best to re-create.  I think it turned out pretty good.  The cupcakes were the buttermilk vanilla cupcakes that I posted previously with a buttercream icing and the cake is Martha Stewart's one bowl chocolate cake recipe with a different kind of buttercream.  This one has shortening and butter which I find makes for better decorating.

So now we start a new week and I hope it's comfortably dull. I think we've had our share of injury for the next 10 years.  This week I need to just man up and catch up on my cleaning and laundry.  Now I think I will go to bed.  Sleep sounds so good to me right now.

Fall from grace

So I'm pretty sure I'm cursed.  Yesterday was my second day of work and it went well.  Just a lot of reading, the usual for new jobs and all.  Anyways I went to my sister's place to pick up my son that night and on our way to put on our puts and jacket to leave we took a tumble.  I was carrying him and I slipped down two steps and fell on his leg.  We rushed to the ER and found out what we already suspected.  Broken.  Two bones, the fibula and tibia.  He has to wear a full leg cast for 4-6 weeks but considering his history with with clubfeet, the ER resident said it would probably be the full 6 weeks.  No walking or crawling either.  I feel so bad for him and that it happened at all.  I know it's an accident and it's all part of life but it doesn't make me feel any better about having injured him.  Poor kid.  Last week pneumonia, this week a broken leg.

Fresh Cast

The best picture I could find to show the break.  His break is clean and a little closer to the ankle.

Suffice to say that I'm a little discombobulated with all that's going on.  Now if I can only find a moment to do some baking.

No Sleep = Weekend Disaster

Finally napping

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope your weekend is going better than mine so far. This week has been tiresome enough with Fionn's pneumonia and all then Friday night was a complete and utter horror. My mom and I decided to have a movie night so we packed up and prepared for a sleepover at Grandma's house, dogs and all. We had a lovely homemade diner and the dogs were behaving and Fionn went to sleep very well. We watched our movie(Sex and the City2, my mom hadn't seen it yet) and then we went off to bed. Fionn did not want to sleep in the toddler bed but rather in 'mommies' bed so I said why not. That night was the first night we gave him his new asthma medicine, singulair, and I'm not sure if it was from that or just not being at home or whatever but he woke up when I was getting into bed at around 11:30pm and he would not go back to sleep until around 4:30am!! I was dead on my feet all day. It gave me a rotten head and neck ache too. And to top it off, it was blizzarding and the rental car my mom has (since the accident) is not equipped with snow tires (why the hell not!?) so we were stuck staying another night. Oh and I didn't bring enough dog food for more than one day so my sister picked some up for us, along with icing sugar. More on that in a second.

And of course, since I wasn't already having a bad day, my sister asked me at 11am to make her some cupcakes for a going away party she was invited to, that night, at 6:30pm. Normally that wouldn't be so much of a problem, other then being annoying because of the last minute thing, but I was at my mom's place and don't have my mixer, cupcake liners, piping bags, etc, etc. So I had to improvise. Do something with what we had on hand. I made cupcake liners out of parchment paper and found a good recipe that did not require a whole lot of vigorous mixing (I was able to do it all by hand with a whisk, old school). So now, along with the dog food, I said sent her to pick up the icing sugar. That's all we were missing.

So I turned to old faithful Martha Stewart for a last minute recipe and found this one, which turned out to be very good. In fact I would use it again, and I will.

Buttermilk-Vanilla Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

Makes 4 dozen mini cupcakes. (I got 14 regular sized cupcakes, or maybe a tad bigger then normal)

• 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line mini-muffin tins with paper liners.
2. Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a mixer bowl. Transfer bowl to mixer, and add egg, yolk, water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on low speed until mixture is well combined and smooth, about 3 minutes.
3. Divide batter among liners, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown and a tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks for 30 minutes. Invert cupcakes onto racks, and let cool completely. (Cupcakes can be stored for up to 3 days.)

So today we went to costco and I got two new books. If you know me, you know how much I love new books! I mean LOVE! The way they feel, the way they smell, the cool, crisp, freshness it has from being never touched and read by someone else. Yeah, that's how I feel. Anyways I've been toying around with the idea of making some cake pops and I just got Bakerella's book to make 'em. Exciting! And then since I'm not already reading 100 books at once(no really, I must have a dozen on the go, I get bored and switch) my mom pointed out 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchen Rubin. Not sure if that was a hidden message saying I'm not happy enough. Oh well, you can never be too happy right? So now I've got a ton of good reading material to last me a life time, or at least until I come across another good looking book.

I start my new job tomorrow. Now I have to wake up earlier to look pretty. The nice thing about bakers is you're in the back and no one has to look at you. But a banker on the other hand, has to look presentable. So that means dress pants and clean crisp tops. Yes,I went shopping, which was fun. I'm not complaining really, just nagging on loosing a bit of sleep. But this is a good thing. It's another step in the right direction for me, and Fionn by association. Let the 9 to 5(5:30 really) commence.

"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy" - Robert Louis Stevenson

Cabin Fever

Day 4 now of antibiotics for Fionn.  He seems to be doing a little bit better.  Some moments are better than others.  He's still got a lot of wheezing and rattling in his breathing.  And lots of coughing too.  He's usually good in the morning and then really crabby after his nap.  Poor kid.

We're not doing a whole lot, just trying to relax and get better.  So we've been watching a lot of movies.  For instance Fionn is now watching Fox and the Hound as I write this from the kitchen.  He's so cute when he tries to pick a movie.  He stands on a chair to reach the wall mounted movie rack and he stares at it going 'Ummm umm umm'.  Then he points to one and I`ll take it out and ask him is he wants to watch this one and I'll either get a 'that one' or a 'No mommy'.  He's picky sometimes.  Or maybe he's just serious about his movies.  I get it.  This is how glued he gets to the tube.  Holding his Thomas train and a hockey stick.



 He's been an angel about taking his pump too.  The first time he had pneumonia we went through a faze where he would not take it.  throwing a tantrum and pushing it away and thrashing his head side to side.  but now he's a pro.  He`s still glued to the movie as I give him his pump.

I have this app on my iPhone that takes these crazy looking pictures which I love.  So you might be seeing  lots of these.  You've been warned.

So for today I've got a lot of 'fun' planned.  And by 'fun' I mean chores.  Laundry, laundry, and just to shake things up, do a bit more laundry.  Then I'll have to sort and put away said laundry.  Oh and Vacuum.  Like I mentioned before I'm doggy-siting my sister's white dog and he sheds.  A lot.  So it's a major vacuum day.

 I wish I had more exciting news but being house bound makes for non-excitement.  I'm starting to get a mean case of cabin fever.

It's taking me so long to write this, because of all the lovely interruptions that Fionn has requested another movie.  Next movie feature is Anastasia.  I love Disney movies as much as the next kid-at-heart-parent but I'm getting a little Disney'ed out.  Depending on how the little guy is feeling tomorrow, we might venture out in public.  I need to go shopping for work clothes.  I haven't had a need for office wear in a long time so it's about time I get some appropriate clothes for my new job.

I just wanted to show ya'll all the stuff my boy has to take for his pneumonia.  Two bottles of pink antibiotics for 10 days, steroids to reduce the massive swelling of his lungs, which he finished today(it was just for 4 days).  Then he's got his daily gummy bear vitamins and his two pumps.  That's not including his new prescription for his asthma, which we haven't started taking just yet.  We're also waiting on hearing from the chest clinic to see a specialist.  Pneumonia 4 times in a year is not normal and I'm so glad the ER doctor referred us since our family doctor wouldn't.

I love seeing this.  Fionn snuggling with Rocky.  Minus the mess.  Note the hockey stick. A gift from my cousin which he loves.  We now play carpet hockey in the living room.  Our hockey rink also doubles as a dance floor, a wrestling ring for the dogs, and a gym for mommy when I get the motivation to do a workout DVD.  A lot of living goes on in our living room.

Bellow is Fionn's masterpiece from the other day.  He loves to paint.

I guess that's enough rambling for today.  I'm just delaying the inevitable laundry task.  Hey maybe I'll bake something today.  Isn't that what this blog is suppose to be about?  Life, I tell you, it gets in the way sometimes.

"I must create a system or be enslav'd by another man's. I will not reason or compare: my business is to create."  -William Blake

TGIF & 90 seconds of gratitude

Happy TGIF everyone. What's on your baking menu for the weekend? I'm not doing a whole lot of baking this weekend. My sister and her family are leaving for Jamaica tomorrow early in the AM and I have the honour of doggy-sitting again. Just one dog this time. My old pal Rocky, the white husky. He's an old dog now but there was a time where he was just as crazy as my puppy is now. Ok maybe not AS crazy but still hyperactive. Also my brother is leaving tomorrow and with him are my two old dogs which I have been doggy-sitting since mid December. I will be sad to see them go, they have been so good. I think Fionn will be sad too because he's been waking up every morning saying 'Hi Ernie! Hi Bert Bert! You're cute Ernie! You're cute Bert Bert!'. I think he likes that they don't tackle him to the ground like our puppy Chinook does. Bert and Ernie wouldn't be tall enough either. They are corgy mixes so little half pints.  But before he leaves we're going for lunch at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant.  If you've never had Ethiopian food before, GO!  Go now!  It's amazing on so many levels.  Just be ready to get your hands dirty and to fight for your food!  With my family its like a race to the finish line.  If we ever bring a guest with our family they must be forewarned and ready to battle it out.  It's usually cause we're so hungry and we know how good it is.  It's a free for all.  I love it! 

I managed to get an emergency appointment for Fionn's orthopedic surgeon. And by emergency I mean January 27^th. That's the closest they could squeeze us in. But hey I'm not complaining because it's closer then May! I would hate that his feet not get examined until may. His poor feet look like they are relapsing. He was born with club feet and his correction has been done without the need for surgery and I hope he won't need any still. I'm hoping IF it is relapsing that it can be corrected with more casting and not surgery.

Pictures taken at the hospital before any correction (1 week old)

One of his weekly casts

first day in his Boots & bars

At the Museum, feet looking good!

We're still sick but getting better. Well I am anyways. Fionn's still feverish and coughing up a storm. He was not well last night and I was this close to going to the ER. He's had pneumonia 3 times this year and I'm always concerned that his colds will trigger another pneumonia. So we'll have to see how things go tonight.

OH happy news! My security check for the bank went through without a hitch and I start on the 17^th! I'm excited to get back to work. I'll still be baking but banking too. Lol Banking... Baking, close enough. Just kidding of course. But this will be great for the time being.

If you know me, you know I'm a big fan of Jason Mraz.  I think he's got some of the sexiest music out there.  I love hearing his music and it just makes me so happy.  Anyways he has a wicked blog that I follow.  You can check it out here.  Today he posted something that I thought everyone should take a moment to do.  In 90 seconds, list the things you are grateful for today.  That's it.  Isn't that powerful!?  So here's mine (in no particular order).... annnd go;

My handsome, intelligent son

Bright sunny days

Puppies

Comfy pajama pants

My warm cozy bed

My incredible mother

Cupcakes, preferably red velvet

Fresh baked bread, with butter

The smell of the ocean

The feel of driving down the open road with the wind in your hair

Jason Mraz's music

My family

Close friends

Cam (you are my shining star)

Books, books & more books

TV

good looking men ;)

Skim milk

Baby boutiques

Fresh cut flowers

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

Taking breathtaking pictures with my sister's awesome camera

Hot showers

LUSH bath bombs

The roof over my head

Good food

My life

Costco

Nature

Red wine

Martha Stewart (don't judge, you know you love her too)

Well played hockey

My supportive father

St-Mary's

Make-up

Toilets & toilet paper! (Hey, they weren't always around.  Maybe not in our lifetime but aren't you glad you don't have to worry about it)

Slippers

The perfect day care provider for my son

Freedom

Starbucks

And much more then I can fit in to 90 seconds

What are you grateful for?

And to end the evening I thought I would add some pictures that I forgot I had of Fionn and his cousin Felix eating cupakes!

Sick Day & Snow Angels

Oh how I hate thee sick days of winter!
So I've been getting sick these last couple of days and so has Fionn but today we are finally, officially sick.  So he's staying home from daycare and we've been keeping busy indoors.  First off we had breakfast (not a whole lot mind you since both our appetites are low) then he kept asking to watch his new movie from Uncle Kenny, How to train your dragon, which he loves.  He asks me constantly, 'dragon mommy, dragon?'.  It's cute but a little annoying.  I made some homemade playdough to go with his new wooden playdough tool set.  We played with that for a while and then we painted in his paint book (just a blank folio book to paint in) that I got him for his birthday.  And then it was on to our second movie of the day, Brother Bear2, which he calls 'Koda bear, mommy, Koda bear?'.  Koda is one of the bear names in the movie. And this was all before nap time.

He comes up with the funniest titles for his movies I tell you.  Finding Nemo was always just Nemo which makes sense.  And then there was Oliver and Company which he daubed A minou, puppy. Minou is what he calls his favorite stuffed cat.  It's his FAVORITE.  He never goes anywhere without it.

Fionn with his 'Minou' and his cousin Felix

 Just to show you how attached he is to his Minou.

If I feel up to it I might decide to make a cheese and onion tart later, or tomato sauce.  Or perhaps just stick with soup.  My poor boy can't stop coughing.  When he gets sick his asthma gets real bad.  The dual cough, asthma and cold cough, sucks.  Hope he gets over it soon.  I hate hearing him cough in his sleep.

On a happier note, this is what I stumbled upon when I picked him up from daycare.  A happy boy playing in the snow, doing snow angels!

If you're not sick then go out and enjoy winter! Throw yourself in the snow and make some angels!

2011 = A good year

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and new year.  I've been lucky enough to spend lots of time with my family and it's been great.  Santa was good to us.  My brother is in town and the dogs have been wonderful too.  I've been quite busy which is why I've sort of been off my game and not blogging.  Sorry.

My handsome boy, Fionn, and I.  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

On another note, new years eve, I was in a car accident.  I got hit by a bus.  Yep, a bus.  Just my luck.  He cut me off with no signal while I was in a turning lane and the moment I notice he was coming in to my lane I stopped but he scrapped the whole front right corner.  Ripping off the head light and bagging it up.  No charges were laid but it's still gonna cost quite a bit.  We're dealing with insurances and everything now which is not pleasant.  The most important part is that we're all ok.  I was in the car with my son and two dogs and thank god we weren't going fast.  I count myself lucky that the car is the only thing hurt.

The damage

So for Christmas I made Aprons for the ladies in my family.  I got this really cool canvas material from Ikea in Calgary and I thought it would make beautiful aprons.  My mom got one and so did my two older sisters and my brother's new girlfriend.  See the picture below;

My mom and my older sisters posing in the aprons I made them 

I thought I would mention how cute my new niece is.  Before she was even born I bought her the sweetest red pajama with a butt flap!  So we needed a photo of it before she outgrew it.  She's a growing machine. She's only 3 months old and she's in 9 month old clothes.  That's one well breastfed baby!

Just look at those eyes!

My oldest sister, the mother of my nice Zoe, has cut out dairy from her diet in hopes to have a less fussy baby and it seems to be working.  So for her birthday she requested a non dairy cake.  I went and found a non dairy and cholesterol free chocolate cake.  It turned out ok. Not my favorite but still good.  We also celebrated my father's going away party that same night.  He moved to India for work and I can't wait to be able to go visit.  I made a lemon icebox pie for that same night.

Lemon icebox pie, and chocolate cake in the back (note the loads of decorations my aunt added for fun)

 I have been getting Fionn's picture taken with Santa every year but this year we didn't do the mall thing but we did see santa and I just took a picture with my phone.  He's still not too sure about this whole Santa deal.  But he does keep telling me Santa's coming. lol

Fionn and Santa

 I had to add this picture just because.  Fionn giving his Aunt Nicole a Christmas kiss in his Dish Dash (nightgown from Oman)

 And what's New Years without Red Velvet Cupcakes!  These are my all time favorite and they are always a hit.  Except for my little sister who doesn't like cream cheese icing.  Sorry lol

I would also like to point out that I do not want to have a New Years resolution but rather some positive changes for life.
>I would like to take the time to write EVERYDAY.  It can be anything, blogging, journaling, poetry, bits and pieces of fiction, whatever.... Just write and keep writing)
>Take better pictures.  I don't want to forget anything.  I want it all on camera.
>Take special ME time and scrapbook more often.
>Follow through and throw out 50 things (I'm at 4 lol) I've got to get my life organized and it starts with my apartment.  GET RID OF LIFE CLUTTER!
>Sew more
>Take care of my health and my body.  I would like to jog and first I would need to teach my body to jog.  I want to feel good in my own skin.  I want to be able to keep up with my toddler.
>I am determined to be happy and grateful for my life.
>MOVE MORE, EAT LESS
>Learn to budget and stick to it
>Read more, like I use too
>LOVE.  Love who I am.  Love my son.  Love my family.  Just more love in general.

"guess what? We get only one to work with. Life, that is. What is it you want to do with yours?"

I'm ready to take 2011 by storm and make it the beginning of a better life for me and son.  Here goes!