Adventures in Calgary

The weather was great this weekend. Friday night Zoe and I went to play tennis for the first time this season. It was great getting out and wacking the ball around. Neither one of us was very good but we both had lots of fun. Then it was book club at Melinda's house. I drank WAY too much...way, way too much. But that happens every once in a while and at least I didn't have far to walk home. Saturday Noel and I went to visit Jim (my boss) in the hosptial and then we went to Canmore for the afternoon. Our favourite gallery there moved to a new, bigger location. We saw some amazing paintings there but exercised our restraint and didn't buy any. We took Molly out for pizza at Rocky Mountian Flatbread Company (local organic pizza place). It was so good. Molly had so much fun and she loves pizza! Today we got a bunch of stuff done around the house and then went over to Jamie and Chris' for a BBQ.

I haven't given a detailed Molly update lately so here it is

Words:
Hi, Hello, Tickle, Go, Aah-chew!, Shoe, Two, Mama, Dada, Thank you, YO!, Juice

Molly loves to close doors, blow kisses, hide behind her crib and then jump out, kiss herself in the mirror, bark when she sees dogs, and turn the TV on and off.

She can touch her nose, ears, head, eyes, tongue, feet, and belly when asked.

She's eating really well again. I'm thinking of starting to wean her in the next couple of weeks in the hopes that she will start sleeping all the way through the night.

This week I go into the dermatologist to have some skin cancer taken off...kinda scary but at least they caught it early.

With the flu came 24/7 breastfeeding again. After being away for 2 weeks without feeding my boobs didn't know what hit them. Part of me is glad that I still have enough milk supply to feed a 13 month old who refuses solid food and part of me is looking forward to having small boobs that aren't constantly being unveiled again. I'm hoping that once Molly is back at Suzanne's during the day she'll be less demanding of breastmilk in the evenings and weekends again. Here's hoping! It's so hard to remember what it was like when I was just starting breastfeeding and I was so scared I wouldn't be able to do it. Who knew I'd be trying to figure out a way to stop just 12 months later.

Last weekend we went over to Corrina and Jeremy's for brunch. It was so great to see them again. The breakfast was delicious! Molly and Angus even had some fun playing together instead of just near each other. I'm so glad we went because that was the last time I got to go out and have some fun before Molly's evil flu struck. I think she's finally on the mend. It's lasted so long. If she wasn't better this morning I'd decided we were going to head back to the sick kids for a follow up but thankfully she was fever free today and not nearly as screamy. Noel left for Edmonton this afternoon so I'm hoping Molly stays relatively sane this week. At least the weather is supposed to be nice so we can get out and play for a bit after work each day.

The last couple of days have been horrible but I think (fingers and toes crossed, knock on wood) that we're over the worst of it now. It started Monday night. Molly woke up at 10 pm screaming like I've never heard her before. When I went in her sleep sack and bed were both covered in vomit. She was hysterical. She couldn't keep anything down. We called healthlink in the morning and they suggested we try some pedialyte but she couldn't even keep that down. She was a mess all day and all night. We tried her on solids this morning and up they came so off we went to the hospital. It was a good visit. Great nurse named Michelle, great doctor...but really there was nothing they could do. Luckily I'm still breastfeeding Molly and that's been keeping her hydrated when she couldn't keep anything else down. She's just been nursing and sleeping and crying in rotation for 2 days...poor thing. She finally got some solids down tonight at dinner but they went right through her. The doctor said the virus might end up in her bowels. I'm just glad that it seems to be on it's way out. Pretty scary.

Before I head back to Vancouver tomorrow morning I thought I'd quickly update the blog. We've had a wonderful long weekend. Molly and Noel did so well with me being away. I was so worried that Molly would be mad at me when I came home but she was so happy to see me Friday morning. She hugged me for about half an hour! I was also really worried about the whole breastfeeding thing. I'd been pumping some while I was away but not nearly as much as I probably should have. I didn't know if my milk supply would last or if Molly would just go off breastfeeding after going without for a week. But that all sorted itself out too...after our 30 minute cuddle, she quickly demanded some boob time. I think I've nursed her more this weekend than I have since she was a tiny baby. I guess it's partly comfort but she really, really wants to nurse a lot. I guess we'll keep on nursing for a while yet.

I'm somewhat nervous that this trip has made Molly more clingy/nervous/upset. She's been very short tempered since I've been home and quick to cry which is very unlike her. I hope we can get past it once I'm back for good. But then Noel's away so I guess she's just going to have to deal.

This weekend has been so great (despite the seemingly constant nursing and whining). Friday we just hung out together. Saturday we went shopping and then over to Sheri and Gracie's for dinner. Stephen cooked us all a turkey and it was so fun. Sunday we went to the park with Angela, Derek and Elliot and then to Grandma Nancy's for dinner. Molly just loves booting around that house. There's so much space to explore. Today we relaxed, did a bit of cleaning and then went over to Brent and Melinda's for dinner. It was so nice. We haven't done that in ages...well since Melinda started school. Molly did really well with all the traveling and whatnot this weekend. I can't believe I'm flying out again tomorrow. There's a weather warning for the morning so my cab is coming crazy early again (just in case). I'm hoping to get some quality dinners with Nancy and Elaine again. And perhaps even some swimming!

This week I'm in Vancouver shooting 4 commercials for the Alberta Ford Dealers. It's my first time away from Molly for more than a single night. It was so hard accepting that I had to be away from her. I cried for hours the night before I left. I knew in my heart that she would be fine with Noel but I didn't want her to be fine. I wanted her to be with me. I tried to think of a way that I could bring her with me but I knew that wasn't an option. As it turns out she is doing better than fine without me. Noel is also managing well. I am totally relieved but a bit sad that things can go on in my absence so easily...and here I thought I was indispensable!

The shoot has gone incredibly well. We had some weather issues one day but that's about it. I've even managed to get out for one night of fun with Nancy and Elaine. And 2 other dinners with Missy (from the production company). Tomorrow we're doing an all night shoot so I'm hoping to get a good long sleep in and then an afternoon nap in preparation. The good news is that I'll be home in just 2 more days!!!