Aaaannnnnnndddd, they're all sick

Yep. All three. All three girls in my house are sick.

Livi started it all off with a runny nose on Saturday. Not too big a deal and she definitely didn't act like she was sick.

Sunday morning she woke up pretty much the same. We went out for breakfast and did some shopping. Nose kept running but she was in good spirits. Lots of juice and a nice long nap.

By late afternoon the nose ran more and more to the point of it being plugged and she could only breathe through her mouth. We figured it would be hard to sleep so I wasn't going to force in to bed, instead just let her sit up with me on the couch with a blanket and pillow. I lay Emma down around 8pm upstairs and she went to bed wonderfully.

Livi sat up but then around 9pm she started getting tired and tried to lay down to sleep. Tossing and turning constantly on the couch. She asked to go up to bed so we did that but to the same result. She tugged on her ear and said "Daddy, ear hurt." I knew an ear infection would be bugging her and made it hard to sleep.

Looking up remedies I found a suggestion to use a warm, moist towel on her face near her ear to alleviate the pain. Seemed to work pretty good and she calmed down a little. By this time she could barely stay awake and was falling asleep sitting up but waking because of her breathing being plugged.

After a long few hours of very agitated crying, Sam arrived home from work. Livi had gotten her second wind by now and was playing and pretending to be a moo cow on our kitchen counter. Sam spent the night in her room helping her sleep while I spent the night in our room with Emma.

Starting at midnight, Emma woke up at least once an hour when her nose plugged. Snorts and coughs were my alarm clock all night. Pick Emma up, on my shoulder, nose drain on shoulder, fall back asleep.

Everyone awake at 6am and now I've got 3 sick girls sitting on the couch at home. Hoping they all get better soon.

Let's also hope it's some sort of female cold and won't get passed to me. KOW

Signs of Improvement

The terrible two's have calmed down to the slight agitated two's. KOW. Hoping not to jinx myself.

Since my last post about Livi and her tantrums, her attitude has greatly improved. Sure we still get a blowout once in a while but it's much easier resolved. Not by just giving her what she wants but by distracting her or compromising the situation. (Take note Fehr/Bettman). I'm sure it's something we're going to be dealing with for a long time but like I've said before, we know it's normal and part of life. It's really not even that bad. Not complaining at all.

As for Emma, it's all smiles and blabbering. The happiest little face you'll ever see on a baby. She turned 4 months yesterday and went for her checkup at the doctor. Everything checked out normal and she's nice and healthy. KOW

Other than that, just getting everything ready for Christmas and Livi's 2nd Birthday party next month. Updates and pics to come!

No-throw, No-hit, No-spit

It seems pretty evident now that we've hit the terrible two's with our little Olivia. For the last few weeks, we've been seeing tantrums, screaming, crying and destruction on the same level as a Junior Godzilla (or junior Cloverfield to be current).

We knew this was coming and had discussed our strategy well in advance, read up on what to do when a situation arises or got advice from the "wise" elders of past generations. It's just something something we realized is going to happen and it's completely normal. You try to deal with her behaviour and slowly do what you can to calm her and calm yourself. We try talking to her and explaining that we're not happy with what she did, try to get her to clean up her own mess and most importantly be a good example ourselves of how to act. Any other advice would be appreciated, please comment below.

We know that it's a combination of the terrible-two's, jealousy over a new baby in the house and the NHL Lockout. Livi needs her Canucks back!

The Rainy Adventures of Corny and Pumpkinny

Ahhh, it's over. Halloween is done for 2012. We'll get excited for it again in 11 months.
Last Friday we made a trip to the pumpkin patch with the girls. We decided to go early on a week day to beat the crowds and take advantage of the discount. One thing we didn't realize was weekdays = field trips. 6 school buses of kids joined us as we braved the elements.

After the initial line up to get in, we were greeted by a dancing Corn on the Cob "Corny" and his pumpkin cohort "Pumpkinny"? and a full band playing songs. We watched for a bit and then got on a tractor for the hayride. They sang songs which Olivia loved and clapped along. They pulled up to the field where we were to pick our pumpkins and dropped us off.

At this moment I realized that putting Livi and I in Chuck Taylors was not a great idea. Sam and Emma the barnacle stood near the edge of the field under an umbrella and attempted to stay warm and dry. Livi and I were off through the mud. "Stuck Daddy!" Livi's little feet were no match for the muck and I was constantly pulling her out. We picked up the first 3 pumpkins that we found and put them in our bags, turned around and got back on the tractor. More songs, more rain, more Pumpkinny aaaaaaaand back to the car.

Well worth it and a great place to go.

Sam and the barnacle

Muddy feet

There's Pumpkinny in the background

All carved

A great night was had by the Nutley's. Olivia was dressed up as her favourite Sesame Street character Abby Cadabby (see Figure 1 for reference) and our little Emma was an aerobics instructor or Emma Newton-John (she did not get physical at all. Unless sleeping and smiling count). Sam made the Abby costume herself from scratch and did a wonderful job. Emma's however was thrown together from stuff we had around the house.

Like last year we went to the mall down the street which does a Halloween event where all of the stores inside give out candy and all proceeds go to charity.

The girls had a great time seeing both of their Nana's, getting lots of candy and being kept up at all night by firecrackers.

Figure.1

Adding freckles

Emma Newton-John

Nana and the girls

Nana and Grandad's house

Abby Cadabby

The Nutleys