Sanctuary

This morning we were surprised by yet another unexpected house-guest--this time a pigeon.  Malou found the pigeon in our garage this morning, and was surprised at the ease at which she managed to catch it.  She brought it inside, much to the delight of our little ones.  We figure that this pigeon, who is much larger and a different colour than the local species, has likely been kept as a pet by one of the locals, and thus, the wings have been clipped.  We have let him totter around the yard all day long, and he has finally settled down to sleep in the chair beside the pool.

We named him Elvis because he was "King of the Pigeons"

We had a great Diwali.  After Boogie Bears, I picked up my friend Yang who made us a vegetarian Chinese noodle dish (which little A bluntly said 'did not taste very good').  Well, Peter, T N and I all disagree with little A (whose idea of gourmet seasoning is Maggi dip), as we all very much enjoyed the noodles.  I finally broke down and approached Yang for some help/suggestions with my hip, which she immediately inspected amidst the screaming and yowls of my three children (who all decided to skip their naps yesterday).  She has given me some exercises to do, and just today told me that she would like to check it again, in a quieter setting, where we can both focus a little more.

Yan(g) Can

T N has not been sleeping during the day this week.  It has been impossible to put him down for any of his naps, as he just digs up all the sheets from the bed.  I figure this nap-strike has been going on for two weeks now.  Last night, it was painful watching him fall asleep while he was still chewing his supper.  So, today I steeled myself and laid down a screaming monster.  Miraculously, it seems that the strike is over (fingers crossed).

Little A has had some extreme anxiety related to her Dance Club class.  I have noticed since last week that she is becoming harder and harder to put down for naps, and is always asking 'do I have dance club today?', before she will submit to sleep.  She started to ask this even at night time, and with increased hysterics.  Finally, on Tuesday, when I had to listen to her gut-wrenching howls, I had enough.

Crying like that is really abnormal behaviour from her (she is the one who can be galloped on by fellow dance clubbers and hold her tears for 20 minutes until she gets to her momma), and I had to decide how much longer I was going to make her 'tough it out'.  She obviously is not enjoying her Dance Club experience, and spends a lot of time worrying and stressing about it.  So, I made a decision and have moved her to Jazz class instead (the school does not do refunds or credits).  She enjoyed her first class (and why not--it's another private lesson like her ballet class!), and I think we'll just stick with it for a little while, until she chills out a bit.  I'm not sure if it is really necessary to send a four year old into hysterics for a dance class.  Actually, I am sure--it's NOT worth it.

House-guest

Thanks to the distance, and the new Visa requirement, we don't get a lot of visitors coming to stay with us.  So, we are always excited to have an unexpected house-guest.

The highlight of Friday, was when Malou discovered THIS gekko in a bucket outside.  This is by far, the largest gekko we have had visit our villa.  So, little A prepped her bug tent with lush greens, water, and even a live fly that I caught, and this little fella (or gal) spent the night.  Our general policy with respect to any 'guest' of her bug tent is that they spend the day and then go outside at night, so they can return to their families.  However, we made an exception so that Peter (who arrives this evening) can meet this gekko.  We will put him out tonight (although I must confess a part of me really wants to see him eat that fly!).

The week has been fairly easy and enjoyable.  We have kept pretty busy, and the biggest challenge has been T N's nap schedule, which has not been coinciding with everyone else's.  I believe that teething is the culprit, throwing his sleep off, although he seems to be pretty much the same sleeper at night.

This week ARG has been spraying the community areas with pesticides, so I chose to hold off on the morning walks, and stay within our own yard.  The days we have not had 'scheduled activities', we have been swimming.  We went for our first morning walk of the week on Friday (the day of rest, so I knew nobody would be spraying anything).  When we came home, we spent some time planting seeds in our flower beds, and hopefully soon we will see lettuce, marigolds, sunflowers and sweet potato sprouts.

This morning we attended a neighbour's garage sale, and little A bought herself a fairy book for 10 aed (she used money from her piggy bank and paid me back).  I bought her a Cinderella dress (which was a steal for 25 aed), which I know she will really enjoy for years to come (well--let's hope anyways, as she likely won't truly fit it until she is a little taller)

Just Another Manic Monday

Whoa-oh-OH!

This picture (taken of T N doing his Nutella tongue-stretching exercises, recommended by his speech therapist), pretty much gives a visual of my mental state at this moment.

We pretty much spent the morning at SKMC.  I had to get my medical for my visa done (but I paid 100 aed and was 'fast-tracked'--a thing of beauty that Fast Track). Then, we found ourselves with 30 minutes to wait for T N's speech therapy appointment.  She was running a few minutes behind, and when we finally saw Sara, we were interrupted by another patient, and then multiple phone calls.  Sara was very apologetic for something that was not her fault, and offered to give me a 'make-up session'.  I laughed, b/c making the drive to SKMC once a week is my limit.

Which is why I was annoyed when I got a call this afternoon telling me that T N's appointment with the pediatric surgeon (just a follow-up) had to be moved to TOMORROW.  Of course, this will be a major time consuming activity.  I know this b/c although the secretary told me my appointment time was 11:20, that I could come as early as I wanted (after 8 a.m.).  I am not sure how they think they are using an 'appointment system', if the earlier I come, the sooner I will be seen.  However, I will leave here at 9 a.m. (otherwise the rush-hour traffic is pretty ugly) and see what happens.

Then it was lunch and afternoon naps (although T N seems to have trouble falling asleep at the same time as the rest of us, which makes this difficult).  Today, because I was over-tired, I asked Malou to put him to sleep.  She tried twice, and after replacing his 'blanky' (the shiny, silky smooth duvet cover that he's slept on since he was a wee tiny baby), he settled down and slept.  I guess he is pretty attached to that, and I will just have to invest in a new duvet cover for our own use.

Of course, this meant he slept right up to dinner time.  I don't like waking him up, feeding him, and putting him back to sleep...but, this is how it went today (though we squeezed in some tubby time for the tubby).

Smile-ah has been screaming, A LOT, today (please see the picture above if you want to know how this makes me feel).  After waking from her afternoon nap, she spit up, let's say FIVE times (to be conservative) in the play area.  Surprise! Surprise! Afterwards she was hungry, and yet, once fed, she was still very irritable.  I gave her something for her tummy (which did nothing).  She seems to be chewing her hand with great force, and so I also gave her something for the pain, and she is now sleeping upstairs.

Now it's just little A and I.  She is playing with her Barbies, but she doesn't really consider it playing unless someone is engaging with her.  Unfortunately, her mom is pretty burnt out today.  She is being great about it though.  However, let's see if her attitude flows over into 'bed-time'.  I'm sure it will...she's generally a pretty sweet little girl (she just showed me the "I love you" sign while I am typing this...awwwwwwwww!!).

I am not sure whether I should watch a show or read for a few minutes of 'me' time tonight.  We'll see which urge is greater.

Suffice it to say, I am not feeling at the top of my game today.  I know tomorrow will be better.  

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

All in one.

We did manage to get our vaccinations on Wednesday morning (it was a LOOOOONG process).  Little A was a bit of a grumpy bird when she learned that she didn't need any needles, but I managed to find a booster she could have.  This immediately cheered her up, and she was so happy, she shared her Tinkerbell bandaids with everyone!

I was quite surprised to see how she didn't even FLINCH--I couldn't tell when the needle even pierced her skin.  With T N and Smile-ah, however, it was very easy to tell.

The two little ones both presented with the usual vaccination side-effects, and we had elevated temperatures and grumpy babies at our place for the next two days.

Thursday was the first day I left little Smile-ah at home with Malou.  Little A had her ballet class, and Smile-ah was sleeping so peacefully, it just didn't feel right to wake her to take her for 30 minutes.  Though I felt pretty torn about leaving her, I felt it was best.  I was relieved to come home to a smiling and happy little one.

Friday we had the usual breakfast (joined by Uncle Pete) and then a nice relaxing day.  We spent some time putting up our Halloween decorations (thanks Nanaji and Naniji for the new additions), and it was nice to see T N so interested (though there was a great deal of howling trying to get him into his pumpkin costume).  However, I had my own attack of the 'grumpies'--not sure if it was a hormone swing or low blood sugar.  It was a strange feeling, as I could tell that my reactions were over the top--yet I couldn't keep them in line.  The irritability lasted for about an hour, and then I managed to get a handle on it.

Saturday we were joined by friends (Team Kandha, Uncle Ajay and Juergen) for salad rolls.  I got to introduce my friend Shariza to something new:  spaghetti squash.  We had a really great time, and so did Little A (though she took a long time to warm up--she seemed to be intimidated that Arysha came with her little sister Amalya...don't really understand why).  By the end of it, all three girls were running around and 'investigating' together (for which Arysha earned a sticker from little A).

We ended the evening with a little drive out to the "Pak Punjab" restaurant (I think I'm the only woman to enter that place this year...or maybe ever)--something I would never have done even a year ago.  I have been asking around for a Punjabi restaurant, and this Sikh guy I met the other day gave me this name (and general directions).  I guess I am pretty used to this place now (and pretty desperate for some authentic Punjabi Indian food).  The food was okay--but I will have to wait and find the "Ind Punjab" restaurant (I know--it doesn't likely even exist).

Another Sunday is here again, and Peter has flown off to New York for the week.  Thankfully, I have Malou and so things are pretty much the same.  I have eaten some fresh coconut jelly with my Fruit and Fibre cereal supper (YUM!!), and just got off the phone with my friend Hussain, the kindly Pakistani watchman who claims that he has cut ties with Pakistan, and wants to go to Canada.  He told me tonight that he is willing to do any work for any body, however the one thing he is unwilling to do is give up his religious beliefs.

I tried to explain once again, how difficult it is to get into Canada (even for University educated folk).  Additionally, I tried to impress upon him how I am not really the best person to help him out (SAHM that I am).  HOWEVER:

If you (or someone you know) need a guy to do any kind of work for you...and you want to sponsor him to come to Canada, please let me know.  Hussain seems to be really sweet, kind and hard-working.  Let me know.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had to actually pick up the phone and call my Canadian friend Lisa (who is still in recovery after her family has arrived here), to say 'Happy Thanksgiving'.

We will be hosting a SMALL (miniscule) Thanksgiving celebration at the end of this month.  With Peter's travel schedule, and some of our good friends being away, it just worked out better.  I think the point is to be thankful--regardless of the date--and share some good food with some good people.  We will accomplish that later this month.

I had a wonderful day today.  Despite the poor sleep and getting up at 3 a.m. to move little A's leaf back into its proper position.  We went for a walk together (Malou even joined us--just to walk, not to 'assist' though she sure tried hard to help out).  I pointed out the plant that I have every intention of digging out of the common area (I believe it has self-seeded, and will grow into a beautiful tree with soft, round velvety leaves).  Then we helped Little A find some frangapani flowers that hadn't browned yet (something she loves to do).  Smile-ah sang, and T N enjoyed the ride.  I love when he does his 'all-done' hands when we get home.

During breakfast I got a text from my friend Yang who needed to borrow my computer to check her email.  I told her to come by as soon as she could, and she biked over about half an hour later (for 9:15).  I was so very touched when she pulled out a bag of gifts for little A.  They were things that her daughter Fidelia had used and loved as a little girl, and boy, they were instantly loved over here (little A has taken the two books to bed with her).  A Hunchback of Notre Dame book (the Disney version), Swan Lake (which my little ballerina adores--she can constantly be heard singing 'For Always and Forever' from the 1995 movie version, and also hums and dances around to the Tchaikovsky score), a box of rose petals, some interactive computer cds (which she hasn't seen in action yet, but I know she will love those too), and some old notepads.  Yang kept mentioning that they were 'old', but to little A, age did not matter.  She loved them, and even found a little purse to carry around the Swan Lake book in.  I have told Little A that when Fidelia gets older and has children, we will find her and send her back her books (we will see how long it takes her to outgrow them).  She has agreed on the Hunchback book--but not the Swan Lake book.

My friend Shariza came over around 10:15, with Arysha.  I had spent some time 'coaching' Little A on the art of playing WITH her friend Arysha.  It took a while (and of course, when Arysha came I had to tear little A away from her new treasures), but I was so very thrilled with the results.  Both girls played around with puzzles, Lego, the "Safari in a bag", and even with T N.  They laughed and engaged with each other the entire time.  There was also a lunch/snack break (I have never seen Little A complete any meal so quickly while the TV was off), followed by more play.  I was sure a proud mama!!

Yang, Shariza and I had a lovely 'shared' visit.  I was happy that two ladies that I enjoy so much individually got along so very well.  Shariza is looking amazing--she has been working hard to lose some weight.  I know how difficult that can be, and so I am always so very proud of anyone who manages to shed some pounds (says the lady who has two babies worth of baby weight to lose).

Then it was time for naps, and all of our friends left.  We had to have early nap-time, because today was Dance Club at 3:30.  Like last week, little A awoke with no tears (though I did have to cater to a request to carry her down the stairs).  T N was still sleeping, and so 'the girls' head off to Gardens Plaza.  Smile-ah and I hit the treadmill together (our new thing) and I managed to get in 30 minutes of walking. I was thinking how much more enjoyable the experience had been last week, when my friend Farzana joined me (the time always seems to fly when you are with friends, doesn't it?), when I heard a familiar voice behind me...it was Farzana, popping in to give me a farewell hug, as she is jetting off to London tomorrow to celebrate her daughter's 18th birthday.

Am I a lucky girl or what??  Yang, Shariza and Farzana are some of my favourite friends, and I got to see ALL OF THEM, in ONE DAY.

I am winding down for the night.  Peter is out again, and it's just me and the sleeping little ones.  Tomorrow will be a quiet day, as T N's Boogie Bears is cancelled.  I guess we'll have to think of something exciting to do (possibly a good morning to catch them up on their vaccinations...).

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends back home.  I am grateful for all the wonderful people (and animals) I have to love in my life.  

Slimer

In honour of the movie Ghostbusters (and the apparent revival of the franchise), we have a second nickname for Smile-ah.  We call her "Slimer". Watch the following clip, and see if you can guess why...

I am recovering, the skin on my hands has almost all healed (no more velcro-hands), and I have a residual cough left over that seems to be most active at night.  I feel loads better than I did earlier this week, which is great because I have to be ready for THE BREAKFAST BUFFET tomorrow (do you know what the highlight of my week is?).

Little A got up from her nap ALL BY HERSELF today, and brought down her ballet costume for me to help her put on.  I was so very impressed!!  She does really enjoy the ballet with Ms. Abby on Thursdays (I guess she is a 'private lesson' kind of gal).

Today, Smile-ah and I walked the treadmill in the gym, while Little A danced.  We were joined by my friend Farzana, back for a bit from Scotland.  We had a nice talk while we walked--I didn't even bother checking the screen for the summary of my calorie burn, and after 22 minutes, the number was so miniscule and small--it would have depressed me and discouraged me from repeating this healthy activity.  I would like to be able to repeat this activity next week, and hope that I don't find a sign saying 'no babies allowed on the machines', next week.

T N made me laugh today.  He is getting so quick and strong.  While Little A was in the washroom getting ready for ballet (and I with her--she needed help wiping), he managed to get himself up on the coffee table and was just STANDING there, waiting for a reaction from me, when I checked on him.  You could actually SEE the delight in his eyes, when he saw my (much reigned in) excitement.

Peter is out for dinner tonight.  He will also be working Saturday this week.  We are toying with the idea of a Thanksgiving dinner at our place (next Saturday).  Right now it's still in the 'what do you think about...' phase.  

Piggy tails

Smile-ah in pig-tails--just so sweet.

We had a lovely day today.  T N showed some signs that he is really enjoying Boogie Bears.  He bounced on my lap during Donkey Joe, clapped on his own during the Boogie Bears theme song, and blew kisses for the Goodbye Song.  Loved to see him so engaged in our activity.

Made a Ginger Carrot Soup Recipe today.  Will try it tomorrow, but preliminary testing indicates more ginger should have been added (I already doubled the suggested amount).  I am trying to emulate a soup that I tasted in Canmore over the summmer.  Also, my friend Yang mentioned that ginger is very useful in helping your body rid itself of colds...so in addition to using it in my soup, I have also brewed a ginger tea (shared by myself and Malou, who unfortunately seems to have been infected by my cold!).

We experienced the computerized cars at Masdar City today.  I really enjoyed shuttling from our parking spot to the main building in the driver-less vehicle.  Very cooooool!  Getting our groceries, Sumo sushi take-away and three children BACK to the car was a bit painful--but we managed, and now have stockpiles our favourite organic foods (Abu Dhabi's ONLY itsy-bitsy Organic Planet shop is located in Masdar City).  Little A has her chocolate chip bunnies again and I also managed to find some stage 1 cereal for Smile-ah.

Illness aside, a great day.  

Rare Footage

So--as the illness continues (thankfully--only mine), I am only offering "essential services" at our place.  Food is provided, attention and love are given and chauffering (speech therapy and dance/music classes) continues.  I am hoping to be much better tomorrow (after a good night's sleep), provided that Smile-ah's congestion eases up (it seems to flare up mysteriously).

Here is what I consider 'rare footage' as the principle performer is Little A (getting her to pose for the camera is very difficult).  What I love about this video is how all three of my littles are engaged and interacting with each other.  Little A has moved Smile-ah (all by herself) away from the mobile so that she is in a better position to watch her big sister dance.  T N loves the dancing, and the music from the music box, but he also loves little Smile-ah too.

I just want to share my annoyance with the Abu Dhabi 2011 Census, which forced me to list myself as "Unwilling to Work".  They do not have a category for SAHMs (stay-at-home-moms...gotta LOVE those abbreviations).  Whoever is designing these census forms needs to take a minute, remember where we live, and figure out a category that is more appropriate for the majority of the ex-pat housewife population living here. 

Sick DayS

Some virus has been working its way around our home.  Last week I had taken a 'sick day' and Malou had looked after the children for me.  I thought I had beat this thing.  Then, it started again this week, with Little A running a slight fever on Monday.  Smile-ah also had nasal congestion and was generally miserable, so we went on a little trip to SEHA, where I learned the LONG and time-wasting way that they have a special 'Pediatrics' clinic--it's at the back, and there are no signs to mark its existence.  Then T N started up with a fever too, however I believe his issues are more related to teething.  He, as usual, wins the prize for best sick person.  He is just sleepy and tired--and still sweet as ever.

Once we managed to get all the children back to healthy, the bug took both Peter and I down (Peter, of course, went down harder).

I am hoping tomorrow sees us all healthier.  Nursing a congested baby is very difficult.  It is also hard to recover from an illness if you are being woken up every 1-2 hours in the night-time to nurse a congested baby.  I am hoping my body is passing her some immunity via the milk (all the research says it should be).

Here is a little video of the girls taken this week.  Smile-ah bounced her first bounces in the jolly jumper.  This jolly jumper has been used by all three of my kids--but Smile-ah is the only one who thoroughly appears to enjoy it (even when she's sick!).