Not really enjoying the quiet

I did enjoy the quiet for my coffee and movie, but then I went to costco and there were moms with their kids. I wanted my kid. I came home to no-one. I want my kid.I love that my parents take him and spend time with him. Its good for monkey, but I can only take a couple hours without him. How sad is that?

Ahh quiet..

My dad picked up the monkey at 9am to take him swimming. I went to visit my favourite wax lady, came home and kicked out my husband. I have spent the last hour enjoying my coffee and reading some blogs while watching Now and Then on our new 42 inch LCD TV. It has been a good morning. I have not made much of a dent in the >150 posts in my reader but I will get there, eventually. I am going to go enjoy the rest of my alone day. Watch the rest of the movie, clean my desk and the house before tonights UFC and tomorrows superball. Next post will explain the MIL kerfuffle, I promise.

Oh, the hubby has only been kicked out for the day :)

I think I've fallen off the edge of the earth

I know you all are just dying to know what the kerfuffle was my MIL and whats up with daycare, so I apologize for being AWOL. Its just that science calls. Remember all those matings I set up before I left for vacation? Unlike the previous mating that were set up exactly the same way, these ones actually resulted in progeny, like right away! Not a week after the male and females were put together but right away. This resulted in my arrival back into the lab being more of a dive into the deep end, which is unusual for me. Usually when I come to the lab, after a holiday, I like to decompress. As in go through email, read my lab book, remember what I am doing. Normally, I shut things down before I leave. I don't initiate things (ie matings) that are going to require action immediately upon my return. Note to self, don't do that in the future!
Actually that is not true because although I looking at having days of sitting in front of the scope for ~ 8 hours a day, it also means that I am closer to getting flies with the specific genotype I wanted, which means I am closer to valuable data. This also means little blog time - reading, writing or commenting.
But I have taken a little me time tonight just for that.
Prior to our vacation, I was getting a good portion of my blog reading time done while putting the monkey to bed. I would read him Goodnight moon (he picks up the book and says nigh nigh moon!!) and Guess how much I love you, along with some other books. He takes awhile to settle down and I get annoyed reading kiddie lit, so after a few repetitions of his faves, I read him blog posts.
On vacation and since we've been back, monkey has been falling asleep in my arms on the couch. Its nice to have the cuddle time back, but I am a bit worried about what has caused this "regression".
I'm not sure if I mentioned or not, but at the end of November (the 27th to be exact) I recieved a call that a spot was available in the on-campus childcare. The catch was that I only had 3 days to give answer. They had called me on a friday, which meant that technically I had until the wednesday to give them an answer (it would have to be 3 business days, since they are not open on weekends). In reality, I had to make the decision immediately. This is because if I wanted to have monkey join Campus Daycare, I would have to let Other Daycare know by Monday Dec 1 to avoid being double charged for January. This was stressful because the spot that monkey was given is in a pilot project. Yeah I know wonderful! The gist of the project is that Campus Daycare is evaluating if it is beneficial or no difference to have a wider age range of kids but more adults per group vs the current set up.
Currently childcare age groups are set up as 6-18months, 1 - 3 years and 3-5 years. I am not sure of the ratio of adults:kids for the 6-18 month group, but the 1-3 year olds had a ratio of 1:4 while the 3-5 have a 1:8 ratio. In the pilot project ages 1-5 would be together with a ratio of 1 adult:6 kids. The benefit of this system is that siblings can be in the same group together, kids are not having to transition between different primary care givers and the pressure to potty train before 3 is gone. Obviously as a parent I can see the benefit of my high energy child being around older kids, so much more to observe, learn and mimic. I also see the benefit of having monkey and a future sibling together. The concerns were the larger groups, the greater number of kids/adult (with respect to the 1-3 traditional group).
Initially I was not concerned about the monkey being in this pilot project as the Other
Daycare had told me about it and spoke about the research that supported the new model. So I said yes to on campus care and gave notice to the Other Daycare without actually talking to anyone that would be directly involved in monkeys care.
Remember I had 1 day to make this decision unless I wanted to pay $1000.00 at Other Daycare. That is not something I could afford.
However, at this point I was not too concerned because both my PI's and my lab manager kids went through the Campus Daycare and they had nothing but good things to say about. Plus our cousin works on Campus and has done extensive research into the childcare system. I know its one of the better ones in the province. But thats the catch. Its one of the better ones.
Other Daycare is the BEST in Western Canada.
It provides services that this one doesn't. All the food (snacks and hot lunches), cloth diapers AND they do laundry. I leave 2 full changes of clothes and they wash and dry whatever get dirty.
It also doesn't help that monkey has entered a pilot project. He is a member of the first cohort going through this model. Day-day programming was not clear at first and kinks are still being worked out, communication with parents is being worked out etc. I have no doubt the caregivers are caring, compassionate people who are great at what they do. But not having everything running like a well oiled machine has this mama bear sniffing around, asking ALOT of questions and generally making a nuisance of herself. I am "that mom". It also doesn't help that monkey clings to me, wimpers no no when we walk in and generally trys to bury himself into me. He then proceeds to scream "MOMMYEEE! NO MOMMMEEE" as I leave.
He did not do that at Other Daycare. At Other Daycare he went running in and was so excited to see his friends.
There are other minor issues (ie having to pay $$$ in addition to the monthly fees) that were not well communicated and has me peeved. Not that I mind paying more, but I wasn't informed about it. I was just told x amount of dollars were owed. That is not appropriate..see kinks being worked out....
It will be OK. He will adjust....

It fucking snowing!

The Gods do not favour me. At. All.
Western Canada has been having a CRAZY amount of snow this year. Up at my favourite mountain, they had record snow fall. So much that the Gem Lake Express was open in January!

What does any snow loving family do under these conditions? We take a week off and head up to our condo for week of course. Except it hasn't snowed since before we arrived. We've had beautiful clear sunny sky, but no snow. It hasn't been horrible conditions, but hard packed is not what I was looking forward too.
Everyday we were expecting snow and it never came.
Until now. The evening before we leave.
We could stay an extra day (it is our condo after all) but then my brother is not here. He came for the weekend and was willing to monkeysit so that Mr.SM and I could ski together for the first time in 3 seasons.
The Gods do not favour me.

Did you see that?

I'm not a huge football fan, but Mr.SM is. We're watching the steelers game right now and I really hope the player is OK.
I always get a hope for humanity when you see players from both sides getting down and prayering that the guy is OK.

when do they get the concept of a weekend??

I"ve been up since 6:09am. thanks monkey. the sun wasn't even up.....

Thank you Bean-MOM!

OK seriously people, I know I brain farted on my last post. But can you blame me, I'm running on empty here. Sick child for a week, followed by the first week back to school which included monkey transitioning into his new daycare on campus AND TWO birthday dinners for him, (explanation for the midweek & weekend party thanks to MIL to be told later.)
This week, as mentioned very incoherently, I am in a mad dash to organize my science so that my fly crossings are not ruined while I am gone (as in the progeny do not come out & mate with each other). I know! I did not explain this very clearly due to the whole mad dashing and running on empty thing.
So I get that you were confused. I do really. I had 5 minutes to publish a post and a whole bunch of stuff I need to get off the chest have you not noticed the references to major MIL annoyance? I haven't even started on the whole daycare debacle. Trust me, that is something I need to take time to write about. None of these things will get written about until I am on vacation. I just, who know, wanted give you a heads up. Again I apologize the incoherent post. But did you not get the last bullet / sentence??

The monkey said momeee mommee I bab bu!

Is BeanMom the only one who noticed or the only one that knew what he was trying to say? People he's 2 and he's saying I bab bu!!!!! If you need some context he says while giving me kisses!!! Melt my heart I tell you. melts my heart.

Yes I am alive

I would use RBOC for a title but I have no idea what it means!

• Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes, monkey had a great time with 2 parties (a result of annoying MIL - to be discussed later)
• I am exhausted from cooking 2 huge indian dinners, one on his birthday (which was not great and annoyed me due to want to "show" MIL) and another KICKASS WICKED one on the weekend.
• I am once again going on a ski vacation next week so:
• I am madly picking virgins which I need for my mating. This requires me to incubate the pupae at higher temperature so that everything is either already eclosed before friday (giving me the maximum # of virgins) and figuring out how/when to set up crosses so that nothing ecloses before I get back. I will explain fly husbandry in a future post I promise. It will enables me to figure out my own weak spots!
  
• Now that the boy is 2, he's decided that he will talk and that everything is his ei "mine mine mine".
• But its okays because he holds my face and gives me kisses.
• He has me wrapped around his little finger with "mommeee, mommee, momeeeeee I babb bu"

I think i've figure it out, what do you think it means?

My little 2 year old

My dearest little monkey,

Yesterday you turned 2. Where did the time go and how did you grow up so fast? It feels like just yesterday that you were a little babe in my arms. Now you're officially a little boy. A strong independent little boy. You want to do everything on your own, feed yourself, brush your own teeth and God help me if I try to hold your hand while you walk. Those rare times that you walk.
Many call you a busy busy boy. That you are. Always running from one thing to the next, trying to see what type of mischief you can get into.
You are also very stingy with your kisses. Except with me. Although you've decided you do not want to fall asleep in mom's arm, every night before bed you cuddle up to me and give a me a tight squeeze and kiss. I hope that never stops.
I wasn't sure I was ready to have children when you came along. You didn't help the situation with your lack of desire to come out. However, the second you were laid down in my arms I knew that the hell of birth was worth it. I would do it again for you. You are my world my love. I love you so much.

Figure 1: Monkey 1 day old

The boy is back and there's going to be troubl

Hey Yah, Hey Yah.

Am I totally dating myself with that musical reference? Oh well. I *think* that we are back in monkey business. I never thought I would be happy to find my little boy opening cabinets he's not supposed or jumping up and down singing nigh nigh moon instead of sleeping. But I am. We've had normal bowel movements, playfulness and an increased appetite. Can we hear a hallelujah?
Thank you to everyone for your support, kind thoughts and good wishes. I'd link you all up but there are darn many of you now!

Now that we're done with the sickness, we get to join our new daycare. Yep everyone get up and do a little dance because monkey is now coming to my campus daycare. I am no longer driving up to one university to drop him off at daycare before commuting to my campus. It took 2 year and 9 months but he's in. We went in today for his first visit, which was a bit of organized chaos. His program is brand spanking new so stuff is still getting set up and all the kids need to get oriented at the same time. I'm happy that he'll be school with me, as it will give me some flexibility but I sorta wish is start date was next month as I think just getting over being sick is going to make the transition harder. Though I also think that having him go to the new place after a 2 week break from the old place does make it easier.

Oh and Canada Kicked some Swedish Ass tonight. You guys rock!

I was not meant to be a mother

I'm done. Which is horrible because monkey, he's not done being ill. He's eating, semi-playing, and hasn't pooped in 24+hours. But he now has a horrible chest cough, is still whiny and last night, slept on top of me. All. Night.
I have no more patience, no more understanding, no more strength. I. need. him. well.
Mr.SM is occupying him right now. It will last about 10 more seconds and then it will be back to random crying and telling me "no" "ow".
I will have no idea how to last. I need him to start running around the house like the crazy monkey he's been named for.
At least I'm no longer regulated to a couch.
He's eating.
He doesn't need me 24/7.
How horrible am I, that I no longer have the energy to comfort my kid? I'm comforting him, but I am seriously needing it to be over

Thank God for Small Miracles

There was no IV. Thank you God. It was not something I wanted, and to be honest I wasn't sure he needed it. I'm not a trained MD. I majored in human physiology as an undergrad, completed a Masters in Developmental Cardiology and spent 2 years in an immunology lab so I have some understanding of the body's homeostasis and response to stress mechanisms despite what some family members think.

That said, I prefer to err on the side of caution.

As you all know, the monkey has not been well. I thought on Monday night he was turning a corner but I was proved wrong on Tuesday. Although he was finally agreeing to take some fluids (milk primarily) and was more active - he helped to take down the Christmas tree decorations before deciding that it was way too exhausting. By Tuesday afternoon he was back to being needy and lethargic. Just plain sick. At 4pm I took him to our family doctor (who has a sub in right now). The sub weighed him, checked him out and decided that monkey had a GI virus (gee thanks doc!). The parent(-in-law)s, demand I go to the doctor when I know that she is going to say its just a virus, nothing we can do. But then again what do I know.
The main concern for the monkey was dehydration. I was told to give the him 1-2 ounces of Pedialyte/Gatorade/random NaH20 combo every 20 minutes and to weigh him every hour. If his weight did not start to trend upward by midnight I was instructed take him to the ER for an IV.
His weight did not trend upward but he was drinking alot of milk (>500ml that night) and was acting a bit better, ie poops were thickening. Not solid but thickening. He was more mentally and physically active. He slept well through the night, waking up only 2x to tell he had to poo (some how by magic the boy has figured to poo on the toilet!). If only he would drink than damn hydrating liquids.
This morning he was definitely more mentally and physically active. He ate half a slice of bread and was keeping up a steady milk intake. Still REFUSING any H2O/Gatorade/Pedialyte - you the hydrating liquids! His nose started to run and his lips were less chapped, but he was not gaining weight. The scientist in me was looking at the data and saying "yep he's OK, no need for an IV"
The mother in me kept saying "what if you're wrong?" "its only 2 hours in the ER, whats the Big freaking deal?"
I went with better safe than sorry. I was in and out in <1.5 hours with no IV.
Thank God for small miracles and for a country that provides universal health care. I didn't have to even think about whether I could afford to take him. My only concern was whether I was being paranoid.
The doc there wasn't sure how long it will take to recover. Personally, I love my son but I am done with the cuddles. They're not fun when he's sick. I've been glued to a couch for 72hours and am suffering cabin fever. I want my crazy, bouncing off the walls, climbing over counters to get around the baby gate monkey back. I know after 2 hours I will want to throw him out a window but I really love that feeling much much more.

Thank you everyone for your well wishes. Here's to hoping a healthier 2009 for the boy and me!

Happy New Year to everyone. May all you wish for happen!