Finally vacation!

Tomorrow we're finally going on vacation. My god, do we all need that! We're taking of early Thursday morning to go to Sept-Iles, a car ride for about 11 hours. On Saturday we're going to baptize Andréa in the little village where grandmama lives. It's going to be a big, fat, catholic baptism. In french of course. With the same dress that Lovisa had on her baptism 1,5 years ago... The dress, that was a gift from grandmama, isn't exactly my style but they do look adorable in it!

 Andréa today

Andréa today

Lovisa 1,5 years ago

So, don't despair if you don't hear from me for a week or two, I'm just on VACATION!!!

In the footsteps of Irene...

The weekend was eventful to say the least. On saturday we had our housewarming party. Friends, neighbors, wine, food, nice weather, good music, happy kids playing in the yard - lovely!

Cutest at the party - Lovisa and her friend watching cartoons and licking the cream of the whisker, way past their bedtime...

On sunday we all had a bit of a hangover. Me for drinking 2 (!) glasses of wine and getting to little sleep, Lovisa for drinking to much cranberrie juice and getting to little sleep. It was then Irene reached Montreal and the wind and the rain came. The electricity disappeared for 8 hours. And it's ironic how dependent we are on electricity. "Let's make a nice cup of tea?" Oh, no... "Let's watch a movie!" Oh, no... "Let's make a nice, warm supper!" Oh, no... Let's go to IGA and pick up a pre-maid chicken and chill out in front of some lit candles" Yes!

Our terrace this morning...

After storm comes sunshine and today we have blue skies and nice, calm winds...

Why eat with a spoon when you can eat with your hands?

There's something very delicious about eating pasta bolognese with your hands. Try it, you'll love it!

Youth surge...

Is the name of my new day cream. I can't help feeling like an animal in a zoo, and I don't mean one of the beautiful ones, when I go to the cosmetic section of the store. The woman that helped me was, of course, very nice with perfect skin and a perfect make up. I was, on the other hand, sweating from walking with the pram in the high humidity, and the little make up (mascara) I managed to throw on my face in the morning was probably long gone or smeared out by little baby fingers. When I explained to her that I needed a day cream she looked at me and said that I really need an eye cream. Well, I don't have time to put two different creams in my face each morning, I'm happy if I remember to put one! She then said I should use a day cream that prevents the fine wrinkles that's starting to appear around my eye area. So, there you go, from being Barbie the other day, I'm now having "an age decelerating moisturizer" as a day cream. Life little treats!

Apple war

Lovisa makes a mess. Throws her snack, pieces of apples, all over the floor. And then she refuses to pick them up. So now she's sitting in her mess, on the edge of crying, with her little lip trembling. But I'm not giving in, she's going to pick up her own mess. Or at least, eat it up.

She just sits there. Refusing. 

Who on earth did she ever get this stubbornness from?

Me - Barbie

So Lovisa found her big sisters old Barbie doll deep down in a bag with old toys. She plays with it and refers to it as "mamma" (and she really means me, she even points at the Barbie and then at me...). In any other situation I would have taken it as an insult to be referred to a doll that's anorectic and has no pussy but I'm actually pretty pleased. I mean, she could have called her chubby plastic goblin "mamma"...

See the resemblance?

My moldy bra...

Is it time for a new bra when your favorite starts to mold? I found my breastfeeding bra deep down in the laundry basket full with mold! Uak, uak, uak! Breastmilk attracts all kinds of ugly little rascals...

Good thing it was white so I saw the little black spots...

To be continued...

I called the Children's hospital and complained about the long wait for Lovisas examinations. Without to much arguing they gave us a new time end of  September. H called St Justin Hospital (the other big hospital specialized in children here in Montreal) and managed to get an appointment in mid September. So from having an appointment in November (being "prioritized" according to the receptionist at the Childrens) we now have it in mid September. Hopefully, if everything is normal (and I'm not even thinking about the alternative yet), she'll only need the antibiotics for another month or so... 

Another very good thing is that she doesn't need to fast at St Justin, at the Childrens the routine is to keep them fasting for 6 hours before the examination. Try to explain that to a hungry 2-year old... Phu....

Cereal with milk, a favorite every morning...

Lovisas room!

We're slowly getting to the fun part of moving - making the rooms nice, cozy and charming... Here's Lovisas little nest... 

 Standing in the entrance looking to your left this is what you see...

Cute curtains from IKEA

 Lovisas name from Dollarama - I just love Dollarama!

Paintings made by my dads wife - Lena

 This painting I remember from my childhood. It has one different motive for each month so every month you change the picture in the frame. A good way to learn the months and the different seasons

Containers for toys from IKEA, what would I do without IKEA?

She seem to like her new room although she still prefers to bring most of her toys to the living room making a bit of a mess...

Boobs and poop

I almost don't dare to write this but maybe, maybe my boobs are a bit better... The wounds are definitely better, almost gone actually. I've been a good girl, putting breastmilk on my nipples after each feeding and air dried. I'm not a big fan of running around with my boobs hanging (yes, HANGING!) free but it actually helps. So there you go, for all you struggling breastfeeding women out there: breastmilk and air dry! It helps!

Another amazing thing happened today - Lovisa pooped on the toilet! Wow! After reading 2 of her favorite books; "Max blöja" (Max diaper) and "Max potta" (Max potty) she was all done and very proud. 

Thank you Max!

Thank you "vovven" ("doggy")

 

Now I'm sitting here nervously eating grapes and thinking about all the phone calls I have to make tomorrow to try to get an earlier appointment for Lovisas examinations. I wonder how many tears I have to shed to succeed...

More tired...

Dr L called. Lovisa needs to check her kidneys due to the severity of her urinary infection that probably also was a kidney infection since she had a very high fever. She needs to do an ultrasound of the kidneys and also a VCUG: http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1733/mainpageS1733P1.html

Doesn't sound like a very pleasant examination, especially not when your 2 years old and don't understand why you have to do it. According to Dr L Lovisa also needs to eat antibiotic while waiting for the examinations to avoid an infection which could be dangerous if her kidneys are affected. I cried a little bit and called the Children's hospital here in Montreal. Six months waiting list. Antibiotic for six bloody months! I cried a little bit more. Children's hospital called back and offered us to do the examinations in the beginning of November, we've been prioritized! I hanged up and cried a little bit more.

When I read about how to prevent your child to have a urinary infection it says, among other things, that breastfeeding exclusively for at least 6 months is a good protection. I breastfed Lovisa for 10 months and this is what we get! Oh, I'm tired!

Now, let's have a nice, calm weekend!?

Breastfeeding...

I'm sitting here in my little bubble of breastfeeding. Boobs are still sore but maybe it's a little bit better? I'm looking for pros and cons regarding this amazingly beautiful experience that I probably do for the last time of my life and realizes it's a big thing. To breastfeed or not... One study recently published shows that your child might have a higher IQ if you breastfeed. Other studies also shows a minor risk for your child to develop asthma or allergies if you breastfeed. It's also less costly than formula. But as one writer truly expressed, then the time of a breastfeeding woman is worth nothing? Because breastfeeding takes time! And time is money!
Andréa eats about 8 times in 24 hours. Each feeding takes about 20 minutes (sometimes more, sometimes less) and including the preparation and cleaning of the nipple shield, say each feeding takes 30 minutes. That means I'm spending 4 hours a day breastfeeding. That's half a working day. That's expensive! Now, I don't say that formula is cheaper, but it's easier to share the feedings with your partner or other family members.
But which mother wants to feel that your child might have a slightly lower IQ, higher risk of allergies and asthma because you chose not to breastfeed? Are these studies made to make women feel more guilty and despite difficulties and stress keep on breastfeeding? In every breastfeeding related information I read (and I read quite a few) tells you that breastfeeding is the best both for your baby and yourself! But if you choose not to breastfeed don't feel guilty! Yeah right!

A whole nights sleep...

It's a dream coming true! A whole nights sleep! Feels strangely surreal. And the ironic thing is that I'm so tired today. I got a taste of normal sleep and I want more! Well, thank you darling Andréa, keep up this deeply appreciated habit!

Sleeeeeep!

Today we're getting our dishwasher. I would like to give the Nobel peace prize to the woman/man that invented the pacifier and the dishwasher. I can't emphasize enough the meaning it had for our family...

Tired!

Well, Dr L might be a good doctor but breastfeeding is not her area I guess. She didn't even look at my boobs (not much to look at nowadays, I'll give her that), she just gave me the phone number to St Mary's breastfeeding clinic and said "don't stop breastfeeding!". I have no energy to go to a clinic! I have no car and to go by public transportation with 2 babies in Montreal is not an option!

Today I took Lovisa and Andréa to "story time in the park". It's Dorvals library's summer activities for kids. It's free and everyone are welcome so I thought we'd give it a try. For 30 minutes Lovisa actually sat still on a blanket listening to the story. Could have something to do with me feeding her fruits and cookies... Then the kids were suppose to make their own flowers of papers, pearls and strings. Lovisa ripped her flower in pieces and took of with another kids bike. Now she's napping and so should I. I'm exhausted.

3 girls to the doc!

Today is doctors day for all the girls! Andréa for a weight control, Lovisa for a post urineinfection control and me for a general control "down under". I have about a 100 questions that I need to ask Dr L. This move with all the stress is starting to show and I'm sorry to say that I can feel that I'm no longer 25 years old... And that's right I've also had 2 babies in less than 2 years... My boobs hurts like hell. I have open wounds on both of them making the breastfeeding very painful. My hands are covered with eczema from all the cleaning and washing. My body aches and I'm so tired. My allergies are pretty bad and I can't take the usual medication while I'm breastfeeding, the only alternative is to take a pill witch make you drowsy and that is not an option right now.

The big, big question is: should I continue to breastfeed? I really want to but is it worth all this?

One of the most beautiful things in the world 

can also be very painful and stressful

Our terrace...

Is gigantic! And I love it!

 Our new dining set in one corner...

Lovisas playcorner...

And a happy baby in the middle!

Movienight and a bad temper!

First movienight since Andréa was born and I didn't fall asleep! Well, I had some help of popcorn and half a bag of chips and then I was actually quite OK during "The kings speech". Worth seeing definitely.

Still living in chaos and I don't really like it. Bothers me even if I'm well aware of that it's going to be like this for a while... My temper is not the best and yesterday I yelled at Lovisa when she didn't want to cooperate when I was trying to get all 3 of us ready for the park. After I felt bad and apologized to her. "Mamma is very tired and I'm so sorry I yelled at you". Lovisa gave me the most understanding look and just said "OK!". And that was the end of it. Thank god their simple and forgiving!

Now I have to find the nail cutter. My nails are turning in to tiny claws... But in which box did I pack the damned thing?

Moving chaos!

Oh, my god! Moving is hard! So much stuff, so much to do, so much kids! The new house is a mess, but it's ours and it's going to be so cozy and nice. Lovisa seem to like it. She runs around and around. It's something about to be able to run around in a circle, the kitchen, the diningroom, the livingroom, the hallway and then the kitchen again, that just makes her very excited and happy. The most fun it gets if you scream while doing it. At least if you ask Lovisa. Well...

The first morning  in the new house...

We've been cleaning so much it's a miracle if we don't get asthma from the cleaning products... The house was so dirty... Look at this...

Top shelf cleaned by me, bottom one not cleaned by anyone for a few years... Brrr... Think I cleaned  up at least 2-3 meals!

The area seems so nice and family friendly. The neighbors has already welcomed us.

One of our neighbors gave us some veggies from her garden. Another one gave us a bag with toys for Lovisa. 

Tomorrows "to-do-list" is rather big. Better get some rest now...