The end of summer!

Okay so I know it isn't technically fall until Sept 21 or 22 but it certainly looks and feels like fall here. We have marked the end of summer with a few trips to Meech Lake. Last night we had our last family picnic there, complete with sunset swim (and why was the sun setting so early??). Today, auntie Linda joined us at the lake (although not in the water). We had a lot of fun games of naked (for Jason anyway) football, chase and tag to warm up post swim. Jason went to nap quite early today...could it be the return of the routine??!!

Don't mess with the schedule

You know, they say children need schedules. "They" say "don't mess with their schedule, try and keep things familiar, etc., etc.."When people used to talk about their children's schedules or lack there of, we would espouse the benefits of a schedule and revel in Jason's like clock work schedule for just about everything. It was something we inherited from his foster mom and were pretty rigorous about maintaining, skipping many things for the coveted nap and/or bedtime.

Well, this summer, we got a little flexible with Jason's schedule. It started with the month long vacation and the almost a dozen different places that Jason slept. Then, in August, we have been away most weekends, skipping all naps. I have been tempted to stay a little longer at the beach, at the pool, at a playdate, leading to later naps. We have stayed late(r) in the evenings at places, saying "it will end in tears" and it did.

The result? My friends, we have lost the routine and a lot of ease that went with it. Jason easily stays awake in his room for 1, 2 or 3 hours after we put him down. He would easily nap into suppertime. The witching hour? Not at supper for this family, no we struggle between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. every morning.

Jason went to sleep at 10 ish last night, up at 7 ish and just yawned for three hours before not napping for 1 hour after being put in bed. I think he is now finally asleep. Now I am going to go look for our routine! We need it back!

:)LL

More camping, another rainy Sunday and Pride!

Hi all,

As usual, it has been a jampacked few days here at the Lucky Gass ranch and further afield. On Thursday, Jason and I went to visit Clare, David and James at their house outside of Almonte, or as Jason calls “James’ backyard playground”. They have a lovely big playroom inside and big yard outside. The boys all play well together and so it is always a pleasure…and easy at that, especially with Clare making delicious lunches. Jason got James playing “Folk festival” which involved the boys sitting under umbrellas on fold up chairs (although it was sunny), commanding songs and then every so often packing everything up in James’ little tykes pickup truck. Jason can’t really make the truck move so he would call “Singer, my truck’s stuck in the muck!”.

On Friday, Jason and I spent the morning at the children’s museum. We then got packed up for camping and headed to Bon Echo. The good news is that neither the last good camping trip nor the good canoeing was a fluke – he really does like it and it really is do-able. Jason now wants to know when we are going canoe camping (”all in good time my son”). And yes, we did roast marshmallows over the campfire and let Jason eat them! I am not actually sure he liked his first few tastes (and really, who would I mean what is in those things) but soon the sugar took over and he wanted “more, more, more, a hole bunch!”. The bad news is that Jason really doesn’t it raining on the tent all night as it did last night. I can totally relate – as an adult I have worried myself into a neurotic state worrying about the rain, the stuff etc.. He trembled and shook for a good couple of hours last night. When we woke up, still in the rain, we weighed our options and chose to make it back to Ottawa for Pride this afternoon. Jason was a good sport and shouted “Happy Groundhog Day” on the way home (Franklin episode).So we marched with the Two Spirit group from Minwaashin, I drummed more than I ever have before, and we celebrated pride.

Needless to say, as I write this Jason is sound asleep – maybe for the night. He is taking this busy month in stride, and it is fun to listen act it all out with his trucks and cars (“okay let’s all pack up for the camping –folk festival- pow wow…”)

Speaking of being on the move, we have booked our next trip to NS. Jason and I will stay from October 6 - 12, and Heather will just be aroudn for the weekend. Looking forward to seeing everyone!LL

3 poops in the potty

Hi all,

Some quick updates:

- Jason has pooped int he ptty three mornings in the row - good job Jason! He also tells me good job whenever I pee in the potty. You know, it does feel good when somebody says it, even for pee pee in the potty!

- Jason has had some funny things to say lately and although I can't capture them all, here is a sample:

"This is my masterpiece", when the doctor asked him about his picture that he had coloured.

" Mama, are you sexy?" to which I had to lie and reply that no, I wasn't and we shouldn't use that word.

"Thank you for playing with me at the coffee shop Mama". And from me, "Your welcome Jason. It was the least I could do!"


- Jason and I had a busy day yesterday and most of it felt like a car rally. We took Mom to work, picked up Linda, drove to Ten Oask Camp (a camp for rainbow families) north of Wakefield, then to Lac Phillipe for lunch, back to Linda's, then to CHEO, then snack, gas and Mom's work.

-Anyway Jason is ready for me to be done with the computer so I'll sign off with love from us. LL

Jason's long lunch

We just had a great playdate with Aeddan, Isa and their dad John at the park, pool and their house for lunch. Jason settled in at the dining table for lunch for close to an hour. He ate well, used his fork, made conversation, requested more water in polite voices and was generally a nice dining companion - while the other kids ran around and played. This is a real change from a lot of meals at home lately where it is painful to try and coax him to eat. Anyway it was quite something...Thank goodness for a relaxing weekend. On Friday, we were both grumpy and tired and he wasn't interested in any of my healthy options. As I opened a can of salty soup at 10 a.m. and threw it in the microwave, I wondered exactly what I was worried about in terms of day care. Is it the processed food? The lack of engaged staff? But we are ready to go with a little rest (and I just brewed fresh coffee). Jason's not napping so I might need it!! LL

Jason and his Go-Kart

Hot and rainy weekend

We have just come home for a break from the Ottawa folk festival. Yesterday was hot and humid and our little guy was flushed and sweaty Today it is cool and rainy and while Jason didn't want to leave ("I don't want to go home. I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME. I don't want to home" and so on), we decided that we couldn't stay wet and cold for three more hours until our favourite performer is on. Our plan is to go back this evening. It is great that he likes it - this is Day 3.

Jason and I participated in one of the Pride week opening events at the police station raising of the flag event and tea party. The MInwaashin Lodge Two spirit drummers opened the event, so I drummed and Jason clung, trembling to my leg (it was very loud). He had a little cry afterwards but then spent the rest of the day playing drumming circle at home.

Thursday Aug 17

It feels like summer has returned to Ottawa. It is properly hot, but not overly humid. Jason and I went to a decidely weak library program this morning. Jason expressed his disapproval of the faciliator by walking away and completely stripping down "I'm just dressing...". I had a fit of giggles as I grabbed him and his clothes and headed for the door. Just as I despaired of him ever dressing himself...he's got it half right. We then went to Dovercourt wading pool.

Jason is asleep which given that it was past 11 when he went to sleep last night is probably a good thing. After spending the day at CHEO yesterday and hearing about the operatuion to remove his tubes, he had a lot on his mind. He told me that his "ears and mouth are broken". We spend a lot fo time attending to different parts of his identity - Inuk boy, sam sex parents, adopted - that I think we forget about him also being a kid with a correctable brith defect/diability. Lots of cuddles, much soy milk, an attempt at sleeping in bed with me and he was back in his bed at 11 singing "Blackbird". I fell asleep.

updates

Hi all,

Jason and I just spent the morning at CHEO. Everyone was very impressed. His language skills are coming along well with still some pronunciation issues. His hearing seems excellent, and I only made a small intervention that they modernize their testing to: a) stopping using a nuclear family model of the world "is that a papa or mama sound that you hear?"; andb) to try and use some pictures that weren't junkfood - of course Jason had trouble picking out a hot dog and popcorn! We are going to schedule a day surgery to get his tubes out.

We didn't get into inuit headstart for the fall so we are going to go on Monday mornings only, take yoga on Tuesdays; daycare on Wednesdays and Thursdays (mornings only) and free flow on Friday. It should be good. We are also signing up for skating, gymnastics and soccer.

Jason didn't nap yesterday and is fighting it today. I went up once to respond to distress over a curious George book (sobbing) and the second time, he let me know that he "loves everybody". That includes "Uncle Ian, Uncle Craig.." and then I had to list everybody that loves him!

I am going to take the paper and some fresh Ontario grapes (yippee) and sit outside. Happy August 16!

If you want photos...

Hi all,

As you may have noticed I am having a lot of trouble loading photos onto the blog. I will try and figure the problem out. In the meantime, we have loaded most photos to a kodak site. If we haven't sent you the link, just let me know.

Jason continues to chatter and challenge us. We really can't get away with anything. We are having our usual ant problem (August). I don't want to play downstairs and so I bring Jason's toys up. Finally he said "where are these ants you're talking about? Can I see them?" Imagine broad sweeping arm movements. And when I said there was no more watermelon"What about yellow?What about red? Any other colors?" And my favorite in the last two days, he has adopted my expression of "Oh gawd.." like "oh good grief". I am trying to get rid of that one.

We had a lovely playdate with James and David (and Clare for) out in the country. As Jason says, they have a "BIG backyard" and lovely kids to play with. We just returned from a freezing picnic at Lac Meech - is this AUgust, September or October. Jason somehow swam for about half an hour and protested getting out.

LL

another photo

Trying photos again!

Camping at Bon Echo

I am pleased to report that we had a very successful camping weekend at Bon Echo, a great improvement over last year's attempts which we refer to as the "poop" weekend and the "pee" weekend.

We had a great time. We arrived in time for sunset, which reflects off of Bon Echo rock. We had a little campfire - and Jason wanted to know where the marshmallows were! Given our ban on candy, I assume that this can only be from Daniel Cook on tv. We also went down to the lake to star gaze and watch the meteor shower. Jason loved sleeping in the tent judging from the gleeful squeals of laughter both going to sleep and waking up. We rented a canoe on Saturday and went to "turtle rock" a natural beach and swimming rock. We also had lots of fun walking around and playing at the beach. That night we went to the park campfire program. Jason was entranced by the naturalist and really wanted to be one of the kid that got to help him. He also raised his hand to answer questions. We swam and did the lakeshore walk today and came home. All in all very successful, and we even can imagine a return to canoe camping someday.

I will post some pictures. Love to all, Lisa

Week 2

HI all,

Jason and I continue to settle into our routine. The highs and lows of parenting are intense...from the enormous amount of stress I felt at noon yesterday after a pool injury and return to home ("please God just let him eat...") to the enormous exhilaration at the first planned poop in the potty (I still feel good about that one). The pool injury was a cut foot with my boy being transported home in the wagon with his foot elevated (I think he liked the drama). Today he skipped his nap which is NOT part of the routine. We play a lot of table (thanks auntie Ruth) and I have dollar signs in my eyes (pro anyone?). Heather is settling into work - she says it feels like a vacation. There's no new pictures but with more patience I thought I'd send out some more birthday party pictures. We off camping at Bon Echo and will send more pictures following.

BTW - I will try and keep updating the site but will stop sending reminders so just check it when you are interested.

Jason's Ottawa Birthday party

Hi all from Ottawa,

I have posted some photos from Jason's Ottawa Birthday party -yes, it ended in tears but prior, Jason had been a generous and gracious host. The cake - to save you from guessing although I am sure it is obvious - is Theodore tugboat, surrounded by the waves of Halifax harbour. no one should ever eat the ampount of sugar and food colouring that topped what was a healthy banana cake but we really enjoyed making it. (Thanks to the aunties Ruth and Linda for helping out "why won't this turn green!?"). I also included a few shots from Meech Lake yesterday.

Cheers, Lisa

Official launch

(warning - this post is a long one - perhaps I am longing for adult interaction?)

Hi all,

Finally we have joined the new millennium and launched a blog site where, hopefully, you will find photos and updates on a regular basis. Aren't I confident about having the time available after just one week at home! We had a fabulous month in the Maritimes, leading to much introspection, verging on an extessential crisis, about where we make our home. This pondering wasn't helped by the crazy heat we came back - which you will see was the subject of my first two posts (obviously delirium had set in) - leading Heather to characterize the weather in Ottawa as "hell" and "frozen hell".

However, two nights of thunderstorms and the weather is much more bearable. Heather has started her new job and so far all is well, including a cubicle with a window (exciting stuff in bureaucrat world!). Jason and I are having fun and settling in. I have only exhausted him to the point of tears one day out of four. We spent two mornings at Meech Lake - I am quite sad to report that our boy is a lake boy. After only tentative attempts at swimming in the ocean, he will paddle around for 2 hours into he lake. We have also been on the local wading pool scene, including yesterday at 'Bubble day" which involved a bubble filled pool, a big trampoline and the arrival of the dreaded "Dovercat" mascot which Jason is terrified of. I made a big explanation about how there is a person just dressing up; that no, there aren't really giant blue cats in Ottawa, etc. I didn't understand what Jasonw as protesting about and looking increasingly terrified until he said"BUT TIGER IS A CAT". Yes, I was somehow convincing him that our two "cats" were in fact just people dressed up at cats...I think we have things clarified now. We also just completed a discussion about which gender has what body parts and who he knows has these so apologies if Jason makes intimate inquiries the next time you see him!

Love from us in Ottawa! Lisa (on behalf of the whole Lucky Gass clan)

update...now it's 47C

August 1 - the first day!

It is 46.2 C with the humidex and I thought that it was time to get a blog up and running if only to immortalize that fact!