Eczema

Thanks so much for all your suggestions (here and on Facebook!).

Here's my thoughts/plan...keeping in mind she only has two little spots of actual eczema and not even much dry skin at all - her skin is well moisturized and the eczema itself heals up with the cream I got from the doctor (not a cortisone treatment). It just seems to be all over itching during the night with little itching during the day, save for the spots on her elbow pits.

• Get sensitive detergent. This is the first step I think, because it doesn't seem to bother her as much in the day as it does at night. I already took down her bumper pads in an attempt to have less material at night (even if I found her arm stuck this morning and her screaming about that...but that's another story!). I'm going to rewash all her sheets and pillow cases in the sensitive detergent and go from there. 
• I also bought some cream called Galactan (?) base to moisturize with. It's the cream base they put into prescription cream sans any prescription. We're going to try this out for moisturizing along with coconut oil once I get the chance to pick some up. 

After that, we'll go from there. I have heard (even before your suggestions) that eczema is allergy based. However, she has had it since day 1...okay maybe like day 50 or something but early on anyway...and my mom has really bad eczema - I have a strong feeling that it is genetic and not an allergy. She has a lot of milk everyday and I don't feel that they're related - she drinks the same amount of milk and has worse and better days. My doctor also will not do allergy testing until age 2...but again I don't feel it's that. My milk monster loves her milk though and I am very against anything soy-based, so for now we'll try some other options first. Best case scenario is that, as my doctor suggested, it will only be a childhood illness that she will outgrow. Worst case allergies - but we'll get there.

I really do appreciate all your suggestions. Thanks for supporting this (tired) mama.
kortney elise xoxo

A Plea

Anyone have any suggestions? I think I've figured out Alexys' frequent night wakings of late. It occurred to me as she woke up like 12 times last night - I was in her crib with her (no really, it calms her down sometimes and I'm small enough) and she was still waking up. She wakes up in this frantic cry and starts itching her entire body...and then she just fully wakes herself up.

So I've come to terms with the fact that she's waking up because of her itchiness. She does have eczema in the "pits" of her elbows (what are those called - like the other side of her elbow) - and those crack often. The doctor gave us some cream, but said she won't prescribe anything for eczema in kids. I understand, but my poor baby.

Anyways. The parts of her skin that she is itching at night don't have a rash or even indication of dry skin. I moisturize her with California Baby every night and she hasn't had any problems with it before so I don't know why she is so itchy all of a sudden?

Any ideas? Anyone have this problem? Help. Alexys is worse than a newborn and coffee can only help so much!

And then it dawned on me...

This post has been floating in my head for some time.

It floats in my head when I go pee and the door flies open...because someone wants to show me her bangles.

It floats in my head when I try and juggle a toddler in my arms and getting the pizza out of the oven before it burns.

It floats in my head when I hear a blood curdling cry at 3 a.m. that even Ferber himself can't ignore.

It floats in my head when I put shorts on and glance at my legs and realize even a bear has less hair then me. And shrug my shoulders and wear them anyways.

It floats in my head when I've washed the sheets three times in one day - all for different reasons which include poop, vomit, and pee.

It floats in my head when I pretend to ignore the pile of laundry that needs folding and consequently requires three people in the end to fold and away...and still takes an hour.

It floats in my head when I have no choice but to sigh at the used to be organized according to height, weight, and title bookshelf in my daughter's room...that now simply has books piled on it.

It floats in my head when I hum songs like Six Months in  Leaky Boat at inappropriate times...sometimes I even type to this beat...and sometimes it's not on purpose.

It floats in my head when I shower for 2 minutes and consequently find the clicker downstairs off the balcony in my neighbor's yard. Or wipes all over the floor. Or crushed cheerios. Or...or...or...

It floats in my head when I stay up until 3 a.m. typing pediatric reports and I simply roll my eyes at the mom who brings her baby in for fussiness at 3 months. I applaud the doctor who sends her home without medication.Welcome to motherhood.

It floats in my head as I lie with my daughter in her crib because she's scared and just needs her mom.

And then it dawned on me. While I was at the hospital and I said, "Just call me if you need anything," to my best friend. I'm sure it was among the hundreds of offers she received in less than 24 hours. The offers for food, help, diaper changes, and more. You know it happens. You're the center of attention and everyone wants to help.

And then it slowly fades because let's face it. Everyone wants to hold a sweet, sleeping baby.

A screaming toddler not getting her way? Not so much.

I remember those early days. I remember them well and I miss them in some ways. Everyone wanted to help...but really I didn't need help. As Jacquelyn put it, "She ate, she pooped, and she's sleeping. Now what?" Exactly.

Oh sure...there are days where you're exhausted and can't see straight. But (in Canada) you're not often working. You can nap when baby naps. And baby naps a lot. I only needed one or two of those naps to keep me going. Sure you take a bit to adjust - some more than others, but then what? Lots of free time. Lots of time to watch TV while you're nursing. Lots of time to do whatever you want. And yet everyone is helping.

That's exactly what dawned on me. I wish you could defer those first months of offers of help for about a year. It's NOW that I need the help. Now that I'm working and managing a household full time. Now that the baby doesn't nap. Now that the baby manages to disappear in an 800 sq. ft. condo and cause trouble in 1.2 seconds. Now that take-out frequents our house more than I'd like to admit...because I'm just too tired to make dinner. Now that baby doesn't like to hold still for diaper changes. Now that there's toys strewn from one end to the other. Now that I really don't have time to shave my legs, because she won't just sit in her swing while I shower. Now that there is no time to nap.

It's ironic don't you think? Maybe that's why people like to have a second baby around this time - it's not for the baby or the help that comes with it - they simply defer that help to the toddler that never stops (and nope...this isn't my way of saying number 2 is on its way. It's not. Not for a long time. Trust me. Alexys makes my hair fall out as it is).

I'm not even asking for help (though if you feel the desire to bring me casseroles and fold my laundry I wouldn't send you home). I'm just saying...isn't it ironic?

kortney elise

I'm an Auntie

My best friend Jacquelyn had her baby yesterday in the wee early morning hours. She went into labor at 7:30 in the morning on the 24th and had a BABY GIRL at 1:11 a.m. on July 25th. My best friend is a superstar and she birthed a 9 pound 6 ounce, 22 inch sweet baby!!!! I went to visit right away in the wee hours at 2 o'clock in the morning!!!

Her name is Eilidh Olivia Hardychuk (that is a Gaelic name in case you're curious and it is pronounced eye-lee). I visited again the following afternoon and we took some pictures.

I'm excited to be an Auntie and I'm SO excited that our girls can grow up together...soon 19 months apart won't mean a thing!!! I'm also really glad Eilidh decided to appear before I went to Alberta (on Thursday). Wahoo.

kortney elise xoxo

Yippee, the Lights, and See Ya

More Rear Facing!!

Kirsten shared this tonight on Facebook and I thought I'd share it here on my blog. It's just a simple video that shows exactly why I'm crazy...and why my 19-month-old is still rear-facing. They do recommend now that children be at least TWO and 30 pounds versus the old way of thinking of ONE and 20 pounds.

Even then there are carseats that rear face up to 40 pounds now available in Canada. I know everyone says, "But what about their legs?" and "Isn't that boring?"

What do you pick broken neck or broken legs?

And turn on some Wiggles real loud. That will drown out their boredom ;)

I truly used to think Kirsten was nuts, and she knows that, but now that I have my own baby girl to keep safe and have done lots of research on the topic, I don't care what you say. Keep your babies and toddlers rearfacing as long as possible!!!

kortney elise xoxo

On Talking

Alexys is hilarious. No really. She actually cracks me up on a daily basis.

Do you recall when she started to crawl? There wasn't really preceding steps - she didn't "learn" to crawl by scooching or moving towards toys or anything. She simply just crawled one day.

Walking was the same way. She didn't really have a "first step" or walking along furniture...there was no tricking Alexys into walking between things. She literally got up and walked. She didn't use furniture to get up and go. Nope - she waited until she could do it, got up and off she went.

Seems talking is going to be the same way. Alexys has a lot more words than she lets on - she's not one of those kids you can "make" say words. She won't repeat. She just stares at you. The words and phrases she HAS said are astounding (and these ones were clear as a bell) including:

• Wake up, Jeff (on time with the Wiggles). 
• All gone.
• 'magination (in tune with "Barney is a dinosaur from your imagination...")
• Banana.
• Oink, PU, and Moo Moo (in time with Old McDonald Had a Farm).
• More...but she says it kind of like Oliver "Please sir, I'd like some mah." 
• See ya. Bye. This is the most popular phrase. Lately she's taken to grabbing a basket, a "suitcase", etc and walking to the door and proclaiming see ya, bye. 
• Water. 
• Bubbles. 
• Nonno. Just once. When she REALLY wanted him to do something for her (push her in the wheel barrow).

There's so many more, but I just can't think right now. My favourite is all gone - she's said it a couple more times now, but to my mom she said it for the first time. And after she said it, she stared at my mom and sealed her lips tightly together, so to say - "Oh oh. You didn't just hear that outta my mouth. Oops." She will absolutely not repeat a word for you. It's 100% on her own terms.

She knows that it drives me crazy, I've decided...and she's such a little perfectionist. Nothing she has said has even been "wrong" except for "more." Everything else is 100% clear as a bell. She's a perfectionist. Perhaps worst then me. This kid may just take over the world one day. I have absolutely zero worry about her development in terms of talking...but she sure is taking her time and driving me nuts in the process. I love hearing her talk in "adult" English.

I think I love every stage of her life more than the last one. I'm pretty sure that ends right before the preteen stage though, right? :D

kortney elise xoxo

Just a City Girl

I'm a city girl through and through. My in-laws live on a farm. Like as much farm as I could possibly handle - it's in the middle of, well, other farms, and there's cows and potatoes. Like from Farmville. My mother-in-law has joked that I like Farmville so much that I could come help on the farm. Right. Not happening. I'll stay in the kitchen, kay Lorilee? You bring me the potatoes and I will cook them. I will be going to said farm for 9 days coming up shortly. But that's a whole different story for a whole other post.

I'm a city girl...but I try to do things healthy for our family. Like I want to avoid gross food products, "bovine growth hormones" as someone on Facebook put it, etc. I also believe in supporting local farmers to the best of my ability. So when I saw on Aimee's blog that her sister Cara was doing veggie boxes through their farms (clicky here) I signed up. And for two weeks I have faithfully gone and picked up my veggies. Sometimes I don't know what the veggies are and sometimes I don't know what to do with them. Cara had explained what the swiss chard was and how to cook it (or actually where to google a good recipe). I figured out what to do with the cabbage.

And then I was stuck with a leek...that one up there in the corner, you see? I swear it looked just like that. It even had those string things coming out the end.

I just went to use my leek. And I started cutting it and though to myself, "Man, I really need to keep my leeks separate from now on. It really picks up the smell of garlic."

Upon further inspection, I discovered. Yep. It IS garlic. I've never seen garlic outside it's perfect little three pack at the grocery store. Apparently garlic kind of looks like a leek to me. I swear. It had those little hair things on the end. Roots maybe?

Yeah. I'm a city girl. But at least I don't have to figure out what to do with a leek (upon further reading, I have discovered that if I indeed HAD a leek I would have enjoyed it in my stirfry. But I don't. So I'll just add some fresh garlic).

kortney elise xoxo

Another One Bites the Dust

Dear black ice,

You'll be missed. The announcement of your retirement after 18 years at the Senior level is beyond sad. Your short program was my very favourite this year, even more than NEXXICE (and that's saying a lot from a die-hard fan like me). I'm sorry we have an expensive sport and I'm sorry nothing could be done to save you...I commend the Ontario section for making an effort at the "COS Elite" team and supporting Cathy Dalton. I really am sad that you guys are done.

kortney elise xoxo

(In other news, I guess Les Supremes is going to Worlds next year.)

Here is black ice's short from this past year skated at Nationals. Wowee!!

A Mini Vay-K

We went on a little mini vacation during the 35 degree heat we had out here over the weekend. Our little condo simply gets too hot and too stuffy for three of us to live in - especially my sweet 19-month-old baby girl. Not helping the matter further was the fact that all three of us were sick and being hot and sick is not a great feeling. Trust me.

Anyways. We packed our bags and headed on vacation where there was delicious food and air conditioning. There was good company and beds for all of us. There were laundry services (not just machines, but services), and there was even free internet.

Yes, my friends, we packed our bags and went to my mom's house. I spent Thursday, Friday, and Sunday night at my mom's house (yes we braved our own home Saturday night and it was only barely bearable).  I quite enjoy spending time with my mom and it is nice for Alexys to have a bigger place to stay. 

At Grandma's house I ate the dirt from Nonno's plants while he's in Italy.

I also helped Grandma water Nonno's plants with my Little Mermaid watering can.

The best way to stay cool is to just walk over to your pool and jump in. Clothes on.

 It's even better to just run around naked.

Here's looking at you!!! CHEESE!!!

Grandma is a slavedriver, I'll tell ya. She said the pay for staying at her house was cleaning the floors.

 Enjoying strawberries off Nonno's strawberry plants in the back. YUMM!!!

Why I Don't Blog Much Anymore

I spent the afternoon scrubbing my kitchen grout with a toothbrush.

The end.
kortney elise xoxo

Money vs. Drive vs. Raw Talent

I think about this topic a lot. Like really a lot. I'm not sure why.

Last night I had an evening off work (well, work was slow, so I didn't have much work…I wasn't actually off). I stayed on until my shift ended instead of staying up way past and helping out. Because of this I stayed up and had some time to myself. I watched some youtube videos and found myself watching Joannie Rochette. I know, I know – I'm addicted to her. I was watching some of her older videos, from when she was younger (really young and then Junior)…I don't see raw talent.

What?

Well I don't. Obviously she had some sort of talent and drive to accomplish what she did, but raw talent. Nope. It wasn't there. As a past coach, and a present judge, I can tell you that if I had watched Joannie skate as an 8-year-old or perhaps even a 13-year-old, I wouldn't have said, "Now there's a kid who's going to go to the Olympics." Stay with me here. This applies to all sports, to my life, and to Alexys. Seriously. So here we have 10-year-old Joannie – just a regular Quebec kid amongst many, many other talented Quebec kids.

Now let's talk about Mira Leung. Who, you might ask? Well Mira was BC's whiz kid. I've watched her grow up, as I've watched her around competitions and the rink, as a kid. I clearly remember her skating in an Old Timer's hockey game when I was maybe 10 at most…she must have been 7 perhaps? Maybe younger. Mira competed at the 2006 Olympics and placed somewhere in the midteens. At her last world championships, she came last. She's been Canada's silver/bronze medalist a handful of times. She was freaking good. You saw talent when you saw this kid. Last season Mira placed 13th in the short program at Nationals and withdrew. Let me tell you. Placing 13th at Canadian Nationals isn't like placing 13th at US Nationals. US Nationals it is understood – the field is deep there. Placing 13th at Canadian Nationals, as a former Olympic competitor, is downright embarrassing (which is probably why she withdrew, seriously). What happened? This kid WAS picked as a whiz kid – Vancouver's Olympic hopeful in previous years even.

Here you have your run of the mill kid, Joannie, versus your way talented kid, Mira…and what happened? Well, we all know the story. We're still waiting on Mira's "comeback" and Joannie has a lot of money and an Olympic Bronze Medal. Mira came from a poor family and for most of her skating career she was sponsored by her coach – who found her at a public skate session. Mira was coached by her mom for many years and often got in trouble for doing things her way. She clearly had drive, but perhaps the wrong kind of drive. Her and her mother wanted to do things their way. I don't know about Joannie's financial history, but one could assume that they were decently well off. She moved away at 13 to train with one of the top coaches (Manon Perron). She was an only child. Joannie too has drive. Clearly – doing what she did at the Olympics was only the culmination of that drive.

I don't really have a conclusion for this post, except that I think about Alexys in this sense a lot. We don't have money (until I win the lottery) and so she won't have the same opportunities that a "rich" kid might. I often used to think back on my skating career and wonder if my parents had been rich and let me skate at 8 Rinks with the "good kids" if I could have been good. Could I have been like Joannie? I had the drive…oh trust me…I had the drive. But drive alone is not enough. In Mira's case, drive and raw talent weren't enough. Joannie didn't have raw talent, but succeeded. Is it money and drive that makes an Olympic athlete? I'll argue no, because Yuna Kim (Olympic GOLD medalist), clearly had raw talent.

So I'm stuck. I will never push Alexys to do something (including figure skating, gasp) that she doesn't want to do. Quite frankly I think she'll be a swimmer…I look forward to vacations in warm places…but how do I help her be successful? (That's rhetoric).

Anyways. Again. No real conclusion, just a thought pattern of late. All I hope is that Alexys chooses and activity and falls in love with it, like I did…something that keeps her going, keeps her involved until she's "old" (like me, you know), and makes her smile.

kortney elise xoxo