Seven Months

Just over seven months and sick for the first time. Tonsillitis. It has been lame for all of us but especially for Jonas. Last week started off great - I began my Pilate's classes, Jonas and I had our first swim lesson together, baby group, dinner with friends and then BANG!! First Jonas was grumpy and acting very different and then within a couple of hours, fever and total irritability. So fast.
And for those of you reading this with multiple kids, saying ya ya whatever, well this was our first time. Kids just get so sick!
We saw the doc and after taking his temp, which was 39deg, he checked everything else and when he saw his throat he was like yes tonsillitis. I asked if tonsillitis is related to thrush, like serious thrush, but he said no that that wasn't it. Just wondering. I wonder if it has anything to do with it????
Anyway. He had the fever for a couple days, slept lots, cried at night.
Now that the fever has broke he is just a little grumpy and absolutely refuses to leave my side (or I mean let me leave HIS side). We are sleeping together and he spends the day in the sling or the ergo carrier (I bought the Ergo after the Bjorn went missing after our Vic trip this summer)
These last few days have been long and trying. But a big glass of wine and a few minutes alone each night while Daddy tends to Jonas is all I need...hehe, and NO I am not an alcoholic....Mums need a quick unwind sometimes too.
Jonas, of course, has kept on eating solids right through his sickness. He is a big eater and will complain when he doesn't get his applesauce or sweet potatoes or whatever else is on the menu that day. Although he is eating solids, Jonas still nurses quite abit; maybe every four hours or so. I am wondering when my period will arrive? It could be anytime I suppose. I wonder what the chances of getting pregnant again without getting a real period is. I know that I could ovulate first and get prego before ever having a period. Hmm, well, its a topic that has been discussed and if it happens then that's just great. We go back and forth, actually. Sometimes we want it to happen now and sometimes we talk about it happening in like 5 years from now or maybe never...we'll see.
My first best friend ever died recently. I had not talked to her in many many years and had only recently reconnected with her via the currently popular FACEBOOK.. Her death was tragic; the event has brought me back in time. I pulled out old journals and diaries. I must have started writing about my life quite soon after I learned to write because my first journals were about me and Larisa. I remembered what a magical time that age was. We spent our time climbing trees, building go carts and being 100% wild and free. We must have been 7 or 8 at the time. Childhood is so precious and short and I must say that mine was pretty great. I hope that Jonas will experience the innocence and freedom that I was so lucky to have.

Bringing Peace Within...

For the first time ever, in the 5.5 years we have known each other, Jordan and I got sick. A really really bad cold, together, at the same time. Nothing is worse than being sick while its hot outside. Its been about ten days and we are now feeling much better. I have not gotten much done during this time...we still have stuff to move from the trailer. I always like things to be neat and tidy and orderly and I have been abit grumpy lately at being too tired to do much. I think I need to let go abit more. Not let things like housework get to me...but its hard cause I am in the house all day long, looking at all that needs to be done, but I guess on the other hand I should be out and about more than I have lately...but I HAVE been sick...

Jonas, with the kick ass immune system, sniffled for a day and that was about it. He's been a happy boy, playing out on the deck with water and frozen raspberries, watching mum pick strawberries (we have had buckets and buckets since June and they are still coming strong!!).

I don't know if its from being sick or lack of sleep but I've given off some neg vibes lately and I am not sure if anyone has noticed - namely my sister, mom, Jord and mum in law...sorry guys, I've been a grump!

Tonight I found some peace, well, really I did. At the Tidemark Theatre in CR, The Island Centre For Positive Living hosted a really cool event where all faiths in the area were invited to come and celebrate peace and diversity. It was an interfaith celebration called 'A Season For Peace and Non Violence'. I enjoyed myself because I felt that these different faiths that came together were truly supportive of peace; the fact that they put aside differences and came together proves that. I am wondering where the Catholics were?? Haha. I grew up in a sort of Catholic family, but really, just a family that is very spiritual and we would go hiking or skiing on Sundays - not church. I did go to Catholic school and was Baptised by renowned radical Jesuit Jim Roberts - but I would say that at this point I can take bits and pieces from many religions and make it my own spirituality. Some of the groups that came forth in this celebration tonight were the Baha'i, Tibetan Buddhist, United Church, Stolo Nation, Wicca, Sikh, and The Centre For Positive Living. Very eclectic. I think that how Jonas will be brought up spiritually will be several posts down the road..but I am sure I will give it great thought..not that I haven't already...

Now, for my little poll up top about immunisations, I am truly interested to find out where people are at with this. Maybe most people don't care, but its something that is important to me. There is so much misinformation out there, so much controversy. Even before Jonas was born I was reading as much as I could on the topic. I found each side really interesting because its almost like a trend. Some people seem to read a book and make their decision on that, they always believe in conspiracy. Then on the other side of the immunisation spectrum there are those that believe all that the nurse/doctor have to say without any question.

And after so much thought and research by both Jordan and I, we decided to do most of them. I could go on and on but after looking at where we are headed as a family I couldn't imagine not getting them. After being in India and seeing so many people ravaged by something like polio I knew I had to think long and hard about my immunisation standpoint. If we were to stay secluded on our Island or in our country, then, hey, maybe I wouldn't immunize. But our plans include alot of travel and work abroad. If little Jonas contracted something like Polio we probably would not be able to get help in time. We look forward to immersing ourselves wherever we go and I can't wait for the day that Jonas is running around with a bunch of kids in some foreign faraway place...

And I know that ours is a culture of fear; but it is my job to protect my son in the ways that I feel important.

And I know that I may be an idealist in raising my first (and perhaps only??) child, but I want to know that I have always done my best.
okokokok, its late and time for bed.

Sleep, Play, Eat All Day Long...

I may have mentioned this in an earlier blog, but we have really entered into a whole new stage with Jonas. Although I did enjoy the first 6 months - it was tough at times. Transitioning into motherhood, feeding all the time etc...

We are at an amazing time in Jonas's development. All senses are going strong and Jonas explores/plays all day long. He is too active to breastfeed for long, except if he is going down for a nap. He does take the time to sit and eat some solids, 3 times a day to be exact. Nothing too exciting yet, just applesauce and root veggies and some peas. He also likes to eat pieces of rice and puffed millet. He prefers a cup of tea or water while he eats at his high chair. No interest in feeding himself as of yet.

He loves his own room. He takes his 3 naps each day on his bed no problem - of course still falling asleep at the breast. And yes, I have been told that feeding him to sleep at the breast is a badbad habit, but, hey, it works so well for us. I think I am gonna go on my tuition on that one.

I love it when I check up on him while he naps to discover him playing quietly with a toy he has wiggled to. He gets around quite well now, but is not 'officially' crawling. His toys include various rattles, household items, blocks (wood and cloth) and balls. Sometimes I will sit Jonas in front of his basket of toys where he will play for quite awhile. He plays well alone. Sometimes very quietly and sometimes quite loudly.

Jonas no longer does the high pitched 'veloceraptor' sound. Its funny, because I remember the last time he did it. I am not sure if its because of this particular incident that he stopped or if it was by chance. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was shopping, browsing through some books. Jonas was in the baby carrier and a few teenaged girls were flipping through magazines behind me when out of nowhere Jonas lets out his high pitched veloceraptor scream and the girls jumped and screamed, freaked right out, which in turn freaked Jonas out and I couldn't help but laugh to the point of tears and the girls began laughing. It was so funny and Jonas just looked so surprised and confused! I have never heard the sound again...