So things have been a little more exciting around here in the last few weeks, but not really in a good way.  We've made 3 trips to emerge in less then 3 weeks with Benjamin.  I'm hoping since they say things come in 3 that we are done.  First he was sitting on his bike on the grass, not even riding it, and it tipped over and he hit his head on some patio stones along the side of our driveway.  He had a huge purple goose egg on the back of his head.  It got really big really fast so we took him to emerge to be safe.  It was nothing and they sent us home.  The Friday after that Benjamin got sick..super sick.  Not sure what it was..some sort of GI bug, maybe rotavirus?  Anyways he started throwing up Friday night and was sick all the way until Wed.  He had horrible diarrhea and lots of tummy pain so Sunday night we took him back in.  He hadn't peed in 9 hours and we were concerned about dehydration.   I was also a little worried that it was more then a tummy bug but something like a blockage or narrowing.  The symptoms are all the same really.   Luckily while we were waiting Benjamin's surgeon walked by.  I flagged her down and she had a peak at him as well and was pretty confident that it was viral and not something major going on inside.  That made us feel so much better. The nurses ended up giving him a super strong anti nausea medication and he was able to keep a little down, at least for 12 hrs.  We were told from the beginning that any GI bug could really take its toll and this one did.  Luckily Avery is the only one who caught it in the house and she only lasted a couple days and was on the mend again.   Our last trip to emerge was for stitches.  Benjamin was playing in the yard with his sisters and cousins and he tried to run under the patio table to get a ball and he hit his head right on the corner.  He ended up with 4 stitches on his forehead.  Ugh, what a crazy few weeks.  

Benjamin has a few appointments coming up, but nothing major really.  He has the asthma doctor, dentist and I think we'll have one more visit with developmental follow-up around his 3rd birthday.  Its so hard to believe that in a little over a month he will 3.  It's just crazy.  I think 3 is going to be a difficult year as Benjamin is already starting to assert himself more and become independent.  I love watching him learn and grow, but I also still wish he was a quiet nursing baby.

Anyways, he, as well as the rest of us are doing good now. The weather has been great.  Its been so nice to get out and just play outside.  Its good for everyone.   We've been waiting so long for this weather.  We've been loving every minute.  So glad spring is here and summer is coming.

It has been quite a while since my last post, but I really don't have much to share.  Things have been going so well.  Winter has been dragging on so there hasn't been to much going on around here at all.  I think the warmer weather is finally on its way and we'll be able to be a little more active again.  Benjamin is doing fantastic.  He has been super healthy.  No major bumps since his stomach flu before Christmas.  Fingers crossed that we are out of the winter risk zone.   We actually did a lot more the later part of this winter then we have before.  Benjamin has become a part of our church nursery and has really started to like that interaction with other kids.  He's seems to have a good time.  We also have been swimming 2-3 days a week at the YMCA and doing some lessons.  He has been doing so great at that...

Benjamin has a new specialist.  His pediatric allergist/asthma specialist moved away so we were referred to a pulmonoligst who is dealing with his asthma now.  We really didn't think he had any allergies and his issues are more lung related.  So we're happy with this.   We'll have another appointment at the hospital soon with the developmental follow-up clinic.  This will be for his 3 year check-up.  I can't believe that he will be 3 in 2 short months.  This is insane.  He's such a big boy now.  I don't anticipate anything coming of this appointment.  His speech is amazing now, I haven't noticed any issues with his fine or gross motor skills at all..  We really have no concerns.

Another big development is toilet training.  In only a few short weeks Benjamin pretty much mastered training and has been a superstar.  We do occasionally have issues with number 2 since he has trouble going anyways...getting this done in the toilet sometimes doesn't happen.  But I'd say we're about 95% there.  I was prepared for it to be a long issue...everyone told me boys are harder to train, but our little smarty just got it.  We're so proud.

Lastly I finally weaned him.. We're about a week into it now.  Its been going pretty good.  He still tries, but with some encouragement I have managed to keep him off me. It has definitely been bittersweet.  I want him to be my baby still...he's my last baby so that makes me sad.  The thought of him growing up makes me sad. It was definitely a way to keep him close.  But it was time.  It was 34.5 mths and I gave him all I could.  I attribute his amazing health to breastfeeding for that long.  He's also been sleeping better and so have I. That's helpful for everyone.

Anyways, that's all for now. :)

I feel so bad that I haven't updated in so long.  To tell you the truth there really isn't  much to tell you.  Things have been great. Benjamin has been doing amazingly well and growing in leaps and bounds by the day.   This winter has been a remarkably healthy one for all of us, besides the stomach bug just before Christmas.  We have been swimming and participating in parent and tot arts in crafts.  The interaction has been so good for Benjamin.  He also now happily goes into the nursery at church on Sunday mornings.  Such a relief and a wonderful hour for us to just be quiet.  His speech has just exploded in the last few weeks.  He's been putting sentences together like "I am cold" and "I am hungry"  or "don't tickle me"  :)  which is fantastic.   We also started potty training.  We started 4 days ago and it has been remarkable.  I really had no expectations for this process as he is not even 3...has had major issues and is a boy.  But so far so good.  I think getting him too poop on the toilet will be our biggest issue as he already has trouble in this area.  But the progress we have made so far has been awesome.

Everyone else in the family is doing well.  The girls are doing fantastic in school. I am so proud of my smarty pants.  They amaze me daily.  The are so fluent in french now, that I can hardly keep up with them. Its such a joy to watch them grow and develop.  They are awesome little people.

Anyways, that's all I have to tell you right now....we are anxiously awaiting spring and all the fun that comes with that.

We had an amazing Christmas.  Avery's birthday is on the 21st so that kind of kicks off the festivities..She had a great birthday. Her grandparents came over for dinner, it was really nice.  Unfortunately after everyone left I got sick and it kind of had the domino effect in our house.  I started and then Benjamin, then Avery...Mackenzie had the mildest case..just a slight upset tummy.  It was a rough few days, but everyone was well enough by Christmas Eve to continue the celebrations.  I was very happy with how Benjamin fared his first G.I. bug.  It was one of my biggest fears.  His bowels don't function properly as it is so I was always so worried any bug would send him directly to the hospital.  Thankfully that wasn't the case and he was a champ.  I am so thankful that he is still nursing.  My milk was the only thing his little tummy could handle and that's why he didn't get dehydrated.  

Christmas eve we spent with Jon's family.  We had a great time and the kids were spoiled as usual.   We were home fairly early and had a nice quiet night at home prepping for the morning.  Christmas morning was so exciting. Benjamin really loved opening gifts...he LOVED it.   We always read the Christmas story and have cinnabons for breakfast.  I love those little traditions.  It makes the day even more special.  After that we went to my parents and spent some time with my family and my dad's family.  We have a huge family, but are very close and I love being able to get together with my cousins and their children.  My grandmother is 93 so I want to cherish these occasions.

Today we went out skating with Jon's family which was also a great time.  Ben got to skate for the first time on real skates.  He seemed to really like it...so we'll be taking him more.   He has really developed a love for playing hockey in the kitchen at home...do we have a future hockey star on our hands???

Anyways..this past week has been incredible.  I hope you have been able to spend time and cherish your loved ones the way I have...simply amazing.

Busy, busy, busy.  I have been working more and more lately, which is a good thing, but makes for craziness around here.  We are ready for Christmas and things are looking really festive.  I've made an extra special advent calender for the kids and we've been having a great time spending extra quality time together.
    The kids are great.  Mackenzie is being tested for the gifted program which is super exciting ...we knew all along that she was way of ahead of her peers, but having the teachers confirm that is pretty special.  I'm so happy we chose the French Immersion route for the girls and English school would have been even easier for her.  Avery is great.  She turns 8 on Friday.  We're planning a little party for her.   We try to make sure its extra special as she kind of gets lost in the Christmas rush.  I hate that.  Benjamin is doing fantastic.  He is growing by leaps and bounds.  He is talking up a storm and I think the Christmas is going to be so fun with him.  
  That is about all that's happening around here.  I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas!

I feel so bad for not posting sooner.  Life has been busy as usual, but things are so good.   The girls are doing fantastic in school.  I am so proud of them. They are working on a Christmas musical with their after school program at a neighbourhood church.  Benjamin is doing great to.  He's been healthy so far, which we are so thankful for.   I hope this is a preview to what our winter is going to be like.  He's talking more and more every day.  He makes me laugh.  Right now he is obsessed with Eric Carle and we spend a lot of time reading books.  He asks me almost everyday to go to chapters.  He loves it there, he gets to read all the books and play with the toys, its great.  Needless to say, I have a stack of Eric Carle books sitting in my closet ready for Christmas.   He'll love them.   We have nothing else going on around here...we're just gearing up for the holiday season.  I love this time of year.  Its a fantastic time for family, friends, reflection and thankfulness.   Its going to be a good Christmas.

Here are a few pictures from our family photo shoot. They are amazing!!