Saturday - GOMA again

On Saturday we were pretty slow moving. So slow moving in fact that by the time we got to the market, it was closed. Darn - I hate when that happens. So we had to do something else - at least we hadn't parked and gotten out of the car. We drove to the GOMA and I almost made it there without the GPS. As we were going the wrong way over the William Jolly Bridge I started yelling at Cyp to get the GD GPS out and figure out how to get back. I didn't really need it - I made the correct turn coming off the bridge and got to go in the right direction. That is good. I'm starting to feel like a local. In fact, I know my way around better than some locals heh.

Rowan of course fell asleep while we were figuring out what to do and I gladly volunteered to stay in the car with him (I must have had a feeling that would happen as I brought my book). He has become impossible to transfer - he always wakes up - it's really annoying.

Anyway - he slept for quite a while - and so when I found Cyp, Granita and Ellis we were all hungry. We stopped at the State Library Cafe and then hit the GOMA. I spent the entire time there doing laps of the building with Rowan - He went around twice (up three flights of stairs, around the building, down the escalator - that part with me - then up again). He would have gone for a third lap, but I was tired of seeing the exhibits in fast forward mode.

We strapped him into the stroller and walked over to the Beach area of Southbank. I had thought we'd go on the wheel but as we were approaching Granita started saying... you know - I don't like heights. I don't either, but then I get more practice by going on ski gondolas and chairlifts, so I'm used to that kind of height. Granita isn't - so we decided not to torture her.

We did a quick tour of the lifestyle market (where they sell jewelry, clothes etc) and where Ellis was transfixed by someone performing contact juggling). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iC3b5JnSIE

It was getting late and I was going out with a bunch of moms that night, so I herded us quickly home and then Cyp drove me down to Chinatown where us moms were meeting up for dinner.

I had a great time - and Cyp nicely sent reassuring messages to my texts to make sure they were all coping.

Friday it Continues

Ellis woke up chipper on Friday and was doing well until I mentioned we were heading off to school then he started stalling. Granita was still in bed as she had had a rotten night of aches and chills. I guess we're not better yet. Rowan had diarrhea so we have to follow him more closely to make sure he doesn't leak all over the house.

We rushed ourselves into the car so we wouldn't hit morning rush hour traffic and as we drove I thought of Vancouver and how I could just walk Ellis to school- read an article in our local newspaper about how Brisbane is the worst city after all the cities in the US for lazy ass driving to school and work. I kinda knew that already and have resigned myself to the fact that I have to drive Ellis to school this year. I must put him on the waiting list for a closer school - but it would still require pushing the stroller up Bywong - or worse Gower so I will probably still drive him. I drove everyone up Gower yesterday and the rental car almost didn't make it - I don't know how to shift down in an automatic. Luckily, it did make it, but as close - it almost died on the hill I think.

When we got to school Ellis had taken on a shade of blue that was not very encouraging. I told Sam his teacher that I would be standing by if I needed to come back and get him and then I left feeling rather guilty.

Anyway - when we got home, I pulled Rowan out of the car and realized it wasn't barf remnants that I was smelling - it was underprocessed baby pooh. All up his back - gross. I ran him into the shower and cleaned him up - he fell asleep after the shower and slept for almost 4 hours which was a relief - I could catch up on the backlog of laundry from flu week...

Granita also got a chance to rest without having me enforcing a tourist schedule on her.

It was time to make leftover lamb casserole again - there was lots of eggplant in our fridge from our veggie box - it was delicious, but the kids do not like it. Ellis said - "this dinner is making my throat feel funny."

Cyp then decided it would be good to do after dinner dancing (what was he thinking) which led to Ellis projectile vomiting all over the kitchen floor. At least it was on the floor and not the carpet. Of course - I got to clean it up. Again - it was a case of reintroducing milk into his diet too soon and then making him dance after dinner.

Beach Day

I woke up extremely grumpy - could it perhaps be because I was nursemaid to a rehydrating Rowan all night long? My attitude was not helping the house atmosphere, and it only got worse when I went to check Ellis's room as there was a big pile of barf on his bed. Sigh. Barfed on pillows, barfed on books, barfed on jammies.

"I didn't vomit." says Ellis.

"uh - yah you did."

"no it was daddy."

"it wasn't daddy -it was mostly corn and gingerbread man and daddy did not eat a gingerbread man.... maybe it was panther."

"Panther is not real - he's a stuffed animal. (already so logical) maybe it was Rowan."

"Rowan can't get into your bed."

"Well, it wasn't me - I'm not sick anymore."

How he can sleep in a big pile of vomit without noticing is beyond me. Why he was so adamant it wasn't him is also perplexing. He got very upset though when I kept saying it was - he just kept saying: "I'm not sick anymore!"

It was a nice sunny morning - I decided we should drive to the beach. Granita was told she needs to see the Gold Coast and although she said she doesn't care if she sees anything, she just likes to hang out with the kids, I can't help but get tourist anxiety on her behalf. She's come all the way to Australia - she's gotta see something! I can't believe there's only one week left of her trip. I just figured out this upcoming weekend is the last one. Cyp tries to alleviate my anxiety by pointing out that the trip has been good as it has allowed her to reconnect with Ellis. I know he's right - Ellis is very happy she is here and I've also gotten a chance to spend more time with Ellis. It has helped.

Anyway, I justified our trip to the beach as I thought the kids could rest in the car as they refuse to sit still at home. By the time we waited for the laundry to finish it was about noon. Perfect - Rowan nap time. GPS said it would take an hour. Good again.

By the time we got to the beach it was started to cloud over. Oh well - we lugged the stuff to the beach and I started hauling things out of the bucket bag. Oh look - a cockroach.

"I don't wanna see." said Granita. I threw him out onto the sand and he started to make a beeline for our blanket. Argh! I said as I stomped on him. Granita covered him with sand for good measure. About a minute later I uncovered him (still alive) and pointed him out to the lurking seagulls. This turned out to be a bad idea as we were now on the seagulls radar. I ran back to the car to get the beach umbrella and put my bathing suit on.

When I got back I watched Ellis as he jumped the waves - the water was pretty warm actually. Something caught my eye/attention and I looked up to see our beach umbrella flying along the beach and Granita jumping up and down yelling. I managed to catch it and I took it back to Granita. I decided we were hungry so got out some naan bread - piece to Ellis, piece to Granita, piece to Rowan, turn my back - turn back again - argh! Rowan is about to be eaten by a flock of seagulls. In fact so is Granita who is warding them off. Wow - they were aggressive. Soon, it started to look like we were about to get hit by a thunderstorm so we started to pack up. We stopped at the playground and then when it really did start to pour we headed back to the car. We almost made it - well, we didn't get too wet. I felt a little bad about dragging the recovering kids to the beach in the storm and might have said something to that effect. Ellis said:

"I'm not sick - don't you three make me sick again."

The drive home wasn't as pleasant. Rowan hadn't gotten enough running around time and did not want to be back in the car. He made his displeasure shown by shoving his finger down his throat and barfing all over himself. Disturbing behaviour. We decided to get Cyp at work and then Nandos. When we were almost there Ellis asked "am I wearing a diaper?" "NO! - don't pee!"

When we were finally at UQ I got out to mop up Rowan - wow - so much barf. The car smells like barf again - and I'd just finished washing Ellis's seat. Rowan is going to be one of those kids that holds his breath till he turns blue.

Recovery Day

It turns out that they need a week to repair our car, so we needed to rent one. I decided to take Ellis with me to pick it up. I promised him Science Works on the Way - what was I thinking? We set out - car seat got to ride shotgun on the pram. Awkward. More awkward when we got a flat halfway to the City Cat. "Ellis - we're not going to Science Works." "how come?" "I overestimated my stamina - I won't make it, especially with a flat tire." "how come?"This led to a discussion of tires and how they are filled with air and how they don't work as well when they don't have air. "how come?" I must admit, I was not the most patient mom - but it's exhausting trying to try to explain the minutia of life in three year old terms. We went to the library instead and even stopped at the market (it was market Wednesday in the square) where we picked up some yum yoghurt and more bananas for our bratty diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast and yoghurt - good for gastrointestinal issues). Ellis was still sad that we didn't go to Science Works and was being a bit of a trial. I was hoping he would sleep on the way to the car, but he didn't. We picked up the car - a white Corolla - just like Granita's at home (ok - a tad newer) and I even managed to find my way home without the GPS. The CBD is actually very small - but man is it confusing. Granita doesn't even try to figure out where we are - that darn river, it's so bendy. When we got back I took Anita to get more calcium (she miscalculated her pill count). We ended up running a few errands and I imagined Cyp getting more and more irate at home, but when we got back he was fine - I could here the kids shrieking. He was playing "monster hiding under the sleeping bag." Why can't I do that? Oh right, I've become obsessive compulsive about cleaning and tidying the house.

Grandma Gets to Experience Everything

When Ellis wakes up now, he grabs his clothes and makes a beeline downstairs (we've trained him well in that respect - no fun till dressed). He pounds down the stairs and I wait for the resounding THUD than "WAAAIEEE" as he runs into the door. "I can't open iiiiiiiittttt!" So Cyp usually heads down to open the door so he can run to Granita's room. I'm usually attached to the computer wistfully looking for email and wishing I was still single. I used to think I'm a morning person. I'm not. I try to keep as quiet as a mouse so the kids won't wake up, but of course they do. Rowan almost always wakes up with a sunny attitude - he makes a noise to let us know he's up and we go get him (so he doesn't fall out of our gargantuan bed). There he sits, a big smile lights up his face when he sees us. Then there is Ellis, it is a struggle to get him to do anything in the morning. He wails and flails and is generally horrible. He is also not a morning person. So - the fact that he now runs down to see Granita is like a little respite. Yay. He does Tai Chi with her. It seems to work. Do I have to learn Tai Chi? Do I have to become patient? I probably should try.... It does make me realize that people respond in a much more positive way to someone that is smiling than someone that is not. I keep trying to explain this to Ellis - I will try to keep on it. Granita told me the other day that she was trying to teach him to smile into the mirror. "his mouth has a hard time smiling, but when it does, it's the best smile." He has never been a smiler - remember what we went through when he didn't he didn't start smiling at 6 weeks?

Anyway, he was pretty good about heading off to school and I decided that Granita and I could take the bus downtown and do a little tour of the CBD.

We caught the bus - it was easy and right at the foot of our street. We had good timing. We went to the main library where I discovered I had too many kids books out so it was touch and go whether we could take out U is for Undertow (Sue Grafton), but luckily we managed it.

We trekked around downtown and it was too early for lunch so we walked through the City Gardens a bit. Rowan finally fell asleep - it is much easier to walk around these days now that is is cooler. We headed back and went to Little Singapore for lunch. Of course, Rowan woke up almost immediately. I'm still feeding him (what they call nursing here - I was quite confused the first time someone asked me if I was still feeding him - uh, yah) so I nursed him for a bit until our lunch arrived.

He had two bites of rice and then barfed all over himself (phew) and a bit of me. "uh - I guess we'd better go." So I mopped him up a bit, quickly scarfed down the rest of our Hainanese chicken and packed the rest to go. As we looked for our bus stop to get home (bus stops work differently here - they are every block along the main street, but you have to pick the right one - we finally found ours) we did some quick sightseeing. We found our bus stop and luckily we had good timing again and our bus came in 10 minutes. Our driver seemed to be in a bad mood so it was quite the ride home. I agree with her that the drivers in Brizzy are bad, but she was a bit much - slamming on the brakes and horn at the same time and then loudly complaining about the drivers. She had angry issues.

When we got off the bus Rowan spewed all over himself again. Poor guy. Regurgitated cheerios everywhere. Got home, ripped off his clothes, wiped him down and then checked my phone. 5 new messages (I had just checked my phone as we got on the bus). Ellis had thrown up at school. Off I went to get him and Cyp.

There Cyp and Ellis stood - Ellis in his spare school clothes that he has obviously outgrown, holding onto his barf bucket. He seemed quite chipper though - yay, get to leave school early. Cyp decided to come home as it was already 2 and taking the bus would have added an hour to his otherwise 1o minute commute. As we talked about spewing, Ellis spewed some more into his bucket. Sigh. I guess it wasn't food poisoning.

We got home to a Rowan that had progressed to diarrhea, Granita had tried to keep him from moving around but he's a darter these days. Ellis's room smelled like pooh. We threw the kids into the bath (after wiping them down a bit first) and I dealt with the plastic bag full of barfy sheets from school.

Thankfully, Rowan seemed to be done barfing because we had to concentrate on poor Ellis who couldn't seem to stop. Granita sat with him as he watched TV and held the bucket repeatedly. He moved to his bed and looked a horrendous shade of blue and he was a limp noodle. Kinda like our experience at the Great Barfier Reef. I was worried, but was trying to remain calm - I got out the BC Health Book (actually quite handy) which said not to give anything until child has stopped barfing. It was mostly reassuring. Of course, Cyp kept reading and decided Ellis had meningitis. Argh. He did stop barfing around 8 or so and I fell asleep only to wake up at 1 to barf myself. Found Cyp on the couch (also sick) and he then stayed up with Ellis and fed him tablespoons of juice water for the rest of the night while I slept and fed Rowan. When we woke up in the morning we found out Granita had also been up all night. We were a wreck. Actually by morning, the springy kids seemed fine.

Cyp had to take the car in to get assessed (what good timing) and we dragged ourselves around the house waiting for the property managers to come for their quarterly visit (more good timing). When she finally did come at 12:30, Cyp was sleeping in Ellis's bed, Anita was in her bed and the rest of us were in our jammies still and the house looked like a sickhouse. She didn't stay long. The plague, the plague. As soon as the door closed behind her, I was like "ok! nap time." Ellis crawled into his crib (which is sitting unused in the nook off of our room) and Rowan and I crashed into bed where we slept for hours. We woke up for dinner and then crashed again.

Plant a Tree Day

Sunday was overcast and usually by the time morning rolls around, I have lost enthusiasm for going to the beach or anywhere for that matter. Rowan had been puking all night and I was feeling guilty for having potentially food poisoned him with chicken.

Our local park was having a celebration for the million trees planted in Brizzy project so I decided we could do that.

Of course - Rowan fell asleep just before we were going to head out so I stayed home with him. I said I'd meet them when he woke up. Of course this was a morning when he slept and slept. That was ok though as I got to talk with Pat and Gaby.

He finally woke up and I headed out. When I got to the park I called Cyp - "ok, where are you."

"We're just heading up Mount St - we're almost home."

"oh."

So I dragged Rowan around a bit - felt a bit forlorn - missed the giant tree planting (so that is why they had cleared and removed trees from about an acre of the park - they needed a place to plant some more), looked at the bouncy castle (Rowan, you're too young), looked at the face painting (ditto), looked at the sausage sizzle (line too long) so I headed home. I went the new way I discovered with Ellis the other day - it is good, somehow it avoids some major hills. We live in a maze.

When I got home, they told me about the fun they had had. They got to plant 2 trees and have sausages. Ellis also had a blue snow cone. Uh oh. Yes, there were repercussions.

After Ellis had pounded Rowan one to many times, I decided butterfly face had to come off - he was on the verge of smearing it all over everything as he was heading for tantrumland. So Cyp washed it off to protests and then we ran to the car and strapped him in so he couldn't damage anything. Food colour - I hate it.

The entire drive he whimpered "I don't want my butterfly washed off." The car ride didn't work so we strapped him into the stroller when we got to Kangaroo Point. We had brought "Ba" for Rowan. It's good for getting him to walk - toss the ba a few feet in front and he chases it. This distracts him from the garbage on the sidewalk that he likes to investigate. Ba has more appeal.

When we got to the park, Ellis decided it would be just as much fun to torment Rowan some more, so he would run get the Ba. Rowan's little legs just can't win and as soon as he sees Ellis heading for it, he turns to mommy protector and screams "MAAAAAA' So we spent some time trying to have a game of catch and trying to get the boys to play together. Almost successful.

We then walked for a ways - it was a nice afternoon even though it was overcast. We walked by the Holman Street Ferry Terminal (our old stomping grounds) and I showed Granita where Ellis had skidded in vonet. Amazingly, the skid mark is still there in the pavement. After our long walk we went to the fish and chip place for dinner. Don't worry Suzy - Anita only had 1.5 chips. Ellis and I went to the toilet - there was a drain in the middle of the floor (they do that here - not sure how it works) which of course Ellis was curious about.

"What if I throw my paper towel in there?"

"Don't" I said.

So he did. He's speedy. I thought about retrieving it - but I'm not sure how the drains work - is it poo water? So I left it. I would have had to stick my arm in up to about the elbow to get it - it was deep and dark. ick.

paper towel should break up I hope and not cause a plug.

On the way home, Ellis says:

"if our house turned sideways, we could walk on the walls like a bug does."

Granita's Second Weekend

We didn't do much on Friday. I dropped Ellis and Cyp at school/work and then headed back home to get Granita so we could go to playgroup with Rowan. Another Cdn mom - Tracey - had suggested it and I figured that Rowan could use some playtime too. I usually just ignore him on my days off from Ellis (well as much as I can) but I decided it might be good to take him to a playgroup - get him good and tired and then maybe I could ignore him more....

It was unfortunately pouring rain - in that Vancouver grey kinda way. It seemed like it would go on for days. Granita is not impressed with Brizzy. One of the moms at the playgroup asked her what she thought of Brizzy and I think she said "not much." or something to that effect. I think she noted the look of displeasure on the mom's face and then started to backpeddle.

I've noticed people get quite offended here if you don't rave about Brisbane. People ask me how I'm liking it all the time. I usually say something like "it's ok." and then note that their faces look slightly displeased. So I say "I miss my friends and family." and then they look happy again. Oh - right, it's not Brizzy's fault. Who could not love it here? 300 days of sunshine a year and maybe not as cultured as Sydney and Melbourne, but more of a small town friendly feel.

Sometimes I'm feeling in an "I hate all things Australian" mood and start going off about everything bad here. It usually centres around Origin the electricity company. I never completed part 2 of that blog - actually, there is a part 3, 4 and 5, needless to say it is not good. I don't usually get such a receptive response when I do rant. Nobody likes to hear negative things about their homes I guess but Australia really has some issues.

Ok - enough of that. One thing that they do do well is playgroup. The other moms actually talk to you. It is quite astounding actually - I don't think another mom actually talked to me in Vancouver. Here, everyone is super friendly and nice. Plus - they know what playgroup is about. It's about letting the kids run amuck and ignoring them so you can talk to another mom who understands just how monotonous a day can be.

Anyway, it was a good playgroup - I will try to get back and it worked. Rowan passed out at the end and then slept for hours.

In fact, Anita and I did not know what to do with ourselves. I will have to figure out an activity to do when Rowan sleeps. I suppose I could have cleaned, but I just didn't feel like it.

Friday night Hannah the sitter came. Cyp, Anita and I went to the Tibetan Kitchen and had another good meal. I think Brizzy does restaurants pretty well. We talked about Australia a lot and mainly those Australian accents. Somehow we got onto the word marriage.

Granita says - "you know, I always thought it was pronounced marry age."

This prompted some chuckles from me and Cyp. Then I said - it's like in that song "love and marriage, love and marriage, goes together like a horse and carriage."

At which point Granita paused and then said - "What? it's not carry age? I always thought they were just slurring it in the song."

"Granita - that is going in the blog."

Afterwards we took Granita to the Kangaroo cliffs to see the view of the city and the river. We dragged her down the steps (she got vertigo) and then hauled her up again (she got puffed). But I think she enjoyed it.

We then headed home to find a tired Hannah. Poor girl - both boys had pooped in their diapers (I was afraid of that as Ellis had been at school all day). But she coped.

On Saturday we went to the West End market. It really is a good market. Reminds me a bit of home. We ate bad (for you that is) food and chased the kids around the field a bit. I finally got up the courage to have my brows threaded - it's a funny thing as you have quite the audience. The woman who did it asked if I wanted my mustache done as well and my loving husband said "and what about your beard?" Don't let anyone tell you it doesn't hurt cause it does. Yow. Finally made it to Mick's Nuts where we got some pesticide free almonds, some macadamias (and some white chocolate covered ones for me - heh). Confirmed that they do not have unsweetened baking chocolate here as if they don't have it at Mick's, I don't think they'd have it anywhere.

As we were walking along, Ellis was practicing his rhymes.

"Beer rhymes with cheer!" that got a chuckle from the 20 something guys that were walking in front of us.

We headed home - Rowan insists on walking everywhere now and is at that lovely stage where he has to investigate every piece of flotsam and jetsam he comes across. We went for a swim in the pool (brrr) and that wore Rowan out so he napped. I took Ellis to the wine shop - they are getting to know us there - and then to the park I discovered last weekend with Rowan.

"mummy - you know - I can say things to you and you listen when Rowan isn't here."

ugh.

This then led to some enlightened conversation from Ellis.

"mummy - sometimes your tummy doesn't notice your dinner and it just gets poohed out."

This led to a discussion about corn.

I convinced Ellis we should explore a bit (as I get bored with parks fast) and we walked around the corner and found the big pipe. This is the same big pipe that G & G found - it appears that they didn't find the park around the corner. This park is very close to our house.

Ellis decided we should explore in the other direction as well so we did. We tried to go around the block to find our car, but our car turned up somewhere where I didn't expect.

"maybe it moved." said Ellis.

"nope - it's just these darn crazy streets in Brizzy."

Another crazy thing about our neighbourhood - on our walk around the block, we saw houses with huge grass tennis courts and in ground pools (think Southwest marine drive) and then a two person shack next door. Weird.

On our way home we decided to drive up the hill we found - Gower Street. It's even more crazy that Bywong. Poor little car almost didn't make it.

We had cornflake chicken for dinner and unfortunately I think I food poisoned Rowan. He woke up this morning at 3 am going urp. I held him over the side of the bed and out came dinner. I hope he hasn't picked up a flu bug.