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Thanks for the advice about the ecinacha. I have been taking it, but not in such big doses. I've only been taking 2 pills every morning. Once this sucker is gone, I'll do that for the next one. In answer to Monica's question, yes, since I started working, I've gotten sick each time Jean-Pierre has gone away. It just takes me getting a little (I mean a very little) run down and boom it hits me again. It has always been like that whenever I start teaching at a new place. It will pass and (if history repeats itself) next year I should be as strong as a horse.

So, we got the official word yesterday. Jean-Pierre (well, and others) leaves for his trip in about two weeks. Hopefully it will only be for 4 months. The timing is actually not so bad. I mean, yes, he won't be here for Jay-Jay's first Christmas and his one year anniversary of being in our family, but he should be back for the really good parts of the year like summer holidays and the kids' birthdays. The birthdays part is likely going to be touch and go because Jean-Pierre will be one of the last guys to leave at the end as he'll have to do the hand-over to the guys coming after them.

So, as Jennifer mentioned, since we knew it was likely coming, we are not totally surprised. We thought they would have a month's notice before leaving, but after having been involved with the military for 14 years now, nothing surprises me and we pretty much know how to roll with it now. This is not nearly as stressful as being moved to a different province, totally out of the blue, when you are in the middle of an international adoption. Nope, this is a piece of cake compared to that. But, we know that this is Jean-Pierre's job, it's what puts food on our table and clothes on our backs so we have to take the good with the bad.

Jean-Pierre is happy to be getting the chance to put his skills to good use and he is looking forward to seeing for himself what is really going on over there without the spindoctoring we see in the media. Take just this mission for example. On the net, some articles give the impression that Canada is sending over the Griffon helicopter to attack targets. They have been called 'Gunships'. The mission for the Griffons is to protect the Chinook helicopters that will be carrying our guys and their equipment from place to place. The idea is to keep some of our people off the roads, where they are vulnerable to attack, by flying them through the air instead.

Here's the really ironic part..... Since Jean-Pierre will have access to the internet, I'll likely be updating the blog a lot more often so he can stay up-to-date with the kiddies :-)).

Newses Bullets

• Jean-Pierre went away for 4 days and, boom, I got sick again. Damn, I have the weakest immune system on the planet these days and it's driving me crazy. It always starts with a sore throat and then progresses. I didn't try to be a hero this time though. I took two days off work (no, my math curriculum is never going to get done) and am feeling better. Not 100%, but I don't think the cold is going to last a whole month like the last one.
• Speaking of being away. The government announced yesterday that the Canadian Griffon helicopters are going to Afganistan. It just happens to be Jean-Pierre's squadron's turn so he'll be going. No word at this point as to exactly when they'll leave, but we'll be very lucky if he's here for Christmas. The squadron in Quebec is supposed to take over in April so he may only be gone for 3 or 4 months. Of course as nothing is ever certain once the government gets involved he may easily be gone longer. There has been some talk of 9 month rotations. We'll see.
• Our babies are both happy and healthy these days. They are completely obsessed with Cinderella. They don't care about the 'princessy' part (so to speak). They CONSTANTLY (no, I really mean c.o.n.s.t.a.m.t.l.y.) replay the same scenes (I mean over and over and over):

Scene 1: The ugly step-sisters ruin the dress Cinderella made for the ball by ripping off the bead necklace and the ribbons. The required (yes, 'required') dialogue for this scene is always, "That's my ribbon! That's my bead (they aren't too good with plurals yet)!" They are ripping at your clothes as they say this, usually in unison. Then they gleefully shout, "You can't go to ball Cinderella!" Then they command, "Cry Mama/Daddy/Lao-Lao/Heather/or whoever they have talked into playing the scene".

Scene 2: A bit more infrequent than scenes 1, 3 & 4, but still nauseatingly often: Cinderella is crying in the garden and the Fairy Godmother cames and fixes her up. It's actually E. that acts out this scene the most often. In a very soft and gentle voice she says, "Don't cry Cinderella. I your Fairy Godmother." Then she waves whatever is in her hand at the moment (a pencil, a knex piece, a dish towel) at you and the scene ends. Alternately, at random moments she suddenly puts her head in her arms and you have to know the right dialogue (see above) to bring her out of that position.

Scene 3: The infamous 'Cinderella Running from the Ball' scene. This one is acted out at least 10 times a day (not kidding here).

And finally, Scene 4: 'Trying on the Glass Slipper' scene. You have to try the slipper on them, they have to try it on you; sometimes they are the ugly step-sisters, sometimes you're the ugly step-sisters (you are never Cinderella though); sometimes one slipper gets broken by the wicked step-mother and Cinderella pulls the other one out from her pocket, sometimes not; sometimes Mama and Daddy have to act out the whole 'running from the ball, losing the slipper, searching for Cinderella and getting married' scene - that is the top of the top for them.

The Running Game

There's a game that we used to play with E. after she had been home a few months. Since she was really attached to me, but didn't want to have much to do with Jean-Pierre, we used to play the 'I'm Gonna Get You' game. I would run towards her to tickle her and J.-P. would save her by grabbing her and running away from me. This game actually really helped her develop a stronger bond to J.-P. because she got used to feeling safe in his arms.

I'd forgotten about that game until this evening. After supper J-P was playing 'Scary Monster' with J. and E. At one point J was startled to tears when J-P jumped out unexpectedly. J. ran over to me for comfort (unusual when daddy is around). So, we started to play 'Mama saves J. from the Scary Monster' game. We both loved it. He would go close to J-P and then beatle back to my arms as fast as his little legs would carry him as daddy chased him. I scooped him up and we ran around the kitchen as daddy tried to catch us. He held on to me so tight, laughing all the way. A great bonding experience for us that didn't take anything away from his bond with daddy.

Here are the two kiddies running back in forth in the house during the summer. J. is much more stable as he runs now. It's incredible how his muscles and coordination have developed since he's been home.

Arguments - Part 2

My son had another argument with me last evening after supper. I'm astounded by his tenacity (a trait that has served him well and will likely be very useful in his future).

So, he's sitting on my knee at the table after supper. He's playing with a little computer type game that has a saxophone on it. Here's the conversation:

J.: This is a trumpet hey mom?

M: That's a saxophone J., like the one the turtles on the school bus have (the animals in the school bus are actually frogs, but he insists they are turtles so I go along with it).

J.: Hmmmm, mom, it's a trumpet.

M: Look J. it's curved. A trumpet is straight. Remember we saw it in the book we have. (I now know that he is not going to give this up until I agree that it's a trumpet, so I continue just to see how far he'll go).

J.: Ummm, mom....maybe it's a trumpet. Yah, it's a trumpet.

M: Ummmm, J. it's a saxophone.

J.: Maybe a trumpet mom. A trumpet.

M: Go get the book and I'll show you the difference.

J: It's really a trumpet mom.

I go and get the book and show him the difference between a trumpet and a saxophone. We talk about the different looks and sounds of the instruments. He nodds in agreement and names the instruments correctly in the book. We close the book and begin to play with the computer game again.

J: Ummm, mom.....look, that's a trumpet.

I GAVE UP!

Remembrance Day Ceremony

Today we went to the Remembrance Day Ceremony here in town. You may be asking yourselves why we would subject ourselves to one hour of public solemness... in a public place...with two three year olds and you would be right. What were we thinking?

Jean-Pierre was required by work to do something 'offical' to mark today. He was lucky enough to get permission to do something close to home so we could spend the day together. So, we got all dressed up and away we went.

Actually, we have great confidence in our kiddies and they did not disappoint. Yes, they got a little restless during the laying of the wreaths, but otherwise they were very respectful and attentive. The bagpipes at the beginning really got their attention. J. was also enthralled whenever daddy would salute - like during the National Anthem, etc. At one point he saluted along with papa. It was so adorable. I'm not too sure I want him to get too enthusiastic about the military though. I think having a husband in the forces is enough. I don't really need my children to join up too.

The ceremony was quite religious actually. At the beginning the minister said something about how we were all in the 'presence' of god. Next thing I know J. looking all around and repeating, 'Presents? Presents?' He just couldn't figure out where the 'presents' were that the guy was talking about and, more importantly, if any of those 'presents' were for him.