fun in the feb blahs

I'll start with the eye update: we took Sasha to the eye doctor last wednesday (a drama to get there as transit was rerouted around the explosion on broadway!) and the prognosis is good. Dr. Kennedy's opinion was that what she has is an acquired estropia (very common between 18 months - 2 years.), which causes an eye to turn in when the effort to focus becomes difficult. If left to long it can be severe as their little brains are still flexible enough to just get used to seeing out one eye and give up on the one that requires too much effort. Though it is a condition that can lead to blindness, he patted us on the back and told us we were good parents for getting her in quickly. The fact that she is irritated by it and still trying to control it herself was proof it is not too late to put those eye muscles back to work.

This week we picked up her glasses which will hopefully help correct the problem she is having focusing her right eye in as little as 6 months. It could take longer, but ultimately he believes she will outgrow it. We may need to supplement with an eye patch or drops if she continues to favour the left eye after a few months. The glasses themselves should be enough...and with stylie pink frames she's bound to keep turning heads with her cuteness :)

This look kind of expresses her feelings on wearing them so far. teehee. not to worry. there are a few more pics below from when she actually kept them on long enough to get pics...and they tell us she will want to wear once she realizes they make it easier for her to focus.

Since Sasha started at Tina's child care a few weeks ago she has gone from a few words and many signs, to a bunch of words and constant babbling . She is also starting to sing a whole bunch too...so sweet! There is another boy at Tina's who is about 2 1/2. On Sasha's first day he asked me why she didn't talk. I said that she didn't have many friends who could talk yet (and her best friend is deaf...though little Merlin is also starting to talk lots now too!), but knowing him would encourage her to learn words because she would look up to him as the big kid there. When I saw him the other day he was all smiles when I thanked him for his help teaching Sasha new words.

Though I would prefer a mon-wed arrangement which she can't offer, we're hoping to stay with Tina for a bit as other care, close to home and affordable, is proving crazy hard to find. Perhaps if we had a car (and Mark his license) we would have more options. Sasha seems to like it at Tina's as well (the first few days she walked away from me "bye bye" and straight for the room of toys), though she had a few days last week where she got mad at me dropping her off...daddy was the hero who rescued her. I'm hoping that phase has passed. The days she gave me the cold shoulder I was also really sick with a stomach bug so didn't take it well...aren't kids supposed to be nice to their moms when they are sick? LOL

Aside from a week of sickness (Mark caught it too but didn't get hit as bad by it) things around the home have been good. We are all fans of Sasha's favorite game which is hugging people around the room. She'll go from mommy, to daddy, to brother, and around and around. And every day before bedtime we do a big family hug where she leans into each of us for her kiss...makes me all mushy.

Che has become more and more comfortable watching out for his little sis, and she loves that he will push her around in the variety of tot cars left around the passageway of our co-op. (our suite is at the end of the row of townhomes on the right...up those stairs at the end)

Sasha is very good for everyone who watches her (we are the ones she is testing, naturally). She's had no problems with my friends who have filled in, her grandparents she adores, and so with his practise helping us and Granpa, Che has earned a chance to watch her all be himself next week. He may even have to change his first diaper ;)

Since my last post we have had two family outtings. One night for Mark and I to go out with Dad & Liz, and Sasha went to play with Annty and Luis Phillipe. We had a lovely indian meal and then went to see the play "The Satchmo' Suite" at the Cultch. An amazing show!!! Really...if it comes to your town - don't miss it!!

Our other family outting was to meet up with Tom, Kristina and Keyan for the Chinese new year parade. Nice that Chinatown is one neighbourhood in walking distance for us. Sasha loved all the colour and was full of oohs and aahs. Except all the fireworks at the beginning. Though it started to rain at the end it was a great time. I only wish I had known Gordon Campbell was going to be in front of me...would have come up with something witty to ask our premier. We did get interviewed by Telus TV. He said it was because of the cute baby on my back, and asked why we were there - to celebrate one of the many cultures of our Vancouver home of course! The nice thing about city living is the opportunities you have as a parent to expose your kids to so many different cultures and new things. :)











On the education front things are still busy, though there have been a few postponements. The PEP forum that was supposed to be this weekend will be in a couple of months likely. The CPEN celebration for the 5th anniversary, will now be a series of regional forums around BC to mark the 5th year and reconnect with the communities that were a part of the original process.

With many many thanks to those of you who took the time to vote for my proposal, I received the 100 votes I needed to create an actual fundraising project at givemeaning.com. Now I just need the Public Education Research Foundation (PERF) to agree to be the charitiable organization attached to it...fun of fundraising.

Tanya and I are going ahead with filming this weekend. Our first day of 'folks on the street' interviews. It will feel good to actually have something on film, and to begin work on the trailer we will use in our pitch to other funders.

I'm constantly trying to find blocks of decent writing time. My ability to manage the time I have has improved greatly, but to really tap into the creative juices it takes a big chunk of time. This is very hard to juggle around needs of family, work and having a mental break once in a while. I am a bit behind...but for the most part we are doing well with the overall film schedule. My friend Allan is contributing his time as our production manager for a while, which is a super big help for Tanya and I in getting organized. Once I get the proposal for the CBC done I will feel much better...

Next week is another crazy busy one. On Thursday, Che will look after Sasha while I host a CPEN meeting here at home. Then Tanya and I, along with my CPEN cohorts are off to the CCPA fundraising dinner. An annual event I always look forward to for the great food (Fraserview Hall is consistently good with their indian buffet), thought-provoking guest speaker and hugs from friends and colleagues. :)

Friday night, my friend Andrea is hosting a wine & cheese event for us to pick the minds of teachers, parents and potential municipal candidates on what success might look like in public education. We may do some filming at the wine & cheese, but overall it will be a good night for promoting our work and narrowing the focus on local positive and negative issues for our district.

I'll finish off with a few more pics of Sasha in her styley glasses. I especially like the one of her and Mark all smiles. :)