Christmas in Antigua (tis the season of illness)

Mum Thomas had spent a whole year planning our Christmas vacation in Antigua. She had planned the vacation spot, the flights, the meals, the gifts, the activities....everything was perfect. Unfortunately, what we discovered, was that you cannot plan for illness.

The first week of the vacation was Andrew's brother's family time in Antigua and the whole family came down with gastroenteritis, including their toddler. Fortunately, they were on the mend by the time we had arrived for our Christmas photo.

Proud Grandma with Grandsons
Greg, Arleen and Kai

The day after we arrived Dylan came down with fever, headache, extreme malaise, and then laryngitis. Poor boy, he couldn't talk and could hardly drag himself to the beach just to rest. He had no appetite and and twice he VOMITED while in a restaurant (he ran out sobbing both times over the embarrassment). I must admit, by Day 3 I became very concerned about Dylan....his behaviour was sooooo atypical and the fever had not abated, instead it was worse. I began to doubt my abilities as a nurse and especially as a mother. During a sudden panic attack with visions of endocarditis dancing in my head, I suddenly bundled him off to see a pediatrician. She also did not think he had a bacterial infection and so it was back to symptomatic treatment for a viral infection.

We still managed to squeeze in a few normal activities during the first 4 days of Dylan's illness.

Opening presents on Christmas Day

Santa came to visit Antigua via a rubber dingy.

Andrew and I managed to spend a morning visiting St. John and saw the cruise ships in port.

At nighttime, Andrew and I made the most of the evening entertainment. I must admit, they put on great performances with a Carnivale Parade, Antiguan dance numbers and great bands. One night we had a beach bonfire with fire dancing.

Andrew and Dylan went sailing on a Hobie Kat.

Everyday we had scattered showers. But, they were brief and refreshing.

Since this was a mainly British tourist destination, there was CRICKET on the beach instead of football.

Arleen made a magnificent sand and seashell sculpture of a mermaid.

We relaxed on the beach to watch the "suitcase head" ladies sell their wares.

This was the first year that we had an all-inclusive meal plan and we LOVED it. No worries about grocery shopping and meal preparation. The meals were great and we were shocked to see Mum going back for seconds at mealtime. Furthermore, Mum would enjoy her cucumber sandwiches at High Tea and then still be able to eat a full dinner at the late hour of 6:30pm. Tee hee hee....it was very entertaining to see Mum enjoy her meals this much!

By Day 5 Dylan had 50% of his energy level back and we were able to go ZIP- LINING through the treetop canopy of the rainforest.

Dylan coming in for a landing while yelling like TARZAN

By Day 6 Dylan had 60% of his energy level back and we were able to go sailing on a KATAMORAN to Bird Island where we say thousands of migrating butterflies.

Dylan was allowed to steer our dingy back from snorkeling to the KATAMORAN

Day 7 and Dylan finally felt like socializing (slightly) with other children on the beach...

....and playing pool.

Andrew did not escape the gastroenteritis. Three hours after we returned from our vacation he was up all night with severe abdominal cramping and vomiting.

Ah yes.......Christmas 2007.....the year of illness. May we be truly grateful to God for our health and wellness.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and a HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Christmas Concerts

Dylan was involved in two Christmas Concerts. In Church he played a talking present box who discusses the purpose of Christmas.

At school the children sang "We need a little Christmas".

'Tis the Season to be Jolly!

The Christmas season was upon us with invitations to many different parties. SPORTSNET put on a great beautiful reception at an art deco designed ballroom. Andrew's boss Virginia (middle) with head of H.R.

We held our own OPEN HOUSE for several neighbours. Since we were the newbies on the street I thought it would be a good way to meet more people who, up to now, would just wave a greeting to us. So, we wrapped up tiny presents for the children and put on an appetizer/cocktail party which was well attended and alot of fun.

Our neighbour's son, Mathew, is a budding artist and we have admired his drawings on occasion. He painted us an acrylic painting of a forest scene from the perspective of one who is lying down and looking up to trees during an autumn day. We were especially grateful for the effort put into this gift and we have hung the painting in a prime location.

My brother Victor hosted a Christmas celebration at his house for us and Sandra's family. They are true gourmands and served an excellent dinner (which I will never be able to duplicate with my lack of culinary talents.

Tripone/Meinders/Thomas/Cleghorne Family

Our friends Karen and Richard held an Open House and it was great to reconnect with many people that we have not seen for months.

Medieval Times

James and his family came to Toronto recently on a shopping excursion. We spent an afternoon together with the families at Medieval Times dinner theatre. Andrew, Dylan and I decided to dressup in costume and really make this an experience.

The Castle Wizard and visiting Scottish Lord

Lady Antoinette and her Advisor
We all sat in the Yellow/Red section and cheered for our very effeminate knight (who did not win).

Overall it was great fun for the whole family.

Another Sleepover at the Science Centre

We were fortunate to take part in another sleepover at the Ontario Science Centre. This time Andrew, Dylan and I went with our neighbours Steve and his son Toby.

We started the evening with a dinner at a teppanyaki table in a Japanese restaurant. We watched our table chef create beautiful fiery volcanoes out of sliced onions and juggle his knives just a few inches away from our faces.

Later that night at the museum we were given the opportunity of dissecting an Owl "pellet". We learned that an owl has two stomaches...one to absorb the nutrients of the animal they have just ingested WHOLE and one to compact the creature's parts which are not candidates for absorption (i.e. the bony carcass). We dissected a beaked bird's skull and carcass from our pellet.

We made the mandatory slime....

And then we meandered around the many exhibits.

"Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well..."

"I know there is another kidney in here somewhere!!!"

Having another bad hair day!

Steve and Toby's peg design

After midnight it was "lights out" and we all bedded down on our sleeping bags dreaming of exhibits that come to life and dance around our heads.

Preacher Man

A few Sundays ago, Dylan had the experience of reciting a bible verse in church. I was so proud of him because, despite a microphone technicial failure, he kept composed and delivered his message with grace. (Talk about baptism by fire!) Be sure to hit the "PLAY" button for these videos.

He sat with the choir for the whole service and experienced the wonder of the service in full view.

I am grateful to our church for their constant innovative approach in engaging the congregation with God. Andrew and I have maintained our relationship with this church despite our having moved out of district. Our only disappointment is that our favourite minister will be going on sabbatical in a few months. Oh well....I am sure he will be full of stories when he returns.

In the meantime, the journey continues.......

Hallowe'en 2007

It has been a whole year since I started this blog last hallowe'en. As usual, the neighbourhood was rocking for this event!

We started off the festivities with a children's party at our house after school with 7 boys.

We started the night with the old classics such as the mummy wrap....

....spider web tangle

Afterwards we told spooky ghost stories while we waited for the pizza to come (which was 1 1/2 hours late)!

Dylan and a friend went trick or treating up three streets while Andrew and I took turns staying at home or minding the children. We all went to the (2) specially decorated haunted houses which where accepting donations for juvenile diabetes in exchange for entrance.

Later that night several of our neighbours congregated in front of our porch to chat and give a send off for our neighbours, Jamie and Alison, who will be working in Vancouver for 6 months. We promised to use their home for our new year's eve celebration (why be responsible for the mess in your own house). I suggested that they check ebay from time to time to see if it is listed as a short-term rental...tee hee hee..