We make our own fun in the North

Before I moved here, I have to say I was not an outdoorsy person.  Definitely stayed indoors during the winter, and the summer for that matter.  Since we've been here though, I've come to embrace the weather and snow. Almost every day, I pull my daughter home on her sled.  It's gotten so much use, there is a hole in one end of the sled from all the wear and tear.  I have to say, I got my $25 worth. 
Today, my coworker told me she saw some kids sliding down a hill on garbage bags.   Not only is it a cheap thrill , apparently you slide down the hill at break neck spead.  When I discussed this with a friend of mine, she told me when she was a girl, they would slide down the hill on seal skins!  Apparently you could make it down the hill lightning fast.  Oh, the good old days!  These days, I view wearing seal skin as a luxury.  But back then I suppose seal skin was so abundant, you could spare some to let your kids play with.  I actually saw a child with what looked like wolf fur pants last month.  I would love a pair of those, they looked so warm!  Definitely an item you wouldn't find anywhere else but the North!

Worries

This morning I brought my daughter to the hospital emergency.  What I thought was just a pimple turned out to be a staph infection.  In case you have never heard of a staph infection, here is the explanation I got from http://www.staphinfections.info/

Staph infections are usually caused by the S. Aureus (shortened for Staphylococcus Aureus ) bacteria. This bacteria is usually found in the nose or on the skin of a person. They are usually harmless and only cause relatively minor skin infections. However if the bacterium does enter the bloodstream it can spread into the urinary tract, lungs and heart of a person ultimately resulting in a very deadly situation. The illnesses caused by the S. Aureus bacteria can range from minor skin infections such as pimples, boils, and cellulitis to much more serious and life threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, septicema, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis.

Scary stuff.  The doctor had to drain the pimple (which was actually pea sized) and gave me a cream to apply four times a day. If the cream does not work within two days, she will take oral antibiotics.  If two days later, it still does not look better, it's onto IV antibiotics.   My poor daughter was brave 'till the end when it was so painful she screamed.  I felt so bad for her.  Her eye is now pretty swollen, halfway shut.

I wish I could stay home with her for the next few days.  Hopefully it will look better by Tuesday and we won't have to use any other antibiotics.

Direction

I've realized that my blog is not one of those 'niche' blogs that appeals to a specific group of people.  It started out being about crafts, but has morphed more into an online diary about parenting with the occasional peppering of craft projects and general ramblings.  I hope that doesn't annoy my readers,  I enjoy all kinds of crafts and am still writing about that, but my mind has been all about family and kids lately.  Any thoughts on that? 

The Innocent Musings of a Four Year Old

Last night, I read to my daughter the story of The Gingerbread Man.  She loves this story, and has been asking for it these last couple of nights.  After the story, I told her I would lie down with her for a while until she fell asleep.  She is normally a very active child from morning to night, so she will stay up 'till 9:30 if I don't keep her company for a while.  Anyway, I closed my eyes and relaxed but she was being way too quiet.  She would normally at this point be asking for water, another story, another kiss and a hug, a different pj etc., so I opened my eyes and looked over at her.  She was staring off, deep in thought.  I asked her what she was thinking about.  She said she was wondering why the gingerbread man was able to run faster than everybody else, and how was the fox able to eat the gingerbread man, and how does the gingerbread man run anyway?  Isn't he a cookie?

I wish she would stay four years old forever.  I love being her number one, I love that she is so honest when I ask her a question, I love that she needs me.  She is so funny and happy and loving and generous.  Pure of heart.  Those words come to mind when I think of my daughter.  I wish I could have ten more just like her.

My Creative Care Package

Thank you so much to Jen of Jenzart for sending me a creative care package. I was so excited when I received it in the mail this week!  When I mentioned on Facebook one day that I wish I had brought my craft supplies with me, she generously offered to send me this creative care package which consists of pretty and interesting papers, sheet music, sparkly stuff, buttons and lots lots more!  I made my first ATC in months. Felt good, I really needed that!  I only took a picture of a fraction of the items that were in the box but here is a sample of what Jen sent me.