Author: Janet Maclean

Christmas 2018

We spent Christmas 2018 on Vancouver Island with grandma and grandpa Shivas. On Christmas morning, Eileen was teething or didn’t feel well, she was inconsolable. About an hour after we administered Tylenol she perked up. The twins opened presents on December 19 and 24. So by December 25 they figured out colourful paper meant something fun inside!

On Christmas morning we said ‘let’s open our stockings’ and Ewan came running over and pointed up at the stockings hanging above the fire place, it was adorable and incredible he knew what we were talking about.

We had Christmas dinner at Aunt Liz and Uncle Dave’s house- 18 people! Great food and wine!!

We visited Woodland Gardens while we were there, the ground was saturated from many days of heavy rain. Ewan has a blast running in the lucky grass. Eileen wasn’t in to it!

The Watt, Douglas and Maclean parents got together on December 23 for wine, beer and food. It was great to connect with my cousins and their husbands.

It was a very nice and relaxing visit/holiday. Grandma Shivas took excellent care of us, to make sure we could relax. Unfortunately, Grandpa Shivas had a touch of a stomach bug. We took advantage of WestJet Boxing Day sale and booked flight home for the summer- already looking forward to it! ??


Family photo on Point Holmes
Woodland Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Ewan steals the show!
Opening presents on December 24 with the Douglas and Watt kids
We gave him his stocking, and he carried it around hugging it
Christmas Day at the park
Eileen got this backpack for Christmas and demanded to wear it all day! Thanks Watt Family!
Her pants were soaking wet when we got home from the park.
Christmas Dinner- Grady, Hunter, Eileen, Ewan and Bryce
We bought the kids comfy seats for Christmas. We let them open the gifts before we left for the Island

Winter days at the Park

We spent both Saturday and Sunday at the park this weekend. The weather was so warm. The kids climbed up the steps to this big slide, and without hesitation just slid down! Fearless children!

  • I didn’t think he was actually going to go down, but he went for it!
  • Eileen followed Ewan down the slide
  • This is from Sunday, I had to take a picture to show how tall the slide is.

Ewan’s a biting machine

The kids started daycare on January 2, and as expected both kids are sick- respiratory. Eileen also has a skin rash and Ewan has an eye infection.

Daycare transition it going well. They cry at drop off, but as soon as Kyle leaves they stop crying. Ewan will cry at pick up if I stay too long in the room talking to the caregivers.

But, we have a major problem with Ewan biting Eileen. He bites her 3-4 times a day and her poor body is covered in bruises. This started back in October, but it was sporadic, the frequency has really increased over the last week.

Minor Surgery

Eileen had minor day surgery today at the Children’s Hospital for her left clogged tear duct.  It was a big decision to go forward with the surgery as it involved anesthesia. When the nurses brought Eileen back to the waiting room they said she did really well and that she was tough.  No surprise there, Eileen is very tough! She was fussy, but I was able to breastfeed her and she calmed down. The doctor told me it was good we went forward with the surgery because the clog was all the way down to her nose and there was no way it would’ve resolved itself.  So, surgery and anesthesia were inevitable.  Eileen is recovering very well, she had a big nap when we got home and we just got back from a walk.  

Ewan went to day care today (the kids started day care on January 2, 2019), this was the first day they have spent apart. When Ewan came home, he ran over to Eileen and I! He’s so sweet!!

She looked so cute in the hospital gown!
  • In recovery

18-19 months old!

The twins turned 18 months on October 22, 2018.  Eileen and Ewan have gone through a huge cognitive leap over the last couple of weeks.  Their language comprehension skills are unbelievable.  On Saturday I asked Ewan to throw away his dirty Kleenex and he walked over to the kitchen garbage and waited for someone to open it.

If you show Eileen and Ewan how something works, within 20 minutes of trying, they can replicate the skill.  They are very smart kids (it’s all those good genes and breast milk ).

Continue reading “18-19 months old!”

Meat Eaters!

These sweet children just ate, and actually enjoyed, elk steak for the first time!  Ewan stuffed the meat into his mouth and Eileen chewed it for a long time before splitting out what was left in her mouth.

They have eaten meat lots before in stews and casserole etc, but never just a piece of meat on its own.  Needless to say Kyle is thrilled!!!