And In Other News ...

When I got the news the Ex was coming back to town, one of my first thoughts (aside from how good it was going to be for the boys) was, ‘I may actually get to blog on a ‘regular’ basis again!’

Yeah. So much for that idea.

I was hoping the weekend the boys spent with their dad, after he got back, the first weekend in NINE MONTHS I would be 'kid-free' both physically, and mentally, that I would spend my ‘free time’ here in the Korner, sharing our latest adventures.

Didn’t happen.

Instead, I spent that weekend in bed, as well as the whole following week, with a bad case of bronchitis.


I’m sure there’s an old saying about ‘best laid plans’ in there somewhere …



Although there hasn’t been alot of excitement in the Korner lately ... other than the standard chaos, there ARE a few things I've been meaning to share.



Back in April, Adam was hospitalized for two reasons.

One for the stomach pain he’s been experiencing for the past year +, and also because he started vomiting blood.

After running many tests, including an ultrasound and scope, they’ve determined he suffers from Chronic Functional Abdominal Pain.

Unfortunately, there is no cure or medical treatment for this illness, other than ‘coping mechanisms’.


That wasn’t good enough for me.

After doing some online research, I discovered that a powdered pro-biotic, that contains a specific type of ingredient called B Infantis, as well as Enteric Peppermint Oil Capsules have been successful in helping with the pain.

So I started him on them.

First the pro-biotic, then the capsules.

The capsules seem to work best.

He still gets stomach pains every now and then.

But now, it's every now and then. And not constant.

So that IS an improvement.


While he was in the hospital, his classmates and teacher made him an AWESOME card!

That was really cool of all of them to do so.

Thanks, Guys!!!!!


We still have to see an ENT specialist for the vomiting blood issue, because it’s actually coming from the back of his nasal passage and THEN going into his stomach.

But for now, it seems to have subsided.

Not stopped, but definitely decreased in frequency.

Except for the occasional ‘power nose bleed’ that he gets unexpectedly.

Those really suck.



And now, on to other things ...


I’m behind on my product reviews.

As much as I love receiving ‘free stuff’, I always feel guilty about having that product(s), until I get a review done.

However, I’ve discovered that turning 40 has completely sucked my ability to stay up until 2am blogging.

My brain wants to do it, my body screams NO!


Then again, so does putting your body through the torture of riding the waves at super high speed on a Super Brawler tube, and being thrown from said tube, air-born, screaming, butt-first into the lake.

Pic taken from here.

Yeah, that was me, during an office party at the beginning of the month.

Afterwards, my body decided to give me a big 'ol 'f*ck you and this acting like you're still 20 shit!' and between the back screaming and the neck aching, I could barely move.

Felt like crap for about three weeks after.

Which of course, kept me off the computer.


The body and I have since come to a truce.

No more high speed anything for me for awhile, and I can walk without looking like I was just trampled by a hundred women in 6" heels at a 75 % off Prada sale!


So, in my attempt to catch up, keep watching the Korner over the next few weeks, to see what I thought of the latest ...

Febreze

Facial

Green cleaning ...

... and food products I was sent.

As well as what the boys thought of a new book they received, Unto the Breach, with a personal little note, from Canadian author Sidney Gale.

Also, I received a message the other day, from a girl representing a group of 7 Canadians, trying to win a contest/trip to New Zealand.

They are attempting to compete in the Glacier Country Experience Competition, and I was asked for suggestions on how to get the word out about it, in order to help them win.

This is one way that came to mind ;-)

Check out their contest entry here! And vote for Ponnie and her team to make it to the event to 'win an all inclusive trip to the West Coast of New Zealand, worth over $50,000', to not only watch, but 'play a game of Rugby against the current Glacier Country champions on the number two field; the glacier itself.'



And in other news …

The Ex is back.

For how long is anybody’s guess, but for now, he’s back.

I don’t know the details, don’t really care to.

All I know is that things didn’t work out in Australia.


Apparently he had been thinking of going ‘out west’. But some of you may remember a letter I mentioned in my last post.

That letter Adam wrote was to his father.

Once his dad received it, 'out west' turned into 'back east'.

Home.


For the boys, I think this is a good thing.

As close as we are, I also realize boys need their dad.

And sometimes, despite our leaps and bounds in technology, Skype just doesn't compare to the sound and touch and presence of the real thing.


Hope everyone is having a GREAT summer so far!

Next week, the boys and I are hitting the trees again, at Treego!

Climbing 40+ft in the trees and ziplining!

This should be interesting with bronchitis ...

Dear body, please forgive me!

K.

You Got Balls, Baby! YOU GOT BALLS!

See this kid with me?

Yeah. Him.

I’m pretty proud of him, ya know.



No, he didn’t bring home a report card with all straight A’s (although a mother can dream … right?!?!)

No, he didn’t single handedly save a toddler behind the wheel of a runaway car (a la Agent Cody Banks).

And no, he hasn’t solved world hunger, while calculating the equations in his math homework.



What DID he do, you wonder?

He wrote a letter.

That’s it.

A letter.



However, it was a very SPECIAL letter.

It was written to someone who is very important to him.

Someone he had A LOT to say to.

It took him two months to decide what he wanted to say, and how he wanted to say it.

It had to be absolutely PERFECT.



He didn’t sugar coat it. He told it like it was.

He was honest.

Brutally honest, about his feelings.

He took a big chance writing that letter, because he was unsure of the reaction of the person who would be reading it.

But in the end, he didn’t change a word.

Regardless of the potential consequences, he clicked ... SEND.

And for that, I’m SUPER proud of him.



I had nothing to do with his letter. Didn’t contribute a single word.

He told me I was allowed to read it, but wasn’t allowed to ask him to change any of it.

Because they were HIS feelings.

Right or wrong … HIS.

And for that, I had to respect him.



On the drive to school later that morning, my boy and I were talking about his letter.

There was a part of me that STILL couldn’t believe he’d actually sent it.

The outcome of sending it could have gone many ways.

Luckily, for now, it has a happy ending. So for my boy(s), I’m happy.



At one point, I looked over at him and said, ‘Well, you definitely inherited your mother’s moxy!’

‘What’s that mean?’, he asked.

With a smile, I said ‘You got balls, Baby! YOU GOT BALLS!’

Gee … I wonder where he gets that trait from?!?!??!

K.

Pardon Me, But Could You Spare Some Air?

When I was in Junior High, I participated in a student exchange program with my class to Quebec city.

Although I lived in Northern New Brunswick, and wouldn’t be seeing anything ‘new’ in all the SNOW and COLD that Quebec had to offer, it was an absolutely AWESOME week, and one that I still fondly remember, 25yrs later.

Of course, that may be because I was one of the lucky ones, who got to stay in a freakin’ mansion! And had a whole wing to myself as a bedroom!

Unlike one of my classmates, who was made to sleep on a cot in the hallway, and had his toast thrown at him in the morning!


Five or six months later, in June, the students that we boarded with while in Quebec, came to spend a week with us, at OUR houses.

The whole point of the program/trip was to give each of us the opportunity to experience another part of the country.

Learn how similar yet different lives can be in another location, surrounded by a different culture.


These types of exchange programs are still happening today.

But not only as part of the classroom experience.


Did you know, there are children ‘out there’ who have never cooked over an open campfire?

Never rode a bike down a dirt lane.

Never had a game of baseball, on a REAL ball diamond.

Never swam in a lake.

Never laid on a blanket of grass, under a huge full moon, trying to figure out the constellations … and if that’s REALLY a bat flying overhead …


My kids are lucky. They get to enjoy these experiences EVERY day of the spring/summer months.

They get to do all these things that they just think are ‘natural’ and I’m sure simply take for granted.

Other kids don’t have these opportunities.

At all.


For many kids, the closest they’ll come to swimming in a lake, is running through the nearest open fire hydrant.

The closest they’ll come to playing on a ball field, is playing in the vacant lot next to their apartment complex.

And the only time some will ever lie in an open field, staring at the stars, and drinking in the fresh night air, is ... in their dreams.


The Fresh Air Fund is an organization hoping to change all that!

Established in 1877, the goal of this organization is to take kids from New York’s inner-cities, and match them up with HOST FAMILIES who are willing to have a child stay with them for 1-2 weeks, and experience all the things they may not have access to in their own environment.

It's only for up to two weeks, but it's an experience that can change their lives forever.

This summer, (yes, I know summer is already here, but really … we still have TWO MONTHS left of it!), The Fresh Air Fund is in need of 1200 Host Families.


Yes, that’s 1200 across the United States and Canada.

And they do this EVERY year!

“In 2010, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.”

Taken from The Fresh Air Fund website.

Did you know … “The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.”

Also taken from The Fresh Air Fund website.

Learn how two weeks can change a child's life forever.

Pardon me, but could you spare some air?

Cause I know of some kids who could REALLY use it!


The Fresh Air Fund

Check it out. And maybe change a kid’s life.

It’s THAT easy.


Click HERE to learn more about donating, or becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

K.

Telus Critter Challenge 2011 - Otter Takes 2nd! Thanks To YOU!

Last month TELUS launched it's new campaign, along with it's Critter Challenge and YOU heard about it HERE.

And you voted.

And for that, I thank you!


After the preliminary round, 'my' critter, Otter, went into the finals with 31% of the votes.

Your votes.

In the end, it was the Saw Whet Owl that took the early lead, and the win.

However, in the Telus Critter Challenge 2011 - Otter Takes 2nd! Thanks To YOU!

Pic taken from the Telus - Special Report Page

Otter may not have taken 1st place, but that's OK.

Now he's free to sign with whoever he wants, and won't be limited to strictly commercials!

You know, like those American Idols, who end up doing better than those who took home first place and signed the contract.

We won't name names ...


And *I* was a winner too!

Because YOU voted Otter into 2nd place, after I hounded you all on Facebook and at work ;-p, I won second place in the Telus Critter Blogger Challenge.

This means, a new Motorola Defy Smartphone and a Motorola XOOM Tablet are being sent to me this week!

WOOHOO! YAY Me!


Perhaps I'm shooting myself in the foot, (with respect to future blogging invitations) but there was one aspect of the contest I would have changed.

TELUS did a great job of promoting the contest on Facebook, and publicly thanking all the Facebook voters.

I know, I was there checking out Otters votes every night.

But not once, that I saw (and yes, I googled), did they mention or acknowledge the bloggers they had working behind the scenes.

The Critter Campaign Managers

Driving traffic to that Facebook page, to vote for their Critter.



As I said in my first post, it wasn't the lure of the prizes that got me on-board, it was the fact they considered me one of Canada's top bloggers, and asked me in the first place.

And don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful they DID ask me to participate.

It just would have been nice to have been acknowledged, in some way, for doing so.


But ya know what? I had fun with it.

You read, you voted, and hopefully entered their contest too!


So thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to vote, to help raise money for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and for helping me win some great prizes.

I still think Otters are pretty damn cute.

And he really Otter WON!

K.

Hysterical Strength? Nah, Just Call Me Badass Mama!

You know those stories you read, about a parent who suddenly develops incredible, super human strength, when one of their kids is in danger?

There is actually a term, and Wikipedia page for it, entitled Hysterical Strength and this is (in part) what it states … ‘The most common anecdotal examples are of mothers lifting automobiles to rescue their children, and when people are in life and death situations.’

Well, I can’t say I’ve ever lifted a car off my kid, but last night, for the first time in my 15+yrs of parenting, I experienced Hysterical Strength, FIRSTHAND!


The boys had decided they were going for a bike ride. Before they managed to get out the door, they got into an argument.

Because Adam was getting a bit out of hand, I marched him to his room.


A few minutes later, another boy showed up for the ride, and I could hear yelling in the front yard.

I popped my head out the front door to find Adam had started to remove the screen from his bedroom window, and was half hanging out the window, yelling at the boys.

I was already cranky because of the initial fight.

Seeing him hanging out the window, screen half off got ME yelling … ‘Get that screen back ON, get IN the window and then get OUT for your bike ride!’


Then I slammed the front door, and went back to putting the dishes in the dishwasher.


A few minutes later, I could hear Adam calling me from his room.

I didn’t go right away to see what he wanted.

My boys have a tendency to yell for me from their rooms. Drives me INSANE! You want to talk to me, come down and talk to me!!!


So, since I thought he was just calling me in there to give me a hard time about the window, or the argument with his brother, I didn’t go.

That was ALMOST one of the biggest mistakes of my life.


A couple of minutes later, Adam was calling me again.

But now, something about his voice had changed.

Something didn’t sound ‘right’


I got to his room, went to open the door, and discovered I couldn’t.

It was locked from the inside with a relatively strong chain lock, that he had bought almost a year ago, with his own money, and had installed himself.

I had told him at the time that although I didn’t approve of the lock, since he had already gone to the trouble of BUYING it himself, and installing it HIMSELF, I wouldn’t take the lock off, as long as he NEVER used it to keep ME out of his room intentionally.

So the lock had stayed.


Since I couldn’t get the door open, and I could still hear ‘MOM!!! MOM!!! MOMMY!!!!!’ coming from behind the door, I stuck my head through the small opening between the door frame and the chain.

What I saw made my heart stop.

There was Adam, head twisted at an odd angle, HANGING by his neck from the blinds!!!

Don’t ask me HOW he managed to do it, but in the process of getting the screen back on, and getting the window closed, he had managed to get the ends of the blinds tangled up UNDER his bicycle helmet, and the cord was wrapped around his neck.

He was grabbing at the cord, and gasping for breath.

Even looking directly at him, I STILL wasn’t sure what I was seeing and the first words out of my mouth were ‘WHAT are you DOING?!??!’


He opened his mouth, tried to turn his head sideways so he could see me, and gasped ‘Mommy! … I … can’t … breath!’


Even as he was saying it, I could see his whole face starting to turn red.

His eyes were bulging already, although I think that was more so from the fear.


All of a sudden it hit me … just like it did the time he was a toddler … OMIGOD HE’S CHOKING!!!!

And even though I KNEW it was happening, I couldn’t BELIEVE it was happening in front of my eyes!

I think I was actually frozen in place for a second, thinking he was still just ‘messing with me’.

He was just joking. He wasn't really caught.

That is, until I heard another feeble ‘Mom-my …’


Then, Mom Mode took over.


Even knowing it was already locked, I pushed on the door.

I don’t know if I expected it to magically open, but it didn’t budge.

‘Adam! I can’t get in! Your door is locked! Can you get your head out?’


Even as I was asking him, I could see his face getting redder and redder by the second, and he was starting to panic, wrapping the cord tighter around his neck.

He didn’t even really answer me. Just tried to shake his head.

Feeling at a complete loss, and trying not to panic myself, I yelled, ‘But your door is LOCKED I can’t get IN!’

He choked back, ‘Break it …’


And before I could even think about what I was doing, I let my hand drop from the door, took a step back, turned sort of sideways, held my breath and KICKED with everything in me.

OH. YES. I. DID!


And now that everything is said and done, I can say, HOLY CRAP!

It was JUST like something out of the movies! LOL


All it took was the one swift NINJA KICK!

Door FLEW open, lock went flying across the room and I raced over to my gasping boy.


It didn't take long to get him down and untangled, but those had to be the longest few seconds in my life!

He's OK. Was just shaken up, and for a little while, had a bit of a red mark around his neck where the strings from the blinds were, but overall, OK.


When it was all over, he looked at me, almost seeing me for the first time, and said, 'You ... you KICKED IN my door, Mama!'

To which I simply replied, 'Yes ... yes I did. THAT'S what a Mom on adrenaline will do when trying to get to her child.'

Some call it a shot of adrenaline, some call it Hysterical Strength.

Hysterical Strength? Nah, just call me Badass Mama!

K.

Oh Yes, My Little Facebook Friends and Foes, Mama IS Watching!

I'm curious.

How many of you parents out there, with kids on Facebook, will leave a comment every now and then, either because you are actually contributing to the conversation, or sometimes, just to remind their Friends and Foes that you're around.

Keeping an eye on things.


I have. I do. And most likely will continue to in the future.

Sorry ma Boys, I'm the cross you have to bear, that comes with the privilege of having a Facebook account.

They know it.

They get it.


Most times, I try to stay out of things.

But sometimes ... as a parent ... I feel the need to step out of the shadows and say ...

'HEY! LISTEN UP! ENOUGH!'


If it's my own who is guilty of an inappropriate comment, which thankfully hasn't been TOO often, I let him know it has to be deleted.

Period.


Do any of you do the same?

Or do you simply monitor from afar, and keep your comments to yourself?


WHAT? There REALLY wasn't any fear of ME keeping my comments to myself ... was there?!?!?!?


I don't want it to seem like I continuously stalk their pages.

I'm not quite THAT bad.

However, in saying that, I know some of the boy's friends read this blog, so if there was EVER any doubt ...

Oh yes, my little Facebook Friends and Foes, Mama IS watching!

MMMUUUUWWWWWAAAHHHHAAAAHAAAAAHHHAAAAHAHA!


Comment on, Little Ones, comment on ...

K.

TELUS Critter Blogger Challenge - You Really OTTER Vote For Him!

Most corporations try to have some sort of 'mascot'.

Taco Bell had The Chihuahua.

Kool-Aid, The Big Pitcher.

Geico has The Gecko.

AFLAC has The Duck.

And Mazda ... that creepy little 'zoom zoom' Dude.


Love 'em or hate 'em, they were the slogans and mascots chosen by the people sitting around the boardroom table at Corporate Headquarters.

Not by us, the people.

Sometimes we're lucky, and a critter or character will grow on us.

Most times, not so much.

Wouldn't it be nice, to actually have a CHOICE in which 'character' a company decided to go with?

You may not be able to control what he or she says, but it would be nice to be able to decide what little creature is forever popping onto your TV screen and billboards.


What if you CAN choose ...

Cellular service provider TELUS kicked off a new campaign on May 10th, and YOU can be a part of it!

They have decided it's time for a new campaign mascot, and they`re letting the public choose who it will be.

And, they`ve invited a few Canadian Bloggers to help spread the word, by launching the TELUS Critter Blogger Challenge!


12 of Canada's top Bloggers will compete in a cross-Canada promotion, campaigning on behalf of their favourite animal and helping to select the next critter used in TELUS advertising campaigns

And I'm one of the Bloggers!

I was given three critters to choose from, and after getting my boys' (and a few friends) opinion, decided to go with ...

OTTER!




Can't you just see his slogan?

'You Really Otter Vote For ME!!!'


Now, my job is to get you to vote for my critter as the new TELUS Critter.

YOUR job, is to go to their Facebook page HERE and VOTE FOR HIM!!!


Voting will be open until May 20th, and then voting on the Top 3 will take place until June 2nd.

This is where all OFFICIAL voting will take place.

You DO NOT have to LIKE their page first, before you can vote.

You DO have to be 18, and Canadian to vote (sorry to my other friends around the world!)

You can vote once a day. Please DO!


What's in it for you, you ask? (You, as in, dear Korner reader)

The opportunity to have a CHOICE in what new critter will be the NEW TELUS mascot!

You're being given a choice!

You have a voice! Use it!


And ... your vote can help nature.

`` For every vote, we’ll give $1 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Help us reach our goal of $100,000!`` - Taken from the TELEUS critter Facebook page.

If nothing else, you can`t argue with helping out good `ol Mother Earth.


Also, after you click VOTE, you can enter a draw. Grand prize is an African Safari!

``Each day that you vote, you`ll get a ballot for the Grand Prize Draw. You could win a trip to Africa for an amazing sightseeing safari, or one of ten Blackberry `playook`tablets.`` - Taken from the TELEUS critter Facebook page.


What's in it for me, you ask? (Me, as in, ME ... Kim of the Korner)

The opportunity to win, if my critter is chosen, one of three TELUS prize packs:

First prize: A TELUS tablet PC, a TELUS smartphone and a $1,000 donation in your name to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)

Second prize: A TELUS tablet PC and smartphone

Third prize: A TELUS smartphone



I'd be happy with ANY of those!

But ya know what? It wasn`t the thought of a prize that made me agree to participate in this challenge.

It was the fact that they considered me to be one of Canada`s Top 12 Bloggers!!!

I'm not quite sure when or how THAT happened but ... WOOHOO!!!

That in itself was the prize, for me :-)


Come on, people ... VOTE!

If you want to have a voice in who the next TELUS critter will be ...

You Really OTTER Vote For HIM!




Cause ya know ... Otters are pretty damn cute.



Just sayin'...

GO! VOTE!
Please.

K