Frunty was almost losing his voice last night. He didn't look well in the morning but because he has missed some school due to his eczema, we thought it would be a good idea for him to go. But by last night, I knew that in the morning, I just wanted him to sleep in and take it easy. Pit had the day off anyway as his teacher had a pedagogique day so we turned off our alarms and woke up at 9:30 am. It was nice to lounge in our jammies.

We did some Kumon homework, the method we are using with both kids to help them along with their English and then some playtime and I enjoyed playing charades with them very much. Pit was funny because he kind of gave it away but then did the action as well so we knew what it was but who cares, it was fun.

In the afternoon, we took Pit to the Little Gym. Frunty did a bit more Kumon and drew a picture of Leroy and Stitch. We had a tv lunch with Daddy today which was nice. Pit did well in the Little Gym. I saw him kiss the calf of Amina and hug Pierre's legs. He is lucky to get his two favourite teachers each week!

After we dropped by Gudrun's for a tea while Frunty stayed home with Daddy and played Brain Academy on Wii. He is quite great at it. I think I'll play tonight when Daddy has time. Frunty will go to school tomorrow. It is only a half day so that is manageable. His second tooth is almost ready to fall out on the bottom, front right. The tooth beside it fell out on Saturday! It was great! He was so excited!

Shortly after I took Pit to class today, the school phoned me and I had to pick him up. He had thrown up. He did spit up a bit at breakfast but still seemed to want to go to school. When I got him home, he had a really nice bath and now he is is all warm and cozy and watching the new Dragon Hunter movie as I write beside him. He seems ok, eating his banana. We have the circus this afternoon and perhaps if he rests til then, we can still go. Caroline will bring Frunty home from school so luckily I don't have to take Pit out at noon.

Today Frunty had a day off from school: un jour pedagogique, a professional development day for the teachers. So Pit stayed home from school too although we didn't stay home. We went to the club for a swim during which we played our usual games: Kung Fu Panda or Chicken, Tickle Monster and touche touche and stretching eachother by the ankles! This is funny and feels good on the back.

After swimming, we had a picnic lunch at the club and then, off to the Little Gym. Pit was a bit sleepy for his class but still seemed to enjoy most of it. Frunty and I did English homework. To keep him up to speed with his Canadian counterparts, we are using the Kumon Method with Frunty. Just because he can speak English, doesn't obviously mean that his writing and reading will progress without effort. I find that he is quick to count in French or say letters of the alphabet in French, but needs to practise them in English more. The Kumon Method is fun and he enjoyed doing quite a few pages. Frunty likes when I put an "E" at the top of the page. The first time, he said, "thank you".

Now both boys are sleeping. Frunty went to sleep without scratching. Last night, he didn't wake up during the night scratching...the first good night in about three weeks. We have stopped the fish oils, as of yesterday morning. Is that a coincidence? I don't know. My brain hurts from trying so hard to help him. Let's just hope that this is the beginning of better sleeps for all of us and to reduced itching for Frunts.

Dr. Who time...but I think I'll read beside Daddy as he watches. Not my bag, baby. Tomorrow afternoon, we are off to the Robin Hood Circus with Perdie and Leo. Normally we go to the club on Wednesdays but since we did so today, I really want to take the kids to the circus. Should be great fun! I am so lucky to be a mom, look at all the awesome things I get to do with my mighty mouses. Speaking of mighty mouses...we just booked for a Christmas adventure weekend at Disney, the last weekend of November to kick off the holiday season with good cheer!

Can't wait!

We had a really nice lunch today so I want to write about it. The kids have been coming home for lunch for a few weeks now and there are a few tricky parts like getting Frunty back to school although he eventually complies. Also, they are pretty excited to play and so sitting at the table is hard. So today I got them to make Japanese rice balls and Frunty remembered we had to dip them in soya sauce before frying them. Yes, I know...no soya but last night I phoned the doctor and he suggested easing up a bit with the elimination diet.

The truth is, since we started this whole diet, Frunty's eczema has never been worse. I think we have thought too much about it...although the doctor claims that Frunty's body is reacting to no longer receiving the foods that were bothering him. Who knows!? It is very annoying. Eczema is a pretty hard skin disease to wrap one's head around. I really don't want to see Frunty suffer like I did as a child. Even though I still have eczema and sometimes, pretty bad flare ups, I don't let it stop me from swimming. Frunty wanted to quit swimming. So I have talked to him about that we are back in the pool, loving our Kung Fu Panda or Chicken fights!

So after we made the rice balls and ate them, we played with toilet paper rolls that the kids had made into binoculars/camera and a hammer. We jumped on the raft (bed) to avoid the sharks. I decided I could load the dishwasher later. Time now to pick Frunty up to take to karate. Pit is watching a bit of The Lion King. The first time he has had tv this week. I fast forward all the scarey parts so it is quite a short movie for the kids.

Tomorrow night we have the comedy show with friends followed by, if we aren't too tired, a costume party at another friend's. Never a dull moment. Last night I took my girlfriend for a sauna experience at the club. Boy, did she love it. Me too. A couple of saunas a week...ah, living the good life!

Gotta go. Hope whoever still reads my blog gets a chance to pamper him or herself from time to time too!

What is going on lately with our family? Well, we had an excellent trip to Scotland followed by a long weekend with Canadian friends in the tiny village of Linay, France where we celebrated Armistice Day at the new town hall. After two trips in a row, we are pretty wiped out but had a lot of fun.

Frunty and Pit were running around naked this morning, using toys to hit themselves in the behind, like one does while riding a horse to make it go faster. It was pretty funny but we did have to get to school. We have had several hard weeks with Frunty's eczema getting worse not better since the exclusion of his "intolerances". He did sleep through the night finally, thank goodness. He must be so tired. Tomorrow we head off to the dentist as his adult teeth are growing in but the babies haven't fallen out yet. This is because Frunty refuses, I think, to use the two loose ones on the bottom because he doesn't want them to fall out...I think! It started when Daddy went off to the States and told Frunty not to lose them while he was away!

Pit is growing like a weed and the other day, went to his friend, Igor's house, for lunch and a playdate and was a delight. Igor's mom, Carolotta, said that when Pit first arrived, he didn't talk at all but at the end, was constructing entire sentences in Italian. He loved playing Gormiti.

By the way, our Canadian friends' two year old son, Mario, has renamed our kids Freenie and Mill.

More details later, off to French exchange now with Caroline!

If you or your child has ever suffered from eczema or another skin disease that is chronic, you'll understand the definition of torture and you'll understand the tears of joy I experienced today as I moisturized my child's perfect skin...for the first time in almost 4 years.

I am hoping that eczema is gone for good...that we aren't just into some cycle and that there will be another flare-up down the road. As we wait for allergy test results, I am continuing with the reduction of gluten, the elimination of dairy and soya and finally, bananas, and seeing incredible results so far. I will continue to pray and hope for the very best. Seeing Frunty's skin so beautiful is the biggest gift I could receive and I am so grateful that I have the strength and brain power to NEVER GIVE UP. I have been criticized for being like a dog with a bone in the past. But guess what, I don't give up until I have a solution. So call me a dog anytime you want! I am proud of it.

We are enjoying some sunnier weather now although the rain never bothered me. I love rain. Maybe I am the only one in Belgium! This weekend we'll celebrate, rain or shine, Thanksgiving with our Canadian friends! Gotta look for a turkey!

It has been raining here a lot lately, sometimes day and night. I don't mind because we are cozy inside with candles, in our jammies and me with my new, pink laptop from the States that Daddy just brought home to me! We spent much of today, a lazy Sunday, researching our next trip to Scotland and fleshing out a road trip plan. We are looking forward to it and the scenery looks incredible.

Since I last wrote, K had her baby in Twickenham, a boy named Freddy. We are thrilled for them all and looking forward to meeting this new bundle of joy at the end of October on our way to Scotland. Today we visited our new Canadian friend, who was at Waterloo the same time as Daddy, and she'll have her baby girl, due on October 19th. It's funny because I now feel like an old married woman with big kids! I can't believe I am finished with the tiny baby stage. What a delightful journey! Pit still feels like a baby in many ways but Frunty is such a big boy now, one might call him a little man.

As I write this blog entry, Frunty is doing some homework with Daddy and I hear them talking in Italian a bit. We need to get down to Italy soon for some more practise. It is just so hard going to Torino now since the death of our beloved cousin, A. But anyway, not to end on a melancholy note. All is well here...despite the rain.