Sick Day.
Parenting and working full time have been clashing for our family lately.
Poor Eve and Rory got sick pre-Christmas and the virus has been really lingering in E. Rory is back to health but, what I thought was just a lingering virus in the boy, actually turned out to be the flu.
The big flu.
The influenza one. Which is particularly harsh on children this season.
I’m home now thanks to an understanding manager and co-worker who swiftly stepped in to cover/offer solutions. I’m blessed that way.
I also have some personal health issues I’m doing my best to deal with/stay on top of at the moment.
My blood is not in good form. I wish I knew what that meant but, like I said, I’m doing my best to really stay on top of things. I have an appointment with a specialist coming up in the next few weeks at the General. I guess they will tell me all about neutropenia and hopefully provide a possible treatment plan/cure?
For months I’ve been running on empty. Zero energy. I do my radio show, come home and cook dinner/mind the kinds, then pretty much head to bed as soon as Ryan gets home. I could sleep 11 hours and still need more. It’s not normal and this is what started me seeing our family doctor, which lead me down the road to, ‘hey, your blood is off’.
Neutropenia does NOT cause extreme exhaustion. The latest theory from a few doctors is that I have an infection, we just don’t know where or what it is yet.
From the Mayo Clinic: “Neutropenia can make you more vulnerable to infections. When neutropenia is severe, even the normal bacteria from your mouth and digestive tract can cause serious illness.”
So… couple that with a few sick kids + the extra rough seasonal viruses that’ve been going around (yes, I’m vaccinated) = you get the picture.
If it seems like I’ve been sick for a long time, it’s because I’ve been sick for a long time.
Now I’ve got the added element of ‘there’s something wrong’, ‘you’ve probably got an underlying mystery infection’, the repeated tests (not mono, not TB, nothing to do with thyroid, celiac, iron or vitamin deficiency, not my RA medicine), the band aid solutions (of which none have worked to increase my energy level). Despite the absolute mystery surrounding my illness, there is hope that the blood doctor will have some answers.
They may not be what I want to hear but I really do believe that there is a solution to this problem (/these problems).
In the meantime, I’m spending the next few days at home with my son who’s already looking better. I think, for him, the worst is over. Being immunosuppressed my entire life thanks to the RA, I wash my hands A LOT so fingers crossed I’m not next.
Partake Brewing: the Best Non-Alcoholic Beer
Oh haaaaaay, this is an opinion piece - I'm sure you have your fave non-alc. drink and there are more and more options each day. This is a good thing! I'm 32! I can't handle hang-overs any more, yet my love of beer isn't going away... What to do, what to do?
After a particularly gnarly hangover, I decided to attempt a 'sober summer' and so far, so good. Thanks, in part, to non-alcoholic beer!
A huge shout out to Rockfest & Budweiser for selling frosty tall-cans of Prohibition brew at this year's festival. For some, abstaining from beer is very easy - just don't drink a beer! Right? Well, I don't want to drink 10 cokes at a music festival and I really, really like beer. In addition to h2O, it is super lovely to be able to grab what TASTES like a refreshing brewski (well, it tastes like a beer because it is... just a de-alcoholized one)!! I hope more music fests follow Rockfest & Budweiser's lead here... looking at you, Bluesfest!
I've had Prohibition, Grolsch's Non-Alcoholic Radler and Non-Alcoholic beer - and then I tried Partake...
Words cannot adequately describe the taste of Partake *hence the .gif* - you've simply GOTTA try it. This is the ONLY non-alcoholic brew I've tried that, taste-wise, could pass for a regular beer. At 0.26% and 10 calories per can, their IPA quickly became my Top Choice. I can't recommend their beer enough!
The company was started by Ted Flemming, an avid craft beer drinker from Toronto, who's surprise medical situation 'changed his focus'. After trying major market non-alcoholic beers, he decided to do his own thing... which meant, making his own non-alcoholic craft beer!
The company is working on a Stout, which will have 0.5% alcohol content (the highest a brew can have to be considered 'non-alcoholic' and a Lager, also 0.5%. Pictured below, you see their Pale brew which I've yet to track down in Ottawa!
Partake Brewing Non-Alcoholic IPA
Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast
HOUSE 4 RENT! Oh, plus an update on Family & Motorcycles
HOUSE FOR RENT IN HINTONBURG: Brand new, super-efficient, 3bdrm/3bth semi, 3rd floor patio, parking/fenced yard…
Hello! It's been a while since my last post. Life's been busy. I think I say that every time I intro a blog when it's been a few weeks... somehow, believe it or not, I am actually getting busier. BUSIER. Life doesn't ever slow down - which is probably a good thing.
We've moved in to our new/old house. I say 'old' because we lived here before, it just looked a LOT different.
31 Likes, 1 Comments - Amy Volume (@amy.volume) on Instagram: "*smashy smashy*"
49 Likes, 1 Comments - Amy Volume (@amy.volume) on Instagram: "Taking shape. 🏠"
It's even more finished than the picture leads on, I'm just too busy to snap more recent pics. Literally. I will though, soon. We pretty much just have the drive-ways/landscaping/exterior work to finish, then we need to find some excellent tenants/neighbours to rent the 3bdrm, 3bth house!
In other news, the kids are doing well and my parents are also doing well. GG lives in a nursing home now and is receiving excellent care. It's a tough lifestyle adjustment though, as she lived full-time with my parents for 14 years. She gets lots of visitors now - more than she did when she was living at home, so that is nice for her! We all just got together to celebrate her 90th birthday in April. We are blessed to be able to spend loads of time together. Lots of memories for her great-grandkids to have.
Work is going well. We have some more people on staff now, which is really awesome! I think the station sounds good but I guess I'm a little biased. We have a lot of fun at work - I've really got a dream job. Whenever I start to think 'how did I get so lucky?' I remember 'o yah, a lot of hard work, college, ambition, dedication, fortitude, late nights, etc.' I have it made in the shade and the future is lookin' bright.
90 Likes, 3 Comments - Amy Volume (@amy.volume) on Instagram: "I AM IN LOVE. 😍 At Motorsport World NEW LOCATION 1375 Clyde!!"
Is now a good time to tell you that I also bought my first motorcycle? A 2018 Suzuki Van Van. I will be strictly riding in the valley until I get my skills up to city-commute-worthy speed (literally and figuratively). Call it my mid-life crisis - or, maybe - my mom-life crisis? NO ROOM FOR KIDS ON THIS BAD BOY - SORRY, GUYS! *vroooooooom*
Lots of positive things on the horizon. Some tough things too, as we age. Though I don't have a lot of time right now (kids are sleeping... will wake and cause chaos in seconds, no doubt) I wanted to post a quick update to say 'hello' and let you all know we are doing quite well.
If you know anyone who's looking to rent in Ottawa's hippest neighbourhood, Hintonburg - CONTACT ME.
Made in Canada Threads, House Update & More!
Spring is almost here... keyword: 'almost'.
Though at minus 13 feeling like minus 21 with the wind chill, it doesn't really feel like it. Does it? It's been a while since my last update and, since I'm about to start my radio show in a couple of minutes, I'll keep it quick!
We've been living in an Air BnB since February 1st. The place itself is totally awesome - but, since we didn't have our schedule set, we've had to move out three (??) separate times to accommodate pre-booked weekend renters. Moving with the kids and living out of five or six rubbermaid bins has been stressful. Very stressful.
I'm beyond happy to announce that we will be moving in to our new house on Sunday! This will be another busy weekend. I work Saturday morning from 9:30A-2P live on location at the new Natural Food Pantry (which I'm actually looking forward to because I can shop while I work).
Ooh, I've also been meaning to give an update RE: finally finding quality kids clothes MADE IN CANADA! I've been looking for years!! Happy to say that Fab Baby Gear carries many Canadian brands now (yay)! Two brands I have just become obsessed with include: Sem Label and Wooly Doodle!
On the GROWN UP front, I was able to spoil myself with some great Canadian made threads thanks to Victoire (Wellington St. location). I wanna give a special shout out to Iris Denim (those Bad Reputation jeans are perfection) and Thief & Bandit for having unique, eye catching designs and for going above and beyond with customer service. <3
We also did a photoshoot at work - I was pretty rushed, so when they told me to sing into this mic I went with the only song I know!! Haha - WARNING: turn your volume DOWN for this.
