My life...or something like that

Picture post

2010-07-31T13:26:00.002-07:00

It has been a while, so I am going to do a random picture posting. Todays post is from back in February, during the Winter Olympics. These were from one day at one of the celebration sites in Surrey.

oopsies

2010-07-11T15:27:00.002-07:00

I see there are some cobwebs taking up residence on my blog. My bad, and my apologies.
I became a homeschooling mama for half the year. It was VERY hectic, but paid off in the end, and he goes to grade 2. The kids have been playing up a storm with summer holidays here and finally weather agreeable to having such fun. The kids are growing up fast and I am trying to soak up as much of their youthful vibrancy as possible, as though days may feel long, they truly are fleeting in the end.
We adopted two cats. Smudge is white with a smudge of grey on his forehead. Bandit, as the name suggests has a black mask. He actually looks more like a cow, though apparently, fat cow is not a cool cat name. LOL Could you imagine trying to cat him in at night? At the time we thought he was a she. How can someone raise kittens and not see that parts are on the outside... anyways, sidetracking myself here. Supposed to be updating. K, so we have started to get the yard in proper shape, levelling out the new soil, planting grass seed, making flower beds. Exciting stuff. I shoveled about 25 wheelbarrows of dirt myself. Felt good to get sweaty and dirty from gardening though.
Broke the mini quad Father's day weekend. Kids were at gramma's, so me and my hubby went and ripped it out at the pit by my house. It was great, and I got covered head to toe with mud over the 5 hours. But, of course a but, my chain caught up and I split the motor casing in half, taking a few chunks out on the way. KJ fixed it for next weekend when we will take the big and little quads out for a few hours again.
Well, that is my life in a nutshell. Lots of other things I am sure, but I got to start supper.

Keeping busy

2009-11-28T18:18:00.003-08:00

After the family left, spent some time getting my house and life back into its normal rhythm.

Pulled Aiden from school and began homeschooling him about two weeks ago. It is going great. He sits and works at his papers, and we have been expanding his work out into everyday situations like baking cookies, nature walks, art projects, writing letters, etc.

Nicholas has been on a baking bender when he is here. Cookies... today he and two friends kids that I was watching made 6 1/2 dozen plus a GIANT cookie. Can you say sugar high? LOL

House has had it's fall cleaning now. Almost done, except for the piles of socks that are waiting to be paired. KJ built a back deck and last weekend an overhang that covers the whole area with UVA and UVB protection, same as the front.

Christmas decorations are ready to go up, might be doing that tonight. The kids are making presents for people already, so I need to clear up some space to put them for the next month. Photoshop and picture taking sessions, along with a whole bunch of sewing will be keeping me busier in the next few weeks.

That is about it... just been busy doing this and that.

On a passing...

2009-11-03T16:38:00.002-08:00

My aunt went into the hospital Sunday, and died Friday morning. Family left this morning. I am currently still decompressing. Things have been emotional, messy, and on quite a few occasions loud. Family feuding has gotten in the way of giving me time to grieve. I played counsellor to them all for the last time this weekend. Hopefully they can now move forward with their lives instead of bathing in the past every day. Sigh. I was left a cold in their wake. I have a heavy chest, so calling my dr tomorrow to see if I can get a rx called in for my puffers. It has been such a chaotic week that at almost 5pm I am ready for bed. My life is back to its peace & quiet... well four kids kind of quiet.

Sharing is caring

2009-10-22T11:44:00.003-07:00

Today my SIL went to the drs to talk about vaxes- swine flu vax mainly. She has decided not to get it for her family. Asked if I was I replied no, and we started sharing a bit. She shared this link. A link for a site in Canada that shows the flip side of vaxes no one wants to know of. The damage they can cause. I linked her to my blog story of Nicholas to explain where I am at on the whole vax issue. What I found on that site thanks to her is stories exactly like our experience. Always nice to know you are not alone and it is not all in your head. Anyways, passing that link along bc sharing is caring. http://vran.org/

Wednesday morning notes.

2009-10-21T07:53:00.003-07:00

Last night bedtime was before midnight! The night before Ana stayed up until 3am. She woke Joshua up around two am so she wouldn't be the only reason I was awake. Then they all got back up before 8am. Lovely. So needless to say, yesterday was a drag my butt kind of day, and today I am hopeful for more. Aiden is still out of school sick. His trip to science world this week is looking farther and farther from happening. As the school receptionist put it, he is not the only one. Apparently cold and flu season has most definitely hit Aiden's school. Joshua and Anastasja have not even made one day of Strongstart yet. They are both unhappy about that. Every day I hear about how Joshua is not going to school. Is it wrong that today I am happy about not having to get out of my comfy jammies and smooshy bathrobe and heated house to go drop the boy off in this downpour of rain and chill outside.

KJs dad came and went. Think he was here about two days and one night. Short visit, but still very enjoyable. He brought the younger 3 the Olympic tracksuits the Bay is selling for early Xmas presents. The boys have black tracksets, Ana has a red one. They will be styling while the Olympics are here. Kj and I cooked our first turkey dinner together on our own. Apparently we make a wicked bird that is juicy and well cooked. I also made stovetop stuffing for my first time, while KJ tackled the gravy. Added into the meal were also candied yams, mashed yams, buttered baby carrots, mashed dill potatoes, cranberry sauce, and topped off by Charlene's contribution, a rhubarb saskatoon berry pie and vanilla ice cream. So much for eking past this season without doing a turkey. I also must add that there was a hell of a lot of leftovers from the turkey dinner vs my yummy shepherds pie thanksgiving dinner.

Trip up north is on for the second week of November. So excited to get to see everyone. Taking the 3 youngest now, rather than just Ana. Childcare was too nightmarish to try to figure out if I left them behind.

My Anastasja is awake and on me now... update later.

Dumb Crackhead!

2009-10-13T08:00:00.003-07:00

K, so a week ago, KJ caught crackhead aka D.F. (dumb f*&*) under the hood of Geoffs mustang taking out wires etc. Two days ago, he gets in the shop. KJ wakes to the door banging at 4am, goes in, turns on the light (behind the door and that is so scary to even think about) and D.F. is in there with a skill saw, heavy metal C clamp and the quad key in hand. KJ figured one punch and he would land a charge bc the guy is so frail from drug use. So he tells him to drop it all, and screw off or he will call the police. The guy got nothing, though we thought he had the quad key for about an hour til I found it where he dropped it on the floor. So this morning he came back. Again got into the shop. We know he pried it somehow, but you can't really tell looking at the deadbolt. Anyways, he started the big quad up in our driveway. Stupid DF. Thankfully the cold bogged it out down the street bc KJ upon hearing it again took his boxer clad body out and chased him down. He clothes lined the guy off the bike, punched him once, and then stomped on his face. Then drove the Quad home and woke me up. We have a rule of no violence, but this guy is not getting the picture and KJ is worried about him coming back when he is at work. He took a shower before waking me up. I went on the street and seen the guy standing at the other end of the street from where KJ left him and walking all disoriented. I yelled after him, but by the time I got to that side he was gone. This has freaked us out. So now we are looking into all kinds of security we can add. The shop holds all his tools, plus the quads, bikes,and other stuff like camping gear. All the kinds of stuff this guy wants so he can pawn it for his drugs. What a way to start the day.

It's October

2009-10-12T12:16:00.003-07:00

Things have been busy, as usual, and my computer was having issues, so I have not been updating. Will try to squeeze as much in as possible.

Lets see... left off in August... well, the annual family camping trip/reunion was fun. The kids made candy art on paper plates with icing to hold it all together. They also had the traditional tree jello. The family dinner was a great spread; pigs in a blanket, perogies, chicken quesadillas,lazy cabbage rolls, various meat & fish stuffs (yuck to me), corn on the cob, bean salad, garden salad, oh the list was endless as were the yummy desserts. Our contribution was a potato salad with a whack load of bacon in it. We skipped rocks on the river, took long walks, played boccie ball, croquet, scrabble, crib, and of course poker.

Went on another camping trip at the end of August to KJs cousins new house. Huge housewarming party with lots of food, drink, family and a live band. Lots of fun!

All but Anastasja and Nick got haircuts. Cut 6 inches off mine, and Charlene styled it up this week with another inch or so lost. Joshua lost 4 inches, but it is still long and curly. Aiden has his Caesar #1 cut or whatnot. KJ went with him for that. Nicholas keeps saying he wants a haircut but each time we are there or someone comes here he takes it back. He he he

Nick is in grade 8 this year, doing very well. He loves Fridays- Zombie survival class. Aiden is in grade 1 now. He missed about 2 weeks due to a light viral illness mid Sept- Oct. It sucked because with all the swine flu news, any symptom keeps you home. So his fever kept him home 2, then the sniffles a week. Then he got to go back for one day, and got sick for an hour that night and was off the next day. So far he is doing well being back. He studied hard for his first spelling test, and got 5/5. I was so glad he saw the rewards from doing the homework.

Joshua and Anastasja have yet to get a day in to Strongstart. We have spent many hours singing, dancing, and playing around to make up for it. Joshua also is able to spell his name out loud as well as write it. He is with Aiden and I when we read slowly together and has started to recognize what some of the words I stop at for Aiden to say are and saying them before he can.

The house has been getting worked on more. We ripped up the backyard after the tree with the tire swing and another, fell in the last windstorm. We are rebuilding the fence anyways, as the trees took out most of it when they fell. They were really close together, and fell 90 degrees from each other. Now our backyard is where we ride the ATV's, and pocket bikes. We have acquired a few more, and wanted a place the kids could ride their kiddy quad too. It is a neat little track we lined with branches from the trees, with a jump built in.The neighbours have ripped up their backyard, and some more of the fence, so now it is quite a big track. All approved by everyone, of course. I have gotten the quad off all four wheels today. Exhilarating and addictive. The kids love it. Joshua is almost off his training wheels for his two wheeler. Aiden, not so much. KJ has built a 10x10 deck off the back door in the kitchen. Now the backyard is actually accessible, other than through the shops heavy back door. Bought paint for the kitchen cabinets. Quite the opinions over the color I chose- a medium dark grey, but with the counter tops and appliances (thinking also of more changes still coming) and the color blocking that is going to be done, I think it will be sharp. As KJ put it, it can be repainted if it doesn't look right. Every room has under gone a mass cleaning/ purging as well, aside from my poor laundry room, which though it has, thanks to doing all the other rooms, has still got a bit of work that is waiting.

Had a chance to get out of the house, other than the typical a bit ago. Went to my friends house for a swap party. A clothing/misc swap where everyone comes, bringing the stuff (clean and folded) they do not want anymore, put them into piles, and then everyone goes through everyone's things, finding stuff they like and fit. It was a lot of fun. Got to squeeze in a game of scattergories before the night was done to boot. Love the "new" clothes too. After losing the baby weight I have over the years given away most of the clothes that fit me at this size, so it was a big expansion of things to wear. I also was able to give away a garbage bag of clothes I really had no use for that were taking up space. So now, I am proud to say, everything, and I mean everything in my dresser is folded and piled properly. No more scary moments of brushing the door and having everything fall down. It has been a while. LOL.

The TD Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up was a success! This year there were 14 volunteers and we managed to clean up almost all of King's Creek. Some areas were inaccessible, but we got all we could. Filled up around 8 garbage bags with stuff. It was nice that it was a lot of family and friends that came. Only four volunteers were from the site. I had entered it as open to join, but earlier in the day the group that had taken the site I had to coordinated before (Quibble Creek), performed their clean up so I am guessing that was where most ppl went. It was a school/college I think that took it this year. Still, the goal was reached, and everyone had that feel good feeling you get from hard work and seeing the positive impact. It was a great day that we ended with almost all coming over for a barbecue and driving bikes around in the yard.

My sister moved a bit further up north due to an amazing job change that I am so happy for her for. Anyways, she moved and went for her first grocery shop and runs into Josie, my other sister, whom I haven't heard from since the wedding. Well, she just moved there too, and is pregnant, due December 15th! So I am going to be an aunty again. Taking a trip up north, well, so long as everything works out, the second week of November, so hopefully Ana and I will get to see everyone. Chrystal's girls have not met her yet, nor has Josie, so I am crossing my fingers everything works out as planned.

K, well just writing this has actually taken a few hours of me coming back and forth through company coming by, getting the atv off 4 wheels, and putting Ana down for a nap. I baked two apple oat crisps too. Which family and company polished off in 10 minutes. I cheated last night and went with Shepard's pie and homemade apple pie. No one complained about not having turkey, only how long the apple pie took to bake (they ate it fresh from the oven).

Oh and KJ's dad is here from tomorrow til next week sometime, so again, probably won't be on much. So I am going to end this with a happy thanksgiving to my fellow canucks.

Summer Time

2009-08-06T13:40:00.003-07:00

This summer has been a busy one. Many days filled with friends and family visiting. This weekend is the weekend we go off to the annual family reunion camping trip. Complete with tree jello, feasting and well, no fire this year... but I am sure we will roast wienies over the stove over maybe strike a match or two or two hundred. Not too sure if we are taking the quad we bought for Nicks b day. Feels rather wrong with him not being there. He took off last night to go to Sechelt for the weekend with a friend. Much has changed in the family with a new baby to meet, so should be fun chatting and catching up with everyone. Still figuring out some details, but supposed to leave tomorrow night. Got lots of laundry to catch up to til then, and packing up has not even began. Not finished the laundry from the boys camping trip with Jason from last week. Whew, gonna be a long night.

Ana add on...

2009-08-01T12:17:00.001-07:00

Had to shout to the blogosphere that Ana went #2 this morning on the potty!!! She also just said thank you when I handed her half a frozen yogurt tube. <3 Loving my baby and had to share.

Smooth move exlax...

2009-08-01T09:56:00.003-07:00

K, so last night I just had Anastasja. We went out for the night to run errands and have dinner. By the time we got home it was late, like 10 or so, and Ana just would not settle. So I went to leave the room to get groceries unloaded etc bc I was more or less pissy she would not lay down. She wanted a pillow fight. So in my huffiness I went to open the laundry room door up and the vacuum was in the way. So I put all my force into opeing the door, leaning my head in a bit as I pushed the vacuum at the same time. Go figure, the door slammed into my forehead first. So, HUGE klingon bump on my head to start my long weekend. Ugh. Called the nurses line bc things were not looking too good after a few hours. Right away my right pupil went full and would not dialate down like my left, but then unsteadiness, nauseau, and a headache added to it all, as well as slurred speech. I did not hear it, but KJ said I sounded like a drunk. Nice. Phoned Healthlink line nad the nurse said to go to the er right away. Called a few peeps, but seeing it was 2am, go figure they wanted to sleep instead of come here and watch Ana. Don't blame them. Anyhoo, decided to just get some sleep if that was not going to happen. Not taking my daughter to a hospital to catch swine flu, thank you. So slept 3-6am when KJ woke me up on his way to work. My pupils are around the same size now, but everything else is still there. Headache is getting a little worse now, but that could just be lack of sleep taking its toll too. I dunno. Talk about trying to take ones self out eh?

New look

2009-07-22T09:56:00.003-07:00

Working on my blogs background, header, sidebar pics, etc. For now, this is it. My apologies for the abrupt change and possible loss of linkage.

Having a blonde moment?

2009-07-21T21:25:00.002-07:00

Watching Big Brother and wow, this blondie just had the most hilarious blonde moment regarding how many minutes are in a quarter of an hour. She did not figure it out in the end. After many calculations later.
This moment was followed shortly after with Joshua having his own blonde moment. He poured himself a cup of juice,using the last of the juice in the container. He then walks away to put the milk away, as he had changed his mind and comes back to the table and goes, where is the juice, it's all gone? Brought me the juice jug while KJ brought him his juice cup off the table. Too funny!

This lady has talent.

2009-07-21T10:35:00.001-07:00

This lady has amazing talent. I love her take on this song. In fact, it is top of my you tube playlist, so I hear it a couple times a day,a dn am still not sick of it. Hope you enjoy!
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Bunk birthday...

2009-07-21T10:01:00.002-07:00

It sucked, I was not even an after thought. Whatever. Told my husband he may want a divorce when I am done turning my full biznatch on everyone. It was brutal to clean up after everyone, scrubbing my bathroom floors not once, but twice, feeding all the meals, and putting them to bed. I felt so alone on my birthday. My cries in the bedroom went ignored as everyone played with the ATV outside. No cake, no party, no nothing. My mom had given me my present last week so I did get a gift. My MIL gave me a broken sewing machine... ooooh feeling the love there. Sigh... One day I hope I can be as important as everyone else in the world, but alas it will probably never happen. On my birthday I felt like I was being treated like a robot sent forth to make sure everyone else was happy and content. Watching kids so others could have long showers together, while not even getting one of those myself. I was not going to blog about it, but I think this experience has really changed the type of person I am. Very hurt. Very sad. Very jaded on the reasons others actually want me in their life.
My husband brought how stargazers and an I love u balloon yesterday. We had it out sat and sunday making for a stressful, almost marriage ending weekend. Friends and family be damned, I am his wife and he screwed up huge, so it is not like he will get off easy. It's been my lifetime of this kind of thing, and now things must change so it does.

It is an Eeyore day

2009-07-14T11:34:00.002-07:00

Making for an inside day with the kids. Hoping today is photoshoot time with the twins, have yet to squeeze it in yet. First off though are some cookies and sausage rolls. Its kinda nice to get the break in the weather to cook something. Maybe veggie soup n biscuits for lunch... mmm.

...

2009-07-11T22:10:00.002-07:00

Company is here now, so I am just popping on quick to update. Tom, Steph, Desi and the twins are here now. In baby heaven, they are so amazing. Cuddly, cute and quiet for the most part. Very engaging and inquisitive, they are actually handling the change of scene & peeps pretty dang well.
Mom is here today, and how grateful I am for that. She was in the hospital all day yesterday, due to chest pains, etc. The drs figure she had a heart attack before she went to the hospital. She has some results pending and some heart testing going on weds. Morbid mommy gave me my bday gift early, just in case she is not around for me to open it. Now that was putting the icing on the cake for me... cake wrecks style. Anyways, that is my update, Ana needs to get her keester to sleep pronto, so I gotta run.

My guilty little pleasure

2009-06-29T22:55:00.001-07:00

Cakewrecks is one of my fave regular blogs to read. Love the commentary that goes with the wrecks, and the regularity of posts, sure to entertain. Just thought I would share. ;)
Ana's b-day cake this year, as per previously posted, though yet unseen and laughed about.

Summer Storm

2009-06-27T19:50:00.005-07:00

The leaves are shuddering, glistening emeralds.
Branches groan, swaying to the winds whistling.
Clouds slated and heavy, wait.
Pitter patter, it has began.

Schools out for summer!

2009-06-26T20:09:00.002-07:00

Today has been our first full day of turned off alarms and eating brunch. Ahhhh summer vacation!

First off, how it all ended...
Strongstart was fun the last day. Started with foam body wash, mixing in powdered paint pigment and making a huge mess. Once mixed and spread out, made a picture and then placed black paper down to catch the image. So messy, we all had a blast. A couple of the kids joined Joshua and I in a spelling game with the alphabet carpet, then we had our picnic lunch. Indoors, rather than the park due to rain, but with the wide variety of dishes, a picnic all the same.

Popped out of strongstart at 11 and headed down the hall to Aiden's kindergarten classroom. It was all set up when we got there, complete with the kids sitting nicely on the floor in their paper graduation hats. The teacher started off class with a story, "I knew you could". Then she handed each student an individual award with personal words and messages about how far they have come and the strengths and interests they have. With Aiden one of the things she mentioned was his art, and how she always paused to look when he was drawing something bc it was so interesting. Then they each received their diplomas. Many camera happy momma's, I was so not alone there. lol. Afterwards it finished with a nice spread of food the kids took no time attacking. I was busy with the scrapbook that was made up about his school year, and reading his report card.

The day finished with the bell- the blaring over the speakers of "Schools out for summer". It was a great ending to this school year!

Plans include Nick going to Smithers for a week on the 3rd. He will miss Aidens birthday, but no biggie. He will make it for his gramma's up north and that is important. Coming back, Steph, Tom adn the girls will be coming down for a week. Right around the time they leave, Skye will be here with her leaving just before vacation is over back to Alberta. My birthday is coming up- no plans there, but at the same time, somewhat. KJs is next on the family bday roster, followed by Nicks. Whew, one busy summer. Also family camping/ reunion trip in August, which is quite the involved trip. Thats some of the plans, sure to have more in the works soon enough.

Germs have invaded again!

2009-06-20T14:55:00.002-07:00

Battle is ON! I am stuffed up, coughy, achey, grumpy. Anastasja has possibly picked up Fifths disease (not as bad as it sounds). She has a rash across her face and coold like symptoms, and it was going around school and strongstart, so chances are... lol It is crazy how much germs have invaded us this past year.

School is almost out, ends on the 25th. That is a busy day bc we are already leaving early from the end of year Stongstart picnic to get to it in time (11-12). Sports day was yesterday. Aiden's school is really good at thinking about the kids. I heard about others sports days where snacktime was just a juice box, and lunch a mini pizza. Concession was chips and coffee. That would have sucked. All the kids in Aiden's school got watermelon and facepainting for their break time and lunch was a subway meal. Concession had very great selections choices- freshly popped popcorn, fruit snacks, fruit bowls, hotdogs, carrot sticks, juiceboxes, tea and coffee. Joshua and Anastasja had a bite to eat at strongstart while Aiden was resting. The games were awesome. \
Examples:
Dressing up, then crossing a balance beam, then kicking a ball through cones, crossing under a strung up string, and going all the way back the same way you came before the next person goes.

Making baskets into a tireswing.

Plugging holes on a hole-y plastic cylinder while two team mates pour water into the top.

Running to a hula hoop, jumping once, then weaving a ball through cones with a hockey stick, making a goal at the end, and running back, stopping to jump another ten times in the hula hoop, before passing the task onto the next person.

The one water bucket to another race with a sopping wet sponge, trying to get more into the bucket than on the ground while running there.

They had a blast! Funniest part was Aiden had been switched from green to red that morning, so he really stood out in the pics and on camera, and one of his teammates was the brother of the kid I got mad at the other day at the park. He was aware of who I was, remembered me enough to play nice at least. He was really good with Aiden, I must say.

The house is getting new shakes on the front, KJ is almost finished now. Had some fly off while the old window was being taken out, and the new window is smaller, so why do only part of it right. Sigh... always something going on here.

It's a blustery day...

2009-06-16T20:20:00.002-07:00

Last night, my eyes closed while bfing Ana to sleep. I awoke this morning, well after alarms had rang, and many a phonecall to the phones in the livingroom by KJ. With a late start to the day, I woke the kids and we set out for the day after scrambling a bit during the morning routine. At school, new secretarty for the day, so I had to actually stop and let her know who Aiden was and from what class, before dropping him off and heading to strongstart with the younger two. At Strongstart we played for a bit, went to gym and threw balls for a bit, then went to a school assembly where Fireman Joe gave a demonstration and taught everyone about emergency preparedness. The boys have been talking non stop since all about what they learned. Half way through I had to leave Joshua with Anny and go back to the room to feed Ana. She was being pretty adamant. When we were there she put a baby in the stroller and then pushed it all over. Very cute! Another parent and child came back to the room and then while me nad her boy were playing Jumanji strikes the doll house, we had an evacuation order given and had to leave to the meeting area. There we received the report on how we all did and what to do again in that situation to improve our performance next time. After going back in for snack, play and circle time, we left for home. Ana went for a late nap, a friend came over, lunch was made, and soon enough it was time to go pick up Aiden. We got there late, as JJ had a last minute accident. Luckily Aiden was still getting ready... gotta love my slowpoke. One of the other teachers came running out after me pleading to buy her last boxes of chocolate covered almonds, so being helpful like I am, of course I bought two. I still have one left- how is that for self control. lol Took the kids to the store, then the park. Got some video and pics of them playing. Then as we were gearing to leave, some kids came in. The one boy was being right cocky, so after being as ass a few times I went and gave him a good talking to. It was needed, he kept saying the F word over and over and pushing around a little girl who turned out to be his cousin, and telling her to f-off etc. So I got right in his face, reminded him other ppl could hear that, and what would earn him the respect he obviously was looking for from these kids would be to give the little girl a push rather than be a little shit about it. Plus I noted to him he had no mommy around and other than his posse no witnesses. That if I was not a nice person I would have smacked him upside the head and he was not big enough to deal with something like that so maybe he should choose his words better. We then left the park. The one little girl asked him if I could do that and I yelled back that I am pretty sure their mommy would have no objections to what I said, that in fact I bet she would look on it as a favor and to go ahead and tell her, just make sure to use the boys exact words as to why he got in trouble in the first place. It was interesting to say the least. The boy was pretty responsive and respectful towards what I said so I am hopeful it did more good than harm to chastize his behaviour like that.
Anyhoo, came home and cleaned up as much as I could with Ana being a cling on as I could. Then KJ came home from work bringing Riza and his uncle Kevin, and a new front window with him. After they left KJ and his buddy went about smashing out the old window, and replacing it with the new one. Took a few hours, but the window is in. It was smaller, so had to alter things a bit, but when the new siding goes up it won't matter at all. Looks better now actually bc its main square part is centered with the gable, while the side window that opens is towards the edge of the house still, but not looking so off. Kinda hard to explain. Talked on the phone lots today too, so I feel talked out now. Landlord is coming over to see the window and I must work on cleaning up some of this mess before hand.

Oh before I go, yesterdays trip to Maplewood farms was awesome, and I shot lots of pics with my new point and shoot camera, so hopefully will post them soon.

Dermatologist appointment

2009-06-10T13:21:00.002-07:00

Okay, so the night before Aiden got his first sunburn on his arms bc it was cloudy so he went out with a tank, then when it got sunny they ran into the water at the park, so no excuses, it was a duh thing and poor kiddo got an owwie. The dermatologist at BC children's both had me relax a little with the stories of their own sunburns as adults. Definitely not alone. So they measured every mole nad freckle and wrote them up. Really exammed Joshua's mole on his arm, which they decided was okay. Went over sunblocks and sunshirts etc, got two samples of neutragina to try out on them bc it is a bit better when being applied so much to them. SPF 30 min, she was happy with the 50 and 55 I put on the boys. Afterwards we went to KJs jobsite and visited him and uncle Kev and Risa for a bit, then headed up to the park to wait out the last two hours of work so we could go home together. The kids loved it and the stickers they got for being such great boys!

Nuts, the sky is falling!

2009-06-06T16:17:00.003-07:00

Chestnuts of some sort from the trees on the side of the house facing west, have decended upon the roof, ground and anything else, like me for example, in their path. It seems fall is not the only time these trees shed their porcupine like balls. On the plus side, they are smaller, so while the bare foot, or arm where it has fallen may get prickled, they don't dig in like falls bigger counterparts that land with loud thuds. Fill, dried and brown waiting for topsoil in the front yard has been coated with green, though unlike the grass that needs to get put in, I would advise not to step on this lawn without shoes. Ants are having a field day in our front yard. I swept away a whole colony the other day into the ditch by the street. Recently they have tried to set up in the shop, so I played giant and stomped that idea out of their heads. The heat has relented finally to allow some cloud cover, followed by the cool breeze that I was beggin for just a day and especially two, ago.
Days are being filled with strongstart and park visits with the kids. Yesterday the second time we went to the park, I showed each of the boys how to lean backwards while sticking their legs out and then using their arms fling up and forwards to propel themselves on the swings. They got it, though tired fast. Can not wait to stop having to push them on the swings, and instead start showing them how to do twisties! It really is an addiction for me, as it is a rare park with a swingset that gets passed by, adn not bc the kids want to go. Yesterday we went three times, though I only was able to do a few twisties bc of teaching the kids, and then the third time we only went to the waterpark area. A school field trip to a petting zoo is coming up mid June. The trip is a combo of the strongstart and kindergarten class, so Aiden, Josh, Ana and I will all be going, though Anastasja is hitching a ride with a strongstart friend, while I take her child. The bus chartered only takes age 3+ yrs. Stupid in my opinion bc strongstart is from birth. Whatever...

Life is calling, bye!

What a party!

2009-05-25T11:25:00.003-07:00

Not a huge bash in terms of people, but I really wanted that. As if my wedding was not enough of a hint, I just don't do huge gatherings of people well. It is not that I go stand to the side, it just seems that it is so non stop that I forget to stop and take in what is happening. I was so grateful for being able to spend the whole day having fun with kids. My other kids firsts were pretty much taken over by the very uneven ratio of kids to adults, meaning you do the duty of presents, cake, dinner, but have to keep hostess and friend going to do it all while maintaining 5 conversations, and the kids are off playing. This time, we were all sprawled across a large lawn, and took turns, or what was even more fun, all at once, crawl through the bouncy castles door and bounce up a storm with all the kids. Just had our friends two girls, and Rachel, my miece, came for kids, but when you add my four in, well, even one more kid with mine make a party. Anastasja enjoyed it for a bit, but had to nap half way through her party. There were popsicles a plenty, hotdogs, chips and pop... a thoroughly unhealthy fair, but I did not have to deal with the sugar highs, as the kids ate and bounced it all away ;)We also did a fishing game tag team style, 3 legged race- the pictures are hilarious, a flower game where we through paper flowers up and then everyone had to catch them in coffee filters. It was alot of fun and a perfect party for Anastasja. She was so cute opening her gifts. She knew what the gist was, but really took her time. She would peer at each toy, touch it, check it out, and smile, and give it a play before moving on to the next present. She delighted everyone with her cute ways. She got a butterfly crawling toy that plays music and flaps its wings as it moves, a ball, sunglasses, slippers, quite a few new dresses and outfits, a disney princess sand well with shovel and rake, and a new dolly. Tammy brought her a trio of balloons, and she is playing with them right now. Party ended late as some friends dropped by with their 3 boys just as we were packing everything inside, and stayed for a few hours for some bouncy castle fun. So, bed was around 10 for the kids, and later for me, thus we slept in today and Geoff had to wake me up to take the kids to school when he came to pick up Nick this morning. We still have the bouncy castle, adn I really want to put it up again but I lost my keys. Okay, not so much lost... gave tehm to Anastasja to keep her quiet I think it was yesterday, could have been the day before and I am not sure I got them back.... that or KJ locked them in the shop last night. Fun times. lol. Oh and everyone loved the cake, though I think we have betty crocker to thank for that, rather than my late night decorating job after my husband showed me how to drywall icing in/onto a cake. Things to be thankful for: 1. Ana will not remember her cake. 2. It looks much nicer in the pictures than it was in real life. LOL!

A year ago today...

2009-05-24T10:30:00.002-07:00

My water had broken and I was almost on my way to the hospital. Yup, Anastasja is one year old today! How could I have known how much her presence would change our lives? We have all fallen under her charming spell that she casts on everyone she passes with her twinkling eyes and full cheek smile. She is walking around, climbing, talking in her own way, expanding her world everyday. She loves being girly- wearing hairbows and bands, dresses, and yes, she is my daughter, so she is obsessed with shoes. LOL Her hair is still on the short side, but it is starting to get a bit more longer of fluff sticking out here and there in tufts, so it will be a matter of time before it really starts growing... I can hope at least.
Bouncy Castle still has to be set up in the field next to our house. I have games to play - a fishing game, 3 legged race, catching paper flowers in a basket, red light green light, duck duck goose, and a few others. Plus side walk chalk to draw with and KJ and I made her cake last nigth, or should I say this morning since we did not finish decorating it until around 4am. When she woke up at 2am KJ & I sang our princess back to sleep with her happy birthday song and an abundant amount of kisses.

Snapshot into my world...

2009-05-21T16:26:00.003-07:00

The kids are fighting bc Joshua wants a hug from Aiden. Aiden wants him to stay away from him. Now Aiden has stepped on a cookie Ana has left half eaten in the middle of the floor. Oh Anastasja... she is too busy to notice the cookie, she has opened the desk door and taken out ALL of mommies dvd and cds. She is now scratching them around on the floor. Aiden is begging for more ice cream. It is good. I am thinking this is a nice idea bc it would look bad if I ate it and did not feed them any when they brought it up. George Shrinks theme song playing in the background on the tv. I gotta go make cones now. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. LOL See why I have no time to update?

Contemplative day...

2009-05-09T22:16:00.002-07:00

Today is May 9th... 24 years since my dad passed. So around 11am when my sister texted me that she loved me, that is what I thought it was about. So, I texted her back saying yeah wow 24 yrs, love you too. Go out with my cousin Tish and Jen in the afternoon to the park with the kids and reminiscing, including my dad, as Tish is one of the few that was around then. Fun happy memories of our childhood and lilac trees and pushes off swings, and silly things we did. This woman enters the park with her two children. One is a friend of Aiden's from class, and they instantly start running and playing. The other boy drops to the ground and screams bloody murder. Jen and Tish look at me. I explain the little boy is autistic, me and her have talked before nad she knows of Nick too. I watch her, nod a hello to her as she picks him up off the sand and trots him over towards the swing so he can heave himself onto a new piece of earth and scream. She gets on the swing and starts to swing and just relax to his wails. I smile. Explain to Jen and Tish that I wish I could have had that when Nick was younger. Someone to just let my kid scream in the park without looking at me like I could fix it, like I had done something to him to cause it. The glares and stares and snide comments. The boys got to play, and I am so glad that Aiden's friend got to play with someone outside of school at the park. Autism can be very isolating, for everyone in the family.

Get home, and Chrys calls me. She was crying about what a good mom I am and how I am strong,.... all sorts of very kind beautiful words about me rushing out between sobs...I was lost. Where had this come from? She had been in workshops with a child psychologist for her job with special needs kids for the day. They had talked about things from a moms perspective, about the looks, comments etc. I guess today was emotional for her bc she could relate my journey as a mom with Nick to what was being talked about. So then after said workshop, during which she sent me the I love you text, she then reads my response, realizes the date, and yeah, so she was a mess by the time I talked to her. I am not very good with compliments. Kind of don't know where to file them, or how to reply aside from thanks and throwing one forwards to someone else if possible. So in front of Jen and Tish I started to ball. Emotional overload. No one to throw these words on, just absorb them. To those reading, sorry,.... I just am not sure there are words to express that release or exactly what emotions were being released, just that they had been in storage for many years.

I am so blessed with my four children and thankful each and every day that they are alive and that I am able to be their mommy. I guess it is hard because sometimes when those stares and glares come from others, it can really make you feel like you are the only one that feels that way. To know one's children and love them so much, yet have them rejected, looked down upon, shunned, for something they can not help or control, is devastating.

Chrystal made my day by telling me what her friend who also took the workshop got out of learning about Nick & me as a mommy. That if she sees a mommy at the park, just standing there watching her child scream bloody murder on the ground, that she will from now on walk over to said mommy, give her a huge hug, and tell her what a good job she is doing.

One comtemplative, if not emotionally charged day.

Oh and for tomorrow, in case I do not post, Happy Mother's Day to all those mommies out there!

Finally!

2009-04-15T10:19:00.002-07:00

The boys spent their first night upstairs in their room last night. The whole loft has been made up with them in mind. KJ worked all day yesterday and the kids were up there as soon as the all clear was given. I have seen them a few times since, usually for potty breaks and drinks. Today we move their bunkbed frame to the shop and clean and clear the boys old room for Ana to move into.So exciting! It has been such a long squishy wait. I am beyond excited about all babies toys being out of my livingroom, having our bedroom just be ours, and most importantly, the boys will have NO reason to be in the room while Ana's napping. Yeah! Almost makes the laundry still waiting in the laundry room from upstairs worth doing.... Once I get the overfilled playpen empty of the clean
clothes anyways. lol

Kids are keeping me on my toes, youngest two especially. Anastasja is growing up so fast, and quickly into a diva princess. Gone are the days of sleeping through the night and cooing. Now if you put her down she arches her back and screams bloody murder til she is picked back up or distracted~rarely works in distracting her from her job of projecting her wails. She has figured out how to turn herself around on the bed or sofa and scootch backwards until her feet hit the floor. She is toying with the idea of walking without holding on. She will just stand in the centre of a room sometimes and we all watch with anticipation of the day she can make more than one or two wobbly steps til falling. She laughs louder than she screams thank goodness, and fills our house with her giggles. She is way on board with communicating to us. She can say where either it is very clear of the intent can be picked up of what she is trying to say; hi, bye, mom, dad, nums(food), baba, book, pooh, poo (yes she knows the difference),mine, up. She shakes her head no, and has the accusatory finger point down pat when it comes to her bitching someone out. She will dance if asked to, clap hands, play patacake, run while holding onto fingers, stand up in the bath, open and close doors and drawers, and she is a chataholic when it comes to talking to aunty or gramma on the phone. Gets right pissy if you take it away before she is finished talking. She even gets jokes. Like t he boys she is smarter than she is supposed to be at this age, and that scares me. Unlike the boys, she has everyone wrapped around her little finger doing anything she says. The boys get mad at ME if I give her heck for making her cry. Pfft. She is super cute, and so loving, and little... I just loves her.
Joshua... wow.... since turing four about the only thing he has learned is how to backtalk. Oye. He likes to be the boss, and dictates our every move we are allowed to make each day, flipping when no one listens to our obvious ruler. LOL. Good news is a few days of major time outs and I think we are over the worst of it. He is potty trained, but had decided #2 was better done in the underwear than over a toilet bowl. FINALLY breaking that habit and even got him out of pullups at nights. Hoping this trend continues, cause to put it mildly potty training is a really shitty job that parents have to face. Only one left for me now, and I am so hopeful the tales are true for Ana and she is trained earlier and easier, cause this two and a half year period with Joshua has been brutal to say the least.
Aiden is doing amazing in school and overall these days. He needs glasses as his right eye is hooped, quite possibly from the time when he got a concussion from the stilt at Jasons house a year adn a half ago. There is definitely something that changed his eyes shape. Going to a pediatric optometrist on the 12th- same guy that takes care of the Canucks players, so pretty sure he is good. Aiden has started reading, and is no where near the hellion he was in the beginning of the school year for the teacher. They are mainly having good- great days now, and I have not had to picked Aiden up from school early in months.
Nicholas is doing great as well. Bossy bugger, but to be expected at this age. He is so excited to be becoming a teen this august. I am too. Things happen for a reason, and I think he will be a great role model for the boys on how to behave as a teen. Nicholas's big rebellion is cursing. I can deal with that. I look at the teens around and they are all smoking, doing drugs, drinking, partying, sleeping around, and here is my son, playing with bionicles and telling his brothers to "F"off and leave his stuff alone. Kinda fair I get at least one stage of development go easy.lol
Love the kids and we have been working our hardest to make sure we squeeze in individual time as well as family time with them. Lots of parks visits with the coming of spring. Which reminds me, I must go check on them. Update later.

Home improvements

2009-03-19T23:56:00.003-07:00

Definitely starting to see the reno changes now. Got the kitchen cupboards in, sink hooked up. It was a few germaphobe days of washing dishes in the bathroom sink, but sooo worth it. Hardwood floors through the kitchen, dining room livingroom and up the stairs. Put in tile in the front entry, added shelves to the nook by the door. It is so lovely. The kitchen being functional in every sense is as well. Finally lots of cupboard space that is useable. It felt like we were finally moving in, when putting everything away. Quite a different sight these days, and all for the better. Can't wait for some sunny weather to get painting the interior and exterior of the house and the yardwork done. The bathroom needs to be retiled, and when we do that, we will tile the laundry room as well. So many jobs going on, but to finally get a bunch checked right off the list as finished is really nice.

Kids are doing great. On spring break right now, so it is like a mini vacation for me too in reagards to getting to sleep in a bit (at least past 7:30) and not have to deal with picking up and dropping off Aiden, especially greatful with all the rain pouring down. Not sure whether I shared or not, but Aiden got his swim badge for his first level. He was very proud.

Lots of babies born in the family the past two weeks. Both sets of twins due, my sisterinlaws boys and my niece's girls were born the exact same day.... friday the thirteenth. Thought that was pretty cool.

KJs dad is coming out for another visit. Apparently getting divorced, he will be here in 2-3 weeks to visit, not sure how long he will be here yet.

All in all, things are alright here.

Yeah yeah yeah

2009-02-10T09:08:00.003-08:00

So I missed a month or so of posts. No worries, not much to miss. Lots of sickness. Personally I could of skipped that part. Ana and Josh are the first of my kids to have penecillin thanks to the bug that would not leave. They are all doing much better now. Course I write that while sniffling, so who knows for how long the whole being well thing will last.
On a personal good note, I am past my pre pregnancy weight. Wooohoo! Lots of water... water water water got me here. Now it is like a craving I must satisfy. Wierd huh? I am happy though as it openned up so much of my wardrobe. Pants I have not fit in 6 years! Is it sadder that I had all that weight, or that I kept my pants... not too sure.
Been playing on photoshop. Addictive, and I don't think I will ever run out of ideas. Playing with levels, exposure, actions, filters, and all the fun do dads that come with is just too much fun.
Here are a few of my new things...
This was a camera phone pic I took at the park on saturday. I finally figured out that if I send it to my email I can put them up.... special... I know... lol This one was a quick auto levels, smart sharpen, desaturate, and stroke. Just wanted an updated siggy pic for one of the boards I visit.

Another siggy pic, this one for the board I am on for my pregnancy with Anastasja.

A pic I had fun with taken last april.

K, now that I got that out of my system...

Have Ana on me eating right now so will stop in and drop more of a line later.

LOL

2009-01-15T23:30:00.002-08:00

JJ finished my post for me. Must have left it open and gotten busy. Sorry. From a house full of guests came a housefull of germs. Things have been busy! Slowing down now, but Anastasja is up; so fill in soon.

Has it been a month?

2009-01-13T14:16:00.006-08:00

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*did not want to delete Mr. Joshua's post, but I had to break it up as it was warping my blogs size.

Random pics post

2008-12-12T15:39:00.002-08:00

Pics off the camera phones, in random order.
I like this outfit. An old friend made it for her and I think she looks like a doll in it.

Cute hat I picked up on sale at Please Mom for $3.

Yes, my kids really can act like monkeys sometimes. LOL

Ana loves her cereal.

She also likes to do it herself. lol

Desi, who's life will be turned upside down when mommy Steph has twins.... looking adorable in pigtails.

Ana wanted her pigtails!

Checking out the dock.

Our cat Sleepy

Tommy taking the kids for a bike ride.

K, that will have to do for now. Life calls, and I gotta go answer. lol

My family!

2008-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

I love my kids!

Dear Blogdom...

2008-12-12T01:39:00.002-08:00

I kinda forgot about my blog. Really, I have not been on my computer lately at all. Maybe half an hour a day. Left it off for two days. Have had alot of company, plus the kids are JUST starting to get better. KJ is still sick, and Ana still has a slight cough. Me- better. On penicillin before I go in and get my teeth removed. Things have gotten much better, even my knee. Little christmas tree is up now right by the computer. I took some pics of Anastasja for xmas today, but got to do a bunch more sessions. I am giving the grandparents all framed pics, so I gotta get busy on that.
Tomorrow is supposed to be our first day of snow on the coast. Not for Whistler obviously, but for us, we finally get a sprinkling of snow. Gosh I hope it is just a sprinkling. I would like more, but our front yard - well mainly the driveway due to hydro wire issues, has three piles of fill in it that has to be spread out across the front and back yard within two weeks in time for the ten or so loads of topsoil that are coming to take their place. The city engineers were here the other day adn went over with me exactly where everything ran in the yard. No machinery can go on the front yard, basically meaning it ALL has to be carted by wheelbarrow to spread it. The smallest one we can get is still going to be too heavy bc of the type of lines they ran. So, definitely can just sprinkle. But I am crossing my fingers come around xmas or jan we get a nice dump for at least a few days so the kids can play in it. Though the boys are going to be depressed. They LOVE the giant sandbox they have to play with their trucks on in the front yard. They were even sliding down the hills. lol.
As for the house, the new siding has been stained once. Hopefully that will due until spring. We are now doing even more of the house in cedar siding than expected. I can't wait to paint this house come spring. We are using the rocks from the fill and slicing them up with the hilti bit for the bottom two feet or so of the house. I can't wait! It is going to look like a storybook sort of home in the end. Everyone has already been stopping to comment on it. No one thought anyone would ever actually put the work in. I can't wait to show everyone pics. I have them from the beginning, all the way to now. Everything we did basically, in pictures, alot of the time, while being done. It looks so different already and we have barely started. We have spent most of our time fixing main issues, not really started on any of the finish work. Still have drywall mud up in my bedroom for instance. lol. But the new foundation, roof, gutters, doors, porch, all make up for it. lol.
Got LOTS of company coming in the next two weeks. Things are going to be a bit chaotic. I will try to update as I can. Hopefully with pictures soon. ;)

I am falling apart

2008-11-27T10:07:00.002-08:00

Nothing like starting off the holiday season broken.
So it all started with me wanting to root through the loft looking for the christmas boxes and some craft stuff I was missing. So as I am going up and down the stairs with boxes of this and that- found my other scrapbook kit finally- I smashed my knee into one of the ladders stairs. Oye. So huge bruise and you can see via the purple straight line where the actual step hit, and my right knee (the bad one) to boot. Now weather change was already messing with my knee but this took it pretty much out of commission. Refusing to walk with crutches though due to my other issue. My stupid wisdom teeth. They are all up finally, but up in pieces. So I have an appointment at the hospital dental clinic on monday but until then, UGH! My mouth is inflamed and it hurts up into my ear (yeah the bad one, everything on my right side is basically gibbled) and down into my shoulder blades and into my arma dn hand, causing the tingling numbing sensation on my right upper side having fallen asleep.
Today KJ came right back after getting to work. I was curled up in a ball on the floor crying. Seriously painful. I can take pain. I rarely do the whole tylenol thing bc my body is in pain every day, so I have to really be careful about when I need to actually use a painkiller so that the effects are felt. I have been popping an extra strength tylenol at least twice a day.
To top all this off, the kids are sick and this morning I woke up to a bit of a runny nose. Thanks kids. Love how well they share their germs with me.
So yeah my mouth is abscessed and I am waiting for my doctors office to open so I can get in and get something for the pain and check out if this is ok to wait til monday with. Then I plan on curling up in a ball.

Grrrr

2008-11-19T10:04:00.003-08:00

Someone broke into Geoff's apartment yesterday. The only thing they ended up taking was Nick's laptop. I just want to cry. What assholes! Worse, I still had not put Anastasja's first few months to disk, so its gone. I only have what I put on photobucket. Short little snippets. GGGGGGGGGGGGGgggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

pix

2008-10-22T22:16:00.002-07:00

Here are some recent-ish ones. All from my camera phone, so not a great quality. Crossing my fingers I get my camera in november!

baby feet

Arts n crafts time with the kids.

Will I never learn my lessons...

2008-10-18T15:10:00.002-07:00

In news of the I should have REALLY known better sort...

I love my husband soooo much. I love him. I love him. I love him.
I love when he comes home after working on a saturday, says he is off to cash his cheque, he is taking the boys, and yes, he will do the grocery shopping.

Okay anyone else screaming stop right there?

Are you married?

Would you send your husband to the store for the big grocery shopping items?

I did.

Studity reigns.

He chose to go to a different grocery store than I usually go to for the big item stuff. For an overall price difference of about $200 dollars and a bunch of well that sucks thinking from me. I so want to be grateful and I know he was showing me he could do it. He tried. He bought the deals, for that store...Seriously, same items, different store, major price difference.

Sigh...
I love my husband.

Off to unpack a couple bags of groceries...

Lesson learned.

so tired

2008-10-16T23:17:00.002-07:00

Exhausted is probably a better description. Monday started the week off with a bang by waylaying me with the flu. Still not on top of my game after 4 days. Now Anastasja, whom spent alot of yesterday asleep, decided today she did not need to do that anymore. Instead she got all grouchy and loud. Hoping she has not caught this bug. Mommy only, and no putting her down for nothing. Sigh. I am so worn out. Ready for bed, and yet bc she was up all day, I have dishes to do, a livingroom that would probably look better if it was not covered in toys, and laundry. Not even going to think about the bathroom, bedrooms or diningroom right now. Though I know I will more than likely be up most of the night to make sure it is all done in time to be messed up tomorrow morning. Joshua has been testing me alot too. With Aiden gone to school during the day, it seems he decided getting into things by himself was the thing to do. Ugh. Okay, bit of a negative post, but it has been over a week since I had a solid sleep and I just don't have the patience to mince words and play nice.

That should also serve as warning to anyone who thinks talking to me on the phone makes my day. It does not. Okay wee rant here but WTF. I have had ppl call me at 7am, and as late as 11:30pm over shit that I really could give a rats ass about. Unfortunatley for them, my usual compassionate self has been taken over by the evil no sleep self that would rather tell you literally where to put your phone that has just woken up me or the baby and to not call again. Due to this I have taken to just letting the machine get the phone. I have 4 kids. I am not going anywhere. If no one is bleeding or dying, I will eventually get back to the person. It may take a month, but I will. And bc I let them leave a message, they will still be talking to me when I do. I really wish the ppl that do not have kids, that have no fucking clue what real responsibility is, could get that. I mean I am sure they know responsibility, but in the real world, where your children depend on you for their needs, and it is not a revolve around yourself lifestyle, something so simple as returning a call, or answering the phone is not easy. Let alone holding a blardy conversation. I am so sick of hearing how all I do is sit at home. Let me tell you... I don't sit. Not much anyways. If I get a chance away from my kids being in my arms, and tending to their needs, then it is my household responsibilities next. After that, I may get some me time. Like now how I am at 11pm. Can't call anyone, but this is my first real chance to not have a child in my arms today. So instead of returning calls I am blogging. And I realize it is a long ramble and for some ppl prob doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense. But I know. I know there has gotta be a mommy out there that can relate. Its the mommy club for a reason. Unless you have been one, you just don't get the real sacrifice it takes to raise children. My goal each day is just to make the house a bit better than the day before, Keep the kids filled with positive energy, and make sure everyones needs are taken care of. Mine do come last. It is just something moms do, putting themselves last. I am the last to shower, last to eat, last to bed. Not that I mean to complain. I love my kids and my husband and my life. It is just alot of invisible work that gets done by mommy, bc it has to. If I did nothing all day, as I found out while sick this week, my house falls apart. When I was too sick to get out of bed, Aiden did not go to school. See he depends on me to get there, much like my kids depend on me for most stuff, and if I can't there is no one jumping in to take over, just like with my housework, and everything else. Essentially what I am saying if you can't get it, is I have no time to just ramble on the phone all day or on msn. I also will NOT stop what I am doing if someone comes to visit me. Stopping makes my day fall behind, and then I am up even later at night. So many times I have been told to just sit and visit. Like that is not what I would rather be doing. Comes back to that REAL responsibilities thing. It is not like a job where you can quit if it gets too stressful. There is no sick leave, no lunch break you can use to jot out to the shop, no vacation time (unless you are really lucky with grandparents or rich like Brangelina). You sign up for it, there is a whole bunch of fineprint. Print with things such as how completely fine you will feel blowing your friend off listening to the phone ring while you rub your babies back and hush her with sweet words and songs. And even if you never talk to that person again, knowing you are there for your child turns out to be way more important than any friendship ever could be. So if I have not called you back, or messaged you back, or if I got off the phone in a rush, I am not sorry, and yes, I will do it again. This is me, take it or leave it, it is all I have to offer.

Gosh, I just read a bit, deleted a bit, still am not sure if it makes sense, so I am going to bed. Night!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

2008-10-07T09:38:00.003-07:00

Seems everything is getting an overhaul. Elections in the states and here in Canada. Banks getting all flustered at lending, stocks plunging, housing market going down in prices. So this is supposed to be the start of a potential world wide recession. Me, I feel lucky. I don't use credit. I do not dabble in stocks, but for those that do, the past few days have been REALLY REALLY bad days for them. My bank put a hold on my account on friday to crack on theft and didn't warn ANY customers, so I had to go straighten things out saturday. Basically anyone regularly depositing and then withdrawing through the atm got reassessed. Once the teller looked over my accounts she released almost every dollar. Still what a PITA. Grateful that it hit me less than some ppl will be. Because of all this market flux we are holding off on buying the house. Plus new laws are in place starting november that we need to think about too in regards to mortgaging. Everything that went up so fast, is plummeting down. Old law of gravity works in the marketplace too I guess. Still, the ripples are going to be felt by everyone. Already when I go shopping, the high price of the stores getting their stock delivered, due to rising gas prices, has hit my pocketbook. Month of september probably spent close to $1000 in groceries (comparable a few months ago to 500-750). Everything from a box of cereal, to a bag of flour, has seen an increase. When you buy as much as I do, it adds up quickly. Tis interesting to ponder just what is going to happen with the global economy. Politics have always been an interest with me, but I have never voted. This time, I think I am going to. Though I am having issues with each party. I sure wish the Green party could come into power. Elizabeth May, she definitely held her own in the debate, and her ads make sense. She does not spend as much time pushing the (-) about her opponents, as addressing the things she wants to change, and work on. Plus the environment really needs to be top of the list. WTF does it matter if there is a pension plan or heritage site or medicare, if there is no damn world to live in? Anyone willing to actually do something about it, has my vote! Plus she made the most sense in the debate. Why are we buying alternative fuel resources from other countries? We should be at the top in developing it. Afterall, Canada prides itself on being green, especially BC'ers. A government looking to do this (the green party) really is thinking of the future- on a global trade scale. We should be researching and developing this stuff, not buying it up from other places. The NDP, I would be all for as they have some great ideas about the environment., but all it is doing is bashing and using scare tactics for votes. Yes, they tell you their plans, most of which I question, as budgetwise, I can see alot of money being spent on idea generation on getting things going, rather than actual implementation; and where is the revenues coming from for all of this when it creates none/little. The Conservatives, I was for, but now I just can't due to some of the policies they want to change and the fact that S.H. seems to have a thing for makeup. The whole eyeliner thing just wierds me right out.
K, ending my little well, whatever that just was. Bought Anastasja the rainforest jumperoo saturday. She loves it! She is eating food too now. Well, rice cereal and oatmeal so far. She likes 'em! Joshua has started drawing ppl instead of squiggles! Aiden has began making stick puppets, drawing the guys, cutting them out, and gluing them to a popsicle stick. He has dozens of them. My kitchen table is almost always covered in paper and other materials. Had them make some dry bean adn pasta pics the other day. Joshua heaped the glue on so much, then threw it all together. It is one heavy piece of artwork. lol. Nick is doing great. He got a hair cut! It is a shaggy kind of cut- styled after an anime character. KJ & I keeping busy with the family and the house. K, well there is my update.

not been updating

2008-09-21T11:23:00.002-07:00

As often as I should. I fall behind, and then its too long of a post to want to write. lol. So... hmm lots of stuff has been going on. Aiden is now in actual full kindergarten.
Leaves my mornings and early afternoons with just Joshua & Ana. Joshua is getting bored already without him. He has been testing the boundaries, which I expected to happen. My house is much cleaner though. With only one kiddo to keep entertained that can do damage, the extent of it is contained to one or two areas vs the entire property. LOL Together... those boys can be a handful! Miss Aiden though. School seems to be working wonders for him, so I know that the structure and things I have taught him have helped him ease into it all. My job was done in preparing him. It's just.... now he is ...well at least I am not one of those moms blubbering at the door....Why would I do that when I can walk home and do it where no one can see the misty eyes. Not that most parents have not already been and gone by the time we get there. Joshua has taken to dawdling and so we get there after the first bell, and usually hit the door with the second bell ringing. Thankfully his class doesn't get ready to go til after the afternoon bell, bc Aiden is about half way down the line, so we have actually made it to the door by the time his turn to go home has come up. See the pattern... yeah he has already had to hand in a late slip twice. No perfect attendance for him. Damn, I have doomed the child already.
Friday morning, as I again dropped him off just in the nick of time, the principal came out to talk to me. We talked about how Aiden is doing. I told her how he was the first kid to get doled a time out, and that it was 2 in a day. Since then, one other day he got two time outs as well. She and his teacher had already talked. I have been very open with his school, just as I was with Nicks. The principal was very happy when I told her I did not think my child was perfect and was more than willing to come on board to make sure the school year goes smoothly. So monday they give me an assessment to fill out about what he is like at home. Should be interesting. His school is amazing and the faculty awesome. It has a small # of students though, so they get alot more time to get to know eachother.
Homefront, improvements keep going on. Bin has been picked up. I will be taking pics soon. Have so much to do... it really is never ending. But we have come a long way in less than two months of work. Cleaned house & yard up, new porch, new roof, new walls, new wiring, new exterior walls built under crawl space. That's just an overview. The workload each holds is heavy.
Jen R is coming over right now. She is home for a week from Christina Lake & I am so excited for her to meet Ana!!! We are heading out shopping. I gotta get everyone ready. Whole family is going.

The past week...

2008-09-11T02:13:00.003-07:00

Has been crazy busy. The flu sucked. I ended up going to the drs and it was just a gastro intestinal virus, but damn the cramps had me doubled over. Tis all good, I shared with others too, so I was not completely alone in my misery. K, not so good, but still, don't I tell my kids every day that sharing is caring?
The roof is up. It was stripped over three days and with an overlapping in there of stripping it off and putting the new one on, the new one took 4 days to put on, well okay there is still a little strip up top the shop roof because we ran out of shingles and did not get them til late last night. We have a huge bin the size of about a 5 tonne moving van cube and it is full of all the roof and crawl space debris, plus the yard trimmings etc. It's been alot of work, and eaten up most of our weeks free time.
Did manage to get grocery shopping in, but barely. My MIL took me, nad we got KJ off the roof to watch the boys, so it was a nice shop with just Ana to take care of. Got all my fall groceries- dried beans, rice, pasta, lg flour, etc. All my baking and soup stuff. Made a delicious home made soup too. Its a big batch, so half is still in my fridge. Its got wild rice, parboiled rice, potatoes, parsnips, celery, carrots, various waxed beans, corn, cauliflower, onion, garlic, green pepper, and cabbage in it. Natural broth, as usual. Just delish. I also picked up a whole bunch of nuts, shortening, choco chips, raisons etc to add to my baking supplies. When Chrys was down I topped her up with some stuff in my cupboard as it is cheaper to get down here. But let me tell you, half way through a recipe, realizing I gave her the pecan bits, or almond slices, can get frustrating. Now I know I got it, so the baking madness will resume shortly. I had to take a break as the kids were wolfing down the cookies and muffins, a bit too quickly, and getting a bit too much of a sugar high.
Kindergarten has gotten off to a great start. Aiden gets up every morning with a smile on his face and has no probs getting ready. His teacher seems very nice. We had our parent teacher conference on tuesday. They get a planner in kindergarten now. WOW I think I got my first planner in grade 8. It was like a right of passage to high school. Now it Kindergarten. Damn, Aiden can barely write his name, let alone read more than a few sight words. Basically though, the planner is for the teacher to be able to send personal notes home to the parents for each child. Plus keep parents up to date. Okay so basically it is the parents planner. lol.
Been grasshopper catching a few times. Today I caught one in our back yard and brought it to the porch for the boys to see. It got scared and jumped from my hand to our little table outside. Well Aiden decided to just up and grab it while it was on the underside and almost squished the poor thing to death. I decided the poor thing was traumatized enough and picked it up for one last hand trip to the front yard and it's freedom.
Jason stopped in today. Literally, no phone call, just popped up on the porch. The boys were okay with seeing him. He asked them if in two weeks he could take them for a weekend. Joshua said no, of course and Aiden said yes. He said," They sure worked him over good" I told him Joshua has ALWAYS felt this way, since as long as J has been in his life. That it had nothing to do with what other ppl have said, and everything to do with the fact they have not bonded like me and JJ have. Joshua looks more to KJ as his dad. Aiden has more of a bond with J. I realize it is Aiden's choice about seeing his dad, but letting him have him for the weekend, makes me uneasy. I do not feel okay about it, nor that I can trust him to really take care of him while he is on his watch. He tells me they are renovating, and last time he wanted them he had reno's to do too. So what is the point of taking the kids if he is too busy to spend time with them or supervise them sufficiently. Sigh... sorry.... had to vent a bit.
Lots more had been happening, but there are some of the high lights.

flu

2008-09-03T08:48:00.001-07:00

has hit me. hoping not listeria from meat. major stomache cramps. ouch. k, off 2 puke. now u know no updaqte coming. for a bit. any healthy wishes accepted.

Where to even start...

2008-09-01T23:09:00.002-07:00

Been off the blog circuit, heck been off the whole internet for quite a while. Had some electrical issues that were finally ironed out this sunday. Ended up with KJ under the house running new wiring for the electrician. It was nasty down there. He came out hurling and stripping off his many layers of clothes to rid himself of the cobwebs and bugs. Interestingly enough, there were weeds growing under the new porch already, about a foot high! Crazy...no light gets in, to see life when the bottom was opened up.

Things have gotten oober busy around here. New roof that is going on right now for instance. Yup, sprung a leak in the bathroom, turned out to be quite the hole, so now, new roof is going up. They have everything but the shop stripped, put down new plywood, metal in the joints, paper and are almost done shingles. One more side and a small piece to do. KJ spent sat, sun, and today on it, with help from Mike, Tommy, Emmanuel(our landlord), Geoff, and me. Yup, even I got up there and pulled off shingles. Dolts before put shingles overtop of shingles, and no paper. So, after all the other material he has boughten, our landlord has now spent $5500 on this house. $3000 onf that on the materials for the new roof. He is beyond grateful to have us though. He said he would rather pay out for materials to people who care to put the time and effort into the place than to rent it to ppl who just let it sit in the condition it was in. I guess he had two other tenants live here before. One had two kids he left downstairs. Emmanuel did not know, bc the guy took off and screwed him out of rent, but that is I guess when the tenant broke the jacuzzi cover and got a cloth sucked up the intake. I am just disgusted bc they left their kids downstairs with all those holes in the walls and rats. Grosse! We had that all taken care of way before we let the kids in here. This place was so nasty when we moved in, there is no way anyone had cleaned it up. It is disturbing what some kids lives are like. Anyways, completely off on a tangent here, but KJ met the one guy the other day when he came to get mail and told me what the guy had said. Hope they don't come back here again. Mind you, they may not recognize the place. Things are moving along so fast, and so much is getting done at once. It is definitely reno madness here. Have tonned of pics of what has been going on, but still on my camera, and it will be a while. Went to the Oasis concert with Sunshine. It was great to go out somewhere without anyone else in tow. It is rare for me, and although I ran a bit late, as Anastasja would not take the bottle, I got there. She won't take the bottle it turns out. Well, she will... for all of 15 seconds. Enough to get a bit of a taste, realize it is not mom and turn away from it. What can I say, she is a booby baby. lol. She is also rolling, and cooing, even making sounds just like words- booby, dada... wish she would just stay little. Oh, she loves her hands. She can stick her whole fist right in her mouth, though lately has taken to chewing-sucking her thumb, and the next two fingers. She loves being upright, hates being in a snuggle position unless she is being given boob, otherwise she needs to see what is happening around her. lol. She has such a huge grin! She laughs for peekaboo, though today... Oh okay interuppting to tell funny story. Playing peekaboo today and she was just a giggling. It was beyond cute, when all of a sudden, she went from belly of giggles, to wailing. She got scared at one of my boo's and oh my poor baby threw that lip of hers out and just let me have it. After I settled her I played the game again, just to see if she was all traumatized, but she was not, adn she has only giggled since. Still, I felt so bad about it.
Aiden starts kindergarten tomorrow. School sent a letter decribing how they are transitioning the kids into school. Basically the first week is just an hour to an hour and a half a day, then each day over two weeks it gets a bit longer til they are attending the full day. That is right, Aiden is in full day kindergarten, thanks to a high number of his class fitting into the ESL catergory. His school day as of the third week of september will run 8:40-2:30. Nice! He is super excited. I am too for him. He has reached so many milestones to come to this point, and it is amazing to me that my little guy is going to school. Joshua, unfortunately got hit with the news that not only does he not go to school with Aiden, but because of his Jan 2 birthday, he still has a two year wait for school. Oh the dramatics... let's not go there and say we did. K. Anyhoo, many other things going on, just too tired to think. Oh and I have an abcess. Nice timing. Labour day weekend and now school starts, so I am not sure when I can even make it into the doctors. *sigh* Anyone got an order of "dull and boring" they want to trade for a while? Life has gotten quite exhausting lately, okay it really has been for a long while. A little mundane, predictable, would go a long way. K, Off to bed. Big day tomorrow!

Busy as per what has become the norm...

2008-08-23T22:38:00.002-07:00

Things keep popping up around here, keeping me too busy to update much on the comp. So much... still have to download the pics onto the computer too.
Kids have been going with me to a mommy and me program. Steph and Desi have come too. Aiden's first day of school is the 2nd. He goes at 10 am for an hour. Wow! Jason came with Kayle today for a bit. The kids both chose not to go with him. He played a bit and got some good hugs in though. Kayle almost stayed behind, but Jason decided to keep him as his special helper during today's renovations going down at his house.
Charlene came over with her new fiance, Ronnie, today. Blake was a bit off at first, as it is his first time at our new home, but soon enough was running around giggling. He is such a sweetheart. I just lurve him. Fed him garlic sausage and cheese for the first time today. He loved it and went around the house saying cheese. LOL
We paid rent early today, and the landlord went with KJ and picked up new gutters, and deck paint ($150). He made the comment that at least the price tag is going down, but everytime he comes to see us it costs him money. LOL. It is true though. So far he spent at least $1650, and that is just for the materials we asked for. The electrician bills, the initial lawn maintenance, the drywall, mudd, tape, or pest control bills are not included. He did say today that he is amazed at the transformation thus far, and can not wait to see it completed. He said we have lived up to every word we gave to him, and surpassed his expectations. It was nice to hear after all our hard work.

My cousin Raisa came over the other night to visit. She brought her SO Jim, and baby Alena. Anastasja was quite taken with Alena, as Alena wa with Anastasja. They were due 3 weeks apart ( Alena May5th, Ana May 29th) but Alena decided to come 5 weeks early on April 5th. She has so much more hair than Ana, and these big beautiful blue-green eyes. She was overwhelmed with all the new faces, as it was not just our family but Tom, Steph, Desiree, and Geoff here as well, since it was the night of the double birthday parties. We had a great visit, and there are pics to be uploaded.
Troy, Kjs bro, came for supper today. They bbq'ed burgers and talked home reno's. It's about all that any adult talks about around here. LOL
K, I am off. Oh, the electricity was all wierd for a few days in the far livingroom wall, so I lost internet til after the electrician came, in case you were wondering where I went. Gotta love it!

Every day...

2008-08-19T15:56:00.002-07:00

it seems like something is going on of some sort. So yesterday we went to home depot for more supplies. Steph, Chris and Desi had shown up at our house just as we were out the door, so popped her stroller out of the trunk and they came for the walk with us. KJ carried back two pressure treated 8 ft 4x4 posts plus a 8ft 2x4. I carried the ten spindles needed for finishing the porch on the top of the stroller and the can of spray foam at the bottom. $75 later and we forgot the stuff for the gutters. Got back, and Kj's brother Troy arrived about 10 minutes later to help out on the porch. Then Steph & I took off to Superstore for a grocery shop for tonight, which is Tom's birthday. We are combining him & Nicks birthday parties into one, and so right now ppl are here, my strawberry banana flan is over half way gone, the skewers are over the bbq- chicken, beef, and pork. Gotta run and be a hostess!

In other news...

2008-08-18T09:41:00.002-07:00

The house is getting quite the makeover at the moment. The shop has been cleaned and organized to an extent. The wall with the door has been redone. The porch has posts and railings going in. Went with spindles between the posts, not much space between them. One spindles width to be exact. Putting in stairs to the front yard. We decided to block all access to the front yard except through the porch. Not the best neighbourhood, not the worst... but yeah, Our yard, we want fully secure for the kids. There is a huge pile of debris sitting in the front yard we have to haul off to the dump from all the walls and stuff. Shop is full of material right now and the yard is covered in sawdust...again. There is an awning as of last night, connecting the front door with the door to the shop. It is that plastic wavy material, clear with a blue tint. It has UV protection though, so I like it very much ;) There is a grid like pattern created with the pressure treated wood the awning is braced with. I like it bc it is a whole lot of places to hang windchimes from. lol

Oh, kids are great. Nicky's birthday was saturday. My boy is 12! I hope he has had a good trip, and is happy with the changes when he comes back. I miss him. He has matured a great deal this past year, and relaxed alot more. He is enjoying his brothers, speaking kinder (for the most part), and his only sign of preteen rebellion is a potty mouth and long hair. That is alright in my book, knowing what I know of kids his age and what they were up to. I mention Ana is rolling? She is also holding her head up for longer periods of time, and can push herself forward when on her tummy with her legs. It is so cute to see. Gotta tape it one day. Aiden is beyond excited about kindergarten. Wednesday I hope to have his school supply list so we can go shopping.I am excited for him too. He is going to have so much fun.

Sigh... I really got alot going on right now. K, off to home depot again.KJ is off work for the day. He smashed his finger up real good yesterday hammering a post in. It's grosse, probably broken.

Quicky update

2008-08-15T13:32:00.004-07:00

As previously mentioned, things are chaotic here. The move was a long one, and the actual unpacking, endless. Well, I say that, but basically I am done. Now we just tear a room apart at a time, fix it, then move everything back in.
KJ took care of the wasp nests last night. There was one growing on the wishing well, another in the front boards on the house. Got some foam stuff that killed them on contact. I did see one out there earlier today, but before there were like 5 out at a time, so seeing one lowly wasp, is a good sign that the worst is over.
We are currently working on redoing the plywood around the crawl space and putting new 2x4 up where possible to improve the houses stability. It has settled, and is leaning slightly due to it, so we are trying to compensate where possible. Got a new dryer vent put in. Thank goodness bc the moist hot air being in the house, sucked. Especially since we got KJs cat back from his mom. Sleepy likes to go on adventures, but is supposed to be an indoor cat. One escape later and now the windows and doors stayed closed unless she is in the bathroom, where she can't get out. Have not put up my pictures yet, as we are still going to have to paint each room as we redo it. I did put up some though, so it feels like our home now. KJ and Geoff redid the front stoop. More porchlike, before it was justa rotting ramp to get in the house. We went last night to Home depot and priced out guard rails adn fence pieces and the like. We want to get the front yard kid friendly, then start working on the back. We are going to try and get the top soil in around september so I can plant bulbs in the fall.
The family reunion was alright. Esthers vans alternator died on the way up, so it took three boosts to get to the campsite friday night, and a couple hours on saturday to go get it rom town and put the new one in. It also chose to rain sat-sunday. We decided not to stay the extra day and came home for KJs birthday instead. Had a small party here. Tacos & nachos with a cookie creme cake his mom brought over. Esther stayed over for two nights and helped me finish off the rooms. Tehre were a few things to do in each room, adn it is nice that it is out of the way now. There is still so much to do in this place!
Anastasja had her first shower with me last night- she loved it. She also has started teething & rolling. She is growing up so quick, I just want a pause button some days so I can get a bit more time with her so little. Oh not so little either. lol. Weighted her with daddy, then just daddy. Looks like she weighs around 12 pounds now! She loves to talk and has discovered tv, and thinks it is cool to watch. She also sleeps straight through the night. Never had a baby do that before. She sleeps from around 11pm-7/9am. she wakes at 6/7 for a feed but then goes back to bed til 9ish. It is wonderful! Mind you, I was unable to enjoy the first week or so of it bc I was up ALL night unpacking or cleaning. It sucked bc I would get only 2 or 3 hours sleep before it was time to start the new day and get back to business. So glad to be caught up on that!
I know I am missing out on alot of stuff... just so much stuff that has happened.
Oh the boys got a letter from their aunty Leila and a package with a action figure each. They were so excited to "have mail" We sang the blues clues song before opening it. lol. I took pics, but Geoff has the camera for Nicks ANCA camping trip this weekend.
It is also my oldests birthday tomorrow. I can't believe I am the mother of a twelve year old! He has grown up so much! He may be outgrowing ANCA though, as when we were camping last weekend he tried to get out of going this weekend, and said he did not want to go anymore. Will have to see if this weekend rekindles his desire to go.
The boys start going to the Strong Start program next week. I go with the kids, it is for 0-5yrs plus parents. 9:30-11:30 monday, wednesday and friday. It is in Aiden's school, so it will give him a preview of what he is in for in a few weeks. Taht is right, Aiden starts kindergarten soon! Still have to get in to the pedi for an exemption note from vax's for him. Fun times. He is super excited, oh and thankfully back into underwear all day again! Their burns look much better, but still itch and have redness to them. At least they have healed over though.
Have pic etc, will post soon.

here and then gone

2008-08-08T13:44:00.002-07:00

Back online, but not for long. Heading out to the annual family reunion camping trip with KJ's moms side of the family. Will have tonnes to update you about after. Things are so busy with unpacking, cleaning, reno's and the 4 kids that I have barely been sleeping this whole time. Chrys came and visited for 3 days,got to meet Anastasja. K, off to pack up for camping. Oh, and the move, took 20 hours from the start of loading to the finishing of unloading. We filled that 5 tonne truck rigth up!

gaah

2008-07-29T15:05:00.001-07:00

OMG okay so I found another provider- Shaw. BUT it is going to cost me 30 more in the end a month for LESS than I had with telus. The chick thought she was doing me a favor til I explained. Plus, their customer service had me waiting for like 10 minutes to talk to someone, AND I have to wait til August 8th to have it installed. Not happy! The good news is I will probably be too busy anyways, and this way I won't be sidetracked and will actually have to unpack etc. lol

" Me.. on dial up??? "

2008-07-29T14:31:00.001-07:00

I feel like I am in a bad dream...

On the phone with my provider and got some bad news about this move. I have an all in one package right now, so $138 a month covers phone, long distance across north america, tv, and high speed internet. For some reason Telus can only get sporadic signals in the area I am moving into. I have to find another provider for my tv, and net unless I want to go to dial up! Egads, I am in crisis mode now. GAAHHHHH! Not happy. K, so as of tomorrow night if I am not online, this will be why.

Whew..long days

2008-07-27T01:39:00.003-07:00

So this weekend we devoted to getting things started with the house. Tammy came friday night and got a chance to see the place, when we went sign stuff. She saw it before any cleaning or anything took place. I got lots of pics too of the house in it's original state, and I am glad I did. There has been alot of work put into it. Geoff came and helped, Terry and Tanya made an appearance, as did Esther and the landlord. My mom came to watch the boys.

Kj built a new wall dividing the bedrooms better. It's still being mudded and sanded, so it has a paint deadline if we want to have it ready for wednesday. Vaccuumed the rooms today, but waiting on the steam cleaning til they are done.

The bathroom has been completely sanitized. Cupboards & shelving ready to be hung up. The jets on the jacuzzi get looked at tomorrow, along with all the plumbing & gas lines.

The kitchen surprised me. At first the gas oven scared me. Further examination, and well, a heck of a clean, and it is a newer model, and very nice. As is the fridge. While the kitchen cupboards still need to be cleared & cleaned out, the counter top has been bleached & scrubbed down. It's been swept, but so far only half of it is washed. Everything from the living room- curtains and such are in the kitchen and diningroom.

The livingroom has been painted. Replaced the wall scones as they shorted out when changing their bulbs, and thought it safer to just get new. Same with the fan, we replaced the ceiling fan with a 6 light chandelier. The baseboards are sitting in the shop, waiting til tomorrow when the 2nd coat on the livingroom is dry. The carpets came up great, almost new, with a good vaccuum and steam cleaning. Brushed away the cobwebs, and the walls have been repaired where there were cracks or holes.

The locks have all been reinforced, and several added. all the lightbulbs have been changed. The place seems rather bright and warm now, where before it was hidden beneath filth and neglect.

There is still alot to do. The plywood around the base of the house is all being replaced, adn the crawl space cleared right out. There is a window we have to build, as the boys room has just a small one. The house has to have a new paint job on it's exterior. Stairs and a wall with an arch in it are to be built in the dining room, to make the loft accessable, and safe to go up into. Nick is going to have his room up there, and possibly we will have a guest room as well.

Things have been rather hectic. Have pics, but will have to put them up after. After each room is done, I will post a before during and after for each. Already, there is such a vast difference from the place we walked into that first time.

In other news, not sure if I shared this yet... My two sister in laws gave us some surprise news as of late. Charlene is newly engaged, and Desiree is newly pregnant. So excited for both of them :)

Jasons parents came over this morning to see the boys, bring Aiden his birthday presents, and a few gifts for Joshua. As well, they brought a few boxes of things from when me & Jason were together- 4 years since we split, so it is wierd seeing this stuff again.

K, I am off to pack. Have not gotten the dent in it I was hoping for. This month has been a very busy one indeed!

1 1/2 hours

2008-07-24T20:34:00.002-07:00

That is how long Joshua was in the tub. Half of it on his own, the other with Aiden. It was time. The time I was not looking forward to. me vs. The Rat's Nest. This is what happens when you are unable to brush/ comb the boys extremely curly hair. He has not had it washed with shampoo or conditioned since before the sunburn. The only time it can be brushed on a good day is in the tub with conditioner in it bc it gets so poofy if you try while it is dry. I love his hair though, adn there is no way he would let me cut it if I wanted to, so he is pretty good about sitting through this process in the tub. This time, it took forever! The longest his hair ahs ever gone without a wash is probably 4 days. This was (if it was last done by me) 13 days! I had to put my conditioner in it, and take a comb piece by piece through his hair. The good news~ it worked and he is now knot free. When I was almost done working on the biggest knot of them all, Anastasja, whom had been sitting quietly in her bouncy seat started to cry, then Aiden came in, took a #1 & 2 and KJ called.... ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Yeah it was a wonderful minute or two there leaving JJ sitting with gooped on conditioner all over his head, listening to KJ try to tell me about how he moved the wall in the house over, helped Aiden wipe, then wash hands, get off phone rather quickly with KJ, pick up Ana put her on the boob, then go squat by the tub to finish combing Joshua's hair. Oh the wonderful life of chaos I live in. lol. But in the end, Ana not only ate, but while the boys were playing waterguns in the tub, she got her own bath in her tub as well. KJ called back and was able to actually here me and vice versa. Ana was put in her swing and promptly fell asleep while I was dressing the boys in their PJ's.
Oh and Skye and Nick put on Night at the Museum and are totally quiet, and being invaded by the boys.
How was your last hour and a half?

Here fishy fishy....

2008-07-23T14:20:00.002-07:00

Yes, I posted pics of the house we are moving in to, and then took them down. We are taking it & are considering buying it within the year. It is a real fixer upper, so some reno's have to be done before we move in. KJ is going this week & this weekend to get a good head start on things. First off, it needs a major scrub down. Not only bc whomever lived in it before us did not take care of it, but also bc my germaphobia ways dictate such a thing is a neccessity. He is putting up walls, building stairs, putting in kitchen cabinets, windows, possibly putting in hardwood flooring, then painting. That is just the beginning! Alot of work, but this is not an opportunity that falls on one's lap often. We had to take the leap.

Skye is over for a few days. She is my friends 13 yr old daughter. I babysat her back when Nick was in kindergarten for a few years. With all the problems Nick had the first years of school, she was one of his only friends, and his best one at that. She could handle his outbursts, adn play his kind of games. I am so glad she has come to see us. The boys love her. This is what has been keeping me busy from blogging. Yesterday was an overcast day. The boys grandma phoned to come see the boys, but we waited 4 hours only to find out traffic was awful adn she was unable to make it. So, figured now we could get going for a walk. Well, a few minutes into our walk to Safeway for supper stuff, the sun came out. Thank goodness I had sunscreened the portions of the boys arms and neck, ears, that were uncovered, and they wore long sleeves, pants and hats. They were fine. Later, KJ made the kids popcorn and we rented Waterhorse. What a great movie! I just started it again adn they are SO QUIET and ATTENTIVE! My great grandmother was from Scotland, adn always told us about faeries and Nessie. She believed, and that made us believers. lol I think this has now passed onto my kids. Love it! I don't lie to them about Santa or anything, but they do need to have some magic to believe in ;)

Today I again ventured out with the 5 kids. Thank goodness for overcast skies!We went to the bank, then the petstore, followed up with the grocery store. The pet store was a huge hit! We bought Anastasja her first pet...a male guppy. She had the biggest eyes looking at all the species of fish. This was her first time in a pet store after all, and she may have been a bit overwhelmed. lol Glad it went well, and none of the kids tried to get me to go home with any other pets, aside from Nick. Gerbils, Chinchilla's, beta fish, he wanted them all. LOL For those that do not know Nick, he is a petaholic. He has owned fish, birds, turtles, lizards, and cats, and is always looking for more. Problem is, that each pet is great on its own, but taking care of all of them is a real investment in time for the parents. Luckily his live at his dad's, so nothing for me to care for but the fish here.... for now. We are going to get a dog when we move, but first I am going to do what I did before and foster rescued dogs. Figure enough time will go by doing that, we will eventually get one that we want to adopt. Until then, we can try them on for size, taking care of them, adn getting them back to a normal life. I did it before for over a year and we had many dogs come in and out of our house. Can't wait to do it again.
Okay, off topic, which mainly is Ana got her first pet today. Will write more later, but the Waterhorse is on again adn I want to watch it.

house hunting...

2008-07-20T23:36:00.005-07:00

May have just turned into house buying.

*Gulp*

So we went & looked at a house for rent today. Now we have put a damage deposit down. Moving prob next week. Before we move, it needs a deep cleaning, repairs and some pest control(wasps,spiders). The landlord talked about selling it to us. We are going to rent it for a few months while we assess what we are getting into. It's a flip house, so alot of things have to be looked into. Then I am going to talk to my family about helping with the down payment. He bought it for just over 100k so I figure we go over that by 10 in our offer and we are set to go. My dh is a carpenter, so we can do alot to it. So excited, but nervous about what we signed up for.

The owner (landlord) bought it in november, and so long as we run it by him first, has given us the go ahead to do whatever we want. He told us to treat it like we own it, and that he is definitely open to consider selling it to us in about a year if we want to buy it.

WOW!

Been a week

2008-07-20T12:45:00.002-07:00

since the boys came home, 8 days since they got sunburned. Healing up good. Today they had their first bath. The water was swimming pool cool-warm. No soap or anything, as Aiden's shoulders are still a bit raw. His burns were deeper than JJs and he will definitely have some scarring. Joshua still has a few areas, but with Aiden it is the tops of his shoulders and bottom of his neck area and almost the whole way across. Charging my phone to take pics, as the camera power cord is at Geoffs. They are still red, but the old skin is almost fully peeled off. Again, more so on JJ than AA. Their running around though, being loud and playing hard, so definitely on the mend.
Took them out last night again to Safeway. Sunshine came over and let me take a nap while she watched the boys yesterday afternoon. She brought me a big bag of size 1 diapers for Ana and a safeway gift card for my b-day. We bought tiger and heavenly hash ice cream. It was good. Bought orange Crush pop too and I made a float with the tiger ice cream. It actually tasted really good! The boys are loving the late night walks. Always have done them with them, but now that we have no day time walks, they really look forward to getting out of the house at night.

The doctors told me they have to stay out of the sun, basically the rest of summer, and any chance they will go in it means Solar shirts (no sun uvblocking) if possible, wide brim hats, and tonnes of sunscreen.

We do have to go out on the 25th to go meet our potential new landlords, but it will be more in the early evening hours, and I am hoping a cloudy day, when we go. KJ went to look at a few places and this one is right across from Bear Creek park where we got married. The kids grew up in that park, as I used to live in that area until last summer, so they will be so happy to get their old stomping grounds back.

Kj is out with Geoff right now. They are going to move the caddy over to where Terry, Geoff's brother works. He is going to redo the carb (kit has been sitting, waiting over a year for it to get done), and get things all lubed up etc. Hopefully we can start the body next spring. We are thinking of just looking for another side panel, as fixing it means alot of hours and bondpo, but we will see. With gas prices the way they are it is a nice collectors car, but one more to look at, than actually drive. Figuring filling up the tank will cost about $150 right now.

Have yet to start packing, so today my goal is to pack up whatever boxes we have here. Fill them up, label and store. Then go through my dresser and pull out clothes I don't wear and bag them, or give them away. Same with shoes... though I don't know if I can get rid of the ones I have. I am a big shoe collector. lol Also have to find time to go through the boys dressers. Put aside all the clothes they do not fit anymore for whomever wants them, and sort through the ones they do. My mom and KJ "helped" me put away their laundry a few times. Ummm pants in the PJS, PJs in the shirts, socks in the pants drawer... that kind of help. Their dressers are also scrambled with eachothers clothes, so it is hard to find the ones that fit them at times. Fun fun fun... NOT.
If there is time I really need to get their toys gone through too. Toss the broken ones, put aside the smaller kids ones for Ana, and organize them. I do this a couple times a year, and it only stays that way for a day or two then it looks like I never touched it. Toyboxes are overflowing though, so it really has to get done, before we move the mess with us.
So that is about where we are at. Anastasja is my amazing baby. Sleeping right now. She has really started talking. It was cute, the other day she was fussing in her swing and it sounded like she said boob, and I said boob back to her, as I lifted her out and she shut right up and looked for it. She is a smart one! I realize my posts have been all about the boys this week, so here are a few recent pics of Ana, now 8 weeks old!

Smiling at gramma.

Being cute as cute can be.

She has some pudge on her now. Loves the booby milk.

Brothers providing entertainment.

She has delicious cheeks:)

My fave pic!

Catching some heat

2008-07-19T11:41:00.003-07:00

A few ppl have almost seemed to blame me for what happened to the boys bc I should have kept them away from Jason since the transition house. It was the battle between two sides at the time, and I gave in and let him in the boys life. Many a time since I have regretted it. I don't need to hear the fuck you I told you so, or even the whispers of it. I feel it every time I look at my boys or hear their screams. He won't ever have them in his care again. To let him would make me liable for anything that happens to them. It's not even a choice anyways, the boys don't want to go over. Anyways, just caught a bit of heat just now and thought I should post this. If you want to be a true friend, be supportive and help the boys and me through this, great. Otherwise, keep your comments at home with you and don't call.

Not quite an all I have to do...

2008-07-18T22:31:00.002-07:00

In my last post I said, all I have to do is put on the vaseline intensive rescue lotion onto their backs & shoulders. Not as easy or nice as it sounds. Joshua was fine the very botton of his back, with me putting it on. As soon as I got to the middle and shoulders... wowsers, he screamed bloody murder. Aiden would not even come close with it after. Had to wait for KJ to come home and help me. It is awful to put it on them, knowing that as much as it helps, it hurts. They are still in pain about 15 minutes after it goes on, then it seems like they are ok.

Tonight we went for a walk. Waited for the sun to go down all the way before heading out. The boys were so happy to get outside again. It has been hard for them, so used to going for walks and stuff and then cooped up for five days aside from hospital visits. We went grocery shopping at Safeway. They got to pick out their fruit and yogurt. They were bursting full of energy.

Almost time for bed, and I am wondering whether I should put the neighbours through the screaming. The kids are already being very loud, I guess bc they have started to feel better. Trying to catch up on all the playtime they missed.

Good news!!!

2008-07-18T15:13:00.002-07:00

Back from their appt. The bandages are off! All I have to do is put vaseline intensive care lotion on them. I got the intensive care rescue one, since it was for more seriously dried skin. Still burnt, but he said the 2nd degree looks like it is healing up wonderfully, so really it is more or less just a severe 1st degree that is left. I am so happy! Wierd to be happy about something like that, but it really does look so much better than even yesterday. The bandages were really bugging them too, so to have them off is awesome. They still have to be monitored for infections as there are a few small open wounds, but he said with the air hitting it, they should cover over soon. This week has been a nightmare. No more hospital visits unless something happens.
After our appt and they were done the popsicles from the nurses, we went to the gift shop. Joshua picked out a medical kit, adn calls himself Dr. Joshua now, and Aiden picked out some lego kit with a firemen and fire fighting tools.

At home yesterday.

My birthday cake the boys helped gramma decorate.

After the bandages were removed.

Well, it's been a day...

2008-07-18T01:16:00.002-07:00

Woke up this morning, said goodbye to the inlaws.

Phoned the hospital and made their appt for tomorrow at 1pm. Not feeling to strong about this one. This is supposed to be the one where they take the dead skin off and put a different dressing on. They really need it though. Most of their dressings have come right off.

After making the appt, noticed Joshua's dressings were all clumped together, so we had to go to the walk in clinic. The dr said where it came off at the bottom of his back looks pretty good. Severe 1st degree down there. The shoulder area is worrying though he said and looks to be where the second degree burn is most severe. We have to really watch for signs of infection. We have to take care with his lower back too, keeping it away from water. He decided not to redress it, and let it breathe. Went to the pharmacy and talked to the pharmacist as well. The tylenol can not be flavored from what it is, so instead opted to go with Advil and some more Benedryl. For not needing to give the boys meds that often, they sure do have alot.

Got home, Nick and Aiden had helped my mom decorate a birthday cake for me. Joshua got his turn too. They put flowers and butterflies on it. We ate it after having pasta salad my mom made for supper.

The boys started getting really itchy around then, and a good hour was spent trying to get them comfortable. Joshua's back is peeling big time, but the skin under it is so dry when he scratches it, it bleeds in some spots. Aiden's too. He lost less of his dressings than Joshie. Joshua since the appt has lost even more, and I am really getting worried about infection. JJ won't take any meds. I guess puking up the tylenol twice made it a bust. I have managed to get advil down him once, before we went to the drs today, and a dose of benedryl. Aiden has taken medication a few times. He has no problems taking it, and asks for it sometimes.

I talked to Jason's mom about the boys. She did not know. Wanted her to let the family know that they can arrange to see the boys at my house if they wanted. She was pretty pissed at Jason. Talked to him earlier too. Woke me up actually. Mom brought me the phone in bed. Don't know how to react to him. Kinda numb, and would not trust myself alone in a room with him. Not after the hell that has been my families life the past 5 days. Trying to just keep him informed of their condition, treatment, outlook, and what they are going through.He said today he wished he could take their pain for them. I replied, I wish you could too. He has no idea how much I really wish he could. Awful to watch them suffer like this.

Tonight Geoff watched the boys so we could go out. Took baby and went to Tanya and Terry's house. Just needed the break tonight. It is so hard trying not to cry when I look at the boys, and many a time I do. I can't stop it once it starts. They are my babies, my precious babies. It has been such an emotional ordeal for everyone in their lives, not to mention the boys.

So after trying to work the gauze under the boys shirts when we got in the door, Aiden taking some meds, they are on the couch, resting. Aiden is asleep actually, I just looked over. Joshua is watching Dora the Explorer on treehouse tv.

Going to clean for a bit, then hit the hay. I want to get a bit of time just being in my bed. It is a bit of a foreign place these days.

Tomorrow is going to be yet another day.

Happy Birthday to me...

2008-07-17T03:58:00.003-07:00

How come I don't feel like there is anything to celebrate. It is also me & KJs dating anniversary.
Not going to spent the way it was planned out, that is for sure. 4am, and KJ's dad, stepmom and stepbrother are spending the night, as is my mom. They all went to bed around 2 or 3. I stayed up and cleaned a bit. Ready for bed now. Maybe I will awake in the morning and find out this is all a nightmare, and everything is fine.
So exhausted, yet on edge. So scared for my babies. They are just so little, and so damaged, and in so much pain. My poor babies.

The best birthday gift anyone can give me is to sunscreen their kids up and put them in wide brim hats, WHENEVER they will be exposed to the sun. The risks are too high not to.

Back from the hospital

2008-07-17T00:20:00.003-07:00

The hospital was brutal. My mom and mom in law came with me, thank goodness. The boys have second and first degree burns. Joshua's back is just brutal. There are no words. So raw. All the blisters have popped, and there are huge raw areas where the skin has peeled. The skin is all clumped up and yeah it is just a mess. Aidens affect his shoulders and middle back, rather than full back. There are patches of skin just missing. They started to shows signs of shock during the process. What a long process too. Every second felt like a minute and in actual time it went on for about 1/2 hour. Just horrendous for them to go through. Luckily one of the three nurses had worked a long time as a nurse in the burn unit in the hospital. She was a great source of information and she took extra precautions. They treated an even greater surface area on Joshua's back than before. Just, wow... not something I look forward to having witness again. We go back friday (2 days) if they can fit us in, and get them redressed again, plus looked at by a plastic surgeon to be evaluated. There wounds will be treated more then, with the skin that has sloughed off being removed etc.
The worst part is Joshua had no pain meds in him at all. He had puked up the tylenol with codiene, and the benedryl, and it was too soon to administer more. He did take some Advil in the hospital after the redressing. They both have now fallen asleep, at 12:25am. My poor boys.

Present from JHO, my amazing mommy board for Joshua. It is really not just for Joshua though. We all met while pregnant and due in Jan 05, but we have become an online family. They cheered the kids up right when they needed it, after coming home from the hospital.

holy crap

2008-07-16T11:25:00.003-07:00

Today part of Joshuas silver paper bunched up on his shoulder and he pulle it off. Skin came with it. The blisters are everywhere on them. Aidens silver paper lifted up off one of his shoulders. OMG it sent me into fresh tears. His skin is off. It is so raw. Just holes in their skin. It is so fucking awful and I am not okay at all seeing them like this. I can't fix it all better. Can not give enough kisses to make it all better. OMG my poor babies... they are just burnt so bad. I took pics. Aiden wanted to see. Will upload them and add them to this post in a bit. They are hurting right now and I can't give them their tylenol yet bc they have to have the dose right before we go to the hospital to get theiir dressings changed. Oh how I do not want to hear the screams again. I know it is inevitable, and I really want it done, as they need redressing, but I don't want them to go through any more pain. This is the worst thing to ever happen to my babies. It hurts so much to see them hurting. I flinch everytime bc I can't make it better and I don't think I have a clue as to how much pain they are really feeling. My poor babies.

Editting to add pics. These are from yesterday and today.
Joshua's chest, yesterday

Joshua's arms, yesterday

Joshua's back yesterday

Aiden's ear yesterday

Aiden's arms

Aiden's neck

This is where he was most of the afternoon yesterday, awake but unable to move.

Here is Aiden's shoulder today. This is where the paper had lifted up to let me peek underneath.

Aiden's back I can't lift the bandages up now, it is raw and hurts him so bad. Until I absolutely have to- getting in the van- I am not going to move his bandages.

Joshua's shoulder today.

Joshua's arm

video

2008-07-15T20:21:00.005-07:00

this is some video of Aiden & Joshua from yesterday.
*Removed bc Sunshine said I was warped for putting it up. Not what I was intending, but whatever.*

Since I am sharing video, here are some of Anastasja in my belly
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/my3flutterbies/video/?action=view&current=anabelly.flv

And another of Anastasja's first day of life.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/my3flutterbies/video/?action=view&current=Movie_anahospital.flv

Sorry, I have no clue how to make it show up any other way than in a link.

...

2008-07-15T19:02:00.002-07:00

The day has been a quiet one.
Aiden has slept through most of it. He wakes for a short while and then crashes again. He is not looking to good. It will be such a relief to go back to the hospital and get them looked at again. Joshua on the other hand has barely slept. He has been playing, just cautiously. He asked to help make pancakes for lunch. Meals are pretty much when they want, and what they want right now. Aiden did not even wake up to get pancakes. He kept saying that he had to not move or it would hurt, ask for pain meds, and then refuse to take them. I gave up on the tylenol and went with Motrin, bc he would take that.
The blisters have really started to come out now. Joshuas run passed his shirt and show up on his chest, and arms now. Aidens are just starting to grow, so still bit small, but you can see where they will be popping up more. The doctors said it would take 3-4 days, hence why they are waiting to change the dressings. A woman on Joshie's baby board gave me some info on the types of burns and treatments that are done, adn the reasons for them. If they have an infection sprout up its to the hospital asap, so I am being very vigilant about watching the parts of the burn I can for any signs. Joshua is singing right now. Ironically the Daniel Powder song you had a bad day. He is belting it outover and over. I am thinking he is definitley having a bad day.
Talked to Jason this morning. Finally he stopped being so damn stupid and realized his boys got very hurt. I don't know why he acts like they are invincible and nothing can truly hurt them, that they can suck up pain at their ages. It is a battle we have had for years. Anytime the kids have been hurt or sick, he gets angry that Itake them in, or that I treat their wounds. Even with Aiden's knee that got scraped up at the water park, he ripped the bandage off him while camping and said he was fine. I had to watch him so careful for signs of infection after that, the whole reason the bandage was there in the first place! Okay, I got off topic a bit. Anyways, like I was saying, today he showed me he actually does possess a heart adn feel bad about the boys getting burnt. He cried, and for Jason standards that is pretty huge. He aknowledged that he was neglectful with making sure they did not get burned, and accepted that the boys don't want to go to his place anymore. Totally their request. Its not like I have not made every attempt at letting him into the boys lives. Gone out of my way is more like it. Anyways, so he is going to cover the cost for their medication etc. Told him how the boys have been doing so far. I do know he feels bad. It does not at all change how angry I am that my kids got burned. Their screams are really rough to listen to bc you cant really do much to comfort them. It is awful. Heartbreaking.

1am

2008-07-15T00:50:00.002-07:00

Almost ready for bed. Boys are sleeping for now. Once Ana is done eating, I am going to try & sleep for a bit. Fixed Aiden's bandages tonight. They kept twisting up & irritating him, so I carefully rolled up his shirt & fixed the fron & back. Gave him some Benadryl for the itchiness and he crashed out. Been a long & rough day. I was able to catch some sleep from 2-6 today. It helped tremendously. Tomorrow I got a tonne of housework to do. Yawn. No energy left to do it tonight. Plus I don't want to distyrb the boys. They are sleeping on the livingroom floor right now. I will let them crash anywhere they are able to be comfy. They have slept o little that today they were falling asleep sitting up. Jason called a few times today. Tried telling KJ that we were over reacting, to take the dressings off them, that he slathered them in sunscreen, all sorts of bullshit. My mom yelled at him when I was sleeping & she answered his call. Everyone is so pissed right now, and all he coul say to KJ was."well, accidents happen." WTF??? So angry at him! Anyways, I am so falling asleep right now. keep everyone posted, as I can find the chance to.

Pics of the boys burns.

2008-07-14T20:12:00.002-07:00

Even looking through them made me cry again.
Joshua, at the hospital. He was sitting in this position once his shirt was cut off, and could not move without screaming. This is the way he is comfortable, and leaning against anything on any side hurts. I literally had to hold my hand up so he could sleep sitting with his chin on my hand. The true size of the blisters is bigger. They were still getting bigger even as the dressings were applied.

After he woke up this morning. As you can see by the pillows beside him, he slept sitting up. We arranged them around his burns as best we could.

These are from this morning, after he spit up the tylenoil with codiene onto his special shirt. He puked after too. Poor kiddo.

Aiden
He slept on his tummy, but up a bit so his chest was not touching all the way.

Size on ear upon coming home last night. It quickly went up in size. It popped about two hours ago. Both ears blisters did.

This morning, while asleep.

OUCH!

After popped. This is where he was laying on me, about a half hour ago. He has a very hard time getting comfy and this is his prefered position.

He was itchy, so made a hole in his shirt so it was not rubbing against the burn so much.

My poor babies. They have so much trouble doing simple things. Today Aiden directed me to a place on his head that was itchy so I could scratch it. Have to at times put their cups up to their mouths to drink.

hospital visit

2008-07-14T05:03:00.001-07:00

Jason brought the boys back tonight with severe sunburn. Talking a blister formed on Aidens ear that is about 1.5 inches long and 1/4 inch high, and still bubbling. The other ear has one too, just not quite as big. Joshua has blisters all over his shoulders. They are very burned. First I phoned Jason and flipped. He had dropped the boys with Geoff at 8pm bc we were out to dinner w/ KJs dad & fam. Geoff dropped them off at 9:30 & took Nick back with him, said he can take him to work tomorrow. We are heading to childrens hospital, prob for at least the night. No, Jason will never see the boys again if I can help it. Documenting everything! In tears right now, they just are so burnt. Update as soon as I can.

5am and back from children's hospital. they fast tracked the boys through the system. Wow. I have never had my children injured so badly. They treated them like full on burns. Joshua has a multitude of big blisters on his shoulders. One is almost the size of a golf ball. His back is severly burnt, they won't know for a few days how badly. Aiden's ears are severly burnt, as mentioned before. He also has some shoulder blisters, and his back is severly burnt, though a smidge less than Joshies. They had to have their shirts cut off of them, it was that bad. They have a dressing on them, called angels wings. Basically some silver in paper that is layer one, then wet gauze, as layer two, then plastic wrap, then gauze to wrap it tight, and a special shirt that is mesh like. Aidens ears needs polysporin as often as possible applied to them. Joshuas full back adn shoulders had to be done, Aiden just the top portion of his back and shoulders. I never want to hear them scream like that ever again. I am usually calm when faced with rough situations, but not tonight. Bawled like a baby the whole time. Still shaken and wanting to cry. They are just so badly burned. I have never seen sunburn this bad on anyone, let alone my babies. They have prescriptions I have to somehow fill tomorrow, tylenol with codiene for the pain, and benadryll for the itching. Joshua keeps saying mommy, I got hurt, it is a big owwies. Aiden is flipping due to itching and the shirt- dressings. Neither is comfortable at all, and there is really not a comfortable position that they can find. I am all about shade and sunscreen, they had basically a few light burns in their lives, from the sunscreen running out before being reapplied, but they have never had to deal with pain like this. I dont think he put any sunscreen on them at all, and had them out in the sun a full two days. Not a cloud in the sky this weekend. WTF was he thinking... anyways, I have the paperwork from the hospital, the dr signed off on all of it. I am just going to deny his visitation for now, until I can sort things out legally. I told Joshie he would not be going back to his dads, and I meant it. He has left his oldest son Kayle out to burn before. He KNEW better! It just shows me, and well EVERYONE what an incompetant idiot he is. I am so ANGRY!

Aiden is five!

2008-07-06T03:16:00.004-07:00

Yesterday was Aidens fifth birthday. He has been counting down the days in anticipation of the magic number that means he can go to school. We were supposed to go to the park for it, but the weather was not cooperating. Coming home the night before from shopping for the food & beverages, we found a note slipped under our door giving notice that they intend to show our suite between 10-4pm sat and sunday. Crappy timing, as indeed the suite was shown 3 times during his party. I was up til 6am cleaning, wrapping gifts, decorating, & baking cupcakes.

8am Aiden woke me up and I started making his pancakes. Baby awoke, so KJ finished them for me. The boys all woke up and ate, eager for the party to start. I brought out some noise makers and let them play with some of the balloons that had fallen down. 10 am Tammy, Tim and Rachel showed up. We decided to do the piniata. The hook attached to the ceiling gave way though when we gave them all the ribbons to pull, so KJ had to hold it up for them. After it was opened, candyfest began. I was expecting alot more kids, so yeah.... they all had way more candy than they were intended to. The good news is, they all handled it really well and behaved wonderfully. Sunshine came during candy madness and stayed for a bit. Jason , Kayle and Sherri came around 11 and gramma Esther a bit after. Aiden opened gifts, had his cupcake cake, played pin the tail on the donkey, before the guests left. He had a great time. He got two transformers, so he was on cloud nine. The bumblebee one he has been asking for a real long time. If I am able to upload the video onto photobucket I will share it. He was sooo super excited. All in all, the party was a smashing success.
Afterwards, KJ went with his mom to Langley, and it was just me and the boys. Cleaned up a bit, then ended up taking a nap with Anastasja on the couch. Geoff came and picked up Nicholas, and shortly affter KJ came home. We went for a nightly walk adn the boys were crashed in about 5 minutes of us leaving. They were so tuckered out.

Now I have spent the past 4 hours cleaning and am off to bed. Have gotten rid of many garbage bags of crap, trying to get everything organized for the move. Fun times.

Oh, and my friend Nicole phoned me in the am to let me know she is getting married, and they are moving to Newfoundland afterwards. She is in Alberta, so I rarely see her as is, but across Canada, I doubt it will be more than every 5 years or so, which sucks. Oh well, I am happy for her.

Been gone a bit

2008-07-04T18:26:00.002-07:00

We went camping for Canada Day. Kj's mom & stepdad took us to Silver Lake. It was so hot out, and a very welcome relief to sleep in a tent outside for two nights. The lake was beautiful. Glacial water, so I went in up to my thighs, but no further. The kids were amazing for the trip. Very well behaved, good listeners, and they had a blast. The first night (tues) we got there late, like 11:20pm late. lol. Set up, stuck the boys to bed, played some crib, and hit the hay. The next day I was up early with the boys before everyone else and got to just enjoy them. We played catch and Aiden connected a stick he had with the ball 5 times!Made to play baseball I tell ya. lol. Took the boys & Anastasja down to the lake and then for a walk along the lakes trails for a bit. When we got back to camp the second time KJ got up & made breakfast- hashbrowns, eggs, garlic sausage. Him & Doug went for wood, while me & Esther got the kids ready for the lake and camp sorted out. When they came back we headed for the lake. First Doug brought out his helicopter. He had it fly all over for the boys and they loved it. After about half an hour we headed towards the water. Doug and the boys built a huge sandcastle complete with a place they could pour water into and have it drain into the castle and from there, the lake. Nicholas took to the 3 floats and made a "boat raft". He loved it bc he could be in the water without getting wet. Joshua fell into the lake while playing. He was sooo cold afterwards. lol. Esther and KJ jumped into the lake after Doug tested the waters first. Oh and Anastasja dipped her toes into the lake, on Canada Day for her first lake experience. It rocked. She screamed when the cold water hit, but what a moment :) Oh and she is the PERFECT camping baby. Loved being in the woods, was awake a chunk of the time, just staring and interacting with everyone. After we were done in the water, we came back to camp in time to start supper. We had way to much meat. lol. Supper consisted of a hotdog and marshmallow roast first, followed by hamburgers, then steak and chicken breast. Corn, salad, and baked potatoes as sidebars. KJ & I took the kids for a dusky walk before bed. They came back from it tired and ready for bed. No probs they fell asleep.
After, before it got too dark, me and KJ got to go for a walk all on our own. It was nice. Just to have that time to sit by the water and talk, without being interrupted by anything. We found a basketball in the lake. After KJ fished it out we played keep away all the way back to the campground. Another night of crib. We were really crappy against Doug & Esther. They kicked our butt most of the games. Let me tell you, being skunked twice in a row is a humbling experience. Getting over the skunk line was like winning after that. lol.
Next morning I went into town with Doug. Left all the kiddo's back at camp with KJ & esther. I was worried, but baby took the bottle of formula from KJ. He was so worried she would not, and in the end she ate almost the whole time we were gone. Came back and ate brunch, which was toast for me and leftovers for everyone else. Then we packed up before heading to the lake til we left. At the lake the boys took turns getting passed back adn forth on the floats by the inlaws. They LOVED it! Had such a blast on this trip. My biggest regret is forgetting the video camera. Alas, barely any pics either. Will post em when I upload them, as per usual. Anyhoo, there is the rundown on our Canada Day camping trip.

Anastasja's pediatric appt

2008-07-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am so happy my dr referred me to this pedi. She was amazing. Had an almost pedi who is readying herself to write the final exams too, so it was two pedi's actually. They took a full history, and then did a very thorough exam on Anastasja. I feel really good about our discussion about vax too. Overall, the appt was an hour and a half long! Sooo here is the news.

Weight 10 lbs even
Length 21 1/2 inches.
Head circ I forget but the good news is she is at the 50% percentile on all of them once her measurements were kicked into the computer. Her weight was a teeny smidge above. Pedi said that is about as perfect size wise as one could get.
Tremors are something called benign sleep myoclonus of infancy. Basically, like a dog, she twitches in a sleepy state. May or may not go away. Best part, totally NOTHING to worry about. Whew.
Vax decision is kinda complicated. Still all optional, but here is what she said.
MMR- skip it. She can get the Rubella vax when she is closer to the age of having sex to ensure immunity while pregnant. This shot seems to be the one that sets my kids off, so she said it is not worth the risk.
Prevnar-Pneumococcal Vax- Get it.
PTD (Polio, diptheria &tetanus- Get it. mainly bc we live in such a multicultural area and have lots of international visitors. Tetanus bc of the soil & well, she is a kid, I was going to get it for her anyways. lol
Meningococcal- Get it.
HIB (H influenza)- Get it.
As for pertussis, she said me & KJ can opt to be vax'ed instead, as most cases come from siblings or parents. The boys ARE vaxed for this already, so only we would need a booster.

As for when she will be getting them, still not sure on it. She said I may want to wait til she is talking, or decide to do them now.

All told, very good appt.

Board check in...

2008-06-26T00:10:00.001-07:00

Thought I would c & p one of my baby boards check ins. So here is the latest stats on Ana...
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Baby's Name: Anastasja Joselyn

Nicknames: Ana, Tasja, piglet, Princess Stinkerbell, bubby

Baby's Age: 4 1/2 weeks

Baby's Weight: 9lbs

Baby's Height: 21 inches

Clothes Size:0-3, though some still swim on her

Diaper Size:1

If you are breastfeeding, how is it going? She is a booby baby. Loves it & very attached. Going great.

If you are formula feeding, how is it going? n/a

Is baby using a pacifier? yes, NUK ones

Heard any Coo's yet?yes, and a giggle twice <3

What are you most excited to see baby doing? interacting with us. She likes playing patty cake. It is a guarantee of a smile to play it with her.

Sleep Through the Night? Up once to feed. I have never had a baby that was such a reat sleeper. It is awesome.

Where does baby sleep now? In our bed, or the bassinette beside our bed.

How is napping going? Great.

Does baby like bath time? She loves it.

When is baby's next well baby visit? july 4th we go to the pedi

Do they have a favorite toy/blanket/pacifier yet?yes. She has a lovey blanket & piglet doll that she loves rubbing in her hands. She also likes her mobile that hooks onto her carseat.

How are YOU doing? Great.

Care to share how the weight-loss is going? meh, stuck with 15 pounds to lose to pre preg, but in no hurry.

What else has been keeping you busy besides babies/kids? Cleaning & running my house,summer vacation started, so the kids- taking them out places & putting together activities for them.

It's hot out...

2008-06-25T16:06:00.002-07:00

So I am blogging. Okay stupid title, but whatever, it is going to be an odds nad ends post so why not. lol
First off, Jason brought the boys back from camping full of bug bites. Poor kids have reacted so they are huge red bumps now. Nick is off for the summer. Been fun having all four kids around again. Aidens knee is healing up so I may take them all to the water park tomorrow. By the end of the week temps are supposed to be in the thirties. Now I really am missing the house with the sprinkler in the backyard. Sigh. I got a pool right outside my door, but I can't take the kids in there on my own. The depth starts at 3 feet so asking the boys to take turns sitting on the stairs while I whirl one around is not fair to them or me. Plus I got baby. Building rules state I can't even fill up the turtle pool for them unless I take it to the park behind the complex. I hope by next year we are in a house with a nice backyard they can enjoy.

The Drs called yesterday. Anastasja's pedi appt about her tremors & vax discussion are on the fourth. Nervous. She has not had any tremors since the day before the drs appt on saturday, so I have nothing written down for dates & times etc. Hopefully that means it is nothing serious, adn just her nervous system developing.

Took them grocery shopping last night. On our way there a huge milestone. We took them out of the house without their bag. I had Ana's, but not the boys, and Aiden was in underwear. Asked Aiden if he had to go pee and he said yes, so I told him to find a tree and water it... and HE DID IT! So happy to cross that one off the list. Yup, I am the proud mommy of a tree waterer. It was a fear and #2 on a walk still is, but at least I know he can pee outside if there is no toilet around. Oh, and Joshua decided that he had to go too, so he pulled his pullup down and did, but then when he put it back on, he left his part sticking upwards adn within a minute had doused the front of his shorts. Sigh, at least it was hot out and dried quickly. When we went to the store I plopped JJ in the cart adn Aiden got to be my helper. I handed him the stuff off the shelves and he put it int he cart. Joshua wanted to help too, so I would hand him something and he would toss it over his shoulder. Squished buns, but thank goodness we did not need eggs. LOL! I walked back with Ana and Joshua. Trying to get some Joshie one on one time going. He really seems to be having a tough time finding his place now that he is not the baby. I took him to Mc Ds and we had McFlurries on the walk home and a good talk. Well by 3 1/2 standards a good talk... you know, the coolest bugs we could find, why trees make noise in the wind, that kind of thing. He got to show off his sister to this little girl we see on our walks all the time, and her friend.
Hmmm about all I can think about writing for now. Will update if something comes to me.

K, enough pics for now.

2008-06-22T12:35:00.002-07:00

Uploaded a few. Still have a tonne to go, but sorry ppl I can not even load up my blog, so for now I am stopping. Just for an idea of what I still have in store, here are some sneak peeks at posts to come in the future...

Playing around at home...

Our trip to the water park

Ana's first time splashing at the water park

And Aiden's big ouch!

As always, the pics are full of cute moments...

So hopefully these will keep you content until I can post more. :)

Daddy's day

2008-06-22T12:34:00.002-07:00

Made KJ this card to remember how little his baby girl was on his first daddy's day.

Best gift ever!

2008-06-22T12:32:00.001-07:00

This pic is the best of them all. I love her face here!

In her party dress.

2008-06-22T12:30:00.001-07:00

Daddy putting on her bloomers.

Ana's one month appt

2008-06-21T15:15:00.001-07:00

She weighed in at 9 pounds even today. Big strides from the 6 lbs 4.7oz she was born at 4 weeks ago. My family dr is sending us to the ped now. He wants the ped to go over the shots and see what ones might be safe to give her. Like I mentioned before while most kids are great with shots, mine do react. So he wants to see which ones she could get, adn then give them to her slowly, one or two at a time, and watch for reactions She also has to be evaluated for her tremors, something I have not mentioned before. Since birth, every so often while she is sleeping, she has tremors. An arm, or leg, or both, and the last one her head too. Kinda like a twitch. Anyways, can be normal, from an immature nervous system, BUT the fact that I can not wake her up from them has him, and me for that matter, worried. So up til the appt I have to note when they happen, for how long, and what part of the body is affected. Also I have to try to rouse her, note how I tried and if it worked, any reaction she does give, adn if she wets or soils herself during them. Told him that last part is hard to determine, since she does those two things a heck of a lot.
My mom met us at the dr's. Brought me the Born Free bottle gift set. Very sweet, and nice not having to fork out the $ for it ourselves. I like it and it is the BHP free kind. 4 bottles and a sippy cup and extra nipples. Once I get the breast pump I am sooo going to try it out.

Oh and my sugars were fine. Iron 27, hemoglobin 150. Said aside from taking iron supplement, he has no concerns :)

Today...

2008-06-21T00:26:00.002-07:00

Charlene called this morning, reminding me she planned on coming over. Having forgotten all about it I went on a cleaning bender. Blake is one, adn just walking, so still on the floor alot. I lysolled my kitchen down, cleaned up all hte lego's and other little toys, and then vaccummed, did dishes etc, before they came. She brought me a new diaper bag. So cute, it is pink and Poohbear. I love it. Also two new outfits for Ana, and some stuff she had extra of Blakes, including about 10 more recieving blankets. LOL. I have ALOT of recieving blankets.
We hung out til KJ came home. Then we went to IKEA. Oh Ikea... midnight madness sale started today. I got the three boys stuffed dragons and frogs, another set of plates, and a dragon organizer. Then stopped by Mc D's for supper on the way back. We had gone for groceries but ummm okay well we got a tiny wee bit sidetracked with IKEA. lol. Of course being as it was 8pm KJ had already made the boys dinner, so um yeah it was late night snack time at the house.

Jason is taking the boys camping this weekend. Hence why I am up still. I had to pack up Aiden's meds, and some stuff for them. I am ever the worrier that he won't bring something they need, so I packed pretty much anything they would from PJs to changes of clothes to sunscreen waterbottles and hats. Plus included their medical numbers and all that kind of info. Little bit of a worrier.

Ana was pretty fussy tongiht. I am finding a correlation to her having sucky and getting gas due to not latching properly. So, I am hoping to rectify that quickly. Pulling her off booby the second I catch her gulping air and burping her before it builds up to much. Have been getting the evil eye from her but it hurts me to hear her cry. I feel too bad for her.

Mom may be meeting up with me tomorrow at Dr. B's. Should say today. Appointment is for 10:15am. OUCH. Morning will be coming way too early.

After that is grocery shopping and laundry, hopefully done before Nick is back from ANCA. He is off for the summer, so I have him til september now. Skye may be coming for a few days in July. He is excited about that. Oha dn he lost his damn DS & games. About $1000 worth of toy gone somewhere. OUCH!Hoping to find it at school when his evaluation is next week, or that he left it at his friends house. Maybe it is hiding at his dads. No matter where it is, it will be a loooong summer hearing about how he does not have it if it is not found and soon.

K, I have tonnes of pics to upload, but will wait for tomorrow. Way to late for me right now. It is 1am, and Ana should be getting up in a few hours for her feed. Need to catch some Zzzz's before then.

Whew, pic overload

2008-06-21T00:21:00.002-07:00

Quite literally. I can't even load my damn blog up. lol. Okay so first I will post about yesterday, then a new one about today, then I will break up the new pics into sections so I maybe can get around the whole explorer overload my comp is having. lol

So yesterday was walk in clinic day. Said screw the OB appt, Aiden's knee did not look good. Cancelled til July 10th. The dr gave me antibiotic topical cream for Aiden's knee. Trying to stay away from oral antibiotics bc none of my kids have ever had them, so worried about reactions. My sis and aunt are allergic, so it is a defintie worry. Anyways, he looked at it, said gluing it won't help as in the middle there is a crater basically that just won't close, so will have to scab over. Have to watcht he redness around it to see about ifection increasing. Today it looked better though, so I did not have to take him in for the oral stuff. Thank goodness. He was quite the brave boy with the dr. He walked for him and everything. I bought him 2 lollypops on his way home. Poor kid deserved some sort of treat. He limped all the way there and back, I felt so bad. 3 blocks, but it was far enough.

Vampires got me again... oh and a fire

2008-06-18T16:34:00.002-07:00

Deciding to finally go get the blood tests Dr.B ordered almost three weeks ago, lol, I rounded up the kids, and ventured forth. Got as far as the front of the building when we stopped to observe the two fire trucks parked out front. Turns out there was a car on fire in the underground parking lot. Never a dull moment around here. The boys were excited of course, so we gawked for a short while before heading up to the clinic. The little sadists played with the toys in the waiting room while I pee'd on a cup and then got poked. They came in at the end, vvery disappointed not to see mommy getting pricked by the needle. Three vials of blood this time. Hopefully in time for my dr appt saturday. I have my OBs appt on thursday too. Fun times the next few days. Went to the store for some late lunch stuff for the boys and back home. Now I am going for a nap.

Quick update

2008-06-18T12:18:00.002-07:00

Okay, so let me start with very early saturday morning, after our looong ass walk.
Anastasja lost her cord at 2am. FINALLY! She has an inny, but it still pokes out a bit.

Saturday, Jason came and got the boys. For our first day since the hospital, we were down to one kid. We took off to Langley for the day to visit family friends of KJ's that had not gotten to meet Ana yet. We also stopped by my workplace to show them Anastasja. They were smitten. Asked if I was coming back, and were told no. I did not even say it, KJ did. lol. He wants me to be a stay at home mom, and for now, I am. Would be much easier if I had qualified for maternity, but we are working around things to make it possible.
Got home late. I stayed up til the wee hours though. I had to finish up KJ's father's day card, and Lynnea's card, plus wrap her gifts and clean the house.

KJ woke me up around 10 am and we left around noon top Langley. Met up with his mom in Surrey and went for brunch @ Fresco's- a very cool cafeteria style restaurant. Huge yummy portions. Then we dropped off his stepdad & brother at their house & went to Lynnea's birthday party. Had a blast with the niece & nephew, & barely seen Ana as she was passed around. We got in just before Jason dropped off the boys. He had taken them fishing & Aiden caught the biggest one, 17 pounds!

We measured Ana's length over the weekend- 21 inches! Estimated weight 9 pounds! She sure has grown alot. Oh & on saturday she gave us her first giggle. It was really cute. She has been getting really active too. Won't be long til she is completely rolling over. Right now she can get from her back to her side or side to belly, but she is a smart one, she will have it figured out soon.

Monday KJ came back from work in the am and had to go to the doctors. He is in alot of pain, the dr gave him antibiotics, but it may not be an infection, it could be something else, so he has to go back in three days if the swelling has not improved. Let's just say it is right between a private area & his hip bone, so walking is painful. I feel so bad for him. He was crying last night, so I don't think it improving. Speculating between torn muscle & hernia.
Anyways, since he was off, we took the kids to the water park. They had a blast til just before we left when Aiden skidded across the concrete on his knee. We ended up going to the concession stand for one bandaid, napkins & tape. Yes, it looked pretty funny, but helped when we had to carry him home on our shoulders. Butterflied 2 of the widest cuts, gauzed the rest after slathering polysporin for kids all over his knee. Poor kiddo. Joshua scraped his knee up on the walk home too, but no blood. We were worried Aiden's may need stitches, but it is healing up okay with the butterfly stitches on it.

K, picture time...
new siggy pic

Park on friday... aka our looong ass walk.

I so love JJ's hair.

Slingin it on daddy

Before going out saturday. Ana's first time in a dress.

Later that night, once we got home. She had a blow out in her bloomers at dinnertime, so changed her into this outfit.

In her party dress for father's day & Lynnea's b-day.

Mommy had some fun with the butterfly wings. lol

Her scrinchy face

As you may have noticed... she sleeps alot. lol

My body 3 weeks post baby

On our walk to the mall thursday night. Yes, these are random through last week pics now. lol

Kids chillin on my bed.

What happens if I don't brush JJ's hair after bath time.

Tender tootsies

Wild hair pic.

playing with her mobile

the flowers from Terry & Tanya

that's geoff chillin with a book on my couch. lol

this is what the boys do all day. LOVE on her. lol

Napping with daddy

Checking out her flowers

The end... Of course there are a crapload more pics, of the waterpark and Aidens booboo etc to come, but this is what I got now. Yes, little bit of picture overload, but I did streamline. There are 240 pics I had to choose from for this post. LOL

Loooong ass walk

2008-06-13T16:45:00.002-07:00

WOW! Home, 5 hours after we left. KJ has the day off. Decided to go to Toys R Us to find a gift for our niece Lynnea's birthday. Loading the boys into the jogging stroller, and Ana into the sling, we ventured forth for yet another day out shopping. First we stopped by his job site to give Riza coffee, and introduce him to Ana. He is of course smitten with her, but had to just look as he was covered in sawdust. The boys got to tour the site and spend a good fifteen minutes squishing ants. What can I say, they are boys after all. lol.
We then went down a very long steep hill. Note, what goes down, must also go up afterwards....when the sun comes out...
Anyways, went to Mc D's for lunch- seriously we rarely eat there, and two days straight was too much. Toys R Us awaited us once we were all sated. We found a Dora princess castle playset and a Dora checker board game for Lynnea... Oh and a Dora card.. I am new to the family, so I made a blunder and thought she was turning three. Against my betterjudgement picked it out for her over the blank numbered Dora card... yup you guessed it. She is turning TWO, sigh. Off to return it later tonight. lol. KJ also let the boys pick out a gift too. JJ chose spiderman & AA chose Transformers. On our way out the door the boys wanted a ride on the train ride. While they were taking turns going on it, KJ plunked in a twoonie to the crane game. This one was a guaranteed winner game, so after missing the big stuffy, we got a turn at the little ones... okay make that at least thirty. Never had such a hard time getting one of those suckers. In the end we finally got a blue & pink bear for Ana, & a thank goodness we are finally leaving sigh from the now bored boys.
Stopped by a park for some playtime before climbing the never ending hill of doom. New park for the boys, and they had alot of fun. Took [ics but as usual, not uploaded yet. lol

It was a fun day. My feet hurt.

Oh, found a great deal on a stroller-carseat combo on craigslist. Evenflo journey. It is neutral toned, giraffe & elephant print pattern. Go to pick it up in a short while. Exciting!
Okay, thats been my day. The end.

Trip to the mall

2008-06-12T22:48:00.002-07:00

So after work today me and KJ took the kids to the mall. Specifically to Walmart. We stopped in at the Bay first, to price out strollers (20% off sale starts tomorrow), look for a sling (they had none), and check out kids shoes (crappy overpriced selection). At walmart we found the boys Deigo running shoes, which they love,baby washclothes, of which I only had three here bc I gave my others away, and a new sling for Anastasja, since I doubt I will see my old one again. Must say, this is definitely a great buy. My last one was a jolly jumper. Plain ring sling, but it did the job. This one is fabulous. It has a pocket for my cell phone, another for wipes and diapers, and another for wallet etc. It also has a loop inside for a teether or soother to attach to, and a bottle holder. I love the design, esp the elasticized outside. Feels much more secure than my last one. I put it on while the kids were eating at Mc Donald's, so that Anastasja could eat too. It worked amazingly well. I did not even have to hold her up. Thanks to the sweater I was wearing over my top, no one could tell I was nursing, even without a recieving blanket. It also has mesh up near her head so she can breathe adn stay cool.
Here is a pic from their site of my new sling.

KJ left us at Mc D's, to go to Langley. I decided, for ome STUPID reason to continue shopping. Ugh... Well, Ana was still hungry but also a bit gassy. So I went around the store in a loop feeding her in dried cereal, baby stuff, and boys clothing aisles between her gasssy cries. Sigh... Of course everyone HAD to stop us and comment on how itty she was and ask a dozen questions. So while burping her one handed, trying to push a shopping cart with a toddler in it, and keep my eye on Aiden who was walking beside and veering the cart in a totally different direction than we were going, in general towards shelves or other peoples carts, I was getting frazzled. I managed to buy cereal, boys underwear and socks,pepsi(yes I put it on top of the fridge this time), aluminum foil, and freezer bags, before giving up. Called a taxi and came home. I was so done. LOL. So, having learned my lesson, I doubt I will be going shopping with the kids by myself anytime soon, other than to the strip mall two blocks from my house. Anyhoo that has been my evening. Home now, with three sleeping kids and sanity still somewhat in check.

Why yes... I am a picture whore...

2008-06-12T09:26:00.004-07:00

Finally photobucket is letting me in to share pics. The last few times I would go to copy the url and it would boot me. Was starting to piss me off since I pay for the damn thing. Anyhoo, here are some pics from a week ago starting with most recent off camera. Oh and I have a tonne more to come off the camera, so it is by far not all. Today she is 19 days old! I can't believe how short and yet long of a time it has been since her birth. I can't imagine her not being here. It feels like we were always waiting for her to come, and now that she is here, all is right.

Lately she has been smiling alot more. Batting at her mobile attached to her carseat, Endlessly looking arou8nd and taking in everything she sees. She also has her own booby talk, and sighs. It is so cute. Absolutely loves bath time. Oh and her damn cord is still hanging on by a thread, but I can tell you she is an inny. I have never had a child so attached to their dang cord. I felt Nick's was on too long, and he lost his at 12 days old. This is a full week later than that. Plus it is unsettling to KJ which means I have been changing all her diapers the past week and a bit. I think it creeps him out being so loose, like he is afraid he will rip it off or something.

Oh, and in other news, Nick went to his friend Garretts grandmothers house on one of the gulf islands til sunday, and the boys may actually go with their dad this weekend, though I have not heard back from him, which will give me only Ana for the weekend, well at least 24 hours (that is how long Jason takes them for, when he has the spare time in his busy baseball schedule to actually be a father). I can hope. I have had 3-4 kids solid since we got home from the hospital, and I could use a bit of a break. Sigh...crossing my fingers and toes. Just one sleep in day would be nice. It is father's day this weekend, so I figure he will take them, you know to celebrate what an AMAZING dad he is. LMFAO yeah I think it is funny too. Oh but he did pay me child support last month, $150, and this month and next I have cheques for $300 each. Maybe his new girlfriend will keep this going. I can only hope. Course, it figures it would have to be his gf getting him to pay.

I need to find KJ a father's day gift. He really wants a gold DAD ring. Will go see what the mall has on saturday. I would go tomorrow, but all three kids.. to a mall... yeah, I am not that crazy!

13 days old

This outfit is 0-3months and swallows her! 9 days here

little photoshop on some of these. lol

Aiden

JJ

Bad pic of me & KJ

JJ on a Sugar high.Love the eyes. lol

Nick

Mwahahahaha Kj felt this hat was torture for her, so of course I went pic happy. LOL

Aiden hiding from the camera on Nick's bunk.

Joshie attempting the same, but face it, he is a ham. lol

Upon realizing there is no escape, they suck it up. LOL

Saving the best for last..

Bouncing off the walls...

2008-06-11T10:02:00.001-07:00

No not me, the boys. Quite literally. Woke up this morning to find they have polished off a just cracked 2 litre of pepsi. OMG! They are seriously bouncing off walls, hanging upside down off their bunkbed. BOUNCING! GAAAAAHHHH! I hope their sugar high goes to a low and they go to sleep. They trashed their room and the livingroom in under an hour. So much for making cookies today, they have surpassed their sugar intake for the day.

Germies

2008-06-08T01:02:00.002-07:00

Ana has a cough

1am, still up. Had to clean up messes from the boys, but the main reason I am up is Ana keeps coughing. She just lets out one now and then, but in her sleep. Not used to having a sick newborn, so I am having a hard time sleeping. My other kids were all pretty good illness wise until they were at least a couple months old. I believe she caught the cold me and Joshua have had for a while now. So, for tonight, I am probably going to keep her on my chest while she sleeps, just to keep an eye on her breathing. Doesn't sound labored or anything, but oye, she is just so little still to be sick.

As for my tooth, I am on amoxicillin for ten days. Then I can get it pulled. Forgot two nights in a row the midnight dose, so I changed it to 7am,3pm and 11pm, since it seemed I was asleep right before the clock hit twelve both nights. Ironic that I am up now and could have taken it ontime. LOL.

Terry and Tanya came today to meet Ana. They brought us a big bouquet of flowers. The first I have recieved since her birth, so I got KJ to take pics of her looking at them. I put them in a vase on her dresser and she just stared at them. It was so cute.

Went to a new park with the kids today. It is about a twenty minute walk, but is so spacious and has alot of amenities. I think we will be visiting it alot during the summer. There is a wading pool, water park, playground, waterfall area, picnic area, tennis and basketball court and little league baseball diamond. The boys had a blast. Ana slept in the snuggli virtually the whole time. Oh, and she took her sucky. First time I ever offered it and she seemed to really like it. Have pics uploaded, but got to go to my baby, so maybe I will post them tomorrow. If you are on my facebook or baby boards, you have seen most of them already. Otherwise, I will get them up asap.

Ventured out today

2008-06-04T17:51:00.002-07:00

Reluctantly as it was the 3 little ones and me. Had to go though. I have been waiting to get a tooth pulled, until Ana was born. Well, I guess it decided that now she is out I really need to get on it. Never having an abcess before, I thought my tooth was just aching. Clove oil, orajel, and tylenol could not help me though when the swelling went into my jaw. So today we all walked over to the walk in clinic so I could get a prescription for antibiotics. I was going to go for the bloodwork Dr.B ordered too, but after waiting for the dr and to put my prescription in, I decided anything else was testing my luck. So I grabbed the baby wipes and dish liquid I needed and decided I am going to wait for KJ to come home before I go pick it up, and will do the tests another day. Good thing too as Anastasja woke up as soon as we got in the door. I had read to the boys in the waiting room, so they were occupied, but now that we are home they are so loud & energized, oye.Lots to do, like dishes & supper, once Ana is done eating, so write later.

Some pics

2008-06-04T17:43:00.002-07:00

These are of her first few days home. I have new pics, but need to take them off the camera still.

She is pretty jaundiced still in these pics.

Hehehehehe

2008-06-01T17:52:00.001-07:00

I just had to siggy-fy this pic as soon as I seen it. So looks like she is rolling her eyes. LOL

More to follow...

Interesting day...

2008-05-30T22:39:00.002-07:00

The public health nurse came this morning. So my sweet princess was born at 6lbs 4.7oz, went down to 6lbs at discharge (24hrs old) and now, 5 1/2 days and over her birthweight at 6lbs 10oz. She gave me info on all sorts of stuff & Ana got not only her first book (Baby Beluga) but her first CD of Raffi singing the song! Spent part of the day running off coloring pages, mazes and finger puppets for the boys. Then took a nap. Woke up & tidied, then KJ came home with some pizza for supper. Geoff called me to tell me I had mail. It was a letter from corrections canada informing me that the guy that raped me has been jailed again. This time for assault with a weapon x's 2, unlawful confinement and uttering threats. His new sentence is for two years. So much for rehabilitation. *sigh*
Tonight the boys started acting up a bit. Play fighting and not listening well. Starting to piss me off a bit now, since it is 11pm and neither is sleeping yet. *sigh x's2*
Oh well, almost the end of the day. KJ is home now so will let this day go here.

Tonight we went on an adventure

2008-05-29T22:02:00.002-07:00

Once daddy came home, it was english muffin pizza & ice cream cones for dinner. The decision had to then be made... laundry vs park. The park won out. Ana's first time, not that she did anything but observe her brothers at play. They had fun showing her all the equipment and how they could climb up the slides. Then we went for a walk so the boys could find blower flowers ( dandilions at seed). Went by the house that daddy built & the boys told her all about it. Then the neighbpurs to the house came down the alleyway and met Ana. I took some adorable pics of her. Dressed her in pink pants, her Gap overachiever brown onesie, blue wool sweater, pink and white socks, adn a cute pink bow on her head. Sounds like alot of color, but it worked really good. After the park, the boys had their ice cream & bath time. Let them play quite a while in the tub. They discovered that the ball pen balls when sunk and let go would fly up out of the water with a splash, and well, lets just say the floor is clean now. lol. Took some more pics of Anastasja with just the onesie, socks and bow, and OMG I have to charge the battery adn get them off bc wow I have the cutest little girl ever! Then it was Ana's turn for a bath. She likes the water being poured over her with a cloth. I bought some Huggies natural care body and hair wash and used it for the first time tonight. I feel better using it than the lavender wash, just for the hypoallergenic aspect of things. I figure the other bath stuff the boys love and it works on, so let em have it. After her bath I used hte Huggies natural care lotion on her. Mmmm she smells soooo good. Dried her cord off really well with Q-tips. Hoping it falls off soon, as having daddy hover and be scared just is not fun. lol. Now the boys are huddled down watching Small soldiers in their room, and Ana is on my lap, having filled herself on her booby milk and wrapped in the snuggly fluffy pink blanket aunty Charlene bought her. She is soooo cute. K, well that is the end of our adventure. Clean up time, then off to bed. Much better second day alone with the kiddos than my first one. Tomorrow is the public health nurse's visit. Supposed to get hot, thank goodness we got a break in the hot weather today at least. The weeks forecast is for sun sun and more sun, which means my fair boys are stuck inside for most of it. They burn before the SPF times dictate, so it is not fun taking them out in the blazing sun. Cross my fingers for some overcast skies!

photobucket just irked me

2008-05-29T17:11:00.002-07:00

Pics of Ana in the warmer, and being weighed and measured are apparently violating the terms of use, so they got taken away. Grrr... Oh well... I did make up a siggy pic for her. Just a simple one til I take more pics and then do them up. Anyways, here is my precious girl. :)

I was tagged

2008-05-29T09:24:00.002-07:00

By Cheri a few days ago, finally responding. lol

The Rules:

~Each player answers the questions about themselves.

~At the end of the post, the player tags other people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

~What was I doing 10 years ago?

Hmmm lets see, Nick would have been almost two... and May.... hmm.. I was a SAHM, park and walking everywhere. About 30 pounds lighter, hair to my butt. Thinking I was all that and something more. Dating alot of stupid men, partying when I did not have him (when he was at daddies). Living with Tammy in Vancouver, going to my parenting group three times a week.

Five snacks I enjoy-

- Fruit
- Salad, esp with cheese adn croutons and ranch dressing
- English muffin pizzas
- Nachos
- Quesadillas

Five Things On My to do list Today-

~ File-send off baby paperwork
~ Bath three kiddos
~ Take three kiddos outside for a walk and park time
~ Get laundry all together and ready to go
~ Take pics and video of kiddos

Things I would do if I were a billionaire-

~ Start a parenting group for young moms
~ Pay up all debt for all my family members
~ Start my family members in the businesses of their choice
~ Build our dream home ( enviromentally friendly) on farmland so we could be self sustaining and all natural
~ Help bring water and medicine to communities in third world countries.

Five Jobs that I have had -
~Subway sandwich artist. LOL that is what we were called, artists. Okay so I would make smilie faces in the middle of their sandwiches with the mustard, at least it was made with flair. lol
~Accountant aide
~Administrative office assistant for marketing and promotions
~Babysitter, for years and years I babysat kids, and thank goodness bc it really got me ready for the biggest job I have ever had...
~MOMMY

Five of my bad habits-
1. A little OCD on house cleaning at times, though I have learned to let things slide. A messy house is a sign of a happy family.
2. I can be a bit flaky in the friend department at times.
3. Procrastination, hence late wedding invites and now thank you cards. Got em, just have to send them. Oye...
4. Internet whore
5. I am a little wierd in the nails department too.. they gotta be clean underneath... compulsive hand washer.

Five people I Want to Get to Know Better:
A nice way of saying “Tag. You’re it!” -
~Sunshine
~Amy
~Brandi
~Ammie
~Sarah

6 Random things:
1. Can finish a novel in a day or two
2. Scrapbook addict
3. I can turn my hands in two different directions simultanuosly (clockwise adn counterclockwise)
4. Love to power bake, when in the mood I can make cakes cookies muffins bread all in a day.
5. I am anal about grammar and english usage, though not in my blog which is filled with typos.
6. Whenever I type and it usually comes out adn AND I leave it that way. lol

Loving life

2008-05-29T08:17:00.002-07:00

My sweet little daughter has brought so much joy to our family. Things have been fairly hectic getting into a routine, but now that everyone is settling in, it is getting much better. The boys are in love with their little sister, and so protective. Joshie is still a bit rough, but in a loving way. He likes to rub his head against hers, and I have to remind him to press gently. They love petting her soft hair and bestowing endless kisses to the top of her head.
Gramma Sue came the past two days, which was so appreciated! The first day home, when I was alone with the three was very difficult. The boys wanted to play Candyland and I just could not find a moment, they were so upset and acting out. KJ came home and took over. Helped me clean up and cooked supper. Little things that meant so much. It hs been late nights and early mornings, but the best is tht Anastasja sleeps at least 4-6 hours a night, waking only to eat before nodding off again.
So after coming home I noticed my left hand was acting funny. It was swollen, sore, had loss of weight bearing, and felt tingly. After calling the nurses line, it was recommended I go to the doctors. So tuesday when mom was here I went. The doctor said the IV must have aggravated the vein while in labor with all the movement I had made and so it had swollen, causing pressure on my nerve. I can put heat on it to make it better, but it will take time to heal. Still hurts alot, but I have regained some of the movement and am able to hold things now, so long as they are not too heavy. It has made recovering interesting. That night KJ came into the shower with me, washed the bandaid residue off my back and arms, and washed my hair for me. He is so amazing to me. Yesterday I went for a nap with Ana while mom was here for 3 hours! Then I went and did my taxes as things are being held up by them not being done. Refund had me go grocery shopping with KJ and Ana last night before mom left. KJ made us supper yet again, then my husband, having had no time, cleaned the house up, including the boys room, before going to bed. So this morning, feling much better, and up after changing and feeding Ana, I cleaned the kitchen up (he does everything but dishes and I am so not complaining there) and made him his lunch and coffee before waking him. It was nice bc we got to spend a few minutes just with eachother. After he left for work I popped into the shower before the kids woke up. Had juice cups ready adn cereal, which pleased Aiden. Potty training had taken a bit of a break with all the hustle and bustle so while Ana slept I got Aiden back into the swing of things and that has led to a great start of the day bc he has had a bit of me time too. It is a bit hard still trying to make sure each persons needs get met, but I feel so much better today, like things are starting to fall into place. Joshua is still asleep, and I hope he stays that way a bit longer, so that I can squeeze in time for him when he wakes up for some cuddling etc.
Ana... she is just the most easy most adorable baby ever! She rarely cries, and booby stops that right away. She is already starting to fill out a bit. I have not taken pics since the hospital, I really need to get on that. She is super snuggly. Very alert too. She is up for an hour at a time, several times a day. She looks around at everything, and has the sweetest smile. Yes, probably gassy smile, but it is sooo cute. I love the toothless grin. She likes to sleep on her booby, and hold it with one hand. She can already roll from her back onto her side to reach it. She is so strong. She has lifted her head since birth- literally within minutes of birth she has been able to. She will follow people around, adn look for them when she hears their voice. She is totally in love with her daddy's voice. She opens her eyes and looks for him the second she hears him. It is so sweet to see their bond. KJ is such an amazing daddy. He loves diaper changes, stresses about her belly button and all sorts of things from how to hold her to her head flopping over while asleep. He has also grown in his daddydom to the boys. He takes time with them, plays with them, and talks more to them, than he did before, and he already did so much. Our family has grown so tight these past few days. It is such a good feeling. I am on cloud nine! Anyhoo, gotta run and play with my kiddos, but glad I got a chance to update. Oh I also have the public health nurse coming tomorrow. She is bringing some trainees. After talking to me on the phone she thought I would have alot to offer them in ways of advice for breastfeeding moms and moms of more than one kid. Normally they come within the first 48 hours but she felt I had a good handle on things and that she was not as needed by me as other moms. That made me feel good too, as that is what the hospital staff were saying too. That I am very knowledgeable and not a worry. Always nice to have a pat on the back. Anastasja goes to meet Dr. Birch on saturday. I can't wait, as I know Ashley, the receptionist has been waiting to meet her, adn they have all been asking my mom about me. lol. My follow up with the OB is on June 19th.

Anastasja's birth story....

2008-05-26T12:51:00.002-07:00

Starts at 9:45am on May 24th with my water breaking. At first I was unsure of if it was truly broken or not, but a couple gushes later I knew. With no contractions, I was not rushing around too much. I called Jason to pick up the boys and Tammy to come pick up me and KJ. Cleaned up the house a little bit, and repacked my hospital bag, as I had unpacked it the day before when we went overnight to KJ's moms house for his uncle's funeral service.
We got to the hospital around noon. They had me do a urine sample, and checked me. I was 1.5cm, and -3 station still. Started me on the IV and antibiotics. My OB for the day was Dr. Busletta. We talked about the options of getting labor started with me being VBAC and decided on oxytocin in small amounts, gradually building up until my body kicked in. She wanted some big progress with the clock ticking to 12 hours after rupture before having to look at a c-sec. With the clock counting down I was eager to get things started. Handled breathing through the contractions til around 3pm when I took the gas. I was about 2cm at that point and knew I was in for a long labor with slow progress and alot of pain if the time frame kept up. Around 6pm things were getting intense. I hit 4cm, and seemed to stall out a bit there. Got me on the birthing ball in the bathroom to try and move her down so things would pick up. The nurse had lowered the drip at that point, so she upped it again. Back to back contractions put me back in bed and by around 7 I was 5cm and -2. Charlene, KJs sister showed up around then. So did KJs mom. Charelen was my paparazzi, KJs mom was not planned on and she left after a few minutes, coming back 5 mins after I gave birth. I opted for the epidural. The guy was just taking a dinner break after 10 hours in the OR so I had to wait til around 8pm for it. In the meantime the nurse got me 3 doses of phenphenol, a short acting pain reliever through the IV that lasts about a half hour. I had asked to be checked before the epi, to see if there was a point. I told them all I went fast once I hit a certain point. Well, things had not changed so I got it put in. Oh the relief! Took about 20 mins to take hold and I used the gas to that point. They had again lowered the drip so once it was in and working they upped it again.I could feel the very top of my tummy, but it did not really bug me too much. Well, laying flat was not working her down at all, so around 9:30 or so I asked the OB when she checked me (6cm and -2 station) if the bed could be moved up more of an angle. We worked it out to where everything was good and I was angled and I started to feel more pressure witht the contractions. Around 9:45 I told the nurse I was starting to feel pressure but not the pushing kind, just more like she was moving down. She checked me, told me I was still 6cm, but had moved down to a +1 station and she could definitley feel babies head down and thinning things right out. She went to write down the new stuff for her notes when I felt her move right down. I said she is coming, I am not pushing at all, but I feel like she is going to push her out. I had told them all before of my past labors and that once I hit a point, there was no telling how quick I could go, so she decided to play it safe and check me again. Well, that one contraction put me at complete and ready to push. She went and got the OB and told me to hold off pushing til she came. I told her I was not pushing at all, but baby was making her way out on her own. The OB came and I told her that this baby was coming out, sunny side up and fast and that I did not want to tear. So she sat beside me on the bed, felt inside, said I was not going to tear but to stay focused on her face and do as she said. Little pushes, slowly, and stopping when she told me to, I did exactly as she said. All in all I pushed for about ten minutes, most of the time, stopping and just doing tiny grunt pushes. I felt the ring of fire, and told her I did not think I could push past it. She asked for my hand. I gave it to her and she put it on babies head, already over half way out. I said," Okay I can do this, let's go". She told me to look down and as she turned baby (she came out looking sideways) upon the birth of her one shoulder, into the face up position, I watched my baby being born. It was so surreal. She checked her out and then KJ cut the cord, and she put her onto me. A few minutes later, the placenta came out, all in one piece.
Anastasja Joselyn weighed in at 6lbs, 4.7oz. She was 19 3/4 inches long. Flew past her apgars. After they had done all her measurements and stuff KJ brought her back to me and I put her on the breast. At first, she was crying and just fumbled over it with her tongue, but once she caught hold of it, she went all out full bore. Been a booby baby since.
Checking me out, the OB told me I had what she calls skid marks. Small, micro tears, not big enough to warrant stitches, just some hot water to take the sting away. No stitches for me! She is right too, this recovery has been pretty dang good. She kept me on the oxytocin to make sure my uterus clamped up, since my iron is low, til around 6 hours after birth. Breastfeeding has also ensured that, so my flow is about where most women's are at in about a week or two's time. I slept from 3am-4:30am. Then from 5am-6:30am in the hospital. I was exhausted but between booby, bum changes (she had 9 meconium diapers and 5 wet ones) plus visitors, there was no time to sleep.
This weekend seemed to be a busy one at the hospital, so being my fourth baby and things going so well, they asked me if I would like to go home at the 24 hour marker. I said sure. Ana was running a bit of a temp last night so they checked on her vitals at 8, 9 and 10 and seeing as the temp went down (the one nurse kept swaddling her in two blankets, and I knew she was too warm) they let us go. We had to stop at the lab on the way out the hospital so they could do the PKU. She got that test done at 24hours and 5 mins old. KJ did not understand until it was done just why I was so anxious about it. When I told him his eyes kinda bulged but once he seen it done, wow, poor guy, I thought he was going to cry. I told him I would rather give birth ten days in a row than have that test done and until he saw it done, he did not have a clue why I said that. The good news is that she bled quick, so they did not have to cut her over and over to get the samples out and once she was done and had booby it was forgotten about. Whew. Got home last night around 11:30. House was a mess, so I cleaned the kitchen, boys room, living room, before going to bed. Went to bed around 2am. Ana slept straight through til 6am.
Aiden was the first to wake up. He hopped into bed and when he woke up saw Ana. It was so funny. He was like, Mom there is a baby. I said, yeah, that is Ana. She is out of my tummy now. This is your sister. He looked at my belly, then at her and was WIDE eyed. Around 7:30 JJ woke up and came into the room. He seen Ana. He says to me, You got Ana out of your tummy mommy? Good job mommy, good job! LOL. KJ was late to work, so had to run. I got the kids dressed and fed them and then bundled up Ana in the snuggly and headed to the store. She was crying on the way there, but fell asleep on the way back. She had some booby and has slept since then, so about 3.5 hours. I wish I could have slept with her. At least I managed to catch up on some more housework. The boys had some special moments, which is to be expected but I think I am a bit too tired to handle it very well, so the break with her sleeping has given me and them some time to adjust to things and set down the law again. They are always special coming back from their dad's, but on top of that having not seen me due to the OB and funeral, and bringing home a new baby, I think it is a bit over the top for them. Hopefully things settle the next few days. They do love her alot, they just are missing being the only ones doted on. She is starting to stir now, so glad I got to fill things in up to here. I know I missed bits and pieces, but please understand I am really tired.
Okay, here are some non graphic pics of my wonderful daughter!

Heading to the hospital.

2008-05-24T10:54:00.002-07:00

My water broke at 9:45am. So Jason came and got the boys. Just waiting for Tammy to get here. No contractions yet, just lower backache. Go figure, after weeks of them, they are a no show for the real deal. Anyhoo, will post an update once baby and I are at home. Oh spoke to soon... contraction is here.

39 week, 2 day appt...

2008-05-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

It has been a long day. The boys were very good though, so that was a bonus. So weight, down a pound and a half. Fundel 37.5. Baby heart rate 120. BP 120/50. Cervix 1.5cm, stretchy to a 2. Nothing much changed. All those contractions, for a measly half a cm. I was bitter to say the least. Especially when she started asking me if I had been overdue with any, and that she would see me next week. Oh did I turn bitter, to the point she apologized. LOL. She is the same OB that delivered both my younger boys, and it was neat that they got to meet her again, since today they had to come in with me. Funny story... the boys noticed the plastic model of the uterus and told me it was a pig's head. LMAO. I was like no, that is a uterus, so they repeated the word. Then Aiden goes what is that and I was all "awkward" and he quizzically asked me "awkward?" and I said no, that is the vagina. It was an interesting conversation to say the least, defining the pigs ears (fallopian tubes) nose (uterus) and mouth (vagina). Oh just what I wanted to teach them today. LOL. I have never been one to make other words for the anatomy though, so I thought it best to keep it straight and simple and thank goodness, they got interested in something else shortly after. They also loved hearing the babies heartbeat and the MW seemed to keep the doppler on a bit longer than usual so they got a good listen. Yes, the MW was there again, but she was quite a bit gentler this time. Esp after I told her my stomache muscles were pulled and things were a bit fragile atop the belly button.
Soooo... everything looks fine, except baby is looking like she has decided to fight the eviction notice. This kiddo is stubborn!