Its a New Day

I often get looks of great disbelief when I say that I always have a headache. I have had a headache every day since May of 1990. It is hard to fathom that sometimes - and often I feel it must just be in my head (ha ha). Today someone sent me a link to the Ontario Migraine Clinic and I found that I am not 'crazy' that there is really such a thing as what I have been experiencing and other do too! I do hope to go to a seminar at the clinic in September and see if I can get any help there. It looks like their treatment plan involves mostly Acupuncture (which I have done with no results) but maybe this will be different. This is a bit long, but hopefully will give a better understanding. Occipital Neuralgia (this really sums up what I feel every day.) Symptoms: Headache that is localized or following a 'ram's horn' patter on the side of the head, often starting in the upper neck or base of the skull; scalp is tender to the touch, often hypersensative; pain at t...

Last weekend was Chad & Amanda's buck & doe. We had great fun with pony rides and "Shoot the Couple" (with paint balls). There was lots and lots of laughing and excitement! The bride-to-be and her flower girl A friend of Chad's brought a pony for the kids to ride. Hannah told me that the grown ups couldn't ride him because they would 'break his leg off' so only the kids could ride him. The ring bearer - or Ring Security - as his shirt says. At first he wasn't too sure about this job but when he was told that he had to carry the rings for Uncle Chad and walk down with Hannah, he thought that was a cool idea. It started to rain, but we all fit into the shop where we played more games and ate more cupcakes. (I think that mom and Amanda made about 100 cupcakes for the evening). It was great fun and we enjoyed being able to sit and talk with folks that we don't often get to see.

For the last few months, things have been pretty good. Not great - but much better than they had been. At a follow up visit with my family doctor, she commented "The meds must be working - your eyes aren't black and you aren't crying". It was a good few months. Instead of days to weeks long migraines, they would only last a day or two and the everyday headache was much less. Instead of saying that I was at a 8 or 9 (1 being low and 10 being unbearable pain) I was at a 5-7. That was huge! From Christmas till end of June I was on the verge of unbearable everyday. A combination of a beta-blocker and muscle relaxant along with weekly physiotherapy really seemed to be working. Until 4 weeks ago.... I had just had a great night's sleep in my own bed (and wasn't awakened by children screaming in the night). But as I slowing woke up the familiar pounding was back. With a vengence. Three weeks later I was starting to feel a bit 'normal'...

Happy 31st Birthday to Derek! He really is a Super Man (get it... in a telephone booth... hee hee). He is dedicated to Kimberly and their daughter Meaghan (and soon to be new little one!!!), very involved in the church and a much sought after employee for his work. We are all very thankful for Derek and pray that the Lord will bless him with many more years.

In July I was talking with Rachel and Ryan and together we decided that I would move back in with them. The truth is, that as much as I enjoyed having my own place I really miss living with the family and the feeling is mutual. A few weeks later, they were putting the kids to bed and told me (very seriously) that they had to talk to me about moving in. Rachel came downstairs and handed me something wrapped in purple tissue paper. Without opening it I knew she was expecting and due the end of February! We joked about Kimberly announcing at the same time (we weren't sure but suspected). A few days later, Kimberly called me to tell me that she was also pregnant and due in the beginning of February. Too funny!!! Both due around the same time (last time they were pregnant together as well). Last night Rachel came home and showed me the pictures from her ultrasound. There was a very sweet looking baby sucking it's thumb. As I looked at the pictures I couldn't help ...

On Friday evening I went to Fergus, Ont with the Oosterhofs (and later met the Patersons) to the Fergus Scottish Festival. We have a great time watching all the different piping and regular bands as they share their music (some better than others). With great disappointment they did not play Highland Cathedral again this year. Jessica and I are going to write to them and ask someone to play it for next year. Before the bands come out, there are some demonstrations of some of the events that will take place on Saturday. This year they did the pole toss. This was the youngest of the pole tossers. The man who tossed the biggest pole (I believe they said 25 feet long) was a dutchman by the name of Hans van something. We cheered very loudly for him! As the sun goes down the pipers start to come out. They come through the 'castle' gates through a cloud of smoke. We always seem to be sitting on the wrong side and see them before the smoke... not quite the same. In fact I...

I often forget to take pictures of 'everyday' life, so when I had my camera at Rachel's the other day, I thought to myself, "Self, why not take pictures today?" So here are some of the things that happen in 'everyday' life here. Hannah takes after her father's side of the family :) I've been teaching her to wink. She does pretty well, though the rest of her face still scrunches up to get that one eye closed. Tristan can actually pose nicely for pictures... they are far and few between but he can do it! Sometimes you just have to be yourself... and sometimes you can pose nicely too Doing a post for Rachel's birthday I realized that I had the same picture of Rachel with Tristan and Hannah but not Julia - so better late than never (though Rach always seems to be quite tanned in these pictures and the kids always seem to be pulling away). On Friday we attended a wedding for my cousin Stephanie and her new husband M...

One of the great thing about my friends is they invite me to tag along. Jon & Kelley, Jeff & Betty Ann and Simon and Tini were heading up to MBC with their families and invited me to come along for a few days. What great fun! I think that the last time I laughed that hard and that long was when Cher and I were trying on dresses in Good Will (knock knock - there's somone in here)! The mornings were pretty quiet, then after lunch we would head to the beach for some swimming (and some dared to sail, tube and jump off rocks - though I did not), then lunch a seminar and either a campfire or Euchure. The kids were really well behaved (except at night when SOMEONE would jolt up in the middle of the night and start yelling in his sleep). It only rained once at night - I woke up to Jono yelling that it was raining on his head so with herculian strength I pulled Jobie over and told Jono to roll over to stop getting wet. (yes... I said herculian strength - anything at 2am is don...