Its a New Day

 On Saturday, Julia turned 3.  It is hard to believe that she is that 'old' already!  In some ways she is still that little baby that rushed into the world but in others she is well... a nutbar. at the beach - safe in a pail She is a real firecracker in every sense of the word! She is always on the go running and running and stomping (like a lion). She is also very good at playing quietly and if I'm downstairs with a migraine and she is playing, she'll often just come into my room, stand by the bed and whisper "Aunt Jen owie, I smooch you nap".  very excited to be at the Home Depot and do the craft with Tristan and Hannah  The babies LOVE her and she always gets a huge smile and giggles when she plays peek-a-boo with them.  Anthony loves to snuggle her head - even if she calls him Blakey.  She is far from lady-like (if you see her stomp into church) but when she wants to be girlie she is very girlie!  She lets Hannah get her hair ...

Yesterday was a bad day.  I feel like I say that a lot lately.  Since November 6th I've had a migraine of about 9 to 10's (there was part of 2 days when it was down to an 8).  That's a lot of pain meds, chiropractor visits and darkness.  I'm at the point now where I feel like little things - that shouldn't bother me - really do and that I'm slipping into that chasm of self pity again, ready to be wrapped in the warm blanket of loneliness. Yesterday I was having a lovely talk with one of my sisters who is expecting and she was saying that she felt the baby move for the first time - just a little flutter, nothing big - but she was so excited.  I rejoiced with her and talked about how special it was and how much she has to look forward to.  On Sunday we were talking at the lunch table about how many babies the kids were going to have when they grew up.  Tristan said 5 (3 boys and 2 girls), Hannah said 16 (she just wants lots of babies) and Ju...

Saturday started off as a busy day!  First there was breakfast at Fifty's with Erin.  It is always fun to go there and see who you'll run into.  We were waiting for a table, commenting on whether or not we'd see Mr. Park, when I looked behind me and thought I knew someone sitting at one of the tables - but it was that akward moment when you're not sure and if you look back you'll look like a stalker but if you don't and you did know them you'll look like a snob... well, thankfully, Jessica came over to us!  She and Eric were having their "just done working the night shift' breakfast.  Later on we saw the K family who so kindly (though the waitress didn't seem to think it was a nice thing) paid for our breakfast for us.  It was nice to spend some quiet time talking with my dear friend - and see others as well! the girls showing off their work Then when I got home, the twins were awake and Rachel and I took the kids (except for Tristan who...

  There have been just a few things going on lately.  One of the reasons that I moved back in with R&R was to have the 'distraction' of the kids when I had long weeks of bad migraines.  It really has been a blessing to be there and I love spending time with these dear kids.      The boys are growing like weeds!!! Blake is crawling around and getting into lots of trouble and Anthony seems to be content to just sit there and watch him get into trouble. :)   Julia snuggling with Anthony Blake & Julia  The boys LOVE their older siblings and have great smiles when they see each other.  There are lots of smooches going on at our home!  The cutest is when the boys look at each other - there is a special bond there.  They don't seem to mind if the other one is screaming or fussing - they are content to just spend time together. For a while it seemed that Anthony was getting tired just watching everyone run o...

In May, I emailed Rich to see when would work to come for a visit to Winnipeg.  Thanksgiving worked out best AND we decided to make it a surprise for Cher!  It was soooo hard to keep it quiet for so long but so worth it! As the plane landed, the pilot informed us that it was 3 and snowing.  At the beginning of October... snow.  Well, I thought I had planned well ahead and asked what the weather was like and was told "Oh great.  Just bring a sweater - you don't need a coat".  We just walked into the house to Cher's great surprise I was standing behind Rich.  How fun!!! (the pictures that were taken were not great - Cher looked more sick than happy to see me so they will not see the light of day). Of course, in true fashion (or lack of it) Cher thought it would be great to take a picture of me in a wig with the dress that I brought from days gone by shopping at Good Will.  She posted it on facebook and announced that I was ther...

Really, it is a long time coming.  Looking at my grandparents "wall of grandchildren" or by the stereo there are very old - and I mean about 17 years ago old - pictures of me.  So, I thought I would be 'bold and brave' and ask dear Julianna to take my picture.  It was with a bit of fear and trembling that I put myself in her hands but I know that she does a great job as she did most of the girls weddings and lots of family sessions. There is just something that seems vain and akward at the same time - taking pictures by yourself... but these are the ones that I liked the best.  I really don't look like this (at least I hope I don't usually look like this) :)  But this is how I look :)

Last week (well, really the last 10 days or so) was one of those weeks.  I think it started when I went to physiotherapy and she had a student in with her.  She wanted to try some new things, even though (according to her) my eyes were black and I looked terrible.  Sure, I thought, let's try something else. It wasn't much.  Really.  A few stretches on my feet, 3 stretches on each side of my neck and a thing that was supposed to work on my 'starle reflexes'.  I warned her that if she startled me I would start to tremor and sure enough, 2 flashes of her fingers over my closed eyes and I was shaking away.  "Oh, look, she was right, she is shaking, that is so neat".  Right.  Neat.  You tremor for 15 mins or 30 or up to a few hours, with stuttering and funny breathing and muscles tensing up even more and then you laugh.  Then came the needles for another 30 minutes.  I must have been extra tense because so many of them hurt t...

Last Friday, Jonny O. met us at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory (I had got a really really good deal on Groupon - on $15 for the 4 of us... otherwise I think it is WAY to expensive for what is there).  Already in the parking lot the kids started singing their "we're going to see Jonny Rosco" song (his name isn't really Jonny Rosco, it is a name that Hannah wanted to use for one of the twins but when it didn't get used and they met Jonny it just stuck to him). I had to keep telling them to smile like they were happy - otherwise I got really goofy smiles  After a little talk about how there were going to be butterflies flying around and we were not allowed to screech or scream if they landed on us, or swat them, we headed into the butterfly area.  It was really beautiful there - so many butterflies!  And try as we might, we couldn't get even one to land on us. The kids were facinated by what they were eating... though what caught their attention ...

On Saturday, there was a free kids activity at the Home Depot - they were able to come and make their own cork board and learn how to safely use a hammer and nails.  I think next time we'll bring our own safety glasses that fit better - and maybe see if there are smaller hammers. Hannah's hammer was a bit heavy, but we just laid it on the table and figured out how to get those tiny little nails in Tristan had one of the ladies running the activity helping him - she just showed him where to put the nails in and he went to town on his own "I know how to use a hammer, I help grandpa on the farm'. Showing off the finished products. There was a bit of a rush right at the beginning, but soon we were the only ones there and the kids got pick out stickers (princess for Hannah and Lighting McQueen for Tristan).  Since there were so many left, they even gave us an extra one to bring to Hannah.  The girls said that we should come to their store every time - ...

 On the weekend, Hettie's nephew Jason got married to a lovely, sweet girl, Hannah.  When we talked (way back in July) Aunt Hettie and I agreed to come up and help with setting up the school for the dinner and whatever else would need to be done. The hall finally finished.  When we were at the wedding the overhead lights were off and there were spot lights and strings of lights that lite up the whole room.  We headed out to Jordan early on Thursday morning and helped to set up the school.  It was amazing how much like a school gym it didn't look by the time we were done!  It took a LONG time - but the result was beautiful! one of the 'tamer' coloured homes We had some time in the afternoon between setting up and the rehersal dinner - so we headout out to Old Grimsby beach (I had seen pictures on the Stel's blog and wanted to check it out).  What a cute little village - really only a few streets with crazy coloured homes and all had HUGE flo...

 It was quite some time ago, but here are pictures of a sewing day that we had with a gaggle of girls from church!  They had to bring 2 pieces of material and we made reversable bags.  Sally & Wilma had made out lots of patterns for the girls to pin and cut out and stations were set up in a few areas of the house.  The sound of machines whirling could be heard followed closely by "what do I do now?" waiting for instructions for what to do next  The girls quickly learned the saying 'The seam ripper is my best friend".  Even though the patterns ended up being cut wrong - so the purses were not reversable - they still turned out wonderful and it is great to see the girls bringing their new purses to church week after week (they are perfect size for holding a bible and notebook). working hard with Sally looking on  I also had a few busy days to get quilts made for my nephews who I was going to see the beginning of July.  It was fun to s...

Yesterday I saw a new physiotherapist.  There is no mistaking that she is Dutch (about 9 feet tall with blonde hair)!  She was recommended by some folks from church who have seen her for a few different problems and they all really liked her.  It was your 'normal' first visit.  How long have you had migraines? Have you tried this medication/diet/exercise/doctor/treatment?  Do you have any stresses?  Do you know what your triggers are?  Have you had a CAT Scan or MRI?  Do you have a list of medications?  Then comes the normal physical exams.  Turn your neck this way and that.  If I poke here does it hurt?  What about here?  Followed by the exclaimation "Wow your neck/back muscles are super tight!" Carolyn's plan is a bit different from what I've had in the past and I have to say that so far, I'm pretty happy/excited about it (can you really be excited by something that is going to hurt?!?!).  The goal is ...