Sunday, July 8, 2012

Hello to those who may still be reading my blog lol.. I know Im not very interesting anymore, being that I am not currently on a journey, but, life is still trekking away! Im am itching...yep...been itching for a while. I know A and D still wont be ready for a while, but I sooooo cant wait....most days lol. Well, I should say, most minutes of the day lol. I will admit, there have been a couple times where I thought, oh, can I endure that pain of delivery again. Thats really where my hesitation lies...that and that I wonder if getting pregnant again, is basically me testing fate. I often think about how incredibly lucky I am. Lucky that I have had 4 very successful pregnancies, which resulted in 4 very healthy little baby girls. How many babies can one person have, before the odds are against them and something goes wrong. What bothers me about this thinking, is that I am not normally the type of person that thinks negative thoughts. Maybe the reason for these thoughts, is because my good friend Gail, is pregnant and dealing with gestational diabetes. I am so incredibly proud of her for all she is doing to manage it. She tests several times a day, takes insulin a couple times a day and is on a pretty strict diet. But she is doing everything she can possibly do, to make sure that she and her soon to be baby boy, are healthy. Shes amazing.

Anyhow, enough of the negative talk. I realized that I had not talked about my daughter Braelyn when her birthday came around in June...bad mommy! So here is her shout out! What can I say about Braelyn....well, shes a red read...and she has ALL the stereotypical traits of a red head. Shes especially feisty.


Brae was born on June 15 and came out like a rocket. I knew I was in labor, but the L&D nurse, said it was Braxton Hicks...because they were not showing up on the monitor and she could not feel my cervix cause it was so high up. I kept telling her that I knew what labor felt like (this was my 2nd kid after all) and THIS was labor. Long and short of it, Miles was sent back to my moms place to watch our 2 year old, while she went back to work. Well, Miles got home, and my mom had just left with OUR vehicle (so she could get to work, open and get back when someone else came to relieve her) and it was at that precise time that Braelyn decided it was time for her to come. My doctor wasnt there and I had been sitting in a bath by myself when I knew it was time. I got out, yelled down the hall for the nurse and in barely 2 pushes, Braelyn came out....all 6 lbs 8 oz's of her. I ended up calling Miles a minute later and informed him his baby girl was here. About 8 minutes later, my Dr showed up...and she met in the hall with the nurse and read her the riot act. She had no idea I was even there and was incredibly pissed off at the nurse. She was NOT impressed. About a half hour later, mom, Maddie and Miles showed up and met Braelyn for the first time. Later on, the nurse did come an apologize to me, saying she had never, in 25 years of nursing, seen someone progress that quickly. She couldnt believe it. She was born small, but within 3 months, turned into the fattest baby. She was so round, and now to look at her, you would thin we starved her. Shes so skinny and shes actually just built that way. She will likely never have to worry about her weight. She didnt learn to talk like other kids and therefore needed speech therapy. When she started speech, she couldnt make certain sounds and everything really came out the same....a series of mumbles. She made leaps and bounds and now talks non stop lol. Anyhow....she is a beautiful 8 year old who keeps us on our toes. Shes got attitude and she makes up stories (aka lies) and has been giving us issues with stealing. But, we do what we can do, to make her feel loved...and we do love this monkey very very much....here is her life in pictures!



Just minutes old


Love this picture of her....so precious
chubster
Braelyn and her big sister




I love this pic of her...shes so innocent looking here lol



Vintage Brownie uniform.

                                                     






Selling Girl Guide Cookies
On her 8th birthday!( Dont mind Maddie in the background...it was tacky tourist day at school lol)




















Monday, June 11, 2012

Gots me some baby love!

Yep...I got to see little Hazel a few days ago and what a fantastic visit we had!! She sure is getting big! Loving her Jolly Jumper and making big smiles. Right away, as soon as they answered the door, she was giving me smiles...make me feel pretty good.
We had a nice visit, followed by a brunch of pancakes that A made up and more snuggles, a nap, a jump in the jolly jumper...more snuggles. All in all, it was a wonderful visit. We are going to make plans to get together all of us (Miles and the kids and them) in the next couple months. I very much look forward to it!!
Here are some pictures of the little peach!
Time for num nums



She was watching Juli jump up and down


She was totally snuggled against my face here...so cute! Melts my heart

The three of us!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Relay for Life 2012

So yesterday, was the 21st Coquitlam Relay for Life. This was my 6th year involved. When my friend Juli was losing her battle with cancer, I decided to form a team. After 3 years of running a team, I did one more year as a team, but also event photographer...I had the best time doing it too. Last year, my friend got married so I arranged the photography but couldnt be there for the event. I did show up for the silent lap though...in my bridesmaid gown lol. So this year, my sole responsibility was day of photography and boy did I have a great year this year!!

I cant believe how many new people I met. I feel really blessed to know this great group of people who have donated so much of their time and energy to this great cause.  Shout out to all the Relay peeps!
This year, Madison made me proud once again, and donated her hair. This is the second time shes done it, and she wants to do it every 2 years. She amazes me...she really does.

Here are some pictures from the day! I hope you enjoy....there are a lot lol






Tanning is out!!! Always protect yourself!!

This is what this started off looking like...


A visit from Star Wars!


My amazing Maddie ready to cut her hair!



And this is what it looked like when it was done

White for Participants, Blue for Volunteers, Yellow for Survivors


Our luminaries for Juli. A little lame this year, but we did some

"Splatting" cancer....

I did one for Hazels mom...sent her a pic of it and made her cry lol



Thursday, May 24, 2012

Happy Birthday Juli!!!

My youngest girl, Juli, turned 4 today. I still remember the day she was born. I remember how the afternoon before, I had gone for a walk along the dykes by the airport, and then stopped in at 7/11 for a slurpee. While standing in the parking lot, talking to a buddy that worked there, I felt the pop and a slight gush. My water broke. Right there in the parking lot of 7/11. I played it cool and got in my van and drove home a few blocks away and as I get into the bathroom, the rest gushes out of me. This is is....I was going into labor.
Pains didnt start for a while after. I had called the midwife to tell her my water broke, and told her I would call back when things started to pick up. She finally called me hours later, to see what was up since she hadn't heard from me, but things were going pretty slow.

I went along for the evening, the midwife came, mom and my best friend Erin were here. After several hours of laboring at home, all prepared for a home birth, Julis heart rate started to tachycardia and wouldnt come back down. So... unfortunately, my plans of a home birth, were thrown out the window, and I rushed to the hospital. After about 20 min, I was ready to push and after about another 20 minutes, my beautiful baby girl made her entrance into the world, surrounded by mom, Erin, Miles and my awesome midwife, Sylvia (who then delivered  Hazel). We went home just 4 hours later, after making sure that her raised heart rate, wasnt anything more to be concerned about.

Although, my home birth didnt go as planned, it was a great birth over all and she is still the unpredictable little girl. Juli is funny and cute and loveable, and I couldnt imagine having her in our lives. Every day, she amazes me with her smarts and she keeps me and everyone else around her, constantly entertained. I love how she likes to sing and tell stories and how her favorite song is "Leave the kids alone" (aka Pink Floyds The Wall). She is a bright light in our lives and I just love her to pieces.

I love you my baby Juli!!! You are an amazing kid and I feel blessed that you chose me to be your mom in this life. Now....to bombard you with photos....I just have to show off my cute kid!!!

Just moments old
Getting the check over




Our little family
Sleeping angel
Look at those chubby legs!!!
I loved this beautiful little dress
Love me some baby wearing!!!

                                                                                                        
Baby mum mum and big smiles!!
Who me?
Mothers day swinging!



Jedi in Training

Another cute dress



Cold night at the Burnaby Village Museum



Bath time! We bathed her there in the sink till about 3
I didnt do it!

In a Snow White dress that was mine as a girl
Cuddles with Benny...Grandma Darlenes pup

More baby wearing
Watching intently the badminton game
                                             
Going for a ride on Penny
My babe...now.