January Update

Well I guess I'll have lots of time to add things here as I had a fall just before Christmas that has put me on crutches for the last two weeks and now eight more weeks.

The story so far...
On December 23rd, after my second yoga class of the week, I was carrying Grace down the stairs using both arms and I slipped about five or six steps from the bottom. Grace seemed fine, but the impact and the deformed ankle I came face-to-face with let me immediately know that I was not fine. I pulled myself over to where the phone is, taught the kids some new expletives and got Liam to hand me the phone. I called 911 and soon an ambulance crew (4 people - the regular crew, a student, and a paramedic on her first day back after mat leave) and 2 police officers were in my decorated living room. My brother came over to look after the kids and I was on my way to the hospital.

Since I had eaten breakfast, they couldn't knock me out to reduce (undislocate) the ankle, so they gave me a huge dose of narcotics (with an antidote at the ready in case I stopped breathing) reduced it a little and put a temporary cast on it. Though it was x-rayed immediately, it took the orthopedic resident about 5 or 6 hours to come down and decide that it needed to be aligned better. This time they knocked me out with a drug similar to the one I'd had 10 years earlier when I dislocated my shoulder. A couple of hours later it was time for surgery. I opted for the general anesthetic over the spinal block as I wasn't too interested in hearing or feeling anything. I woke up with yet another cast on and some serious hardware. I went home on the 24th and spent Christmas on the couch with my leg raised. Luckily we were ready, so I don't think the holiday was too impacted for the kids. Of course, we didn't make it to the cottage as we planned.
In the hospital they told me that I'd be non-weight bearing (on crutches) for four weeks after my follow-up appointment. I had that appointment 2 days ago and they told me that because of a long screw connecting my tibia and fibula, it was going to be 8 more weeks non-weight bearing!

That means I'll be home - work would be a little hazardous on crutches: I couldn't get there without catching rides from people, and snow complicates things. I did get a much lighter fiberglass cast at that follow-up appointment, and the cast technician suggested getting a hands-free crutch. Today I got the crutch from a medical supply rental company. Hopefully I'll be able to get used to it so I can be a little more useful around the house.

Fall Family Days

A few weeks ago we went to Brantford for the weekend for a wedding and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary. The kids enjoyed seeing their relatives. We got some great pictures on town square in Brantford as well as Grace with her Great Grandmother Beth.

News Update!

So, it is the middle of May. I won't even check when my last post was but I know it was before Grace could officially walk. She started walking - as a mode of getting around (rather than here and there) about a week after Easter. Just after she turned 14 months and now, she never stops!! I think her feet have finally grown or maybe they've just spread out from the walking. She has delicate, small feet like her Grandma. She can still fit into a size 3 which is about 6-9 month size...though she is almost a 4 now (6-12 month size). When I was shopping for Liam's pioneer outfit at Value Village the other day I came across some size 3 hot pink Mickey Crocs for Grace. She will often take off her runners and bring me her CROCS to put on. Very cute! (And no, I didn't actually find anything for Liam that day...but Grace also got a nice GAP raincoat for the fall - $4.99)

Other stuff...Luke's 7th birthday. Yes, SEVEN!! We had another Webkinz party because Luke wanted what Liam had. Luke's friends were not as into the "Webkinz" part of the party but they still had a great time. Despite a dismal weather forecast and many tears (from Luke) every time he saw the weather report it turned out to be a sunny and hot day! Go figure! Even up until the night before they were forecasting solid rain for the day.

(Great) Grandpa turned 85 on Saturday so we went out to Ancaster for a nice get together with everyone. Dan says that Grandpa appears to have the same energy and life as when he met him almost 21 years ago. It would've been Mema's birthday on that same day so we had some memories of her while we drove home. And today is (Great) Grandma's birthday!

Dan is taking another course - twice a week - and then he is done his Masters of Education which is great. I don't love being a single parent two nights a week but I'm sure this is preferable to him taking a fall course once I'm back at work (I just don't know that I prefer this yet...) One upside is that I've finally learned and remember how to use the latte machine so I can make my lattes when Dan has class...they still taste better when Dan makes them for me ; )

And...Liam is finished choir for the year. He had his big final concert on May 1st. It really was truly wonderful and then his choir did a fun family concert on the 3rd. Luke has also auditioned for the choir. We may be very busy next year! We haven't decided about hockey yet. It really is nice having those weekends free again but the boys need the exercise and it is only for about six months of the year. I know for sure that I am playing hockey again!

That's about it. I am still in perpetual sleep-deprivation mode. Grace wakes normally 2-3 times a night. Plus, I have been staying up way too late working on my ETSY shop, Princess Grace Bowtique.

So far I've had 68 sales in 6 weeks. At first, most of my customers were American but in the last couple of weeks I've had lots of Canadian orders. There is a niche for this in Canada as there aren't as many people selling this kind of quality product at these prices. However, I've had some shocks at the post office when I go to mail an $11 order of bows to Vancouver and it costs over $12...However, people would be pretty scared off at a $12 shipping fee! (this exact same box ships anywhere to the US for $6.94 - sigh). I need to use a box if someone orders lots of bows or they get squished...though now I have been sneaking one or two small bows into an envelope...and hoping they arrive in one piece! ($1.22 versus $10+ in Canada!)

Finally, here are some photos: Liam's pioneer day, Luke's party... and some of our adorable princess. I'll have to get my new FLIP video footage uploaded so you can see her run!

Big Girl!

Do you know that jingle "I'm a big kid now!" from some diaper commercial? That is what Luke has been singing to Grace lately.

The other day Grace had her first chocolate chip cookie, ate pizza in the "big girl" chair with her brothers, did a little walking, put on a bow on her doll, read some of her CHIRP magazine and played a little D.S.

Grace's Party!

We had a little family party for Grace today. Well, little turns big when you have lots of family! Grace wasn't too overwhelmed by all the people and enjoyed her balloons and white cake.

Grace wore the dress I knit her. The colour matches her eyes beautifully! Too bad it is already small on her. I guess I'm learning my lesson - that it takes a long time to finish a knitting project when you have 3 kids so always make things a size bigger! I started this in August...

Grace is not quite walking yet. She is standing alone for about 10 seconds or so but those feet are glued to the floor. She happily walks if you hold her hand but not quite ready for going solo.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe a decade has past since our Y2K party at our apartment on Yonge Street. Lots of changes have happened: two houses, three kids, two sister-in-laws, a niece and two nephews, my parents moving to Edmonton and a new teaching career are among the highlights.

For New Years, we spent four quiet days up north where there was lots of snow. Grace mastered climbing the stairs and kept saying "No, no, no" to the fireplace! She is also blowing people kisses which is really cute. Grace is saying so many words these days along with cruising along the furniture and trying to open cupboards. I should write her words down before I forget. Some of them are: baby, book, milk, nose, head, hat, clap, Miam (Liam), Mama, Dadda, up, nap, night-night and NO! And her favourite sentence is "No night-night!" Yes, we are still working on that. She did not enjoy sleeping in the Pack and Play at the cottage. In fact, I am pretty sure she cried each and every time, including for naps. Well, I guess we were bound to have one child who is a difficult sleeper. I keep saying one of the reasons we have 3 kids is because Luke was such an angel baby (Liam was sweet too but Luke really was an angel).

Luke is a different kind of angel now and he sure is funny even when he doesn't realize it. On our long journey home from the cottage (snowstorm) Dan pointed out some wild turkeys at the side of the road. Luke exclaimed "Oh, those are the turkeys that survived Thanksgiving!"

Happy New Year and all the best for 2010!

Merry Christmas!

Here is the Merry Christmas post I started on Christmas! Merry Belated Christmas - as Luke would say...

The boys were super excited and were spoiled as usual. They got a Wii which was really the only item on their minds the last few months. It seems to be less addictive than the D.S. (so far) and we have played lots of family games: bowling, dancing, cycling, archery, ping pong and Toy Story. In fact, with the boys having to "earn" their Wii time by practicing, doing homework and exercising etc. - they actually seem to do more of that with less of a fuss, which is nice for us.

Grace, of course, knew something was different and exciting and had a great time playing with the wrapping paper and with her new toys. She also enjoyed a full turkey dinner with a Christmas cracker crown and all.

Here are some photos. The first one is of Liam doing his Dance Revolution moves with Dad as Luke (chilling out) and Grace watch. It is just like Guitar Hero but with dance moves. Very fun and a pretty good workout for a -20 day when you don't want to go outside for a walk. The bottom photo is of the kids with the beautiful stockings Aunt Kathy made. Luke is putting on a camera face...pretending he is not excited for Santa to come.

Random photos

1. My brother is so funny...
2. Halloween mail!
3. More mail!
4. I love blueberries!
5. Sleeping on the kitchen floor. H1N1 or a tired Grade 1 boy? (Not H1N1...we got the vaccine...Luke was just worn out with a mild fever on a Friday night)

Halloween

We spent Halloween in Beaconsfield, Quebec. The kids went trick-or-treating in Mema's neighbourhood and collected quite a bit of loot considering the houses are much farther apart than in Toronto!

It looks like all the kids followed the red, black and white dress code (Tom snuck in some yellow). Liam did a magic show at school and apparently it was a great success.

Remembering Mema 1926 - 2009

1. Mema's 80th Birthday, May 2006
2. When we visited this past August, just after 420 Bishop Street was sold
3. Tim and Anna's wedding (2003). I don't have any digital photos of our wedding!

I'm not going to write too much right now or I'll just start crying. Mema had a wonderful life and wonderful family. Ten great-grandchildren - that says it all! I am so happy Mema got to meet Grace and the boys.

Grace's Baptism

Grace was baptized today in a lovely service by Uncle Dan at St. Basil's Church. Grace's proud godparents are Dan's cousin Patricia O'Callaghan and her son Dan. When I see these pictures of Grace and her Dad I have these flashes way into the future...white dress and all. Has anyone watched the new show FlashForward?

Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful for both our families, good health, delicious food, a cozy home, a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children.

Granddaughters and Grandsons

Grandpa, where are your red crocs?