Happy Birthday Canada!!

I love July 1st. I love Canada Day. The little festivities towns and cities throw are so fun and seeing everyone drive around with our country's flag on their cars and the fireworks to end the day. I just love it all. I love being a Canadian. I just started watching NHL hockey games on tv. I have never been a huge fan of it before because I found it too confusing one minute the puck is here the next there. I watched hockey games much better in an arena...mind you I've never been to an actual NHL game. However I found it absolutely breathtaking listening to Canadians sing the national anthem. I could go on and on about my love love's for being Canadian but I'll leave it at this.

Well I'm 30 wks along now which is AMAZING. Whew...never thought I'd get here. Thank you thank you for all the prayers and words of encouragement. Our support network has definitely grown and has help imensly in the progress of this pregnancy. To think the baby could be here any day and he would be okay. I mean he'd need some medical care but not as much as if he was born at say...26wks. Now that I don't have to be confined to my house and bed/couch I feel so much happier. I can start enjoying this pregnancy before it ends which is nice. I mean I still can't do a lot of things or over do it or shop or get groceries but seriously....just being out and about visiting or making the odd short outing is WONDERFUL!!! However now that some of my emotions are tucked under my pillow a whole new stream of worries are approaching. I've been a little apprehensive about the arrival of our baby. I went through the same thing when I was about to have Carter I was worried about taking time away from Emily. In the end it all balanced itself out naturally and my love for both children was equal and whole. But for some reason I'm worried about this baby. I mean I'm comfortable loving my two kids and it's easy to split time with them or share time with Justin. Now with a third in the mix what if I leave one kid out or something. I know I'm worrying for nothing but I still worry. I just want all kids to feel loved and have equal amount of fun time with me and their dad.

Well what else is new in the Seitz home....hmmm well Emily is officially finished grade 2. AHHHH <----that's me screaming blog style. My little girl is growing so fast. I can't believe she'll be in grade 3. It just blows me away. What else blows me away is the kids report card. WHOA my goodness. She has always been smart and she remains smart and she just excels at things like reading beyond a grade 3 level and outstanding in math and everything else. I'm just so proud. She tries so hard in school and she actually really enjoys learning which is such a bonus. Carter is so happy to finally have his sister home for playtime during the day. He missed her everyday she would be off for school. He would see her off on the step and then ask throughout the day everyday....when's Emily comin home. It's cute. As much as they can fight they get a long and play far better and more often. Carter learned the word "buggar" today at Gramma's nursing home. Gramma let it slip that someone was being a little buggar so Carter not knowing that it wasn't a good word to repeat called one of the little grannies a litte buggar because they were being silly. Thank goodness the little granny took no offense and forgot he even said it after he said it but still I hope it doesn't come up again. I tried explaining that's a bad word and it makes people sad if they are called a buggar.

Well I think I'm going to call it a night for now. I'm going to update again this weekend. Tomorrow we might go down to Gyro park for some Canada Day celebrations and possibly a pancake breaky early in the AM. I love having Justin home on the weekends because I can get out and do stuff. He just wheels me around in a wheel chair and we have a blast doing family activities. So I"ll take lots of photos and post them. I'm going to get back to my book CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. It's funny, it reminds me of Bridget Jones. I'm anxious to finish the novel because I want to get on some Karen Kingsbury books. So on that note sweet snoozies to you all and meet you back here sometime this weekend.
Night.....zzzzzzzz

Family Fun Day!

Saturday it was so hot here it got up to +36 so we decided we best hit the beach. It was so much fun. I relaxed on my little beach chair like usual and watched the kids have fun with their dad in the water. It was a great time. The kids were so happy to have their dad splash around and chill with them. They did a little swimming, a little sand playing, a little snacking and a little chillaxing. We were there for about 2 1/2 hrs and I tell ya being pregnant and out in that strong heat is CrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZyyyyyy but the memories were worth every second of it. One thing we can't get sick of living out here in Penticton is the beach time. Every time we head to the beach we're reminded of how far we'd have to drive in Sask to a decent beach and here it's like a 2 minute drive. Here are some photo's we took at Okanagan Beach.

Well I better get in the shower and get cleaned up. I haven't been to church in months so Justin is taking me this morning. I'm so excited to go. The kids are anxious to show me what they have been doing in Sunday school. Happy Sunday!! God Bless you all!!

A Happy Birthday And A Happy Father's Day

We've had some pretty amazing days around the Seitz home. It all started with our sons birthday party on Saturday. It was great. So much fun!! Carter has never really had many friends or a chance to have an actual birthday party that didn't consist of adults and the only kid being his sister. This year was different. Carter has made a few friends so far in Penticton and it was so much fun giving him the birthday he wanted...."a normal birthday". I wasn't really able to do a whole lot because of having to remain on bedrest, however I did have to cheat a little though. I got up a little on my feet and layed outside and visited with the parents and just took in the glory of little people running crazy in my yard. My sister and Justin did an outstanding job throwing the party. It was a beautiful hot day so we had the Slip 'n' Slide out and some wet water balls. The kids had a lot of fun and burned a lot of energy. Then we had the kids do a treasure hunt for outdoor goodies like bugs and weeds. Carter couldn't stay away from his presents any longer so we did gift opening and then had cupcake birthday cake we made in the shape of a 4. I was so amazed at how Justin interacted with all the kids that day. We had 10 kids including Emily and Carter. He was running around like a kid himself and kept them really organized and entertained, my sister did all the running in and out of the house and fetching anything that needed to be fetched and helped Justin with the activities. Here are some of Carter's highlights. One being the frog our friends Kristin and Eric gave him. Second the brief case with goodies from Auntie Jenna and Uncle Justin.



Here's my hubby on Father's Day. He was doing ultimate daddy duty that day. Normally Dad's will take some time of their own on father's day and instead Justin surrounded his activities around and with the kids. They had such a fun day. Justin took Emily and Carter to Walmart to buy new bikes and helmets and then took them out on our back cement pad and taught them how to ride their bikes. It was so cute and so special. The kids cherished every moment of that. Carter learned how to push on his pedals and Emily got a bit gash on her leg and learned to be brave and get back up and try. She tried and tried until she finally rode her bike perfectly. To date they are practicing harder so they can graduate to the sidewalk in the front yard. The picture of Justin above is him cooking his father's day dinner. We had chicken fingers, onion rings, and fries. Funny thing was is one of the onion rings fell off the pan and caused a fire in the oven. The flames got about 5 inches high it was hillarious. We topped the night off with a couple treatza pizza's from DQ. Here are some photo's of the kids and their new bikes. It was the perfect Father and child bonding moment.
















I would also like to extend a very special Happy Father's Day to my dad Jeff McNaught. Not only has he become my role model but also my husbands. He is a wonderful man who is so humble and his unconditional love has no end.



















*sniff* Ibetter sign off before I cry over these photos anymore.
Love you all!!

Butt What??

Okay so we had a very interesting outing at the beach yesterday. Which is awesome because being under house arrest the smallest of the smallest things are enjoyable. So I was laying on my beach bed taking pictures when all of a sudden this woman bends over right in my plain view. I just ignored it for awhile but she kept doing it. So I thought well I gotta snap this. It was either that or a mister creepo sitting on a bench behind us. He was sending this little boy over to my kids offering them timbits when he says to my sister, that man wants you to come and talk to him right now. My sister says, who is that man, is it your daddy. The boy replies, nope it's not my daddy that's kevin and he wants to talk to you. AHHHHH!!!! He kept yelling things too that we couldn't really make out. It was just bizarre.

Now the day before this my sister took me to the beach as well and it was once again entertaining but not by humans...but ducks and seagulls. They kept coming closer and closer and closer and the picture above of me with the ducks right after that shot the duck jumped up at me. We were surrounded by birds we seriously thought we were going to get attacked. It was a laugh fest I tell ya.

Oh I better go, My sister and the kids just came back from another beach trip and they have stories of some drunk druggy getting arrested. Hmmmmmmm...... stay tuned for more crazy penticton beach stories.......

Today is a good day!

Yay for a good day!! Finally. My poor husband probably has no clue how to handle my happy self. I've been in such a pooper lately I don't even recognize my happy self either ;0)


I had my weekly checkup with the doctor and everything was great. My doctor was happy with the progress I've been making for once. Dr. Rublee did her weekly ultrasound and our little boy looked so cute and happy and healthy. It was nice to see improvement for a change. Because I've been so good and staying off my feet and taking my bedrest seriously I've been able to stay out of the hospital for 2 wks. Party Time!!.....well not quite ;0) I'm still stuck on bedrest indefinitely but a more modified less strict bedrest under the condition that I stay out of trouble and out of the hopsital. Same thing goes if any more problems occur or contractions progress then to Vancouver I go. For the meantime though things are looking up. I'm allowed an outing here and there as long as it's via wheelchair and with a friend or my husband. I'm also allowed to be more reclined throughout the day as long as I lay on my left side for a full hour in the AM and a full 2hrs in the PM. The rest of the time I can switch sides, lay reclined, sit up and even lay on my outside lounge chair. I have to really watch my body and any sign on cramp or contraciton I have to get on my left side right away or in the hospital. But I promise not to overdo it at all. One good thing about being on bedrest is I have really gotten to know my body and all it's little aches and twinges and what to take seriously and what is just gas or baby movements. I also know now that a good appointment doesn't mean go shopping for 3 hrs and do housework, cook dinner and get down and dirty with the hubby. I know that NONE of that is possible and just to enjoy even a little wheely here and there or to be able to change rooms. I feel less like a prisoner right about now and more like a human. It's still hard but I'm trying to look at more of the positive side of things.


One another good note....my sister and Justin have started the nursery. YAY!!!!!!! I love my husband to pieces and I give him credit for trying to do what he is doing but let's face it...house work and renovations are just not his thing. He also kinda likes to procrastinate a little haha so my sister helped him get on track and they did an awesome job. They have the first coat on and they should have it finished before my sister leaves....which would be great.


Countdown is also on for Carter's 4th birthday. I can't believe how much time has passed. It's so crazy to think about. I totally wish there was a way to bottle up my kids and preserve their childhood. My sister is helping prepare Carter's party. So far there are 8 children invited so I wonder who will attend and who won't. I just hope it's a fun, sunny day so we can bring out the slip n slide and have a good hyper party in the outdoors. Oh Jenna is so busy....poor girl. She is so happy helping though. However Carter just peed his pants (by accident he says) and left a puddle on the floor so lucky Jenna gets to do her first peepee cleanup. She has totally taken on the job of a full fledged mommy roll and she totally rocks at it. For a young university student I'm sooooooooo amazed at how awesome she is at running a household and parenting my children. It's always harder dealing with other peoples kids too and you can't tell with her.

Well I better get this blog posted and see what's happenin in the life of Oprah!!

Jenna's Here!!

So my sister is here FINALLY. She flew in Saturday June 3rd. The days leading up to her arrival seemed to take forever. Then just as she gets on her plane she's ordered to get off the plane...along with all the other passengers. Seems as though there was a bomb scare which turned out to be a ticking alarm clock. But after the airport took necessary precautions it was too late for Jenna to get on the flight, or she would have had to stay alone in Calgary, so she flew out the next day instead.

It has been awesome having her here. She's been running all our errands, cooking and cleaning and keeping my kids super entertained which is a huge blessing because I can't right now. Today she is accompanying Emily to her Sports Day at school and the Family BBQ. It's so nice because I had so much fun doing it with the kids last year that it saddened me she'd have to do it alone but not anymore...Auntie Jenna to the rescue. She is also helping Justin clean out and paint the baby's nursery and helping Carter plan his 4th birthday party. I just wish I could keep her longer...but then again she has to get back to her reality of work and life too. I'm so thankful for all the help though. It's been so calming having her around. I've really been able to be on bedrest properly and get the rest I need which I wouldn't have been able to without her here.

She's definitely been a witness to my emotional outbursts and tear fests. I thought it would totally frighten her and send her packing but she's so comforting. Ok now I really don't want her to leave (maybe I could kidnap her). I get so sad cuz I wish I could be out and about with her and have fun with her other places other than my couch. I'm hoping the doctor might allow me some minor activity since I've been so good and have stayed out of the hospital for 2 wks. Wishful thinking I know....but I can dream. Oh well I guess if I can't do anything I'll have to have a major celebration after the baby is born.

Oh yeah i just met the 26 wk of pregnancy mark which mean my baby is viable if born anytime now. I mean we definitely want him to stay in as long as possible but at least the doctors can help him stay alive and healthy now. So one milestone I've been now to get to 36 wks and have my stitch removed....then the baby can come. Thanks again for your continuous prayers on my pregnancy, it's definitely helping because really in all end there is only so much bedrest can do....the good Lord is taking care of it all.

I'll get my sister to take some photo's of the kids during their fun day today and post some later.
Till then............

I JUST WANT TO SCREAM.........................

.....but I'll blog instead. I need to vent somehow or I am seriously going to admit myself in to the psych ward. I hate bedrest, I hate bedrest, I hate bedrest....I just can't say it enough. I am so emotionally torn because on one hand I want to do everything I can to keep this little unborn baby alive and healthy and on the other hand I just can't take one more day of being in my bed or on the couch. I have one more week to go for the baby to at least be viable in the outside world, and 8 wks of bedrest to keep the baby in so the doctors don't have to send me away to Vancouver and so the baby isn't stuck in NICU for two months.

I just hate this so much. I'm a hormonal headcase. I think I have some major depression issues going on and I just don't feel like myself. I want to be able to be a good mommy to Emily and Carter and a wife to Justin and I just can't. I have to sit on the sidelines. I want to enjoy my pregnancy and be out shopping and preparing for the baby and I can't. Yes that's right I'm feeling very sorry for myself right now and I'm sorry but I just can't help it. I can't stop crying everything is making be tear up or scream. I want to be happy and enjoy life and I don't see how I can do that being stuck in my house day after day after day. Even the more I eat the more upset I get cuz I can't walk around to exercise any of the extra weight off or to just keep in healthy shape. I can walk to the bathroom woohoo.

My sister is coming tomorrow, she was supposed to fly here tonight but crap happened at the airport and I feel bad for her. I just wish I could have fun with her while she's here....I don't want to end up crying the whole time resenting the fact that I can't do anything with her and the kids. Arggg....now I'm just getting too emotional I don't even want to type anymore....I'll try and write a happier tune tomorrow when I'm not such a basketcase.

....and glory be!!

It's hard to stay optimistic about life when there is so much negative stuff happening. We've been doing the best we can to keep positive and trust in the Lord that He will make everything alright. What may look like little blessings are really huge blessings to us. Anything good that happens lately is like winning a million dollars, actually even better than winning a million (however a million bucks would always be nice) anywayws back to the topic. We've been really sick around here and what was going on in our minds was "what next" and just as we say that Justin gets an email at work. A month ago my brilliant husband submitted an inquiry about writing for a magazine, a top selling computer magazine at that. The contact said for him to come up with a unique and interesting outline and that if it was good for him then he would pass it on to the senior editor of the magazine for approval or disapproval. Well Justin did just that the first contact loved the piece and therefore passed it on to the senior. Well we hadn't heard anything so we kind of forgot about it just assuming that better luck next time. Well like I said yesterday we were feeling so yucky and Justin was feeling really sick at work and he was like "what next" and what next was exactly was exactly what we least expected. He got an email accepting his article. The email outlined what they would like from him from now until his deadline of June 26. They would like to publish his piece as soon as he can get it in so it can be released in one of the next issues. How exciting. This is one of Justin's dreams to be published in a magazine. He's always wanted to write a book relating to the tech world but of course it's good to have some articles under your belt for experience and now he gets his first shot at doing just that. He will be published in the sys admin magazine you can buy it at your local bookstores like Chapters and McNally. So when we know the exact issue date we'll let you all know in case you want to take a peek. I'm just so proud of my husband. He's had to take on so much S*** lately with me being on bedrest and his mom in the nursing home and having to do everything himself pretty much so for him to receive an unexpected reward from up above at such a down time really lifted his spirits. Yesterday turned out to be a better day for him than he expected period. It was just blessing after blessing. After he found out about the publishing, our friend Kristin came over and made our family chilli and side dishes and entertained the kids, so Justin didn't have to cook when he got home from work which relieved a lot of stress especially with him being under the weather now and then Kristin's husband Eric asked to take Justin out for dinner today. That was planned a few days ago and Justin's been looking forward to some buddy time and it comes perfectly to end a very intersting week.

It's been raining like crazy here every day which I love cuz the rain just makes me feel so good for some reason. Last week it was so hot here it was 37 almost every day so this is a nice change and it makes for a perfect family movie night. We have Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Doogal, and Nanny McPhee picked out. I doubt we'll get through them all tonight but if it's good and rainy tomorrow they will come in handy.

Anyhoo I hope you all have a great weekend..........till next time!!

It's A Good Day!

Finally a good day! Three cheers for the Lord!!
First of all I went to the doctor this morning and she was amazed at how big my stomach has grown in just a week. It grew 4 cm which is awesome. Then she took a look with the ultrasound and there was our precious little boy.....yep that's right we are having ANOTHER boy. The next few weeks are critical so I'm on bedrest for sure for the next 3 weeks. Which is a small price to pay in my mind. I'm just happy the baby is healthy and there was nothing fishy going on in my uterus. I have been getting these yucky burning pains on the top of my stomach and around my belly button and they hurt like crazy and when I walk around I start contracting so to minimize the contractions I'm off my feet. Turns out the pain is from my uterus expanding and because I have had so many surgeries and trauma to my uterus the growth of everything will be painful. Which is better to deal with in my mind at least it isn't placenta abruption again cuz that would not be good at all.

I've been working harder at putting more trust in the Lord and realizing that he is the one in control and that the doctors can only do so much for me but in reality it's 110% in His hands. All your prayers have been helping so much. Justin and I feel more comfort and peace each and everyday. Being on bedrest is really hard but knowing we have so many people out there that are lovin us and prayin for us is helping us get through these tough times.

On another great note....Our wedding photo's are finally coming along AFTER 10 1/2 MTHS. I know so many people are anxiously and patiently awaiting some photo's. We finally found out what was wrong with all of our disks and why the pictures weren't printing out which was really odd to the photographer and Justin because she used a 16 megapixel camera and gave us full resolution photos. Anyways the disks are reprinted and we just got word that they were mailed out on Friday so we should have them any day. Plus the photographer did us up an album of 4x6's and printed off some 8x12's for us for all this trouble....which is great cuz I have been wanting to just lay in bed and look at photo's of our wedding day. Justin is planning to get the prints copied and sent out to anyone who didn't get a photo and to our wedding party who definitely needs some keepsakes and finally to our parents.

As soon as they come we'll work as fast as we can to get them out to you.

"I'm still in here...somewhere."

Today was a very difficult, emotional day. My mother in law Yvonne (in the picture to the left with my son Carter) has early onset of Alzheimer's disease. I've been touched by this disease because Justin and I are the closest family around her that can be there for her and help her. She does have a son close by too by he's so wrapped up in his own life that he doesn't even acknowlege her. And well she has two other kids that are extremely busy out in Ontario. So it's me and Justin and the kids. We've been on a long road trying to get Yvonne help and it came and once it came it all happened so fast. She was put on the emergency list to go into a dementia care cottage. Because the waiting list is so long you have to accept the offer and move within two days. Because of Justin's work schedule and what not he couldn't be there to move her in so I took her down. I think in the end it was better that I did it because it was emotional enough being my mother in law, I don't know what would have happened emotionally if it was my own flesh and blood. I was teary the whole time. It was a reality as to what her life is going to be like from this day forward and it's heartbreaking. Even though I'm on bedrest I thought tough it I'll rest there and I did, it was quite comfy and felt like home. I had to take her to the doctor in the afternoon so I brought Emily to the home to see what it was like and where Grams was going to be living. Then Justin came home and we thought it would be nice to show Grams how close we are and just pop in to say "goodnight" . Oh did her face light up. She was just glowing when her son walked through the doors.

The thing that's the saddest about the disease is that they slowly seem like they are moving out yet they are still there, you know. We were talking to a gentleman with quite progressive alzheimer's and he looked at you like he knew what he was talking about in his mind or what he wanted to say but he just couldn't get it out. Instead of asking our name like "So what is your name" he would say "so your name leaves in the hamburger". The one thing he was able to get out was "please come see". It made us all tear up because we then realized that this was going to happen to Justin's mom sooner than later. Today when I was helping her unpack and visiting with the nurses she thought I was her daughter and that Justin was her son in law, and then later on she was telling the nurses she had three sons and named two of them and forgot the third and was so sad cuz she couldn't remember the name. It was just heartbreaking.

Out of all this heartache, Yvonne is still smiling. I mean some days she is finding it hard to cope and shows it but for the most part she has such a strong feeling and belief that God is hugging her the whole time. It's amazing to see her hold such faith during this war she's battling in her mind. I mean if it were me I'd be cursing...she is praising God that something good will come from this. She's just an inspiration.

Can I ask for a few more prayers. I would like to pray for Yvonne, she is only 55 and having to go through all this and it has to be scarey for her. Also for all the others dealing with alzheimers that they all find comfort and peace. Help them to not be forgotten as they are still in there....somewhere!!

Tryin to look on the brighter side!!

I was thinking about what the brighter side could possibly even look like right now but then I was reminded of all the wonderful things that are going on right now and that's definitely helping me keep my head above the water. I have my husband, my kids,family and friends, a home, a good doctor, we're two blocks from the hospital and I still have this little baby in my tummy.

I do have to sacrifice a little fun in my life right now but I guess that's not much considering I only have a couple months to go. See I went back to the Doc's on Monday and the dr. did an ultrasound and it showed irritation and what looked as though part of my uterus was stuck along my stomach lining by an adhesion and that tore away which caused the severe pain and spastic contractions. There was no sign of the fibroid on Monday so the doctor said it couldn't be the fibroid because they don't just disappear that quick...unless it was a pure blessing from the Lord. We'll never know but we're so thankful that I'm healing. I have to be on bedrest for the next 4 weeks so I can make it to 26 weeks and then if anything happens at least the baby is viable outside the womb. Scarey to think that until then it could die if I was to go into labour. If my pregnancy doens't improve at 26 weeks or if anything happens from 26-32 wks I have to be sent to Vancouver and stay in the hospital there for the remainder of the pregnancy. Because Penticton is small and all the towns and small cities around here are so small no hospital has the resources to prolong a pregnancy successfully or have the equipment available for a preterm baby and the chances of the baby having a healthier life born before 32 wks would be in Vancouver. By the grace of God I know he can keep this pregnancy going as long as possible but knowing that 24/7 is where I'm struggling. Justin is worried because if I go to Vancouver it will be hard for him and the kids to be with me and it's just a lot of worry we don't want to think about right now but we are kinda forced to think about things and make plans incase the situation occurs. I'm going to continue taking it easy and follow the doctors orders so that I can minimize any contractions and any danger to this baby.

On the brighter note...it has been scorching hot here. Yesterday the temp climbed to +35 and yikes that was harsh. Then I wake up this morning at 7am and check the temp and it was already +21. I thought great..here I am on bedrest and I can't even go down to the beach on my own. So Justin has a few plans and he said if the weather is like this on the weekend he'll set me up a bed on the beach so I can put my feet in the water or maybe he'll make me a mini lake in the backyard. Yesterday it was cute cuz the kids wanted to play outside so bad and because I can't exactly roam around and watch them they set me up a bed in the shade. They laid out a blanket, put one of those beach chairs with out the bottom and only the back rest and then they laid a pillow against the chair for comfort. They brought me my novel I'm reading, a popsicle and a bottle of water...oh and the phone. So I was equipped. With all this ruckus God has blessed Emily and Carter a stronger sense of patience of compassion. They just care so gently for me and I adore them for that. So during the day when Justin is at work I"m well taken care of :0) and when Justin get's home I get even more help. Since I've been on bedrest Justin's cooking has definitely improved. His chicken nuggets aren't as soggy as usual and his fries are definitely getting crispier.

Well I better get going. Thank you so much for all your prayers and Kristin a special thanks for coming over and praying with me the other day. I love you all so much and it's great to know that when times get tough everyone can pool their prayers together. Justin and I have felt a sense of comfort from each prayer. Thank you and God Bless you ALL!!

Happy Mother's Day turns to Scarey Mother's Day

Wow, where to even begin. I'm still in utter shock as to how my last 24 hours have been. It's been an absolute nightmare to be honest. It all started with a nice family drive around Penticton. We were searching around for garage sales and we just kept driving. It was so much fun. We discovered places we didn't even know existed in this town. Then the crap began. We decided to make a stop at Walmart to look at some baby stuff and beds for the kids. I was feeling alright but by the time I walked from the front doors to the furniture section I started feeling weird. I thought hmmm maybe a little gas. Nope! Hmmm maybe a little indigestion! Hell no!! Oh shoot something was wrong. I got an intense stabbing pain from the top of my belly to my belly button. It took the breath right out of me. I couldn't stand, couldn't breath and I was getting pins and needles all over. Luckily there was a nurse in the aisle we were in and she started screaming for help. Immediately a walmart team was there by my side checking my vitals and on the phone with 911. They closed off all the aisles and then wheeled me in to the manager's office to get away from curious people. Poor Justin and the kids were just scared they didn't know what was happening. Justin wanted to get me to the hospital right away but the people at walmart already called the ambulance and I was getting weaker by the second so at that point even Justin thought it was best I go via ambulance. Within 10 minutes of everything happening the ambulance was there along with the fire department. A little girl in Emily's class named Emily too her dad was on call for the fire department so he was talking with Justin and the kids while I was getting in the ambulance. I was so scared because I couldnt' feel the baby at all and the pain wasn't subsiding. Justin had to go in the car with the kids and he was horrified leaving me alone with the EMT even though they are professional he was just sick not being by my side. Luckily he beat the EMT to the hospital and was right there by my side once again. I was put on the monitors to check for contraction and fetal heartbeat then a few hours the on call obgyn showed up. He was really good. Checked me thorough with the ultrasound and found that the cause of the whole problem is an enlarged fibroid that is becoming degenerative meaning my body has now cut off the blood supple to the fibroid. Which causes severe pain but I guess it's good that the fibroid can't get any bigger. It looked so huge on the ultrasound it was so scarey. Then he starts talking to us about the risk of this setting me into preterm labour and that there was nothing they could do to save the baby if that was the case because the baby is only 22 wks gestation and at this point it couldn't survive. He said once the baby is around 27 wks it's chances are higher. Then he checked my cervix and found that there is only 1cm left of my cervix. What the??? Could this day get any worse. Jeez! So I have to be super careful that I don't have any contraction so I can savour the rest of my cervix and hope that my stitch doesn't fall out too early. He sent me home with once again, major restrictions and bed rest. So I am totally following orders. Tomorrow morning I go back to the hospital for another check up and hopefully things start looking better.

So this has been my Mother's Day for 2006. Since I was a kids something has gone wrong at Mother's day and I was praying nothing would happen this year and then boom. So I'm feeling rather depressed and totally just completely bummed out. My husband feels like his world is totally caving in as everything seems to be happening with everyone he loves. My health his mom's health, Carter's been sick and the life of our born child in jeopardy.

If we can trouble everyone for some extra prayers we'd really appreciate it. I just want to get to my 36 wk of pregnancy or really close to, that would be in August. It's so hard to be going through all this so far from home and away from family and friends. It gets pretty lonely. Yesterday I was talking to my mom on the phone when I got home from the hospital and I had to suck back the tears cuz crying was onsetting some pain...so yeah I'm sucking back the tears just wishing my mom was here for a hug. Anyways I better get back to the couch and put my feet up.

On a loving note "Happy Mother's Day to everyone"

A Happy Mother's Lunch

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a Mother's Day luncheon put on by my daughter's grade 2 class. It was so special. When I arrived Emily greeted me at the door and took my hand and led me to my seat where I had a special placemat made by Emily and she had my lunch all done up really nice. Each child in the class helped make the desserts and each child had to make their own mom's sandwich. I think my sandwich was the best I've ever had just becasue it was made with such love. Normally I'm not much of a sandwich eater but that particular sandwich I ate yesterday tasted better than a chocolate cake. After the mom's finished eating the grade 2's got up and did a cute little presentation, they recited a poem and sang two songs. Then we had to go around the class and figure out whose shadow picture was our own childs. I figured mine out right away because of the neat writing underneath. Then we had a nice little story time with the kids. Emily read me "Baba Yaga" it was very similar to Hansel and Gretel but without the Hansel. Then the kids pretty much had enough of their mom's being there. It was kinda funny. Emily says, it's ok for you to go home now because we have free play time outside. All the kids kissed and hugged their moms, I got about 4 kisses and 4 hugs and off to play they went. Oh but before I went home Emily gave me the special mother's day gift she made...a magnetic memo pad for my fridge.

As I walked home I clenched on to all my goodies and felt like the most special mom in the world. I thought WOW these kids did so much hard work to put on this lunch and it was spectacular. I didn't want to leave. It's not very often Emily and I get to have girl time together so it made it extra special because it was all about her for that 45 minutes. This is just one reason why I love being a mom so much. I love the way my kids make me feel and they do it in such simple ways too. I have been getting little presents every day this week. The kids don't realize that Mother's Day is celebrated on Sunday but in their little hearts Mother's Day is celebrated everyday. Carter has been making me picture after picture and at Tumble Bumble (activity program he's in) he made me a card and a flower. He wrote his name down and put a heart beside it and says mom you know why I put this heart here, I said why, he says because I love you so much. So I have that torn little paper with his name and heart up on my fridge.

Posted above is a picture of me and Emily at the Mother's Day lunch.

Life in Hormone Land

The joys of pregnancy is enjoying the pregnancy period and that means absolutely everything that comes with it. I love watching funny tv episodes of people doing their take on pregnancy and emotions and what not. I was watching According to Jim on the weekend and it was right on the money. There was a girl crying because her husband forgot her gummy candies and they didn't have cinnamon flavored gummi bears. I was laughing and laughing and I said out loud that can't be how it really is. Justin looked at me with shock and he's like "what do you mean that's not how it is...you're like that 24/7" and then laughs. I was crying one day cuz I was craving a pickle so bad it hurt but I was upset that I was crying over a pickle so I didn't get up and get the pickle. Stuff like that. Thank goodness Justin loves it. He loves the cry fests and picky eating and back cramps and yelling bouts and laughing bouts. I called him at work the other day just bawling hysterically on the phone, he couldn't actually even understand a word I was saying. I was making Emily a tea party for her and her little friend and I let her use my grandma's tea set. When I was a kid I drank gallons of ice tea out of this tea set with my grams. I was stirring the tea and remember back to the old days and just bawled and bawled and bawled. Actually even writing about it right now is bringing tears to my eyes.
This is just a glimpse of me in hormone land....I tell the good stories, I'm sure if Justin got on here he'd be telling you his version of hormone land haha.

As for the pregnancy goes, it's going ALOT better than it was months ago. The Lord has blessed us everyday. My health is stronger and the baby is stronger too. I get kicked all throughout the day now. It's great. I absolutely love the feeling of this little life. It makes it so real now. It's funny cuz when the baby is active if you put your hand on my belly you can feel it switch position and roll over and stuff it so cool. I am about 22 wks which is 5 1/2 mths. Penticton weather is already getting warm so I'm getting anxious about dealing with the intense heat of summer....we have weeks and weeks of +40. I feel really huge, I think I've put on almost 20 pounds so far. I guess that's not too bad but I think I look a lot bigger than I probably am. Especially my BUM I totally think it's quadrupled in size...if I'm not knocking people over with my belly my bum is doing the job.

Well my preschooler is getting a little anxious about starting his cookies. So I better not delay any longer. Emily has a special mothers day luncheon planned at her school so I'll try and post after that.

First Blog

I thought I'd start blogging on an actual e-blogger just because I'm always on here checking up on everyone else I know and I thought it would be fun to start adding my own little stories from home especially since we are so far away from friends and family. A better way to stay somewhat connected with people.

On that note, since we've moved to BC I have felt completely distanced from everyone. I find it a lot harder to keep in touch one on one with everyone. Quite depressing!! We have now been here in Penticton for 1 year and it still feels like we just moved here. We've met a really nice couple Kristin and Eric who have become our family away from family. Funny Kristin is new to BC and also newly married and from Saskatchewan and they are Christian's and Family people so we have so much fun with them! Our husbands are the perfect match..they are both gamers and computer guys and they just have so much fun together.

Now to fill in everyone about what we've been up to lately well...lots and not lots.
Well not lots for me cuz I've been on bedrest for weeks and weeks. I'm just over 4 mths pregnant and I just had surgery so I've had to take it easy. Justin works up in Kelowna at his dream computer job so between that and taking care of the kids and cooking and cleaning for me well he barely has free time on his hands and on top of all that his mom has just been diagnosed with dimentia and well that's pretty hard to deal with on top of everything else. The kids are doing awesome. Emily is 7 and Carter is 3 he'll be 4 pretty soon. Emily started choir and she plays sports when she can. She's also become a little Martha Stuart cleans and watches the cooking channel religiously. And boy can that girl make some yummy croutons and cookies. Carter is getting so big. I think he might out beat his dad's height one day. *sigh I'll be the shortest one*...Emily and Carter are super tall. Anyways he's doing so good. He's learning his ABC's and printing letters and numbers. He was in preschool but that ended at Christmas time. He's waiting till he is big enough to go into Karate. He so wants to be a ninja it's hillarious. He's also getting ready for a baby. He's trying to act like a bigger boy everyday and trying to help mommy out when he can so he can help teach the baby good things. Between him and Emily this little baby is going to have the most fun and be the most protected and loved little one.

Well I've been sitting on my toosh at the computer long enough I'd make the dr's grumble so I better get back to the couch and lay down.

Till next time....God Bless your day!