Hello out there...

This blog has been silent for so long. I’ve been itching to sit down and put fingers to keyboards, but the start of this year has been hectic. If I do miraculously have any readers left, I’m guessing that you are probably friends or family, and so you know why it’s taken me so long to post! (PS – thank you for sticking around and waiting for me to return. I do love blogging and am happy when I hear of you dear friends that want to read up on our lives.)

For the benefit of the random blog reader who may stumble across my humble blog, I’ll give an update on the last couple months. I think in my last post I mentioned our fabulous vacation to Palm Springs and San Diego (I have now completed transferring all our pictures and will post some from our trip). I also mentioned how we were going to throw a birthday bash with our close family for our little man. We did and it was really great, laid-back and we just enjoyed the kids while they played with toys. All was well until just after we finished showing our slide show from our vacation. We were beginning to disperse, family members ready to go home for the evening, when we heard a loud noise. I was holding Ethan in our living room and turned to find my Grandma collapsed at the foot of the stairs. She was unresponsive and her pallor was grey. We all rushed to her and Scott called 911. I corralled the kids upstairs but wanted to be downstairs so my lovely mother-in-law stayed up with them while the rest of us stayed with Grandma. The emergency response personnel arrived quickly, the firefighters first (benefit of living kitty-corner to a fire station) followed quickly by the ambulance. She went into cardiac arrest in our living room and was resuscitated and then transported to the hospital where she was admitted into intensive care. She did wake up and have periods of alertness the following day; however, in the early hours of Tuesday, January 22, she passed away. Most of her family was able to come to the hospital to see her, and so she knew that she was surrounded by the people who love her most.

In the weeks following her death, we have been busy. Busy grieving, busy visiting with family members, and of course busy with lots of administrative details. My aunt, Audrey, and I are co-executrix, and so we have been working our way through the tasks that must be done upon the death of a loved one. The major item was moving all of her possessions out of the apartment she was renting and determining what to do with things – not a small feat, even in a small condo. After we cleaned out most of the big items (furniture, beds, etc.) we had to complete the cleaning and boxing up of kitchen items, closets, and so on. My aunt and dad did the lion’s share of this, as I had to go back to work (timing is always like that, isn’t it?) So now Grandma’s homey, comfortable apartment is just an empty shell – waiting for someone else to come in and make memories.

Grandmas are special, and mine was so well-loved and respected by many. I remember many wonderful things about times with Grandma, from my earliest childhood memories until now. She always was a big part of our lives and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been blessed to have had her as Grandma. She was a prayerful woman. She prayed for each and every one of us on a daily basis, praying that we would be healthy, happy, and most of all, that we would know Jesus. I’ve got a rich heritage, and it’s a huge blessing. Grandma was adventurous (she was a war bride and sailed across an ocean to come and live in a vast, unfamiliar country with her husband), and she accomplished so many things in her lifetime. Like most parents, I know Grandma considered her four children her greatest accomplishment - they grew into wonderful, loving adults. Her firstborn was my mother, and I know I’m biased, but boy did she and Grandpa ever do a tremendous job raising her. I am sure thankful for the beautiful women in my life who have helped shape me into the person I am now; and, they are models for me - inspiration for me to always try to be a bit kinder, more patient, love deeper, and to trust in God.

So that has been the major contributing factor to my absence in the blogosphere as of late; and of course my return to work, coupled with day home drama! L Ack. I may as well bring you up to speed on that situation. Once we started full days the first week of February, I noticed that Annika was unenthusiastic about going to day home. She didn’t want to go in the mornings; she said she didn’t like it there. And of course Ethan was miserable. Then the operator began mentioning every day that Annika had multiple time outs, for things like shouting, climbing, being generally out of sorts with the other kids. There is one little girl in particular that Annika does not get along with. So each day I would pick her up and she would be crying because the operator said she had been naughty and had time outs. And I started counting the children in the home, because it just seemed like they were popping up in all corners, different kids. And one afternoon I counted 10 children. The next afternoon 9 children. I asked her how many children do you have here?! And she said it was supposed to be 6, but I can tell you that 95% of the time there are 8 and up. When 3 or 4 of those kids are under 19 months, I have been pretty concerned. I also really felt that my kids were just not fitting in, I don’t feel like the operator is that fond of my kids. I understand that not everyone is going to love my kids like we love our kids. But…our last day home operator was so amazing, and showed such love for all of the littles in her care…I know it’s possible. And I want better for my kids. I want them to be in a home where they are loved and given attention, and where they get to do crafts and activities! When I asked the current day home operator about whether or not they ever do crafts (because all Annika mentioned was movies!), she said that she would except Annika causes too much trouble with the other little girl, so she is forced to spend her time managing their interactions. Well, I believe that, but I also believe that the underlying issue is that the kids do not get the attention they need! By the way, it’s illegal to have that number of kids!! I chose this operator after visiting numerous homes, all with agencies, and I just didn’t find the right fit. This day home is not with an agency, but when we met with her initially it seemed like a great spot. This was before we knew how many children would be there!

Needless to say, we agreed that we will be taking our kids from the day home. I immediately started searching for another day home. (I’ve been on a waiting list for day cares for years and still haven’t gotten a spot, so I need to go the day home route). Checked with agencies, and then looked online and found a private day home that is in a neighbourhood just next to ours. (Right now I have to drive approx. 10-15 mins to get to the day home). So right off the bat, this is an improvement to the location of the caregiver. Then we all (including Daddy) went to meet their family. And it was a great, positive meeting. We met their whole family (they have 3 children aged 7, 3.5, 1). Their two youngest are the same ages as ours and the girls got along like a house on fire! Ethan will have a little buddy too…I’m cautiously optimistic. I am really hoping and praying that this family is the match for ours. Their daughter is going to the preschool that I registered Annika for (yay) and if Annika gets a spot, this day home operator will drive both the girls to/from playschool! What a blessing! She has reassured me that she will have a maximum of 6 children, as per regulation, and if she does accept any more it will be an older child (Annika’s age). I’m so thankful, and I like to think that this was God’s plan all along…let’s hope it goes smoothly. They start at the new place next week.

What else? Ethan has been nursing a horrible cough for months it seems. He got really sick in California while we were on holiday and he has not been able to shake his cough. When I took him in for his checkup last month, the doctor said if it hadn’t gone away in 3 weeks to go back. Well here we are 4 weeks after and we’re heading in this afternoon to get my boy checked out. I think we’re going to have to go the medication route to clear this out. I just want him to be healthy and then maybe he’d be slightly less miserable! LOL! He’s teething a bit too, so that always makes him grumpy. But boy, is he ever a going concern. He’s into everything, he’s communicating like crazy! Pointing and grunting when we wants something, sign language for more and I’ve been hearing “yesh” a lot. It’s adorable!

Ok, well that’s a looooong blog post. Hopefully I haven’t driven you all into the depths of boredom! I will be doing my best to get back on here soon and posting pictures, maybe sharing the scrapbooking layouts I’ve completed recently on Annika’s first year of life album. Err, yes, I may be a bit behind!

Have a wonderful week folks!
Penny

We love playing neighbours in our cardboard homes!