Big News!

I haven't written in a while. Partly because I have some big news that I have been trying to keep a secret for a while. I am pregnant! Yay! I am 12 weeks along now so the due date is April 12, 2010. We are so excited and so are the girls. I was feeling pretty nausous the first 10 weeks, now it's tapered off. The headaches have begun though. : ( And once in a while I think I can feel it move! I had an ultrasound and there is only one!! Whoo hoo! And I heard the heartbeat last week. That was so reassuring! I have been so paranoid with having a miscarriage earlier this year. But after having the ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat I have relaxed a little. So far these first 3 months have flown by and I hope the next 28 weeks will fly by as well. I'm not really showing yet. I have bulged out just enough to make normal pants feel a little uncomfortable. I have been wearing my Fat Pants once in a while. : ) I seriously need to go shopping for maternity clothes. Hopefully I can do that soon!
The girls have started kindergarten and they are liking it. It takes a few minutes each morning to get them motivated to go and when they get home from school at the end of the day they tell me they had a good day and had fun. So I am glad they don't hate it. They ride the bus which is another big thing to get used to. So far they seem to enjoy it. It's getting colder though in the mornings. We have a little shed we have to move to the road so we have something to stand in while waiting for the bus.
So yea, life has been interesting! And I can't wait for what's to come! : )

So we just finished a week of holidays (July 24 - 31). I had planned on going to Jasper for a few nights but we decided to just stay at the cabin with our trailer. Turned out very nice. The weather was awesome (in the 30s). Had a game of golf with the hubby, Marcy & Dorin. The game started out very good (Marcy got par on the 3rd hole! Beginners luck? Or is she a closet golfer?) After about the 5th hole her and I started playing worse and worse. Too funny.

We did a lot of BBQing. Yum!

Took a boat ride one evening to check out Bird Shit Island that's being taken over by pelicans.

One afternoon the water felt so warm the girls decided to put their fear of the bloodsuckers aside and went in. They were having a ball! It was so cute watching them chase eachother around. They found a golf ball in the water and were taking turns throwing it and the other would go find it. Then Erika tripped on an anchor (that was tied to the water trampoline) and cut the top of her foot pretty deep. That ended the fun. : (

Another day my dad, the girls and I decided to go for a boat ride. It was a little after 3:00 pm. We took off across the lake, the weather was a little iffy. Some clouds were brewing, meaning we shouldn't have been out there in the first place. We were in the middle of the lake when the boat ran out of gas in one tank, dad got up, changed tanks, and couldn't get the boat started again. The battery was DEAD! He tried pull starting it over and over, that didn't work. We had no cell phone so we decided to just paddle for it back to the cabin. Uncle Neil and uncle Allan were both out in their boats at the time so we were watching for them to come save us. Well we got about half way there and the wind started picking up, which created big waves that were very persistant in pushing us AWAY from the cabin. The girls at this point started getting sea sick. They were puking and puking, and crying and crying. Crying to go home and crying for their blankets. I felt so helpless and frustrated because this was so out of my control.

We saw uncle Neil at one point heading back to the cabin. I tried waving my paddle but he couldn't see us. So we continued paddling. We thought if we could make it to big point we would be good. We didn't make it. The waves at this point were getting so big and it started to rain steady. My dad was paddling at the back of the boat while I was paddling at the front of the boat on the same side but we just couldn't get the boat pointed in the right direction. It felt like we were going to flip over. The girls were sleeping under the deck, just laying on a life jacket.

We ended up way out in Mulhurst bay. We had no idea what time it was since we didn't have a watch either. We just kept on paddling. We gave up paddling towards big point and decided to paddle with the current and try to get to shore before dark. Dad then said so sadly, "Doesn't look like my brothers are coming."

I saw a boat coming, I started waving my paddle and noticed he was already towing another boat. So I gave up on that idea. Then Annika woke up and started puking some more. I was ready to loose it at this point. Then finally dad said, "There's another boat." I yelled at him to wave his paddle and he said the boat was headed right for us! Yay! It was uncle Allan and uncle Neil! I was SO relieved!!

Turns out it was almost 7:30pm, meaning we were out there paddling for 4 hours. Uncle Neil phoned back to the cabin and told everyone there that we were found. Mom I guess was bawling the whole time we were missing and was tempted to phone 9-1-1. So she was VERY releived to hear we were okay. So we got a tow back. Dad was freezing and shaking and it was a long ride back. I covered the girls with a couple more lifejackets to keep them warm and they went back to sleep and woke up just when we got back to the cabin. They got out of the boat crying so hard, my mom swooped them up and took them to our trailer and cranked the heat for them. I got out of the boat and could hardly walk straight. Marcy greeted me with a hug and that's when I broke down and cried a bit. I was a little scared out there. It was NOT fun. Dad headed to their motorhome to get warmed up while I gave the girls a hot bath. It sure felt good to change into dry clothing! : )
It was quite the experience I tell ya. But you know it could have been worse! It could have been storming more than it was.

So I think we learned our lesson. Take cell phone with on a boat ride and no more going across the middle of the lake, stick close to shore.

Good News!

Got a phone call last week from Annika's doctor. Nothing showed up on her xray test! We just can't figure out why she keeps getting the infections. She was so brave and did soooo well for the test! Darren and I were very proud of her! We ended up letting her pick out a new movie later at WalMart. She deserved it! I am so relieved the test showed nothing was wrong.

Yet Another Update

For starters I have got to start writing more! Man! I just get too busy I guess. What's new? Well...
Annika just got over her third bladder infection in a row now. She is booked for an x-ray on Monday. They are going to inject dye into her bladder with a catheter, hopefully while she is sedated, and take an x-ray of her bladder to make sure her urine is flowing out and not refluxing back into her kidneys. I am so nervous for her! I hope everything is normal. And I just hope they sedate her! If everything looks good the doctor said he might put her on some antibiotics she will need to take everyday on an ongoing basis until he thinks she can be off it. I just can't figure out why she keeps getting these bladder infections! So frustrating.

Darren has been away in Ontario on a business trip since the 4th. He comes home tomorrow night! We have been missing him!

On May 29th one of our farm cats Willow had kittens in our yard under the wood shed. She has been coming into the house to eat a few times a day since. Well a few days ago she decides that her kittens must be in our house! I looked out my door and she carried one onto our deck. I picked it up and took it back and put it back under the woodshed. About an hour later Annika saw her through the living room window coming to the deck with another kitten. I went to the door and opened it, Willow came right in with her kitty and dropped it at the door. It occurred to me that she is just going to keep on with this, and it was getting close to supper time, so I decided to just go get the other kitten and bring it in also. So I set them up in a pet carrier in our living room with Willow. The kittens were all settled in with their mommy so I went to go make supper, when I thought I heard another kitten crying. I ran outside and looked around both decks, didn't see a kitten anywhere, and thought maybe I just was hearing things. I checked under the shed with a flashlight and couldn't see or hear another kitten.
Later on that night I put the cats in the laundry room and shut the door, and then went to bed. Around 4:00am I hear a kitten crying so I go into the laundry room to find the carrier tipped over. So I fix the carrier and put the kittens back in it and went back to bed. Again the crying started, I got up and realized the crying is coming from my room! I turn on the light thinking 'How the hell did the kitten get out of the laundry room?' I then realize the crying is coming from MY CLOSET! Well holy shit, am I losing it? I open the door and find a tiny kitten laying on Darren's backpack! A third kitten! And it is half the size of the other two kittens, the runt for sure. I put the kitten with Willow and it's siblings in the carrier and go back to bed trying to think how the hell she got that kitten by me! I then remembered the girls had let her in a couple times during the day and I kicked her out both times. She must have brought it in first sometime during the early afternoon and the other two kittens she was trying to do the same. Talk about weird! Now I have seen it all! So they are all shacked up in the shed now , still in the carrier, tonight is night #2 for them in there. They are so sweet! And the girls are just in their glory!
So I told Darren all about this experience while talking to him on the phone (while he is in Ontario) and he didn't think it was too amusing I guess. All he said was, "So did you drown them?" Men....go figure.

Happiness is....

Happiness is....the children are in bed, the hubby is over at a friends house watching UFC, I am seated at the kitchen table with a cup of hot tea, almost finished a 1000 piece puzzle, and a kitty purring on my lap. Ahhh...

Anger is.....the son of a bitch cat falls off my lap, grabs for something, and takes part of the puzzle down with her. Grrrrr....

Well it's been a while since I wrote last. Still dealing with the after effects of the miscarriage. I went into emergency at the Gray Nun's on the 11th with bad cramps thinking it was a tubal pregnancy or something. Waited in the waiting room for almost 5 HOURS (8:00pm - 12:40am) and found out it was just my uterus contracting and not to worry. So that was a relief. I have had to go get bloodwork done once a week to check my pregnancy hormone levels which are still lingering. A couple weeks ago it was in the 70s. Last week it was 14. I went yesterday for bloodwork and am hoping it is the last time! I'm sick and tired of going already! And I am hoping my body will get back to normal soon too. So annoying!

I registered the girls for kindergarten last week! New Humble school is awesome and I am sure the girls are going to love it! I am pretty impressed with the school. It's small so it has such a family feeling to it.

Annika has been sick with a cold the past few days and has come down with another bladder infection. It's been a year since she last had one. Not sure why she keeps getting them. She went for an ultrasound for her tummy last year or the year before (can't remember) and it showed everything was fine. It's a mystery!

Darren got back on Tuesday from a business trip to Reno. He was gone for 12 days and we missed him so much! He bought the girls 2 High School Musical t-shirts each and cute HSM hats. They have been wearing the shirts all week and even to bed as nighties! Too cute.
So that's about all that's new since my last post. Chow!

Life Goes On

Well it's been a strange month or so. Not even sure I should be writing about this for everyone to see but here it goes. We have been talking about trying for another baby here soon; well it happened sooner than we expected. I conceived in January sometime. I was shocked and worried since it happened so soon after going off the pill (which was only at the end of December). Took a couple pregnancy tests which turned out positive. I then started getting a little excited, thinking the baby would be due in October, and planning to get bunk beds for the girls so they can share a room again, yadda yadda yadda.
Well about 4 days later the spotting started. Went to the doctor and she pegged me at being 6 weeks pregnant. She said it is probably the case where the sperm entered the egg but no fetus grew. It's just an empty sack basically. That saddened me. She booked me for an ultrasound for Wednesday 11th. So I had to wait.
The next night I dreamt that Dr. House was in my bathroom with me, he looked at my pregnancy test and said flat out that I wasn't pregnant. That dream bugged me.
Friday 13th got the Leduc Rep and my horoscope said something like don't listen to other people's opinions and that Tuesday would be a challenge. Well I thought my ultrasound was on Wednesday so the day was wrong.
Well Saturday morning (14th) the spotting turned more pink so I went into emergency and got checked out. Got my blood done to check hormone levels. The Dr wanted me to go every two days after and get my blood checked to make sure the hormone levels were rising. The level is supposed to double every two days. My level on Sat. was 411. Low. Not good. He said also that he got me in for an ultrasound on Tuesday, a day sooner than my original appointment. My horoscope was turning out to be right after all. Again, not good.
Monday(16th)went for more blood work.
Tuesday morning Dr. called and said my hormone levels dropped by half to 200 and something so I did have a miscarriage after all. I was kind of expecting that but hoping and praying at the same time that everything was going to turn out okay. Went in for my ultrasound that day to confirm. I asked the doctor if this happened because I just went off the pill but he said that doesn't cause micarriages. Just that something must have been wrong and so the body gets rid of it.
I was pretty sad but thinking that things happen for a reason. I had to keep my chin up and focus on my two beautiful girls. Not sure if we will try again. I am thinking the higher powers are telling me to just be happy with what we have. Two healthy children whom my life revolves around. They were excited when we told them they were going to be big sisters and it broke my heart to tell them the baby is gone now. It was also hard to tell everyone who knew I was pregnant the bad news.
I haven't cried yet. Not sure if I will. I am actually doing okay. I am glad it happened when it did and not a few months down the road.
So that's what we've been dealing with for the past few weeks. It sucks but life goes on. Gotta push forward and enjoy what life has given us.

Update

Took the girls to see their first show a couple weekends ago. It was the High School Musical Ice Tour at Rexall Place in Edmonton. Erika got the first movie from Santa for Christmas and they are both hooked on it. So when this came up I thought they would LOVE it! We had to drag Darren with us as well since I don't drive in the city. He was probably dreading it, but oh well, parents have done crazier things for their kids.
Well we got there and when the show started I thought the girls would really get into it, instead they sat in their seats the whole time not moving a muscle. I enjoyed it the most I think. The girls talked about it when we got home and said they liked it so I guess it wasn't a total waste of time and $$.
The past couple Saturdays we have been playing Rock Band at our friends house till 1:00am. Time flies when you're having fun! I wish we could get our own system and game. Bills to pay...
Sunday Darren decided to take down a couple poplar trees in our yard. Of course he didn't ask for any help and his dad just watched from the garage.
He has been watching some reality show lately on the lumberjack business in Oregon. Good show, but I'm thinking he thought he could be like them and take a tree down himself no problem. BIG difference here though, on the show they are in a forest and if the tree happens to fall a little in the wrong direction they don't have to worry about hitting a HOUSE!
So I'm in the house watching while my heart is pounding in my chest, worried they won't fall their intended ways. The first one fell good, right into the bush. Okay, one down, one more to go. Well he cut through it, AND IT WOULDN'T FALL!!! It stood there teetering and I am starting to sweat. Darren tries pushing it. Didn't work. He runs and gets a 2x4 and tries to push it over with that. And I am talking about a very tall, heavy tree here. Well the tree cracks a bit, sways towards the bush, then sways back towards Darren, he steadies it and goes running for yet another 2x4 but longer. He tries to push it with that and then all of a sudden the tree leans towards the yard and falls, severing the head of my reindeer lawn ornament and the tips of the tree banging into the deck breaking a couple Christmas lights. Yea I almost shit my pants. If it would have fallen a little bit towards the house it would have slammed into our living room windows! So I have taken Darren's chainsaw privileges away from him for a while now. He is no longer allowed to cut anymore trees unless he has help and ROPES!
So there is just a little update on what's been going on around here. Typical stuff you know. Chow for now!

Housewife Dilema

So I have been thinking about converting to shopping at the new No Frills store in Leduc.

The midgets call it the Banana Store because of the sign. Too funny. : )

I love Sobey's! I know mostly everything in that store is overpriced. But now they have the Sobey's points to collect, which is nice because you know you will get something back in return eventually, only thing is you gotta collect a shit load of points just to get $5 off.

I like that you don't have to put money into the cart, at No Frills you can't get a cart unless you put I think $.25 in the thing, WHICH I CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT! Am I stupid? Why can't I figure it out?!

Anyways, at Sobey's they have people, like 99% of the time, to bag your groceries for you. No Frills you have to bag yourself. Uggghhh. I hate bagging my own groceries, especially because I only make a few trips to a store about 3 times a month so it's always a lot of stuff. When you got two kids in tow I just can't see that working! I want shopping to be relaxing! It's already stressful enough!

Sobey's have these really cool re-usable bags, I have 3 which I always forget to take with me, which defeats the whole purpose of having them. But if I forget to take them, no problem, the groceries just come home in plastic bags. At NoFrills you have to buy every plastic bag you use! I just don't know. I think I will stick to Walmart and Sobey's. Ahh the dilemas of a housewife.