He's Free...

That's how my superhero DJ says his age now. Yup, he's three! Three years ago today, this wonderful little boy made me a Mom. My life's ambition was completed! All I'd wanted to do by the time I turned 16 was to be a Mom....and it took some help from the world of medicine to make this little boy a reality.
We'd been married for 2 years and trying to conceive him for over a year, so off we went to the Dr to find out why we couldn't. All the testing, and poking and prodding...turned out I was the one with the issue. In layman's terms, I had a steel trap door downthere that wouldn't allow his boys to swim freely. Easy fix in the world of infertility...we certainly lucked out there. We did our first (and only) IUI (IntraUterine Insemination) on September 10th, 2005, and it worked like a charm! Boy were we thankful too!!! Our little guy was born on June 7, 2006 after 19.5 hours of labour, of which 2.5 of those were pushing, he was born via c-section weighing in at 10 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long....I make 'em big! Since then he's been such an amazing little person...always wowing us with his talents! This last year we've seen him grow leaps and bounds!!! Literally too! He's currently standing at 3 ft, 2.75 in tall...so 38.75 inches....that's 2 inches since Christmas!!! His vocabulary has improved remarkably....as has his sense of humour! He is such a joy to have in our lives! To watch him be so incredibly loving to Samantha just melts my heart...he's constantly looking out for her (when he's not knocking her down that is) and sharing with her (when he's not taking everything from her) and hugging on her (it's more like a football tackle) and its just so cute!!

His birthday party today was a small affair and he had such a wonderful time! He really enjoyed opening all his presents, but didn't understand why he couldn't play with whatever he'd just opened right then! I'd love to say he was thrilled with all the clothes he got, but even at his tender age of three, he was not one bit excited..."oh, MORE shirts" without even looking in the box to see what else there might be...brat! And I was expecting more of a reaction to the movie Cars we gave him as he's been a Lightning McQueen freak for a while now....ho hum....and back to playing with the tool set my mom and dad gave him. Again...brat!

He's been very Daddy centric since his arrival last nite...which is MORE than okay with me!!! I'm enjoying the break...and Samantha did come around to him this morning. She woke up at 6 am and wasn't at all pleased that he was in bed with me...but he got up at that point to go read...so she nursed back to sleep and we both slept til 8 am! What a treat!!! She got up and let herself out the door and I waited for DJ to come say hello with the camera in hand...he did...came bounding in saying "Mum, you're awake!!!" Upon seeing the camera, he fled the room! BRAT!
After breakfast we had a birthday bath! Then we took off for the store to go get balloons!!! He didn't understand why he couldn't play with them right away and that they were for decoration...but he did okay without them til after everyone went home.
Nap time was a chore as he was just too excited!!! I fell asleep before he did, and woke with a start to find him peacefully sleeping beside me. Then I put SamSam down for her nap, and woke with a start on her too!

Everyone who said they were coming, came! Dinner was GREAT! (even if one of the cupcakes got eaten before it was cake time...) and I think DJ really enjoyed having everyone sing to him...he was just so darling to watch as he looked around the room to everyone singing...if only he could remember this! A room full of love for such a terrific kid!!!

One of his gifts from Aunt Joanne and Aunt Kim was Superman pyjamas that came complete with a Velcro cape...so we put them on for bed tonite! Turns out, his little buddy Clayton had the same PJ's, but his were Batman...SOOO cute! He, of course, didn't understand why he had to take the cape off to go to bed....even got up to go pee once I had Sam in bed, and asked where it was...whatta kid!

And so it is...I'm the mother of a 3 year old boy!!! Truly amazing! What a miracle he is!! And a gift by all means! I guess it's my birthday too in that regard! I thank the Lord for him daily!!!

Til next time...ciao!

He's here, he's here,

HE'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Howie arrived this afternoon and all is right in my world!!! DJ was positively THRILLED to have his own personal jungle gym around again! Him and me both!!!! Maybe all my bruises will clear up now....
Sam on the other hand...wanted NOTHING to do with this stranger...even tho she was smiling at him and looking at him, the moment he'd come near her, she'd freak out! I sure hope tomorrow goes smoother!! She was like this in March when he came for her birthday! It only took her a day and a half and then she was quite fine with him...its 3 months later and she's still in a very untrusting stage because of my leaving her to go to Maui. Poor girl!

OH and I forgot to mention...she FINALLY cut two of her molars!! The ones on the bottom...the ones on top are still gum-bumps.

The house is clean...decorated (DJ even helped)...the cupcakes are iced....the pork is in the crock pot cooking...the lasagna is thawing in the fridge...the presents are wrapped....whew! The only thing left to do is go get DJ some helium balloons tomorrow morning...and cut up veggies for a veggie tray. We're expecting 12 people aside from the 6 who reside here....not a bad turn out I'd say!! Just enough that we should be able to get a good visit in with everyone.

Off to snuggle with my man...he makes me go to bed MUCH earlier than I make myself....

Til next time...ciao!

Who Do I Speak To

About the fact that when you use a coupon IT DOESN'T COME OFF THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT UNTIL AFTER THE TAX!!??!?!?!?!!? Man, am I miffed about that!?!?!?! Seriously...who do I write a nasty little letter to!?!?!! grrrrrrrrrrrr hear me ROAR!!!

Ok...got that out of my system! Today was a fabulous day!!! This morning after my dad's little temper tantrum, we took off for the Farmer's Market to get some fresh goodies! The one dessert place wasn't there (they had the BEST Apple Dumplings!! and Date Squares!!!) but everyone else was open for business! After that we hit up Zellers to get diapers and wipes. Didn't want to do the Costco run for it as it could very well be that I'm only here for another 3 weeks, so why buy bulk to have to lug it home!?! While at Zellers...we happened on their clearance sale, buy one get one free! Can't beat that with a stick!?!? So we looked around at their various racks of clothing and found their Olympic stuff all on sale! SCORE!!!!!!! I did some Christmas shopping!! This just might be the earliest I've ever started!! I did GOOD!

After our shopping, we headed home for lunch, quickly too, because we had an afternoon date with my g/f Dee! I haven't seen her in about 6 mos!! She lives about 45 mins away, but since she returned to work in January after her mat leave, she's been hard to nail down!! (she screams a lot too when I try...) But today worked out perfectly!!! She's the one who takes such GOOD pix of my kids!! She did the one on my profile on Facebook! With DJ turning 3 and SamSam almost 15 mos, I thought it would be good to get some brother/sister pix. And to make it even MORE cute, they wore their Hawaiian outfits! SOOOOOO cute!! I can't wait to see the pix she took! If I could upload them from my camera to the PC, you'd already be seeing a bunch of them!! LOL (She wouldn't let me use my phone camera either...she's a bit of a camera snob! lol)
After leaving her house, we hit up Michael's for the cupcake decorations that are Cars themed...and then home! I could not for the life of me keep the kids awake...so they both slept for a half hour in the truck. DJ was positively MISERABLE to wake up!! Sam was just mad at me. Got thru dinner, and bath and then bed.
Once they were sleeping I made the cupcakes and folded laundry and wrapped DJ's presents (hid them too!). Such an exciting Friday nite! Howie's all packed up and ready to fly here!!! We're more than ready to have him here too!

The book I started last nite...too early to tell, but so far it's an easy read!

Til next time...ciao!

Those Suhhhummer Niiiiights

Yeah, I'm singing Grease tonite! LOL What a beautiful day here!! It was a balmy 71 with no wind...so while it was warm, it wasn't hot! Or unbearably HOT like it is/was in WA!!! SeaTac reported a record 90 degrees today! Man, I wish I was sittin in it too!! I like that kinda weather! Not so much fun to sleep in, but I do enjoy the heat.

This morning we headed to the 88 cent depot to get decorations for DJ's upcoming birthday party. While they don't have Nascar themed streamers (that WOULD have been perfect) or Cars themed streamers (even MORE perfect) I did get red, black and white. As well as some cake plates that have "Light McQueen" on them. He's getting more and more excited for this festive occasion! He even picked out his own wrapping paper!!!

After a much needed nap, I got up a few minutes earlier than DJ (Sam was chattering away in her crib) and grabbed a much needed shower! Then we got ourselves ready to hit the water park. Its been about a week (if not more) since we last frolicked in the sprinklers. DJ was just bursting with energy to go too!! Samantha even ventured into the water more today! Stepping into the baby sprinklers instead of just dipping her hands in. Like I said, it wasn't hot, so we didn't stay too long before the kids were chilled. Dried them off and headed up to the regular park. DJ was instantly followed by a little girl who was bout 5 maybe 6, and she just did whatever he did. It was cute to watch. Then she got caught up in something her friends were doing and left him alone. Next thing I know, he's got ANOTHER follower! And this one's not letting him go! They wandered over to the big kid swings and she was going to push him, but I stopped that....brought him over to the baby swings and she pushed him there. Her name was Allison and she's 7! It was funny to see DJ being so quiet with her! Normally he's "roaring" in kids faces as a greeting, but with her, she did all the talking. He was quite willing to follow her back to the slides, but I decided it was time to go and get dinner going. So we took off for home.

After dinner I made some oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies...don't be too impressed, it was with Betty's help that I accomplished this! Then I started SamSam's felted slippers!! I'm so excited to have gotten these on the needles tonite! I haven't knit in a few nites as there's really been nothing on TV to watch! Tonite I was home alone, so it was what I wanted to watch on TV and therefore the knitting needles just jumped in my hands!! lol

I finished Eclipse last nite...and I have to tell you, I was actually in tears reading the last chapter!!! Who knew vampires and werewolves would get to me! I can't wait to read Breaking Dawn, but will have to do just that til I can borrow it from a friend....who lives in WA! She and I have a movie date to watch her copy of Twilight too!!! (Yes, I still haven't seen it! LOL)
So, what's on my night table you ask? I Gave You My Heart, but You SOLD It Online by Dixie Cash. It looks good!!! My BFF Laura gave it to me last month when we had dinner with her and her family. She liked it! And I need a bit of a vampire break....I'll let ya know how it reads!!

Til next time...ciao!

Going to the hair DRESSER

With the emphasis on DRESSER....that's what DJ did this morning!! Man was he over due for it too!!! He's such a little bugger too...he's been SO excited all week to go get his hair cut, and we walk in the salon doors and he starts freaking out! In the end he had no cape on, so he was FULL of hair trimmings...and red gel on his forehead more than his hair. But the end result is this CUTE kid!!! His head looks smaller somehow with the hair cut...Boy does he look older tho with every one!! Man! He got a red lollipop outta the deal, and drew the hair DRESSER a pretty picture for her wall. And Sam really rather enjoyed playing with everything while he was contained...lol

After nap today we hit the park....and Miss Samantha is becoming more and more independent, and brave! She tries to climb up on things that are too tall for her, or too advanced...she's constantly trying to climb up the stairs to go up on the top where all the big kids access the slides, but with it just being me, and my butt being way too big for the slides, she has to settle for running around. Today alone she got mauled by two kids (one boy pulling her hair, and one girl hugging her from behind) and had one boy who just tagged along with her to make sure she was safe (he must have been 4 or 5) it was really cute! She also graduated to coming down the slide by herself!!! I put her at the top and tell her to wait and she does, giggling the whole time....then I quicklikebunny hop to the end of the slide and wait for her to come down. This is her mid-slide look! Then she stands up on the slide, tries to walk back up it, and looks at me as if to say "why isn't it working? I see all the other kids doing this!" And we repeat the whole thing over!

She's also starting to pick up on the sign language I'm teaching her. She understands more than what she actually signs. So if I sign to her, she gets it, but doesn't get yet, that she can sign it to me and I'll understand her. We're getting there!!!! She fully understands more and does the sign for it quite readily! The best, she'll nod her head yes or shake it no in response to questions. It's amazing!! Especially the concept of yes at this age! Usually it's always NO! lol

I'm pretty sure I'll be finishing up Eclipse tonite...I was up til 2 am last nite thanks to the Mud Pie we at with DJ's kid dinner at Joey's Only....I was WIRED for sound til then! I actually had to force myself to go to sleep then too knowing that Samantha would be up all too soon! And she was! Only this time she chose NOT to go back to sleep....so she was up for the day at 6:50! blech! I'm still trying to sort out in my head what the sleeping arrangements will be when we go back to WA. The kids are too young to share a room just yet, especially with Sam still waking once...and DJ not actually going to sleep the first time you put him to bed. I have a couple different scenarios in my head, all of which Howie's shot down...so still trying to figure it all out. His response..."Let's move"....music to my ears as I really don't like the layout of the house we're in! And I'm 1000% sure Howie misses having a garage!!! As do I! And truthfully, the street we're on is just too busy for our active-living the past 8 months in the country kids. So when we get the yes next week at the interview, I'll start looking for a new place to live. (shhhh, don't tell Howie I already started!!)

Til next time...ciao!

P.S...if you have a girl...check out my newest button addition for a blog I follow...all about little girl hair do's...and they're awesome!!!!

15 years is a LONG time

To go without contact with a friend!!! I'm very fortunate that I've managed to recreate several of my friendships that I thought were long lost! Case in point...today we had a play date with a dear friend of mine from church waybackwhen! It's been 15 years since we last had seen each other...life just got in the way. She got married and was on kid number 2, and I was just starting to show signs of Independence!!! Our lives were very different at that point in time! Fast forward to two weeks ago when I found her online at Facebook, and it's like those 15 years just evaporated! We chatted via messages and it turns out she lives in the same town I'm currently in!! NO WAY! She also has kids that are very close to my kids' ages....and has 8 (EIGHT) of them!!! You could have knocked me over with a feather!
So we set up a play date at the park that we just love going to, for today!

OH it was so good to see her!!! I swear, she still looks 18!!!! It's just unreal! And DAMN she looks good for having had 8 kids!!!! And honestly....her kids were ANGELS all morning!!! Meanwhile, mine are throwing tantrums, and running off on me!! HA! Granted, she's had way more experience than me...and her kids were watching out for each other, which REALLY helps!!! It was simply amazing too, to see how each child resembles each other, yet in their own way you can see how this one favours dad, or mom, or even the grandparents!! It's just more evident when you have 5 siblings together in one place!
We'll definitely be getting together again since it was such an easy time with all the kids together, DJ had a blast playing in the sand with 3 of her kids, and SamSam was smitten (as was he) with her youngest son who's 18 mos old. It was just adorable! I think next time I'll suggest a picnic lunch....

In other news....I had an epiphany of sorts....the fee of 400 US for the visa...I think we've already paid that!! Gonna send off an email to get confirmation, but it would definitely be a huge weight off my shoulders if we didn't have to come up with it AGAIN! Plus, none, and I do mean NONE of my paperwork says we need to have that money with us. The gal who sat beside me yesterday, her paperwork clearly said to bring that amount...and it was in bold print so you wouldn't miss it.

I'm getting super excited for Howie to come on Saturday!!! 4 more sleeps!! And then DJ's birthday is the day after that!! He's VERY excited about it all!! I have to get out and get decorations!!! And get him in for a haircut...figure out when to get his pictures taken...and the list goes on!! LOL Now, tho, I'm off to bed!!

Til next time...ciao!

THE physical (NMM incl)

While waiting in the Dr's office for my intense physical, I did not pop a Halls candy in my mouth to get rid of the strawberry yogurt taste from breakfast! It wasn't my best idea...lol Also, while at said Dr's office, I did not feel the urge to cough and make everyone nervous...I'm so mean!!! Don't worry, I behaved myself!
Oh and at the receptionist's desk, I did not look like a senior citizen when I put my ear up to the hole thingy to hear what she said to me...pretty sad, but the whole area was glass enclosed!





OK, that's enough of the Not Me's that I've learned from MckMama...on to bidness!!! Yes, THE physical was this morning. After camping out on my sister's couch, I totally slept thru my alarm on my phone. It took my SIL shaking my awake before I heard it. Not bad...5 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!! I'll take it! I groggily made my way to the bathroom where I spruced up my hair, put my contacts in and got dressed. Drank down my protein shake and had a strawberry yogurt....and Kim graciously offered to drop me off at the Dr's office.


I got there for 7:10 am...walk in the entrance and BAM the office is right there! I look around and think "oh goody, I'm first!" The very first thing I'm to do is "wash" my hands with hand sanitizer mounted on the wall in front of me. Then I hand her my interview letter stating that yes, I am to be there for a physical. She then sends me to the waiting area....where there's a TONNE of people waiting...d'oh! I counted 14 other people there besides me. Some still half asleep! and more coming in behind me. So I grabbed the first chair, and started twittering....what else am I gonna do?! lol


About 8:10 my name gets called....I follow the gal and she takes all my info, makes sure I have everything, prints up a bunch of labels and takes my money!! (275 for this visit) Then sends me to wait in the hallway for a chest X-ray. As I'm waiting, there's a gentleman across from me and we get to chatting...he's also trying to get a visa for the U.S....and this is his second time in his life. He had one 2o years ago and then came back to Canada, and is now applying again. So I basically interviewed him! Come to find out that yes, I DO need a pre-paid envelope for them to mail the visa to me...and yes, it WILL cost more money (400 US) when I go for the interview....no, it's NOT a personal interview...picture a jail cell conversation...a partition of glass between us, with a slot cut into the bottom for passing documents. YIKES!!!
He also told me that when we get there (and DO get there early), take as little as possible as the security is strict, and then you're herded down to the basement to wait...he told me to sit as close to the elevator as possible...then when they open the building (8 am) they'll take us up to the 19th floor where you get in line for the cashier...go there straight away! Once you pay the fee, you get a number....and then you wait, and wait! It could take til 1pm for us to be done depending on how busy it is.
Then it was my turn for the X-ray. Strip the top half of my clothing off to put on a beautiful blue paper gown! CLICK and we're done. Get dressed and take the gown with me....go back to the waiting area....sit down, tweet some more, and my name is called, I follow and am put in an examining room...I was told to get completely undressed and put my gown on and wait. I did...and waited and waited. The room I was in was smaller than some walk in closets I've had!!! There were 6 really CREEPY pictures of butterflies on the wall...a desk, the exam table, and a book shelf in the room. Oh and a sink! The Dr comes in, asks medical history, checks over my vaccination records, checks my throat, my eyes, my breathing, and then focuses on my thyroid. Apparently it's enlarged...which could very well be the reason I'm not losing weight properly (or at all!) and his suggestion was to see my regular GP and get tested. Just so happens I have a physical with her next week!!! I'll be doing just that!!! He even calls in two other Dr's to check it out...huh? They both check and ask me to swallow, and poke at my neck...and agree, it's worth the follow up!


Then he sends in a female Dr to do the breast exam, and downthere test, from which I was exempt (whew!) and on his way out, he says, look at her thyroid. Am I such a novelty!?!?! Maybe it's because I'm Caucasian....who knows! But I will get it checked...dammit! lol





After she's done with her test, she tells me to get dressed while she sorts thru the paper work...gives me back my stuff and tells me to go back to the waiting area to be called for blood work. Someone calls my name (wrongly this time) and off I go for the poke in the arm. It was rather quick and not too painful!
I then get sent to reception and told to pick up my results on/after Wednesday...huh? I have to come back?? I wasn't aware of that! I'm hoping my sister will pick it up for me, and bring it with her on Sunday when she comes for DJ's 3rd birthday party!!!





I then walked back to the parking lot near my sister's to get the car and headed home!!! Home by 11 and the kiddos were in great shape! Sam was excited to see me!!! I was hoping she wouldn't be too mad at me for not being there this morning! It's all good! Then it was lunch and naps....and I spent that quality quiet time searching on the internet. We're trying to come up with a back-up-what-if plan! Roughly, it entails me and the bambinos moving to B.C. to be closer to Daddy...but nothing's set in stone...so I won't go into details. It's so mind boggling!!! Thought consuming and mentally draining!!!



So, off I go to read....getting to the REALLY REALLY good part of the book...which is too close to the end! And I don't have the next one waiting...whatever am I gonna do??



Til next time...ciao!