Things are looking up

Well last night Mattias had his first bowel movement since Thursday and had another one this morning. This is great news because it shows that things are once again working like they should inside. He also had his stomach tube removed from his nose this morning. And I think he has had his last dose of Morphine at six this morning. A little while ago he was sitting up in his bed (with some help of course) and was playing with his new birthday present from the Thiessens. He was quite excited to open it up and play with it. He was talking and smiling and just being more like his old self. Later on I am going to try to get him to walk with me. Now we can leave the room because the only tubes he still has attached is the IV. That will be coming out once he's eating again. I am doing surprisingly well and am really just enjoying my one on one time with dear little Tias. Justin, with some man help, is moving our stuff into our new townhouse today. There's alot going on these days but yet I have never felt such peace. I am so thankful that in any trial or just at any moment I can take my concerns and worries to the Lord in prayer. There's such peace and contentment knowing these things are not in my control but in the Lord's hands. Blessings to you all and I will post pictures once I am able. All is well...PRAISE THE LORD. (Like my Dr said to me this morning if we lived in a third world country we'd be having a funeral not celebrating his recovery. We truly are over BLESSED here in Canada and for that I am so thankful and hope to one day soon pass on that blessing to those less fortunate.)

Mattias is still sick

Mattias had his operation, 3 cm of his small bowel were taken out as it was wearing thin and close to bursting and was wrapped around his umbilical cord (inside his stomach). He is currently in recovery mode, for me it is too slow! It is very painful to watch him in this situation, he has not really said anything the whole time he has been at the hospital, we are used to him chatting alot! He had his first bowel movement tonight so that is a positive and the nurse said she could here a little bit of bowel action in his stomach (which is what we've been waiting for!).
I am uploading some photos of Tias in the hospital.
Here is the link Photos

Mattias had his first operation!

Well late lastnight they decided after many tests to opperate and take out Mattias' appendix and 3 cm of his bowel. They wheeled him into our room at 4 am and he has been sleeping pretty good since. He's on morphine and that is helping with his pain. Please be praying for a quick healing and that he would get back to his old self soon. Also that I would continue to be loving, patient and energetic with him as I will not be leaving his side until we go home which looks like saturday or sunday at the earliest. Just a quick up to date from the 4th floor here at the hospital. Blessings to you all...

Mattias is still sick

Just a quick up to date..last night Mattias was up all night throwing up. Today he didn't much improve so we decided that it's best for Justin to take him into the ER. A few hours later Justin phoned to say that Mattias is on an IV and will be staying in the hospital until his stomach is good. He had blood work done and x-ray's done and all came back good. So it looks like it's just a viral thingy. So I am on my way to spend the night with our little two year old in the hospital. Please pray for strength, energy, patience, and a quick recovery from the yucky cold/flu we all have and that Tias could come home sooner rather then later. Until then friends...Blessings.

World Vision

Just listening to the news and reading it online about Haiti...I'm not sure what you know about Haiti, but it is one of the poorest most malnourished countries in the world! Right now there is even a larger crisis happening than before, the aid agencies (including churches & World Vision) are running out and have indeed run out of food to give to the poor. The prices for products are skyrocketing and inflation is rising way faster than peoples wages. One man told a story of being so desperate to feed his children that he sold his tools that he used to make furniture with, now he is stuck working in a corn field not making enough to bring home food for his family.
CTV Story


World Vision

Birthday

It has been quite awhile since we've done any updates...we've been busy! We are in the midst of two moves, once we are through we will update you on what has been taking place. Our camera is not working, so there won't be as many photos, I took some today with my mom's camera so we can post them online.

Today was Mattias & Saffron's birthday party and then we had a birthday party for Jerine & John. There is a new photo slideshow on the side of this site as well we will post more photos once our camera is up and running.

Here is a picture of the two sickies with their birthday cake. With all that has been happening, we are all (except Sam right now) sick with the flu! Sore throats, running nose, watery eyes, achy bones, etc.

We're settling...AGAIN!

Well for those of you who don't know we have relocated to "K-Town" once again. I know most of you will laugh at this but this time is the real deal. We registered Sam for Kindergarten at a school near by and we got a really, I mean REALLY great house. It's been fun unpacking everything that has been packed up since July when we moved from Kelowna to Surrey. Justin has been working six days a week and will continue that from now on. It makes for some crazy days. Especially since he's working 1-9 monday to friday and 6am-2pm on Saturdays. Unpacking the house with three children is more then a challenge. I take one step forward, unpack a box, and take 10 steps back, the children spread everything everywhere. It's been slow and frustrating. I don't do well with being unorganized and this unpack has been taking forever. I like to get everything put away and then the fun begins, the decorating. The children's rooms are set up and so is the main floor bathroom and kitchen. But the rest of the house is still scattered. I said to Justin the other night, "I look forward to when the children are all snug in their beds and I can do something other then UNPACK and organize. Like sewing, card making, twirl and frilling, painting, or any other hobby I haven't done since before I was a mother of three."
Speaking of the three, they are all growing and changing everyday. Sam is 4 years and 3 months and as strong willed as ever. He tests me ALL THE TIME. But with that also comes alot of tenderness. He's a helper, a hugger, a snuggler, and is getting more and more creative with the simplest things. He is learning to read and is getting really quite good at it. It amazes me how quickly he picks up words and letters. He actually can read one of his books all to himself. He really excels at school work and crafts. If we do a bit of each everyday there are few confrontations with him. Mattias is almost 22 months old. He can still be easy going but is learning he has voice. He is speaking new words everyday. And no matter what words I ask him to say, he will try his hardest to say it. He is so cute when he says Sam...."sssssssAAAAA"! He hasn't gotten the MMMMM part yet but soon. And he LOVES his "baby" Saffron. Those two are so cute together. They share a room and often at nap times or in the morning I'll hear them giggling and talking to each other. They both squeal and smile when they see eachother. I often refer to them as the "twins" because they are so close in size and age and seem to have a special connection. Saffron is 9 1/2months and is finally crawling. She really wasn't interested in doing it because she had no reason to. Both boys would always bring her toys to her, so she didn't need to move anywhere. It's fun watching her "commando slither" on the floor. Like she's in the trenches or something. She just got her two front teeth which makes a total of four teeth, including her two front bottom teeth. She's so funny now when she's eating dry Cheerios. Instead of just popping them in her mouth she insists on taking the tiniest bight off and savoring each bight. She's so easygoing but lets you know when she wants something. And she's a real character, a real "ham bone" my mom would say. She's great fun and my little sweetie. She has this girly, leadership, calmness about her. I am excited to see what kind of woman she will become.
As far as us, we're good. Tomorrow Justin and I will have officially known each other for ten years. Yep, I met him Ferbruary 10, 1998 after being transfered into his "Family Management" class. He was the first person to say hi to me and called me "Becky" at first because that's what he thought my name was. Those early days of our friendship were so fresh and trying. My uncle had just died suddenly of a heart attack and I was really trying to figure this whole life and death thing out. I know I met Justin for a reason. I had questions about life and death and heaven and God and he was able to answer them as best and Biblically as he could. One month later I accepted Christ as my saviour and then knew what this whole life thing was all about. And I no longer was worried about dying because I knew exactly where I was going, heaven. Yep there has been alot of laughs and rawness over these last ten years. There is nothing Justin doesn't know about me and nothing I don't know about him. We have always, from the very beginning, shared EVERYTHING with each other. It's something that's important to us and because of that I know we won't lose that. So ten years of friendship, almost nine years of being a couple, 6 1/2 years of marriage, and close to five years, if you include the pregnancy with Sam, of being parents....TOGETHER! I am more in LOVE with him now then I was all those years ago. He's a great Papa, husband and friend. Here's to another 70+ years. Cheers!

I see light at the end of the tunnel

This past week has been tough because we have all taken turns being sick. But as far as child raring, this week has been the best it has in a very, very long time. Sam has hardly needed to be disciplined and hasn't pushed the usual buttons he likes to push. He has been more helpful then usual and is listening and obeying pretty much right away. It has been a nice, refreshing week as a mom. There are times when I feel like pulling my hair out of my head and question if I know anything about raising three children. I know what I've read in the Bible and parenting books; I know what I observe from family, friends, and out in the public; I know the good and bad from when I (and Justy) was raised. I am amazed with all of that, I still don't "know it all"! I am constantly reassessing myself as their parent. The only way I will be able to do the best that I am capable is to be constantly on my knees....giving my days to the Lord and asking for forgiveness. But these days of "light" are so great and a constant reminder why I love being a mom and so thankful the Lord has granted me these precious children.

Our baby is four!

Nine days overdue, high blood pressure, been on bed rest for two weeks and finally I am being induced....
Next day he's still in there face up and not coming down so they vacuum him and finally at 2:14pm November 8th, 2003 our little "hoover" was born in Kelowna. Some complications arose and I wasn't able to see him until 7:30 that night. From that moment on he has been in my care. Sure there's been the odd babysitter, "quiet" time for myself, or a marriage retreat for Justin and me. But since his birth, he has been apart of every single one of my days. That's about 1460 days of loving, laughing, teaching, crying, disciplining, YAWNING, praying, wondering, reading, playing, walking, rocking, climbing, SNUGGLING, cleaning, changing, touching, worrying, feeding, imagining, negotiating, listening and rubbing my hands through his beautiful "copper" hair. He has brought so much joy to us. His tenderness and sensitivity warms my heart and reminds me to be more tender and more sensitive. I pray his stubborness and determination will be used for God's glory and the kingdom of Heaven. Though these days it is mostly resulting in time-outs and me sprouting gray hairs. He is very truthful and must know every detail. He is a great helper and loves to get dirty. He LOVES to dance and listen to all kinds of music. He loves splashing in the water and uses lots of caution when trying new things. He has NEVER slept well and rarely goes to bed without a fuss. He prefers to pray at mealtime and bedtime. He is really good with electronics and has his own imac. He plays with his blocks and Hot Wheels every single day. He likes playing pretend with Mattias and dressing up. He loves meeting and greeting new people. He loves story time. He loves his Nanny and Grandma and often asks to pray for them. He can be particular about his fashion, his outfits. He doesn't like cheese but will pretty much eat anything else. He's not much of a breakfast guy but prefers a second helping at dinner. He is quite content to play by himself with one thing for a while. Once he likes something, it lasts. After more then two years, "Thomas" is still a loyal companion. He loves to hold his baby sister and tell his brother Mattias what to do. He likes shopping and going for drives. He does NOT like bugs. He does like animals. He can dress and UNdress himself. He likes watching and reading "Berenstain Bears". He is learning his alphabet and starting to read. He is often interested in the weather and what the forecast is.
He is RHTHYM.
He is fair skinned.
He has thick, corse, "copper" hair.
He has big, blue eyes.
He has several birthmarks.
He is our first born.
He is loved by many.
He is four years old!

Longtime no see!

Well I have decided to once again blog and keep you all up to date with us. So here goes....
Life is good but busy. Justin is working five days a week at Focus on the Family. The children and I drive Justin to work on Tuesday's and Thursdays so we can have the van. We drop him off and then go to our church, Cloverdale Baptist Church. Tuesdays I have a mom's Bible study (Which I am really, really enjoying!) and Thursday's there's a mom and tot's thing called "Busy Bees" that we go to. Each thing is about two hours but there's alot more driving and rushing around early in the morning in order to get there on time. But its worth it. The children and I really like going, visiting and meeting new people, and just getting out of the house makes things smoother and the week go quicker. Speaking of the house, we are still here in Surrey housesitting Justin's grandma's place. We are enjoying it here very much. It looks like as of late that we'll be here until April '08. Then we are praying to find a townhouse near either our church in Cloverdale or Justin's work in Langley. That way one of us can walk and the other have the van. Also I am praying that it will be close to a Sam's future school so Tias, Saffron, and myself can walk him to it. And then maybe I'll take in some school kids who also need to be walked and picked up and looked after til dinner just to make some extra cash. We'll see though, three children keeps my arms full and patience maxed out. Speaking of children, they are all getting so old. Well not really but it seems like yesterday Sam was just a little guy and a week today he's going to be four. I can't believe how time is flying. In some ways it seems like forever ago and in other's it seems like yesterday. He's grown like a weed these last few months. In one month he grew too tall for all of his pants. He's doing really good at his alphabet and counting. And he's learning how to read and write. It's so fascinating watching him learn how to read words for the very first time. I've never experienced learning in such a raw and fresh way. Mattias is 18 months old and trying really hard to say everything. He says hi, bye, ball, p-ees(please), mo(more), mama, papa, and his words for everything else. Lately he has taken to Sam's stuffed Monkey named "Flap Jack". Tias calls him "fap fap" and doesn't go anywhere without him. He takes him to bed, church, playroom, in the van, everywhere. It's really cute. He's still a great sleeper having his two-three hour nap after lunch and going to sleep by 7:30pm. He's up earlier these days though, about 7:30am. Saffron is 6 months old and is starting to eat solids. She's had vegetables, fruit and cereal. Nothing too complex but seems to like it all. She really saviour's every bit. It's actually quite hilarious how she sucks her lips in and makes funny noises with every bite. She's sort of "crawling" around. She lays on her back, looks upside down and scooches with her head and feet. She loves her jolly jumper and exersaucer. She's quite easy going but has her opinion about things too. She jibber jabber's constantly and often sounds like "ET" or "Darth Vader". She's quite the character and the boys love her to bits. Lots of hugs and kisses and scrape and bruises. Tias likes to swap soother's with her which she's not too keen on having a bigger soother shoved in her mouth by an 18 month old. Her and Tias are both in size 3 diaper and not far off in length. Saffron is quite long and lean. Just enough chub to be cute and to fit her pants properly. Tias is a bit of a picky eater and is thinning out quite a bit. Not that we don't try to feed him, he's just not that interested in food these days. Well that's the up to dates on us as of now. I will be blogging more often from now on.

Beautiful Evening

Original Post Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2007.
This is Justin: Out in Surrey it was warm, but when I got to Abbotsford for school, it was HOT! It was so hot in the shade, and pretty much at the temperature when you breath through your nose it is a warm sensation the opposite of when you are in minus 29 degree weather and your nose hair freezes, and your insides are cold when you take a deep breath.
Inside the school of course was air conditioned, but when I returned to the outdoors...WOW. I had purchased a loft bed on my journey down here by myself (I don’t think Jen has told that story yet), and so I had to load that into the van...it was so hot to be doing things.
But the evening was grand as we went to Crescent Beach, where the wind was blowing...not the whole time though, but it was nice being close to the water like that (take a look in the July photos).

Abbotsford Here We Come

Original Post Date: Thursday, June 28, 2007.
Well from the title you may have guessed that we are moving back to Abbotsford yet again. Justin and I decided that indeed going back to school was the best option. Obviously we thought he would just attend Okanagan College (OC) and then transfer to UBC Okanagan. But after applying we found that he was going to lose a semester’s worth of credits and that getting into UBC O is a lot harder and more expensive. Another minus is that OC doesn’t offer very good summer schooling. So we looked into UCFV and found out that Justin was still currently a student and wouldn’t have to reapply and go through all of that jazz. BUT he would have to take a summer course in July and August for him to still be a student come fall. So he enrolled in Sociology 101 and starts July 3. So he is driving down July 2 to do school and work as much as he can. Then he will come up at the end of July, help me pack the rest of the house up, drive a u-haul down to Abbotsford to either put it in storage for a month or move it right into our home for August 1st. I will drive down in the van with the children. If we haven’t found a home by then, we have no clue where we’ll be staying for the month but are trusting the Lord will find something that’s right for us. And trusting He will also find a really good, clean, safe home that’s big enough and affordable enough for us. So that’s us right now in a “nutshell”. I will be alone with three little children for all of July. That I am nervous about and not looking forward to not having Justin around. But I am up for the challenge and will be relying on friends and family close by. Justin already has a couple of jobs lined up in the Valley. One of which is working for a moving company which pays really well and is in desperate need of workers. I am excited that Justin has decided to finish his BA and that we can eventually move forward from this awkward in between stage we have been in for the past two years. Some direction and a goal makes the light at the end of the tunnel seem not so far away. Also with going to UCFV Justin can take two semesters in the summer to cut down his on his schooling time. It’s just a matter of money and if he has the “umpf” to keep going in the summer months. I am looking forward to FINALLY planting some roots somewhere; to get connected with a church family and make some strong Christian friends. We’re just a three hour drive from Kelowna making it easy to come for a weekend visit and for holidays. Although with the price of fuel these days, I am not sure how often we’ll be coming. Anyways...our journey continues to keep us moving around. Well you can’t say we don’t like change that’s for sure. I’ll keep you posted as the finalities come. Please pray for a new home for us and that all of the loose ends would....be “tied” I guess you could say.

Routine

Original Post Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2007.
Let me just ramble on about schedule’s and routine’s for a bit....
Well for the past three nights Saffron has been in bed and pretty much asleep by 9:30pm and I am having to wake her up at 9am for her first feed of the day. Pretty cool I know. People say, “wow, you’re lucky to have such an easy baby!” But you know they said that with Mattias too. They didn’t say that when Sam was a baby because he cried all of the time and never slept. What’s the difference you may ask? I know exactly what the difference is...I have put Mattias and Saffron on a schedule the moment they were born. It takes a little figuring out because all babies are different. One things for sure is that they are born with a schedule of their own...up all night and sleep all day. So what I did was wake them up every three hours during the day to feed them. I would do it from morning til night and then around 11:30pm I would lay them down and hope for the best. Mattias was 3 days old when he slept through the night and Saffron was 3 weeks when she first slept through the night. Now both Saffron and Tias like eating every 2 hours after 3 pm. I see it as them stocking up for the night. With every child, the nurses in the hospital said, “just demand feed. They’ll let you know when they’re hungry!” Which indeed is true but when you have other children to take care of and need to be a functioning person in society, you need a good nights sleep. So 9am I wake Saffron up and feed her right away. Then change her diaper and get her dressed. Then 10am I lay her down for her two hour nap. Then 12pm I wake her up and feed her again and then lay her down at 1pm. Then wake her up at 3 and feed her. From then she’s usually awake and eats at 5, 7, and 9 is now her last feed for the night. It used to be 11 but now she can go the distance through the night. Mattias was on the same schedule until recently. He is older and doesn’t require as much sleep or “feeds” throughout the day. But he is in bed by around 7pm and wakes up around 8:30am. I figured this out by pure experience with Sam. To this day he doesn’t always sleep through the night and it’s usually most days a battle to keep him in his bed for bedtime. I breastfed 24 hours a day for 7months. It was exhausting and I knew that I never wanted to do that again nor could I with other children. And because Mattias and Saffron are well rested and know what to expect in the day, they are more joyful and pleasant to be around. Just some added information for those of you who are embarking on child raising or are in it.

Grandpa Martin

Original Post Date: Monday, May 14, 2007.
Here we are at Strathcona Beach (by the hospital), Grandpa Martin pushing Mattias on the swing. Mattias eventually fell asleep in the swing.

Pandosy Mission

Original Date: Sunday, May 6, 2007
Well it was a weekend kept busy with children, visiting and outings. My dad came up friday afternoon and left this morning. It was really neat watching him play with Sam and Mattias and holding Saffron at any given chance. Sam adores him and I am glad has been given the chance to get to know his other grandpa all over again. The weather was sunny and perfect for pictures and playtime at the park. Saffron is already two weeks old and adjusting to life on the outside quite well. She’s averaging 7 hours of sleep a night from about midnight until 7am. She naps quite well throughout the day despite the noise from her brothers. She’s a good eater and burper. She’s gaining weight daily and has already grown out of a few sleepers. But her limbs are way longer then Sam and Mattias’ were because the same sleepers that fit the boys at this time are too short on her. But she is skinnier then they were. She’s very dainty and well...girly. I love more then I ever thought I would, dressing her up in dresses and pink. I know it doesn’t matter what colour of sleeper she sleeps in but I just don’t like her in the mint green and yellow hand me downs from her brothers. Pink all the way! No lace or uncomfortable frills for this girl. Her hair is orange like Sam’s was at this age and she is extremely strong. She likes standing and can lift her head up and look around. Mattias is eager to walk and is totally becoming a toddler. Sam has been testing the waters daily and causing Justin and I to acquire some unwanted gray hair. But that’s what comes with the title...”parent”! We’re figuring what works and what doesn’t and I look forward to the new normal being settle and the only thing we’ll know. Three children this close together is crazy alot of times and with no doubt an adventure. I love them and wouldn’t change a thing. But I am glad to say that a family of five is the biggest are family is going to be.

Here's the scoop...

(Pictures are of the newly painted kitchen, completed baby dresser and my belly as of yesterday)
Well yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and my doctor suspected that the head was up again and the feet were down. He did an internal exam and felt nothing in the pelvis. He booked me for a morning screening in the case room at the hospital for this morning at 8:45am. So after Justin picked Jerine up to watch the boys we went to the case room. My doctor's assumption was correct. The head is under my right ribs and the heart on the left side with her feet in my pelvis. Explains why as of late if felt like baby was standing on my blatter and kicking me. So now what you may ask? We are waiting until Saturday morning. We have to be at the hospital by 8am. From then they will do another ultrasound thingy to determine the exact position and if it is still breech, we will have a C-section by 2pm. If they find that the baby has turned and is head down they will immediately induce me to prevent the baby turning once again. And if I go into labour between now and Saturday morning and the baby is not in the correct position, they will do a C-section within the hour. So that's all folks. We finally get to meet this little girl no later then Saturday. I am nervous and a little disapointed about the C-section but want what's best for the baby. But on the plus side, I will be getting my "tubes tide" at the same time. Saves convincing Justin to do it or me having to go in at another time. Three precious children is more then we could have ever dreamed. We have been so blessed with healthy, wonderful children. With that we are content. So, Justin will post pictures and all of the details as soon as they are available. The minimum stay for C-section is now two days but usually three if all goes well which we pray will. Pray for nerves, health, and recovery for me and health, no jaundice, good eater/sleeper and all goes well for the baby. Until then friends...

What does one do when you are waiting for the babe to come?

Well...we paint! I applied a second coat of green paint to the new dresser and spray painted the handles white.(picture to come) Justin decided he wanted to paint the kitchen, entry hallway and laundry room. Not only did he paint the laundry room but he pulled out the washer and dryer and cleaned all around it. YUCKY to say the least. He vacuumed and washed the floor and walls. I bought a cheap curtain from Value Village and a rod from Wal-Mart. A little tlc and it feels like a brand new place. Now I don't dread doing laundry so much. I have set up the baby's cradle and dresser in Mattias' room. We'll see how that goes. Mattias still sleeps alot and Sam doesn't hardly sleep. So it makes more sense for the baby and Tias to share a room then it does for Sam and Tias to share a room. This all depending on what the baby's temperment and sleep habits are like. I have been praying for another sleeper like Mattias. Speaking of Mattias, he officially turned ONE year old on April 11th. I can't believe he is already a year old. Time has totally flown by. He is still my little baby that I don't want to rush into growing up too quickly. But I know that will just come with having a newborn. Once she comes, he won't seem like the baby anymore. And that makes me sad. He has been teething finally for the last five days. Fevers and snuggles sum him up pretty well. When he's sick, he hardly sleeps. When Sam is sick, he sleeps all of the time. These two boys are so opposite, it's hard to believe they are brothers sometimes. The other day I was sorting and folding the baby clothes and getting them ready to put in the newly finished dresser when Sam insisted that we put the clothes on his baby, "Flapjack". Then he wanted to have a photo shoot. It was so cute and hilarious. So now that everything is pretty much in place we wait...and wait! Yesterday was the official due date and I have a doctor's appointment today at 3pm. So hopefully we will know more and get things going. I can completely say with 100% confidence that I am SOOOOO done with being pregnant. Having two children within one year makes me feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER! I am excited about the new journey we are embarking with a little baby girl. If there is any news, we will post to let you know. Until then....

Web Site

Be sure to check our website, and you will always find a link here to our blog.
HARNETT.CA

Well into April and no baby!

Every night when I go to bed I think I will be awoken with the sudden feel of my water breaking. Then I wake-up the next morning still here. I can feel things happening with my body and last night and today I had a sudden urge to deep clean everything in sight. So I am really, really praying I go into labour soon. Funny sidenote, Mattias' first birthday is on Wednesday! These things really aren't in my control. And no, I will not drink codliver oil. So to keep my mind occupied and to get "ready" for the baby the last couple of days I have been working on the baby's dresser. We FINALLY found one at VV for $25 and I have sanded the whole thing and today applied two primer coats. Tomorrow I will paint it green...sort of a dilly asparagus colour. The handles, once all of the years of coats of paint is removed, are copper and wiggly. I like them but not the position of them on the dresser. So I will fill in the existing holes with wood filler and make new ones. It should be nice once it's done! And we are finally sort of back to normal in our new/old home. We really like our new bathroom with all of the newly acquired space and the colours. But hey, I'm just thankful for a working non leaky toilet and no mold. So now the nesting has settled in and I am trying to get what I can done before this girl comes out to finally meet us. I am excited to finally meet her and to not being pregnant EVER AGAIN! Until any news arrives....

No toilet and I pee 15 times a day!

Yes, you read it correctly we have no toilet. No toilet, no sink, no floor, no wall, no use of our entire bathroom. Allow me to explain. Since we have moved here, almost five months ago, no matter how much I scrubbed our bathroom it always kind of smelled. And on the floor, I would clean along the floor boards because I noticed black looking stuff between the floor boards and flooring. I had a suspiscion that it was mold but was hoping for the best. Now since we have moved in here the boys, Justin and myself have been sick about every other week it seems. Adding to our suspiscion that we have a mold problem. So the other day I asked Justin to pull off the floor board where I kept seeing black creeping out. And wow, we weren't expecting what we found. The whole bottom of the wall along the whole bathroom was black with mold. Also Justin noticed that our toilet was leaking. He assumed a hairline crack on the left side because every day we noticed water and pee on the floor. Now our friends, Glen and Tanya the owners who now live upstairs, used to live down here before they owned the house. They noticed the pee too but thought their eldest son just kept peeing to the left. He needed to work on his acuracy they thought. Kinda funny in a way. But anyways...Justin told Glen about the mold and toilet and immediately Glen was on it. He gave us the ok to go and get a new toilet and because the sink was old too, we picked out a new vanity sink and tap. We've had mold guys and a large noisy hepa filter in and out since last tuesday trying to get the mold under control and dealt with in the best, most efficient way possible. Once the toilet was ripped out and the lino ripped up, the guys saw or should I say smelled where some of the problem was coming from. Poor guys were gagging and almost throwing up because it was so nasty and raunchy. So Wednesday we asked mom and dad Harnett if we could lay our heads and use their toilet at their house until this all clears up. So that's where we've been and will be until our bathroom is functioning. Justin and Glen are at Rona getting the rest of the drywall, insulation and other needed supplies to complete what needs to be done. We are hoping by Monday night everything will be DONE! All of this going on and I feel like this little baby girl of ours is coming any day. I am not sure if she has rotated or not. I know because of the ultrasound where the head WAS and where the bum WAS but now I don't know if it's the bum or head I feel in my ribs. Ribs that are so bruised I feel like I fell off a horse and landed on my chest. I use that meaphor because I know exactly how it feels to fall off a horse. Don't grab onto branches when you barebacking through the forest! Anywho away from pony land....life is a bit crazy these days. I am totally not ready for having this baby. I don't even have my suitcase packed. The clothes are washed and the cradle's here. Oh and we dug out the infant car seat. I guess we have what's esential. So different between the first child and the third. But I am not stressing. It's been crazy but an adventure. I thank the Lord for these times of reminder of reliance. We are NOT in control nor does us stressing and trying to control make the situation any better or easier. Well I will go...laundry and my tummy growling calls. (Pictures are Sam holding our newest cousin Simon Cecconi and Mattias exploring)