Weekend Rewind

I had full intentions of posting on Friday, but clearly it didn't happen!

Friday I had my 6 week follow up with my OB! Everything is all good, blood pressure is back to normal and I can resume regular activity as far as my c-section goes. Now we just need to get my ankle back into shape, so I can start getting back into shape! 

Excuse my wild hair - it was a long day! 

After my appointment we went up to visit my Grandma. She unfortunately isn't doing well at all, to the point where she was blessed by the priest on Sunday. She hasn't been well for 2 years, but as much as she is fighting a hard fight, her body is now failing in all aspects. Luckily they are able to keep her comfortable, but unfortunately her days are very limited. Noah was able to "meet" his great-grandma, but sadly he was only able to say hello and a final goodbye in his first visit. Grandma has lived a good life, and as much as we will all miss her, it's soo hard to see her like this and suffering. My Grandma is our last living grandparent for both M and I. 

We did a quick trip to Costco, stopped at Chapters, where M insisted on buying Noah the biggest stuffed dog - it's bigger than Noah! We picked up spare jets for the hot tub and then ended up at the farm for pizza! It was a looong day, but Noah was a champ, up until bedtime that is! He had a rough night! We find if we haven't held him a lot in the day then he either misses us and needs that time, if he was just over stimulated in the day. He also had an upset tummy, which didn't help matters! M ended up sleeping on the lazy boy with him until 5 AM... 

Saturday we managed to get some more spring cleaning done, as well as the nursery, so you will all be happy to hear it will be posted TOMORROW!! Can't wait to share it!! We also enjoyed our first Dairy Queen of the season!! Saturday evening Noah's tummy was upset again, but we figured out the problem! Both days he had a bottle - we used the medela calma nipple that we have always used, but Noah can drink too fast with it. He drank 3 ounces in like 5 minutes, with a burping session at the half way point! The bottle is designed to help ease nipple confusion between breast and bottle, but Noah can suck away to fast and much that he gets it too quick, where as before he had to work hard to get what he could. So we won't be using that one again and will switch over to our Dr. Brown bottles now. 

He ended up sleeping in bed with us, as long as one of us had our hand of him while he was in his Bummzie, then he was content. Little bum. He woke up at 3 for a feed and then 8,we were going to get up, but decided to sleep in. I got up at 10:45am to find M back on the chair with Noah:

Apparently M didn't feel like coming back to bed, but decided the chair wasn't soo bad after all. Because he then did this again at bed time.

We ended up with some visitors that popped in to see Noah in the afternoon. 

We enjoyed a nice family walk, which of course included a family selfie!! We did the whole village again for the first time since fracturing my ankle. I was a little stiff after, but it felt great! I think we still work our way up to it, but throw in the full walk every now and then until I can do it with more ease. 

When we got back we learned that when the dogs are away, the cats don't play, they steal their beds... We couldn't help but to laugh! 

Noah was back to himself, content and happy, got some more housework done and enjoyed chicken on the BBQ before relaxing for the evening!

I forgot the CMA's were on last night until an hour was passed, so hopefully we will watch that today at some point! 

Today Noah is all smiles. I love that he is really figuring out who M and I are and gives us smiles while locking eyes with us. I caught the end of one this morning:

It brings tears to my eyes feeling his love right back at us with his smiles!

 I also think maybe I'm a bit sappy with all that's going on with my Grandma. It feels soo wrong to be soo happy while she is suffering. They say new life brings the end of another, I just wish it wasn't the case. I can remember how happy she was when I told her we were expecting and I'm trying my best to preserve that memory, amongst many others. I was going through pictures last night of my Grandma and found myself teary eyed while collecting them. I just pray for her suffering to end and that she will pass with ease. It is soo hard to see her go through this stage of life. 

What a Week!!

Thank God it is Friday!! This week has been one I am glad to see over, not that anything dramatic happened, it was just long!!! Too looong!

Monday was a photo shoot that I was wrapping up for a corporate company, but the staff didn't show up on time, so I was stuck waiting. I was home by 7 PM - shoot was for 3 PM with only 4 people... that should tell you how it went. I'd love to say I was snapping pics the whole time, but that was not the case either. Enough said.

Tuesday I had appointments to take my Mom to and they were long, one doctor didn't show up for the first appointment, but then ended up calling us and meeting us after her other appointment, equaling to another really long day! I left the house at 11 AM and was home by 7 PM. M keeps joking that I am working part-time.

Wednesday I vowed to stay home, and did just that, although I did a ton of housework, as well as some baby crafting!

Thursday I woke up to find that Jazz had peed on the dogs bed. Her first time since being medicated. I was not a happy camper. We had just started her weaning off the medication and was down to every other day. Turns out she will be taking them everyday for life... I called the vet and then went and picked up more of her pills. Jazz has been heavy on my heart lately.

Thursday evening, M attempted to help me with pinning my blanket together to sew, and we were having issues, because when I pre-washed the fabric it must have shrunk to a weird size. We were both super frustrated!

Today, my nose is crazy from nose bleeds to being super sensitive to smells. My scentsy smell that I usually like smells like a cleaner, the cat and dog food is just horrible... the list goes on. It is also snowing again today, mixed with ice pellets, luckily it isn't sticking around. The good news is I went grocery shopping and they had cheesies in stock! They also had these super cute blankets for the baby! I had wanted them since we found out we were expecting! I grabbed the last one on the rack!

Other good news is that we have picked a winner from the give away we were doing for my sister's jewelry. The winner is fellow bump buddy, due just a few weeks before me: Hilary!!! Congrats!!!

This weekend M is in training again for the fire course! Last one! I have a little guys first birthday party to go to and photos to get edited.

Have a great weekend!!!

A Real Post, I'd Rather Not post

This is the view I work up to:

 

There are two things wrong with this picture! 1. That is snow you see, luckily not a lot, but enough to be on the ground and trees. Yuck! 2. There are no window covers on my windows, not just this one either, in fact all do our window coverings are down! Why you ask? 

FLEAS! 

Yup, luckily not a lot, but you don't need a lot to freak out! I'm sure I've gone overboard, but better safe than sorry. How did I find out? Insert back story:

My Dad moved back down home, got his own place and all, which meant that all of his stuff in my shop can go to his new place. He brings his dog over all the time, this was no different. Then he went moose hunting and sure enough my sister volunteered to watch the dog. About 3 days later she found a ton of fleas on her. So she went all crazy in her house, bathed Gypsy 3 times, and sure enough all was to be fine. 

Yesterday I was at my sisters house photographing her jewelry and her dog kept itching, so I told her to check him and sure enough, she found a flea. Her dogs are treated with flea stuff regularly, but still managed to have fleas. She called my Dad over to bath her dogs and cat with flea treatment. Sure enough he went. I packed up, headed home and then checked my pets and sure enough, I found one on Gracie, and one on Lux. None on Jazz, Lily or Binx. But if one has them, they all have them in my eyes, as they are always cuddling, sharing beds, etc. So I called my Dad, told him how not impressed. I was and then got straight to work. 

M came home from work to a frantic pregnant clean freak, coming up with a master plan of how we were going to deal with this. We used the bathrooms as holding areas for the pets. Dogs in my bathroom, cats in M's. Then started a contamination room - aka laundry room to hold all of the potentially contaminated linens. We had a quick dinner, and then cleaned our house top to bottom, took all bedding, curtains, pillows, washable rugs, clothes and put them into the contamination room to be washed. Sure enough I have a heck of a lot of laundry to do, which was also started last night. My house is spotless for the most part. Everything was vacuumed, floors washed, I'm sure you get the picture. 

We bathed Lily first and sure enough we still didn't find any fleas. Poor M was stuck bashing everyone because I couldn't come into contact with the shampoo being pregnant. So I dried the dogs with these handy dandy gloves on! Better safe than sorry! 

Gracie was up next, still rather simple to bath, the dogs usually are. While I was drying Gracie, Binx was up next. She is soo easy to bath thank goodness! She's just laid back and purring. But I found a few more fleas on Gracie while drying her off! luckily they were dead but I couldn't get them off with my gloves on, so M came over to help and sure enough Binx is just wandering around the bathroom. We finished drying Gracie, finished bathing Binx and moved on to Jazz. You would have thought we were skinning her alive, she was soo upset with having a bath. I dried her while Lux was up next, he was a brat. Let's just say the baby won't be the first one to go to the bathroom in the tub! Poor M! And poor Lux!
 

We put all the towels in the wash, then shut both bathrooms at 11:30pm, made the bed, cleaned ourselves, emptied the vacuums and garbages and sure enough it was past midnight by the time we came to bed. 

Needless to say we were beat! 

So I have 3 rooms left to be cleaned, 2 of which will be done today - both bathrooms and the laundry room once everything is washed! 

The good news is my house is spotless. My animals are clean, but man that was a whole ton of work! I'm sure those without animals - if they made it this far in the post are not only disgusted, but wondering why someone would have an animal. But those who do have animals know this is a possibility and yes it does in deed suck. 

But my answer to those without pets would be, these animals are my fur-children, my babies, and they are part of our family. And although this evening really sucked, I would do it all over again, even with a baby on the way or even here. There is a bond between pets and humans, one that only pet owners understand. 

High Fiver

Wow, I wasn't sure if I would find Friday this week!!!

I have been super busy at work and I will be honest, I am loving it!! With the new clinic open it has been great!

The weather is supposed to be warming up tomorrow!! It's supposed to be sunny and warm in Saturday!!! Can't wait!!

Last night I came home to find glittery pipe cleaners throughout the house! I knew exactly where they came from! I went upstairs to my craft room, to find the door opened a crack and more pipe cleaners. Then the little culprit came out from under my sewing table.... Can you guess who?

Miss Binx.... Avoiding eye contact of course!!

I swear there are very few dull moments in our house!!

Jazz got a bath this week. She wasn't very happy:

         

I hope everyone has a great weekend!! I am hoping to accomplish a few things around the home.

Luckily I washed socks on Wednesday night because it really sucks wearing your husbands dress socks to work, that you are constantly pulling up because they are too big!!  You bet laundry is on the lit this weekend, and if the weather co-operates I might just get to hang them on the line outside!!

Another funny, yet constant in our house would be when either M or I cannot find something, spend forever looking for it and still come up empty handed. Then we ask one another to look and they find it no problem - it happened last night before bed with my cord pants! We do end up laughing about it and then usually where we find it is where one us already looked!

And I am happy to announce that Gracie ate last night!!! She eats, just not all of it, and last night she still left a layer along the bottom of the bowl...

Happy Friday!!!

 

Thoughtless Thursday

Today is literally a thoughtless Thursday. I forgot to schedule posts for yesterday, as well as today and let's be honest I don't see myself finding time to schedule one for tomorrow.

Soo here we go:

- I need to finish B's hat before the 24th. I also need to crochet some more dish clothes. When? I am not sure, but my deadline is getting awfully close!!

- M and I are not going to have dinner cooked at home until after Christmas. Last night we had dinner at the farm, tonight is Take Out Thursday, tomorrow we have a Christmas Party, Saturday we have dinner with N & M, Sunday we could cook a meal, but let's be honest why bother? We will pick something up. Monday we have dinner at my sister's for our Christmas get together with my Mom and well Christmas day we get 2!!

- This week of work is sooo tiring! Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and I don't mine the extra hours, but there is NOTHING to do!! That makes for very long days!!

- Here is a little TV talk for you:

                 - anyone watch Private Practice: talk about cliff hanger - she is having the babies!

                 - and while discussing cliff hangers, Chicago Fire - holy smokes!! When the heck does it come back on?!

                 - who is going to win X Factor? I am thinking Tate!!

- Last night when M and I got home we found more ornaments on the ground. Turns out Jazz is not the only culprit! Lux and Binx are in on it too! Brats!!! I love how the tree has been up for almost a month and they are just now being entertained by it!

- The bad weather we were supposed to get has only brought a bit of freezing rain this morning, but it was melted by the time I needed to go to work! We will see what tomorrow brings though!

Did I mention that tomorrow is Friday and then I am off until next Friday?!

Have a great Thursday!!!

Last Love Before Christmas 2012

Wow - Christmas is less than a week away!!! Crazy!! Where they heck did this year go? Although I will be 110% honest I am soo ready for a new year. This year has been tough!

I am loving the new office here at work! Although it looks like a bomb has gone off in here, I cannot wait to see it all come together!!

I am loving that Cassidee Pope won The Voice last night!! I actually would have been mad if she didn't because she is amazing!!

I am loving that I have now lost over 10 pounds!! Keep on dropping!!

I am loving this little cat, although she may be a bit of trouble:

She refused to look at my phone...

her note there says:

I stole ornaments off the tree! Just to swat them around.

I thought she only stole 3, but then I found the 4th and the 5th. I think she may have had some help!!

We are supposed to get some wicked weather tomorrow which should include rain, freezing rain and of course snow. Who knows it might not be a green Christmas after all.

I love that the guy that is here doing the plumbing is singing along to his radio and talking to himself! Entertaining!!

And to leave you off with some quotes:

PIN

If I was brave enough to get a tattoo, I love this one:

PIN

Soo true:

PIN

Strength:

PIN

This is perfect and just how I will end this post:

PIN

Merry Christmas Friends:

This is my virtual Christmas card to all of you. I wish I was able to mail them out to everyone, but this will have to do:

Triple Furry Wishes Holiday Card

Turn your family photos into holiday cards this season.

View the entire collection of cards.

Merry Christmas Friends!!

Being Thankful

It is Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada!! So I figured it would be the perfect time to go over the things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my husband. He is here by my side whenever I need him. He holds my hand when things get tough, wipes my tears when they tend to fall, kisses away my worries and makes me laugh everyday, no matter what. He encourages me to find strength from deep within and to face my fears with a smile on my face. He has taught me that no matter where we end up in life, as long as we have each other we will be perfect - our own kind of perfect and that is all that does matter.

(Photo courtesy of Whitney Cowan)

I am thankful for all of our pets. Each and everyday, they are there for M and I. Making us laugh daily at their antics, driving us crazy with their antics and of course the hair, but in the end we wouldn't have it any different. They are our family.

I am thankful for our families. Yes there are days where they drive us crazy, but they have helped form us into who we are today. They continue to support us in our daily lives with encouragement and love. Though we may not see each other every day, we know they are here for us and that we are there for them.

I am thankful for our friends. They continue to teach us lessons in life and love. Some friendships have been easier than others and some have been through hell and back - some haven't come back. They fill our lives with fun and laughter, a few tears, they encourage us to face our fears and how to handle various situations. In our life, we consider most of friends as family and we wouldn't have it any differently!

I am thankful for our surroundings, jobs, our home, our freedom and our capability to make choices. Hard to believe that people live differently than we do or to think when trouble crosses our door step that others have it worse than us.

I am thankful for all the things that haven't gone as planned. This is a BIG one - never would have thought I would hear myself say this. But this alone has taught a lifetime of lessons that some people may never understand. It has taught us strength and enhanced our growth in one another. Our hearts and minds have been opened up more to soo many more things and made us aware of the things that CAN and DO go wrong in life. It has put us in touch with soo many new contacts because of this and has allowed us to support others and accept support from others. It has reminded us in life that no matter what goes wrong we are not alone.

I am thankful for life. I know this sounds silly, but today marks the "anniversary" of almost losing my boss. It is hard to think back to this day, but luckily it ended up for the best. In fact we had a little laugh over it all this morning. Please remember to take care of yourselves. When life is hectic and stress levels are high - slow down. Ask for help. You are not alone! You never know what is waiting for you in your future.

I hope everyone begins each day with a grateful and thankful heart! To all my Canadian followers, visitors and such - have a great weekend with family or friends.

 Happy Thanksgiving!

High Five For Friday!!

Today I am linking up with Lauren!!

 I am loving that I am finally working on my photo wall!! I have figured out all the sizes that I will need, which frames will be my focal points, etc. I brought down my frame collection and put them on the dining room table! I hope to have M hang them this weekend! Then I will fill them!!

We have finally got some rain!! I also hear that there is more coming today and possibly tomorrow! I am still under the impression of I will believe it when I see it!

I love my new twitter background! Be sure to pop by! You can find me here!! You can also find me on facebook!!

I am loving the snuggles Jazzy has been giving me lately, especially during the bad storm the other night!!

I am wearing a maxi dress to work today and the necklace Alison gave me!! Love it!!

I have scheduled another photo shoot for Saturday!! Hopefully the weather holds up!!

I hope everyone has a fabtastic weekend!! I know I am planning on it!

Waaay Back Tuesday

As I was making my recent photo book, I came across soo many pictures that  reminded me of soo many memories, so I figured I would share those with you today!!

This is one of my favorite pics taken at our first wedding as married guests:

It is also the last time I had blonde highlights!!! Almost 5 years ago!!

Oh and our CRAPPY engagement pics... I soo wish I had of done them with an actual photographer instead of a studio:

We got a whole bunch and mike's smile looks silly in this one... but this is the only one that popped up on my cd!

Our Christmas card in 2008:

This took a lot of patience on both M and I's part. Half the pics ended up with the cats looking miserable, or Diamond's ears back. M had to catch the cats as they tried to escape, luckily motion was slowed down with those hanker chief's around their necks! No one was injured during this picture! lol

And then I came across this one, which just made me laugh... Jazz is such a loving cat:

No one was injured... they were just playing. This is how Jazz plays!!

I got a new iPhone and I am just now trying to figure it all out!!!

Happy Tuesday!

What's Up Wednesday?

So yesterday didn't quite go as planned.

I did go and visit K, in fact I sprung her from her 4 walls. She hadn't been outside in a week - Poor girl! So we went to Pizza Hut and indulged in some lunch buffet - YUM. Then we hit up Old Navy, Motherhood Maternity and the mall.  K walked that mall with determination, but it didn't work - no labor. We tried! Come on Baby T!!!

My sister called me while I was with K and said she was bringing Brandon up to the hospital. She had spent the night before with him in Emerg because he was breathing funny and had spiked a fever. However, he was not feeling better yesterday, so she brought him to Sick Kids. So I decided to meet up with her and give some snuggles to the little man.

Poor little man was just not feeling soo hot!

He is feeling better now after some IV fluids and medicine and was sent home early this morning. Let me just say that although the ER doc that we had was a bit of a putz and the nurses were a bit crazy, I could NEVER work in Pediatric Emerg. Little kids being sick (and it was busy) just breaks my heart.

So I had gotten home around 9:30 and was beat.

I had M's Mom run up and grab Lily's meds and they only gave her the hepato-support, so now I have to go back up tomorrow! UGH! But I will take Lily up to get weighed as well, although I am pretty sure she hasn't lost anymore because she is eating like a champ! However, I just spoke to our vet and he said Pfizer has paid their portion, which cut our bill in half essentially and they have waived any possible interest and are allowing us to pay as we can, which is awesome when a $4500 vet bill pops up on your porch.

I am loving our vet clinic and as frustrating as this whole process has been, it could have been soo much worse, but we have been blessed with amazing care and generosity.

I am loving the weather that we are getting! Couldn't ask for much better!!

I am loving sweet Baby Brandon and I hope he continues to feel better!

I am loving this cat that broke into M's drawer:

Sporting the "I'm totally busted"look or the "You can't see me"

She would NOT look at me and I was using my crappy phone camera to make matters worse!

PIN

Happy Wednesday friends!!!

Friday Lettters

Wow, we finally made it to Friday!!

Thursday got away from me, I managed to accomplish quite a bit! The weather was beautiful. I got my car cleaned out, a much needed manicure, the dogs hair cut, Lily to her vet appointment, she only lost 1 pound!! I also made some Terribly Terrific Toffee snacks of my own that I had mentioned on Monday and Wednesday! You can find the recipe on my Pinterest in the Pins I Have Done Folder!! YUM and soo easy!! I also managed to sit outside for a bit!! Busy, yet productive day!!

So I am going to link up with Ashley for:

Dear Followers:

I just want to take a minute to thank you for all your support lately. It really is encouraging to read your positive notes when it feels like the world is coming crashing down. I also want to give a BIG shout out to all my new followers!!! I hope enjoy following along this crazy life of mine!

Dear Lily:

I am happy that yesterday's vet appointment went well and I am beginning to feel more comfortable with your treatment plan! Please continue to stay strong and know that I will fight this along your side with you. Just as you didn't give up when it would have been soo easy, I won't either! Just heard back from your vet and you are officially out of the woods!! Your blood work is not yet perfect, but it is not dangerously low!!! I am soo proud of you!!!

Dear Gracie:

I know that your nose is out of joint, but I also know that I am giving you extra attention as well and it seems as though you are ignoring that factor. Grandma really didn't enjoy the fact that you stole a loaf of bread out of her grocery bag. Acting out is not going to get you the good attention you want. I know you for some reason you did not like that thunderstorm last night and I enjoyed the extra cuddles, but I also hope this doesn't become a future plan for thunderstorms!

Dear Jazz:

You are really starting to make me mad... your attitude is just foul lately, hence your trip out to the garage yesterday! I asked Dad if you could stay out there and he said no, although I know you secretly liked it! I think we just needed some time apart.

Dear Hubby:

I am actually pretty excited that you have your first ball game tonight!! Go Team Smoke!!! I also hope that you don't get a fire call tonight because more than half of the team are firefighters!  I am also hoping you make some progress on your bathroom this weekend, although I know we will be busy!

Dear Brandon:

I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday and witnessing your baptism! Although I am pretty sure God has had plans for you since you were conceived, I am happy to see you become part of the Catholic Society.

Happy Friday Friends!!! Have a safe and happy weekend!!

Wednesday Loves

I will be linking up with Jamie, as usual, as well as Michelle later on!

I am loving that as of right now, I am looking at 6 hours left of work and then a 5 day weekend friends!! There is a chance that I could get asked to work tomorrow, but a slim one.

I am loving that I am going to be hosting dinner for the first time this year and in about 6 months! Our life has just been super hectic and I have really missed entertaining.

I am loving the Mini Egg cookies I made on Monday!! Yum!! You can read more about this below!!

I am also loving that my Mom will be coming down to visit me for the first time since she moved!! It has been a long time and we have made soo many changes to the house, that I am looking forward to showing her all of them! My sister and her sweet little family will be joining us for dinner as well!! Hurry up Saturday!! 

I am loving my crazy pets as usual. I really would be lost without them all!

I am loving the family time that will be spent this weekend! It will be soo nice to see my extended family all together again! It happens every holiday, but we really do have a great time!

I am loving that M's Dad seems to be feeling better, but that is only after another trip to the hospital, luckily not by ambulance this time. The doctor is thinking that he is reacting from all the bug bites he got in Roatan and that it is just still venom in his blood causing the swelling. If things don't clear up within the next week or two on the meds, then he will  be referred to a specialist.

I am loving my husband!! I am also looking forward to spending some extra time with him this weekend as well, since we have been soo busy lately!!

Now on to:

with Michelle

These are amazing!! Also I have never made cookies in a muffin tin, but I might start doing it more often!! Highly recommend making these!!

PIN

Also how cute are these:

Soo easy to make!!

PIN

I would like to try this too:

Koolaid cube in Sprite - as the cubes melt, it flavors your drink!!

PIN

I wonder if I will be able to wear my hair like this on the weekend?

PIN

This dress is now hanging in my closet and I love it:

PIN

Now for some inspiring words that mean a lot to me:

PIN

PIN

PIN

PIN

Happy Wednesday Friends!!!