56 posts tagged “sarah”
December 5th was exactly three years to the day that I found out about the twins and was told there was no hope for my pregnancy. I was blissfully oblivious, walking through Costco with a friend while trying to pull the date out of my Christmas-fogged mind. When it hit me, I had to stop walking and catch my breath because I felt like someone
had kicked me in the stomach. What an odd feeling.
For the last two years, I had a lot of emotions and anxiety leading up to Dec 5th which is not typical for me. I was going to throw a party the first anniversary but I just couldn't do it. It came on me this year with such stealth that it both shocked me and made me a little proud of the progress we've obviously made getting over that chapter in
our lives.
At 2 and a half, Sarah's biggest issues are height and ear infections. She is a smart, delightful little girl with beautiful brown eyes and no quams about telling you "I don't like that!". She's learning to potty, loves pirates and gives the world's best hugs (not kidding). Samantha is somehow a tom-boy and a drama queen in one little package and it is so fun! Life is never dull with her around. Her obvious affection for her siblings would make the Grinch smile and she always includes and fiercely protects her sister Sarah.
So folks for the third year I want to say thanks to everyone who was there for us during that crazy time and wish you all a Merry Christmas :)
Control You Kids?
I almost feel bad for the lady who said this to me today. I don't agree with her, but I probably didn't have to call her a nasty old hag.
Lets wrap some perspective around the situation. Sarah woke up in pain yesterday morning about 2am which lead to an entire day at emergency getting tests done. She started off fussy, progressed to a bad temperature, then vomitting and total lethargy during our visit. When we were sent home last night they still didn't know what was wrong and it was scarey (she's fine now). So no sleep Friday, hospital all day then she was also up last night around 3:30am.
Despite the fact that everyone had already picked out costumes, yesterday the kids decided to be pirates for halloween. Since this would illiminate in-fighting on all hallows eve when one person had on a costume someone else wanted, I decided to see what I could pull off. The catch: Joe had to work today, my parents are at the cabin, Joe's mom is sick and Stewart is away - I'm on my own.
I've done this before, so I tried to call Value Village to see when they open... no answer. Checked the website: 10:00am! I packed everyone up and off we went. The plan was to get there as they opened to avoid the crowd and therefore keep a closer eye on the kids. However someone lied to their web site author and they in fact have new "extended hours". They open at 12:00 (irony at it's finest).
So instead we went to wallmart for a while first. I put the kids in a cart and they were awesome. We went back to Value Village at 12:07 and the kids were so excited, they had their little noses squished against the glass looking in the window of the store while I locked the truck. This wonderful fellow who worked there helped us drag up some clothes for 3 pirates and the kids played at pushing through clothes on the racks and coming out the other side and saying "boo" to their sibling. I thought this was cute as I remember doing this myself as a child.
Then this lady with a cart walked up the isle and snapped something at Alex that I couldn't hear. He looked dejected. As I walked up, she pushed past me saying "you should learn to control your kids". She mumbled something about how they should stand next to me and how one of them could get hurt.
Normally, I'd inwardly smile and let it go because the nasty old woman is probably not used to kids and is used to getting away with nasty comments because people are too polite to be mean to the elderly... but in the wake of the day before, she had lousy timing. Also, she made the utimate mistake of saying it in front of Alex who had been so good and helpful all morning. He immediately stopped having fun and put his head down dejected and my hackels went up.
I exaggerated my reaction on purpose and snapped at the lady: "Are you serious? I should somehow contol my 3 kids under 4 in a halloween section of a second hand store because they are playing a harmless game of peek-a-boo? Come on kids, the nasty old hag doesn't want you to have any fun." Her eyes went wide and she hurried off.
*rawr*
What a mixed up day. It started about 2am this morning when Samantha started crying and screaming that she "want to sleep with mommy". Joe went in to settle her down and when he came back she was still screaming. We left her (as you sometimes need to do) and a few mins later she was opening the door to our bedroom. For those who don't know, Samantha and Sarah sleep in cribs.
Or at least they did.
So today we acquired two toddler beds. One Dora, the other Princess. Sarah doesn't need to come out of her crib but if we brought a toddler bed in for Samantha and not Sarah she'd be pretty upset. We try very hard to treat them fairly. To get the new beds into the room, first I had to dismantle and remove the cribs.
The kids missed naps today and the twins are sick with a chest cold. It is bath night (all three same time) and by 6, Sarah was asleep on the couch. She woke shortly after when Samantha jumped on her.
It is 6:45PM, the twins have been in bed for 15 mins which is a full hour and a half before the usual bed time. Frankly that sucks on the first night in new beds but on the up side Alex isn't as tired and gets to stay downstairs for the screaming and bedroom visits that accompany this transition (and for the record are still happening). This is going to be a long night.
Where is Joe? Bachlor party... since 3:30pm
Where am I supposed to be? Bachlorette party.
....
He owes me.
We made it through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick since we left yesterday morning. Sarah has been a great traveller so far. In fact, we might try to 12 hour trip straight into Toronto tomorrow because she has been doing so well. Cross your fingers! Dale's been a welcome traveling companion. Sarah's is even calling him by his first name and tonight she put her arms up for him to put her on his lap. Very cute :)
We got across Newfoundland before it was dark with some smattering of rain but not much. We stopped in Gander, Deer Lake and Corner Brook. The ferry was loading when we arrived (early) so we literally got on, got our cabin and Sarah fell asleep curled into the crook of my arm on a bunk bed almost instantly. We didn't wake up until 20 mins before we drove off. Perfect timing :)
Dale and I giggled as we passed "Lick a Stick" and "Lick a Chick" fast food restaurants. We nabbed some Tim's and were off again. Lunch was in Moncton at Swiss Chalet and dinner in Edmunston's Boston Pizza (yum). Now I'm updating you all then heading to bed.
The cold Sarah got Saturday sounds like it has settled on her chest but she isn't showing any signs of infection so I'll see how she does in the next few days.
Right now she is snoring in the playpen at the foot of my bed. Night all :)
What a fun New Year. Everyone had a cold from November until the beginning of February. Between Sarah and Samantha there have been four ear infections. Samantha woke up Wednesday night with the stomach flu (and the mess on her and the bed to prove it) which escalated to diahrrea, fever, cramping and loss of appetite. Things just got better from there. Joe was diagnosed with strep throat and as he got back to normal, fell to the stomach flu Friday evening. Sarah woke up throwing up later that same night. Even Jen caught it (sorry Jen). I was supposed to play in a volleyball tournament with work on Saturday...well stand on the court and watch other people play around me but obviously I was chasing kids around with a bucket, clean PJs and Javex :)
As I say too often, it could be worse. I'm still recovering from surgery and so far I have not shown signs of this tummy issue and neither has Alex. Joe bounded back to normal after a day and a half, Samantha has finally come around and Sarah might be. We made it through with only two visits to the hospital with Samantha, and one with Sarah but neither had to stay there. The team had enough players to play volleyball without me (I think) and Joe and I didn't get sick at the same time. Joe and Alex got to go skating - twice!
I understand that this stuff gets easier as they get older and since we made it through this week, then I think rest will work just fine :)
Click on the picture to the left for the photo's I've uploaded of our Christmas.
This main photo is of Sarah Christmas morning before my family showed up. She likes to hang out in the kitchen and demand food while someone is cooking. This time she took the stool, brought it to the counter and trying to take what I was preparing. So I put a few Cheerios on the counter to reward her quick thinking! :)
She looks so sweet in her Christmas PJ's and hat!
Joe has a bad back, the kids all have a cold and this whole week has been difficult. Coming from a mother of 3 small toddlers, that means far more than the average "difficult"!
In the midst of this, December 5th marked the two year anniversary of that fateful ultrasound that told us "twins" along with the bad news that eventually led to Sarah's diagnosis. I find this time of year hard which is flat out silly. I mean lets face it - we have the best possible outcome.
I don't have many pictures of the pregnancy, I didn't want to deal with seeing them if I'd lost the girls. Now I wish I did :)
I had joined a support forum for parents going through what were were, and one of the members had suggested writing poems about our girls or situation. To mark this special occasion, I'll post mine here. At the time, we had thought the girls were going to finally make it but then Sarah went into possible failure and we were told we might face loosing at least her, possibly Samantha too. If Sarah could make it about 2 more weeks, her chances would significantly increase and I wrote this late on the 6th night of that two weeks.
Yet again I am reminded that we are a very lucky family.
Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:36 pm
8
days, 50 mins and counting
Thats how much we have to bear
Not
so long when you consider
The road that got us here
8 days
49 mins and counting
I hope you realize
that if you can hold
on
your mom and dad can't wait
to look into your eyes
8
days 48 mins and counting
Right now you are too young
If you
can't reach that date
instead of two babies
we might have only
one
8 days 47 mins and counting
The time can't pass fast
enough
I wish there was something I could do
to help you both
make it through
the next
8 days 46 mins and counting
A very excited Natasha contacted me at work because she got a call saying Sarah's glasses were in early! As soon as we got off, Natasha and I took Sarah to get them and here are a few pictures of Sarah getting fitted by David. Her glasses came in a cute little princess purse carrying case which you can see in her hand in one pic.
We can already see a difference in the way she interacts and looks at things. You can see her eyes following details and now when they come off, she wants them back on. I think they are a bit tight right now, but hopefully that will loosen into something more comfortable later.
She looks adorable. As Great Uncle Ken or Aunt Sharyn said, she looks like a little professor :)
The long awaited and much sought after eye appointment for Sarah was this morning. She is very impared in both eyes but the good news is that glasses will most likely do the trick. If they do, she won't require surgery. She actually enjoys the eye exams but by the end of the second visit, she was getting tired and uncooperative. It was perfect timing, because it emphasised her reaction when the Dr put the lens in front of her eyes that emulate her prescription. She just stopped moving completely and studied my face in total wonder. Then Joe walked in the door after washing her pacifier and the doctor said "let her look at her pacifier" but she only had eyes for Joe. It was incredible. The doctor explained that some parents get very upset when they find out their child has a serious vision issue but we are just so impressed with that little fighter. She can walk, talk, eat, watches TV, loves stories... her development is on par with her age and yet she achieved it all with THAT vision? Imagine what she'll do when she can see! Besides, we picked out the cutest pink Disney glasses and they are going to look just adorable on her.
I picked up Natasha, Alex and Samantha at the park after Sarah's appointment. A quick trip to McDonald's and Subway then we took off downtown. While Natasha ran an errand, we drove by the waterfront and Alex got to see a submarine. After some MooMoos, we walked to the submarine to see if up close and lucked into seeing it leaving the harbor. We got poured on at the harbor but Natasha got Samantha to say Sarah's name a bunch of times while playing with them and it was so cute!
After supper and a bath, Sarah was running around upstairs and Alex asked "mommy what is on Sarah's pjs? Before I could answer he read the letters "B U M"... bbuu... BUM! Mommy that says BUM!" Sarah was wearing a BUM Equipment sleeper - Alex was totally right. He is actually starting to read... and that just blows my mind.
Weeks ago I showed Alex how to blow on a dandilion and make a wish. So today, while waiting in the yard with me for Joe, he picked one... blew on it and as the seeds flew around said "I wish I could fly a kite".... it was adorable.
After everyone's naps (about 11:00), we coated the kids in sunscreen, packed the family into bike trailers and left Dan's house. We stopped at the top of the street to figure out a destination.
First Dominion: no kite.
Next Zellers : Finding Nemo Kite - $5
We scooted down to Bowring Park and camped out on the hill behind the swimming pool to eat lunch and fly Alex's kite. He learned real quick and soon needed no help from us unless it hit the ground. Samantha chased him (or us) and Sarah ate. You should have seen the size of a chicken breast she decided she to eat!
We played until everyone started to look sleepy then packed them all back into the trailers and followed the old railway bed to downtown. After a drive by the waterfront and a quick jump into the bike stores, we follow the railway bed back to bowring park and up to McDonalds! By the time we finally got back to Dan's, it was 7:00pm. I wish I had some photos of this perfect day, but I forgot the camera :( You'll have to settle for this one that Natasha took of Alex with paint on his fingers.
