Tag Archives: Family

Boys, cancer, Family

Be A Nurse

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Boys, it’s time to sit down on our virtual couch and have a little chat. I know that you are only six, four and almost two, but we need to talk about your future careers.

We think you should all start out and do the two year LPN program so that you can learn everything we have been trying to learn in the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago your Nana went into the hospital. We knew she had cancer, but we were waiting to hear from the Cancer Clinic since July 20th. Nana is really tough, but she kept getting sicker and sicker.

On Monday, August 5th, Nana went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital because she was dehydrated and it a lot of pain. We found out later that Nana’s tumour was growing.

Lucky for us Dr. Daniels was the Gynaecologist-on-call and she took on mom’s case.

Nana has had Dr. Daniels looking out for her, but it has been the nurses who have worked day and night to help Nana be comfortable.

We have learned the names and kept track of pain killers, anti-nausea drugs, blood thinners, stool softens, cholesterol medication and more powders that I can name. Thank God for pen and paper and the nurse friends we have had on speed dial as well as nurse friends we have run into in the hospital. Here’s amazing Auntie Michelle showing us how to take notes.

We have had many nurses who have touched our hearts, Leslie the first night mom came into the ER, Jackie on 2East as well as all the nurses on the women and children’s ward.

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Nurse Jackie with mom and I

We have probably had over twenty nurses. They know an incredible amount of information about the human body as well as negotiating hospital culture. They have been Nana’s sole provider of giving comfort to us all through medicine, expert knowledge and comforting words.

Today, Nana had a very sleepy day. She didn’t get out for a walk, but she enjoyed some rests and it looks like her bowel obstruction had been healed. Yeah for poo! We put on leg stockings to help the fluid in her legs and she enjoyed some lemon Popsicles made by Rea.

While Nana was in one of her deep sleeps, a nurse crept in to give mom some anti-nausea medication. After she had mom hooked up, she took the time to read this poster you boys made with your cousins.

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The nurse stood with a big smile on her face then whispered “sweet” to me as she walked out the door.

Me, I broke into tears because she took the time to get to “know” about Nana, even when she was only the nurse delivering the medicine.

So boys, the moral of this story is that we aren’t going to insist that you become a nurse, but that you take the time to get to know people God has placed around you at work and at home. If you ever end up in a hospital rely on the nurses because they really are making things happen around here.

Let’s keep praying for Nana’s healing, but we can stop praying for poo.

cancer, Family, Jesus Christ

Be Rooted

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My mom has had her pain and nausea under control for the last two days.

On Friday, she was moved into a private room on the women’s and children’s floor in the new hospital tower. It like a hotel compared to the hell hole she was in before. (Sorry I have racked my brain and I can’t think of another descriptor for her four person room in an incredibly busy ward.)

I am starting to move out of flight and fright status or “game face” as my sister and I call it. I feel my body relaxing. I am feeling my body again. Man I am hungry.

The exceptional nurses on this floor have everything under control. Our amazing angel Dr. Daniels has been checking on mom. Yesterday she visited three times.

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Dr. Daniels talking with mom and dad this morning.

Moms blood clot in her lung is dissolving, her bowels are moving and she even walked down the hall today.

My boys feel loved surrounded by all their cousins, aunts and uncles even though their mama is at the hospital many hours and is a tad bit distracted and teary.

God is good.

But none of this makes sense.

We continue to live in shades of grey, but I continue to reach down into the roots God has established for me in His word and with my family and friends.

” And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Bring on the chemo.

May we all know the fullness of God and just how wide, long, deep and high Christ’s love is.

Family, Household Chores

Be Having A Baking Cupboard

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I love our new house! Yes, I said it.

This 1960’s well built home is on a dead end street and is reminisce of my childhood home. Sexy Neck and his crew have done an amazing job renovating to rid the house of its smoke smell.

One of my favourite parts of the house, is the kitchen. We renovated the kitchen for under $5000 with half of that budget being a mix of old and new appliances. We found a Bosch dishwasher online for only $200.

We have an amazing amount of cupboards in the kitchen plus a Dutch door pantry.

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We decided to have one cupboard for my baking supplies. I can’t decide whether I should leave the doors off or put them on. They are currently in the basement waiting for their next coat of paint.

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Baking cupboard in the morning sun

Any opinions – doors off or on?

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Be A Man With A Workshop

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Besides being incredibly handsome, my man is handy!  

For the past four years, we have lived in a house that we have been continually renovating – windows, roof, build a workshop, painting, garden, hedges, gates, these are just a few of the projects that we have done.

We are now renovating our new house BEFORE we move into it.  In the four years that we lived in the 29th Crescent house, Sexy Neck NEVER got to unpack his workshop.  The workshop was built last year, but due to continual renovations, he never took anything out of boxes.  

This week, Sexy Neck unpacked his boxes for his workshop.  You should have heard the excitement in his voice.  It truly was like a kid at Christmas.  

I am so proud of my husband for hiring someone to help with our renovations and now for taking the time to unpack his workshop.   AWESOME.  The three boys are going to love all the projects you can make together: bike stand, bird houses, planter boxes  just to name a few that the boys want to do with you! 

ImageSexy Neck’s workshop in the garage

Boys, Construction, Family

Be Removing A Closet

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What do we really WANT and NEED?

This question keeps rolling through my mind as I wade through the copious amount of stuff in my parents basement and the torn apart house we hope to occupy in less than four weeks.

You will be happy to know that we are not going on the Hoarders TV show, but we are making steps to remove a closet so that all three of our boys can share a room.

Yes, in the world of resale, probably not the best move.  But in the realm of us having the priority that our boys will be close, share their lives and their worlds with each other, getting rid of a closet is something we need to do.

One decision down… 1,368 to go!

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The view of the closet from the hall.  Look at all that space we will have for the boys literal bed room.  We plan on keeping their clothes, books and some toys in the other bedroom down the hall.  The boys are excited about their “sleeping” room and their “book” room as they are calling them.

Family, psychology

Be a Neighbour

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I am in shock that someone could make a homemade bomb to hurt citizens, athletes, and spectators at the Boston Marathon.  I doesn’t make sense.  It is cruel, hurtful and evil.  I am in despair and I feel very sad.

What can I do? How can I help?

I feel hopeless, but then I realize that there are people all around me.  People hurting, people needing support and I know that I can do only one thing in this moment of sadness:

I can be a neighbour.

I believe in my heart that if we really knew our neighbours, our world would be a better place.  If we took the time to really LOVE and understand our neighbours.  If we took the time to listen and care, we would not have so many human beings that feel so disconnected from each other.  Many people willing to kill each other.

In my despair, I stand on my soapbox and ask, could be a neighbour?

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Our neighbour pumpkin carving night! 

Here is what being a neighbour means to our family, on our street, in our small town:

  • Give your neighbours your phone number. (Once you get to know them.)
  • Lend them things – we tend to lend out a ton of baby/kids stuff.  Imagine that!
  • Borrow things from them – ask for some milk or a couple of eggs
  • Get to know your neighbours.  We know everyone on our block as well as their parents, grandchildren and a few aunts and uncles.
  • Ask the neighbourhood kids to walk your dog or take care of the lawn.  It gives them purpose and value.  (If they don’t accept, don’t worry.  Keep asking!)
  • Drop off some cookies or a candy bar or a pizza if you know someone in the neighbourhood is sick.  Nothing fancy, just something from your family.
  • Celebrate special events: I know people do block parties (we aren’t that fancy), but we do have card nights, BBQ’s and I have even hosted a yoga class in my living room.
  • And our personal favourite for our street: If someone walks down the road, say hello and smile.  Simple and sweet!

I think being a neighbour also involves someone being in the home during the day.  I think if more families had a parent at home (at least part time), many of our North American problems would disappear.  Perhaps even huge bombing (and future bombings and shootings ) like the Boston Marathon Tragedy could have been prevented.

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Be A Worker

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I live with three little men and one big one.

I am immersed with strange noises, tree climbing and nightly wrestling sessions on a daily basis.

I haven’t quite figured this whole ‘boy’ thing out yet, but I read a ton of books about boys and spend many hours observing my blessed, interesting, little men.

This morning was a light bulb moment.

My men love to WORK.

If there is a job to be done, it is done. If there is wood to be moved it is carried together while singing. If a machine is being worked on, my little men are there.

Amazing! I love my little workers! Well done this morning boys!

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