Announcing our newest blessing, Isaiah!
He is 19 months old and is from the same province as Samuel.
We are totally smitten and can’t wait to bring him home in the next couple months!
19
Feb
Feb
This is Love
February 19, 2013
Do you see what I see?
I see Love!
Most people who know Stephen in his real life, see him as serious, regimented, disciplined and driven. They’d be right. In his professional life and in many of his personal hobbies and habits he is “Mr. Type A”. And trust me, it’s served us all very well.
Chore Charts? Check.
Kids to appointments on time? Check.
3 Square meals a day? Check.
He likes life orderly and in line.
OH that is SO tough for this undisciplined girl!
But I’ve learned and he’s softened, and we’ve flexed back and forth and it works.
Watching him take 25 minutes to pull out of our driveway with Garnet and Samuel this morning made me pause.
He didn’t just pick up Samuel and carry him outside. Nope, he made him walk.
He didn’t just boost him into his car seat. Nope, he waited for TEN minutes while Samuel figured out how to climb up into his car seat, turn around, not catch his prosthetic feet on the seat back in front of him, position himself just so, arrange his crutches, realize that his buckle was underneath himself, haul his bottom up and wiggle around his winter coat, position his crutches, feed his arms through the straps, and then proceeded to allow Samuel to buckle himself 1, 2, 3 times in order to get it just right.
You get the idea.
And he did it with patience, kindness and a smile.
That is LOVE!
4
Feb
Feb
Happy Penny Day!
February 4, 2013
Today, February 4th, 2013, was the final day of production for the Canadian Penny!
Take a look at what Metro News had to say in eulogy of our little treasure.
Samuel celebrated, as he does every day, by walking the length of our living room picking up pennies from one container and depositing them into another container. This is Stephen’s genius invention to encourage longer and longer periods of walking in his prosthetics.
Just think of all the ways those little copper gems have been used in generations of parenting!
We’ll miss you little penny. You’ve been a faithful friend!
8
Jan
Jan
l.o.v.e. my kids
January 8, 2013
Adorable Garnet story from pre-op (sorry if you already caught it on FB):
Garnet brought the stuffed monkey we bought for him while he was still in China to the OR with him. Monkey got a piggy back ride down the hall to the OR and then was clutched tightly as he drifted off to sleep. My little monkey…
Got home to sleep tonight (Steve is staying the night with Garnet) and the other kids had entertained Samuel all day, shovelled the mounds of snow, fed and cleaned up three meals, completed their assignments for school and tackled their chores. Totally impressed my socks off! Way to go guys!
7
Jan
Jan
Garnet’s Bone Graft Surgery Eve
January 7, 2013
Here we are again. Surgery time for Garnet.
He was scheduled for this one back in October but it was cancelled due to his catching a cold.
I’ve almost hesitated to post anything at all about it for fear hope it would be cancelled yet again.
You see, I’m chicken.
B-GAWWWWWK!
Yep. I hate all of the poking and prodding and procedures that my kids have to go through. But I think I may have mentioned that a time or two. Let’s just say that I don’t go into these things lightly for any of them.
Oh my heart!
Tonight I’ll simply post some photos of him on his Bone Graft Surgery Eve. They tell so much about Garnet right now.
I think he’s adorable with his long shaggy hair and tired eyes. Dad took him out late to get a “last supper” of McDonald’s before he is restricted to a soft diet for the next while.
Dad let him play with his iPhone too. What’s not to love about being the patient?
This is the one that made our hearts melt.
He packed his own bag for the hospital.
(Don’t worry, we tucked some clothes in another bag – but hey, who needs clean clothes, right?!)
Included in the bag was:
1. His stuffed monkey that we bought for him while we waited to travel to meet him.
2. His “Froggy” that James gave him.
3. His beloved hat that was passed down to him from his cousin Lane.
4. His Illusion-ology book about Magic.
5. His Pokemon guidebook.
6. His Outdoors guidebook that his Dad reads to him nightly when he is home.
And last, but not least…
7. Every possible electronic device he could get his hands on, including chargers and extra game cartridges.
That’s our Garnet in a nutshell!
He’s so delighted that he gets some time off school and smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
He’s obviously going to feel bit different tomorrow, but he’s a pretty upbeat guy and I know he’ll get through this alright. The one regret he has is the fact that he won’t be able to make those “oh so popular with the young boys” noises through the hole in his gum line anymore.
(Don’t tell him, but I might just miss that a little bit too!)
It’s all just so Garnet!
5
Jan
Jan
What can you do on a snowy day?
January 5, 2013
Grace teasing me with her smile…
Faith working on her polymer clay figures…
Appreciating my last night with the glow of the Christmas village…
Gazing outside the schoolroom window at the snow…
Garnet building creatively with the new Magformers…
A reintroduction to Anne of Green Gables…
Bring the fun inside. Snow in the kitchen? Samuel thought I was hilarious!
5
Jan
Jan
Full Circle
January 5, 2013
While we waited for Samuel, we were blessed to see him online. Now? Daddy travels for work and Samuel (& everyone else) is blessed to connect with Stephen online. Ah Skype – you are a wonder.
3
Jan
Jan
Toys Re-invented
January 3, 2013
Faith has been re-immersed in the world of toys these past few months. Being 12, that is a fairly cool thing for her Dad and I to see. She has begun collecting Schleich figures. They are so life-like and yet full of fantasy. Being Faith though, the ones in the store weren’t unique enough on their own. She decided to pursue making some of her own. Tonight it was a tiny little baby in a diaper and with a teeny little flower to go along with it. Faith has always loved to personalize and accessorize her life, so this newest bit of creativity at 12, is such a pleasure for us to watch!
2
Jan
Jan
Genuine Christmas Spirit
January 2, 2013
Like most of us, I really love the weeks leading up to Christmas. The lights, the visiting, the anticipation – they bring out such a warmth in my spirit and in the demeanour of so many around me. Truly, what’s not to love?
Unlike many, I try to avoid the Boxing Week sales. The return lines in the mall, the 70% off everything signs, the bedraggled decorations – they put a damper on my glow, you know?
Today though, I decided to take James out to exchange a couple items. And as expected, folks were a bit more down in the mouth. And things didn’t have the sparkle that I’d noticed just a few short days before. Until, that is, we headed over to a new prosthetics office that we haven’t been to before.
I needed to pick up some spray that helps Samuel’s prosthetic liners suction a bit better. We go through a ton of that stuff. I ran in expecting a quick errand and stopped dead in my tracks. Amongst the clients and professionals, there was laughter and smiling; friendly banter and joking. I paused for a second while they waited for me to announce my reason for stopping in. Such a contrast and in such an unlikely place, or so one would think.
But that it the secret that we have discovered over the past five years. The key to happiness and joy has nothing to do with the packages and shiny lights and brand names and deep discounts. It has to do with perspective.
And today I realized, not for the first time, that I am one of the privileged few who have been let in on the secret to joy and maybe even the true essence of Christmas Spirit.
It was a wonderful reminder for a brand new year.
Welcome 2013!
(Don’t mind the late Santa photo – it needed a home here.)