Angry Birds

Have you played the iPhone/iPod touch game Angry Birds?

You can YouTube for some ideas if you've never played it, but essentially, it's a little game where you launch angry birds at some pigs who have stolen the birds' eggs, in efforts to destroy the pigs and eventually get the eggs back.  The levels get harder as you go along.

Our church does this family fun zone at our town's trade fair, and the pastor, who is a good friend of ours, asked if I'd help him make a live angry birds game.

So this is what I whipped up:

I'd also made two more green pigs, but they weren't quite finished in time for the photo shoot.

These were a TON of fun, but a lot of work, too!  My kids had a hard time parting with them - they were also a HUGE hit at the trade fair!  Mike had made a table with a catapult to set up the pigs/birds with.  So much fun!

3/10

Today I...

...baked cookies
...played with a sweet girlie while the boys were out with Daddy and Great-Grandpa
...cleaned a bathroom
...tried to nap, but then woke up 20 minutes later coughing
...went to two out-of-town meetings
...grocery shopped at 9:45 p.m.
...cleaned my kitchen
...pre-cleaned my house for a workbee here tomorrow

Not really a *full* day as such.  I actually felt a little lazy.

I've been getting contractions for the last three nights, lasting around 2 hours, every 8-9 minutes, in addition to the many I get throughout the day.  Nothing significant, and not even all that uncomfortable, but just *obvious*.  One of these nights, the contractions won't stop, and there'll be a new baby to announce.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of May.  Meaghan is the extended family's *only* May baby (aside from my brother whom we never see), but we have about 5 April birthdays to celebrate.  So, I'm happy to be adding to the May numbers rather than the April numbers.

With that...

Good night!

4/11

The days have been sweet.


I have helped out twice at Joshua's school this week.  Today I took Dustin with me, and it was such a precious time.  He fit in there like a perfect (smaller) piece of a grade one puzzle, sitting at Joshua's desk with him.  Joshua was the *best* big brother in those moments, guiding Dustin, holding his hand, teaching him.  It was perfect.  Dustin even got to go out for lunchtime recess with Joshua, and he was in there like a dirty shirt!!


Meaghan's language has been sky-rocketing.  Today, Graeme went in to work a bit later as he is going to work a Trade Fair tonight and won't be home until after all the littles are in bed.  As he headed out the door, she said excitedly, "Bye!  Have fun, Daddy!"  Her sentences and thoughts are becoming more complete.  I can usually piece together what she's trying to tell me when she only uses a couple of words to communicate, but recently she has been using actual sentences.  Such a joy and a treat!!  I have to admit, though, that I'm going to miss the days when I am her only interpreter; the only one who can know exactly what she is saying.  She has been *such* a happy kid lately!


This new sweet baby has really slowed down his/her movements, but all is well.  S/he is running out of room!  We had another appointment yesterday, and this baby is a *definite* posterior baby!  I know for certain that Joshua and Meaghan both were, and Dustin's labour pattern very much fit the same as the other two, so I'm assuming he was as well.  Nobody's head engaged until I was in labour for several hours, too, so again, I'm thinking that Dustin was also OP for that reason...  The difference here is that this time I *know* ahead of time and can try to do something about it (positioning, etc)... and if the baby's position doesn't change, then I will also be better prepared and not discouraged in the event of another long labour.  I didn't know with any of the others until afterwards (J&D), and until my water broke with Meaghan and the nurse checked me (and that was only 20 mins before she was born).


Only a few more days!  

6/13

'Nother busy day... teaching my wee girlie how to buy groceries.  She got sick of being in the cart, so I let her walk with Dustin.  Suddenly my shopping trip got faaaarrrrr less efficient, but it sure was fun and cute! She didn't even throw fits when I had her put things back on the shelf that she'd chosen for our cart!

I even employed her muscles - and Dustin's muscles, too - to push the cart.  I merely had to gently steer from the front so that they wouldn't run into anything.  The cart was pretty full, and they had a blast pushing it for me.

We got home... all that cart-pushing must've worn the kids out.  They slept for 2 1/2 hours, which means that I also got a fantastic nap in today!  I needed it, after a couple nights of not-so-stellar sleep.

The weather has been glorious, and the street-sweepers came by today, meaning that the roads are now a LOT more clear for the kids to ride scooters on.  Yesterday I started re-assembling the trampoline also, but I think the padding/straps have to be repaired before we can continue.  Add that to my to-do list, I suppose.  No way I'm letting the kids (especially Dustin!) jump on the trampoline without the padding over the springs or the enclosure installed!

Baby has finally started moving a bit more again.  S/he has been verrrrry quiet these last 3-4 days.  Too quiet.  I'm thankful to be feeling those pokes and jabs again.

I've realized that I'm nowhere near ready for this baby... I mean, in the sense that we actually have to have things like a carseat installed in the van, or a bag to take with us to the hospital (should we even make it that far), etc.  Oh, and names?  We need to actually NAME this baby?

Midwife appointment tomorrow.  Graeme was able to get off a bit early (he will have to make up the time on Friday), and our midwives are giving us a "later than normal" appointment so that Graeme can come and visit with them again.  He's met them once before, but I think it would help his comfort level a lot if he could spend more time with these women.

Graeme napped on the sofa for almost an hour tonight while I cleaned the kitchen about 15 feet away.  You'd think HE was the one who'd pushed that cart around the store for over an hour!  Ha ha.  To his credit, he did eventually wake up and finish what he said he'd take care of.  Good hubby.  Good, good hubby.  You don't have to go out to the dog house tonight.

Thus are my rambling thoughts for today...

7/14

Learning my limits....?

I'm not very good at it.

Today I went to volunteer at Joshua's school for a couple of hours.  I hadn't yet been in this year, and I know that Joshua has wanted me to come.  So I went in, did a few admin things for the teacher, and hung out with my boy at lunch time (until they went out for recess).  Fun times - really!

Then I went to run errands.  I picked up a few things for labour and post-partum, but then, when I was at the mall, suddenly I couldn't move very quickly any more.  My back began to hurt like the dickens, just out of the blue.

I couldn't even make a decision about a toothbrush.  My brain had officially turned to mush and I was incapable of any coherent thought.  So, I went home and attempted to sleep.

I woke up about half an hour later to some random noises outside and couldn't fall back asleep from being so hot.  I'm *finally* roasting - every single pregnancy finds me frozen for 8 1/2 months, and then sweltering for the last 2+ weeks, so now I need to sleep with my window wide open.  I felt OK, in spite of the really short nap.

Eventually, I went to pick up Joshua from the bus... got snacks for the kids... got supper ready to go... and played outside with the kids.  I played soccer with the boys, and football with Joshua.  I raked some sections of the yard where some grass had been sitting, and then started setting up the trampoline for the new season - spring - finally!  (I had to drag the frame out of the garden first, though...)

After supper, we went out as a family for a 2+ mile walk.  It was a fantastic family time!!  What a blessing to see the boys have a crazy amount of fun on a simple walk - Joshua rode his bike slowly and Dustin was on his scooter.  They chattered incessantly and loudly... and Meaghan had fun in her stroller, too.

About 1 1/2 miles into it, I needed a rest.  The contractions seemed fairly constant, though not "useful", and I was pretty achey.

You think I'd have learned...

...and now my brain is mush again.

I guess I just feel that if I actually feel half-decent, I want to be doing something useful and productive - otherwise I just feel lazy.  Problem is, I still haven't figured out when "enough is enough".  I wonder if I ever will?

8/15

I don't feel safe.

At a time of pregnancy where one would hope to be surrounded by supportive people, I found myself having to stand my ground and be on complete defensive last night.

I was tired and therefore a little irritable.

It's hard to defend my informed choices with other non-informed people in the room.

I can extol the virtues of midwifery care until I'm blue in the face.

I can talk about their training and the fact that they are monitoring you with watchful eyes throughout the entirety of active labour... I can lose my breath as I explain how their method of care includes derailing challenges before they become crises... I can reassure until I'm practically begging that trained midwives are NOT new age women who will risk my life and my baby's life, but that will transfer care readily in the unlikely event of true complication.

I can explain the logistics of birth and how "modern hospital births" usually "require" the women to be strapped onto monitors continually, reducing their efficiency of movement and therefore comfort and progression of labour... how laying flat on one's back while you labour or push your baby out against gravity is not exactly a recipe for success but usually will delay labour to a point of the doctor diagnosing you with "failure to progress" and head you out for a c-section before dinnertime... (and yes, I've actually had nurses confess to me that the ob/gyns that they've worked with have done this on a regular basis)...

These people I had to defend myself against?  No, they weren't merely curious about my choice - I'd have recognized the difference.  It was more of a "how dumb can you be" type of lead-in to the conversation...

I don't feel safe with these people.

There are others that I do, thankfully, feel safe with.  Others who are intrigued by my choices, even though they'd still choose differently.  They are still supportive and praying.  They strengthen me rather than seek to shred my confidence.

I want to feel safe.

10/17

Ten days to my "first" due date.

Seventeen to my "guess date" set by my midwives, based on my history.

Shouldn't I be nesting or something?

Baby is active... VERY active!

I went for my first massage today in over 1 1/2 years.  I am too far along to use the special pregnancy pillow and lay on my stomach, so I laid on my side, and I gotta say, it was WAY nicer than I expected.  I'm not the type of girl that goes for a relaxation massage, but when I do go (which obviously is not very often), I like the therapist to dig deep.

It felt SO good.  I've been a bit of a hurtin' unit these last couple of weeks; chiro adjustments have helped to an extent, but I've known for a while that I've got some muscular things going on as well.

Best massage, ever...?  Probably.  Not that I've been for *that* many.

There's something daunting to me (still) about natural childbirth, even though I've been down both roads before and know which road leads me to the better outcome.  So I've been doing probably more reading than is necessary - lots of positive reinforcement, lots of praying, lots of focussing on the positive... and yes, even a few not-terribly-graphic YouTube videos, too.

It's bedtime.  I feel like it's always bedtime these days.  It wouldn't take much for me to fall asleep at almost any given moment...  now if only Baby would sleep when Mama lays down...  :)

He asked me...

Last night as I was tucking him in, Dustin asked me something in his sweet innocence...

"Mommy, when you go to the hospital to have the baby, can Joshua and me come and watch them take the baby out of you?"

Uhhhhhhh... not unless you want to be scarred for life, my boy...

Now that he's 5...

...Dustin is allowed to chew gum.

He has been beyond thrilled.

We told Joshua when he was 4 1/2 years old that "when you turn 5, you can chew gum".  It never came up after that, but the day after his 5th birthday, you'd better believe he brought it up!  We couldn't back out.

Dustin has been waiting for 1 1/2 years for the day he could chew gum.  We've let him chew it on a very limited number of occasions, usually on trips through the mountains, to help him with his ears.  For the last month and a half, he has been asking, "How many days until I can chew gum?"  He knew he had to wait until his 5th birthday.  He knew it was important, because we'd made Joshua wait till then as well.

He received a few items for his birthday - some hockey cards (which he was thrilled with, as he's just started his collection), a splash-ball game which is actually very cool, and a few other card games and the like.  We try to keep it low-key for birthdays, but parents still find a way to sneak things into our home and our kids' hearts.

Well, you'd have thought Dustin won the jackpot.  I'd told all the parents about Dustin's excitement about getting to chew gum on his 5th birthday.  About 3 of the parents took us up on that suggestion, and here is one result:

VICTORY!  What a happy guy!  So simple... so worth the wait...

More victory in the form of some $2.50 packages of hockey cards from one little party-goer:

My 5 Year Old Boy!

I had a few spare minutes this afternoon (shocker!), so I whipped this together...

Dustin crashed into our world 5 years ago today.  The crashing has not stopped - what a ride it's been!  We are sure in love with this little man!

Another Go-Around

Joshua has never really fully recovered since his bout with strep.  He has continued to spike random fevers, get headaches, and have odd neck swellings that come and go.  So, back to the doctor we go.  I feel like we *just* did all of this.  I hope and pray we don't get a brush-off!!

It was one of those days...

I am now into my 9th month.


I find myself with less energy, less stick-tuitiveness, and less ability to follow my motivation. 


Last week - spring break - and I was supposed to head to Saskatchewan to visit a friend for a few days.  With kids in tow.  Yes, all 3.875 of them.  


God had other plans.  His plans included roads that were going to be too treacherous to travel alone.  A highly pregnant mother with 3 kids on icy blowing roads?  Probably not the safest or best idea.  Karen and I were disappointed, but knew it was for the best that I stay put.  Another reason hit a day later - I had another sick child - this time, Dustin - falling with fever for several days.  The poor kid fell asleep on the sofa a couple of times, which he *never* does.  He has a sore throat as well, but seems to be mending fine on his own.  So, no doctor visits as yet.


The last couple of days also included far too much sass (from the eldest, in particular) and discipline (from me, in particular).  Poor kid - we were so housebound with Dustin being ill, and Joshua was going stir-crazy.  Can't much blame the boy - I was going stir-crazy, too.  Meaghan had had a couple of difficult days, and we were all feeling the crunch of the final days of winter.  I was falling dreadfully behind on housekeeping for all the correction I was having to do, and I was feeling overwhelmed.


On Saturday morning, I broke.  Graeme was giving me a hug... Joshua also came to embrace me.  Meaghan was stuck in her booster seat at the time and said, "Mummy?  Cwy?  Hugs!" - she reached her messy arms up to me so that I would come down and let her hug me.  And THEN, she noticed my tears - pointing/wiping them with her little finger, then looks at me and said, "Mummy.  Tee-ws.  Kee-neck?" - (Kleenex) - Dustin got her a kleenex, and she proceeded to nearly gouge my eyes out of their sockets with her insistent wiping.  Her sweetness overwhelmed me and I unwillingly poured out more tears in humility and awe.


Sometimes it's worth being sad so that they learn (and can practice) a little compassion.  


I remember once, it was shortly after Dustin joined our family, where I seemed to constantly be irritated or sad.  Lots of crying.  Joshua, in his loving sensitive character, caught onto this as well... but then there was one day that he kept saying, "Mommy sad."  


And... it made me sad that *this* was the current memory he had of me.  That I was sad all the time.


How I prayed for God to deliver me from that sadness.  And... He eventually did.  He at least gave me the strength - for a time - to keep it at bay, especially in front of my children.  


I do think it's OK for our children to see us struggle - to a point.  I think it's healthy for them to watch us fight through something that's worth fighting for.  I believe that a husband comforting his wife in front of their children is going to set a strong foundation and model for them to desire for their own future marriages.  I want them to see that even though we trust in God, that we are still human and still struggle, but that our faith in God is real and that He can carry us through our valleys.  They need to see this in practical ways.


So I've decided that, once in a while, it's okay to be broken in front of the children.