Happy New Year’s

Well, tomorrow is a new year and I hope that 2008 is absolutely brilliant for each and every one of you!

We are starting the New Year with a trip to the Dr’s in Edmonton with Superbaby. He will be undergoing cardiac catheterization on Jan 3rd. As I said before, it is causing a great deal of anxiety for us. It is a procedure which is better than open heart surgery, I agree, but it certainly has it’s risks nonetheless. Our Superbabe did have a cardiac cath when he was two weeks old, and frankly, it was a disaster. Pretty well anything that could have gone wrong did, and it nearly killed him. It certainly makes it harder to go into it again with anything but fear and trepidation! I’ll just be happy when it is all done and we are back home and life is normal again.

Other than this initial little bump, 2008 is looking great at our house, and I hope it is for you as well!

Cheers,
Jennifer

As of tomorrow…..

Alberta is adopting new legislation to help keep people here healthier. As expected, smokers are unhappy about it, but I for one am quietly doing the happy dance.

It really isn’t any different than the reaction when the province adopted seat belt laws requiring that everyone be buckled in or ticketed. Oh, the rhetoric! “It’s my life” “They can’t tell me what to do” “What about personal freedoms”. Sound familiar? Every city in Alberta or Canada that have already created their own anti-smoking laws have heard it all. Yet people still go to restaurants and I doubt that anyone went out of business because of it. Maybe in the New Year I’ll get my Mr. man to go with me to a bar. I haven’t cared to go for years becasue of all the smoke.

The hospitals in Edmonton have a poster campaign against smoking. Their slogan is “When you smoke, so do our patients”. That is the problem with smoking. It has devastating effects on your own health, yes, but it also has those same effects on everyone around you! Even after you are done, the smoke lingering in your clothes and hair can cause problems for people who are sensitive for any reason.

As a mother, I see no end to the positives for this province wide move. Not only do I have one child with asthma and one with a heart condition, both of which are now protected better because of this, but I see this as a great deterrent for any young person thinking of starting. Up until now, we told kids that smoking kills and it is so bad for you, but everywhere they went they saw people smoking and were exposed to the secondhand smoke. This is sending a clear message that smoking is frowned upon and not tolerated by the general public, and if it helps keep any of my kids or their friends from starting, I’m all for it!

My acceptance speech

I wish to thank Anonymum for my beautiful award!

(Oh yes, and all the little people in my life, yada yada yada………Without you, blah blah blah…….)

Thank you A-Mum~! I love my blogging award, now that I know how to display it, I’m so much wiser too!

What a great way to end 2007!

Inspiration

So many bloggers I know have been posting Maxine this past week….I just couldn’t resist!

Annie at Writerchick recently posted a list of insights she has recently realized. I thought some of her new found views to be very beautiful and inspiring. I think it is good for each of us to do a bit of deep soul searching from time to time. My list is going to be all the lessons I have learned in this past roller coaster year we all know and love as 2007. Here goes, in no particular order:

Life is a beautiful thing. Some days are terribly frustrating, difficult, sad or exhausting, but in the end, tomorrow is a new day, a new chance, and life is very worth living.

I am stronger than I think. Sometimes I really don’t think I can cope with what I see looming on the horizon, but you know what? When I get to the thick of it, when it really is necessary, I can do it, whatever needs to be done.

I am loved, and I love back. Love is a thing to be shared and given away; it is the one true gift which we can give of ourselves, and no matter what, it truly can heal all things. I know this seems rather preachy and I can already hear the eyes rolling, but true love of others and of ourselves really is amazing.

Have faith. Faith in yourself, faith in others, and most of all, faith in the powers of the universe and ultimate powers that be.

Whatever happens is for the best. Even when I can’t see it right away, in the end, it all works out the way it is supposed to.

There is no place like home, and home is where the heart is.

There truly are angels in this world.

I’m no special person, but for whatever reason, I have been touched and changed and granted a special opportunity to raise part of the next generation, and it is a true honor. I have been blessed.

There is nothing wrong with taking some space for myself when I am stressed. In fact, I am a better parent for it.

So that is my list for 2007. If any one out there is looking for a bit of blogging inspiration, may I suggest a list of your own. It really does feel very good, and I think it is much more productive than a list of resolutions!

Now while I am looking forward to 2008, I have the first week of it to get through first. Superbaby is going in for a cardiac catheterization on Jan 3rd and it is producing a fair bit of anxiety for the family. I just keep reminding myself of some of my lessons from this past year. In the end, we will all be just fine. Once we are through this initial bump, 2008 is looking like a stellar year!

I’ve been Invaded

I have a houseguest lately that I could do without. Day 2, and 2 days left to go. Gives a new meaning to good bye, you know?

Well……

So Christmas day has come and gone once again. The kids loved all their gifts, Superbaby had a good time playing with all the wrappings, the food was fabulous and plenty, and our weather was absolutely fantastic! I think the weather here was the best gift of all. Christmas Eve was actually above freezing and Christmas Day just below the freeze mark. Perfect! The kids spent lots of time outside and everyone was in a much better mood because of it. They spent hours clearing off the dugout ice and skating. There is nothing like good outdoor physical activity for quelling the fights and nasty tempers.

My sister and her family came, although my little niece was sporting a cold and none of us could get too close and cozy with her because of it. Too bad. She is at such a fun age right now too. We managed somehow to keep her out of the main supply of Superbabe’s toy, which kept the sanitizing and washing that I needed to do the next day to a minimum. My parents were a no show, and disappointed as I am, I’m not really surprised. We see the family that have to drive two days to get here more often then we see Mom and Dad, and they are a 15 min drive. It saddens me that family and grandkids don’t seem to be a huge priority for them, but I also wonder how happy they can be. I think they are the ones missing out.

I heard over the news that Boxing Day in Canada was a huge retail bonanza. 1.2 billion dollars spent yesterday. How insane! I spent the day in my Pj’s, in bed, reading Agatha Christie. A much better way to spend my time methinks. My daughter came to tease me at one point and I told her that I was taking a day off. Even Moms are allowed a day off once every 3 years! She kept teasing me so then I told her that traditionally Boxing Day was the servants day off and it was my turn. Unfortunately, I’m paying for it today as I’m apparantly the only servant here…….

Mr. Man took all the kids that could walk and went skiing today. Weather is a bit colder but still good for this time of year. There’s a pretty dense fog outside of the house though. Hopefully he doesn’t lose anyone, but we have a very small hill about 5 min away, and I think it would take real talent for anyone to actually get ‘lost’ on that hill. Again, good outdoor physical activity. I’m looking forward to another peaceful evening.

I hope you all had a fun and wonderful Christmas as well! Continued peace and love to each of you throughout the remainder of the holidays….

Now that’s Christmas!

This will be my last post until sometime after Christmas. I’ve decided to leave you with this new song and video from Brad Johner. He is a performer from Saskatchewan and has travelled the many miles to our small town in Alberta to grace us with his music and help out with a couple of fundraisers over the last few years. He is a great entertainer and a good guy to boot.

Merry Christmas everyone. Wishing you only the best!

Jennifer

The countdown has started

I’m starting to get excited. My house is finally feeling like Christmas! I have the decorations nearly done. Gifts are hidden, music is playing, and school is nearly out for the holidays.

Today, we spent the afternoon at the Christmas concert for the kids. Many, many songs off key, microphone troubles, forgotten lines and mis-cues were rampant, making it the perfect school Christmas concert. Even if you don’t have kids of your own, I highly recommend taking in a school concert near you. The antics of some of the kids on stage, especially the younger ones, make it all worthwhile!

Last Sunday our kids were part of the Christmas pageant at our church. Being the smallest baby (not the youngest, but the smallest by far!) Superbaby was asked to be the baby Jesus. Big sister was then automatically nominated as Mother Mary. I was also the proud mother of two shepards and one cow. Superbabe looked to each side and saw himself surrounded by kids, looked in front and saw everyone in church looking at him, and figured that all was right with the world! Not a peep was heard from him until he was brought back to me. Then he started to fuss! Baby Jesus and Mother Mary are being asked to do a repeat performance this coming Sunday at the Christmas Eve service, and I’m sure parts will be found for the other kids as well. What fun!

Our Christmas tree was put up tonight, and some Sand Art Brownies were made for the teachers and bus driver. Tomorrow is the last day of school for the kids and then Christmas will officially be here for the next few days. My sister is coming on Tuesday with her husband and little toddler daughter in tow, and I can’t wait! My parents may or may not be joining us. My mom is being somewhat resisted this year, but she may still show up yet. I’ve decided that if they don’t come, it is them that will miss out on all the fun. My house is going to be hopping with kids and activity, and if anyone doesn’t want to be a part of that, then I don’t want them here anyhow! I plan to enjoy my Christmas this year, count my blessings (and there are tons of them!) and enjoy my next five days with my family to the utmost!

I wish each and everyone of you the Merriest of Christmases, filled to the brim with love, joy, peace and happiness. Take your families, wrap them up in your arms and hold on tight. If you find yourself away from your family this year, wrap them in your heart instead. Count your blessings people. Count them out loud and say thank you. Make your own personal Christmas as bright as you can and enjoy it to the fullest.

Nearly there.

In our house, the Christmas season will officially begin as of tomorrow. I will pull out the Christmas tree, decorations, and start shopping in earnest because I suddenly feel very behind in all my preparations. Of course, with only a week left until Christmas, I am behind! Dreadfully so. In fact the last time I was ready for Christmas well in advance of the big day, was twelve years ago. Ever since, it has been a last minute rush.

You see, twelve and half years ago, I was pregnant for the second time in my life. My daughter was a mere 7 months old when I found out the news. Dec 17th was the date we were given, and as babies are never born on their due date, I was happy with that. Dec 17th is our anniversary and I wanted to keep the two dates seperate, even if only by one day. That year, with a baby on the way, my daughter’s first Christmas, and our third anniversary on the horizon, I had all gifts bought, wrapped and planning done by the beginning of November. I was able to enjoy the last of my pregnancy and the coming of the season in peace.

If you haven’t already guessed, my son came on his due date, and our anniversary celebrations have been a quiet affair ever since. In an effort to keep his birthday seperate and as special as possible, even Christmas has taken a back seat. So today, my oldest son turns a glorious twelve years old (or as he announced in church yesterday, 624 weeks old!). I will cook his requested foods for supper (pork steak this year) and we will all sing a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. After he opens his gifts and the kids eventually go to bed, Mr. Man and I will quietly celebrate our love and union.

Of course, tomorrow, Christmas begins. I hope to be able to come and enjoy some of the yule tide with my cyber friends and connections, but with only a week to pull off my as-perfect-as-I-can-make-it holiday, I’m not sure how much I will be able to give here. I am planning my Christmas meal already, as I have the honor of hosting and cooking for my parents and my sister and her family this year. I do have a small amount of baking hidden in the freezer, but there is more I wish to do. After all, tons of good food must accompany any Ukrainian family gathering! My house must be decorated still, and there are all sorts and manners of little details to be seen to. It is Superbaby’s first Christmas as well, and special it must be!

I wish for each of you, your own perfect holiday and celebrations, full of love, family and true Christmas spirit.

Cheers,
Jennifer

Psst…..Pass it on!

Claudia tagged me for a little meme, and while I don’t normally join in on this type of thing, this one is so small and simple I really can’t refuse. While you’re at it, be sure to check Claudia out! She is in Germany and is practicing both her english and spanish by writing her posts in these foreign languages. I know nothing of spanish, but her english has improved dramatically and I would imagine that her spanish has as well. It really can’t be very easy to write in a language other than your own, and I think she is wonderfully smart and brave!

Allright, seven things about me…

1) I am Ukrainian. Unfortunately I was raised purely Canadian and know very little about my anscestry. Not a big deal, but I have found over the past few years that I want to get more in touch with my heritage and culture. I’ve started making the tradition Easter eggs with my kids at Easter and trying to make and serve some of the more traditional foods. I had no idea that it would also mean that I would take on the traditional body image of the Ukrainian baba……..!

2) I snore. And I don’t mean just a little bit. I saw logs, man! It is worse when I’m coming down with a cold, but this last pregnancy was terrible. I would wake myself up with the noise!

3) I enjoy cooking. There is nothing like a big meal with lots of delicious wholesome food. A good meal is the best way to treat people. As soon as I hear that we have company coming, I start planning my menus, but I always seem to forget about lunch time. Supper meals are my specialty.

4) I hate having my picture taken. I really dislike the way I look on film. Thank goodness I have so many cute kids and the family is now more interested in photographing them than me!

5) I have only one sister but always wished I was part of a large family. I married into one though. My husband has seven siblings. I think that is also the reason I have so many kids. I always wanted a large family, and when I was young and stupid, my Mr. Man and I planned to have six kids. I was mentally done at four though and now I have five. Which leads me to my next number.

6) As soon as Superbaby is old enough tolerate a bit of seperation from me and doesn’t require so much lifting and carrying, I’m going to have my tubes tied. Five is more than enough and I seem to get pregnant just by thinking about it. It is really quite unfair when there are so many women out there working so hard to get pregnant. I would gladly give them some of whatever it is that does it to me.

7) I love where I live. We are situated right on the banks of one of the largest rivers in Alberta, and the view of the valley is absolutely breathtaking, regardless of the season. When we built this house, we made sure that our living room window featured our view, and I try to drink it in as much as possible. I missed my valley, my view, and my house more than anything else when I was in the city with Superbabe.

All right, that’s seven random/weird facts about me. I’m not going to tag anyone specifically, but I do invite you to join in if you would like. Just be sure to give me a heads up because I want to make sure that I get to read yours as well!