A Day for Olga

Written by my friend Patti...

Dear friends,




So many of you already know this beautiful little face....







Olga turned five last month. She has spent the last five years in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, without the love of a mommy and daddy- simply because she arrived in life exactly as God designed her. One chromosome too many, and her fate was sealed from birth.











Sealed, because in Eastern Europe, babies who are born with Down syndrome are deemed unacceptable at birth. They are discarded as cast-offs of society, and when they turn five they leave the only home they've ever known...









And I wish I could say that for most of these children, leaving that home means going to a place of safety, a place of happiness, a place where they would finally know the love of a family...know what it means to be cuddled or sung to or read to, tucked in at night, prayed for, loved.



Instead, they are taken to a place that most people wouldn't leave their family pet.


A place of living hell, where they will never know the tenderness of a parent, never know the security of being raised in a family, and there they will stay, one ugly, pain-filled day at a time...until they die.



I read a post last December that stayed with me to this day. It was called from baby dolls to bedstraps.The blog author wrote about Elizabeth, an orphan on Reece's Rainbow who had been transferred to a mental institution, waiting for a family to step forward for her. Her words still haunt me.



I wonder where she thought she was going as they led her out of the orphanage that day. Did she think that maybe it was finally her turn? That they were taking her to her forever Mommy and Daddy?

And when they instead took her inside that dreadful place, when they shaved her head and tied her to a too-small metal crib

when they turned their backs and

walked

away…

when they left her confused, terrified,

in a room where the wails of schizophrenic adults echo through the cold air

what was going through her young mind?

Did she wonder if she was being punished?

How long did she hold out hope that this was only temporary?

That any minute, they would come and take her back to the baby house

to her baby dolls and teddy bear,

to her best friend, Angelina?

Did she long to free her arms from the restraints

to cover her head with her hands to drown out

the scary noises

the scary sights

the scary smells?

That could be my Lily….

It could be your child.

And what if it were?

What if you woke up one morning

and by some hellish, twilight-zone twist of fate

your child wasn’t still tucked into that warm bed down the hall,

what if your child was trapped

across the dark sea

in that nightmare that is

the institution?

What

would

you

DO?

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Proverbs 24:11



Elizabeth is being rescued today, thanks to the efforts of that blogging mama, and others like her.

Olga is being rescued today, thanks to so many of you...you gave so much and created such a large grant that a family was able to step forward and start the process of adoption.

The Abells have done so much already, towards rescuing Olga. I can't even imagine all the paperwork and prayer and emotion and finances that goes into an international adoption. They have done numerous fundraisers, and will continue to do so until they can bring Olga home.

Through the help of so many, a grant of over $13,000 has been raised for Olga's adoption. That grant is set aside for the final travel costs and fees that it will take to bring Olga home. It will take every penny of that and then some.

Right now the Abells are in need of raising the $7,000 that is needed to submit their dossier for Olga. Without that dossier we don't even know if Olga has been transferred yet. Here in America you just pick up the phone and ask these questions. But here in America we don't tie five year old girls to cribs to keep them from climbing out.

The Abells need to submit that dossier as soon as possible- at the very least to find out if she has been transferred already- because I know an army of prayer warriors who is going to want to know that piece of information as well. And at the very most, it could be able to hold Olga at the baby house until the Abells can rescue her. I wish I could say with certainty that she won't be transferred- truthfully we just don't know that.

Olga has been so heavy on my heart for months- friends, I want you to know that I DO trust that God has a plan here.

I prayed like crazy for a way to help the Abells. I truly believe that there is a network of people who love Olga here in blogland...a net that is woven by God and is stretching out across this blessed country we live in, and even beyond to generous hearts in other nations. I really cannot express enough how thankful I am to be a small part of what God has already done for Olga, Peter and Kareen. But I don't think our job is done.

Olga needs us.
I don't want her to spend one more forsaken day in that place than she has to.

We're not doing a giveaway here today. I don't even think we need to do one- I know so many just have a heart to help and to give, and prizes were never the real reason we all gave anyway.


So I'm just asking- for one day- for you to do whatever you could to help Olga. Whether that's $10 or $20 or even a hundred...if you are able to help raise this money for the dossier, please do so HERE... This is the Abell's chip-in.






This is the link for the Family Sponsorship Page on Reece's Rainbow...every single dollar goes to the Abell's adoption fund, and every single dollar will help.

We're calling this A Day to Save Olga, because there are about 17 of us blogging mamas and one blogging grandpa who have set aside this day to blog, post on Facebook, pray, give and spread the word to SAVE OLGA.
Will you help us?

I know you will:)



Love,



Patti

Looking forward in retrospect

The Weekend was....


hot pink toes to make the snow seem not so cold...

PJ's all day long

new do's

deep cleaning...

Puppy love...

and a good close to a very lovely February...

This month there has been more looking forward than looking back. Looking forward with hope to dreams that are becoming plans....And it is good. 


I used to always dwell on the past. I am by nature, what you would call Mel-uhn-kol-ik. I am by nature an artist. I am by nature a whimsical, grab life by the horns, romanticize the heck out of life type of dreamer. Or as Jaques would say in As You Like It "I can suck melancholy out of a song as a weasel sucks eggs. " 
But more often than not these types of people just repel anyone who encounter them. Not only that, but the unknown that lingers within their darkly clouded minds frighten others and so I restrain myself, bring order to chaos and place value in keeping it "all together". Thick skin has been my friend. 
But like in all things, there is a balanced to be achieved. The idea of making life seem all gum drops and lollipops appeals to me at times, because that is what people like to hear. Nobody wants to hang out with Debby Downer all the time. But the reality of what makes me who I am is simply God revealing His glory through seemingly dreary circumstances and they are to be rejoiced in. And here is why: In church today, I was thinking about the verse in 1 Peter that says, "Cast your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." I have been pondering this verse for the last couple of months, questioning its truth. "He cares for you..." Does he care for me? If he cared for me why does he let me suffer? Why does he not give me what I want? Why does he not enable my perfect plan? Then, as they prepared the elements for communion, he spoke to me. "I died for you." What greater gift could there be than salvation through the forgiveness of sins. He died on the cross so that I could live. What better way could He show He cares? 
It doesn't stop there though. I have been a believer for a long time and my faith has kept my life sheltered through endless storms. I am still here. I am not pregnant in some gutter. I am not hopelessly searching for....something....anything....in alcohol, drugs or any other vice. I am here and I am well. 
God gave me the grace and strength I needed in the time when I needed it -even when I thought I would not come out unscathed or out at all. 
There is value in retrospect. There is value in reflection. It makes us grateful for the battles won and blessings granted. It gives us clear vision for the future and hope.


So in March, I cleanse. My mind is like my basement, full of boxes and stuff that had no where else to go. Its time to sort it all out, toss what I don't need, and pack what has made me who I am but doesn't suit being hung above the fire place. I will reflect, rejoice, mourn, grieve and learn.
And in practicing the principle that what is done in body reflects the spirit, I will also do a physical cleanse. 


Welcome March. I'm ready.

The scenic route

When Ella was born many people that I encountered that had heard of her birth would either a.) start crying in front of me as if I had given birth the the most devastating scenario possible or b.) tell me of a person they knew or had known with Down Syndrome as if their unresolved conclusions about DS would help me in some way. I actually preferred that to the former but it was always a little awkward and really, when you think about it, not really for me. Because what would it matter to me what they thought of this individual with DS? "Oh, I worked with a girl whose brother had Down Syndrome...he was kind." "Did you know Harold? He was just the nicest person." And on and on it went.
I think it is safe to say that most people have a certain unrest when it comes to how to interact with a individual with Down Syndrome. I even find myself uncomfortable at times (not with Ella so much but older individuals). But the feeling is quite unique to DS because everyone knows that more often than not people with DS, though different, are kind. Think about it...its a little odd. Why do we do this? We do we put assumptions on something we know nothing about? I came across this blog today...He starts out:

I'm sitting at Starbucks (that's a worldwide chain of coffee shops), checking email, making phone calls, "sipping my triple tall non-fat latte," and thinking about the fact that people with Down Syndrome make me uncomfortable.

My fear is that if I make eye-contact with a Down Syndrome person they will talk to me, I won't understand them, and then I'll feel embarrassed. (Yes Virginia, this phobia is "all about me").

He paints a very real picture of how I think most of us feel. But what will make us change? Will we all have to have an experience like this to know that people with DS are people just like you and I. They have feelings, they have thoughts, opinions and insights. 

It's even a little awkward writing this and transitioning out because quite frankly, I don't even know the answer or know how my view of individuals with DS will change as Ella gets older. Because to me, Ella is my baby girl...but maybe that it just it. She is my baby girl and soon she will be my big girl and then my teenager (heaven help me) and then an adult who doesn't need her mom to coddle her all the time. And it will happen. Progress definitely comes slower: I am seeing this more and more, but it does come and sometimes looks different than how we think it should look.

I can't help compare Ella with Jakob and this is when I see the biggest differences.  Ella was born when Jakob was 22 months old. He could say full sentences, walk, run, climb. I found this facebook video of him sometime in the Spring before Ella was born.  

Ella is 20 months and says few recognizable words but signs when she needs to communicate her desires instead of crying or screaming. I think we are close to walking, but she is still timid and unstable and otherwise completely unlike her brother in so many ways. And yet has so much courage and motivation to try new things, which Jakob never really had. If Jakob thinks something seems difficult, he won't attempt it and will refuse to try. Ella isn't like that. She wants to be able to feed herself. She wants to be able to walk on her own. She tries to use her signs. 

Related or unrelated, I was thinking about this today, and last night as I stole her out of the warmth of her bed for a quick cuddle. Her body curled up into my stomach. She is getting so big (22 lbs to be exact: about the 20th percentile for typical children-way to go Ella!) She's not so little anymore. I almost didn't notice the time passing by during these past 20 months. You see, instead of the fast lane that Jakob and I are accustomed t,o Ella prefers the scenic route: it may take a little longer to get where you are going but it is worth the drive.

This is all a little disjointed - I apologize, but it is all part of this life we find ourselves in. I don't know what it all means, or the truth you will take out of it, but I hope here, from my little corner of cyberspace, I can change the world for my little Ella one post at a time.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

The funny thing about turning a year older is that suddenly you are expected have an abundance more insight than you did just 24 hours ago. And then once you hit 40, suddenly you have it all together and can write books about it. 

Well, I'm not 40, I am pretty sure I am no wiser than I was yesterday (I was actually pretty immature today but I won't get into it.) So I feel the only safe thing to do is take a little inventory. I tend to chart my life by 5's and I have one more year before the big 3-0 at which time I will write some more items on the bucket list. The last four years have actually been pretty good and so in my opinion everything that happens this year is really just bonus material.

Life is unpredictable and as much as I am a list maker and planner, my husband is not. And yet it is funny to look back and see that (aside from living in Three Hills-something I would have never hoped to do) all the things I had wanted to do before I was thirty have been done.

I have two beautiful children who have...revealed God's glory in my life. Ben and I are on our 6th year of marriage and going strong. And I have made it to New York, not once...BUT TWICE! Oh, and my latest endeavour - Audrey: a new hobby just for me. We have a house, savings, a car we love, a dog  and 2.5 children (the .5 being Audrey).

We are in that comfortable place that every young maternal woman dreams of....and yet, are ready to throw it all away at the drop of a hat. And believe it or not, I feel like this is a good place to be. I have never been the type to be too attached to stuff (I perhaps get a little protective over my shoes but if you had a little puppy chew your Black Pegabo boots along with any other genuine leather products in the house to smithereens you would feel the same way.) Stuff is just stuff, and life is too short not to have some adventures. I admittedly have already had my share but if I am on the writing team for my story I'll get in as many adventures as I can. So going forward...

Well, I could tell you what I have planned for the next five years but then you would have no reason to visit my lovely blog, now would you?

All I will say is this....

"Twenty years from now you will more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."  - Mark Twain

Nothing to do with the post, but Jakob enjoyed what we let him eat of my birthday cupcakes.

The Birthday Post

It's been cold....and Saturday was no exception. The sun made it bearable as Ben and I strolled through Kensington, sipping coffee, eyeing cupcakes and window shopping. The sun went down however, and the balmy -25 was making me miserable until we made our way through Prince's Island Park and opened the door to the River Cafe....

A warm fire welcomed us and we made ourselves at home with a glass of viogner. It is becoming one of my favorite places in Calgary as featured in this post. There is nothing I like to do more on my birthday than wine and dine....and that is precisely what we did. Too good not to share: River Cafe has an early bird special on Saturdays' between 4:30 and 5:30pm. Its $25 for appetizer and entree, with wine pairings for an additional $18. 

We started off with Red Lentil Hummus, followed by Lois Lake Steelhead trout with Roasted Heirloom Carrots, Purple Potato Créme Fraîche Croquette, Cider Cured Salmon Caviar or Hanger steak served with Walnut Spaetzle and a Parsnip Puree.

Some fabulous friends accompanied me, there was inspiring and not so inspiring conversation, lots of laughter and a contentment in my spirit.

Sunday, the festivities continued and we had the family over for lunch. I didn't tell them it was my birthday lunch, but I think they all caught on. I seem to be the only person I know over 25 that makes a big deal about their birthday so I kept with tradition, and made a feast to share.

Jakob made the place cards for the little boys' table and my wonderfully talented Father-in-law tried out a new cake recipe. The candles were Ben's idea :)

Levi thought the candles were a special, edible, treat on top.

Here in Alberta, Monday was Family Day, which meant a day off for Daddy! We had coffee with Ben's parents and they gave us a little push out the door to find some inspiration. We found it at Fort Calgary's Winter Carnival. They had sleigh rides, popcorn, balloons, crafts, games and access to all the year-round fun at the fort.  All Alberta Museum's had free admission on Family Day and I thought I would share my source for fun things to do...Family Fun Calgary...just in case you were interested...

And reflections on my 29th year...well, my real birthday isn't until tomorrow, so I have a day to think about it. Until then I leave you with my incredible, edible, Ella

New Project 3 from Krista Ewert on Vimeo.

The Delay....

I always have been quite neurotic. When Jakob was a baby I was that mom that had each chart within a moment's grasp measuring the development of my BRILLIANT child. He reached all his milestones in good time and made his mama proud.

That all changed however when Ella was born. I don't know how it happened except that it probably had something to do with the grace of God. Perhaps God knew that I needed a little time to loosen up and that is why Ella is my second born. But either way, the stress that would have come along should Jakob have been delayed in anyway, has not been present throughout Ella's short life. I just don't care.

I will admit however, that a couple of days ago, the anxiety of delay tapped me on the shoulder, maybe just to remind me that it was there. I don't think its that I have been living in denial but I suppose it is just becoming a little more evident as the gap widens between Ella and her peers.

We have a couple of friends who had babies about 6 months after Ella was born and as they reach their first birthdays, they are beginning to walk and talk....And while Ella has great understanding (probably more than outsiders give her credit for) she lacks the obvious skills that a "normal" 20 month old should be a master of. And it is a reminder that this gap is only going to widen. When other children are reading and writing Ella may still be learning her alphabet or mastering holding a crayon. And how will I respond then?  When she is constantly compared to other children in her class. When they have to make exceptions for her progress and move her onto the next grade when the skills of the previous grade were not achieved?

As much as I know that all you can do is take each day as it comes and celebrate each sweet victory, I wonder if somewhere down the line this will be easier said than done. But that would be living in fear, now wouldn't it?

I remember when I sang in church for the first time, I couldn't have been older than 5 or 6....I sang the song "In His Time". It is a song that is deeply embedded in my soul and I have been singing it to Jakob since he was born and now, I sing it to Ella.

In His time,
In His time,
He makes all things beautiful in His time,
Lord please show me everyday,
As you're teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say,
In Your time,

In Your time,
In Your time,
You make all things beautiful in you time,
Lord, my life to you I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to you a lovely thing,
In Your time.

Sometimes God's timing is hard for me to accept because I am a planner and I like to have control. But he knows what He is doing. He makes the sun rise, and moon fall, he makes the seasons change and knits each precious life together in that secret place and because of this, I will trust Him.

A little belated love...

I've never been one for Valentine's Day. It sits somewhere between Mother's Day and our anniversary and the expectation just doesn't sit well with me. Because inevitably there will be expectations, as much as I try not to have them, and if they are not met, a dark cloud lingers and just kinda ruins a perfectly, otherwise normal day.
What we have taken to doing is celebrating on a different day. I often will just pick a good day and label it in honour of whatever occasion is closest. This year was no exception and we went out on Sunday instead. It was down played perfection. Dinner at the Tea house.
On Monday however, we did celebrate pint-sized love and decorated cookies with friends. Nothing says Valentine's like Red food colouring overdose.

And because I have never been very good at PDA (physical or written) I'll just say that I am so thankful for all the loves of my life.

Happy Belated Love Day!

God's Mysterious Ways....

It's no secret that children with Down Syndrome have a special place in my heart, especially children who are waiting for their forever families to come and sweep them off their feet with love.

But what is it about Reece's Rainbow?
I don't think I can even remember how I first heard of Reece's Rainbow - somebody posting a child on facebook, no doubt but there is more....
In my fourth year of college our choir went on tour in Ukraine. I had been on cross cultural missions trips before but in Ukraine we had more opportunity to interact with the people. You could see the ripples of communism and while they grasped at independence they were in process. Still, the culture was rich, the spirit was genuine and potential was great. It was a great experience! (I would post pics but I had not entered the digital age yet...)
But one image is darkly embedded in my memory....

At one point in the trip we stayed at a type of retreat center just outside of Kiev in a town called Luhans'k. This was our longest stop, as we did workshops with other students from Ukraine. Down the road, there was a little market (like a corner store). I don't even think we had been in the country for very long and our team was so desperate for a cold beverage (something other than tea or boiled juice) that we bought them out of Coke. The store wasn't 50 yards from our accommodation but on the way there we would pass a large iron gate tangled among the overgrowth of bushes and trees. Ukraine has a beautiful landscape with rich soil and lots of green. The gates often stood open and welcomed curious visitors. But as we walked up the path the strangest sight appeared. Through the trees stood an old mansion surrounded by forest. There was not one inhabitant to be seen. On one occasion there was even music playing from loud speakers attached to the roof creating an eerie, thriller type atmosphere.

We found out later that it was a Sanitarium.

I don't know who was in that beautifully depressing place. I do know that there were in fact people there, as I think perhaps I saw maybe one person but I will confess, I didn't really know what a sanitarium was. It was a strange novelty at the time.
But I have been thinking about that place a lot lately. I left part of my heart in Ukraine and now I know why. Poppies Blooming reposted this video not too long ago. It was taken the same time that I was in Ukraine 7 years ago. Its nothing like the orphanages and institutions in Serbia but it is still devastating. Children tied to cribs and benches, swaddled in straight jackets.
But 7 years is a long time...and things are changing....slowly. There are stories of redemption, stories of hope and there is this amazing organization that not only keeps children from having to live in these places but also works with the parents in participating countries, teaching them how they can better care for their special children. Exciting things are stirring. God is doing some amazing things. I fight for Bennett, but there are others like Patti who fight for Peter, Artem, Olga and Kareen and has raised over TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS for these children. There are others like Adeye who have adopted from Ukraine and just had the chance to be a part of and amazing story of Redeeming Love.

Share in the grace of God. This post is nothing without the stories that go with it. Be inspired. Be a part of this unfolding story of Gods unfailing, never ending, ever enduring LOVE.

This is why I am taking Photography...

In the thick of it - an update on Ella and life.

 Lately, the posts have been short and image based and I never quite felt that there was room to suddenly transition into the thicker stuff that has been going on in my life lately. But the fact of the matter, is that there has been a lot of it. Issues that battle within my heart and I can't seem to straighten out, issues that make me feel alone and vulnerable.

It all hinges on the fact that we are selling out house. It's becoming less of a secret so here it is: a move for us seems inevitable. Ben wants to go on and do his Masters and that is just not possible from where we are. Whether that happens soon or later - we don't know and it is this uncertainty that brings my world crashing down. But I think a lot about where would be best for me and for the kids.

Part of me just wants to stay put, build up some more equity and enjoy the life we have built in this quiet rural town. It seems that just as soon as we get the hang of life, we are uprooted and forced to figure out a whole new way of life.

I finally am getting into a groove with Miss Ella Bella. Its not ideal but we make the hour and half drive to Calgary twice a week for her programs, have hired a Developmental aid, are just waiting to create an individualized program plan (which we need to officially have a DA) and have set up a contract with FSCD, which is a big deal considering it means we will finally get partly reimbursed for our numerous trips to the city, parking, etc. (It only took up 20 months to finally get a contract-partly because they INSIST on doing everything by snail mail and partly because the social worker only works PT and correspondence is limited) I also am in a happy place with her therapy. I have mentioned before how much we love Anita, our PT and have decided to go with PREP for her speech (I am working on finding someone to complain to about Big Country Outreach and their appalling SLP-after 5 messages with no returned call and 2 cancelled sessions, I am done with her.)

As you can see there are still major gaps in our system and there are a lot of services that I am thankful are not imperative to Ella's development that we are not accessing. I had written a post call ignorance is bliss and I am still feeling the same way. I cannot imagine that this is the best way. We live in Canada! One of the best health care systems in the world...I don't really know if it is one of the best but its public and everyone supposedly has equal access.

And here is the kicker....if we move, even move provinces, we may as well be moving to a different country. Our basic health care is different, our health insurance is different, FSCD is an Alberta thing (I don't even know if they have funding in other parts of the country), the way that we access therapy is different, there is no PREP. EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT. It has taken me 20 months to finally figure it out and I don't want to spend another 20 months figuring out a different system.

Which brings me to a pitiful reason that sometimes makes me think we should stay. There is a family that just moved to town from another province. They have a little girl.....named Ella.....with Down Syndrome. And I can save them 20 months of research, paperwork and the other so that they can just get on with providing the best available to their daughter. We could possibly commute into the city and I would have a companion on this journey and vice versus.

The other huge factor ( to me) is giving up the title of homeowner. I feel like this is my trump card and I am not ready to play it. To me, it has huge implications. This is probably in part, because I grew up in the Lower mainland of BC, where to buy a house, you  need at least 50K down and $7500 in monthly income to qualify for a mortgage. Your only saving grace is equity and if I play that card now, I feel like home ownership with be a LONG way down the road. And then we will not have that trump card to say, fund a doctorate, or an adoption, or anything else.

So lets talk about adoption for a minute. I think I am going to have to defriend Andrea Roberts on facebook because quite frankly, I can't look at all the RR kids anymore. My heart aches for them and I know that I could provide so much more than they could ever imagine as they sit in an orphanage, neglected. We want to add to our family and I couldn't imagine a better way. But here is what I know: I know that if this were ever to be a possibility, Ben would need to feel the same call and we would need to be in a secure place. Adoption is hard and like raising any child, sometimes it goes incredibly well and sometimes there are bumps along the way. And chances are, adopting a child with special needs is going to not only cause bumps but also hurdles. So I keep this desire in a special place in my heart and wait.

Well, even though there is so much more, like the paralysis that overtakes my body when I hear about the passing of one of our kids, or the enduring desire to love nurture and parent these special children despite the possibility of such things, I will call it quits here because light is filling the sky and the kids are getting restless and right now, in this moment I need to cherish what God has given me now.

He has given me two beautiful children who are amazing in spirit and soul
He has given me a wonderful husband who seeks His will and desires to be the best that he can be
He has given me a warm home (with a new coffee maker-thanks mom)
He has given me sunshine
He has given me food to put on my table, and clothes to cover my body
He has given me access to all of the things I need to keep my family healthy and thriving and
He has given me ONE BEAUTIFUL LIFE to live for His glory.

Didn't see that one coming...

I would be referring to the past 5 days. There is so many factors that seemed to culminate but I believe it started when the house shoppers that showed up late on Thursday night wanted to see the house again on Saturday morning. Do they know that it is no easy feat getting the house spick and span and the children out before they have time to undo everything you have just done? And take the dog on top of it?! Alas, we went to the tea house, which is always a treat, but by the end of the day my mother was not feeling so well.  And from there it went....
On Monday I was desperate to get back into the groove and go to Physio despite the blizzard warnings for Calgary and surrounding areas. It's been almost 3 weeks of forgoing school and therapy on account of the flu, a cold and all the other bugs flying through this little town and I was determined at the first sign of recovery to make it in. And we did make it, albeit late, only to arrive at an empty dark pool. (there was a message on my machine when I got home telling me it was cancelled....thank you very much.) Oh well, we had to pick up a sleep monitor (Oximeter) anyway.

I think that was a cracking point and should I not have been in the middle of a hospital, I would have broken down right there. To make it up to Jakob we went down the road to Market Mall where they have a  spectacular play area which always seems to have a half hour wait list and let him loose. I think it helped...Jakob....and mommy.

....And here I thought I had a couple more days to fill you in on when it is only Tuesday....that pretty much sums it up. The kids and I took my still-sick-mom to the airport, grabbed so McDonalds on the way home to soften the blow and spent the ride trying to think of what I was going to do for my photography homework....and missed my exit......

Birthdays, Audrey and Chinese New Year.

It has been a very busy and a very cold week (not related). So cold, in fact that I learned about something new: Sun Dogs. They are lights that appear on either side of the sun when it is REALLY cold...-35 degrees cold.

We tried not to let it get us down though or keep us from savouring the last five days in this one beautiful life. So behold....

A Photographic Documentary of our very busy week....


Birthdays....

The Ewert Men

Audrey...

Chinese New Year
Last night in celebration of Chinese New Year which was on the 3rd, we had a dumpling making Party. I tapped into my Asian roots in honour of the year of the rabbit.

Some worked harder than others.....

but we all had a lot of fun.

Mom also came this week which made it extra sweet. My salvation in the last few days really. I was up to my eyeballs in work and between showing the house, nursing colds and trips into the city it has been nice to have an extra set of hands.

It is almost time for my "sickness" post.  I am struggling again with what really contributes to a healthy immune system. Last time I resorted to a full blown out cleanse-no dairy no gluten no sugar, which seemed to work, but really? REALLY? I would like to have it gone without extreme measures. I won't get into it because I would just be repeating myself but I put it out there once again.

Despite sickness however, LIFE is beautiful. It really is. My husband monitors my down-talking of Three Hills because goodness knows, I like to slam it...well Alberta in general, but let it be said that it really is mostly the weather...(and maybe the lack of yoga), because there is a richness here. There are friends with whom I can share birthdays, or wrap dumplings, or stay up late drinking wine and eating chocolate. There is a loving family who care enough to invest in my children and with whom we can grow.

And there is tea.....