October Sunday 20th Stake Conference with a gong show

Today was stake conference and a gong show.  We made it there just in the nick of time.  Seated ourselves and waited to be spiritually uplifted.  Kids were good for about 1/2 hr and then Abbie had a little meltdown.  So Alin took her to the foyer and our little "Ivies" followed.  The nice thing about it is that the church set up tvs in other rooms to watch sat in there for awhile, devoured all snacks and then it was Dani's turn to be a turkey.  We left just with two speakers left.  Which was a shame because they are people that always give really good talks. Sometimes it's so hard not to get frustrated or throw my hands up in the air and say forget it.  Especially when I'm doing what I should and trying to teach my children, and for that matter my husband the importance of church things.  Some days it makes me wonder why I bother at all AND then I remember WHY... I do this because I want my family sealed FOR TIME AND ALL ETERNITY, I do it because I want my kids to know that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them, and will guide them, that they will never be alone, I do it because I believe that the teachings help us in our daily lives, to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, I do this because it gives me peace and calms my soul in times of trials, I do this because I want them to know the importance of Sunday, church, and the teachings in the bible and book of mormon.  I do this because my little growing family is the most valuable thing that I have.  

It's hard work and I feel the heavy weight of responsibility for our family.  To make sure our prayers are being said, that family home evening needs to take place, that they know the stories from the scriptures and that as I care for everyone's physical and temporal needs that their spiritual needs are met as well.  

Well kiddos "I love you this much..." And eagerly await the day that we are sealed together as a family.  "Sweet Dreams"

Sept 28

Saunders farm, best friend "what have on your tongue" dani

Sept 24, 2013 ahhhh this girl

When Daniela was first born I could hear them talking about a mark on her chest.  I heard Alin asking about it and them telling him that it was probably just a bruise from having her head down from the birthing process.  I was instantly worried, I hadn't seen her yet and here they were talking and Alin sounded concerned.  When they passed her to me   I noticed what they were talking about immediately but was more concerned that everything else was okay.  She was perfect!!!!!! a few little birthmarks here and there and truth be told I loved that.  I always want something that was an indicator and unique to them, in case anyone tried to steal my babies.  As she got older I noticed that it was growing, a little bulbous(how's that for remembering dental terminology) red/ purplish and warmer to the touch.  I mentioned this a couple times but no seemed to be concerned but I was.  It was almost like people noticed it and asked about it and yet family hardly ever said anything about it.  Anyway I pushed to have it looked at closer and I love out family doctor because she listened and we went to CHEO to have it assessed.

Most nerve racking appt.  First you have all these people coming in and looking at it, talking about it... Throwing around words but the one that caught my ear and made me want to throw up instantly was tumor. They decided to have us back to do an ultrasound and see how deep it was, how much tissue was involved and to get a good start measuring point.  Daniela was a rockstar!!! She was sleeping right before the appointment and continued to be fairly mellow during the ultrasound.  I was so grateful, I really wanted them to get a good look and come to some conclusion. 

                                      Mom's hand and your little tummy Daniela

Such a good patient

In the end they have decided it was Infantile hemangioma and would slowly resolve it self and that by the age of 8 should all but be gone.  

How grateful I am that our sweet little sunshine is a okay! I have prayed more being a mom than the rest of my life combined and so thankful for tender mercies.  

We have it re-evaluated all the time and at our last visit, unless I notice something, we don't need to be seen at the hospital again. Huge sigh of relief

17 jan 2012

Mosquito

This morning mason was telling me that the Mosquitos weren't very nice because they "bite me" we should give them a time out, spank them and then step on them... The first we do all the time, the second I've done once not sure how many times for Alin but the third never.  

Sept 16, 2013 feeling like a caged animal and the joys of potty training

So today we started potty training Mason AGAIN He did really well this time and it went so smoothly I couldn't believe it.  It only took 1 day, and he was done (poo and pee).  I can't believe I just throw those words around now, pre-kids would have never happened.  BUT lets rewind months ago to the nightmare we lived to get to this point, I'm writing this so that no one ever thinks it is that easy... When we first bought the potties it was when Mason was about 1.5 we didn't pressure him we just showed him that they were there and sometimes he was interested and  sometimes he was not.  I wasn't going to make a deal out of it and not let anyone else pressure us into doing it, but by his 2nd birthday  he acted like he was ready.  He would come and tell me to change his diaper when it was wet or when other business had been done.  Then later he would go off in a corner and want privacy when he was busy.  So we started...still not pushing him, giving him stickers, filling out charts, doing dances and of course reading potty books.  Then one day I noticed he hadn't gone to the washroom (#2) for the whole day and that might seem weird that I noticed but this kid was like clock work.  Every morning about 10 he had his constitutional.  Then a 2nd day passed and on the 3rd day he was obviously uncomfortable and by that night was screaming and withering in pain.   We gave him a warm bath and then pumped his legs...up,down,up,down for what seemed like an eternity.  Nothing still so I ran to Shoppers to ask the pharmacist what we could do.  I left equipped with a few choices, doing them was a whole different story.  I think mom's are defiantly better  in these situations, because we know its uncomfortable but we tend to see the big picture and I knew this wasn't going to be fun but I knew our little man needed some help and I sure wasn't going to make him go another night.  So I gloved up and we will spare the rest of the details...for embarrassment of my little man.  Picked him up and soothed him took him to our bed and Alin rubbed his little tummy.  Wasn't 5 min later there was an explosion of sorts and 3 days worth was released.  I thought this would be the end of it but this honestly went on for about 8 months.  We had doctors visits to rule out medical reasons and I must have researched 20 hrs on line for help.  He had just decided to not go anymore, and apparently it is mind over matter.  Later he would have to go and I would notice he would just sit on his foot, or want to lie down or scream (that was the hardest part and most frustrating to me because if he would just go he would feel better) I took him to a chiropractor, a naturalpath I really did exhaust every avenue I knew, he was on stool softeners (which we researched as well and these ones wouldn't make his bowels lazy)  It was awful and not just for Mason but our whole family, poor Dani was at his mercy, Alin never wanted to go anywhere in case Mason had one of his colossal meltdowns it was HORRIFIC, HORRIBLE, EXHAUSTING and I really couldn't see the end of it.  One particularly horrible day I was at my wit's end packed  him up and took him to the doctor and was bound and determined I was not going to leave till something was done, I was lucky for more reasons than one that Alin was at home with our other 2.  She gave me a referral to the hospital for a x-ray and I hurried out the door to go straight  to the hospital, really worried about Mr. M.  Abbie was at home and needed to be nursed and I had a million other stresses on my mind.  Pull out of the parking lot go to leave and a lady ran right into us.  She wasn't even backing up and just ran into the back of our truck, by the gas tank.  I was furious.  She kept apologizing and I was livid, but true to my nature didn't say anything.  We ended up having to go down to the police station before  I could go to the hospital, came out of the police station and their was a parking ticket on our truck ?@#$@ is really what I thought.  Off to the hospital to wait.....wait....wait....After hours of waiting they decided to do what I had been sent there for in the first place.  They took a x-ray, Maon was a rock star he did so well (this is also after the doctors told me, oh he's probably a little constipated and other nonsense...)  They came back and told me he was backed up all the way to his descending colon!!!!
Lesson to you guys as your older...trust yourselves, you know your kids better than anyone.  If you think there is a problem there usually is.  Be persistant

 They gave him an enema and told me it would clear things up....it did nothing! No change or movement at all, they told me I'd have to work from both ends:/  They then proceeded to tell me that he should eat better...these kids eat so healthy they are great fruit and vegtable eaters I'm anal in what I feed them, whole wheat pasta's both Alin and I were a little frustrated with that comment.  I'm always mixing hemp, flax and other things in their food so I knew diet wasn't the issue.  Anyway this eventually cleared up when HE decided to go....so the reason I am writing this is because I think we all tend to forget things...I overheard Alin saying potty training was a breeze "Shannon did it in one day" and I cringed because that may have taken one concentrated day of timers, rewards and encouragement but sometimes we forget what it took to get to that miraculous one day potty training:) 

Letter to my 3 love bugs Sept 15,2013

Mason, Mr. M, love bug, Mr. Xanderpants any which way I call you I want you to know that I love you.  I love how when you laugh you throw your little head back and your mouth opens just enough to see your pearly whites and then this super cute giggle escapes your lips.  I love how you you say certain words (I know I correct you, that's my job but I secretly love it.  Like how elevator becomes "alligator" and you can't wait to push the buttons and get on.  How "trunky mister" is concrete mixer.  How when were driving you feel the need to shout out every vehicle that goes by, names and colors.  How the minute we get anywhere that even closely resembles a tunnel (underground parking) Daniela and you start yelling "hello...hello and then let me know there's an echo.  

Your getting to be such a big boy, where you used to not want to venture to far on your own your now the "king of the playground". You've even started conversations up with other little boys!!!!! I love that you still want to "snuggle" and hug and kiss.  You still LOVE your cars and trains and right now you are loving a "gold Thomas" that Mahdi gave to you along with your normal Thomas and of course McQueen.  You've also latched on to a stuffed animal dog we had, which is funny to see you pull it around.  Dad named it "milo" for you after Grampa Waldie's dog.  Well heres to a new adventure tomorrow, we start potty training.  I'm a little nervous so if you could pick it up quickly with no complications like last time I would greatly appreciate it.  I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Daniela, Dani, love bug, turkey, Miss D Goldilocks

Ohhhh my girl, right now your giving your parents a run for their money.  I love all your energy and your busyness.  Your little smile/smirk when your happy or just getting into the hundredth thing of the day.  I love how you say "I don't think so" and I love how when your singing "popcorn song" how you say the word sweet.  Plus right now you have quite the melody of "Apricot Tree", "I am a child of god" and "Jingle bells" all rolled together. You are headstrong and that will serve you well later on but for now and being two it's not so easy.  Your definetly not our snugglier and you remind me so much of myself, but there are those certain times during the day when you melt my heart by wrapping those busy little arms around my neck and tucking your head in... Like when you first get up from a nap, if you get hurt, or if you are nervous about something and then there are the rare occasions when you just want one and I treasure those moments. Your obsessed right now with washing your hands and only because you crawl up on the counters and can splash around.  I have developed supersonic hearing with you because if it's quiet and it's been 10 seconds you are in to something.  Well "Sweetie Pie" I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Abbie, Abbies, Abbie-Dabie, Abs

Your little existence has seemed to fly by, your walking-running like crazy and your fast and just like your sister, always want to be somewhere you shouldn't be.  You love to brush your teeth, eat and nurse. Nursing that's another story, whenever you want some you screech and bang on my chest, and since your our last little baby I'm super sad that your reaching all these milestones quickly...glad your healthy but sad it's going fast.  You absolutely kill yourself laughing when I pretend to eat your tummy and I love that giggle.  Your a snuggly baby and it's awesome.  Your a climber too, YAH...that's sarcasm I found this age probably the most stressful as far as keeping you safe, since you want to walk and climb but haven't mastered balance:) I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Why I love my husband...Sept 15,2013

Caius, I love you!  Seems like such a trite thing to say, since we say it everyday to each other (I'm glad we do but just so you know there are many reasons why I say that to you) our love story is still being written but this really is my "happily ever after". 

First you always have made me laugh...you have a great sense of humour and so do I :) match made in heaven.

Second your an amazing dad.  Tonight while I was nursing Abbie and putting her to bed I could hear you with Mason and Daniela playing around there was lots of noise and giggling (even though it was settle down time:) so after I laid Abbie down I went to investigate... I found you rolling up the kids in the blanket as sausages, that combined with other nights as I hear you singing to them and goofing off I am so glad that I married you I knew from the moment I met you as we were working on some little ones that you would be a great dad.  You have far exceeded my expectations... Mind you a little more morning duties would be awesome:) 

Third your thoughtful.  The other night when you bought home a book for me just because you thought I would enjoy it...and I did and do, so much so that you had to tell me to keep my laughter down.  How I know that you would rather stay home than go on our many adventures but you come and enjoy yourself and humour me because you know I'm always about making a million little memories, you do however have to work on your annoyed look when I ask someone to take a family picture:)

Fourth your hot! My premium romanian not that it's a reason but I'm proud to have eye candy with substance to boot

Our reception hike-great hubby, great friends beautiful location

Mason on the way:) this was such a nice holiday, and look how relaxed we looked, no grey hair, and we slept:) man we didn't know how much fun we were missing out on.

This is one of my favorite pictures of you...actually I have thousands of favorites of you.  My premium romanian.  I could hear hearts break all over the world when we got engaged:)

Fourth you are an amazing husband.  Your kind, loving, fun, thoughtful and you make me want to be a better wife and mother and not to shabby in the amour department ( just cracked myself up)

Fifth you support me 

There are so many reasons and I can't write fast enough I love you and want to be your eternal wife.  White House style;)

Te iubesc xxooxx