Mosquitoes mosquitoes mosquitoes… those horrible little bugs are EVERYWHERE… you step out the door and are basically eaten alive right now. So it has been an exercise in patience with the kids indoors… Trinity and Emanuel end up with swelling where they get bites so it is just not worth sending them out to come back in looking like accident victims.

Colouring (Gavin)

Dressing Dolly (Zander)

Add to that my memory card for my camera loosing its silly little plastic lock tab thus LOCKING the thing permanently… well Ken was able to find a way online to make it work – using tape! But I am NOT trusting tape to ensure I can take pictures of the baby when it gets here. So Ken had to run out later today to get a new one… we checked for sales and a new 8GB is not bad, but still…

Our utility came at a REASONABLE time! 2 in the afternoon no less! My faith is restored in kind work men, this older gentleman was from Poland no less! Apparently he has a granddaughter around the same age as our Trinity who woke up from her nap in time to watch him work.

I could certainly do with a little less heat and some sort of spray or something that WORKS on the mosquitoes. A little more sewing, some scrapbooking (still mocking up for Emanuel), a bit more tidying and a lot more melting in the heat. What a day! Lucky Ken got to go off to Bioware and play a new game… wander an electronic store to get a new memory card for the camera AND hang out with Ted… bah!

Chris and Chris stopped by so I did get a run out to Michaels where – of course – they were out of my adhesive refills, so I had to settle for glue dots (grrr). So at least I can get the rest of the pages done for Emanuel that I have listed… well for his ages 3-4… which leaves me going through my notes for 2-3… but it feels good to know that I may just have TWO of the kids up to date!

Now if only the mosquitoes would take a hike!

Little Lady!

Today I got GOOD news at my diabetic clinic – which was supposed to be a THREE HOUR APPOINTMENT AGAIN! Of course we scrambled to find childcare so Ken could come with me – Thank you so much Nathan!!! And he had an appointment today as well so 3 hours was not possible. They managed to rush us through a bit and we were out before 2 hours had passed. Well my numbers a good, blood pressure fine, no swelling of the feet… but according to their scales the 2 lbs I GAINED last week – gone. So, the nutritionist has upped my protein numbers and one of my carbs as well as added a SECOND afternoon snack (BLISS). Of course I doubled my usual lunch to meet the number of carbs and screwed up with not enough protein to balance it out and BANG high number. Figures. BUT I am getting the hang of it, only 3 bad numbers out of tons so it shows it is dependant on smart choices. And I AM getting smarter. This nutritionist said to go ahead and try new combinations, check and see if they work. So one not so good number is ok. A LOT is not.

Today’s big walk after dinner was with all 3 boys. Definitely NOT leisurely with them running all over and screaming but I got at least 10 intensive minutes of kid wrangling and exertion. I do love spending time with my boys!

Gavin and Emanuel

So I am still feeling a bit like someone between a rock and a hard place. But I have a new philosophy… I figure there has to be beauty EVERYWHERE so I am going to find those moments of beauty and joy in between my rock and hard place.

Beauty Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Life always seems worst before it gets better I am told… well I am starting to get a grip on the diet, the finger poking is not nearly so shudder inducing and Ken is on his way to getting us closer to where we WANT to be. I am VERY proud of him – not only is he working hard but he is being positive for both of us (hormones are running me ragged this week as is my usual pregnancy induced over worrying about things I CANNOT control). I am very lucky to be married to someone who understands me and can take my hard days with my good! VERY lucky!

So the rest of the week will be full up with cleaning and sorting and prepping for the baby shower. Not to forget my usual appointment with the dr where I have to face the scale yet again. Fingers crossed I have gained SOMETHING or at the very least NOT lost any weight according to his measurements 2 weeks ago. Fear of weight loss is certainly nothing new but to have to weigh twice in one week sucks.

We DID get the whole family out in the front yard before dinner and got it mowed. There is still some work to be done hacking back the weeds after our plentiful rainfall BUT the grass is trimmed. Apparently two of our trees – well the city’s trees since they are in that little grassy spot next to the road… are marked for removal. So is a massive tree down the block. I am hoping the kids will be around for that so they can see how it is done!

Note Ken is mowing too! (Zander blue)

The boys and Ken are FINALLY out camping in the backyard in a new tent. They got to stay up late since Ken had to finish stuff on his computer after being out to run errands which upped the excitement even further. Certainly makes for a quiet house… Trinity off to bed, no little boys coming out a dozen times from their bedrooms and most of all no Ken in his computer chair. Eerie.

One of my beauties 🙂

Well the boys camped out in the basement like pros. In fact Trinity and I were up BEFORE them! Apparently sleeping in the basement in the dark works wonders on the boys SLEEPING IN! It was not until we heard noises from below that I could turn on the light and let Trinity get down there and say good morning.

I poked myself (ugh but back to a mid 4) and then had breakfast and then… went back to bed. I stayed up late last night to watch the most recent Deadliest Catch – and it took its toll. But what an episode!

Wednesday (aka Day 3) quickly turned into a whirlwind of activity, mainly because once the boys and Ken were up I had to head right back to bed! (for some reason I had breakfast and then was total wiped) After lunch Ken and all 3 boys had a date at the library where they made masks. Or at least THEIR interpretation on masks. This lasted longer than the usual hour which Ken then supplemented with some much requested computer play.

Wednesday night my dad came up for an overnight visit before heading on to Saskatchewan and the Rode family reunion (his mother’s family). Sadly we could not go, first off the cost and time consuming drive, but it was definitely a no go when I got the news that I had the diabetic clinic 3 hour class on the 2nd (8:15 am no less). Seeing dad is a BIG thing for us, the last time we saw him was two years ago for Trinity’s baptism. He, his wife and her daughter (my step-sister Kat) live all the way down in South Carolina. (Twice as far as Minnesota)

Saying Hi to Grandpa! (Gavin left)

We took full advantage of the 1st and all the time we had with dad. A family walk to the park was of course in order… after we took our Canada Day pictures in front of the tree!

Canada Day! (Zander left)

With Grandpa! (Zander left)

Walking with Grandpa! (Zander left)

FUN! (Zander)

After spending much of the afternoon with Grandpa playing, watching tv and building Lego cars, we headed an hour or so away to my mom’s leaving dad to rest and relax for a few hours.

Lego Car fun! (Gavin left)

We spent some time with Grandma and Harley and Mike, including dinner at Subway, meeting up with Aunty Karyn AND a park run! A few too many mosquitoes for our liking but fun was had!

Tattoos (Gavin left)

Karyn giving Ken a swing

This got us home after 10, and since dad was leaving before any of us were up in the morning the kids got to stay up SUPER late and play. Definitely a special treat and special time with Grandpa.

Saying good bye (Gavin right)

He left here around 6am, Ken and I woke up at 7 to get ready for the diabetic clinic and my 3 hour class which was less than helpful. There is a lot of trial and error and on my side of it the weight issue muddies the water even further. Coupled with my dad leaving and having no time to have my customary cry I am not handling the day well. The clinic was confusing, I have another appointment with them before I even see my doctor again which bothers me and currently I do NOT have a babysitter which means Ken can’t be with me. I have to admit no small amount of fear connected to going to these appointments WITHOUT him. I am looking into some assistance (and I mean a very LITTLE is available) for the cost of the strips etc… but it takes TWO WEEKS for the forms to be processed. So there is trepidation with the costs… (4 times a day testing) AND with the numbers… I am trying new foods and had a bad result at lunch right after the class… I am guessing a combination of the bread without a walk. I did mean to go for a walk after but when we got home (Karyn was here to watch the kids) the little ones really needed me to stay and hold them for a bit. After all, they woke up to us being gone.

Karyn and I did head out for a bit of a walk later on, The Mall and then Michaels to shop with the birthday money from my dad. I ended up getting a little machine that makes stickers! I figured I could have some fun with it and add to my scrapbooking. AND I had a coupon! So a great deal and a new toy! And a bit of money left over to get something else later next week when I have more time.

NEW TOY!

Oh at mom’s we brought home the cradle she had for us! The kids are in love with it. I am excited about getting a chance to use it. We had two of these from mom with the twins but they needed to sleep together when they were small enough for it so they went unused. So this is my chance1

See Trinity peeping behind??

I am sure there is more to share but man am I all over the place mentally right now! I promise a catch up later!!!

Grandpa and 2 of his girls!