Family Pictures 2012

I feel like my life has been spinning a bit out of control. So many things have been happening and I am doing my best at documenting them. While I am back at work, Hudson and Cooper are at a friends house. Things have been going really well and they love "playing"  at Fernanda's. Hudson is in love with his new friends, Valentina, Joaquin, and Lorenzo! The mornings he goes to Fernanda's he can barley control himself, he is just so excited.

 One thing that I wanted to quickly post about is our new family pictures. We had a friend, Leah do them, and we are so happy with them. We had to go out a couple times, and shockingly Cooper did not want to cooperate the first night. We found an old abandoned farm house one night last month and had a great time.

Here are some of my fav's!

I love them all. I think it is because I love these guys so much! I hope I can get on the ball enough to get pictures done every year! I guess we'll have to see!

Back to work

This week I headed back to work. Things went really well. It was interesting, to see how dusty my brain has gotten. I love working. I think this may not be the case if circumstances were different, but I work with the NICEST group of girls, with similar temperament, and interests. I have to be honest, being back at work has given me a boost and actually made me feel like I have friends again. It was great. Shane took the week off work and was able to stay home with the boys this week. It was so nice not to have to worry about how the boys were doing, and I have to be honest, I think Shane is a better "stay at home mom than me". My house has been so clean, laundry done and put away and Shane is much more consistent with Hudson. Maybe I should head back FT and Shane should stay home? haha

Workin Mama.

Little Machy has turned 11 months old. His little personality shines more everyday. Proudly he bum skooches around and gingerly waves or claps his hands. I think the biggest change we have seen in our little baby this month has been Coopers obsession with music. Even if her hears just one beat, he is dancing. It is so cute. He loves TV, especially if the programs have music. It is so different than Hudson, who had NO interest at all in TV, until he was over 2.5. Cooper loves his new ability to crawl up and down the stairs and will often crawl up to the playroom and sit quietly and play with toys. He also proudly can crawl up onto the couch and ottoman. I can't believe now how when I look at my little guy, he is looking more little boy, and much less baby.

My sweet Cooper snuggling with me after work. He didn't let me out of his site when I came home. The best reward any Mama could ever ask for!

Hudson is still my little hurricane. He keeps himself busy reading, watching Dora, playing outside, and asking me lots of questions. We are really trying to clamp down on Hudson and try to get him to control his energy. He is the funnest kid I know, but has so much energy, so we are really working on using his manners, and asking us questions in the form of a sentence. He has been working on his letters and usually when Cooper has his first morning nap, we will sit down and have"school time". He loves to play computer games on starfall.com. Hudson's vocabulary still continues to amaze me. If he hears me say something to him once, he will never forget it, and generally will use the word in proper context. This weekend Shane has been in Calgary at a conference, and Hudson was been walking around telling me that he is so disappointed that Daddy is not here. He will tell me that Cooper's diapers are disgusting, he will inform me when he is getting frustrated, ect ect. Another thing that really amazes me, (and may just be a common thing 3.5 year olds do-who knows), but Hudson always knows where we are when we are driving. He can direct me to Costco, the church, the hospital and many other places. He knows how to get home and if we are close to home. It is always amazing to me when we are driving along, and he will say, Mom right behind those trees is.... He is always right.

Hudson with his new treat chart. Yet another attempt in disciplining our sweet boy!

Happy Brothers!

Another new skill Hudson has mastered is getting all dressed by himself. Usually after breakfast Hudson will take off to his room and be gone for a few minutes. When he is all done getting dressed he comes down stairs and announces what he was just doing and says Ta Da. I love seeing the outfits that he comes up with. They are hilarious. I don't know why, but I love it when he dresses himself. It makes me so proud of him. I just love him so much!

Oh Canada!!

 Well I guess I posted about Hudson's finger just a teeny bit premature. I didn't realize that the battle had just begun. I am the type of Mom that figures nothing is that bad and everything will work out just fine given some Tylenol, popsicles and snuggles. Shane on the other hand is more the hypochondriac type(hence his famous man colds-kidding). He followed the Emergency Doctor's instructions and made a follow up appointment with the plastic surgeon regarding Hudson's finger(if I was given those same instructions there is no way I would have followed up). I apprehensively took Hudson to his first appt, and he was still in too much pain to do an accurate assessment, meaning we had to go back AGAIN(now I am really annoyed:). So yesterday Shane and I took Hudson back to the Doctor. He told Shane that he was not sure Hudson would get all of his finger function back and that he should have surgery. He would reopen his wound and stitch the ligaments together again. There is something called a boutonniere deformity that Shane was worried about, and the Doctor agreed that Hudson might have it if he did not get his finger fixed within 2 weeks of his injury.

 Hudson cut himself 2 weeks ago today, so this morning we had to get up and go to the hospital. The whole experience was a bit of an eye opener. Hudson has never really had to use the Canadian Health Care system before(aside from the odd check up and being born:) so I didn't think too much about it.  Then, we were called in, and everything was so smooth. The staff were super professional,friendly, and very patient with Hudson. For over a half an hour Hudson had 9 to 11 Doctors, residents, medical students, nurses and respiratory therapists waiting on him. They all worked together and complimented each other, just to FIX MY SON'S FINGER!!! As a Mother, I truly LOVED each of those workers for taking such good care of my baby! The plastic surgeon was so down to earth and kind! I did not have to pay thousands of dollars to receive this treatment, I am not a socialite or celebrity, just a regular schmuck who probably was not watching my very busy three year old son carefully enough! The surgeon had to cut Hudson's finger open basically from the first knuckle to the top knuckle. It all seemed really crude at first, but watching the doctor stitch his little finger up and make everything line back up was like watching an artist.  The Doctor confirmed that it was the right thing to do as his ligament had receded very far back, and he was certain he would have the deformity if Shane had not taken him in! I felt SO SO THANKFUL!Yes we had to wait an hour and a half before we were seen. Yes, we were in Emerg for 6 hours 2 weeks ago, and a plastic surgeon should have seen his finger initially, but it all worked out.  I do not have ridiculous premiums to pay every month, and I do not owe thousands of dollars for the services we obtained. Our system is not perfect, but I just feel really grateful to know that I live somewhere where my family and I can be taken care of!

It only took one needle to change Hudson's mood from Laughing to Crying!

The spotlight was very bright, but here the Doctor was stitching up the ligament.

On to the next reason I am LOVING Canada today! I few months ago I saw this graph and it helped add to the gratitude that I have for my homeland!

As I prepare to go back to work(2 days a week),I just thought I should share this and let everyone know how thankful I am to live in Canada! I get PAID to say at home FOR A YEAR with my baby! I don't really think that I need to expound on this! Just very thankful!

Mom and Dad's!

I am so excited that My parents are in their new home. They have been for a few months but there has been tonnes of projects that still needed to be done! My Dad has spent hundreds of hours finishing the basement, getting his garage all unpacked(building shelves and organizing), and grading and sodding their yard. Currently he is hooking up the in floor heating, and finishing up some of the planter boxes he has built. This past visit it really was amazing to see their house looking like a real house! So I figured I would share some pictures of their pretty house!!

The new 901-3rd Ave S.E. Slave Lake, AB.

Just a VERY LONG 16 months ago this is what my parents house looked like!

This was the picture that Lonnie sent to my phone to show to my parents. It was the morning after the fire and everyone was evacuated and no one knew who's houses were still standing. Lonnie stayed behind to help the town restore power. This picture still makes my stomach turn! The chimney is the only thing standing from my parents home.

A closer look at the chimney. So sad.

Here is a picture of our home a year prior to the fire, right after my parents re stucco'd their house.

Here is a picture from the back-you can see many people have their homes started!

Our neighborhood coming back together!

Here are a couple new homes, amongst the houses that were not burned. As you drive through parts of Slave Lake it really is so strange how random the fire really was. My parents next door neighbors had no damage at all to their home, while my parents house burned even the foundation.

Here is the ever photogenic Shelley in her new kitchen

A miracle! My parents not hiding out in the basement. They find that they spend their time on the main floor of this house.

Here is the red room. When my Mom was living in Edmonton we decided she needed a red room so we sewed this quilt and planned out this spare room. We love it!

Here is a pic of the living room.

A messy craft/sewing room-as it should be:)

I will post more pictures later. My parents still do not have a kitchen table, and basically only have a piano and TV in their huge basement. It is a beautiful home and it is so wonderful to have a place to come home to and a place to sit around and visit my brothers and sisters!

Our everyday life and a trip to emerg!

In 2 weeks I am headed back to work. How has it been a year already that I was aching from head to toe and miserable(pregnant). I am trying to enjoy every second that I am home with my sweeties and soak up all of the things that I love about our everyday events.

Our sweetheart Machy is 10 1/2 months already. He is sporting 8 teeth and is getting really close to walking. He walks behind his walker toys and is SO proud of himself. He is so different than his brother. It is so fun having two really different kids. They each teach me so many things. Mach loves to sit and play with toys. He is happy as long as he can see his Mama. The minute I leave the room he is bawling. Mach has become so much more mobile. He carefully comes down the stairs now, so when he feels brave, he will leave and go up and visit Hudson in the playroom, then come back and find me. Hudson was always so kamikaze, so it is so weird to have a baby that seems to be so gentle and careful. Just the past couple weeks Cooper has started to clap and wave. He gets such a cute self satisfied look on his face when he does it. He loves to smile and enjoys climbing all over me or Shane when we lay on the ground. By Far Cooper loves Iphones and my laptop the most out of anything in our house. He starts to hyperventilate when he sees an Iphone and will power crawl to go and get it.

all 8 teeth in view

Brothers playing!

 This past couple weeks, we have had a few "adventures" around here. I must say that I am a little shocked that it has taken us this long to have our first visit to the Emergency Room, but alas, it has finally come. Friday August 31, I was out cutting the grass prior to our annual visit home to Slave Lake when Hudson asked me for a freezee. I told him he could go in the house and get one and I would open it for him. A couple minutes later he came running out to me covered in blood and in a scream he said"this is super bad Mom." I assessed my poor little guy and he had cut his pointer finger with a knife while trying to open his freezee. I immediately knew it was bad and that we would be making a trip to the hospital. The cut was very deep, you could see the bone. Hudson was crying, and blood was all over the place, but he did so good at applying pressure and he was so so brave. Cooper was sleeping so we got him up and got a few things together, and made our way to the hospital. When we arrived, the waiting room was full and I knew we would be there for a while. We went to the triage desk (after prying Hudson away from the candy vending machine-where he announced to the entire waiting room that he knew that the candy would make him feel all better) and the nurse asked Hudson if he cut himself. He was very cheerful to the nurse, but in his hilarious dramatic way started bawling as he re accounted his experience.

Thank goodness Shane works at the Grey Nuns and was able to come and get Cooper for a while. Seriously, Hudson was a wild maniac in emerg, and he needed my full attention. Netflix on my phone helped keep Hudson's mind off the candy machine for a few minutes, but this was a very exciting new place and Hudson felt compelled to "explore." He would go from running down the halls, to sneaking back behind the triage desk, to bugging an old senile man, to poking the lady next to us with his Magna Doodle pen, and on and on. In the end, Shane stayed with Hudson when he was done work, and I brought Cooper home. The whole process took about 6 hours, and unfortunately Hudson had to be sedated for his stitches, so he could not eat or drink anything prior(keep in mind the candy machine directly across from my candy addict-not cool). Hudson cut his tendons, and had to have them stitched up, as well as 4 stitches to close his little finger. When Hudson was waking up from his sedation he was being pretty funny. He thought Shane was the Doctor, and was talking really slow. Shane took the opportunity video him, and we have watched it many times! I am hoping that we won't be visiting the hospital any time soon.

The boys having a bath at Gram's. Hudson has his finger all wrapped up thanks to his OT Daddy

 Shane and I have been preparing our budget and getting things ready around here for me to be going back to work. I have a couple of really great people who have offered to take care of my boys, making me feel way more at ease about leaving them. I know Hudson will be okay. I know Cooper has an unbeatable personality, but he also loves his Mama but I know he will be okay too. I love being around them and my heart might break a little but we do what we have to do!
Shane has been working on a new unit at work and he is loving it. It is stroke rehab, and he really feels like he is able to watch his patients progress and he is loving it. He is going to be starting to work a couple weekends a month, and will be taking some of the days off that I am working in lieu of the weekends so that one of us will be home with our boys. Our goal is to have them home as much as possible. Especially for the baby who LOVES his own bed. I feel so grateful that my work has been so flexible with me and that I am able to work part time!
So that is us right now. Maybe not too exciting to many, but for us we are happy and just trying to adapt to change and do our best to keep our little family close.

I love.......

I love it when Hudson tells me I am swell.

I love the constant demands for snuggles, Dora, and Crisscross

I love the many Impromptu I love you's so much!

I love that before Hudson says anything, he says"Mom I have to tell you something"

I think it is so funny when Hudson says "Smell you later"

I love that Hudson loves stealing my blankie.(and he tells me that he can't sleep without it)

I love Hudson's random popularity and social life. He gets invited over for play dates and birthday parties all of the time, and just recently he has become one of the boys included in the neighborhood clan. He even has little nicknames for his buddies-Kaiya "Kai".

I love that Hudson has an opinion on the music we play in the car(He LOVES Justin Beiber)

I love it when Hudson tells me he misses me super much. Or loves me SUPER much!

I love that he wants to say his own prayer.(and they are hilarious)

I love that things are SO literal to Hudson, and I love the questions he asks me-they are so thoughtful.

I love that I have such a happy baby.

I love that my little Machy starts to jump in his crib when I come to get him.

I love that my baby always wants his Mama!

I love that Coops reaches up for his Daddy when he is on the ground.

I love it when Hudson tells me I am either a good girl or a bad girl.

I love the way Hudson tells me stories about people and says "hers is a....."

I love watching Hudson play with his brother.
I love that Hudson sneaks into my bed every night, and promptly goes to sleep so fast. He seriously thinks he can sleep better in our bed.

I hope in writing a few of these things down, I will remember these special times. Kids grow so fast, and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to experience these sweet boys. They really are the funnest and they are my(and Shane's)life!!!!

Hudson's first prayer

Tonight after getting his teeth brushed, Hudson determined that he wanted to say his own prayers. It was pretty much one of the cutest experiences of my life. He said the whole prayer on his own, and it went like this.....

"Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you that I can go to the park and to the swimming pool. And go on the lazy river and the big red slide. And go to the green store(dollarama) and get gum and candy. And cheese and crackers. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Can you tell what is on the mind of my three year old.  He was too cute tonight after his prayer. He was pretty proud. Then told me that Apple Crisp, Saxaphone, Odd, and Buna were the friends that he played with today at church, followed by a laugh attack! He is a crazy one! But the funnest!
Good Job buddy!!!