Where to start...

I figure if I’m going to go on this journey, I may as well write about it.  I like writing and hey, maybe someone will actually read this!

It all started the Tuesday before Easter weekend, so March 27.  I had the weirdest thing happen while I was at work.  It was like I started to pass out, but just as everything was about to go completely black, I startled and jumped and was back to normal.  This freaked me out big time.  I’d had similar things happen before, but not to this extent, so I didn’t go back out on the road that day. 

The next day, Wednesday the 28th, I started driving to work and got so dizzy or lightheaded or something that I almost put the truck in the ditch.  I promptly turned around and went home to call Al and tell him that there was no way I was coming to work like this.

I called the doctor and the got me in right away, when I told him what happened and what I was feeling too (I’ll get to that soon), he pulled me off work for a week.  He also decided to send me for an EEG and an EMG to rule out MS and to set up a re-eval with the neurologist Dr. K. So ya, my brain stopped when he said MS! What?!?! NO!!!!! That kind of stuff happens to other people, not me!

I started looking at symptoms and stuff on Dr. Google and holy shit!...they were describing me down to a T.  Dizziness/lightheadedness, headaches, twitching, tingling or numbness in arms and/or leg, sensitivity to heat, loss of coordination, shaky hands....the list goes on.  Holy Crap I’m freaking out.

I went back to work the following Wednesday, the 3rd of April.  I still was feeling the same way, but I had no choice! I don’t work, I don’t get paid!! My goal now was to keep Al and the rest of the guys from seeing or figuring out that something was wrong until I can have the tests done and have some answers.

...to be continued

Learning and Teaching

Today was one of the hardest days of my life. Today I started training The New Girl.

Training TNG has, and will at least for the rest of the week, meant having a person in my work truck with me all day, which means I can't listen to my podcasts or radio and I can't stop whenever I want. It means someone watching my every move and listening to every word. It means not being able to organize my deliveries and the parts the way I want in my work truck, because she's sitting in the other seat. Hardest of all, it means doing my damndest to be kind, friendly and helpful and not letting on that my brain is wired to automatically dislike and distrust anyone knew that comes into my life.

This past Friday was the last day that Mighty Mouse worked at my company. MM is the closest I've come to having a best friend in many many years. Add to it that I totally suck when it comes to things changing, and you've got the recipe for at least a week of miserableness for me.

I'm sure that starting a new job, having to meet a bunch of new people, and learning a crap-load of new things was scary and overwhelming for TNG too. I remember walking in the same door four years ago and going through the exact same thing. I don't envy her position at all.

For now, all I can do is keep on trying my hardest to be the trainer TNG needs and hope that she's a real quick learner so she doesn't have to stay with me for long!

Christmas at The Salvation Army

This past Saturday we went to the Corps Christmas Dinner at the Salvation Army Church.  We all had a good meal and the kids got to visit with Santa Claus.

Birthday Girl

This past Thursday was Mia's birthday. She turned 7.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  Seems like just yesterday I was snuggling her in our bed minutes after she was born.  She may be much bigger then that day 7 years ago, but she'll always be my little "pinky".

Mia decided that she wanted to have a bowling party this year, so we planned it for Saturday at the New Hamburg Riverside Lanes.  It's a really reasonable party and they provide the pizza, drinks and ice cream.  The kids bowl for an hour (it's 5-pin, so the balls are nice and small) and they they get to be in the party room for an hour.  Everyone had a great time, and the boys and Ryan stayed for a bit and bowled a game too.

I made her cake again this year.  She wanted chocolate with chocolate icing.  Turns out that all the kids were too full from the pizza and ice cream so nobody ate any of my cake.  Ethan was really happy with this though because now he gets to eat it at home.

Mia got some really cool presents, and everything was things that she loved and/or wanted.  I gave her my (very) old iPod Touch and she's quite happy with that. (And really, how can I NOT be happy since that means that I get a new iPhone at the end of the month!)

Help Support KidsAbility

KidsAbility is a very important part of our community and we are very lucky to have services like theirs!

My four kids have all been through KidsAbilities doors.  Cody, Mia and Sydney were all there for speech therapy.  The patience and kindness that those therapists show is just amazing.  Sydney was also there for Occupational Therapy and PhysioTherapy.  It was those therapists that figured out that she had severe reflux and that's why she couldn't (wouldn't) sit or crawl.  Once we got the reflux under control, the PhysioTherapists helped her catch up with her crawling and walking.

All of this happened within the Early Years programs.  Those kids are discharged once their kindergarten age.

Recently, a new set of programs has started.  The School Years Program is for those kids that are over kindergarten age who still need assistance.  Children and Youth up to 18 years of age.  This is the program that Ethan is in.

Three weeks ago Ethan was diagnosed with (mild) Cerebral Palsy.  He started PhysioTherapy on October 24 with a wonderful Therapist named Jennifer. (I have another post about her over HERE on my other blog too.)  It's programs like these that need help with funding.

That's a picture of Ethan at Therapy.  Core strengthening exercises on the "peanut ball" is one of his favorite exercises.
Just this week, we found out that his right arm is also affected by the CP, not just his legs.  Though his arm is not affected nearly as badly as his legs, he probably will need therapy for it too, so we're not sure how long we're going to be seeing Jennifer.

All this is to say that KidsAbility is a wonderful place.  My family and I would be lost without it.  This Saturday, November 5th, there are some fundraising initiatives going on to help out KidsAbility.

Swiss Chalet in Waterloo, ON on Weber St. will be donating $1 from every 1/4 Chilcken Dinner that is purchased, to KidsAbility.

DairyQueen at Laurelwood Plaza is donation 18% of all purchases to KidsAbility.

So go have a nice dinner and then a treat afterwards and help out a wonder cause.

Happy Halloween

Two ghouls, one skeleton and a little cow!

Ryan took them out while I was passing out candy to the 135 kids that came to our door.  Syd gave up first, so she helped me hand out candy too.  Ethan finished next...then finally Cody, Mia and Lewis came home for the night.  Everyone had fun and we have enough candy to last us until Easter!

Cody was thinking that this is his last year for Trick or Treating...but I guess we'll have to see what the next year brings.  If he's taller then me by next year, I think he'll have to be done...if not, I don't see what another year would hurt!

Last Hurrah!

We decided to head up to Grand Bend this weekend so some end of summer swimming.  The weather and water were cold and the wind was really blowing, but we went in anyway!

Well, that's technically only a picture of Ryan and the three big ones, but Sydney and I went in too...well, I went in...Syd mostly played with rocks on the shore!

We had fun though, especially when the sun finally came back out.  I hope we can go up again next year when it's warmer...maybe Syd will even come in the water!

Fresh From Garden

We planted a garden this year and we finally got something good from it!

You see, in May and June, we got so much rain that half of the plants and seeds drowned.  Then we got the heat wave, and the things that survived the rainy season, fried in the heat.  My cucumbers and peas never were any good.

I did get 2 nice cauliflowers! One I gave to my Grandma and the other one to Cindy.  I also have Kale, TONS of Kale.  We like it cooked slightly and mixed in with mashed potatoes and sausage in a Dutch food that I can't spell, but love to eat.  I have so much that I think I'm going to start blanching it and freezing it for the winter time.

I also have some broccoli still growing and some carrots that I think are still growing.

But today I got my first pepper!  It was just a little guy, but it tasted really good!

I will definately plant another garden next year, but I've learned from this year.  I won't plant nearly as much kale and more peppers.  I will NOT plant any lettuce.

Happy harvesting!

A Boy and A Dog

I haven't posted any pictures of Lewis lately, so I thought I'd show him off.

He's definitely outgrowing his crazy puppiness and calming down a little, but he's really not growing into his ears!  I never realized how camera shy he is either! It took me 6 tries to get this picture of him...he wouldn't look at the camera!

Now, I have to say, I think Lewis is the only living creature that is going to be sad to see the snow finally melt for good!

We use the extend-a-leash and hook him onto the banister of the front bridge so he can't get away, but he can still jump and flop around in the snow we throw at him.  I just wish he loved the water as much as the snow!

And finally, I always love a good kid/dog picture.  Almost every night, Ethan and Lewis snuggle on the couch until one or both of them, fall asleep.

Awwww, isn't that sweet?

Visiting the Polar Bears

Most of you know that we're members of the Toronto Zoo so we like to go down about once a month.  Well, we headed out there this past Sunday.  It was wonderful, there were hardly any people so we could go as fast and slow as we wanted.

Sydney and Ethan rode in the double jogger stroller.  The bear that Ethan is holding is Addison.  He's a school project!

Ethan has his head inside a terrarium.  It's really neat actually.  I took my turn after him and it's really quite interesting.

A little froggy inside the terrarium

The two polar bears were napping when we got to their area.  They were so cute all snuggled up together like that.

Overall it was a fun day and we will definitely go out in the winter time again.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities.  But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors.   It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.                   

It was Christmas Eve 1881.  I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enou gh money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas.  We did the chores early that night for some reason.  I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible.  I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though. I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.  Soon Pa came back in.  It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard.

"Come on, Matt," he said.  "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."

I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see.  We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this.  But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's  feet when he'd told  them to do something, so I got up and put my boots  back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens.  Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house.  Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled.  Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job.   I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load.  Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand.  I reluctantly climbed up beside him.  The cold was already biting at me.  I wasn't happy.  When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed.  He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said.  Here, help me."  The high sideboards!  It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing?  Finally I said something.

"Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"

“You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked.

The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road.  Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight.  Sure, I'd been by, but so what?                                                    

 
Yeah," I
said,
"Why?"                                                
 
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."



That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him.  We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it.  Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait.  When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.



"What's in the little sack?" I asked.

“Shoes, they're out of shoes.  Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning.  I got the children a little candy too.  It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
                                                        
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence.  I tried to think through what Pa was doing.  We didn't have much by worldly standards.  Of course, we did have a big woodpile,
though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I w ould have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it.  We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy?  Really, why was he doing any of this?  Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible then, we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door.  We knocked.  The door opened a crack and a timid voice said,

  "Who is it?"

"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"   
 
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in.  She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.  The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all.  Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the
lamp.                                                             
  
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sac k of flour.  I put the meat on the table.  Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it.  She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time.  There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last.  I watched her carefully.  She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and
started running down her cheeks.  She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.                           
 
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said.  He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile.  Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."  I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too.  In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't
speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul.  I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference.  I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared.  The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time.  She finally turned to us.

  "God bless you," she said.

"I know the Lord has sent you.  The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."                                  

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again.  I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true.  I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth.  I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others.  The list seemed endless as I thought on
it.     
 
Pa insisted that everyone try o n the shoes before we left.  I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get.  Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. 

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave.  Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug.  They clung to him and didn't want us to go.  I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

 
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow.  The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals.  We'll be by to get you about eleven.  It'll be nice to have some little ones around again.  Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell."  I was the youngest.  My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

  
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles.  I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."        

  Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold.  When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something.  Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square.  Your ma and me were real excited,  thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do.  Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you
understand."                                                    
  
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again.  I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities.  Pa had given me a lot more.  He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me
much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Things You Can Only Say At Christmas

1: I prefer breasts to legs.

2: Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

3: Smother the butter all over the breasts.

4: If I don't undo my trousers, I'll burst!

5: I've never seen a better spread!

6: I fancy a little dark meat for a change.

7: Are you ready for seconds yet?

8: It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?

9: Just wait your turn, you'll get some!

10: Don't play with your meat!

11: Stuff it up between the legs as far as it will go.

12: Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?

13: I didn't expect everyone to come at the same time!

14: You still have a little bit on your chin.

15: How long will it take after you put it in?

16: You'll know it's ready when it pops up.

17: Just pull the end and wait for the bang.

18: That's the biggest bird I've ever had!

19: I'm so full, I've been gobbling nuts all morning.

20: Wow, I didn't think I could handle all that and still want more.

I just wanted to share some more pictures of the newest little babies in the family.

Chip

Dale

Those are Ryan's hands by the way...there's no way I'm going to hold them in my hands.  Hamsters are mean, especially that little black one who seems to think that Ryan tastes quite good!
They do have to be taken out everyday so that they get used to us handling them, so I tried to pet their backs a little when Ryan had them out, but it's scary business!

Welcome Chip and Dale

We have some new family members (due to the demise of Mr Ernie)....I'd like to introduce Chip and Dale.

Dale is black and Chip is brown

They're Russian Hamsters who are about 8 weeks old.  They're brothers from the same litter.  Russian Hamster live to be an average of 2-3years old.

Since we has just bought a new cage for Ernie, we decided to give these two little guys lots of space and hooked the two hamster cages together.  Right now they're having fun exploring their new home and find a spot to snuggle down in.

The MegaCage!

They seem to really like the green tube between the two cages, and sometimes they just hang out there for a little while.

Dale hanging out in the connecting tube

I was fully expecting the two little guys to snuggle up and go for a nap when we got home, but they're spending more time apart in the separate cages then anything else!

Dale checking out the newer cage

Chip chillin' in the older cage

I can't wait to get to know these guys and play with them.  There will be more pictures to come!

Breakfast in Bed

My little girl is the sweetest kid I know.  I mean, my other kids are awesome too, but Syd, she just takes the cake.

I'm not feeling good, in fact, standing is almost too much for me right now. (For those of you not in the loop, I have pneumonia in the bottom of both lungs)  Sydney is home with me all day and she knows I'm sick so today she made me breakfast in bed!

That there gourmet breakfast is 1/2 a scone in each bowl and an inch of water in our glasses.  Not bad for a 3 year old and the best breakfast in bed ever!  What a sweetie!

Halloween!

There was much fun last night as 3 of the kids dressed up and went trick or treating.  Cody, unfortunately, was still too sick to go out, so he stayed home with mom.

Mia, Sydney and Ethan

Friday night we went to Junior Youthgroup at church and carved pumpkins.  Again, Cody wasn't there but we brought a pumpkin home for him to do later.  Here are the finished projects:

Sydney's Pumpkin

Mia's Pumpkin

Ethan's Pumpkin

Cody's Pumpkin

Overall it was a great night and the kids all had fun! We even saw some snow!

We've Been Boo-ed!

Mysteriously, our doorbell rang and when I went to answer the door, there wasn't anyone there.  Only this little package laying on our doorstep.

There are 4 of every treat in the bag, so someone knew how many kids live here.
There was this note attached on the other side:

Since I know it's not readable, this is what it says:

You've Been Boo-ed!

The phantom ghost has come to town

To leave some goodies...I see you've found.

If you wish to make this a happier fall...

Continue this greetin, this phantom call.

First, post this Phantom where it can be seen,

And leave it there until Halloween.

This will scare other Phantoms who may visit.

Be sure to participate, you don't want to miss it!

Second, make two treats and two copies from www.BeenBooed.com

Deliver them to two neighbors, try to stay calm.

Don't let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt...

And make sure they put their Phantom Ghost out!

Next, you have only one day to act, so be quick!

Leave it at doors where the Phantom hasn't hit.

Deliver at dark when there isn't much light...

Ring the doorbell and run, and stay out of sight!

And last, but not least, come join in the season.

Don't worry, be happy, you need no good reason.

This is all in good fun and we are just trying to say...

Happy Halloween & Have a Great Day!

I thought it was really neat...I've never had anything like this happen!  What a nice way to spread the Halloween spirit.

Visit With Jessica

Actually, my mom and sister were here too, but I didn't take any pictures of them...so you get to see Jessica horsing around with me!

Jumping on mom's tummy!

She looks like an Elf in this picture...so cute!

Wearing mom's hat

And off it comes!

Kite Flying!

You know the saying "They don't make 'em like they used to!" ? I guess it's true!  My grandpa brought a kite today for my kids to play with.  I didn't pay much attention to it until Ryan asked me to tape it up a little cause it was falling apart in a couple places.  That's when I looked at it.  Then I looked at it again...strangely familiar.  Then it came to me...this is my kite...from when I was in kindergarten...a good 25 years ago!!

I had no idea this kite was still around...I haven't flown a kite in YEARS, many many YEARS! Haven't even ever thought about it that I can remember...but with it sitting there on the table, I started remembering.  Me and my grandpa flying the kite...it was so much fun.  The perfect picture of childhood...

So I headed to the school field with Ryan and the kids...and we flew the kite!  I had fun pretending to be a kid again, and my kids had fun flying a kite for the first time!

My Turn

Ryan's turn

Cody's turn

The other kids had turns too, I just didn't have the camera handy unfortunately!

Oh...just one more picture....Sydney riding her bicycle, she's really getting good at it.  I remember when she couldn't pedal at all!

Memories

You never know when you won't get another chance to take a picture you really want.