I love you!
Lush fall floral colours
Floral fall colours of our love
We were married in the fall, I love the gorgeous fall colours!
Love in bloom
Celebrating 9 years of love, sweat and tears… our marriage!
Today my husband and I celebrate 9 years married! It’s been a wonderful last year. Amazing actually. As a couple and as a family. Wonderful times together, less downs more ups and handling those downs stronger together. Our children amaze us each and every day. Every sidive moment creates a new memory, a new stage in their lives, in our lives. Its all so amazing. Even through the difficult mommy and daddy moments, there is nothing more fulfilling!
As a couple, watching our children grow, gain more independence and us more time together as a couple.
I look forward to each next day together as we walk hand in hand towards our future. Enjoying the memories of yesterday, the moment of today and our future ahead!
XOXO much love to my husband we are a perfect fit for each other, not perfect people yet a perfect fit! I love you!!!
The life we live is a choice. The love we give is key!
I would be lying if I said I didn’t make poor choices in my life. I would also be lying if I said other peoples poor choices had no effect on me.
My little man reminded me, once again of what the most important choice in life is.
In the weeks leading up to his birthday, I had asked him numerous times what he wanted for his birthday, his answers leading up to this day he talked about the party and how much he wanted a hockey party. This day that stands out to me, he completely melted my heart. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. I got the typical, I dont know, so I was more specific in asking what gift he wanted.
“I dont know mommy I just want to have fun with my family and friends”
My heart melted with pure love, my eyes filled with tears – happy of course, and I told him that was the most perfect answer.
He was slightly confused why it was such a big thing to me. Why it meant so much. Relationships have always been important to us and our children.
Growing up my husband and I each spent a lot of time with our own families as well as extended family and friends. This is something we have naturally continued within our own family and with our children, birthday’s and holidays aren’t as much about the gifts – although of course that part is fun – but its more about spending time together and having fun.
Recently our family received a gift, from someone who has made the choice to not be a part of our lives. Their choice, right. Exactly. However as the mama bear, when it directly affects my kids with confusion, sadness and questions – then it becomes a choice for me to make. My choice because… if someone chooses to not be a part of someones life or lives, I can respect their choice. I have chosen to raise my kids knowing that money does not buy happiness, that they do not need to have the absolute best or newest toys, that what we do have we have worked extremely hard to have and saved up and that relationships and love is key. My kids do not understand why someone would send a gift, yet have no part of their life. They are very relationship focused. So much in fact that rather than ask and be disappointed they are “busy” they no longer ask. My choice is solely on my kids, I don’t want my kids to think its ok to show “love” or “caring” by merely buying a gift and sending it. That is not OUR love. That is our choice.
Our choice for our family is to live surrounded by love. To know that life isn’t perfect, but that’s ok because everyone makes mistakes.
This week my husband and I are celebrating 9 years of marriage… in those 9 years SO much has happened. SO MUCH. So much that at times I am shocked we made it through, yet so proud we have each other to get through it together! In life, shit happens. Lets face it, it does. Part of the journey is not getting around or over it, its getting through it. We strive to teach this to our children.
In the past month we received heart breaking news about a family member, someone who although they’ve made some bad choices in life, they’ve shared so much life and love. Someone who our kids adore, who they love, who they are feeling pain for because its such an unknown right now. Truthfully I believe this has been on our kids minds, our son especially and why he expressed spending time with his family and friends was so important. A true reminder of what really is important in life and why the other “stuff”, negativity, the drama of whatever… you know what it really doesn’t matter. I will never forget the smiles and hear the sounds of laughter from our children at the fireworks festival, they had SO much fun with this family member. They were all just beaming. This is now when I have to remind myself to stay extremely positive, not for me, but for my husband and children.
If the entire 12 we’ve been together has taught me anything, its how important LOVE and RESPECT really is. Especially that you just don’t know whats going to happen tomorrow or what the next phone call is going to bring. Live life and take LOTS of photos! XOXO <3
Some moments we spent as a family today… bad hair day and all. What matters is we were together.
Happy Birthday to our little man!
We spent last weekend with family and this weekend with his friends celebrating our little man’s birthday! We love sharing their and our special days with our family and friends!
He continues to amaze us with his talents, knowledge and most of all his personality and his absolute love for his family, pets and friends. Any days that may be challenging, his personality and sweets certainly make up for any mommy frustrations I may feel ;) We’re human of course! Any moments I may have my mommy frustrations, I take my own time out, and fall in love with the kids all over again.
Little man (and sis) with his Daddy, his Grandad and his Great-Grandad!
Yup this truly is HIM! LOL
Patiently waiting for cake… or?
The proud parents!!!
The tradition continues… my first “money birthday cake” LOL! Gram was proud and no one’s face went into the cake either ;)
He was very eager to cut more pieces even though he didn’t want more ha!
Im not much of a baker – heck Im not a baker. However since we’ve gotten settled here Ive really put an effort into our kids birthday cakes… they are nothing special, I am super critical of them but my kids have LOVED them! Before I had this together, little man saw the cupcakes and was all “Ugh mom no cake???” … he went out to play and came in to see this and said “WOW thats awesome” … melt.my.heart <3
SO thankful to lil man’s auntie Erin… I found all these decorations online for his hockey party and to avoid crazy shipping costs she was able to pick them up for me – ah the parents (us included) weren’t all too keen on her “extra” she picked up … NHL whistles for the kids but they loved them!
I LOVE this shot of the boys… last year it was a pirate party, this year hockey!
Pinata time!!!
What a way to end his day of celebrations than at the PATS game with his best bud :) oh and his sis too ;)
PCOS Awareness Month… Lets break the silence!
Ive become more comfortable and open with the illnesses I have. I am finally at the point in my life with my health that I know its a part of me, a part of who I am, its something that unfortunately I am going to be living with everyday for the rest of my life. There will be good days, there will be bad days, I just need to take it day, by day!
Do you know what PCOS is? I’ll tell you…
Just click here to read about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome PCOS
So many women have this illness. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not our fault. PCOS needs to be known, needs to be talked about.
Here are a few of the symptoms of PCOS (from their website)
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What are the symptoms of PCOS?
The symptoms of PCOS can vary from woman to woman. Some of the symptoms of PCOS include:
- Infertility (not able to get pregnant) because of not ovulating. In fact, PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.
- Infrequent, absent, and/or irregular menstrual periods
- Hirsutism (HER-suh-tiz-um) — increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
- Cysts on the ovaries
- Acne, oily skin, or dandruff
- Weight gain or obesity, usually with extra weight around the waist
- Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
- Patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black
- Skin tags — excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
- Pelvic pain
- Anxiety or depression
- Sleep apnea — when breathing stops for short periods of time while asleep
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My Story…
The bare bones gist of it. I suffered, no suffer, from not all, but many symptoms on the list above.
Married in September 2004. Began gaining weight, crazy cycles etc after going off the birth control pill. Mid July diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and PCOS. Underwent months of tests, ultrasounds, blood work, medication, more tests, ultrasounds, bloodwork… 16 months later get the news we were pregnant.
Thrilled with our new son, I was somewhat ignorant when it came to my health and hoped my illness (which at the time I didnt see as an “illness”) would just ‘go away’.
Little man was 6mths old, tests began again for cycle issues, monthly and at 9.5 months old… “You’re pregnant!” Yikes… my body was very messed up, however it did something right that month after literally months without a cycle or any normalcy.
I had very mixed emotions. I had a 10 month old and was pregnant with our 2nd – we only planned on 2 children so realistically this was scary, yet so very amazing.
Baby girl was born and our family was complete.
You would think I would have by then learned this is life long and I need to educate myself and reach out. Nope.
I was just as ashamed and hurt as I was the day my family doctor told me I needed to see a Reproductive Encronologist for Infertility… I was 23 years old… I had to see who for what!?!?
Life was crazy. After little man was born hubby began working at the family business, awesome as he was self employed with me doing his office accounting duties. I was very much in favour of living a more simplified life, especially since I would be returning to work! Working with two littles was a challenge, but I love(d) my job and knew that as much as I wanted to be a mom, I also wanted to work. It was a challenge finding a balance and quite honestly I dont think I truly did until a few years ago.
I knew the ultimate choice was surgery. With two young kids this was difficult and so I again put my health on hold. Finally October 2011 I called my Gynecologist’s office to make an appointment. Brought on of course by crazy pelvis pain! I was lucky and by the end of November 2011 I was at the hospital and had the surgery. This truly was the best decision ever for my health and my family.
Unfortunately the pain has not been completely gone, nor does just with a hysterectomy take away PCOS. Although I am still having pain I would be a lot worse off had I not had the surgery.
As the pain was getting worse, off to the doctor again, already knowing what was wrong and ultimately how to “fix” it, more tests began. Confirmed my guesses and also how to deal. . . Low stress, eating right, pain management, exercise, low stress… and ultimately and most likely another surgery.
PCOS affects women in so many ways, mentally, emotionally and physically. Physical pain with young kids, a dog, household duties and a job is difficult.
Earlier this year I pulled the plug on my photography business. I took it back… for me. Photography was and is my passion. I couldn’t allow any stress to ruin what I began doing with so much love, excitement, passion. My outlet for my love of the arts. I have had so much fun capturing our life, our moments and the beauty around me since I made this decision. I have fell in love with photography all over again.
For someone who must stay low stress, being organized is HUGE! Both at work and at home. I’m continuing to simplify our life, decluttering our home, organizing, purging, and it feels so good. This is my life, and I will make the best of it :)
Here’s a good read – 30 Interesting Facts About PCOS
Mother Knows Best
One feeling while being pregnant I will never forget is worrying if I would “do it right”, if I would know what was the right thing to do, if the baby was ok, what I should do etc… My wonderful female relatives and friends with kids just said “you’ll know”…
Well they were right – mother does know best!
I know my kids better than anyone else – Im also finding even better than the Doctors.
Of course no disrespect to any doctors out there. I personally have not had the best of luck with doctors for my own health and also my children. You have to push and by push it means hard. I learned this myself going through my own issues years ago, pushing to get answers, pushing to find someone local and I did, myself.
I am very thankful for the health care system we have in Canada, we truly are lucky – very lucky!
However its times like this where the actions of a physician directly affect my child negatively…
After waiting well over 5mths for a referral to a pediatrician for our son, I found out his family doctor didn’t even send in the referral…
I literally held my breath I was so angry I did not know what to say, nicely, so I said nothing.
I questioned the nurse how this could happen, the response was he is busy and forgot.
… Silence …
Im getting good at biting my tongue. I was beyond angry by now and could feel my blood boiling. I am thankful my son is healthy, I am thankful my son does not have any life threatening illness. However the reason for our request to see a pediatrician is still very important and a very valid concern for his well being.
The First Day of School | Back to school 2013!
Our babes headed back to school this morning… a very gloomy, dark, dreary, rainy morning… one very eager, the other slightly nervous – they both came home with only good things to say and loving every moment :)
We were two very happy parents!!!
We can only give so many smiles mommy… lol OK give me the silly’s now! ;)
… and off they go!
