Life lessons can be very hard… especially on the mama!

Our close family and friends know of certain struggles we’ve been having with our wee princess. Shes a very smart, gorgeous, stubborn, creative girl… perhaps I should place more emphasis on the STUBBORN part. (Would be great if I could say she gets that from her dad lol ;) ) .

Tonight was an evening of life lessons for the girl, who I will give her credit, she is persistent, very strong willed and knows what she wants, I do admire this in her as I am, admittedly the one she most likely does get it from, however as a small child it can be very very tough, quite honestly I think tougher on mom than child.

A couple of trying hours for both me and her, ended in great success. Be all, end all, nope this is the beginning, however it ended fabulous. From how I felt earlier this evening to feeling now – well she did say it right when I said “Ok its time for bed…” and her response to me “No its drink time” I had to chuckle because thats exactly what I was thinking… but a drink for ME and not HER! LOL and Im not talking water like she was ;)

Yes Patience is a virtue… as I reminded myself over and over. Especially as I reminded her of good choices and bad choices – in our great attempt to help alleviate some of her stubborn issues… I have to laugh at myself at times as I am repeating things to the kids reminding them that…

Both the good and bad choices that they may choose to make will have consequences, so whichever choice they make they must be able to be responsible to accept and deal with the negative consequence, if that is the outcome… regardless of what it may be or what may happen, its a choice, and its theirs.

Whats sad is that alot of adults don’t even understand this concept and here I am teaching my 4 1/2 and 6 yr olds… who grasp it quite well, but just needs reminding – sometimes to the point of feeling like a tape recorder… but alas it does work AND they are very happy children when they get to relish in the fact that THEY made the choice with a POSITIVE responsible outcome!!!

Of course at the end of the day, as I read them a book and tucked them into bed, I am again reminded to take a couple extra moments with them, that it was ok that I had to take a “mommy time out” earlier, because it helps me to be the best mommy I can be, especially when regardless of whatever struggles I may face with them, nothing is as complex and heart wrenching as what my husband’s cousin and her family are facing on a daily basis. That in itself gives me all the more reason in the world for my children, who truly are my life!

Cannot post without some photos… ;) From the other night when my wonderful sister came to enjoy dinner – oops cook dinner for us LOL (yes we are SO lucky!) and we had game night after! The miss played for a bit with me, then actually got tired and went downstairs for quiet time on her own… yes heart warming mommy moment right there <3

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Movember Pledges… for Miss MEERA! We believe in MEERAcles! <3

A happy, beautiful 3 year old girl should be thinking of what dress she will wear, candy, playing barbies, running in the park, colouring – all without a care in the world.

Unfortunately for Meera, things are different. She is a very beautiful, smart, happy girl… with Cancer. Cancer that she DID beat, has now come back. She has a very rare form of childhood cancer. In Meera’s mommy’s words from their pledge site…

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This campaign is to offset costs incurred to the family of Meera Porter due to cancer and a very invasive surgery needed on her face to remove all affected  areas in order to save her life.

August 2011, at only 22 months old Meera was diagnosed with an VERY agressive type of cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, right on her face. It grew so rapidly within weeks it went from just under her left nostril to up along the side of her nose towards her eye. She then started 40 weeks of chemotherapy and endured severe burns from 28 radiations on her face. We were told that any areas affected by radiation will not grow and would require surgery when she grew older. That was something we were ‘ok’ with. We were also told that if it came back, there was nothing they could do. That was something we were not ok with. In June 2012 Meera completed chemotherapy and the family was under the impression the cancer was gone.

 

Just before she was scheduled to have her port and gtube (feeding tube) removed, not even a week before my maternity leave was over, which meant I was about to return to work, I discovered a lump on her nose, again. Dr’s believed it was scar tissue but took our concerns seriously and ran tests like imaging and another biposy and found it indeed came back. Another surgery was performed less then two weeks later to remove as much of a clear margin as possible. We had the decision to either use the study chemotherapy drugs or the standard. They were prepared to choose the study, until the Dr’s most recently have told them they have a hope of beating this by basically removing her face. They have to go back and refrence the scans from original diagnosis and remove all the areas affected by this. And the family would no longer have the oppurtunity to choose the study chemo, Meera would need to use the standard. As long as her next set if scans continue to come back negitive for any metastasis this surgery is an option to save her life, even if she wont look like our beautiful princess anymore.

This means supplies not covered like feeding bags to feed her though her gtube again, and replacement gtube buttons and adapters syringes will be out of the families pocket, this doesnt even include loss of wages from not being able to work as we are so stressed we cant even work. These decisions have never been easy for us, and need your support emotionally and financially. 

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We were at a family wedding just a week ago and this sweet little girl, who walked up to me and grabbed my hand and ever so quietly, but so sweet says “come…”. Although she is family, my husband has a big family and we haven’t seen them, thankful for pictures on Facebook!

So… as many of you know Jaz joined into the Movember fun this year! Even though he typically does have a goatee he shaved off clean on November 1st – a first in 12 years!!!

Knights of Princess Meera Movember was created … by a group of college guys! How awesome is this! They posted the group yesterday and already there is over 200 members and its still growing!!!

Without a doubt… Jaz IS participating so we are asking our family and friends to please pledge him for this wonderful cause! You can pledge him in person (we have pledge forms) or you can pledge and donate online – very simple…

http://www.indiegogo.com/Meeracles?c=home

Any amount you could give will help. We will of course be giving our own pledge/donation at the end of Movember for this beauty! If you do not feel comfortable paying a donation/pledge online with your credit card, however would like to pledge Jaz to help out Meera please mail us a cheque to PO Box 358 Mount Forest, ON N0G 2L0. We will deposit the money and then pay it online to the plege site.

I also spent yesterday decluttering in a very large way in our kids rooms and added to the huge pile of clothing to take to our local consignment store (clothing from both our kids and both my husband and I) Stumbled Upon… this consignment store takes your clothing and sells it, paying you a % of the sale. I am going to donate 100% of these proceeds to Meera!!! Feels so very good :)

At this moment, the only option for Meera is surgery, which will include removing parts of her face – drastically changing her appearance. This is not only going to be hard for Meera, but her family as well, including her baby sister who just turned 1. She will require plastic surgery to help reconstruct her face. 

Meera you are loved by SO many!

Cancer has touched (and taken) so many of our loved ones… just 2 months before our wedding my mother in law lost her fight to Cancer :( When I was young I remember visiting my granpa in the hospital, travelling to Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving and sharing Christmas together in my grandparents bedroom while he was sick and in bed … Please help us do what we can to help Princess Meera!

Decluttering and Organizing is the BEST feeling… even the kids love it!

I don’t know about anyone else but I LOVE the feeling an organized/decluttered home/space :) Our kids do too… Actually they thrive in a very organized space.

I began their space a couple, no few weeks ago, and then much like any other time life got in the way. This weekend we had NO plans – well ok today we had no plans and last night we didn’t either so it meant we could go to bed early. Such a productive day, awesomely productive lol. Hubby worked on his man space downstairs in the work room to create his wine making area (yes we, ok he, makes wine at home and it is delish!!!). I tackled the kids rooms and downstairs hallway. We have a very wide hallway downstairs so it seems to be a great landing area for “stuff”!

A great place to play hockey!
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And new-found favorite toy (yes she is my mini-me)
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Loving their organized spaces and easy to find toys :)
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Next for the kiddos is getting more art work – custom art work, up on their walls. Before or after the paint, not sure ;) they’re both very excited to choose their own colour – colours actually lol!

Next for decluttering… ahhhh the dreaded collect-all in the office/spare bedroom.

Hanging out with my boy… the furry one!

After the kids go to bed we get to cuddle with our youngest boy, the furry one ;)

I never thought I could love another dog more than I did my Elwood. Although they are very different (in colour) they are so very much the same.

I am so lucky to have had them both as companions, and most of all both as a part of our family!

Its like a breath of fresh air | Motherhood

Its like a breath of fresh air.

Feeling unsure at times, confused, failed, defeated, a bad mother. Yet my children are so very intelligent, creative and loving. Change has never been a good thing for them. Over the years moving 3 times in their short lives has been hard on them, hard on all of us, beginning school a welcomed new part of their lives but also another scary change.

Our children thrive on routine, organization, stimulation, and downtime. Our children are like all other kids, however as we are learning need a more one on one approach. The breath of fresh air, hearing from a Health Care Professional that this is so very common in so many boys (after all we all know boys and girls have very different ways of learning). Both our kids love to learn, are very expressive, sensitive and very appreciative of not so much the things in their life but the people and experiences in their lives.

After speaking to the Doctor I came out feeling a sense of pride that I HAVE been doing things right, I am a great mother, my son is a very smart child (which of course I knew) but he just may need more one on one time. I am lucky, we are lucky that the teachers our son has had over the past years have been wonderful and I so very much appreciate the open communication between them and us, even though at times I have cringed when answering the phone to hear about his “energy filled day”.

Celebrating our love | Anniversary Getaway

In September we celebrated being married for 8 years!!!

A true accomplishment!

A work or art that is never complete. These weekend getaways that are so refreshing for us! Even if we miss our kids like crazy lol while thinking of those times we said we need a night away ;) Sweet voices on the phone, tiny voices saying I love you, hearing their excitement of their own weekend “away”. Truly enjoying no responsibilities for 3 days…

Before back to reality and appreciating our time together and being back home with our family, then back to work lol.

These weekends that reminds us of our love, our family, friends, jobs, home and all which we much appreciate! Working hard to enjoy this downtime together :) Feeling even more blessed than ever. That no matter what we may face, we face it together as a team, standing side by side, we may not always agree, but that it part of the beauty of two people coming together. Times may be stressful, those stressful times help us appreciate the many more good times even more. Appreciating and enjoying the company of each other, our children, our family and friends… oh our pets too ;)

Life is a ride, everyday, each day more interesting, amazing memories, some worth forgetting, others we hold onto tight. In 8 years we’ve come this far and I’m so excited for what the next 80 together will bring ;)

Sunday Photo Tips… Getting above them!

Another perspective for taking photos is to get up… this is an angle I do not as often however its great to get of the kids sitting, laying, or playing in the grass or even inside. Mommy just has to get up higher than then, shoot some frames and then ever so calmly call their name, for them to look uo. this is where you will want a fast shutter speed to capture them sweet faces, especially if your doing a close up of their face.

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And even my puppy…

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Getting above can also showcase just how small and precious a child (including fur babies) is! Also capturing more detail depending on your angle :)

One thing I do enjoy with the darker evenings is in the winter I do more indoor photography of the kids and our everyday life, considering spring and summer when it’s nice out we are outside alot, so during the fall and winter its my chance to capture indoor fun! Even just the indoor everyday, one day you will look back and these photos will flood you with memories!

Happy Shooting… Up high or down low – oh and if your worried you’ll look like a fool laying on the ground, even twisted to get that angle or hanging over your deck or trying to balance on a chair or the edge of the couch, we’ll you will look silly but that will help bring out more natural laughs with the kids. If your afraid of what others will think of how you look, lol its all about you and what you are aiming to achieve – I promise you it’s these angles that will provide you with some awesome ‘real’ shots of your kids childhood!

I can guarantee if you drive by my place various times you will see me doing many of these things!

 

Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Artist & Intuitive | Pamela Zmija

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