Christmas is packed away!

Just spent the entire morning packing up Christmas 2012! When I put away decorations I take time to reflect of the events of Christmas. Although there are no signs of Christmas left except for the few stubborn pine needles that keep appearing, the memories of this one will be embedded in my memory forever! From my other posts there you know there was unrest in our home. It felt like we were shivering and nothing could stop the rigor. But once we got to Kelowna and heard the kids laughing and saw them being spoiled by their grandparents, being with family was like a warm blanket put over our family and gave us the much needed emotional rest that we craved. Our plans for one night in Kelowna turned into two as we could not pry our kids away from the bond that cousins share! We came back to Abbotsford from Kelowna on Christmas and shared a wonderful Chinese dinner with my parents as well as Todd's mom and dad. On Christmas day, my mom took charge in the kitchen and made an amazing turkey dinner! My brother and family joined us from Kelowna and when they arrived our house was instantly turned into the party house. From Sunday to Thursday there was never a dull moment, as my 75 year old dad became chief party planner extraordinaire and there was not a down moment. My mom and dad even did some dancing!

The continual partying between Christmas and New Years were traditions that I was accustomed to growing up. Over the years, the loneliness that I have felt over Christmas has been minimized by working, and being with fellow co-workers. My children knew nothing different and had become accustomed to the quiet Christmas. I am starting to think that this Christmas has left a pretty sweet taste in their mouth as to what Christmas was like for me growing up.

Meldon and his family left yesterday, but thankfully my parents are still here until January 5th, or else it would be very empty around here. However, my girls are already in mourning with the thoughts of their grandparents leaving, and the pressure of moving still weighs very heavily on us. Both of our girls are very aware of how lonely they are, and how much they miss being around their cousins. However, having my brother and family in Kelowna has been the best for all of us. A month ago we were unsure if they were going to be staying there, but it now is confirmed that they will stay there for awhile. As long as they are close, I have a feeling we will be staying put!

Kourtney has done extremely well; being busy is the best thing for her, however, she was so exhausted tonight that she said, "I just want to have a down day with Grandma Charlene and watch Anne of Green Gables." I think she deserves that. My dad, Todd, Shae and myself will go tubing tomorrow. Looking forward to it!

Jingles = Shingles

Since our trip in to Children's and the long awaited iron infusion, the red blood cells are starting to be produced and Kourtney's skin is doing something it hasn't done for a long time . . . heal. Also, her monthly skin swabs have been negative for the MRSA. I still have a hard time believing this as we thought it would be around for ever. I also have come up with a new concoction of creams and dressings that seems to provide a balance with healing, itchiness, as well as having the dressings not stick to the wound. We saw Dr. Courtemanche today. He seemed to approve of our concoction and was more than happy to look after Kourtney's ongoing needs.  He was more than pleased with the way Kourtney was looking and admired his "work of art" on her mouth and was his usual pleasant self.  However, he was quite concerned about me and told me he didn't think I was doing ok, and to tell you the truth, I have been barely holding myself together.

I have been fighting a very strange virus for about 2 weeks now. Extreme muscle pain, muscle pain leaves and a very runny nose starts, then a cold sore, just when I started to feel better I woke up with a painful, swollen neck and little painful sores all over my scalp. I have shingles. I need rest, but yet as all mom's know there is no rest for the wicked or the weary (I have been told it could go either way). I always thought that when the girls would get to be older they would be less needy. Quite the opposite! I think emotionally they have become more needy and dependant on me to assure them that they are ok. Kourtney has not been sleeping well at all and earned herself a trip to the pshychiatrist today (either me or her, she could get in sooner then I). We have increased her Elavil and the pshychiarist has given me the freedom to increase it incrementally until we have found the sweet dreams without a hangover!

As well the Christmas holidays started out with what the T. Kujawa's do best, renovate. Todd started to patch walls and painted the girls rooms. Kourtney has the teenager room (pink and grey) and Shaelyn a very, very bright green.  When the rooms are decorated there will be pictures to follow. The attribute that I love about Todd the most is also what I resent about him as well. Once he starts a project, there is no stopping until the job is done. While this is great for project completion it leaves me as a single parent trying to referee the spats between the girls, dressing changes, trips to Children's, Christmas shopping, and trying to get ready for Christmas.

Shaelyn and Jennifer

Which brings me to today. We will be packing our van and heading to Kelowna to meet up with my brother and his family, and to see my parents. We will stay overnight and then bring my parents back to Abbotsford where my brother and his family will join us for Christmas. The girls are so excited to see their grandparents and their cousins, and are excited about the ongoing party the next week with family around. I actually feel once my parents are here I can finally get some rest. It's not like they can help with Kourtney's dressings, but they do meet an emotional need for all of us, just by their presence. (I feel that the older I get the more needier I become!) My dad loves to go swimming, or to Castle Fun Park. My mom loves to bake buns and watch movies with Kourtney. So tomorrow morning when the van is packed I feel I will be able to let out a big sigh of relief knowing that my parents are going to be around.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Long day

We left at 6 this am, and arrived at children's at 740 for our 8 am appointment! I had a sick feeling that this appointment was not going to happen despite the confirmation with the receptionist! 14 years of this I have developed a huge mistrust in our system! When We arrived we got the news that we were cancelled! Christlike was not my first reaction  with this news as we endured a very rough night with anxiety as well me fighting a cold and not be able to breathe!! However a very kindhearted nurse assured us that they would make it work for us, however there was no anesthesiologist to start her IV ini her tender skin! The last time we came in it took the nurses in 4 turns,with no success and a very bruised a blistered child! All I could think of was the song Some trust in chariots but we trust in the name of the lord of our God, this reassurance was transferred to kourtney and I was able to give her that promise that many people were praying The warm nurse came into the room, and I could tell she was up to the challenge! I felt confident in her skills, and after a look at kourtneys limited IV access spots she felt confident that she could get the vein! It took a little while but and all I could do was pray as the nurse wasn't sure if was in or not! But the we saw the most precious site, the much needed blood pouring back! Thank you jesus! Kourtney is now hooked up to a solution that Mimics hormones secreted at night that stimulate growth hormone! They will be able to decided weather or not this is a reason her growth is so delayed! She is the size of an eight year old! If they find out that this is the cause then she get the hormone and this will bring on puberty! ( oh my ) This will really help her socially if she is an appropriate size! As well she will receive IV iron which she has been receiving for years for severe anemia issues! Unfortunately though she has not received it for 3 months due to IV issues! So this will aide in her overall well being correcting all of this! Hopefully this is a turnaround day for her as her mood as been low especially with the anticipation of all of this!