A Big Bump

For those of you who have been wondering why I haven't posted for awhile....here is a exerpt from Jade's blog, she has entitled it
A Mother's Worst Nightmare
Tegan and Addison had been napping for an hour or so when I walked down the hall to go to the bathroom. I could hear Tegan making little noises from my bedroom like she was waking up, so I opened the door and turned on the light to get her. Instead of a smiling baby I found her with her blanket pulled over her face and when I moved it, she was blue and had spit up all over and couldn't get a breath. It took me a minute to realize what was happening,.At first I thought that if I just washed her face she would be fine, but when she still didn't breathe, I realized it was bad. I must have been in some sort of denial...it's so hard to think that it was actually happening! Frantically, I called 911, but I was sure they weren't going to make it because we are 30 minutes out and she still didn't seem to be breathing. They told me to lay her on her side and rub her back and try to get her to respond to me. I couldn't to CPR because she was breathing a little and her heart was beating, so all I could to was wait. I called the neighbor to go find Daniel and they got here about 15 minutes before the ambulance. When the paramedics came in, they put her right on oxygen and it helped her breathe better right away. For the rest of the night they took tests in the hospital to see if there was an underlying cause. They determined that she had just pulled up her blanket and when she spat up it had nowhere to go, so she inhaled it. They kept her on an IV until today, Saturday, and they figure she should be okay now. We got home this afternoon and are keeping Tegan on antibiotics and keeping a close eye on her, but she should make a full recovery.
We want to thank everyone for their prayers. As everything was happening, we could feel the power of God and see how fast he was working miracles in our angel.

My part in this story is that Jade called me while she was waiting for the ambulance to arrive...she was so distressed. I don't think my heart rate has returned to normal yet. It has always amazed me how quickly our lives can go from being calm, peaceful and "normal", to being crazy, unsettled and changed forever. We can do all the planning in the world but when one of these bumps shakes up our world, I realize how fragile our plans are. I talked with Jade for awhile but when she said Tegan was still having difficulty breathing, I called our local Dr. and he called Jade and stayed on the phone with her....what a blessing! We are so fortunate to live in a community where that is possible. If we were in a larger city it wouldn't happen. The people in our Church and in Jade and Daniel's Church were so supportive with their prayers and phone calls. Thank you to everyone who is in our lives....we are so blessed by each of you.

Be Prepared

Every year people experience emergencies or even disasters. Last year, as many of you know, the town of Tumbler Ridge was evacuated and we were forced to look at our own state of readiness. The following is a simple suggestion for each of you to have prepared in advance so that if something, even a power outage, occurs....you are prepared. You should also have a small kit for your vehicle just in case......
Picture is taken by Trent and is of the Town Hall in the foreground and the billows of smoke from the fire behind.

Basic kit for your home

You may have some of these items already, such as a flashlight, battery-operated radio, food, water and blankets. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark?

Make sure your kit is easy to carry. Keep it in a backpack, duffel bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front hall closet. Make sure everyone in the household knows where to find the emergency kit.

Basic items you will need to survive for 72 hours:

Water – at least two litres of water per person per day (Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order)

Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year)

Manual can opener

Flashlight and batteries

Candles and matches or lighter (remember to place candles in sturdy containers and to put them out before going to sleep)

Battery-powered or wind-up radio (and extra batteries)

First aid kit

Special items such as prescription medications, infant formula and equipment for people with disabilities

Extra keys for your car and house

Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills (travellers cheques are also useful) and change for payphones

A copy of your emergency plan including contact information

Recommended additional kit supplies

It is always a good idea to have extra supplies on hand. Here are some recommendations:

A change of clothing and footwear for each household member

Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member

A whistle (in case you need to attract attention)

Garbage bags for personal sanitation

Toilet paper and other personal care supplies

Safety gloves

Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, fasteners, work gloves)

Small fuel-driven stove and fuel (follow manufacturer’s directions and store properly)

Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning

Special Needs

As many of you know my background is in Social Work....I won't go any further but this is my "special friend" Dale. Dale has been trying for years to grow his hair like mine, and this is where it has got him.

Jael and Alexa

What can I say about Jael??? Jael has taught me a lot about life, more about love and what being a mom really means. Jael made me constantly evaluate myself. She has taken her own path and I'm so thankful that her path has become straighter and easier to follow.
The little one in her arms has already started to teach Jael about life.
Jael....be ready to love like you have never loved and you will be a great mom for little Alexa.

My Dakota

This is my Dakota....sweet as sugar, complicated as they come, and one of the most articulate people (she talks really, really, really fast...so be ready to listen in fast forward. She's lovely inside and out.

My youngest with her neice.

This fall Addison and Dante had a sleep over. The girls just happened to be dressed the same so I took some pictures. They love each other.

My Oldest with her Youngest

This is my oldest daughter just days after having her second child Tegan. I may be biased...but I think they are both gorgeous.

Jael

My beautiful second child....

Grandma and the Grandchildren

Here I am with Tegan at the hospital, Alexa at home Christmas day and the three granddaughters together. Aren't they gorgeous?

What I've Learned

Just when I think I have everything figured out, my life's road curves and starts heading in a new direction. I've learned that I'm not the best at making difficult decisions and that those I love have a lot of influence on my life. I've learned that I will never be fluent in Greek. I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a homeless person, lost keys and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance and that you should make the most of it. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a LOT to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
If you are reading this blog, you will get to know a bit about our family, our hopes, our dreams, our faith and our lives. It won't happen all at once, but as I have time and something to share.