To Be Totally Truthful

After debating with myself on what I should write about, since I haven't posted anything for four and a half months..... yah, I know,.... sorry!, I thought I'd make this short and to the point....

...figuring you'd all get a good chuckle at MY expense.

This past Sunday, early evening, I was visiting "the little girls room" and made a shocking discovery.

I realized that unbeknownst to me.....

or anyone else (thankfully).....

all day.....

I had been........

uhhhhhh......

wearing my undies......

ummmmmmm......

inside out.

Now, is that not just totally embarrassing, or what!?

So isn't this a great way to get back into blogging? with total openness and honesty? (I know.... "too much information".)

Hey!....

at least they weren't on backwards!!!!

Little Girls Are So Sweet

An opportunity presented itself this past Fall for me to return to piano lessons.

As a little girl, I took piano lessons at the age of nine until approximately age twelve.

Most of the time, I hated it.

I wanted to quit.

Much to mother's disappointment, I did quit.

Now, as an adult, I am kicking myself.

And I think that's why I wouldn't let the boys quit their fiddle lessons many years ago (not mentioning any names.... Jake & Jared....... [wink]) . I knew they'd someday regret it if they did quit.

So, this piano-lesson opportunity became available, and I've returned to lessons. My teacher is one of the most amazing piano players. His name is Tony Silvestri and he is eighteen years old. He's spectacular and full of talent. I only wish he'd leave his talent in the ivory so that when "I" sit down to play the piano, I sound like him.

Ain't gonna happen, let me tell ya!

Anyways, about two weeks ago I had my regular lesson. The next day or so, Tony sent me a Facebook message with regards to a conversation he had with his student who has lessons just after me. She's a little girl around nine or ten years old (or thereabouts).

Here's how their conversation went:

Little Girl: "I think it's weird that, like, you're 18 and you're teaching older people."

Tony: "Why is that weird?"

Little Girl: "I dunno.... because you're 18, and she's, like, 20!"

Is that not ADORABLE??????

Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa.......

I love it.

At forty-four, I'll take a compliment anywhere I can get it!

.... including from a sweet little girl.

Grandma's Pie Secret

With our celebrations of Thanksgiving here in Canada this coming weekend, I wanted to share something with you regarding Grandma's pie secret.

This really is confidential, so please keep it hush-hush.

In case the print comes up too small for you to read, here's what it says:

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Grannie made such beautiful pies. One day I asked her, "How do you get such beautiful pies with the crimps around the edge so even?"

"It's a family secret," she said, "so promise not to tell. I roll out the dough, then cut a bottom layer and carefully put it in the pie plate. Then I slowly pour the filling, making sure it's not too full. Next I cut a top layer and put it over the filling. Finally I take out my teeth and just run them around the edge of the pie crust and they make the nicest even impressions you ever did see."

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So, folks.... enjoy your Thanksgiving pie!

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And remember..... Shhhhhhhh!

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Mushroom Soup

For some strange reason, I just got a whiff of mushroom soup.











There's nothing cooking on the stove, nothing in the microwave..... weird.











But it reminded me of something that happened at the hospital back in May. I don't believe I've told you the story yet.











When Blake had that problem with the intense excrutiating pain in his knees and lower legs back in May, just 14 hours after we were released from hospital, we were re-admitted to Picton Hospital and then transferred back to Kingston General.











Because of a lack of beds, we were given a room on Kidd 9, which is Oncology. That floor has just been recently renovated, and it is beautiful! It was so clean, you could have eaten off the floors! I wouldn't suggest it, I'm just sayin'.... well, you know....











On our last night there, we were moved from one room to another, as they needed our room for two elderly ladies. We were moved down the hall to bunk with an elderly man, whose name I believe was Jack.











The nurses wheeled Blake and his bed down the hall to the new room, and I loaded up my Geri-chair with our bags and computer and junk food, etc. and took off down the hall to our new room.











I got a whiff of mushroom soup.










I headed back to our old room to help the nurses bring down Blake's tray and his bedside table. This was about 9 o'clock at night.









Again as I walked down the hall, I could smell mushroom soup. I said to the nurse, "Oh, are one of you girls having a little evening snack?" She looked at me. I said, "Smells like mushroom soup."









She said, "Oh, that's not mushroom soup. Do you REALLY want to know what that is?"









Well now my curiosity is peaked.









I replied, "Sure. OK."









She said, "That is the smell of blood and body parts cooking."









[pause]









[pause....]









[pause........]









"Ooooooooooooooh".









[pick jaw up off nice clean floor]









[wipe disgusting look off face]









"OK, then. That's nice to know. Never gonna buy another can of mushroom soup again, thanks."









When Blake was admitted for his first dose of Remicade (this second round) back in June, when we had the private room, I turned to Blake one night and said, "DO YOU SMELL THAT??????"









Sure enough, coming through the ventilation system in our room was the smell of, none other than, "mushroom soup"!









Ann-Marie: I smell dead people!
(sorry, folks... private joke.... re: Sixth Sense)









Then, last week when we were at KGH for Blake's second dose of Remicade, what did we smell coming through the ventilation system once again?









Yup. Yuh-huh. Mushroom Soup.

I had no idea that they did that kind of incinerating right there at the hospital.

I mean, after I thought about it for a while, I guess it would make sense; but, goodness...... the thoughts of it was rather..... slightly disturbing.

I thought, perhaps, stuff like blood and body parts would be transferred somewhere else to be burned..... like perhaps a crematorium or something of that nature.

Never ever dreamed of it being done right there at the hospital. I guess I've really never ever truly given thought as to WHAT they did with blood or amputated body parts or pieces of your colon or your appendix or your placenta or whatever that has been removed.

And NOW you know!

So, if anyone is planning on surprising me with a meal, could I please just ask that you not bring anything that has been cooked with mushroom soup?

I just don't think I could stomach it right now.

And next time you're in the hospital and YOU get a whiff of mushroom soup..... you'll remember this story and you'll know it's not coming from the cafeteria!

At least.... I HOPE IT'S NOT!!!!!

Dear Abby, [a-hem] Hockey Momma....

Dear Abby Hockey Momma,
Here's one thing I need to know from you, Mamma hockey ... how do you handle it when your boys are receiving some of those tough checks and blows that they so often get in hockey? I played hockey for years, but now, as a Mom, I think I'm going to be totally freaked out when they reach the body contact age.
Help!
:-)
Janna

Dear New-Hockey-Mom Janna
Here are some helpful tips with regards to the "tough checks and blows" your children will receive in hockey:

1. Don't let them grow up. Keep them young and small forever. I tried this. It didn't work. I discovered that they kept growing because I kept feeding them. That was my mistake. All are towering over me now, as high as 6'1". Try limiting food to bread and water. Do not buy them larger clothes; make them wear the small clothing which may help to stunt their growth.

2. Keep them in House League hockey. There is no body contact in House League. This is the League that we have allowed our children to play in the past. If Jake were allowed to play contact hockey, I'm pretty sure he'd have killed someone by now. I'd currently be visiting him in prison, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't allow me in his cell to decorate it in some fresh Spring colours and patterns.

3. If playing Rep. hockey, let your children play the position of GOALTENDER. Every parent cringes when hearing their child say, "I wanna be the Goalie"; however, the "tough checks and blows" will never reach your child. NO ONE TOUCHES THE GOALIE. All team players instinctively protect their Goalie at ALL cost, just as mother bears protect their cubs. Players thrive on sacrificing time in the penalty box if it's in honour of protecting the Goalie. Only contact the Goalie receives is a "snowed face", which the Goalie usually likes because it's refreshing to him (and if you have good referees, they will throw the "snower" into the penalty box.... Bonus! Power Play for your team!). Part way into this year's season, Jared was called up to a Rep. team to fill a vacant Goalie position. Lots of equipment protecting him AND lots of players protecting him resulted in Momma feeling quite at ease whilst cheering very loudly in the stands... with her cup o' Timmies..... and her cowbell.

4. Don't worry, everyone knows children are made of rubber.

5. Let out a scream, then quickly cover your eyes.

6. Lots of PRAYER doesn't hurt, either.

I trust this small list of tips will be helpful in your venture into the world of children's hockey. Don't forget to wear longjohns, pack extra blankets and warm boots and gloves for arenas that have not yet figured out how to heat the stands with propane, take your cowbell or sealed can containing two pennies. Never yell at the refs, and above all else, remember your Tim Horton's card.

And as a final word, I've learned the last number of years that "what goes around comes around"...... now you know, Ms. Janna, how your poor Momma felt when YOU were on the ice! She can now be heard saying, "YES!!! There IS a God!!!" hahahaa

What Are YOU Doing Here???

Saturday was turning out to be another typical busy day.

After spending the better part of the day at the local arena where Jared had to play two house league games back to back, we headed home. I tidied the kitchen and prepared some quesadillas for supper. The Midget A Rep team was playing in Deseronto that night, and although Jake or Jared do not play on that team, we knew it would be a good game and wanted to go and support the boys' friends. So off we went.

After an exciting game we returned home to put our feet up and watch the rest of the Maple Leafs' game on the tube. (YES!!!! 5-0 shut out for the Leafs'. Welcome Mr. Giguere!)

The phone rang. It was Blake.

Everything was OK with him. I had told him earlier in the week that I had received a survey in the mail requesting Blake to answer some questions regarding his stay at Kingston General Hospital back in October. Rather than mail the survey to him, I asked him to give me a call on the weekend when he had a few minutes, and he could just give me his answers, I'd mark the box for him, and then get the survey returned.

We were somewhere around question #6 when someone knocked on the door. I said, "Hold on, Blake, there's someone at the door". I walked to the door and, lo and behold, there's our "adopted son" Billy. He stood there looking at me with this really goofy smile on his face. I exclaimed, "BILLY!!!! HEY!!!! How're ya doin'?? Come in!!! Hey, I'm on the phone with Blake...." and I handed the phone to Billy so he could talk to his buddy Blake.

Billy takes the phone and says, "Hey Blake, how are ya?"

Blake says, "Fine, Billy, how are you?......"

You might be asking yourself right now how "I" knew what BLAKE said while BILLY was the one with his ear to the phone.......

I knew what Blake said BECAUSE..... the little pooper was WALKING THROUGH MY DOOR WHILE HE WAS TALKING INTO HIS OWN PHONE!!!!

My jaw dropped.

Blake and Billy are BOTH laughing their heads off.... Blake is keeled right over just splittin' a gut!

I am standing there in shock, not quite sure what is happening, and if perhaps I have absent-mindedly slept the whole month of February away and woke up on March 1st, the date that Blake is supposed to be home for Reading Week.

My next thought, once I realized that I was conscious and DID have the correct date in my head, was that perhaps Blake was sick and Billy had driven to New Brunswick to bring Blake home for a treatment without telling me.

But when I realized that Blake was standing in front of me laughing, and had good colour, and wasn't all sickly-like, I knew something else was up.

I blurted out, "WHAT are you DOING HERE????"

Amidst his and Billy's tears from laughing so hard, Blake managed to say that one of his professors had to come to the area for a funeral and had contacted Blake to see if he'd like to ride with them and spend the weekend at home.

WHEW! Blake is not sick, I am NOT losing my mind, I do not have to kill Billy for keeping secrets!

So we continued to laugh and tee-hee about the whole thing for a while longer. I was still in shock that one of my baby birds had returned home to the nest unexpectedly.

Blake and Billy had already stopped at my parents' house to surprise them as well. And from the look on BILLY's face at my door, I think HE's the one who enjoyed this little scenario more than ANY of us. hahahaha. I wish I'd captured it on camera. It was priceless.

So Billy sent Aunt Danielle an email saying that he had a surprise for her, and that Mom (me) would be bringing it to church the next morning.

Dani was, of course, shocked when she saw Blake. About fifteen minutes into the service, our Worship Leader was at the pulpit giving the announcements and then shouted out "BLAKE!!!! HEY EVERYBODY.... BLAKE'S HERE!!!!" hahaha. Guess he must've been concentrating on God or something because he hadn't even noticed everyone else at the back making a fuss over Blake.

Then this afternoon, I had to take Jared to a hockey fundraiser, so Danielle took Blake over to Wannett's to surprise HER. He certainly has an excited family this weekend. Then again, it IS "all about Blake!!!!". hahahhaa

Tonight we are getting together for Super Bowl supper, even though I haven't got a clue about football at ALL, other than knowing they wear helmets and carry, throw, and kick an odd-shaped pig-skinned ball.

I don't really have football on my mind.... it's HOCKEY.... because right now I'm typing this post in the cold arena while Jared is on the ice at his hockey practice. We'll head back to Wannett's to eat and then come back here for Jake's evening game. I have no internet connection here because I don't know the community centre's wireless password; so I will have to post this later when I get a connection.

(Sorry, Jon, that I "stole" the computer from the house. I thought you'd still be working at the garage. I have a feeling you're going through withdrawal, not bein' able to check your Facebook.......)

It was a really nice surprise to have Blake home. Thank you, Dr. Elliott, for thinking of Blake and bringing him home for a few days. The world is a better place today because Momma Bird got a visit from one of her flock.

Folks, I really must go and get my gloves back on.... it's FREEZING in here. And something is wrong with the 'k' button on this keyboard.... it is not working properly and it's driving me CRAZY. I wonder if Jonny might have some popcorn stuck under the 'k' key!!!! (Jon, I said please don't eat or drink near the computer! No computer = No Facebook = Sad Jonny)

Anyways, I just wanted to share my happy news with you. Blake will head back to New Brunswick early Monday afternoon from Kingston. Please pray for travelling mercies as they will travel right through the afternoon and evening until the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Thanks, Blake, for the surprise! You got me good! (Dad thinks you're just homesick, hahahha).

Thanks again, Dr. Elliott, for providing an expected ride home for Blake.

And thanks to you too, Billy, for your part in this scheme. You're a good kid. I just wish I could've got a pic of the look on your face when I opened the door. Priceless.

Flies? Not A Problem

I do not remember as a child finding many flies in our home.

My parents had built their home about a year after they were married. Being a new home, there didn't seem to be a problem with those pesky houseflies gathering in the windows and congregating on the sills. Even to this day, over four decades later, the windows still seem to be free of the tiny flying creatures.

Jon and I built our own home almost two decades ago, a couple of years after we were married, yet we seem to have always had a problem with houseflies. I am wondering if the difference is that our home has vinyl-siding and my parents' home is brick. I was told by someone years ago that flies LOVE to get in behind vinyl-siding. (If they like vinyl-siding, then why are they hanging out in my windows?)

The sound of their buzzing can drive me crazy, but it's more the dirt they leave behind on the windows that sets me around the bend. And then after they've buzzed around for a time, realizing they can't get through the glass, they just lay down and die, or some of them even seem to just get stuck and die right there, hanging on the glass!

And THEN what do we do? Suck them up with the vacuum, or take the little broom to them and dispose of them in the garbage.

Well, I was reading an email that was sent to me (Thanks, Uncle Kenny) about what you could do if you were bored......... And if you're bored in a house that has houseflies havin' a little insect-party-hoe-down in your windows, then THIS is just the blog post you need to read.

Simply follow these simple directions:

1. Kill a few flies.
2. Put them in the sun to dry for one hour.
3. Once they are dry, pick a pencil and paper... Let your imagination flow.
Here are a few examples...

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Good way to keep the kids entertained and get your windows bug-free at the same time!

Yah.... I know......... I'm warped.

Note - Just to clarify, I did NOT do these pictures; they're from an email I received. I WISH I had this kind of imagination!

Queen of Grumps

You ever read this Scripture before?







Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.
Proverbs 21:19 (NIV)








Well, I'm thinking I need to find Jon a camel because I think the safest place for him is in the desert!









I do NOT know what is wrong with me lately but I am the Queen of Grumps, along with some OTHER fine adjectives.









I searched some other versions of that Scripture reference besides just the New International Version. Wanna hear some of the adjectives they use in Proverbs 21:19?




Get a load of these:









* quarrelsome









* ill-tempered









* angry









* impatient









* peevish









* irritable









* petulant









* cross









* annoying









* contentious









* vexed









* distressing









* fretful









* anxious









* nagging









* hot-tempered












Mmm-hmmmmm.... yup.... those words pretty much describe me right now.












And if you check your Oxford Dictionary, my name is likely printed after each of those words!

Now after telling you all this, could I interest anyone in joining me for a cup of coffee????

hahahahahhhaa

Scaredy-cats!

There's A Mouse In The House!

We have one new member to add to our family......

..... at least I HOPE it's only one!

Mr. Mouse made his appearance downstairs tonight in our rec-room. Jon, Jake, and Jared were down there and I was visiting in the kitchen with a friend, Carol (Hi Carol!). All of a sudden, Jon announced that there was a mouse in the basement.

Didn't take Jon long to march right back up the stairs. hahahaha.

He stood on the stairs chatting with Carol and me.... I think he was waiting for Jake and Jared to catch the mouse before he went back down.

Jon is absolutely TERRIFIED..... and I mean TERRIFIED of mice. He would take on a big ol' bear before he'd take on an eeentsy-weeeentsy tiny little mousey. He won't even take a dead mouse out of the trap! He'll just throw the whole thing away... trap and all!!!!

Biiiiiig oooooool' Jonnyyyyyyyyy..... 'fraid of a little critter.

Well, BLAKE is the one who should be terrified of mice!

Years ago we were overtaken by mice in the house. I think we caught up to fourteen altogether that Spring. I don't mind if they stay in the basement, but when they come up on the main level.... it just 'bothers' me a bit. I figure Katarina would be happy to catch them, but it depends what kind of mood she's in... and she's one moody kitty-cat!

Anyways, I woke up one night to find the office light on and Blake is standing in the doorway with my running shoe in his hand. I said, "WHAT are you DOING?"

He said, "A MOUSE JUST RAN UP MY LEG UNDER MY PAJAMAS WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!"

Freeeeeeaked meeeeeeee ooooooout!!!!!!

Downstairs is ONE thing....

Main level is ANOTHER.......

IN BED WITH ANY ONE OF US IS A COMPLETELY WHOLE OTHER STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, BLAKE should be the one that's afraid.

Nay-nay.... it's big ol' Jonny-Boy.

One time, Blake thought he'd fool his Dad. We usually put the dead mouse in a plastic grocery bag, then toss the bag in the big green garbage bag in the woodhouse.

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One time, Blake grabbed an empty grocery bag and tossed in a little toy car and tied a knot in the bag. Jon had been soaking in the tub listening to us chase down this one little mouse and, by hearing our screams cheers, he knew we had caught and killed it. Well Blake tossed in that bag which contained the toy car into the bathtub with Jon, and I am telling you.... as I live and breathe!.... I have NEVER NEVER NEVER laughed so hard in my lifetime!!!!!!!

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Jon jumped up in that tub and started splashing us with water from the tub! The whole bathroom wall, vanity, mirror, lights, ceiling, floor..... EVERYTHING was covered in water. He stood naked in the tub just PETRIFIED that we had thrown that "mouse" at him.

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He was NOT impressed that it was a joke. But I can still recall Blake laughing his little heart out. Oh what a memory! hahahahahahaha

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Needless to say, we don't play tricks like that on Jon now.... he's too old and overweight... he might have a heart attack, and one sick person in the house is about all I can deal with right now. hahaha.

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So, back to tonight's episode, I could hear Jake and Jared down there trying to chase Mr. Mouse, then I heard Jake cuss (tsk-tsk Jakey... no swearing!) and Mr. Mouse got away. He escaped into the woodhouse, which is probably where he came from in the first place.

Jonathon.... might I kindly recommend you finding some type of something-or-other to put at the bottom of the woodhouse door so that no mice or snakes or other creepy crawlies come into my home???

Jon was sleeping on the couch last night when we returned from Jake's hockey game.... I wonder how many times Mr. Mouse crawled across Jon's body without Jon even knowing. hahahahahahahah...... yucka!

And how completely frightening for the little mouse! Sometimes Jon sleeping on the couch in just his underwear is NOT a pretty picture!!!!! Bet the mouse took one look and ran the other way! hahahhaahhaa

Sorry Jon.

Not really, but I'm trying to make it sound nice for all these nice readers who pop in for their Blake updates!

Speaking of which...... it was so nice to talk to many of you at yesterday's fundraiser for Blake. Nice to know so many of you are following along on our little roller coaster ride.

I will have more to say about the fundraiser, but am trying to find just the right words, and honestly, no words are able to express how overwhelmed we were with everyone's compassion! The grand total that was raised was even MORE than what was announced at the hall! More gifts of money came in! And today there were oodles of phone calls from folks who said they hadn't even heard about it and yet still wanted to give.

I will give more details in another post; I just wanted to collect my thoughts a little better, and today has been one crazy day. I haven't stopped, yet nothing has got accomplished except getting some dishes washed and dried and a trip to the bank, the grocery store, and to the car parts store...... if I have to buy ONE MORE IGNITION COIL FOR THAT CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, I'm going downstairs now to spend some time with the boys and Jon and Mr. Mouse. Blake is still visiting my Mom & Dad. He's doing well, but extremely tired today after yesterday's fundraiser. He, too, was in awe at everyone's kindness.

Look for a fundraiser update in the next day or two.

OK, off to spend time with the gang before beddy-bye. Take care, everyone.

Eating Crow

Oh I hate it when I have to eat crow.

And I had to eat crow tonight.

I had to eat crow for Jared.

Oh, my poor baby boy.

But he obeyed his Momma, and that's the important thing.

Late this afternoon was a double-header soccer game. It was first game of the semi-finals for our high school soccer teams. P.E.C.I.'s Junior and Senior teams have both made it to the semi-finals. Jared is on the Junior team and Jake is on the Senior team.

Jared's game was first, and they played amazingly (they've played excellent all season). They won 9-0, with our "adopted son" Matthew playing in net, receiving a shut out. He was really bored for most of the game because the opposing team did not have many substitute players, so most of the game was held in one end of the field!

So, congrats to the Junior P.E.C.I. Panthers on their first win of the semi-finals.

The Seniors were playing next, and Coach Dave asked Jared to be a linesman and operate the flag, since he was finished playing and was sticking around for Jake's game anyways.

At one point in the game, Jake is running like a mad man with the ball to the net and it looks like he's got a great chance at scoring.

But.... nay-nay.... the goalie gets in his way and blocks the shot, and somehow Jake does a forward somersault in front of the net. He picks his head up a bit, looks dazed, and lies back down, face down in the dirt....and doesn't move.

Now, at this point, I'm thinkin', "Is Jake really hurt? or is he being a "drama queen" and playing up the opportunity in hopes that there will be a call from the referee for a penalty shot in favour of our team?" I mean, you just never know with that kid what's goin' through his brain.

Well, he's still laying there. The whistle finally blows, and the opposing team's goalie bends down to see if Jake's alright. Fellow teammate Brandon runs to Jake, and after a while Jake sits up, then stands up with assistance, holding his right eye, and he walks off the field to the bench.

[insert Momma's sigh of relief!!!]

Now y'all know that, being the Momma Bear that I am, I instinctively want to rush around the field to my little cub and see if he's OK. But he's 17 now, and I'm figuring Jake would think that wouldn't be cool, especially because of his fellow "cool" teammates and also the fact that there were tons of young female spectators on the bleachers.

So.....

I wait.......

and wait........

and I watch........

and I watch some more.......

and I don't see the Coach waving me over.....

and I don't see the First Aid bag come out........

so I'm thinkin' we're OK and that there'll be no trip to the Emergency Department today........

MEANWHILE, the Ref comes over to where the crowd is, and points to Jared, who is flagging, and says something along the line of "I do not want to hear that kind of talk out of you again and if I DO hear it again, you'll be watching the rest of the game from the PARKING LOT!!!"

Then I hear one of the girls on the bleachers say to one of the other girls, "Well, he's just worried about his brother."

Apparently after Jake went down, there was a ruckus on the sidelines and some things were yelled out to the Ref. You've all been at sports events, and you know that every call the Refs make, some parent or spectator has to put in their two cents.

I knew Jared had made a comment after Jake's somersault, and I had heard him make another one before the Ref came over, so I told him to button it! (I do not tolerate my children back-talking to any Refs or Coaches, or even players for that matter, in sports; and my kids KNOW that. Years ago I told them I'd come onto the field or the ice myself and haul them off if I ever heard them lippin' the Refs... and they know I'd do it, too!)

So the game finishes up a few minutes later. The Senior boys win 3-1 in an excellent game.

Jared needs to return the flag to the Referee, so I said to him, "Jared, you go and apologize to the Ref for your comments." Jared politely mouthed the word "No" to me and shook his head. I said, "You will apologize right now to that Referee for your comments or I'll walk you over there myself!"

So, Jeb walks over to the Ref, returns the flag, and I see him say something and the Ref answers back, and everything appears hunky-dorey, and I am proud of my son for apologizing for his behaviour.

Well..........

A fellow parent, who we had been watching the game with, said to me, "Michelle, the Ref wasn't speaking to Jared when he made that reprimand. He was speaking to another parent.... THAT guy over there...", and he pointed at a parent leaving the field with his wife. I said, "Are you SURE? because it sure looked like he was talking directly to Jared." He said, "No, the parent was standing sort of behind Jared, but the Ref was talking to the parent, not Jared!"

Ooooooooh brother..............

Or should I say, Oooooooooh son................

At this point Jared is walking back across the field in my direction. I went to the field to meet him and said, "When the Ref was talking about watching the game from the parking lot, was he speaking to YOU? or the parent behind you?" Jared replied, "The parent behind me." I said, "Well then WHY did you apologize to the Ref if you didn't say anything?" Jared said, "Because I DID make a comment when the play happened, but the parent shouted something out louder and the Ref came over and gave HIM trouble."

Is that crow I smell cooking?

Yes.... it's crow.

Guess what "I" am eating for supper!!!!!

I grabbed my baby boy and apologized and gave him a big smoochie and hug right there on the field. I told him that I thought the Ref was yelling at HIM and that's why I was "suggesting" that he apologize.

Now, as it turns out, Jared DID make a comment anyways, but I STILL feel like I need to eat crow.

So, wanting to make sure I can sleep tonight, I decide I'm going to talk to the Ref about this, since he's only about 15 feet away from me.

I politely asked him if I could clarify something with him, and he was most kind and understanding. He assured me that he had been reprimanding the parent and said that he would NEVER speak to his linesman that way. He said he hated to even talk to a parent that way in front of students, but sometimes things can get a little out of control at games; and since he felt the game was going very well, he wanted to keep the crowd under control. I told him I most CERTAINLY understood. I really think the reason that many kids are problems today is because they have parents who are disrespectful to those in authority at sports games.

I told the Ref that I made a big mistake with my son and that I would have to make it up to Jared by baking him an apple pie. Jacob says to PLEASE not bake them ANYTHING!!!!! hahahhahahaahaha (By ME baking something, I hope you all realize that it means I would pick up a frozen Farmer's Market pie and simply turn on the oven! hahaha... I don't bake pies anymore!)

So, rather than apple pie, I'm thinking a big huge slice of humble pie is in the works for me!

But I'll tell ya, I sure am proud of my Jebby for obeying me and apologizing to the Ref. I've got darn good kids, let me tell ya.

And Jacob's injury? A huge big welt under his right eye. It's about the size of a killdeer egg.... OK, maybe a robin's egg.... but he's so tall now and my eyesight is getting worse, let's just go with a killdeer egg size to make it a good ol' injury. Goalie's cleat connecting with player's face..... I'm surprised it's not the size of an ostrich egg!

Killdeer egg

Now if y'all will excuse me, my humble pie is being served......

Runnin' on Fumes

With all the running around I've done today, it's no WONDER that the day is almost gone!!!

I love our little town of Picton, but honestly..... did I really have to travel up and down Main Street so many times today?

We live south of Picton, about a 10-to-15-minute drive to get to town. So this morning Blake and I head to Church & Sunday School. Church is on the east end of town. Blake is going home with my Mom today, so I leave church on my own and race home to pick up Jared, who needs to go to a friend's house to work on a school project before his hockey practice. Matthew, one of my "adopted sons", is needing a ride to town for hockey, so he's going to go with Jared while Jared & his friend work on the project.

So I pick up Jared and head even further south-east to pick up Matthew. We head back to the east end of Picton. I drop them off at the friend's house. Jared needs his skates sharpened, so I told him I'd do that for him then drop the skates back off at the friend's house.

I travel to the center of Picton to get the skates sharpened. They're closed. (Shall I just mention that I meet my sister, my niece, my Mom, and my son on Main Street..... they're getting take-out Chinese Food! Hmmmph! Should've hitched a ride with THEM today!)

Anyways, I travel back to the east end of Picton to get the skates sharpened at store #2. They're closed!

I travel all the way back down Main Street to the west side of Picton, it's actually the outskirts of Picton, to store #3 to get the skates sharpened. They're open. While the skates are getting sharpened, I'm thinkin' I should stop at the grocery store next door (No Frills) to get stuff for supper and also get the car filled up with gas since the car is running on fumes (or as my Dad always said, "running on E for Economy").

Because my brain is pretty much mush right now, would you surprised if I told you that I paid for the skate sharpening, jumped in the car, and headed back to Picton without thinking of the grocery store OR the gas!? Duhhhhhhh......

So now I'm in the center of town headed to Jared's friend's house to drop off Jared's skates to him and I'm realizing that I stupidly forgot the grocery store and gas. Oh well, I'll go to the OTHER gas station at the east end of town, where I'm dropping off the skates, and I'll stop at the OTHER grocery store on the way back home.

I drop off the skates at the east end and I head back down Main Street. I stop at Sobey's, which is near the center of town, to pick up something for supper. Before heading in, I stop off at the drug store to get some meds ordered for Blake. I go to Sobey's, get the groceries for supper. They don't have one item I need, so I figure I'll stop by at Metro on my way home, which is about a block away.

As I return to the car, I realize I didn't get gas when I was at the east end of town. So I figure, I'm in the center of town now, I'll head to the east end gas station which is closer. Baaaack down the streets again. I finally fill up the car with gasoline.

Now I head baaack down Main Street towards the west end and remember that I need to stop at Metro for that last item. Mission accomplished. Gee, can I go home now?

As I'm driving south towards home, I'm looking at the clock realizing that I'll have just enough time to go home, change from my church clothes into some comfy jeans, put away the groceries, do a quick blog (yah right... a QUICK blog... haha!), and head BAAAACK into town, to the east end, for Jared and Matthew's hockey practice.

Aaaaand, I'm doing all this while battling a migraine today, so I'm not thinking straight anyways! And the adrenaline from the last two years two weeks is wearing off and I am indeed crashing fast! I feel like I'm exhausted, drained, confused, anxious, pooped, deflated, and just plain ol' good-fer-nuthin'. I probably shouldn't even be operating a car!

[Insert about a 6-minute time gap here....]

I just had to run Jon up to the garage, which is about 3km north-west from here. I feel like I've done nothing today but burn gasoline!

I'm trying to think if I've even eaten today... (shhh, don't tell my Mom!).

OK, going to change my clothes, going to get something to eat, going to get groceries put away, then going to the east end of town for Jebby & Matt's hockey practice.

Calgon......take me awaaaaaaaaaay!!!!

And if THIS post doesn't put you folks to sleep, I don't know what will!!!!! All I can say is, you probably should get a life! hahahaha.

Oh, one last thing to tell you.... you might get a chuckle out of it.

In my family lately, we're always teasing one another about how "it's not all about YOU". Well, this morning my sister, Wannett, was a guest at our church to tell of her recent experience in Africa. Before church started, as Blake walked into church and took his seat, the congregation started to applaud him, as a "welcome back, Blake". So Fraser, one of Wannett's children, turns around, rolls his eyes, and says in a very sarcastic voice, "Oh, it's allllll about BLAKE!......." hahahaha. I thought that was so funny. Sorry, guess it's not so funny when you read it. It was one of those "had-to-be-there" moments, I suppose. But it really was priceless.

OK, I'm really done boring you folks now. I promise I won't type any more posts when I'm experiencing a migraine. :O)

Now will all of you please go find something more interesting to do?... like watch paint dry?.... or watch the kettle boil?

Blake's Health Update 2009/10/15 and A Note For Stacey

Hi gang

Sorry I didn't update yesterday.... "someone" hogged the computer until quite late. (Hint: BL*KE)



I'll give you a quick update on Blake, and then I have an ironic situation that involves a blog-follower named Stacey (Hi Stacey! How did "date night" go??? [snicker, snicker]).



So, here's the latest scoop on Blakey-boy.



Today the dietician weighed Blake and said he is 114.5 lbs. That seems a little high to me, but if it's accurate, it means he's gained seven pounds in two days! (That's a total of 12 lbs.! Wahoo! First weight gain in almost two years!)

We can't seem to fill him up. He eats what's on his tray and then when I head out to get MY breakfast, he wants me to bring another breakfast back for HIM!



Doctor Y has been in every day to see us, and he mentioned today that Blake's heart rate is still racing a bit and also that his white cell count has been up the last couple of days. He was just in again a few minutes ago and said that they are going to do an ECG (echocardiogram) tomorrow, just to check things out as to why his heart rate is a little high.

They also will keep an eye on his white cell count. If it is higher, then we will likely be spending a few more days here so that they can do another CT Scan to check to see if there is a perforation in the bowel. He says that is unlikely the case, but they want to make sure of these things before they release him. I told Doctor Y that I VERY much appreciate them checking into all this before they release him because I do NOT want to get him home and then have to turn right around to have him admitted again.

Now.... in saying that..... the bonus of Blake getting re-admitted again by next Friday is that he would then receive his second dose of Remicade ($ Cha-Ching $) at no cost because he is already admitted. But if they release him, we have to come up with some moo-lah to pay for Dose #2. I was talking to a lady today who is assisting us with some paperwork regarding the Remicade and she said she is going to contact the Company (I'm assuming she meant the manufacturers of Remicade) to see if they would give a Compassion dose. So, folks, git-a-prayin' that some official person at Remicade has a big heart!

As far as Blake's physical and mental state, he's doing well with lots of energy and is just itching to get home. We had some visitors again, one of them being my Mom, and she just couldn't believe the difference in Blake! She hadn't seen him for nine days, so she witnessed quite a difference today!


Before I go, there's another thing I wanted to tell you about.

On September 4th (before any diagnosis) I received a Comment on one of my blog posts from a woman named Stacey in Kansas. She indicated that she happened to come across my blog and was reading what I had been posting about Blake's medical symptoms.

She said that she was currently reading a book called The Maker's Diet by Jordan S. Rubin and that Jordan suffered from Crohn's Disease. Stacey said that many of the symptoms I had described were exactly what this author had experienced.

In the meantime, Blake was still getting some tests done and lots of bloodwork, and then had a colonoscopy scheduled for September 14th in Belleville. He was, at that time, diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. As you all know, Blake was immediately hospitalized and treatments began. His health improved and he was home for about ten days. Then we had that scare where he became unconscious and we had to call for an ambulance. Fast forward about thirteen days to yesterday (where we're still here in Kingston hospital).

Jon and Jared come for a visit. They hand Blake a book that Jon got from his friend Charlie who got it from his friend Gord whose son suffered from Crohn's disease many years ago. Guess what the book is....

drum roll, please......

The Maker's Diet by Jordan S. Rubin.

Same book as Stacey recommended six weeks ago!

And THEN.....

Tonight at supper time, Blake receives a call from his friend Travis. (Hi Travis!)

Travis is telling Blake that he'll likely pop by for a visit tomorrow and happens to mention that his aunt was telling him about a book that they thought might help Blake.

Any guesses on the title?

You've GOT it!..... The Maker's Diet.

So, I'm taking this as a sign that perhaps I'd better read this book. So thank you to Stacey.... and Charlie.... and Gord.... (& "Mrs. Gord).... and Travis... (& Travis' aunt). I got the hint! :O)

I was glancing through the book yesterday and saw the word "spelt" as an ingredient. I turned to the wife of one of the patients in the room and asked her what "spelt" was? She said it's an ancient grain. Now how on earth am I supposed to cook stuff that I don't even know what in tarnations it is!? The only time I use the word 'spelt' is if I've "spelt" something wrong. And even then, I usually say "spelled wrong", not "spelt wrong".

Anyways, enough about that! I likely won't use ALL those recipes in there (The little town of Picton doesn't likely sell food like that anyhow!); but at least I can see what this fellow has to say about the disease. I'm pleased that Rev. Charles Stanley wrote the forward because I respect his teachings, so I'm sure the author of the book must be a pretty decent fellow with a good head on his shoulders.


On one last note, please continue to pray for our roommate Ron. His problem with the meds has been straightened around and he's thinking clearly again (Thank You Lord!); however, today the doctors did not give him such good news on his physical health. Ron said they told him, "it's just a matter of time". I could've broke down, but because I was sitting at his side when he told me, I kept a grip. I chatted with his wife a little while ago and she confirmed that Ron was correct with what he told me. But she said that she herself has suffered with cancer twice and not received treatments and the cancer went away, so she is optimistic that the Lord will only take Ron when it's the right time, despite what any doctor says. That's the way to think, Joan!

Ron, Don, Blake & I are the only "club members" holding down this fort! We've had quite a few different fellows in the room with us.

First there was Paul, he got better and went home.

Then Frank came for a couple of days, then he headed home.

Third fellow was James. He was here from Saturday until yesterday. He was getting all perturbed because Don's bed alarm kept going off through the night when Don would get up to "go for a wee-wee", as Don puts it! Well, the nurse said she could try to get James another room, which they did. I was rather quite happy about that because Don doesn't need some young whipper snapper in here using the F-word every time the alarm goes off. For crying out loud, Don doesn't even like the alarm himself, but the nurses have to keep it activated so they know when Don gets out of bed so they can assist him to the "little boys room". Good thing James didn't have an I.V. hooked up or I might've went over while he was sleeping and kinked his I.V..... Either that, or a PILLOW over his head! I hope his new roomy shouts for the nurses all night!!

So then Bill comes to join our club last night. He'd been in the E.C.U. department since Saturday. And then this morning, HE heads home.

Late this afternoon, our newest roomy moved in. Guess what his name is?.... It's Don!

So Blake shares his room with Don, Ron, & Don. And when my hubby comes to visit, there's Don, Ron, Don, & Jon!!!! Oh brother.

Well, the helicopter is landing for at least the fifth time today. That's the most often it's landed in one day since we've been here. And I'm pretty sure I heard it land through the night as well, so, this place is a-movin' and a-shakin'.

Speakin' of movin' and shakin'..... I'd better do just that and close this post. I once again have rattled on too long and bored the death out of many of you.

I don't want to see Blake in here longer than he should be; however, please pray that if there is ANYTHING questionable about his health, that the doctors will leave him here until EVERYTHING is good. I don't want to take home a boy with an infection or heart rate problem only to fight to get him back in here. I'd rather stay until all is well. I'm trying to keep focussed on God having a plan in all of this. And I'm trying not to worry about the expenses and the mounds of paperwork I'll need to get done regarding our medical expenses. I was stewing about it earlier today, but then reminded myself that God is still on the throne. After kicking myself in the butt, I am feeling a bit less tense about things, but still have a way to go. Please pray that I am not apprehensive about anything we are going through.

Oh, and one last thing.... I PROMISE it's the last thing..... While you're praying for Blake and me and our roomy Ron, would you pray for a church friend, Dale? I saw her in the hospital lobby last night. Her doctor discovered a tumour in the back of her head. They sent her to Kingston immediately for further tests. She doesn't know at this point whether there'll be surgery or treatments or what! But she needs prayer. I believe she and her husband, Lee, have twenty seven children, all very young. Please pray for Dale as she goes through her valley. Pray she gets some fresh water and green grass.

OK. I promised that was the last paragraph. No more. I'm outta here. Finished. Done. Thanks for reading.

G'night.