WEEK 10 ~ MARCH 5-11, 2015

Life has continued to be a bit busier than normal...balancing life and helping with our extended family needs. I didn't take a lot of pictures this week but I had a good chuckle over this comic when I saw this out our window one morning this week.

P.D. Day...We enjoyed hanging out at Kim's today...especially the puppet show given by Savannah and Cailyn...Logan really enjoyed the party atmosphere with 11 kids playing all around him.

We had some errands to run and we were going to meet up with Mel and Kyle at Costco but some of the kids thought a trip to Tim Hortons was in order first. Savannah bought herself a Hot Chocolate and finally was a winner of a Free Hot Drink during Roll up the Rim (and not just a chance to Please Play Again)!! We sent this picture to Alex as he hadn't won yet. Savannah was also very excited to find the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" at Costco and she spent some of her birthday money on it.

With driving the dirty, slushy, snowy pothole filled roads all winter, a Car wash was in order. Rowan and I went though the touch-less wash at Canadian Tire and he was enthralled with the different colours washing our van. Unfortunately, when I got out to take a picture of my clean van, I found a piece of the front end falling off...But the van was clean ;)

This week Kim, Dad and I met with Mom's care team. The Pharmacist is still trying to find the right med combinations for Mom, while the Dietician asked us about Mom's food likes & dislikes and the Recreational Activity Co-Ordinator said they will continue to try and include Mom in group activities were possible. It is nice to see so many different people working together to make Mom comfortable and safe in her new home. We pray that Mom will settle in soon and enjoy the company of staff and residents.

We are very thankful that Jim was able to go with Dad to his Ambulatory Care appointment this week. Not much was done at this appointment but it is mainly to see how he is doing and to make sure he has been contacted for a biopsy appointment.

A big thank you to Kim who visits Mom daily with me. It has meant so much to me as you walk beside our family, offering help in any way you can. I love that Mom loves you so much and responds so well to you :)

WEEK 9 ~ FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2015

School progress reports came home with Alex today and we are very thankful that the second semester of high school is going as good as the first semester did. We also were able to enjoy the PRC Winter Concert this week. It's the first concert we have attended and we enjoyed it quite a lot. I didn't take my regular camera and then regretted it...so I asked around to find out who took pictures and was thankful for Linda K. who graciously shared her pictures with me so I didn't have to use my iPhone pics :)

I took a video to share with Mark, Oma & Opa and Grandma & Grandpa who were unable to attend.

Saturday brought the school fundraising auction and it was nice to have such a great meal and scrumptious desserts by Arie and Helen, followed by some auction fun. I bid on quite a few things but was thrilled when we ended up with the Red Wing Tickets and the KitchenAid Mixer! It was a lot of fun!

Mark left on Monday for a business trip for the week and we looked forward to him coming back on Friday. The week kept us busy with a Sunday School meeting, physio, visits to Mom, a talent show, new student day for Carsten, Dropbox movie and just trying to keep the household up. Keeping busy helps make the time pass quickly.

It's hard to imagine that we have another child to register for high school. This week Kim and I visited PRC and Carsten was able to experience a little bit of high school on New Student Day. Thanks Kim for coming as Mark since he was away :)

After New Student Day, we raced back to elementary school so we could watch Savannah and Carsten participating in their Talent Show. 

Savannah's Art 

Carsten in the Band

Piano Solos by both Savannah and Carsten

Carsten's Handmade Puppet Collection

Kim, Amanda and I also went to see the much anticipated Dropbox movie this week. The DropBox is a documentary about Pastor Lee Jong-rak and his heroic efforts to protect his community's most vulnerable children, those who would be abandoned in the streets to die. Pastor Lee installed a dropbox outside of his home, allowing mothers to leave their babies in this safe haven. What a movie...While it was only supposed to be showing in theatres for two days, it was sold out and they ended up adding more showings. 

WEEK 8 ~ FEBRUARY 19-25, 2015

Regular activities continued on this week...several physio and chiropractor appointments, Bible Study, visits with Mom, added to the daily routine. We enjoyed taking a break from the daily grind with a laughter filled church Variety Night...awesome centrepieces, games, skits, musical selections, competitions, yummy desserts...what a great time of fun!!

Kim and I visited her Grandpa and Grandma for their anniversary. It was nice to visit them and have the opportunity to celebrate the many years that God has given them together.

Kim and I had heard about a movie called Still Alice where a linguistic professor comes face-to-face with a devastating early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis. After a recommendation, we went to see it,  and while it is not a christian movie, it definitely helps people understand a little more what someone with Alzheimer's may be experiencing. While often this road is so hard to travel and we may be tempted to ask why...I'll be honest and say I find myself getting closer to Mom even as she seems to be slipping further away...Now is my chance to serve. This road we are walking presents a constant reminder to show love now and not to wait, you never know if you will be given another opportunity.

"I used to be someone who knew a lot. No one asks for my opinion or advice anymore. I miss that. I used to be curious and independent and confident. I miss being sure of things. There's no peace in being unsure of everything all the time. I miss doing everything easily. I miss being a part of what's happening. I miss feeling wanted. I miss my life and my family."

Bringing joy to the residents at Mom's home is important to us too...Kim introducing Logan to the ladies that LOVE their baby dolls every day was such a special moment. One lady was so excited she had happy tears streaming down her face as she met Logan :)

Dad (Mark's Dad) has not been feeling well and went to the ER this week. He has been having some pain in his side and after some X-rays and a CT scan, the doctor came to see Mark and Dad saying the scan showed a growth/tumor that is about 13 cm. Dad was referred to another doctor for a biopsy. This is all a bit overwhelming for us, but especially for Dad who has already been through a lot in the last while. Dad has some meds to help with pain and swelling and we hope that the biopsy will come back with good results.

Fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

~ Isaiah 41:10 ~

WEEK 7 ~ FEBRUARY 12-18, 2015

This week it is Savannah's Birthday and we were ready to have a P-A-R-T-Y! Instead of a traditional birthday party where you have a few kids over, play games, eat cake, open presents, etc...Savannah wanted to rent the ice at the local arena and have the whole school join us, skating and playing hockey. When she was telling Kim and I her plans, it sure reminded us of Robert Munsch's book "Moira's Birthday" so we tried to make an invitation similar to the book.

Savannah started off the day with a gift from her brother, Carsten worked hard on making a puppet of Savannah as a Red Wing and an Ewok. Off to school they went happily.

After school was the school birthday celebration at the arena with much more excitement to follow. Here are a few pictures from the skating and hockey. Cupcakes and juice were enjoyed too :)

The birthday girl enjoyed her time playing hockey and as we were about to leave she received her first gift with the first clue inside to start her Amazing Race Birthday. She brought along some friends to help her out. So much fun was had with pictures at Jumbo, Pin the Crown on the BarbKing, indoor snowball fight, making balloon creations, Photo booth pics and more!

There was a mandatory break imposed as Savannah got a migraine...we continued the race the next day...puzzles, stomping balloons, ice cream serving, find the sticker by emptying candy cups, and tonnes of fun with the epic Minion post it wall. The joy from Savannah and Cailyn when Savannah finally found the marked post it note was awesome!

I, "Phil", met Savannah at the mat! She then got to finish opening her birthday presents from Kim. What a great way to end the race!

 

 We did the last task a little later as it was to hail a taxi to finish her task at Tim Hortons. She was very excited when the taxi arrived and off we went.

We also made time to visit Mom each day. Savannah stopped to share birthday cupcakes which Oma and some of the staff. Oma enjoyed her cupcake greatly, saying, "Mmmmm, this is good"

I miss doing puzzles with Mom and after doing a few at the nursing home, I decided to do a couple that have been waiting for me to do here at home.

The rest of the week had some excitement as well...we went bowling with Kim and the Koetsiers but on the way home we spun out into a big snowbank on the side of the road, thankfully missing some oncoming traffic. We were so grateful that God kept us all safe and unhurt, a little scared, but very relieved. A nice officer stayed with us til the tow truck came.

Savannah also got an ear infection that presented quickly but thankfully responded nicely to the medicine. Hoping that next week we will have a little less going on :)