We have our dozen!!

A lot of thinking occurs as one drives along the highways - today was no exception. John announced that with the birth of Stevin and Katrina's baby, we'll have arrived at our 12th child!!
I guess I better explain: many years ago, when we discussed how many children we should have, we kidded each other and stated that we would love to have about a dozen. (As you know, we didn't get that far, my body gave up after five.)
So - 5 of our own plus 3 daughters-in-law plus 3 grand-kids plus the next yet-to-born-due-very-soon equals 12!!

Riches

Emily asked me where the picture of "the sleepover bed" was - well here it is! I got a photo of it before I folded everything away. Now, to my eyes, it isn't anything too special. But for 2 little girls having a sleepover together at Opa and Oma's, and sleeping in the same room as Opa and Oma, it was very special!
I love this picture of Maria - but then all of her pictures are cute. This was taken when we stopped in when John delivered a couple of trailers in Dartmouth. The time spent was short - but very sweet!

And I couldn't resist taking a picture of Opa's riches. I found this bowl, with the change in it, in our bedroom the other day. The girls had found it and included it in their playing while they were here on Saturday. Said Naomi: "Opa's really, really rich! Look at all the money!"

Oh, Naomi, to your young eyes all that change looks like a lot, but Opa's real riches are his precious children and grandchildren!

gardener beware!

I am discovering that gardening has its perils for me. Over the weekend, I worked up a fever and went to the doctor Monday - to find out that I have cellulitis in my right big toe. The staph bacteria exists everywhere, and I guess I must have had bare feet at some time last week while out in the garden.
Last year I had something get me, too, with severe rash and itching, which eventually cleared up on its own.
And the year before! I thought it was poison ivy, but maybe there was something else.....
And I often get itchy hands when working in the spring garden.
Cellulitis can only be cleared up by antibiotics, though, so I am now taking a strong dose of it.
John said that I should stop gardening - is it possible? I think I'll be wearing clean socks and shoes every day I go out, instead. And gloves.

sleep-over!

We not only returned home on Sunday from Stevin and Katrina's with the tractor on the trailer, but we brought Naomi and Petra along, too. Someone's wish for a sleep-over was coming true!

We arrived home just in time to make supper (a winner with chicken nuggets, corn and mashed potatoes), and of course, all the toys had to come out before we could even think about sleeping!

But when it was finally time for bed, they were ready - after a good long story about Curious George - x 2!! We also had to decide who was going to sleep on which side of the bed that was made on the floor in Opa and Oma's room. Naomi decided that she needed to sleep on that pillow because this pillow wouldn't look good with her on it!!
It was 9 o'clock when the light finally went out, and another 1/2 hour before 2 little girls were finally asleep.
Yes, this Opa and Oma were tired, too!










The next day was a busy one: dollar pancakes for breakfast,toys, sandbox, Opa leaving in the big truck, more toys, drawing and writing, visiting Great-Grandma, the best grilled cheese sandwich time with jello for dessert, quiet time and nap time, singing and listening times, and when it was time to go home - well, Petra was quite ready to return with her Mom, but Naomi wanted to stay another night!

We had fun, and next time we'll ......!

Teamwork!

Stayed in bed longer than usual.
Showered and dressed.
Coffee and tea made.
John does yesterday's dishes.
I make juice.
John drinks coffee.
And reads blogs.
I cook sausages.
I drink tea.
John cooks eggs.
I write this blog.
I guess I should help with toast...

Birthday Blessings

Another year has come and gone -and am I any wiser? If gray hairs are any indication, I must be!

My birthday weekend started off well:

On Thursday, I had a tooth pulled. It was abscessed and deemed not worth the saving. It hurt. On Friday, John and I hung around the hospital all day so that he could be defibrillated. It finally happened late that afternoon - but to no avail. They tried 3 times, but nothing happened. It was decided to put him on an i.v. with a particular medication which would take 24 hours. So that meant he would stay overnight and well into Saturday.

On Saturday, I worked in my garden; Stevin and Katrina picked up my Mom and came for the afternoon. The doctor made another attempt with defibrillating John's heart in the afternoon, but again to no avail, so he came home in time for supper.

On Sunday, my birthday, I gave the children's message in church, enjoyed a birthday cake made by Mom G., and brought Mom T. home to Ottawa again.

In between, I enjoyed the sunshine and my flowers - which include Naomi and Petra, of course! And Maria gave lots of smiles on Skype!

Katrina and I had a good chuckle on Saturday afternoon: we saw Petra trying to do something with the dandelion seed-heads. She walked over to a seed-head, crouched over it to touch it with her bum, and then went on to the next one, repeated the touching, and then on to the next one. It was quite comical to watch and of course the camera was too far. But what on earth was going through her mind?? Why did she think she needed to touch each seed-head with her bum?

I've posted a couple of pictures of the Mata Hari tulips. They're very pretty. As the buds began to colour and to open, they were creamy yellow in colour, with just a hint of pink around the very edge of each petal.

As the blooms matured, the cream turned white and the petal-edges became more and more pink. They're definitely a keeper -I just hope they bloom again next year!

The Burgundy Lace tulips are interesting. The edges of the petals are fringed, but the colour seems to be quite far from actual burgundy. As you can see, they're rather pink!

Enjoying Spring

My tulip plants aren't amounting to much this year. Last year's bulbs have given me only a couple of blooms, and this year's new bulbs will likely go the same way, because they look like they should have waited another year to develop. The plants don't look strong at all. Mom and I are both disappointed with what we've received from Breck's, and will likely not be ordering from them again. I'm thinking that I will dig all the bulbs up when the leaves are done - maybe a rest from summer growth will help.

But I have picked what I do have, and enjoy the blooms indoors. This bunch is called Purple Majesty.

Today, we went to Stevin and Katrina's with the tractor and rotor tiller. Katrina and I put in some seeds - including corn of course!!

The girls enjoyed helping Opa on the tractor, too! And Opa had a real treat in just hanging out with them - kept them occupied while we were busy!

And lastly, yesterday I caught this photo from my kitchen window - isn't he beautiful?!

growing miracles

I almost went to Dartmouth this weekend. Maria needed someone to babysit her, and Oma was quite willing! But it was going to cost too much, and so the two Amy's are taking her place. I'm sure everyone is just loving it!
But I spent some time with grandchildren anyway! We went to the tradefair in Morrisburg, where Stevin and Erin shared a booth. They had it attractively set up with a mini-garden, wood flooring and a big-screen tv to celebrate their accomplishments. Katrina arrived late in the afternoon with the two girls, and that's when Oma got to watch girls after all.
There was a princess bouncy castle that they enjoyed, and then climbing and walking-not-running on the bleachers of the arena.
And at the end of the day, I was given a plaque that I had admired in the booth next to Stevin and Erin's: Plant Dreams Grow Miracles. It has shades of blue in it, so it will go well somewhere in the kitchen! Thankyou, Stevin, it's special!
And as I admire all the green things in my garden, I praise God for the beauty He grows all around us - but the most beautiful of all are the little miracles in the form of my children and grandchildren.

home-work

The angiogram went well the other day -no blockages and little evidence of cholesterol -but John does have a weak heart. The left ventricle is having problems. So, he's on a new regimen of medications and is a candidate for an implanted defibrillator. He came home Wednesday evening, and will stay home until the coumadin levels are stable. He also needs to do something in the diet and exercise departments - not a bad thing for either of us!
But beautiful weather has arrived for the weekend, and it will be really hard for him to take it easy over the next few days!
Spring is definitely here with the birds and the frogs and flying insects. The early bulbs are into bloom and the patio chairs were put out this morning! David and Steph are coming tonight just to help out with spring cleanup. (and to check out his Dad!) I'm home today, too, and trying to get into the home-work groove. Not doing too well yet.....

Health

John has been in ICU at the Brockville General since Saturday with "unstable angina". Meaning that he has irregular heart-rate and blood pressure readings. He's been breathless on exertion for a while, but last week he also had chest pains (which he didn't tell me about until Saturday!) and went to the doctor on Friday afternoon to get checked out. The ECG machine wasn't working so she told him to get to Emergency, upon which he said that he was babysitting his grandaughters and was expecting their parents for supper!

They did have a wonderful time, and Opa enjoyed them so much! They had to get cleaned up before their nap/quiet time, (there's a sand pile outside that acts like a magnet!) and he said that they had a great time singing and dancing in the shower! Must have been a happy noisy time! (I was at work.) And the house looked like a tornado had come through again! But that's a mess I don't mind cleaning up at all - it's evidence of a wonderful time.

John is going to Kingston on Wednesday for an angiogram, and will be off work for a minimum of 3 weeks - depending on what the doctor finds. The diagnosis of unstable angina is a bonus in that it puts him on the priority list for treatment.

Pray that he will get the best treatment needed for whatever is going on.