Bowling Night and an Animated Koen

Our Family Advent Activities

Day 12: Go biking (again).  They LOVE it.

Day 13: It was supposed to be Games Night but I was sooooo sick and tired still so I changed it to `Open A  Present'.   I had found a Star Wars Lego pack at Costco for $16 (regular $32) and it kept Kai busy for 3 hours straight when he got home from school!!  He has been playing with it every single day. Awesome.  Big thanks to my friend Estelle for dropping of a meal that night, it was sooooo good and so appreciated!!

Day 14: Smoothie Night.  Then Gary and I went to his staff party and had a babysitter!  We were just gone 2 hours (as Gary and I were so tired) but Nya was SCREAMING when we got back. Not sure if she didn't recognize our niece or if she was just over tired but I felt bad for her:(   So funny to go to the staff party where your child also attends school.  I heard some great stories about my Kai Bear.  Brilliant and funny:)  

Day 15: Go to Grandma and Grandpa's House. I had two sessions and then stayed home with Nya while she napped.  We are now at the stage where it's not worth it for her to miss her  naps...

Day 16: Go bowling for Jackie's Annual Bowling Party!!  In the morning, we had Kai and Koen's Christmas concert at church.  They both did so well.  Koen was loud and animated.  Kai sang and did all the actions and his tummy is behaving!  Seriously, soooooo thankful that he hasn't had an episode since Friday!!

I don't ever include video but you sort of have to watch Koen.  He really wanted to make sure that we heard him:)  Kai did the exact same thing when he was four years old. 

{Kai with the tie in the middle}

Koen's Videos: There are two songs.  Each one is hilarious:)  Seriously.  His teachers told him to sing loudly and he followed instructions!

Off to the bowling party!  We've been doing this annually for about 5 years.  Usually it's on Jackie's birthday (the 23rd) but with so many kids and the busy-ness of Christmas, we moved it up.  You would think that with the 9 adults and 10 kids (5 being babies) it would be a bit wild but it wasn't bad at all.  The kids had their own lane with the bumpers up and we were good to go. 

{Below, Nya and Little Jack...buddies!  We call them Jack and Greta as those are my parents names and Nya's middle name is Greta:)}

Team Dekens 2012

Then, everyone came back to our place for dinner and dessert and it was pretty laid back as the kids could just play in the basement.  Missing was Doug (with a sick Sami at home) and dad and Joanne who were coming back from holidays.

I have been on antibiotics since Thursday and feeling much better.  The kids are all healthy (well, Koen has a cough but he pretty much does for 4 months straight during the winter) and I'm ready to get my body back in shape.  I have 2 months left before my 10km race so I need to get my butt in gear!

Love, Louise

PS Yesterday Kai said, `Who came up with this whole `Ladies First' thing anyway?':)

JOYFUL NEWS!!!!

Okay, so I have THE MOST EXCITING thing to share which I've been holding in for a week and I'm finally able to tell the world!!  I dislike keeping secrets so much so finally I can let it all out.  My bestest friend of 20 years, who I consider my 5th sister, started the adoption process with her husband Bryan just after Gary and I stopped ours. Well, you know that all of my sisters had a baby in one year and now Lynette has too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She's a momma!!!!!!  To Nya's new best friend!!!!!!

Today she met her ONE MONTH OLD DAUGHTER and I cannot wait to meet her too.  I don't know if I can explain how joyful this makes me.  I've been crying (for happiness) every day.   Like, what in my life has been more awesome?   This is way up there.  Way up there.  Like when her brother George had his double lung transplant, that was awesome and amazing in a similar way. Adoption is awesome and amazing.  So thankful for it.  Such a selfless gift and what a gift it is just in time for Christmas!!  It's seriously so overwhelming for me and I'm just the friend!  

The pictures below are of Lynette with baby Nya, not her daughter, just to clarify!   

{Lynette with baby Nya}

I was just able to see a picture of Lynette with her baby girl and let me tell you, she is the cutest little girl I've ever seen.   She already has more hair than Nya:)  I will wait to share the details until she can share them all but wowsers, I can't wait to get to know this little girl.  I know I'll have to get in line, there are a whole lotta people excited to love her.  

Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!  Lynette and Bryan will be amazing parents.  Their hearts are huge. Huge.  I would want them to be my parents:)  

I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET HER AND KNOW HER AND LOVE HER!!! HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK!!!  SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED.

Disinfect Yourselves!!!

Honestly, are you sick of me complaining yet?  Two months of feeling like a pile of poop will do that to you. First my thyroid, then I got that under control.  Then, this two weeks of respiratory illness for Gary and I.  It would be no problem if I didn't have them combined WITH 2 hyper boys AND a newborn girl who also doesn't let me rest/sleep AND a husband in basketball season.  I got antibiotics today for a sinus infection so I'm hoping that is what it is and I can get better asap.   I have zero energy. None.  Negative.

And my Kai Bear.  Doctor says it's IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).  He has been having these stomach pains more and more to about three episodes a day lasting 30 minutes.  Major stomach cramping and feeling like he's going to vomit.  Going to the bathroom helps a bit (sorry if too much info for you!).  It wouldn't be a big deal if it didn't affect his daily life so much.  He's missed so many fun things:(  Yesterday in the middle of his Christmas concert he had to run out to the bathroom.  Like mid song in front of everyone.  He couldn't go to the evening performance.   We are taking him off dairy this week to see if it helps. We're also trying to do a little mind over matter with him as nervousness makes it worse....wouldn't you be nervous though if you thought you might have a major accident in front of everyone?  I can't say 100% that it is IBS as no tests were done yet but we are going to be collecting a lovely sample at some point...in the meantime, we will keep a poop journal.  Yes, I said poop journal on my blog.  Maybe a bowel movement record sheet sounds better?

Anyway, living on 4 hours sleep a night (thryoid=insomnia, 6 month old girl=up at least 2x) while trying to fight an infection and take care of a family and house is not my favourite. I know it could be way, way, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay worse.  I just look forward to the day where we are better.  Especially me.  Sounds so selfish but I can't take care of anyone if I can't function.

And, please stay tuned for one of the most joyful posts ever.  Like, super duper exciting stuff.  I just needed to vent this yuckiness and will post the awesomeness maybe tonight or tomorrow?  I just have to wait for one thing.....

Disinfect yourselves, people.  Seriously.  You don't want what's going on out there.
Love, Louise

Day 10 and 11

Day 10: Go pick a Christmas tree with Grandma and Grandpa (and cousin Kieryn)!  This is a fun tradition for them as they don't really ever go out with Grandma and Grandpa.  First three photos courtesy of the inlaws.

{And then go to McDonalds where Kai had his first coke apparently! }

Day 11: Give a gift to someone in need.

{If you are interested in giving you can check it out online here.}

{Koen chose chickens for families in Tanzania.  I think he just liked the picture:)  He also likes eggs and we had some for lunch.}

{Kai initially said he was going to choose the most expensive item ($5,000) so that he could REALLY help a poor person.  Fortunately the gift he chose was not that expensive:)  He chose the gift of books and reading for children in India.  Makes sense since this guy loves to read.}

Again, the kids TOTALLY look forward to these activities.

On a totally different note, I'm taking Kai to the doctor tomorrow.  He has been having stomach pains for a month now.  They are becoming more frequent and it has caused him to miss so many things that he loves.  They actually only last about 15-30 minutes but he just feels like vomiting/diarrhea and becomes very pale.  At first I thought it was nerves or that he was faking it but now I know that is not the case.  He is a tough guy and has a very solid stomach so this is very unusual for him.  That is the ONLY symptom.  Major stomach cramping/pain/nausea.   Once it passes, he's 100% again and running around (which is why I thought he was faking).  He is so sad to be missing part of school tomorrow and hopefully he'll be able to get to his Christmas concert on time.  

Hope you are having a good week.  I'm feeling a bit better mentally and I think a lot of it has to do with my hormones as zits are popping up all over my face:)  Exhaustion from being sick + hormones fluctuating= not a fun Louise.

Have a good night!

Louise

Sickness and Sadness

Gary and I had a really rough week. Like, probably the worst one in our marriage.  A sick household is not fun and then throw in that EVERYONE was sick and for so long.  Gary and I are still fighting it 10 days later.  Gary has lost almost 15lbs!  Also add in that Gary had a basketball tournament and was gone almost every evening including Saturday too and it was not pretty.  When he was home, he was bed.  I was pretty much on my own and had very little energy.  Also, factor in that Nya was getting up every hour one night, every 2 hours the next etc.  Our house turned into a huge mess, I ate so many sugary crappy foods, I wanted to run away (with Nya).  I did get my friend Leah to go to the pub with me for a drink and that was a nice break:)   

There are so many good things going on right now which I will share some other time but right now, all I can feel is this huge weight of yucky-ness.   It is getting better though as the kids are healthy.  I can start cleaning more today.   I need to be able to run again and spend a bit more time making wiser food choices:)  

This weekend,I taught Kai how to tie his shoes.  He is lefty so I can't say that we've got it down yet.  See Koen laying on the couch in the background:(  Oh I should say something about Kai's report card. He's awesome:)  He's got a few things to work on, like the neatness of his writing and quality art work, but he is exceeding expectations in math, science, socials, listening, working independently and reading.  He is at a grade 2 math level. He was biking some laps at the park and his time was 2:14 for 4 laps and he just casually said, without a thought, `That's about 35 seconds lap'.  (more like 33.5 but still!!).  I love that he is in a 1/2 Combo class as he can do more challenging work and he loves it. 

Day 7  of Advent Activities:  I took them to drive through Williams Park to see the lights.  Mostly because when they were strapped into their car seats they couldn't wrestle each other and I had a few minutes peace...

Day 8 of Advent Activities: Set up the mini tree in their bedroom

Day 9 was Decorate our big tree and have a play date with their friends Bennett and Addie (so Gary and I could go out).  Gary and I went on a date FINALLY.  We didn't want to. To be honest I didn't  want to hang out with such a sick guy and Gary was tired.  But, we had the opportunity and the last date we went on was a half hour bike ride 5 months ago.  It was good. We went to the Onyx  in White Rock.  We had bought gift cards from Costco last year so it did cost us $80 but ya, a very good meal.  I didn't take any pictures but it included tempura bacon (sooooooooo good!!!!),  lobster mac and cheese (also soooooooo good!), bacon creamed corn, ribs and steak:)   We like our meat.

Today would've been my mom's 60th birthday.  I know we would've had such a good party if she was here!  My sisters and I got together and had some of our childhood favourites like boterkoek and spinach dip and haystacks and Heavenly bars....

I miss my mom so much.  There were so many times I wanted to talk to her this week. I had some really low moments and just wanted to hear her voice saying `Oh Girl, I know it's tough'.  I had some moments of extreme joy and wanted to share that with her.  I am thankful for my sisters.  We truly get along VERY well. My mom sort of `commanded' us to in a letter to us:)

I hope you had a better week then we did!
Love, Louise

Day 6: Decorating a Gingerbread House

I have to say, this whole Family Advent Calendar has been really good.  The boys also have their own individual chocolate/car Cars calendar which they look forward to every day, but they love the family activities more than that.  We are counting down to celebrating Christmas and enjoying time together as a family while doing it.

I will admit that I do go into the calendar and switch what's in the next day to make sure it's something I actually want to do:)  Last night?  Make the Gingerbread House.  Thankfully it was a prebuilt one (thank you Costco!)!  Usually Gary is in charge of Gingerbread Duties but this year he is still quite sick and went to bed at 5:30pm.  He was around for most of it but I was in charge this year:)  

{Koen was in charge of the tree.  I don't think I've mentioned this before but he really does not understand prepositions very well.  He will say `2 is before 1' and if I say `it's beside the fridge', he will look inside it or under it.  Is this an age thing?  Kai never had this.  It was really hard to explain to him where he should put the candy and that's why I just put dots of icing on the tree and told him to put them on the dots.}

It looks pretty similar to the box because Kai and I are rule followers:)

I hope you are doing well.  I am doing much better.  Kai is doing well.  Koen is doing much better.  Nya is still congested and coughing but she is pretty much my happy baby again.  Gary is miserable and sick and tired.  Good thing he has a basketball tourney to coach at all weekend (please read that sarcastically).

Love, Louise

Your Thoughts On Gift Giving?

I'm not a good gift giver.  It's not because of my frugal-ness, it's just how I grew up and it's not my love language.  Growing up, my mom was very practical and that's how I feel I am too.  I like to give and get practical gifts.  Kai needs a new toothbrush?  Happy birthday! (kinda true, I'd just find one that he liked like a Star Wars one which by the way HELP ME FIND ONE FOR CHRISTMAS!!).  I'm a big words of affirmation kind of person.  Gary knows that I appreciate a thoughtful hand written note more than any other gift.  For real. You would think that would be an easy one...:)

Giving gifts stresses me out because what the heck do you give someone????  I don't want to get them something they don't like.  I'm a people pleaser and so this can end up causing me stress because I spend too much time trying to figure out what to get them.  So then I feel like it ends up being a waste of time and money.  If you tell me something very specific, like the exact name of a novel, no problemo. I'm on it.

And, the scrooge part of me.  MY KIDS HAVE SO MANY TOYS AND CLOTHES AND BOOKS AND GAMES AND DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE. So, why would I buy them even more?  I did get them some things for Christmas but I feel much better about contributing to a Christmas hamper for a family that is in need.  Which is what I'm doing (that's my dad and Joanne's present, giving to someone in need).  I'm also getting the boys to pick an item each from the Compassion pamphlet to donate to a child/family in need.

I know what to get my sisters. Easy.  Dinner gift card and me as a babysitter.  Seriously, it's what all 5 of us want.  A date with our husbands and a babysitter provided.  Gary and I are finally going on our first date in 5 months on Sunday.  Well, he better get better soon so we actually enjoy it.  It was our Christmas gift to each other LAST Christmas.  For my side of the family, we just swap names to get another couple in the family and then we only have to buy for one couple.

Oh ya, back to gifts....I do think experiences are often better gifts.  My friend Terri is good at that.  For birthdays Kai has gotten tickets to a baseball game and to Playland (thank you Terri!).  Don't buy my kids anything, take them out for dinner or spend time with them!  In regards to being practical, my friend Ali gave me a nice box of kleenexes with a sweet note attached when my mom died (I know that sounds weird but it was thoughtful and useful and memorable:)!).

Also, I feel like in our family, I buy things when people need/want them.  Yes, Gary could've gotten his lens for Christmas but he wanted it two months ago.  Done.

Anyway, how do you feel about giving and getting gifts?  Does it stress you out or do you love it? What is the best gift you have ever received?

Never Ending Germfest

It was one year ago that I did this post.  I looked back at it last night and it seems even more wild now than it did then.  It has been so great all having babies at the same time. There are about 20 emails a day with all things about having a baby from napping to nights to diapers to bottles etc.  The one hard thing I would say is that sometimes it's harder to be there physically for one another due to not being able to leave the house at night or napping babies etc.   I will miss the three youngest being on their maternity leaves so hopefully they have another baby soon:) ha.  Well, not you Jan:)

{Just three of the babies.  They are pretty close in size and length etc now...well, 5lbs difference which isn't too different!  Nya loves her jumperoo...I got it virtually brand new for $25 this summer}

We are still sick.  One week of terribleness.  Gary stayed home yesterday and just laid on the couch all day. He can't really eat or drink anything and is miserable.  He had to go in today for meetings and basketball stuff.  I hope he doesn't make anyone sick.  I made him take hand sanitizer with him.

My head is still completely stuffed and I can't hear properly or breathe or anything.  I'm exhausted.

Nya is coughing and congested.  Poor bubba.  I honestly don't know what my nights are like as I'm so out of it but I think she is eating about 3 times a night these days.  

Kai is healthy!  He goes to school and I am so thankful for that.

Koen seems to be on to round 2 or 3 of whatever disease is next in line.  He's missed a ton of preschool:(

We walked around the neighbhourhood looking at Christmas lights last night (advent day 4 activity) and Koen is hilarious.  Every house, `Hey guys!! Look at this one!!! Wow!!'.  It doesn't matter if it has one strand of lights or 7 inflatable snowmen, he's excited.  It's cute.  Koen eyed me eating a cookie yesterday and said, `God likes it when we share':)  He also wondered if Jesus climbed a beanstalk up to heaven.  Three year olds are hilarious.

Nya is a mover!  She rolls all over the place and wants to crawl but can't.  So, she sort of inchworms herself around.  She still can't sit.  She really is different than the boys.  Small eater (maybe just 4oz), slower with physical developments, quieter, more easy going, loves being with anyone (meaning no preference for me).  I love her to bits.  I've been giving her a bottle every day to keep it up.  She loves to `talk' which is just a bunch of  the sweetest sounding `Ah Aaaaaaaah, Ah's' you've ever heard.  High and soft.  Kai is convinced she's saying `Kai'.   And can you see I'm letting her move around on our rug now?  Almost no spitting up anymore!

I need some pictures of my Kai Bear but he's gone every day!  He is doing really well with school and socially and with his siblings.  He plays ball hockey every single day.  He is big into Star Wars now.  I have learned a lot by having boys.  The progression was Diego-Cars-Transformers-Mario-Star Wars.  I have been reading some Star Wars books with him in hopes of actually enjoying it/getting to know it but so far, it's just still confusing and not my favourite:)  So many characters! 

 People often ask me how the boys are with Nya and I can tell you that they  love her so much.  They are not jealous one bit.  Koen is so good with her.  If she starts to cry, he will bring her a toy and talk to her and pat her head etc.   When Kai comes in the door, the first thing he does is run to Nya.  In the van, he sits behind her and entertains her.   They both call her Mya.

I think one of the hardest things about having a sick family, besides the utter exhaustion, is the lack of social interactions.  I don't get out.  I'm just surrounded by germs.  Oh well.  If you want to stay healthy for Christmas, avoid all play dates and preschool until then:)

Koen's birthday is less than a month away and we have planned a family activity instead of a birthday party.  It's something that Koen will love and let's be honest, it's fun for me too:)  We're going back to Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa!  The boys talk about it all the time and this time we got TWO bedrooms! I am still making him a car cake which is all he really wants.  He just doesn't really have friends at this point as he mostly just likes playing with Kai and his cousins.  It's hard having a birthday in January.

I hope you are all having a better week than we are!!!
Love, Louise

Grumpy Chapmans

Well, things have been no fun around here.  Nya had a fever for about 3 days which I guess was from her immunizations? On top of that, all of us have had a cold.  This cold is not a normal one.  It has knocked Gary and I out.  I just want to lay in bed, Gary would like to just watch football on the couch.  Alas, we have kids who need us:)  Kai and Koen are pretty much okay now as they had it first.  Nya is miserable.  Last night she was up every single hour.  It is near impossible to get better or feel rested when you can't sleep.  All iPhone pics (eek, I'm so lazy, it's just so convenient!!!) :)

Miserable little baby.   Yay for the Ergo!

Terrible picture above but we have an event for every day of advent. You can see she is miserable!  Dec. 1st was visit grandma and grandpa and go to the Langley Christmas Parade.  Koen loved it.  He ate a candy cane while it was still in the wrapper.  He didn't realize (maybe because it was dark?) that you need to take the wrapper off.  We discovered it when he was chewing just the plastic 5 minutes later.  Kai was sad to realize that our daily family activities in the advent calendar are not going to be fun to the degree that he hoped.  He was thinking `Go to the waterslides!' `Go to Disneyland' sort of thing.

Playing with the Playmobile Nativity Set

Second day on the Advent Calendar was `Go Biking' so we did it this morning while it was still nice out.  The boys LOVE biking.  We go to the closest park and they just do loops around it. 

So happy to see some smiles on my baby today:)  She's still super congested but the fever is gone.  She gets the humidifier.  I get the Buckleys.  I don't know if it is breastfeeding friendly or if it's okay with my medication and I'm not going to check because if I don't take it, I feel like I'm dying.

You know when you dread going to bed? I'm so nervous what this night will entail. I need sleep.  Thankful that Kai and Koen are okay.  

I had to cancel going to book club:(  Boo...one of my two social interactions for the week.  I just can't really move. Or breathe. Or think.

Okay, I really do need to start using my regular camera again...as soon as Babes is better and I don't have to hold her:)  I still need to get her 6 month pictures when we're all better....oh well, gives her time to learn to sit a bit better.  I may have bought another cute prop....

HOpe you had a much better weekend than ours!  I have a feeling ours might have been better than my other sister who had the flu going on in their household. Yuck.

Bon nuit.

Love, Louise