A short update on the everyday life...

Which can be dull I do say. Ah well, it seems like time is just passing so fast. It seems yesterday that I was waiting terribly impatiently for Baby to come, and now he has come and already he is two weeks old.

So, I never said that Jett's computer decided to stop working a few days before baby arrived so we've had someone take it and fix it...and don't ask me what all happened to his poor machine but it now works. Another bonus was that Jett bought 2 gbs of ram for my laptop which was running on only 256 mb (yes Megabytes NOT gigabytes)...sooo it runs a huge amount faster meaning less time waiting around for things to load and therefore less time on the machine in the end. :)

Last week we went to the US Consulate to start paper work on Owen, but we were only turned away because they had just changed things and we needed to have an appointment first... I can't help it but THIS ALWAYS happens to me!!!! Always something with the US immigration or US Customs or US something or another...rather aggravating, and very upsetting since I felt I wasted Jett's time driving down to Edinburgh and then back to Perth when he could have been studying for his Presbytery exam which is next week already!

Our tests are coming up for this TSC thing. Although Amelia's renal ultrasound is supposed to be done this Friday...another thing to sort out as these are times again that Jett would have to set time aside for...which he really doesn't have.

The communion season here in Perth is over now, most of you probably didn't know we were having communion here this past weekend, likely due to me not being able to attend much at all. Rev. Neil Ross was here to take the services, and it was very nice to see him and Mrs. Ross again. Owen was baptized Monday night by Rev. Cartwright (making it his second child from our family to baptize). Owen was well fed just before so he was sleepy and really didn't make much of a noise so I got to enjoy the address before the actual baptism.

Anyways, that is my sloppy post, and expect more like these as I really can't be spending time editing things such as grammar, punctuation marks, and run on sentences (and so on). I'm trying to work on getting more pictures of the new babe, and of my other wee ones, as well I just caught Aaron acting so funny on video...I think it is the Cherokee indian coming out in him lol! ;)

Until then I must get off and try to have an early night...

A bit of everyday life from Harris

I'm still here and posting away! :) It has been a busy weekend with the Tarbert communion, but now that that is passed, and my laundry it nearly caught up (it never will be fully) I feel more free to do things like post...well, maybe.

This week has been filled with... the Monday service, and Tuesday groceries in Stornoway, Wednesday "catch up" day, and Thursday the same, and now it is Friday and I'm kind of doing all sorts of things, a little bit of cleaning, laundry, ironing, baking etc (as housewives we do so many tasks in a day it is rather tiresome to list).

As my last post or so mentioned Amelia's newest diagnosis - Tuberous sclerosis, I've been endeavouring to read more about the subject, and of course, am not finding much to encourage me...but(!) the doctor did say she has a minor case of it which is good. Another good thing is, that she can still outgrow the epilepsy which was my fear that she wouldn't be able to and therefore have to take medication for the rest of her life. I know I'm thinking way in her future, but I wouldn't want to risk anything that would make her not be able to have children (they currently do not know what the drug she is taking does to pregnancy). Another good thing is, that we do not have to get the tests done until we are in Perth again, I'm very much relieved, especially for Jett's sake! I just knew it would be hard on him with his studies and I don't think I could take him suffering from missing classes, or study time because of this. The tests although are important, but the doctor feels it is safe enough to wait. Another thing is that because she does have benign tumours in her brain, she will have to be monitored every two years to make sure they are not growing as well, they probably will have to take scans/ultrasounds of her kidneys and/or vital organs to ensure no growths there. You know, I've been thinking why did all of this have to happen now? And I just realized how thankful I have to be that it didn't happen sooner!! If it happened earlier in Amelia's life it could have been worse off for her development, and not to mention the cost in Texas for medical care!! So, this is the right time, and a mercy too that it didn't happen sooner. So theres a wee bit of an update there.

And the weather is looking more and more like spring...ahh! Although just now it is grey out it has been sunny rather than grey for the entire day...I think! :)

Aaron in the stroller that belongs to the house...isn't he cute in the sweater/hoodie!! Thank you mom for this, it is one of my favourite things to put on him now.

Amelia pushing Aaron in the sun...sorry about the pacifier but I'm not caring anymore what people think about it (or at least I'm not letting it bother me much) most people don't have to go through moving this often, plus having her go through such a time of sickness.

Another view again from the house...yes, I don't walk very far, simply put I can't. I've got dreadful pain now, and it is worsening as baby inside gets heavier. The doctor also mentions that walking can actually worsen my condition...so no window shopping (lol, no shops around here anyways).

A cuddle with Amy Jane...sorry about the red patches on us...we're infected with eczema!! HAHA! :)

Hmm, I guess her eyes aren't as blue as I thought they were. Maybe they'll turn green like Jett's...aww, that would be cute! :)

Ok must let Sam do an exam.

(enter interesting title here)

Hello from Harris. I know I haven't posted in a weeks time or is it more? I can say I've been busy, and in another sense I can't. The beginning of this week has been busy with regards to Amy's MRI and lumbar puncture, and then last minute change of plans and Sam, Aaron and I are at the Campbells for two nights. So, we got home yesterday finally, and it was nice to get some laundry (much needed laundry that is) done - well, it is still incomplete but it is getting there. Of oourse with Sam being here I should have loads of extra time...well, not really, I feel definitely more relaxed and not stressed out with the kids but I still have to do things (of course!!) and Mr. Sam has been using the computer as well, so time is limited. Ok, enough of my excuses!

So Amy went through the MRI just fine and the puncture. I was worried because they had her fasting from 3am in the morning till after the scan...and it just happened to be that they were having difficulties with the machine and therefore the scan (which should have been in the morning) ended up being in the early afternoon. But, she survived and though groggy when she woke up she was basically herself (so I was told).

Must check cookies...mmm fresh chocolate chip cookies. Cookies checked and Sam is asking for another one, I guess they pass? ;)

I was going to post this photo awhile ago addressed to the Guy (Waiter) at IHOP...this is what happens when you offer broccoli for dessert at least with my daughter! :)

And some chocolate crinkles I made last week, can you tell I'm trying to spoil Sam?? :P Not really.

Ok off to get one more cookie for myself and Amy. :)

a picture post

I'm trying to get some photos up here before I get behind. Not very easy when your trying to give a bottle to your 1yr old (is he really 1 already?!). Ok, I had to let him down, there is no way this would be done before 12 (we'll see if that happens) if I had to hold him the whole time.

I think we've been settling back into a routine again and it feels nice! Unfortunately I still have to deal with Amy's seizures (not the ones where she is shaking and very stiff) and it isn't always easy. For example I was in the kitchen last night cleaning up the dishes and keeping my ear open for strange noises when it went silent in the next room...I went in and saw Amelia on the floor in a trance looking at the ceiling. She had fallen over obviously...but it just reminds me how I can't let her climb stairs by herself nor go down them by herself! We've got colds just now (again!!) and it has to have the cough too, so Amelia is awake in the middle of the night hacking away...I find cough syrup takes toooo long to start working. So yes, sleep deprived we are - nothing new there though! :)

So, here is my first picture...and it is rather special to me now after the week we've been through. Doesn't she look princess like? Yes, she is our little princess, delicate in some ways and stubborn in others. This is the skirt I sewed for her before she took these seizures, looks ladylike if you ask me! Thanks to Care for the pattern - it worked out lovely. I think I'm learning the hard way to appreciate my children. As mothers we all get frustrated at times with our children, but I hope I'm learning to prize them more. You just need to go to a sick children's hospital to realize how thankful we ought to be for our children and how healthy they are!! It doesn't change the fact I'm still trying to come to terms with her disorder but it is not nearly as bad as some of the things I've seen in hospital. I admit I wasn't able to cope during the first days of her turns, partly because it was the fear of the unknown. I had no idea what was going on and I was afraid of her going mentally retarded which would mean me losing my daughter not physically but well, you know what I mean. Anyways, it is how it is now and I just hope she outgrows it!

This photo was taken the Saturday before we went up to Stornoway the first time to see the doctor. That is Jett walking on the beach in Northton. It was nice to see something calming when we were going through so much.

Another scene of the beach in Northton...one of my favourites although Jett likes the other one I caught in which the picture is sharper, but this one seems softer to the eyes... :)

Jett and the beach again.

I've been wanting to get the hills with snow on the top and so far these are some of the better ones I've been able to capture. This is outside Tarbert on the way towards Stornoway.

Amelia giving a funny grin :)

And here it when she had the EEG done. About 16 wires were GLUED to her head and I mean glued because she still has spots of glue on her scalp. She had to carry around a little bag attached to her waist in which a usb cord was connected to a computer with a camera...yes, that meant she couldn't get around very far, thankfully this was done in the afternoon so it wasn't hard to keep it from bothering her during the night.

After she was disconnected from the computer the next morning she was able to go and play, and here you can see the bag she had to cart around.

Looks dreadfully uncomfortable, but she didn't seem to notice, the toys were great, and huge selection and plenty of them.

Nearing the evening time, when Amelia got all the wires off, and then had a fun fun bath...I suppose they just got tuckered out here.

I like this one. I know Aaron was drinking but he was smiling so much at the same time. And Amy was happy too.

So, there you have my picture update. Now I need to figure out what is for lunch and check on the fire I made in the other room (I give up on those, I never seem to make them big enough and they never seem to heat much of the room up!!).

Oh, and I'm almost 26 weeks pregnant (Monday)...wow, by the way, I think it will be a boy...but how do I know, both pregnancies before I said the same thing and was right only once...maybe this will surprise me and be a girl haha...I have doubts though. :) Whatever he or she is, I think I'll love s/hejust as much as my other two. :)

The Simple Woman's Daybook...

Was going to post this either tomorrow or earlier today but here it is a bit late...saw this on a ladies blog and thought it was interesting, don't worry I never do these fwd's but thought this was interesting.

FOR TODAY (January 20, 2009)...
Outside my window...was sunshine but unfortunately has turned to grey clouds with wind and rain.

I am thinking...it is cold, but it could be much worse.

I am thankful for...my husband, children, family and friends, it amazes me that people could care and love someone such as me…I don’t think I’ll ever understand it.

From the learning rooms...since there are two of these: the one with J is filled partly with books, a computer of which is probably humming, some coffee in a thermos, and a mind working very hard on the several subjects he is studying like Hebrew. In the other room, there is the steady noise of either, crying, laughter, toys playing, and anything in between.

From the kitchen...the washing machine was running, but otherwise it is quiet.

I am wearing...A maternity denim skirt (that wasn’t hard to guess now was it!) and a white ¾ sleeved top.

I am creating...rather I just made (I don’t use the word create for anything I “make”) a skirt for Amelia.

I am going...everywhere! Never did I think I would be living in Scotland, nor Texas at one stage either. Seems like we’ve seen a lot of Scotland (Edinburgh to Perth, to Harris to Perth abw, and then Glasgow and then I don’t know).

I am reading...the Bible, Evening Thoughts by Winslow and the diary from Ruth Bryan.

I am hoping...these couple of months go by quickly; the last part of this pregnancy I’m dreading (no not the labour and delivery!).

I am hearing...Aaron choke on too big of a piece of bread from Amy. *sigh*

Around the house...is lots of unfinished laundry whether still drying, or needs to be folded or needs to be ironed and next to that scattered toys…unmade beds (what, you thought I was perfect?!) and some over all uncleanliness ook…tomorrow is cleaning day!

One of my favorite things...is to watch my children play with their Daddy – such a refreshing time to see them happy and enjoying their other parent for awhile. This brings lots of joy in the last part of the day in which I’m at my low levels of energy.

A few plans for the rest of the week: To go through the receipts of 4 weeks time, to get my laundry done, and get some cards made, and maybe even start another skirt for Amelia.

Here is picture thought I would share...Aaron didn't put Bear there, it was Amelia, but Aaron decided he needed to get off the chair I guess!