New Years Eve

For New Years Eve, we went out to Nana & Papa Harker's house in magrath to bring in the New Year. 2015 was a year full of big changes and new adventures for our family.

Before we heading out to Magrath we stopped by The New Years Eve Family event put on at the Exhibition Grounds. Each year they put on a family friendly event, with bounce castles, faceprint a kid dance and more. Lincoln and Lacey both loved their face paint they got.

Grilling on the Raclette.

Oil fonduing.

Lincoln, Lacey and Abigail got into the partying mode, when we brought in Papa's Harker's rotating disco light bulbs into the living room and put on some upbeat Primary sounds.

We then finished off the night with some Chocolate Fondue. Lacey's favorite was the raspberries in chocolate and Lincoln enjoyed the chocolates diped in chocolate.

December

The month of December seemed to go by fast. With Christmas activities and events, work, house projects, doctor appointments and preparing for baby's arrival. It seemed to be a busy but good month. Here's a few things we were up to this month.

We had the arrival on our little Elf on the Shelf. Lincoln and Lacey both really loved having the Elf be with of of the month of December. They couldn't decide on the same name for our Elf, so our Elf was luck to get two names. Lincoln called him Buddy and Lacey called him Sparkle. It was fun seeing Lincoln and Lacey excitement each morning and they searched around our house looking for the Elf and where he was hanging out for the day.

This year we put our Christmas tree up on December 1st. Lincoln and Lacey both had a great time getting our house ready for Christmas. It was also fun to see what we saved and put in storage for the two years we were gone.

Lacey enjoying a sink bath. 

Making Gingerbread houses. Lincoln and Lacey both enjoyed eating the candy rather then decorating the house.

Our 2015 Santa picture # 2. Turned out better then our first try. Lacey was a bit more comfortable with the idea of seeing Santa if she could stand by him rather then sit on his lap.

Sledding

With leaving for Calgary so soon and not knowing how long we will be staying in Calgary. I feel like we need to take every chance we can get to live in the moment. Spending time with Josh, Lincoln and Lacey and enjoying life is very important to me. So I had a few things I wanted to do was a family before life got busier. One of the family activities was to go sledding. I know with being 35.5 weeks pregnant, sledding isn't the best activity to be wanting to do. I knew I could still go along with the family, take pictures and just enjoy being with them and watching them have fun. I wanted to Lincoln and Lacey to experience the fun you can have even thought it's cold outside. Lincoln and Lacey both had a blast, once we found a hill that wasn't too steep for them at the Sugar Bowl. I wasn't sure if Lacey would like sledding since she's always cold. But it seemed like if we dressed her up enough so she didn't feel the cold, that she quit enjoyed the winter activity. Lincoln loved going on the sled by himself, he's getting to that age where he doesn't need his dad as much. We will defiantly be going sledding again this winter.

35 Weeks!

35 weeks! Two weeks till we move to Calgary so we are close to the hospital and 3.5 weeks till my c-section. I'm feel very overwhelm and inadequate with what lies ahead of us.  There are so many unknowns, but at the same time so ready and excited to meet our little one. Words from Spina Bifida moms gives us hope that it's going to be alright. It not going to be easy, but that there's a reason why this little boy is coming to our family.

Christmas 2016

We had a great Christmas! We stayed home this year and our Nana and Papa's came to our house. We kept our Christmas simple and quite. Which made it perfect. On Christmas Eve we went to the Live Nativity that was our on by our church. I love watching it each year and hope to keeping it a family Christmas tradition with our children for years to come. It's the perfect Christmas activity to do as a family focused on the real meaning of Christmas.

Nana & Papa Harker slept over at our house. It was their first Christmas somewhere other then their own house. Nana & Papa Yamamoto came over on Christmas Eve and Christmas day since they live so close. 

Christmas morning we opened gifts at our place, followed with breakfast and Christmas dinner at our place. Thanks to all the family for helping make Christmas dinner a success. It wouldn't have happened with out you. Christmas day we just took it easy and visited with each other.

Lacey and Lincoln on Christmas Eve, getting Santa's cookies and milk all ready.

Christmas Morning!

Lincoln and Lacey both slept till 7 am, which we thought was pretty good for Christmas morning.

Lincoln was pretty excited to get some dinosaur stuffy's. Lincoln is a stuffed animal lover. He loves choosing a stuffed animal each night to snuggle with while he sleeps. Lincoln also loves dinosaurs lately, so dinosaur stuffy's were perfect for him.

Lincoln's ginormous Long Neck stuffy, he got from Unlce Logan and Kara.

Uncle Logan and Kara were about the come for a quick visit Christmas day. Lacey and Lincoln both loved helping open everyones gifts for them.

Most of Lincoln's gifts this year were dinosaur related, which he loves. He received a dinosaur dig, where he got today for dinosaur fossils, once he discovered all his dinosaur bones. He got to put them together like a puzzle and see which dinosaur he found. He loved his dinosaur digs.

We also got to visit/skype with Aunt Sara (Josh's sister) who's serving a mission. Crazy to think she will be home in one month.

Harker Christmas

After our long day with appointments in Calgary, we then had to make a trip to Cardston the same day. We didn't know if we were going to do, depending on how I felt. But I toughed it out and we went. I was so done by the end of the day.

It was good seeing all the Harker Family at Aunt Bonnies house and getting a chance to visit with family that we don't get to see to often. Aunt Bonnie's house was full of family and tones of delicious food. The children got to take part in another nativity. It was fun watching then all act out the true meaning of Christmas.

34 Week Ultrasound and OB-GYN Appointment

Another trip to Calgary for our 34 week Ultrasound and OB GYN appointment. Appointment days are long and tiring, as I have mentioned before. We had an 9 am appointment which mean we need to leave by 6 am to be there on time and wake up at 5am. Two hours to Calgary and 45 minutes to the NorthWest side of Calgary where the Foothills Hospital is. Our appointments went well, we found out our little guy is 5 lbs. 13 oz., a good size for 34 weeks. He's ventricles have always been enlarged but stable, which is very common with baby's with Spina Bifida. But with this ultrasound his ventricles in his brain have enlarged. So they will be watching them. If they keep enlarging they will most likely have to do a shunt after birth. Praying they don't enlarge too much more. It's crazy how much I love our little boy even though we haven't meet him yet. Our trips to Calgary are slowly getting harder for me. With the pelvic pain I have been experiencing, sitting more then 10 mins is very uncomfortable.

Stewart Christmas

It's so fun having our kids participate in traditions that I did as a child. The Stewart Christmas's at the cabin is something I remember from my childhood and look forward to each year as Christmas rolls around. There's always lots of family, yummy food and we always have a good time. Lincoln and Lacey participated in the kids nativity. It was nice that I had saved our nativity costumes from previous years so I didn't have to make any.

Lacey- Shepard, Lincoln- Wiseman

Top Secert

Lincoln got to make a Christmas gift at kindergarten to bring home. Each day as they worked on the gift Lincoln would come home and say how much we'd love this gift but that we can't know anything about it as it's 'TOP SECERT'. He was pretty excited, which made us all that much more excited to see what it was. Christmas morning came and we could finally could open our gift from Lincoln. It was a glass ball with a picture of Lincoln and a drawing on the other side that read " Christmas is special because Jesus is born." I love the gift from Lincoln and the words he wrote and to see that Lincoln truly understand why Christmas is special to us.

Life is hard. Life is good.

Our new normal life. Well lets just say it's busy. It sure doesn't feel normal yet, as we are still trying to adjust. You may be thinking, well our baby boy isn't hear yet.  No he's not but in 5 short weeks he will be. Being pregnant with a child who had Spina Bifida requires a lot of extra specialist appointments. We've had a min. of 5 appointments a month. Our lives feel like they are being taken over by appointments or our appointment have become our second job. I know over time these appointments will feel more apart of our life. With the added doctor appointments, we are still juggling life with our other two children while both Josh and I are both working.

Some may be wondering how we are doing? Life is hard. Life is good. I still feel utterly inadequate as most days I feel like I fail or I could of done better as a mother. I love being a mom, and it's something I have to work on daily. Adding another child is overwhelming at times.  I know I'm going to love this child just like my other two, as I already do. Our future has so many unknowns that can be very overwhelming at times. Yes I still have my emotional days. I'm just trying to have faith and trust in the Lords plan for us.

School Christmas Concert

Lincoln had his first school Christmas concert and he loved being involved. The school put on a afternoon and evening performance at the South Minister Church. We attended the evening performance. Lincoln was quit opinionated that he wanted us to sit close to the front, so that he'd be able to see us watch him. We tried our best by arriving early, and were able to find seats on the third row.  He was pretty excited when he was able to spot us in the audience before they sang their two songs. It was so fun watching Lincoln do an amazing job and seeing how proud he was of him self after the concert.

This picture is of all four kindergarten classes.

Lincoln's in the middle row, 3rd in from the right.

Update on Papa Stewart Recovery

Surgery day ( December 9)- My dad was scheduled for a 9:00am surgery. But with the business of a hospital he didn't go into surgery till 1:00pm. He said waiting four hours was killer. Surgery could take any where form 3-7 hours. My dad was out of surgery at 6:00pm.  Dr Ali said everything went well.  My dad still had a breathing tube in but that could be up to 24 hrs. His heart is beating on it's own.  Dana was only able to see him for a few minutes. Sound 9:00pm Dana was able to see him again.Just got to see him again and only for 5 mins. Around 9 they were able to take him breath tube out. Dana said his name and he opened his eyes for a second.  They said he is doing good. Dana then couldn't see him again until 8:30 am the next day.  But she can call in during the night for an update.

Day 1 of recovery (December 10 ) Dana called the hospital several times during the night and everything seems to be going well.  First day of recovery is pain management since he will be awake.  

Dana wasn't able to see my dad till10:00am.  He is doing okay.  Today will be about controlling his pain.  The Dr will see him later to assess if he can be move to a Step Down ICU unit.  Right now he has a nurse just for him.  At 2:00pm they moved him into a step down ICU unit.  Still restricted visits.  He's in pain, wants Pepsi they won't allow Dana to give him any.  The none smoking is brutal for him.  They finally gave him a patch.  Hope it helps take the edge off.  Around 3:30pm they allowed him to stand up and walk about 20 steps.  Then again at 9:30pm the nurse and dana took him for a short walk.  His blood pressure is a little high but other than that he doing okay.  

Day 2 of recovery (December 11)- Day 2 and 3 are the worse for pain. He's in pain so they used his pain meds. His blood pressure is a bit higher then they would like so they are assessing his meds. In the afternoon my dad was off oxygen and the chest tubs and other lines later that afternoon. They also changed his bandages so he is looking better. He did a little loop around the hallway. This morning he had to sit down half way but he pushed through this afternoon. Late Friday evening my dad was moving to the step down ICU as he was the most stable in ICU and someone needed his bed. He also went for x-rays, whites routine after they take chest tubes out.

Day 3 of recovery ( December 12)- Today's Saturday, Josh and I were able to make a trip to Calgary to see my dad. Wish we could of gone earlier, but with work we couldn't. We got to the hospital right when visiting hours started at 10:00am. It was good to see him.  We went for a walk around the 9th floor with him. Around 11:30am they took out his wires in his chest.  He has  bit of a fever that they are controlling with meds, might be a since of infection. Logan and Kara also came up to visit. Since they limit visitors, Josh and I went for lunch to allow them time to visit. we got back in the early afternoon. The physiothherepist came in to do a stair test with my dad. The wanted him try one flight of stairs while they monitor his heart rate. He passed! It was good to have a day to visit with my dad. Later Saturday night my dad had cold chills and his heart went into A Fib, doctors and nurses monitored him close through out the night.

Day 4 of recovery ( December 13)-  My dads heart went into A Fib a couple more times during the night. He didn't get much rest and easting much. I guess my dads heart was in a A Fib for 12 hours, good thing he had doctors and nurses close by. By Sunday afternoon things seem to be okay now, the meds they gave him seem to be doing there job.

Day 5 of recovery ( December 14)- They are telling my dad that he will be able to go home Tuesday.

Day 6 of recovery ( December 15)- My dad was released from the hospital and able to go home.

Papa Stewart

My dad is going in for a heart surgery today. He has a leaky heart valve (aortic stenosis) but things have gotten worse in the last 6 months.  On Friday October 30 my dad and Dana were in Calgary for his angiogram.  They went up through his groin and his wrist to see how soon he would need surgery,  then they met with a surgeon.  After the angiogram they told us my Dad will be booked for open heart surgery in 6-8 weeks.  They told us they would like to do surgery before Christmas.

Today my dad's having open heart surgery. The surgeons have decided to use a muscle valve.  Muscle valves lasts 10-15 years before he would need another valve replacement. The surgeon said my Dad is otherwise in good shape/health and that things will be fine.

We are all praying that all goes well with the surgery and he has a successful recovery.

32 Weeks

How far along? 32 weeks. Only 6.5 weeks until baby day - Kind of scary thought, but I'm excited.

Baby Stats: Baby weights 3 lbs 13 oz.

Cravings: No big cravings. I do like a mandarin orange or two each day, like when I was pregnant with Lincoln.

New Symptoms: A little lower back/ hip pain. I think it's just from how the baby is positioned as it usually only lasts a few hours each day.

Big Sister: Lacey still convinced that it's a girl. I know she will love him even though he's a boy.

Big Brother: Lincoln's pretty excited to be sharing a room with his little brother, as it's going to be the boy room. But he only wants the baby to sleep in his room if it doesn't cry. Good thing we have a bassinet in the master bedroom for the first few months.

Highlights from the week: Josh built a built in closet in the boys room. So that we are utilizing all the space possible since there will be twice that amount of clothes and stuff in the room.

Merry Christmas!

Ultra Sound/ OB-GYN

Yes another appointment. It feels like we were just up in Calgary, well we were two weeks ago. From our ultra sound appointment we found out baby is growing. He's already 3 lbs 13 oz. which falls under the 50th percentile. The ultrasound tech. could also see that our little one has lots of hair. Now we just have to wait and see if he is a blondie like Lincoln or brown haired like Lacey. The baby's femurs are measuring a bit longer then they normally do at 31 weeks, so it looks like he's going to be tall and skinny like Lincoln and Josh. We were able to see some leg movement during the ultrasound which is good. Our little one is still in the breech position. He's ventricles in his brain are still enlarged but stable. 

The OB-GYN appointment was just a basic check up. Weight. Heart rate, my heart rate is always little low when I'm pregnant, but has never been too low to be a concern. Baby's heart rate is 160.
We still have not received our Fetal MRI results back yet.

November 2015

Crazy how another month has pasted. We've been busy with appointments with heading to Calgary twice a month, and appointments here in Lethbridge as well. It's like having a second job. These appointments keep us very busy and a little much at times. But this is our new life and we are trying to make the best out of it. Josh has been extra busy with work trying to finish two jobs up, so he's been working nights for the past two weeks. Plus he been taking time off to come to my appointments with me so he has to play catch up at work in the evening and on weekends. The Day Home is still keeping me busy in the day, along with Lacey and Lincoln. Here's a few things that we have been up to this month:

 Staying busy at the Family Center while dad works late.

Lacey always knows how to make us laugh, she thought she looked pretty cool with daddy's sunglasses on.

Lincoln had another mishaps.  Lincoln loves running on our main floor which is hardwood. Once he builds enough speed up he likes to slide on his knees or feet. Well this time it didn't go as planed. When he went to slide on his knees, he lots his balance and hit his chin on the hard wood floor. Poor guy! Lincoln was in a lot of pain and got a good colorful bruise for a few weeks.

Lacey is a girl who never stops moving even when she's sleeping. She's a wild one thats for sure.

Mailing out letters to Santa, can't wait to get letters back.

Lincoln and Lacey got their Santa letters on the mail! They were pretty excited to get a letter from Santa.

Lacey making her first snow man of the season. She was pretty proud of it.

Home Depot Kid Craft Workshop

We lucked out when Home Depot held to craft workshops this month. Our first craft was a jet airplane and our second one was a snowman napkin holder. Lincoln and Lacey's cousin Abigail has started coming with us to the Dome Depot Craft Workshops. She's the age that Lincoln was when he started, 1 1/2 yrs old.