Of baby blessings and a lovely "Lady" dressed in blue

Babies have always been a blessing in our home, always.

Five very long and painful years passed between our fourth child to our fifth child's birth. Initially, the stunning news was a deep blow to my head and heart the day I was told there would be no more children and my gynecologist doctor pleaded with me to have a hysterectomy after it was discovered a possibility of ovarian cancer lurked in darkest corners deep within me.

After many months of being keeled over with pain in my abdomen area, suffering from dizzy spells and severe migraine headaches along with other assorted unpleasant symptoms, these all assured myself and one wonderful doctor something was terribly wrong with me. First though, it had become one of those situations where I was required to take charge and insist on both a new doctor and a referral to visit a specialist for further exploration, especially when my own GP from long ago tried to reason with me and tell me it was all in my head. That same day I managed to seek out a new female doctor who assured me I was not looney and immediately sent me rushing forward to trek over to the lab for blood tests, have a cardio test while I was there, and then secured an emergency visit to a referred specialist later that same afternoon. It all happened so fast, I have to admit I was scared to bits.

The gynecologist's first suggestion was for me to endure an outpatient operation of D&C followed by a laperoscopy to explore my uterus and ovaries, which I did. Oh the joy of it all when looking back. We were packing to move from our home just a few days after my recovery.

For five long years I refused to slip under the knife of my very well-meaning gynecologist. For those five long years, together she and I attempted to rectify what was wrong, why things were as they were after the findings proved negative for cancer following three separate "bad" pap tests, and when the ritual of daily charting first thing in the morning before my actual day began became "normal". She prescribed many hormonal drug solutions to balance me out naturally to no avail. Frustration reigned high for quite some time. I actually hated it all; the charts, the doctor visits, the anxiety and the waste of time away from family. Or was it?

Anyone else in my shoes would likely have thrown in the towel and been simply content with already having four beautiful children; two girls and two boys who were healthy, loving and incredibly cherished. In my mind however, I couldn't rest, and never wished to block out future possibilities for more children no matter how grim it all began to appear year after year. I couldn't help but feel God's leading to 'something else' as days passed by.

Eventually I did begin to feel a true sense of peace about everything and never allowed myself to fall victim to living in denial of my situation. Heck, the charting proved to the doctor and I there was no ovulation happening, and rarely was one month normal for the most part all the way through those years as it had been before. It was evident to me no more babies would come, but still it never felt right for a grand finale agreement to succumb to the knife in some hospital's surgical ward.

Finally, after many days of not feeling well again during the fall of 1990, weeks of yet another lousy batch of not feeling optimal, upon my next follow-up appointment I opted to just fess up the crazy symptoms and feared what may be in store for me while doing so. I could only stare my doctor in the eye with utmost brevity and began to explain all of my newest symptoms to her. I surprised myself when I could barely contain my emotions at times during our conversation, tears of great anxiety surfacing to sting my eyes when reeling and thinking how dumb what I was detailing sounded, almost similar to pregnancy symptoms, or was I sick again. gulp

As professional as my sweet gynecologist was, she never once batted an eyelash and encouraged me to continue. She was gentile and comforting to me, not ever doubting me on anything I had explained to her. In her ever professional mannerism, she spoke in smooth tones while taking notes, and then promptly requested that I head to the washroom to rule out a possible pregnancy. Feeling floor-dropping shock leaving its wake in my quivering heart, I remember how I gawked at her thinking she was slightly crazy just like me to be exploring similar possibilities to my own thoughts, that it was all a crazy dream to even surmise such things after a long and hard road to recovery health wise. She never once belittled me or made me feel silly. Of course I wasn't expecting to be pregnant, rather it would be great just to be assured and comforted over the recent symptoms and unwellness I had been feeling. I dried my teary cheeks and headed to the washroom as directed feeling like this was just the beginning of something really terribly wrong with me, like the return of the big "C" word again.

With the pregnancy test behind me, and upon my return to her office, my doctor distracted me by perusing my charting papers for the past month and continued through our usual ritual together as per all the other appointments during months and years past.

A knock at the door alerted us to her nurse awaiting her approval for interrupting our time together. She was carrying a small notepad with the results scribbled on it and the colored stick resting on top of it. I braced myself for the expected negative response to come and attempted a brave front for what other assorted tests might come instead.

For a few seconds my doctor seemed to hesitate, and then placed the notepad on her lap. She surprised me by closing her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again to glance up at me. Her stare seemed to pierce right into the deepest recesses of my soul. I felt myself begin to tremble over what it could be, and it was then she reiterated to me the fact as per our usual sessions, and according to my recent charting, I had not been ovulating at all since the last time we met. She continued on by verbally reviewing my case with me for the umpteenth time. Still she had not told me the results of the test though. I felt strange by the way she was reacting and wondered what was going on.

Nodding to her that I understood this whole thing was crazy, she didn't flinch. I'll never forget what happened next. I took a double take when I realized her eyes had begun to well up with misty tears and then she squealed out with a shout of happy congratulations to me on my confirmed and definite "miracle" pregnancy that defied all odds and all medical evidence to conception possibilities.

I was pregnant! Oh my gosh! I really was pregnant!

I remember staring back at her reeling in shock, and began to cry myself as I tried to comprehend what she was telling me. Cry I did - a lot! I couldn't speak - not one word. She leaned over and offered a warm and sincere hug, and then gave me a moment to compose myself just as she had to do. Shortly afterward, I left her office for the last time, the first time in almost five years where I wasn't once again reminded of the fact there would never be another baby in our lives, and the usual repetition for me to consider having the operation once and for all to end the medical issues at hand. Funny thing, after this pregnancy I was never sick with similar health issues again.

In my heart I always knew more children would come and indeed for this "miracle" child I had prayed. During my pregnancy however I continued to have fearful moments that perhaps they just never found out what was really wrong with me and in my vulnerable state I had hoped never to receive a telephone call announcing this was a mistake, all a dream.

Of course that never happened and a dear friend offered me great comfort by blessing me with a personal prayer card inscribed with the lovely words of the "Memorare" written on it, a prayer I loved and soon repeated over and over again during the entire pregnancy and labor with this child. It was a favorite then as it is now. Who else could understand my motherly instincts but Mary.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary

that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy aid or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee
O virgin of virgins, my mother
To thee I come, before Thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful:
O Mother of the Word incarnate
despise not my petitions, but in Thy clemency
hear and answer me. Amen

My pregnancy was not an easy one, filled with additional outside stressors threatening to rob me of the joy of another babe on the way after five long years, but we battled those one by one - and won.

Joy filled my heart in more ways than I can dare to explain, and as all our babies were not born around their due dates, so too was this one late. Another posterior wee one did not wish to arrive on time leaving a labor induction awaiting at the end, but still he took his sweet time to introduce himself to our family. Little did I know then how exciting it soon became when we realized this child had been holding out for eight days and was going to be born on the feast of 'Our Lady of Fatima', a very special feast day and a formidable ending to the love of "one lovely lady dressed in blue" mentioned within my favorite prayer called; "The Memorare".

Not only was I amazed and blessed over how the Memorare had touched my life with a deep inner peace filling me up and surpassing all understanding, I was given yet another reminder of Our Lady filling me with sweetness on this special feast day as my "miracle" baby rested tenderly in my arms shortly after his difficult birth at 4am on May 13th.

In the still of the night when darkness surrounded me soon after all of the hubbub disappeared from the room, and only hushed tones were heard far off in the distance, rather than fall into a deep slumber from exhaustion, I quickly became filled with an overwhelming sense and a strong desire to tiptoe out of my bed (crazy I know), with my brand new, fresh from heaven babe in my arms, and began to shuffle slowly to where the soft moonlight was shining through the window and spilling onto the floor at the foot of my bed.

Happy tears were involuntarily dripping down my cheeks when I reached that moonlit window, and it was there I held my new baby boy tightly and began slowly lifting him up quite high to the heaven's above, offering complete and utter thanksgiving for this special child, asking God to keep him under his mantle all through his life.

I had a most memorable conversation with my Lord and my God in those wee hours of that new morning, the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima while gazing at my baby's sleeping face. I knew I would never, ever forget this day. Every year since, I recall it as fresh as it was the very day he was born. For this child I prayed, and for this child we had much to be thankful for.

May 13th, 1991
Feast day of "Our Lady of Fatima"

“As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.”

~ Ecclesiastes 11:5

Like music to our ears, our "Miracle Baby" cries
mightily during our family photo following his birth.

We so enjoyed this child, just like we enjoyed all of the other children we had been blessed with, and funny thing was when I just wasn't feeling quite right after he had reached the tender age of ten months, another visit to the doctor sent us wild again when it was announced I was already ten weeks pregnant with ANOTHER baby, a girl this time to tie the children at three girls and three boys.

If there is one piece of advice I can offer any woman, it would be to never take your womb for granted. Just as God can open it, he can close it for reasons only known to him.

Time passed. We were loving our new little "twins" born just seventeen months apart and chuckled over God's fun sense of humor as we all adjusted to those crazy years. And then, as fast as it all happened, another difficult lesson in patience came to visit with a subsequent similar five year wait... until, not one new babe but two more - eighteen months apart were soon born. :-)

Mysterious ways are hard to comprehend. We've been blessed with mystery in our lives for the past 32 years since our first child was born. Mystery continues with unexplained medical issues for my husband. Truly in my heart though, I believe God had plans for us to remain open to new life and I have no regrets, zip zero in fact, over following my gut instinct and absolute refusal over not having that hysterectomy all those years ago. Pinch me for we have been blessed with eight fantastic children; four girls and four boys - all born inside of a twenty-two year timing span. What a joy! What a blessing! What a gift!

This year I was away a few days prior to this "miracle" child's birthday, but my flight landed in the afternoon on May 13th, just in time to arrive for the dinner hour and watch our son blow out his candles. Every year since his birth, I count my many, many blessings as I revisit those hard knock lessons reflected upon and recall my deepest inner emotions when it was announced to me; "You are pregnant!".

For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath

granted me my petition, which I asked of him.
~ 1 Samuel 1:27

Happy 18th Birthday to my Sunny Son!

Every bit of baby news around here is like music to our ears, whether from another family member, family friends or from folks out in the wonderful cyber blogging world.

We ourselves are expecting another grandchild, and have heard many announcements for more sweet babes on the way. God bless you all during your pregnancies and may you be continually reminded to never take for granted the incredible and priceless gift growing within you.

Fairy fun in springtime

After posting about a "thankful item" on a previous post, the one that contained a photo of a secret garden fairy noticed at the garden center recently, I promised to be back with the inspiration-induced craftiness on the part of our daughter.

My oh my! She is simply delighted and so eager to get her hands on crafty items once again, at least now that her mother (moi) has finally unpacked and organized the craft supply boxes.

Each little fairy has its own unique flair, even the sweet little bobblehead babies in the wee baskets, stolen from the dollhouse (MY dollhouse!).
All the colorful flower petals, threads, beaded heads, wire, paint and more were included in a sweet "Klutz" craft kit.

Klutz craft kits; fantastic resources for your children

A wire spiral bound book also included in the kit came with examples and ideas for making even more fairy beauties.

How about a bride?

How about a princess?

It's all there in one kit, everything so handy for a craft session moment. Now the subject becomes where to purchase more petals... Any ideas anyone?

Fun with Nature #5

Further adventures on the grounds of our property this spring continue to yield many fun moments shared by all. Yesterday a snake two feet long crossed our path, and coiled up while hissing as we neared to observe it. We had a middle of the night creeper in our house when one of our younger ones wasn't able to shake the green slimy thing from her dreams. grin.. And, in my haste to grab my camera as I scooted out the door to see it, I snapped GREAT photos before I realized the memory card was not inside of it, rather still in the house. Any ideas on how to get the photos off my camera itself?

Our favorite resource book in the photo above is a hands-down family favorite keeper, a nature treasury of "take-along guides" once sold individually before fast becoming out of print. I was able to find a few of the individual books, in a mad sudden flurry, thrust into a wild search for more after appreciating just how child/mother friendly the content was. With the eye attraction of painted artistic images found on almost every page, and the font color and choice is super easy to read. Additional ideas offered to savor any educational appetite within each topic for further study, blank scrapbook pages are at the end of each book for placing any gathered photos or journal entries onto, keepsakes of study topic.

Treasures to behold appear everywhere!

When I first heard the publisher decided to produce a "treasury" of all the books, in no time at all, my Amazon purchase was in our mailbox.

In case you are interested in this Fun with Nature take-along guide treasury, it is sold for such a great deal at Amazon (click on link above to see), published by "Northwood Press" from Minnetonka, Minnesota, and all fabulous illustrations are by; Linda Garrow.

If you are so inclined to peruse upcoming flea markets, garage sales and used book stores or thrift shops instead, be aware you might pay more to gather individual copies, but maybe not, so here are the individual titles and authors for you to place on your "must have" book list. Maybe you'll be lucky and able to find them yourself for a "song price", and if so, do share your finds with me. I'd love to hear all about them.

Family friendly books for all nature lovers

Titles within are;

1. Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies by Mel Boring
2. Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards by; Diane L. Burns
3. Frogs, Toads and Turtles by; Diane L. Burns
4. Tracks, Scats and Signs by; Leslie Dendy
5. Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks by; Mel Boring
6. Trees, Leaves and Bark by; Diane L. Burns

Boots; Our best friends these days
(Note the wild white trillium everywhere)

These boots are made for walking

As old mushy leaves continue to be raked up and bagged for next week's compost pick-up, assorted insects, beetles and other items of interest continue to appear. Treasures for some, now collectibles hoarded into our children's nature boxes for further observation and sketching in their private nature journal books.

This is science at its best, discovering the world around us but not moving outside of the perimeter of our own yard. Even my hubby is in on this, taking small treks around the property to take note of seasonal changes and small discoveries with us.

Notice the brambly prickles in this photo, ouch!

At a glance we have found this book to be a great bonus in our fun with nature studies, the book we reach for first before all others, AND we have a whole bunch of others here believe me.

Little treasures are uncovered and collected,
now placed in nature baskets

Nuts and nut caps everywhere!
We are loaded with treasure finds folks, just loaded...

NHL's Vancouver Canuck Country

Traveling to Vancouver was a last minute trip, unplanned before hand but springing to life in a quick jiffy three days before the plane soared off the runway towards it.

I knew I would be flying over to Canuck diehards, everyone from perfect strangers to members within our own family because all would be cheering madly for their home team during the second finals against the Chicago Blackhawks team. I knew I might be interrupting everyone who had arranged their time around catching each new game to come as the second round of finals continued.

His favorite "Canuck" hat was newly washed again

Assorted emblems of the Vancouver Canucks graced jerseys hanging in homes, nearby TV viewing areas to quickly don during the games, and baseball caps were on so many heads in the airport, let alone anyone else seen along my journey to my adult children and our parents. Very large flags were flapping in the wind hooked onto all moving vehicles, and huge ones were outside businesses and residential homes, even hanging off of apartment patios and on top of tall flag poles. I saw a few in large picture windows. Only in Vancouver they say....eh?

Small dilemna? How could I interrupt such things by showing up without any notice? Easy. Watch it with them...and no matter how hard I tried, that "Vancouver Canuck Diehard" age old emotion remains within me from my own experiences of sitting in row 3 behind home goalie during the 1994 NHL Vancouver Canuck game finals when they almost took the cup that year.

Though the locals would aspire to believe their team able to win the Stanley Cup, another crowd induced premium riot on the streets of Vancouver are just not a preferred behavioral repeat preference anytime soon. Imagine a riot after a hockey game! Yep, I could believe it because Vancouver loves their ice hockey and they have a very loyal following from fans around the globe.

Family friends who are currently living in Kenya,
Africa are keeping abreast of NHL ice hockey news here

As I type this up, I personally know of one such family who are dear friends (hello and love to all of you there!!) currently living a wonderful experience in Kenya, Africa, and another in the heart of Texas who have highlighted their schedules around the same hockey games. :-) woop, woop...

Even after I have been away from the area for three years now, that super exciting swell for our home team still makes me proud. (see my big grin) Yep, once the craze hits, one if forever a knowledgeable and most passionate Canuck hockey fan.

Typical of many Vancouverites on May 9th during Game 5;
Vancouver Canucks versus Chicago Blackhawks and loses 4-3 in OT

Supposedly one is supposed to adopt a more local team when relocating to another geographical location somewhere around the globe, however (and respectfully to others) we have had great difficulty supporting those nearby our new home. We did watch hopefully after hearing former Vancouver Canuck team's general manager Pat Quinn had moved to take control of the team, but no big change...at least for this year.

The girls were deeply disappointed but kept their
jerseys on looking forward to positive thoughts for
Game 6 to come on May 11th

Our sons still living at home were horrified when I, their mother, snatched every baseball cap in their possession to wash them, brighten them up a bit and get them CLEAN once more!

Vancouver Canuck hockey finals deserve clean hats!

Horrified was the emotion of the day because the question nagged them; What would they wear to watch their next Canuck final game 3 live programming? Would they be dry?

No hats were worn for Game 3 while at home, sorry boys.

Happy to say, everyone in our family becomes a wee boisterously repetitive by cheering and shouting; "Go Canucks Go"!

Sadly even though the team lost at the end of Game 5 last week on May 11th while I was present in Canuck Country, diehard fans were generally disappointed but still quite supportive. There's always next year. Great work team! Great work!

So incredibly blessed!

A whirlwind now behind me, life rolls forward, flying by at the speed of sound to create head turns and moments of memorable smiles.

Life. It happens whether we are in it full steam or floating by on snail paced clouds. It becomes a magic carpet ride into the wild abyss of ‘yonder’, a place where young and old alike gather, on purpose and hope that whatever the tide that turns, all are in it for the same reason. Seldom are they. Seldom everyone unites in sync; however there are those blip sessions where hearts are magnetized together by the simplest gesture, thought, and hope or by shared dreams.

Life. It happens, like it or not. Gone is the past. Here is the present. How we live it tells the world what lay inside of us. Happy hearts become outwardly evident as we walk and journey along our roads and pathways to more wisdom filled days.

Very shortly after making my morning offering each day during my private prayer time, I often wonder if the great new day ahead will offer blessed moments to create a happy heart in me, or a walloping pout from the check list mentally and emotionally tabulated for the start gate jump into the beginning of the day when my feet soon hit the ground and it all begins to churn, like it or not. Or yes. I like it all. I live for each new day...for those memories I know I will always be able to capture and cherish, those culminating into vibrant sprinkles of hope from a life well lived despite the often many winding curves and danger signs lurking before me.

We in our home choose to live for the moment because health issues have demanded we “Seize the day” and create “Carpe Diem” memories, ever thankful for each new moment, for each new day and another chance to do better by getting outside of our own pitiful selves and into the wonderful possibilities of blessing others. “Pay it forward” with a smile at the very least and see how your day becomes likened to a field of the most exquisitely speckled blanket of colorful wildflowers surely even Monet would have halted to admire and gaze at.

What colors are in your field today? Mine are shiny, bright and playful, created for and by me from time unabashedly full and spilling over with heartfelt unexpected and/or stolen moments, those of our family members and friends living on the West Coast.

I had entered DEEP into Vancouver Canuck country with NHL playoffs in session

Where in the world is....Renee, one of my previous posts told you the story of how I was thrust into a sudden trip to Vancouver, B.C. for the purpose of tending to personal business ventures with short notice.

Naturally as the trip came more clearly into focus, my mindset wasn't so great but in time I knew I would forever cherish and hold captive what I would in hindsight return home with. These "things" I would bring home with me were not anything physically tangible to enable touch or grasp to remember them by, rather I would feel much permeating the depths within my very core of heart and soul. I was with loved ones and able to be present for a dear childhood friend's 50th surprise birthday party. How great was that to be there with her at such a time? (Love you Terrie!)

As I sit back home here in the east and recover after my return flight, the brain fog is creating a bit of haze with time zone changes and a wee bit of jet lag, I am ecstatic at the thought I’d spent blocks of time with those precious faces of people I adore and love with all my heart over there. Our four older children are adults in all ways, living lives of their own and evident to me is the fact our grandchildren are growing fast.

Please allow me a Nana bragging moment here folks...have to share with you these photos below...

Three generations; That would be me with my oldest daughter & oldest grand-daughter who is only six months younger than her auntie, our youngest daughter.

Two grand-daughters I was observing from a distance away. I loved their profiles and snapped this photo of them side by side. Can you just believe how big our youngest grandbaby is already?

Just loved her big toothy grin and being able to catch this grand-daughter's 7th birthday week

My hockey and soccer lovin' grandson always cracks me up.

This grand-daughter always melts my heart with her sweetness and yet the "sneaky" behind her beautiful smile

**Best of all folks; It was announced to us yet another Grandbaby is on the way. Baby news is always, always (!) good news here!

Listening is a given to ideas presented, offered and if advice sought – given in my humblest of motherly and caring ways. Beaming hearts lurked in friendly corners as this trip progressed, a trip for the record I had never wished to take considering the current health circumstances I would have to leave at home, the very one only booked three days before flying into the friendly skies on extremely short notice.

Blessings are abundant and occur in strange ways. This was a strange way to gather blessings, away from our four youngest children for “Mother’s Day”, but heh, when the plane touched down at the YVR airport, there were with the older four on the West Coast and other mothers who rank high at the top of my list of beauties and sweetness to celebrate with in person. I am a blessed woman. No doubt about it. I am, for I am blessed with lovelies near and far, absolute gifts from above.

What were the readings of the mass on Mother’s Day Sunday? James 1:17-21;

“Dearly beloved; Every best gift, and every perfect gift is from above; coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration...."

So true!

Like a horse at the starting gate, that was me in my sporty rental car just wishing to take off and get on with it already, the music blaring I wasn’t able to soften or change due to entry into traffic yields.

Peals of laughter hit me for a few moments before I began to compose myself. I wondered (for only a moment as my head was full of other stuff by then) just how loud the boom-boom really was outside of the vehicle. And what was THIS song I was listening to anyway? Sheesh. Whatever it was the windows seemed to be heaving in and out to the rhythm of the music. Tee hee

Soon the rain seemed to subside and the sun appeared, kissing me softly during my journey eastbound from the Vancouver airport. Telephone calls behind me to announce my safe journey arrival to family I’d left back home, other family members were soon summoned of my arrival.

I'm home again, sipping a hot cuppa and typing; Stay tuned for more.....