04.04.10
Posted in Diary Entries, Hotel Reviews at 1:35 pm by skay
Thursday I took off work to work on finishing the wall. I managed to get it from being just a hole in the wall to a framed pass through that just needs drywall to be finished. As it turns out, it is too low to get built-in lights but I haven’t given up yet. I may be able to find some LED lights that are super thin to wire into the house wiring as long as they don’t require a transformer, and even then, I could just hide the transformer but that is less than ideal. I also managed to do my Pure Cardio workout and go coaching so all in all a very big day. I handed in my girls’ sheets for their routines so everything is up to date. Friday both Nicole and I were off since it was Good Friday however everything was closed so once we took care of our workouts and Nicole made the house look pretty for Brendan the cat sitter we packed up and jumped into the car for our trip to Niagara Falls and yes, finally, the Babymoon.
Traffic was oddly busy, we took a detour in Burlington to find a washroom for Nicole and ended up after stopping at an insanely busy gas station with a line up for the washroom at the local hospital. Nicole ran into the main entrance and we were on our way in no time. The hotel was really easy to find since it is right off one of the main streets, Stanley Avenue. We checked in, making sure that we upgraded our Hotwire room to a whirlpool room with a falls view. Even with the upgrade we are only paying the rate for the worst room in the hotel! Victory for Hotwire once again! Upon check-in, as promised, we were given warm chocolate chip cookies and all the information about the Wifi and the amenities. The room itself is small but nice, however I am not sure I would give it a 4 star rating. The room at the other Hilton attached to the Fallsview Casino is bigger, the rooms are noticeably larger however this place is, I think, newer. The view is nice, you can see the American Falls clearly but not the Horseshoe Falls which are blocked by the Fallsview Casino buildings. However since we upgraded and are on the 19th and top floor, the view is pretty spectacular wherever you look. The only disappointment is that the windows are not floor to ceiling as they are in the other Hilton which I have to admit is a little puzzling. All in all, the room is nice, big enough but only just. The tub is very spacious and comfortable and you can actually watch TV from there. The shower, however, is a joke. It is smaller than the infamous shower at the Ibis in Geneva which was, until today, the smallest shower in the world. This shower is so small I can only stand sideways and the shower head is only high enough so that my head touches it and I am only 6 feet tall!
There are several things that may bother some people about the hotel so I will mention them although so far they haven’t spoiled our enjoyment of the facility. The fit and finish of the bathroom is a little shabby, the door to the toilet/shower area doesn’t quite fit properly so that there is a gap between the door and the frame. One of the letters in the hotel name on the roof is out which speaks to the maintenance staff. However, I will let you know if it is still out at the end of our stay to give them the benefit of the doubt. The gym is very small, having only a few dumbells and nowhere to do pull ups. There are some machines, maybe 4 or so and 3 treadmills plus a bike and an elliptical. It’s a 7 out of 10, 9 being the Swissotel in Chicago. When we went to the gym, there was a water cooler but no water in the jug and no paper cups to drink from. Both should have been replenished by now I hope. The hairdryer overheated, something which the women out there will agree is a major deal. In addition, we had to ask the front desk where it was because it was located on the wall behind the bathroom door! The room has a fridge however it is so noisy that Nicole had to unplug it to get some sleep. The “Starbucks” in the lobby isn’t. They sell Red Rose tea and take forever to make coffee. The worst part of being here so far is in fact the TV. There are not the usual hundred or so satellite channels but rather only a select few (15 or so) channels to pick from. This is a major disappointment if you like to fall asleep to your favourite shows.
I know it sounds like I am bashing the hotel but in reality we are very happy with it. To whit, I have added a list of what we have liked so far about the place.
The location is excellent, only about 400m from the Fallsview Casino and maybe 1km from Clifton Hill. The room was very clean and well kept and the tub, as noted, is huge which for someone like me is both rare and a delight. There is a fresh air vent running the length of the window which allows you to get fresh air into the room any time which is fantastic and a feature which every room should have. The free wifi is great, working without a hitch so far which is more than I can say for almost every other hotel with “free” wifi we have encountered. The front desk staff were very polite and helpful and of course got points for giving us warm cookies. Parking is an extra $12 per day which I think is ridiculous given the size of the hotel and the location but unfortunately it is pretty standard around here.
Would we stay here again? I think so as long as we got the $84 rate that we got with Hotwire. As per usual, it’s not worth the $120 a night that the website commands but then again, I am pretty tight with my hotel dollars.
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Posted in Hotel Reviews at 1:32 pm by skay
The hotel was really easy to find since it is right off one of the main streets, Stanley Avenue. We checked in, making sure that we upgraded our Hotwire room to a whirlpool room with a falls view. Even with the upgrade we are only paying the rate for the worst room in the hotel! Victory for Hotwire once again! Upon check-in, as promised, we were given warm chocolate chip cookies and all the information about the Wifi and the amenities. The room itself is small but nice, however I am not sure I would give it a 4 star rating. The room at the other Hilton attached to the Fallsview Casino is bigger, the rooms are noticeably larger however this place is, I think, newer. The view is nice, you can see the American Falls clearly but not the Horseshoe Falls which are blocked by the Fallsview Casino buildings. However since we upgraded and are on the 19th and top floor, the view is pretty spectacular wherever you look. The only disappointment is that the windows are not floor to ceiling as they are in the other Hilton which I have to admit is a little puzzling. All in all, the room is nice, big enough but only just. The tub is very spacious and comfortable and you can actually watch TV from there. The shower, however, is a joke. It is smaller than the infamous shower at the Ibis in Geneva which was, until today, the smallest shower in the world. This shower is so small I can only stand sideways and the shower head is only high enough so that my head touches it and I am only 6 feet tall!
There are several things that may bother some people about the hotel so I will mention them although so far they haven’t spoiled our enjoyment of the facility. The fit and finish of the bathroom is a little shabby, the door to the toilet/shower area doesn’t quite fit properly so that there is a gap between the door and the frame. One of the letters in the hotel name on the roof is out which speaks to the maintenance staff. However, I will let you know if it is still out at the end of our stay to give them the benefit of the doubt. The gym is very small, having only a few dumbells and nowhere to do pull ups. There are some machines, maybe 4 or so and 3 treadmills plus a bike and an elliptical. It’s a 7 out of 10, 9 being the Swissotel in Chicago. When we went to the gym, there was a water cooler but no water in the jug and no paper cups to drink from. Both should have been replenished by now I hope. The hairdryer overheated, something which the women out there will agree is a major deal. In addition, we had to ask the front desk where it was because it was located on the wall behind the bathroom door! The room has a fridge however it is so noisy that Nicole had to unplug it to get some sleep. The “Starbucks” in the lobby isn’t. They sell Red Rose tea and take forever to make coffee. The worst part of being here so far is in fact the TV. There are not the usual hundred or so satellite channels but rather only a select few (15 or so) channels to pick from. This is a major disappointment if you like to fall asleep to your favourite shows.
I know it sounds like I am bashing the hotel but in reality we are very happy with it. To whit, I have added a list of what we have liked so far about the place.
The location is excellent, only about 400m from the Fallsview Casino and maybe 1km from Clifton Hill. The room was very clean and well kept and the tub, as noted, is huge which for someone like me is both rare and a delight. There is a fresh air vent running the length of the window which allows you to get fresh air into the room any time which is fantastic and a feature which every room should have. The free wifi is great, working without a hitch so far which is more than I can say for almost every other hotel with “free” wifi we have encountered. The front desk staff were very polite and helpful and of course got points for giving us warm cookies. Parking is an extra $12 per day which I think is ridiculous given the size of the hotel and the location but unfortunately it is pretty standard around here.
Would we stay here again? I think so as long as we got the $84 rate that we got with Hotwire. As per usual, it’s not worth the $120 a night that the website commands but then again, I am pretty tight with my hotel dollars.
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04.01.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 12:36 pm by Nicole
What I/We have been up to lately:
What’s a Father To Do Class – The class wasn’t exactly what we had expected, but it was nice for us to meet a couple other expectant couples and hear from fathers on their experiences. Unfortunately I got lightheaded and faint in the middle of the class – due to anxiety I think. I’m hoping our next birthing class goes better, but to tell you the truth, I think I’ll be worse.
Angelika fractured arm – My private class dancer is currently in a cast and has been for 2 weeks now. She slipped at her dance studio when doing a backwalkover and luckily didn’t snap both bones in her arm. They will find out today what happens with the cast…on…or off. It is hard to believe I have been teaching her for 3 years and now I can’t. I don’t know what will happen in her future.
Dr. Appt #5 - Simon and I visited Dr. TB. Things seem to be carrying on as expected.
Notes from Mar 25 appt:
29 weeks today.
Weight: 166lbs
Blood Pressure 110/60
Baby Heartrate: 146bpm
Nicole measuring: 30cm
- Low iron level, may cause tiredness. 106 Dr prescribed iron pills to take daily. One to start, two if stomach can handle it
- 30 week update ultrasound scheduled for March 30 @ 230
- I start biweekly appointments starting this week. Back to visit on April 9th.
Car starter breaks – Ok, so it didn’t break, it just didn’t work! Simon came to rescue me at the maternity clothes store where my truck wouldn’t start, we called CAA, they towed truck to Nissan dealership. Got a call the next morning asking what the problem was?? They said it started fine and it was the battery that was the problem. $50 later, I picked up the truck! Simon will buy and install the battery for me – saving us $!
3d ultrasound @ BabyView in Pickering – A sick Mom & Dad came with us to watch our little girl live and in living colour! It is amazing that technology can let us see inside my tummy, see her facial features and all her cute little body parts! It was a great experience, and although expensive, it was worth every penny. She looks to have Simon’s lips and cheeks, maybe my chin and an undecided nose. From one angle it is a Kay nose, the other, a Marchand nose. Only time will tell… Speaking of time, I can’t believe there is only 10 weeks to go. That sounds so soon!!! I can’t wait to meet her in person and squeeze her chubby little legs! We got to see her wave, talk and yawn and have the DVD keepsake forever! – 30 week ultrasound – We went today to check for an update on the findings from the previous ultrasound done 10 weeks ago. By the sounds of the Xray tech, things seem to be looking good. The kidneys look normal and she can’t see any light spots in the heart. YAY! I hope the radiologist sees the same thing. We’ll find out in another week.
How I’m feeling physically:
Slow – I went for a walk last night….I had to take 2 breaks! My shins were hurting and breathing is much more difficult. I will continue to walk and workout because I know it will help with labour and after. I just might need to take more breaks 
Swollen feet! Oh my! I just noticed today that my shoes were feeling tight…I thought it was the shoes tied too tightly but after taking them off it appeared I had airplane sausage toes! It was just like they are on long plane rides…puffy and swollen. I hope this isn’t the new norm. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow!
Tired! I guess because of the low iron it is contributing to my tiredness. I had a nap on my lunch break on Monday and have been going to bed at 8ish. During the day I normally really wake up at around lunch time. I’d like to get more rest but there isn’t enough time in the day.
Movement! Baby Kay is a strong little monkey! Her kicks are getting harder by the day and continually kicks me around the belly button ->higher ->lower. When we saw her in 3d we noticed she was practicing her gymnastics by putting her feet in her ears! haha too cute
Time to be careful! You never know when a cough, sneeze or nose blowing could result in other issues…
How I’m feeling emotionally:
Doing well, just getting a little discouraged with the weight gain and the decrease in my activity level. I totally understand that this is normal and to be expected…just hard to get use to. The puffy cheeks and butt aren’t helping though.
What’s coming up: -
Niagara falls – BABYMOON! It isn’t Florida or California, but it will do. It will be quiet, relaxing and romantic with my baby daddy by my side. I’m most looking forward to hanging out in the hotel, going to eat at cool places we have seen on tv (Diners, DriveIns & Dives), our day at the spa (Massage, manicure, pedicure, lunch & bath) and a trip or 2 shopping.
- My Birthday – 34 years old! We will be celebrating allllllll weekend long
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03.16.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 12:43 pm by Nicole
What I/We have been up to lately:
Not much baby stuff – I should probably spend more time focusing on what needs to be done and what I will need to be doing when my countdown is over. It is just very overwhelming with work and homelife to do EVERYTHING!
Teaching Amy everything I know to get ready for mat leave. It is alot of work to teach someone everything you know…but we are doing some each day not to overwhelm her (and me)
Yoga & still exercising. I continue to do cardio 2-3 times a week and weights 2-3 times also. Yoga has been added to Sunday or Monday and I’m enjoying it.
How I’m feeling physically:
- Very kicky very often
- I can see her move from the outside
- Baby has hiccups! Yesterday for the first time I felt her hiccuping. It was more like constant punches in the stomach….very cute but not so enjoyable.
- Yoga was difficult last night – not feeling very flexible with this big belly. I will continue to go because I know how important stretching is, especially now. I’ll try to do extra at home so I’m a pro during class
- My complaints: Arches of feet hurt, hips hurt at night, charley horsey in calves at night, restless legs
How I’m feeling emotionally:
Good thanks.
What’s coming up:
- Still trying to find a mini vacation to do all the things I won’t be able to soon – not looking promising due to the lack of funds. Why is everything so expensive on Easter weekend anyways?! People should be at home praying.
- My birthday. 34 already. Also Easter weekend.
- 3d Ultrasound. Mom & Dad will be coming to our 3d ultrasound in a couple weeks. I’m so excited to get to see her!! Here is an example of what we will see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MJLPGjbX6o&feature=related
- Bi Weekly appts begin next week
- Baby shower planning. YAY! Alleta has offered to host a baby shower for me! I am so grateful and looking forward to seeing all my friends and family in one place celebrating such an exciting event. I hope I’m not too grumpy/uncomfy/fat/swollen etc by then. ( May 16th)
- What’s A Father To Do? Session
This fun and interactive session will address and explore the following topics;
• Coping With Your Partner’s Pain
• Pain management techniques to practice together
• Communication during labour, birth and postpartum
• Helpful reminders for fathers and other birth companions
• How you can be an active and supportive dad
• Taking care of your needs
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03.03.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 7:27 am by skay
It’s been a wild few months, so much is happening all around that I am clinging onto the one thing in which I find stability and that is my other blog. It’s easy to write, doesn’t really take that much effort and as an added bonus, helps me to stay on track with my workouts. It’s located here: P90X and it has caused me to rethink much of what I write online, not only content wise, but also location wise. I have, over the years, moved some of my writing to different places. I have renamed my blogs a couple of times and finally, after 12 years of blogging I am about to move my personal blog onto what I hope will be it’s final resting place. An unwanted side effect of this move is the paralysis of my contributions. In addition, we now have this Kay Family blog where Nicole and I try to add posts and update the family on our news. For those of you who are counting that means I now have 3 sites which require my updates on a near daily basis. Now, despite my own aspirations or mental leanings, I am not a writer and spending time each day creating posts for these blogs is not practical. Add to that my gymnastics coaching blog, my photo site and trying to develop an idea for an IT security site I am spread way too thin.
So my grand scheme is to move everything to one place. Have everything under one domain so that I can find it all and keep it all straight. However, moving content is not as easy as it may sound and frankly it is driving me up the wall. An oblique issue is also that the more I maintain my P90X / Insanity site the worse I feel about my personal sites which are supposed to be the epoch of personal blogging achievement. You can tell how all this is starting to slide sideways like a BMW in the snow.
Just for fun, let’s add coaching twice a week, a pregnant wife who wants me to write about my future responsibilities, my own desire to create a dad-to-be checklist of sorts for those just as lost as I am and a laundry list of things that need to be done in the real world before the baby gets here and you can see that the few hours I have away from work are stuffed like a German Sausage and frankly close to splitting.
So a major reorganization is in order. I have all but abandoned my coaching blog which is a terrible disappointment to me but I am committed to keeping both my workout blog (as long as I am doing Beachbody workouts) and my personal blog, wherever it may eventually reside.
I can’t believe that the whole Winter Olympics in Vancouver has gone by without my writing a single word. Sure, the hockey game was exciting, seeing the women’s curling team choke on the last rock was a disappointment and overall Canada did pretty well but not having written about it is a shocker. Maybe it is due to the fact that I have been working hard at home, fixing the mountain of odds and ends that have to be done. I still haven’t finished the trim for the floor, and unfortunately I think I may need to purchase another air compressor to do so. It’s not a huge job, but time consuming and hard on the back. I also have a major decision to make about trim around the fire place. The last thing I need is to make a mess of that area and have it look amateurish. So far we have built furniture for the baby room, I have installed desks, dimmer switches, TV stands, disposed of well over 200lbs of electronics, made multiple trips to the dump (my Dad would be so proud!) and ordered, filled and had removed a 1 square metre garbage box full of random house waste. This past weekend I put up more sturdy shelving in the garage in preparation for creating a workout space and repurposing the basement storage area into a workshop. It’s been a non stop workfest since the pregnancy began and it is only picking up speed as the belly gets bigger.
For those of you men whose partners are recently pregnant let me tell you that you should prepare for the avalanche of to do lists that “the baby room” will generate. Somehow our baby room required the whole house to be redecorated. I have a feeling from the hundreds of web pages Nicole visits that this is not the exception and that in some way the “nesting” thing pregnant women do is as much to do with you going to Home Depot as it does her going to babies-r-us.
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02.25.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 2:27 pm by Nicole
What I/We have been up to lately:
4th Doctors Appt – 24 weeks
Simon met Dr. T-B for the first time
Belly measurement = 23cm (not 33 like the silly student doctor measured)
Heartbeat = 140bpm (loud & clear)
My Blood Pressure = 110/70
Weight = Too much to mention here
Next appointment – 1 month
The doctor confirmed we will have one more ultrasound to check the fluid in the baby’s kidneys (which isn’t normal) and I am to have the glucose test before my next appointment. Ok, glucose test came and went without any issues. I drank the sugary orange, McDonalds type drink and went back an hour later to give them most of my blood. Hopefully we will hear that everything is fine!
Simons 42nd Birthday – Since we are trying to “save money” we combined MOm & Simon’s birthday with lunch and a show (see below)
Memphis SmokeHouse & Jersey Boys – Simon & I met my parents near the Toronto Arts Centre where the Jersey Boys show was for a huge BBQ birthday lunch. We all shared the “Protein Platter” and even had some for a doggy bag. We walked to the 2pm show and got settled in our seats, which was in the 2nd row from the top of the theater! The venue was fairly small so all of the seats were “good”. The show itself was entertaining and I knew most of the songs – even though they were waaayyy before my time. My favourite of all the songs is “December, 1963″
Meditation - I went to a meditation class this week (Actually, I was the only one who attended – how embarassing) It was quite interesting. We went through the chakras of the body and visualized the “energy” flowing – at first I thought it was kinda silly, but I could really feel the energy! We ended with a journey through the sky in a bubble, overlooking a forest and waterfall then returning back home. I’d definately go back, even just to relax and get away from everything. Here is an example of the chakra stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFqHa4gOP3c
How I’m feeling physically:
Large and getting commented on it. People are still surprised at work when they see me, but now they aren’t afraid to say anything! I’m starting to enjoy the way I am feeling/looking because now I look quite pregnant (but I think it helps I have lots of cute clothes to wear!!)
Lots of movement all the time
I’m worried about work and how long I can continue. I mean, seperately, all of my jobs are fine. But put together and working 13+ hour days, that might get to be too much. I’ll just keep going and see what I can do.
Simon felt her kick (Feb 19) and SAW her kick Feb 24)
Working out is getting a little more difficult. I find I’m moving slower…treadmill at 3.0-3.3, Elliptical on Level 1! How sad 
I’ve been feeling nauseous for the past couple days at the gym, even though I am eating my previous meal well ahead of workout time. My tummy seems soooo full that I can barely do anything
How I’m feeling emotionally:
Pretty good still! I’ve been talking about my fears with friends to try and calm my nerves about the big day. I think it is mostly the fear of the unknown….once I take the classes, I hope to be more prepared. I had a birthing class dilemma (whether to attend or not) but after thinking about it I think we will go. I like the thought of going in blindly but even for my own interest I’d like to know how everything is going to play out.
How $!m0n is feeling:
Overwhelmed I guess? Today he said:
We are going to have a baby!!
then a little girl
then a teenager
then a young lady
then someone’s fiance
then someone’s wife
then someone’s mother
tell me thats not weird………..
What’s coming up:
A big snowstorm
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02.17.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 11:15 am by Nicole
What I/We have been up to lately:
Julia’s BBall Game – We finally made it downtown TO to see Julia and her bball team play! We arrived at the Eaton’s Centre just in time to make it to Ryerson for 6pm. After a tour through the deserted school, we finally found the gym and spotted Julia on the bench. We got our tickets and made ourselves at home on the top bleacher. The game was very exciting and the score was pretty close for most of the game. Two unfortunate parts of the evening…1) Julia didn’t see us waving and acting crazy to get her attention 2) We didn’t get to see her play basketball! She was an excellent cheerleader and team motivator for the rest of them. That’s ok though, that’s what happens when you try to surprise somebody! We’ll try again next time she is in town.
Sunset Grill w/ Aunt Shirl, Uncle Ed & Mom – We had a great visit, long overdue, with the gang at our house. I spent most of the previous day cleaning/tidying up for our guests as it is a great incentive to do some chores around the house. Simon helped by finishing his list of to-do’s also. We enjoyed breakfast and got to hear all the latest news from Stoney Creek. It has been so long since we have seen them and we already have our next get together planned(ish). They were very generous and thoughtful and gave us the money to buy our carseat! I already have it chosen and will pick it up on the weekend. Thank you!!!
Family Day 2010 – Very uneventful. Lied on the couch most of the day and watched tv. I think all the cleaning I did tired both of us out.
How I’m feeling physically:
No kicky very much yesterday – It was strange. Normally I feel baby kicking me throughout the day, mostly in the afternoon/evening. I didn’t feel her yesterday, just a couple jabs in the gut. It worried me, but I was reassured by Alleta that this is normal. I have been getting used to her making her presence known daily and I was sad when she didn’t say hi to me! She is back to it today though YAY!
Dreams – I had a strange alien baby dream last night. It was possessed by the devil and trying to escape from my belly. It was a miniature boy with no skin, just bones making loud scary noises.
Dry skin – Itchy dry skin appearing on my back even though I am moisturizing 2x daily to prevent those dreaded stretch marks!
Swallowing Issues – Sometimes problems swallowing my food and dreading a liquid diet! I have to eat slower and chew more often to prevent food getting stuck in my throat. I’m getting practice cutting food up into teenytiny pieces also!
Citrus Fruits & I (Oranges) – Makes my tongue swell up like the size of the orange itself. Oh, and it burns, BAD! I’m not impressed as the oranges at this time of the year are delicious!
How I’m feeling emotionally:
Nervous. That about sums everything up. Nervous I won’t be ready in time for BabyKay’s arrival, nervous labour will be too difficult/painful, nervous breastfeeding won’t work, nervous I’ll be lost when we get her home, nervous she won’t be healthy, nervous to meet her for the first time, but I’ll probably be so nervous I’ll be too nervous to be nervous!
What’s coming up:
4 months to go – Time is flying by!
Simon’s 42nd Birthday
Jersey Boys
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02.11.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 3:12 pm by Nicole
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Posted in Diary Entries at 3:09 pm by Nicole
Today was a very busy day of playing chauffeur with Mom and various medical tests. We started off at 8am to Scarborough Centenary where she had a CT scan and a Pulmonary Ventilation/Perfusion Scan (VQ scan). Both of these tests were to determine the cause of her swollen legs. They have been swollen for a couple weeks now and seem to be getting worse. I thought they were “a bit swollen” by the way she described, but when I saw her unable to get up stairs or into the car, I knew it was much worse. The tests were to check for any blood clots in her body and lungs that may cause the swelling. We then dropped off a urine test at Ajax Pickering hospital which will check the levels of everything in her body. Apparently one doctor said she had low protein, so hopefully this will come back with more answers.
Mom called me into the house when we were done our errands because she had something she needed me for. She got a call from the vet last night saying we should consider saying goodbye to Molson. She is 16 years old now, she has a hard time walking, seeing, hearing and she has stopped eating. She has a multitude of other problems that the doctor said now is the time. I didn’t want Mom to have to go through it alone and I wanted to be there so we decided the time would be now. Unfortunately Dad didn’t get to say goodbye because he is out of the country…I really wish it didn’t have to be that way. He is going to be very upset with our decision, but will know it was the right one. We got Molson into the car, drove to the vet and stayed with her in the room. Mom held her while the medication went through the IV. She gently fell asleep and we spent a good 10 minutes hugging her, wiping our tears and just being near her. It was a fairly silent drive home.
It’s funny how life is. Things are good one day and bad the next. The rollercoaster of life.
I’m going to miss my happy smiley dog. She was such a beautiful girl…so fluffy and cuddly (even if she wasn’t always friendly!) I still remember the day I brought her home and my Mom said, “Why did you bring home a guinea pig?!” Mom, It’s a dog!! I thank them for taking such good care of her and treating her like a princess. She had a very good life and will be remembered always. xo
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02.10.10
Posted in Diary Entries at 10:16 am by Nicole
What I/We have been up to lately:
Mom’s 65th Birthday Celebration - We had a nice time last weekend in Port Perry with the party people (Aunt Shirl, Aunt Carolyn, Alleta & Lily). I went to Alleta’s before hand to visit with her and Lily, and she treated me to so many nice maternity clothes! I now have 6 outfits to choose from!! We met the gang at noon at the Piano Bar and had some nice conversation and lunch. It was the first time I had seen Mom since before our vacation. She was in such good spririts and was acting like her old self. I was so happy, I couldn’t stop smiling! Once we ate, we hit the stores to do some serious shopping. Ok, well, Mom wanted to shop. Actually, she spent 30+ minutes in each store we visited! Apparently she isn’t the world’s best shopper. She enjoys shopping, I think it is the decision making that is the issue – and she loves the “card department”. Alleta, Aunt Carolyn and Lily went home to be fed while we continued, had tea and bought really expensive dish rags.
Prenatal Yoga – Sundays mornings are my new relaxing yoga class. It was my first time doing yoga in my new “condition”, there were 5 other ladies there, all of us about the same size – besides one who was ready to pop any day! I really enjoyed the gentle stretching but most of all the relaxation. My normal life isn’t very relaxing so being able to concentrate just on peace and quiet is what I need for a Sunday morning. We ended with a visualization scene: Taking the baby home from the hospital for the first time. I’m sure it will be nothing like I imagine it. haha. I signed up for 4 more classes.
Online Orders – Sofa Throw & Blind – Got the items in the mail yesterday, will test them out today
Baby Nursery – It is coming together very nicely! We got the dresser, bookshelves and mirrors assembled and put in place. Thanks to handyman dad Simon. Surprisingly, we worked together with no arguments!
Dad to Venezuela / Mom visits hospital
- Even though Mom had her ticket, passport and bag packed, she decided it would be best to stay home. She has been experiencing very bad swelling in her legs, so painful it hurts to even walk. She spent the evening in Emerge having test after test done to see if they could find a cause. All reports came back clear. I don’t think the Venezuelan hosptial system is great so she played it safe and stayed home, just in case. Yesterday she heard from an Internist that her Albumin levels were low (low protien) so she is upping her protein intake and hopefully will see some changes. Her doctor also ordered a CT scan of her lungs to check the cells for blood clots. I hope things are ok and they find a resolution asap.
How I’m feeling physically:
Not a great day to ask me how I am. Last night at coaching my foot started to hurt. It is pain in the arch of my foot and extending up to my ankle. I think it is from my poor choice of running shoes. It hurts to walk or put pressure on it. At midnight I woke up in pain so I crawled downstairs (literally) to get the ice pack. At 4am I woke up with an alarming pain in my calf. It hurt so much I wanted to cry, but it hurt too much I woke Simon up for help but he rolled over and fell back asleep. After about 2 minutes of intense pain, it subsided after some stretching and massaging. I put the heating pad on it and went back to sleep. I really hope this doesn’t happen again!! I’m getting bigger still and notice that treadmill walking is getting more difficult. The extra weight isn’t helping my shins. I switched to the elliptical and so far so good.
Baby Kay is very active every day, kicking and punching me in the tummy. Any day now she will be strong enough for Simon to feel her!! Yay!
I like my nightly bubble baths to relax my twitchy legs, although it is getting in the way of my television watching.
How I’m feeling emotionally:
Good. I try and monitor my emotions to make sure I don’t get too stressed during the day. Both jobs are have a fair amount of stress so I don’t want to impose that on the baby. I think it makes a difference how Mom is, even when baby is in the womb.
It is hard to believe that there are only 17 weeks remaining….I might be starting to get a bit nervous!!!
What’s coming up:
Julia playing basketball in Toronto – We are going to surprise her. Shhhh
Valentine’s day – I am secretly hoping for some nice flowers
Jersey Boys – Mom & Simon’s birthday gift. Matinee show plus dinner with Mom, Dad & Simon
Simon’s birthday – 42. Wow.
Erie with Sonia – Baby shopping! Date TBD
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