Monday, July 27, 2009

Short Post... more later

I am determined to succeed at something I have set my mind to, one small thing that seemed so feasible, in spite of the fact that my human weakness is driving me to give in to the easier option.
I am not feeling up to writing tonight, yet I have set myself on this new course. So - it seems like a fair compromise to tell you why I am not writing much tonight and may or may not post this week, in few words, and then give in to the desire to put my mind to sleep.

We met with Drew's metabolics/genetics specialist today to discuss the final outcome of his test results and the impact to our future decisions regarding family. I have promised to write on this before, but cannot bring myself to write on this one yet. Jordan and I don't know how to feel, let alone how to write about it in such a way as to share that with others. I know the right time will come. Until then, please forgive me for not writing this week. Pandora's box has been opened today and my emotional quota has been drained for the week so I think I may hibernate for a bit.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. I was reminded by a dear friend tonight that God is so good and blesses us abundantly in the most unsuspecting ways. I will be forever thankful for knowing Drew and everything that comes with knowing him. A wise friend said it well, "I liked who I was before this happened, didn't necessarily like who I was while in the middle of it, but like who I am now better than any of those I have been before." I pray I will always say the same about my future state.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

One of those parents (?)


(His version of "Smile")

I actually almost felt normal the other day, although the category I was in was not exactly "normal" by our typical standards. Sounds odd - let me explain myself.

We decided to take Peyton to the Calgary Stampede on Friday. Not naively either. I think we knew what we were in for, but decided to brave the land where kids drag the parents around for the first couple hours only to be followed by hours where the parents drag the kids around. There is a lot to see and do for big and little, but I think if I was little I would be cooked after 2 hours! The strange thing to me was how many people were there with small children and babies in strollers. This is the afore-mentioned "normal" part - there were so many there that must have thought, "This will be a great experience for my child(ren)!" I have to group myself with them I guess! Anyway, I figured that after about 2 hours Peyton would start to get tired and then we would be counting the minutes until we had to escape before insanity hit. Enter Irresponsibility. We arrived before lunchtime and left at dinnertime. Amazingly, it worked alright. We only ended up carrying Peyton piggyback for about 1 hour off and on! Here is the day in pictures (the explanations are above the pictures).

In theory... this is why I originally wanted to bring Peyton - to see some farm animals up close. (I know I've been living in a big city for too long when I take my child to see farm animals at an affair like this!)


This was the other reason we went, although I wouldn't have admitted it even to myself I think.

Peyton surveying the grounds from the kids' ferris wheel eagerly in the kids' park saying, "I would like to ride................ ."
"Drop of Doom" for kids.
Peyton is in the middle. This was so funny to watch and he LOVED it! He told me I wasn't allowed to ride it, I had to watch instead he said. He screamed every time it dropped and then he stopped. Arghh. Argh. Arghhhhhhhhhhh. Arghhhh. Argh. It sounded like someone was pushing the pause button!
Here it is in video - I figured out how to get the video clip on, but my photo program wouldn't let me rotate it, so you will have to tip your head to watch it! Sorry.

We had to add this one for the sake of Peyton's Auntie Nic. We heard this was her fave.
And this one was Daddy's favorite as a kid. You can see it was a hit for the next generation too. (What's crazy is that this ride is still around. It looked old enough to be the same one! Yikes.)
Peyton actually thought his motorcycle was jumping. I feel pretty good about this kind of motorcycle ride!
I think I could handle this one... Peyton rode this slide in the kids' section. He's on the right side (the one you have to squint and pretend to see).
After he exhausted the rides in the kiddie land, he decided he needed bigger and bolder. Much to Mama's chagrin, I actually let him talk me into this ride below. It was about the only one he was tall enough to ride on in the main Midway, and I tried to no avail to talk him out of it (for my sake and his!). It should show you what his little personality is like to see that he ended up riding this!


And this is what everything looked like to me after getting off the above ride! Once was definitely enough for me. Peyton would have continued if he had his way!
This is the adult-sized version of the one he rode in kiddie land. I had to ride with him on a "magic carpet," and the first time we rode it, I had both hands dragging on the sides trying to slow us down while he was yelling, "Faster. Faster!" I let go and thought I was living on the wild side for the next 4 times he insisted that we ride it. The picture doesn't do it justice - it was as high as the ferris wheel, and twice as long as the kids' slide!


Finally, this was the result of a long day! Peyton hit the pillow already sleeping I think. He's snuggled up with the whale he won and with Drew Bear.

What an adventure! It's a good thing the Stampede is only once a year. It's an experience a little (a little, emphasized) like having a baby. You forget what it's really like in between experiences, so you keep going back for more. I'm glad we went, but boy am I glad that's over! I think Peyton probably was too. He was yelling out, "Mommy! Catch me!" in his sleep that night!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

It's cold here!



After a week and a half in Denver, where one would figure the climate would be similar to Calgary's, I have to admit I am frustrated with Calgary's weather! This "summer" business really doesn't deserve to be called "summer." Either that, or we are not yet in summer, we are still in winter - oops, I meant spring. It's just plain old chilly here! Every day in Denver was over 85 degrees. Since we have been home, it's been 75 degrees tops here. If we are lucky. BRRRR! I love it here. I love it here. I love it here... I'm going to keep saying this in the hopes that I will remember why I like it here so much! I suppose my tune will change on the first warm (and sunny) day.

I have to share the reason for so many smiles in our attempt at a new normal. Peyton enjoys life to it's fullest every day of his life. He doesn't stop and contemplate how he is going to feel one day, or what the day will be like, nor does he plan everything to the nth degree - he just lives each single moment to the fullest potential of the moment. He is the best counselor we could have asked for to get through the difficult days, without even knowing we might be having a difficult day, and without knowing the impact he has. The video below is a perfect clip to capture the essence of Peyton, from the attempt to do such a man-sized job to the choice of clothing (with shorts on backwards so he can see the picture), and from the fearlessness over the bug to the tenderness shown to it. (All I have to say is it's a good thing we live in a place where most of the bugs are harmless!!!)

(I keep trying to load the video clip and blogger is having trouble with it - stay tuned... I will figure this out!)

Ok - sorry it took me so long! I kept trying to load it through blogger, only to see it try to load for 4 or 5 hours and then fail again, so I decided to get with the YouTube phase. It worked! I have to admit I am smiling a smile of success right now - and mocking myself at the same time - it was way too easy. I am going to have to get with this techno stuff if I want to keep up with Peyton! I hope it makes you smile like it did Jordan and I.


This is what brings perspective for me! I love every moment of watching this child grow!

Now for a Drew piece... I have to share the picture we captured the other day at Heritage Park. You could probably tell me there is an explanation for this effect, but please don't. I prefer to continue to think of Drew as my little sunbeam and am so overjoyed at every reminder of the beauty of my son-beam.