The Clifton Family

Christmas 2011

2012-02-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas was pretty low key this year. We are heading to Disneyland in the middle of February so we wanted to save as much money as possible. I didn't have to work this Christmas but Kyle had to. Kyle had to be gone pretty early in the morning so we actually had to wake the kids up to have Christmas. Who wakes their kids up? Crazy! Anyways, we woke up around 7:30 and opened presents, the kids made Kyle put their gifts together before he left for work. After presents, we headed to my sister Kerrie's house to have breakfast. We had waffles, bacon, and lots of other yummy food. Kyle made it back just in time to enjoy the good food. We decided to go home and have a nap, well me anyways. Kyle took the kids to his Grandma and Grandpa Shurtz's to play some games and visit. I wasn't feeling so great, probably all the bacon. They came home later on that evening and we just sat around and watched movies and played with toys. I liked not spending too much money and just spending time with family. Maybe we will do it again next year even if we aren't trying to save for a big holiday.

Halloween!!!!

2011-11-01T16:48:00.001-07:00

Halloween has come and gone yet again. This year was a good one and I can't wait for next. I take vacation at work for Halloween, I enjoy going with the kids. This year we didn't spend any money on costumes which made me very happy. Jaxen's was from last year, it was too big. Kyle and Ava's was also from last year which they didn't wear. Mine of course was just my work clothes. I think I only spent $20.00 on candy too, I am cheap and I love it. Once we got all dressed up we went out to my Aunt and Uncles on the farm, the kids love it out there. Then we headed to Great Grandma Wendorff's, she didn't even recognize us at the door. Then off to Grandma and Grandpa Wendorff's where they had Jaxen and Ava's favorite candy waiting for them. After that we headed back to our house to go around our block. The whole time we were gone, I was stressed we had been away from our house too long and someone was going to egg us. We got back to our house around 7:30 and only about 10-20 kids stopped by. Our end of the neighborhood was quite dead actually. All in all it was a great Halloween and I am sad it is over. Here's to next year!

Foo Fighters

2011-10-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

Back in 2005 I was lucky enough to see the Foo Fighters in Calgary with some friends. When I met Kyle and let him in on this info, he was a tad bit jealous to say the least. Kyle LOVES the Foo Fighters and has been listening to them since 1995. He figured he would be lucky enough to see them one day but it took 16 years. I joined ticketmaster and get a heads up if one of my favorite bands is coming. I also joined the Foo Fighters fan page on facebook and that's how I actually found out they were coming. I was so excited for Kyle and also for myself. I wanted to do the whole surprise thing but it didn't turn out that way. I ended up telling him they were coming and we went ahead and bought the tickets. When we found out we were going in October, Kyle decided he was going to grow his hair out for the concert. We bought the tickets back in May, so he grew his hair out for 5 months. When October 27th came I couldn't hold in the excitement, either could Kyle. We got a hotel for the night while my parents watched the kids. It really is nice to get away for just a night. When we got to the Saddledome, there were so many people. We didn't get the best seats but they were alright. It was so fun to see how excited Kyle was, he has been waiting for this forever. I am so happy that I got to be there with Kyle and experience this with him. I love seeing him so happy.

Jaxen's surgery

2011-07-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

The morning started at 5:00am on July 19, 2011. That is early, I mean ridiculously early. I do not get up at that time but I knew I had to so I got over it pretty quickly. Jaxen had to get a little man surgery. Jaxen was circumcised when he was a baby and everything seemed to be fine. When Jaxen turned two he started to have some troubles. I won't go into detail but it needed to be fixed. We got to the hospital around 6:15am and I went to check him in. Nobody was at the info desk and a sign on the desk told me to go to Emerg admitting. I did just that. I asked a nurse where admitting was and he directed me to the correct area. I sat down and a grouchy old man didn't even look at me and told me I was in the wrong place. When people are rude I don't even give them a chance. I don't think, I just talk. It's a flaw of mine. Anyways, I was just as rude and Kyle told me I need to calm down or nobody is going to help me. We eventually found our way and we went up to 5C pediatrics. We entered peds day surgery, it was a small little room with lots of chairs, stretchers and cribs. Our nurse Shelly showed us where Jaxen would be staying for the day. He got a cute little metal crib, he didn't think the same. He was doing pretty good until we had to change him into a gown. He flipped out completely. He wouldn't calm down and I just stuffed his little arms in that gown trying to hold him down. That sounds awful. The nurse brought out some toys and he chilled a little. Then the weighing part came. We tried standing him, sitting him but I ended up having to weigh myself then with him. The nurse was finally finished with the pre-op and we could play. The porter came a short time later to take us to the OR. The walk seemed long and Jaxen looked terrified. When we got in to the pre-op hold there was a little wagon for Jaxen to play in. The anesthesiologist came to talk to us and asked some questions. He then told us that he was going to put in an epidural. I was a tad bit hesitant, it scared me. What if he got paralyzed, what if he got real bad headaches, what if...I got over it. I knew he would be in pain so I allowed it. A nurse came next to take Jaxen away. Jaxen hopped in the wagon and he was off, he didn't even cry. My heart sank and Kyle and I left the room. We went to get some breakfast and went out side for some fresh air. About an hour later we went back up to 5C to see if he had returned, he hadn't. We waited for about 45min and he pulled up in a stroller, how cute. He was a little tired and his legs were shaky. He sat on my lap for a good while and then he wanted to get out of there. He whined for a bit but finally sat on his bed and had some water and crackers. He seemed to be doing good but all of a sudden he started crying. He had just peed and it was burning. The nurse got him some Tylenol and that seemed to work for him. It was a long morning but it went a lot better then I was expecting it to go. He looks a little sore but it already looks a lot better today then it did yesterday. I am just frustrated about the whole situation. He should not have had to go through this in the first place. If it would have been done correctly the first time we would not be here today. I guess I will know better next time, if there is a next time.

Happy Birthday Hans

2011-06-19T18:26:00.001-07:00

Kidney what???

2011-06-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

It has been a LONG two weeks. It all started on May 17th. I have yearly check ups with Dr. Taylor, a urologist. I have had kidney stones in the past but it seemed to only happen when I was pregnant. I went to my appointment, already knowing what they would find. My left side has been hurting but I wanted to put off the inevitable. I had my x-ray and then went into a room waiting for Dr. Taylor. He came in and we discussed that I had kidney stones in my left side. He initially didn't want to do anything about it, wait until I was dying and then we will see. I wasn't crazy about that idea. I know the pain they cause and I wanted to avoid that at all cost. This was a Wednesday and he said if it is still bothering me on Friday call his office and they will set up a time for surgery that weekend. Well the days went by, the pain didn't stop. I called his office and guess what? They were closed, how convenient. I phoned the hospital and they told me to come through emergency. I did and I was all alone, not fun. They got me right in, started the IV and gave me pain medication. They phoned Dr. Taylor and he decided it would be best to get a CT scan to see the exact size. They also took a urine sample to see if there was any infection. Well lucky me, the stone was large and I also had blood in my urine. I was admitted and sent up to 3C. Guess who works there? ME!!! I was not a fan of being admitted to the floor I work on. I don't like people I know and work with taking care of me. It is embarrassing. I didn't end up going for surgery until Saturday. I left the unit around 9:30am. I was wheeled into the recovery room and I waited there for about a half an hour. I get nervous, I hate getting put under. The OR room is cold and scary, I hate it. Finally they rolled me into the OR room, they were very nice and put me at ease. They put the mask on my face and luckily the anesthetic didn't hurt going into my IV this time. I woke up in the recovery room needing to pee really bad. They put me on the lovely bed pan and out came pure blood. I was wheeled back to 3C and Dr. Taylor came in and told me my ureter was very constricted with lots of scar tissue. They had to cut away at the scar tissue and stretch out my ureter to get the kidney stone out. In the process of all this I got a tear somewhere so they have to keep the stent in for two weeks. AWESOME! Well needless to say, I was in a lot of pain, crying like a baby. It was awful having people I work with see me like this. I know how I am with some pt.'s, it can't be that bad right? Well it was and I hated calling for drugs. I stayed all Saturday and was getting Demerol all day and night. It was helping me and when Sunday morning came the drugs stopped. I believe that my nurse figured that my surgery wasn't too serious and why should I be needing all these drugs. Well, she came in told me we were going to try Torodol and Tylenol #3's and send me home. I knew deep down I wasn't ready to go but who am I to argue. I know this place is a get them in and out kind of place. Well, I got my prescriptions and was on my way home. I still felt like crap, more like death but whatever right? I went right to bed and didn't move. Kyle came to bed and I was in so much pain but didn't want to bother him. Around 7:00am I couldn't take it anymore, I started to hyperventilate and my face got stuck in an odd position and my hands got so contracted. Kyle woke up and called my dad to stay with the kids. He took me to the Raymond Hospital and they got me right in. The pain in my hands was almost overriding my kidney pain but not quite. They got me to breath into a paper bag but it wasn't helping. They finally had to give me Versade to relax my body, it worked wonders. My hands and face were back to normal. The doctor came in and assessed me and decided to admit me. This was early Monday morning and I didn't get discharged until Friday afternoon. I was basically in for pain management. I seriously thought I was going to die, it hurt so bad. It is now June 3rd and I am finally starting to feel normal minus this dang stent. It makes me feel like I have to pee every 10 minutes. I have an appointment to get it out June 7th so we will see how that goes. Here's to hoping...

Soccer!!!

2011-05-02T19:22:00.001-07:00

My little Ava is all grown up. It took me awhile to decide if I should sign her up for soccer. I myself was never in soccer so I don't know what it's all about. Do you wear socks under the shin pads? I don't know these questions. I don't think you do but Ava sure complains a lot about the shin pads hurting her. I just tell her to suck it up, sports hurt sometimes. She really does love soccer, she gets so excited to get out on the field. They look so cute running after the balls. It amazes me how they can keep track of their own ball, they never lose it. She has two coaches and loves them both. The coaches set up little games for them in the beginning and for the last 15 minutes or so they get to play a game against a different team. I am glad I chose to put Ava in soccer and I am pretty sure she is happy too!

Jaxen's 2!!!

2011-03-27T14:22:00.001-07:00

Jaxen turned two on March 11, 2011. I honestly made it as layed back as possible. I usually buy the kids cakes but this year I decided not to. I just didn't feel like paying $50.00 for a cute cake that doesn't taste very good. You wouldn't believe it but this cake I made got iced 3 times. I iced it the first time and ruined it with seran wrap. My dad iced it again and wasn't satisfied so he did it again. I think it looks cute and it tasted better than any $50.00 dollar cake. We had the usual family over and I made sloppy joes. It was my first time and I used the slow cooker, very yummy. I surprise myself sometimes. We opened gifts and Jaxen got spoiled. My mom and dad got Jaxen a mini quad and he is so terrified of it. The first time we turned it on Jaxen ran to my Grandpa Turner and crawled in his lap. He still won't go near it. It was a good time had by all. I can't believe my little baby is two. I love you Jaxen!!!

Through and Through

2011-03-02T19:26:00.001-08:00

Jaxen is a little boy through and through. He loves anything to do with trucks, cars, boats, or quads. He also loves his Papa Max. Every time my dad comes to visit, Jaxen makes him play cars. This visit my dad was reading the Trader and Jaxen crawled on his lap to read with him. It was a good half hour or so and Jaxen was heartbroken when they were done. I am happy that Jaxen is so content playing with his cars, it gives me some time to do "mother/wife duties". Jaxen is growing up so fast. I was just thinking today, we don't need the baby gate, the high chair, baby food, no more baby items. It makes me sad but it also makes me so happy at the same time. I love the independence and the fact that we will be able to do so much more this summer. Jaxen does have a temper though. He gets so upset and can't calm down, it's hard sometimes. I can't even calm him myself, I have to leave him and sometimes send him to his room. There has been a few times when I have had to leave places because his is freaking out so badly. It's humiliating but I have gotten through the horrible stares and continued on with my day. It's hard wanting to go into a store to get a couple of things but leaving empty handed because of your child. I guess that's part of life and what am I going to do about it? I can't go through life pretending my child is perfect when clearly they are misbehaving. It's truly a learning experience for me. I have NO patience and it's something I struggle with. I have found myself finding some a little each day. Sometimes there is nothing you can do and yelling or getting mad will only make it worse. This mother business is definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be. How hard could it be to raise a human being? REALLY HARD. I do love my children and I would never change a thing. People ask me all the time. Are you going to have more? NO! Not now anyways.

Sick little man...

2011-01-31T16:13:00.000-08:00

I hate it when my kids are sick. I hate everything that comes along with it. Fever, throw up, snotty faces. Jaxen woke up in the middle of the night a few nights ago. I changed his diaper and put him back to bed. In the morning I went to get him and he was white as a ghost. It was Ava's b-day and we were supposed to go into Lethbridge that day. I just forgot about it and we went about our day. On the way to Lethbridge he threw up all over the car/car seat. SICK!!! Throw up in the car seat is the worst, there is so many spots for it to go and it sinks. We got to Kyles parents and tossed him in the tub and cleansed his car seat the best we could. When we got home later that night he went straight to bed. Sunday he layed on the floor all day and didn't move. His temp got up to 38.5 so we kept up with the tylenol and advil. I guess if you alternate between the both of them it works better. Monday he still had a high fever so I thought a trip to the doctors office was due. It turns out he has some sort of throat/ear infection. We got some antibiotics so hopefully it will start working soon.

Happy Birthday little Miss Ava

2011-01-31T16:04:00.001-08:00

My little girl turned 4 this past Saturday. I cannot believe it, it breaks my heart. She is growing up so fast and is such a joy. She has so much energy and I can't keep up. We had a family get together on Friday night with my family. We had some dinner and some yummy cake. Later on we opened some presents and did some visiting. On Saturday we went over to Kyle's parents. Ava and her cousin celebrated their bdays together this year. Kloe turns 5 in Feb, such a cute little girl. Ava had lots of fun! She thought she was pretty special to have two birthday parties.

Parent Preschool Meltdown

2011-01-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

I am not going to lie, I am sitting here bawling as I write this. I had a horrible experience this afternoon. I joined Parent Preschool and was a little apprehensive to start with. I was nervous Ava would not listen and Jaxen would be a freak show. Ava had no problems and listened very well. Jaxen was a different story. He acted exactly the way I knew he would. He was fine during play time didn't even fuss once. Then clean up time came along. The screaming and kicking started. I helped him put the toys away while he cried the whole time. Then we moved to circle time, no success. I am not exaggerating here, he SCREAMED and BAWLED. So embarrassing! I was actually doing really well at holding it together, I wasn't even getting mad. A nice lady was trying to reassure me that it's normal and that it will be okay. Then Mary-Rose came along and was trying to talk to Jaxen. She tried to give him some snacks and help me as well. All along Jaxen is still freaking out. He wanted those damn trains and cars so badly. I couldn't put him down because I know the standards that they have for the kids. They have to learn to sit and listen during circle time. I know that it's hard for small children but I have never seen one act like mine. Mary-Rose was so kind and I am so grateful. She never made me feel bad, not once. I was doing pretty good at holding myself together. Then a door opened up. "Excuse me, could you get rid of him? I am trying to teach a class and he is a huge distraction." That was the last straw. My eyes teared up and I was holding it back. Mary-Rose asked me a question and I lost it. I started crying and could not stop. The only reason that I was staying is because of Ava. She loves it there, how could I deprive her. I was embarrassed that I was crying and couldn't stop. I was horrified that MY child was so unruly. I wanted to be mad at Jaxen but I was so mad at that lady for hurting my feelings. I felt bad for him that somebody was annoyed by him. His mine and I love him. Although I do know that he will not be going back there for a long time. This mothering business makes me feel like I am a failure. I hate not being in control and not being able to stop it. Some days I think that I can do this but days like today I want to throw in the towel. I see all the other moms with their children sitting perfectly in their laps. Then there's me bawling in the background trying to keep myself composed. I am still crying and I honestly don't know why. It truly wasn't a big deal, I am lying it was. The bottom line is that I was embarrassed and there was nothing I could do. I did end up leaving the class. They let Ava stay and someone was so kind to give her a ride home. This is just a bad mom moment and it will pass. In the mean time I am going to go finish crying in my bed.

Christmas Time 2010

2010-12-28T09:08:00.001-08:00

Ava's princess castle

Priceless Smile

Jaxen saying "car"

A few thank you's with hugs, sweet girl

Pure excitement

Ava's haul

Jaxen's haul

Daddy's

Mommy's

Chirstmas was good. I didn't get out of bed until 9:00am, what's better than that? I slept in Ava's room, woke up to my dog whining. I Went to wake up Kyle and Ava, they were awake watching catoons in bed. How nice of them to wait for me to wake up. Anyway, we had to go wake Jaxen up. That little boy likes to sleep in, makes me so happy. Ava started us out, she gets so excited. I love how her little face lights up. Jaxen went next. He was excited but I think he would have been satisfied with one toy. We would get him to try and open things but he just didn't want to. Kyle's main gift was a #4 hybrid golf club, whatever that is. He told me what he wanted so that's what he got. I also got him a few clothing items, he is running short of clothing. I got spoiled this Christmas. I got a video camera and a diamond necklace, I am a loved lady. After opening presents we made breakfast and just relaxed all morning. Once 2:00pm hit I was off to work. I was a little bummed about it but atleast I got to spend the morning with my family. Kyle and the kids went to his Grandma Shurtz' house for lunch later that afternoon. Then he hauled them to my Grandma Wendorff's for dinner. He is a good man! I got home from work around 12:00am hoping to watch a movie but Kyle was passed out. I suppose it is exhausting dragging the kids around all day. All in all it was a good day!

Christmas Show 2010

2010-12-11T10:01:00.001-08:00

Ava has been in Musical Theater since September, she loves it! Every Thursday she gets so excited to go to Mrs. Roach's to sing and dance. I was a little nervous in the beginning if she would behave and listen. I think she is better for other people to tell you the truth. This past Friday was her Christmas Show. Again, I was nervous to see how she would do. I honestly thought she would be too nervous to sing and dance on stage let alone say her line. She did amazing! She was a little timid at first but once she got going she did great. I was so proud, I got little butterflies in my stomach. I think this will be good for her, it will give her a chance to open up and be confident. I am glad I decided to put her and I am sure she is as well.

I'm a Dog...

2010-12-04T19:47:00.001-08:00

We have decided that Mikka our dog is going to be an indoor dog. It's taken us about 4 years to decide this. I often think about her and what a sad life she really has. We love our dog but she is large and very playful. She is the most loving and patient dog, she would never hurt anyone. She is great with the kids, she loves Ava. It has only been two days but I think it is going alright. She is actually lying beside me right now. She is busy around the house, there are so many new smells. You can already tell she is so happy, she loves being around us. The only down side is that Ava has decided she is a dog. She pants, barks and licks. Kyle thinks it's good that she has an imagination. I think she's crazy!

Blankie

2010-11-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

Jaxen LOVES his blanket, it is his best friend. He needs it to fall asleep and is a very sad man if he doesn't have it. He likes to put it in his mouth for some reason. He doesn't suck on it but likes to bite on it. I think it's so cute when he rubs it on his face to comfort him. I just wanted you all to see how cute my baby boy is.

Lovely Snow

2010-11-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I don't care for snow. I don't like being cold, wearing coats or going outside in -30 weather. I sometimes wonder why I even live here. I guess it's just something you get used to and becomes part of your live. We were snowed in yesterday, literally. Kyle was able to get his truck out for work in the morning but there was a 4 ft drift in front of my garage. Kyle borrowed my dads snow blower last night and was outside for a good hour or so. Needless to say he made a pretty good pile of snow in front of our house. I always get good ideas that I should shovel the driveway. I think I am pretty strong and I could do it. I have come to the realization that I think I am stronger than I really am. Snow is heavy! I hurt my back and shoulders all the time. To get to the point, I was shovelling when Kyle got home from work today. I was doing pretty good. I had the kids and the dog out, we were having fun. Kyle heads right to the pile of snow and starts digging. He made a fort and I shovelled the drive way. The kids had a good time and so did my husband. Kyles always been a kid at heart. I love that man!!!

A Walk in the Past

2010-11-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am sure a lot of people are aware I was in some sort of MVA. I found some pics lying around so I thought I would do a post about it. Back on July 5th, 1998 I was in B.C. for one of my cousins weddings. The wedding was over and a few days later we decided to go to White Rock Beach for the day. We had some breakfast first and headed back to my Aunt and Uncles. We then split up into different vehicles. I got into the vehicle which my cousin was driving, my sister in the passenger sit and my cousin from Lethbridge was sitting beside me in the back. I was sitting behind the driver. We started driving and were listening to some music and then blank...The next thing I remember is walking passed the mirror on my way to the bathroom. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I burst out in tears, the initial reaction of what happened to my hair. I can't remember anything from the first 8 days after the car accident. I guess the mirror woke me up. I guess we were driving through a green light when somebody decided to turn in front of us. We hit them of course and I ended up hitting my head on something in the car. I was unconscious and somebody started CPR. The ambulance came and took me away. I had a CT scan at the hospital which showed a bleed on the brain. Off to surgery I went. They ended up having to cut a piece of my skull out to relieve the pressure. They then used stainless steel to wire the piece back in. If you are wondering if I beep at the air port, I do not. Everyone asks me that. They then used 54 staples to close me back up. That is the story of my car accident back 1998. I can't believe it's been over 12 years, it truly feels like it was yesterday. I am a very lucky person. It was a very rough time in my life and it still effects me till this day. That day changed my life in so many ways. I had a plan but that plan was changed for me. When it's all said and done, I wouldn't have changed one thing. My life is pretty dang good. I have a loving husband and two beautiful children. I don't think I will ever forget and all I can do is continue on LIVING. I truly did get a second chance.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Halloween as a mother is definitely different but it is equally as enjoyable. Ava was so excited this year, she could hardly contain herself. We started Halloween off by going to a party at Grandma Nola's. We had snacks, played some games and did a little visiting. Later on we went home, ordered some pizza and got ready for trick-or-treating. Ava really wanted to be Snow White, that's what she was last year. My mom bought this costume for Ava and with a little convincing, she was good to go. I think she is the cutest little witch in the whole world. Jaxen on the other hand wasn't so sure what was going on. Every time I put that spider costume on him, he would scream. As long as I had a sucker on hand he seemed to settle. We started around the block at 6:15. Ava was in heaven! After every house she would ask me "are we done?" When I said no she got a huge smile on her face. Jaxen was happy at first but every time someone put something in his bag, he tried to get it out. He was getting so upset that he couldn't reach into the bag and grab the candy. It was taking forever and he was freaking out. Kyle ended up taking him home and Ava and I continued around the block. It was getting a little bit chilly by the end of our circle so we decided to head home. We all sat down in the living room dumped out the candy to see the goods. The kids indulged for a little while and then had a good tooth brush and headed to bed. I was the lame house that shut my lights off at 8:00pm. I didn't want anyone to ring my doorbell and wake up my kids. All in all it was a great night!

Little Monster

2010-10-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Jaxen is surprising me more each day. This little guy knows what he wants! When he wants it, he wants it NOW. He has quite the scream/growl that tends to get to me. I can handle most things but when he lets out this awful noise it drives me nutty. He is talking more each day, most wouldn't understand but we can. He says thank you all the time, so cute. He dropped something in Subway and a lady handed it back. "thank you". She was surprised and I was proud. I had to capture these photo's, the sub looks bigger than his head. No need to worry, he did not eat the whole thing. It was actually mine and he wanted it so I let him have it. Kyle and Jaxen are buds, it makes me sad sometimes. Jaxen would rather be with him than me. I guess if you spend all day with a crazy lady you would be excited for a new face. Jaxen loves his blanket. Ava never had any attachment to anything. Every morning Jaxen grabs his blanket and their off together. Ava and Jaxen fight like no other, it annoys me but they are getting better. I know one day they will be best friends. It is amazing to watch my children grow, it is happening too fast.

Mr. McGoozers

2010-09-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Where did that name come from you ask? I don't know. I have called Jaxen that since he was a tiny baby. So that's that. Anyways, I love this little guy with all my heart. He's a little charmer and he lights up any room. His smile is to die for, it makes my heart melt. I have found that he has gotten a little left out. This post is dedicated to my Jaxen. He is now 18months and growing very quickly. He's running around like no other, getting into EVERYTHING. I found him under the sink actually eating dish soap. He is always one step ahead of me! Of course I have the child proof locks but I forget to lock them all the time. He still doesn't say very many words but he is getting better each day. You have to get him in the right mood if you want him to say something. Usually he just looks at you and laughs. He still doesn't say mommy, I know he can but he chooses not to. He says dada all the time and lights up when Kyle walks in the room, he loves his daddy. You may not understand him but I know what he is saying. He can say car, bubbles, baba, dada, attempts Ava, tractor, goodnight, go. That's all I can think of right now. He is obsessed with any kind of car/truck/tractor. He lights up and gets so exctied, it's so cute. He loves his big sister even though she beats him up everyday nonstop. Pretty soon he will be able to give it back. He used to lay down so easily but in the last week, everytime we lay him down he screams bloody murder for at least 5 min. I just leave him and he falls right asleep. Sounds mean but I don't want him to get used to us coming into his room. He truly is sweetheart and I love him so much. I think we are going to be buds when he gets older.

My little Ballerina

2010-09-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

All ready for class

Lets get going!!!

My little girl has officially started her first dance class. I remember when I was in tap and ballet, not really but some memories still exist. I remember the shuffle step and my little pink body suit with bears and a big teal bow. Anyways, I am not sure how I feel. I am happy for her but my heart aches because I know she is growing so quickly. She was so excited when I bought her leotard and pink tights. She dances around all day and can't seem to get enough. When we woke up this morning I was in the bathroom and she peaks her head in and asks "is it time for dance today". We got dressed and honestly I was so worried about her hair. I can't even do my so how do they expect me to do hers. With a little gel and tons of hairspray I think I did okay, it didn't even go fuzzy. Her little friend Kylie is in her class so I think it makes it a little more fun for her. I dropped her off and she ran off with a smile. I picked her up 45 minutes later and she was already showing my her butterflies, witches and fairies. I am not sure what those are but I am sure I will learn soon enough. I asked her if she liked and she said "it was alright". She makes me laugh. Kyle then asked if she wants to go back and she said "maybe next week". Funny girl!

I'm falling behind!

2010-09-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Summer has been busy and fun. I truly haven't felt that we even had a summer as the weather went but we didn't let that get us down. I am only going to blog on one item right now and then maybe tomorrow I will blog again. I am going to focus on Medicine Hat in this post. I don't even remember when it was we went, maybe a month ago. Ava and I were going to go by ourselves for the weekend. I was excited to get away with my little girl but I thought it would be more fun with some girl company. I phoned Kristi and invited her and Ellie to join us. She accepted and we all met in Medicine Hat on a Saturday. I haven't been to Medicine Hat for probably 14 years so I have no idea where I was going. Kyle thankfully printed a map off for me and it actually wasn't hard to find, the hotel I mean. We stayed at the Medicine Hat Lodge. I had a free nights stay in an Executive Suite, which I won at the Magrath Museum dinner. We met Kristi and Ellie there and decided to go for a little snack at Wendy's. We then did a little shopping and I bought a new bathing suit, so cute. We then went to Kelsey's to eat supper. Ava was so tired, I wasn't sure if she was getting sick or just exhausted. She slept in the booth during supper, which was nice for me. She woke up, got a second wind and we were off to shopper's for some last minute items we forgot. We went back to the hotel and went swimming. They had 2 waterslides, a hot tub, a baby pool and a big pool. Afterwards we went back to our room to have a midnight snack and watch some tree house before bed. It truly was a nice getaway and I really need to do it more often.

Swimming Lessons

2010-08-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

My little Ava was so excited to start swimming lessons this year. Ava espeacially loved her teacher Alyssa. Alyssa was so good with all the kids, I know I couldn't teach a bunch of three year olds. I was a little nervous, she has never put her head underwater. She got right in but never did put her head under. I am fine with that, I didn't want to force her because I didn't want her to become scared of the water. Raymond has a great set up for people with toddlers. Ava got to swim and Jaxen and I got to play in the kiddie pool. Can't wait for next year, I hope she puts her head underwater before then.

Rihanna Concert

2010-07-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

I have always like going to concerts but as I get older I don't seem to go as much. I look on ticket master every now and then and the Rihanna concert caught my eye. I don't have any of her cd's but I hear her on the radio a lot. I like the songs and I knew she would put on a good show. I bought two tickets and knew exactly who was going with me. I called Kristi and told her to book July 6th off. The 6th came and I was so excited to leave my life for the evening. I left for Strathmore around 12:30pm and arrived 2 hours later. Ellie was sleeping so we finished getting ready and headed into the city. We went shopping for awhile and went to drop Ellie off with her dad. Kristi and I then decided to get a bit to eat. We went to Earls, where Kristi treated me to a delicious meal. If you ever eat at Earl's try the Jerra Curry Chicken, so yummy. We then headed over to the Saddledome where the concert was held. It is always so busy and I get a nervous feeling in my tummy for some reason, I always have in big crowds. I always think someone is going so steal me, crazy I know. We found our seats and waited for the show to begin. Kesha opened for Rihanna and it was actually really good. She is a bit strange but I enjoyed it. I also thought she would sound bad live but her voice was surprisingly good. Then Rihanna came out, the crowd went nuts. It was a very scandalous act, lots of skin and lots of touching. It also was a very dark performance, she has changed a lot since she first came out. It is up in the ranks for the concerts I have been to. The best part of the whole evening was being able to spend it with my best friend, Love you Kristi!!!

Look at those eyelashes!

Scandalous!

Very exciting

That outfit went right up her butt, nice bum though!

All and all a very good concert!

26!!!

2010-05-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

I turned 26 on May 4th, 2010. I'm old and I hate it. I feel the wrinkles in my face, my body sagging more each day, and my joints hurting. In the whole scheme of things 26 is not that old but to me it feels old. 4 years and I am going to be 30, I don't even like to think about it. I feel like I am an 18 year old trapped in a 26 year old body. I try to do things that were a breeze back in the day and I almost kill myself. I couldn't even imagine what would happen if I did a back flip. I'm happy to admit that I am still pretty flexible but that too is fading away as my age progresses. I tell myself everyday that I am going to eat better, exercise and take care of myself. Not too much exercise happening over here and I don't eat what I should either. It's going to catch up to me, it has started already. I just remember being in high school and thinking my sisters were so old. That will never happen to me I thought, oh the things you think in high school. Anyways, I like to rant every now and then so there is my rant for the day. I hate getting old.

I want to go to sleep..

2010-05-08T01:14:00.000-07:00

It's 2:32 am and I want to be in my own bed sleeping. Where am I you ask? Work, that's where I am. Work is such a lovely place, it a place where I get to help others and miss out on my very favorite thing, sleep. Is sleep really that important? YES YES YES!!! I cannot survive without sleep and these 1900-0700 shifts kill me. Why do I do them you ask? I don't really know, money I suppose. Do I like to work? Sometimes. Do I like to be up in the middle of the night? No. Do I like money? Yes. So I guess the money wins. Oh, the bills need to get paid as well and I like to feel that I contribute to that. I hate getting home and everyone is sleeping. Ava is usually in our bed and I end up waking her up and Kyle has to get up. I feel bad but then I am like, hey who was up all night working? Oh, that would be me. He gets up at 6:30 every morning so sleeping until 7:00 is like sleeping in for him. Maybe I will give her breakfast and put a movie in and then Kyle can sleep until Jaxen wakes up. Is that bad? I have a secret. I can't get up before eight, I just can't. If Ava wakes up she usually will get her DVD player and watch movies in my room until eight. Yesterday morning she came in our room at 5:00am and didn't fall back asleep. Kyle got up, Ava got up and I was MAD. I got her breakfast took her downstairs and I went back to sleep. I am the worst mom ever! Jaxen usually doesn't get up until 8:30ish. I have to sleep and if I don't get sleep, I am a nightmare to be around. I can't help it and I feel bad for whoever is around me. Having new babies is the worst for me. I was always so tired and angry in the middle of the night, just like everyother mom. The only difference is they can handle it and I can't. Kyle was my lifesaver. He would always take the kids for me after I fed them. He would even take them downstairs so I could sleep. He always said that he would rather be tired than deal with a tired me. Hence, I am crazy/out of my mind. So really this blog was a ramble about how I love sleep and I need sleep yet I am working a 12 hour night shift. I don't make any sense but at least it is the weekend and I have the BEST husband ever who will let me sleep all day and not complain once.

Jaxen's One!

2010-03-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Thomas the Train

Cute kids!

Ava gets so excited, Jaxen not so much

That's about all he ate of his cake

I'll just sneak a tad off the edge

My little man is officially one years old. I remember wishing he would hurry and get older but now I wish him a baby again. He gets everywhere and does not stop for one minute. He still is unable to walk and I am guessing he won't until about 15-16 months. He would rather crawl than even try. I don't mind but secretly I wish he would hurry up. He is getting pretty heavy and if I could set him down for a moment that would be nice. He is about 26 pounds and Ava is 30 pounds. We had a little get together with my side of the family. We had hotdogs, hamburgers and cake. Jaxen had a good time opening the presents but when it was time for cake I was surprised. I thought for sure he would dig right in but he hardly took a bite. He even cried, it was strange. Anyways, it was a good time had by all. My kids are growing up so fast but that just means I am getting old.

Who's bed? Mine!!!

2010-02-18T15:32:00.000-08:00

We have been trying to get Ava to sleep in her "big bed" since December. In a post awhile back I swore I would never let Ava sleep in my bed, we will get back to that though. We started with the sitting in her room until she fell asleep but it didn't work. Then we tried laying in bed with her but that became a game. Then I ended up sleeping downstairs on a air mattress with her, that lasted about one month. It truly was the only way she would fall asleep and allow me to get some sleep too. I am not the greatest to be around when I haven't had any sleep. I then decided to take out her nap completely to see if that made a difference. Well, she now will fall asleep in her bed and stays there for about 3-4 hours. She will wake up in the middle of the night and find her way to our bedroom. Kyle tried taking her back to her bed but she would always find her way back in 10 or so minutes. I stopped fighting the one thing I didn't want to do. Ava now sleeps in our bed most nights. She is horrible to sleep with. She kicks, rolls, arms fly, it is dangerous. Oh well, I guess we are all sleeping though right?

Jaxen at 10 months

2010-02-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

Cute little guy

Trying to crawl up the stairs

Jaxen has a special place in my heart. When Jaxen was born he was very stiff. His little body would not bend no matter how hard you tried. I honestly didn't think anything of it until anybody and everybody that held him commented on it. I decided to take him to the doctor to see if he thought anything was wrong. The doctor from Raymond decided to send him to a pediatrician in Lethbridge. Jaxen has been seeing Dr. Wong for about 8 months now. Initially Doctor Wong thought there was a possibility it was Cerebral Palsy. My heart sank at the news. We were then sent to the hospital so Jaxen could get an ultrasound through his soft spot on his head to see if there was any bleeding on the brain. The ultrasound was clear thank heavens but then what was causing the stiffness? Jaxen has also been seeing a physiotherapist for about 6 months to work with him. It's a workout for Jaxen but I think it really is helping him. Everytime we go back to Dr. Wong, the stiffness seemed to decrease. The last time we went to see Dr. Wong he said the stiffness had resolved itself. That was a relief but all that worry for nothing. I know they want to prepare you but come on, I was a basket case. The stiffness is gone but Dr. Wong is now worried because Jaxen is behind on his developmental growth. Jaxen couldn't sit until he was almont 9 months old. He still can't really crawl, he army crawls. The last time we say the doctor he said he wanted Jaxen walking along furniture, that won't happen. He really is getting better, I find that he is about 2-3 months behind most babies his age. But then what's this business about every baby being different. I don't know what to think but I do know I love him and he can take how ever long he wants to start walking. We go back to see Dr. Wong on the 24th of this month so we will see. Here is a list of what Jaxen is doing and liking these days:

-Loves food! Eats anything and everything

-Eats 3 times a day and 3-4 bottles

-Can army crawl. Can crawl 3-4 steps then drops back to his stomach

-Starting to pull himself onto things

-Can get up 2 stairs by himself

-Can get into crawling position from tummy and then sit up

-Still only says dada, laughs at me when I say mama

-Sleeps through the night most nights

-Loves Ava and tries to keep up with her

-Laughs at everything

-Has a tender heart

Jaxen at 10 months

2010-02-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Cute little guy

Trying to climb the stairs

This little man has a special place in my heart. When Jaxen was born his body was very stiff and he wouldn't bend. I honestly didn't think anything of it until everyone and anyone who held him commented on it. I decided maybe I would take him to the doctor to see if he thought something was wrong. The doctor from Raymond decided to refer Jaxen to a Pediatrician in Lethbridge. Jaxen started seeing Dr. Wong when he was about 2-3 months old. He was concerned and was thinking there was a possibility it was Cerebral Palsy. My heart sank when I heard the news but yet I was hopeful. We were sent to the hospital so Jaxen could get a ultrasound on his head. They were thinking maybe there was some bleeding that was causing the stiffness. A couple of weeks later we got a phone call, the ultrasound was normal. I was so happy but yet there was no answers.

Funny girl

2010-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

This morning I wasn't feeling so hot when I rushed to the toilet to barf. Nope, not pregnant just sick. Little Ava rushed to my side to see if I was alright when she asked "Momma did you eat too much?"

Look who's 3!!!

2010-01-31T09:43:00.001-08:00

Ava's choice of cake

Blowing out her candles

Ava's favorite gift

Cousins Zoey, Ava, Lily

Ava turned three last Saturday. Where has the time gone? I still think of her as my sweet little baby, I always will. I had the whole day planned of what needed to be done. I had an interview at 1:45 and didn't get out until 3:00, way longer than I expected. I had to run into Lethbridge to pick up the cake. We get our cakes from Edible Elegance, they will make anything you ask for. I know lots of mom's out there make their own but I like to buy thank you very much. I then had to run to Wal-mart to get her gift, I know last minute. I knew what I was going to buy already so I just had to pick it up. Then the pop, ice cream and chips. It was getting late by this time, people were coming over at 7:00pm. I still had to mop the floor, I was stressing. I knew I was running behind schedule but then a little growl hit the tummy. I was driving and I noticed the new Wendy's, I had to stop. A spicy chicken sandwhich, fries and a coke later I was on my way home. I walked in the door to a clean house but two dirty children. I popped them in the tub, cleaned the little angels and popped them out. We were cutting it close at this time but I knew it was alright. I got them dressed, did their hair and we were ready. People started to show up just as we were finishing the decorating. It was the first year I had both sides of the family together. I don't know why, I guess it seemed easier. There was a lot of people here but it was fun. We just ate cake and ice cream, opened presents and visited. The kids ran around and made lots of noise. Ava had a great time, she loves playing with family and friends. One down, one to go. Little Jaxen turns one in March..........

Better late then never

2010-01-21T10:28:00.000-08:00

Just a little shout out to my hubby. It's now been four years as of Jan. 7,2010. The time flew by and now with 2 kids and many adventures what can I say? I love this man and I know he loves me. I couldn't have picked anyone better. He is a great husband and a fantastic father. Thanks babe for being so amazing and putting up with your crazy wife!

I've never seen this...

2010-01-04T14:21:00.001-08:00

I had to post this picture because I have never seen this before myself. Jaxen's two bottom teeth came in when he was 5 months. I expecting the top two to make their appearance next but that wasn't the case. The two beside the top two came in first, so strange. He is so cute when he smiles, it looks funny too. He finally started to army crawl a few weeks ago so now I have to actually watch him. He's there one minute and gone the next. He will be crawling in no time but walking is a different story.

Oh how I miss Ava's crib...

2009-12-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

I did it, I finally took down Ava's crib. I left it up so long due to my own laziness, I like to sleep. Once you put that little girl in her crib you didn't see or hear from her until 9:00-9:30. Don't get me wrong, we have tried the toddler bed before. It didn't work so well and I didn't have the patience. She had a crib and a bed in her room for a long time and that probably confused her I suppose. She wanted to sleep in her "big bed" so we let her try. After a few chances we gave up and put her in the crib. Kyle decided she was too old for her crib and I have to agree, I just didn't want to. She will be 3 soon and I guess I have to let her grow up. Once the crib was down my heart sank just a little bit. She is growing up too fast and it makes me sad. She is fully potty trained and now the big bed. Where has my baby gone? I guess I was trying to hold on to that one last thing from when she was a baby, strange I guess. Anyways, this bed idea was as bad as I thought it was going to be. SHE WILL NOT STAY IN HER BED!!!!!!! I get mad, she laughs, oh how I miss that crib. I try to listen to super nanny but what does she know? Jokes, it kind of works but not really. The first night I sat on the floor for 1 hour 30 minutes. Shoot me in the head please. The second night she didn't have a nap that day so it didn't take too long but last night was pure hell. Almost 3 hours! I sat there for the first hour but couldn't take it any longer so I got Kyle. He sat there for the next hour and I was getting mad. I went back up and let Kyle get some sleep, it was almost midnight by this time. I guess your not supposed to say anything or make eye contact, if they get out just put them back in the bed. I don't know what I am doing at all. Nobody talks about these things so I guess your on your own. I guess I couldn't let her nap anymore but she loves to nap and if she doesn't she is a nightmare. She usually naps for 2 hours so I could bump it down to 1 and see if that works. Who knows but hopefully it will get easier soon because I don't think I can do this for much longer. Even though I am not doing anything while I am sitting there, it is exhausting. I refuse to let her sleep in my bed, she never has and she never will. I don't want her to get in that habit. I also won't sleep in her bed, I just don't want her to be dependent on Kyle and I to fall asleep. That may be harsh but that's how it is minus the fact that I can't sleep with a kicking child. She doesn't stop moving. It has to get better right? Maybe by the time she's 4...

Family Photo

2009-12-15T10:38:00.001-08:00

I decided that just maybe it was time to take a family picture. In all honesty I have not even taken professional pictures of Jaxen yet. Yes, I am a horrible mother! We haven't had a family picture taken since Ava was one. I can say that I have been busy but in reality I am just lazy. I was going to get a friend to take them last summer but then I decided that I would like Jaxen to be able to sit. Who knew he wouldn't be able to sit until he was almost 9 months old. Anyways, I wanted to get some done before Christmas. It was a little harder than I anticipated due to the cold weather and a hyper child. Ava seriouly would not hold still and when she did she didn't want to look at the camera. This photo here was the best out of the bunch and it was the FIRST one taken. There was some other cute ones but Kyle's head was either cut off or one of us wasn't looking. All in all it was worth it. At least now I have some pictures I can give to family.

No more Presents!!!

2009-12-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Ava's haul last Christmas

This year Kyle and I have decided enough is enough. How many presents does a child need? Jaxen for example, he is 9 months old. Do you think he cares how many presents he gets? Does he think the more presents he gets the more we love him? No, I didn't think so. And Ava, she is only 2 years old. 2 YEARS OLD!!! We want to teach our children what Christmas is really about and not about how many presents you get. I have seen people go crazy and spend so much money. In the moment it is exciting and thrilling as you are shopping seeing what you can buy next. I am not going to lie, I have gotten sucked in before. It's fun shopping and buying lots of things for you children. When it's all over and realize how much you have really spent can make you sick to your stomach. This year we planned out exactly how much money we were going to spend on each child and not a penny more. I went out by myself last weekend to buy Kyle and the kid's gifts. Ava wanted a camera, a pink phone and a Max and Ruby video. As we were writing the letter to Santa I asked her what else she wanted(just so I had options). She put her head down and quietly said that she doesn't need anything else. Well, that made it easy for me. I headed to Toys'R'Us and got started. The camera was the most expensive but the other two items were cheap. Jaxen got some toys but I didn't want to go crazy because I already have so many toys at home. I have all the big toys from when Ava was a baby so it was mostly trucks and such. I had money left over so I went to Wal-Mart for stocking stuffers. I was in and out of Toys'R'Us but when I hit Wal-Mart it was a different story. Who knew stocking stuffers cost a lot of money, I just kept putting stuff in the cart. In the end I spent $17.00 more then I had planned. I was proud of myself and you all probably think I am crazy. Really it helps both the kids and us. They learn to not expect lots of "things" and we save money. If only I thought the same way with Kyle. I knew part of what I was going to get him when I left home and bought that right away. As I walked around the mall I kept seeing things that I wanted him to have. I really did have to restrain myself and I was happy in the end with what I bought him. I just hope he feels the same way.

Finally

2009-11-27T09:12:00.001-08:00

Jaxen can finally sit! It took the little guy 8 1/2 months but he got it. I am having a hard time comparing him to Ava and other babies. Ava was already crawling and climbing on things at his age. He only rolls to get from place to place and now sits. I watch other babies when we are out and they seem to be able to do a lot more. He is a big boy weighing in at 23.8 pounds so maybe that has something to do with it. Heavier people have a hard time getting up so maybe it's the same. He doesn't seem to mind though, he really is a happy baby. He smiles all the time and now plays shy. It's so cute, he turns his head into his shoulder and gives a little smile. I used to hold Jaxen during the day when he was napping but that turned out against me. At night I would feed him and try to lay him down but as soon as he hit the crib he was screaming. He was used to somebody holding all the time while sleeping. It was becoming rediculous because he was dead weight in your arms so you knew he was sleeping. I decided it would be best for him to learn to comfort himself and try to cry it out. The first night was so sad, he cried for about 10 minutes and there was no signs of it stopping. The next night Jaxen cried for 10 minutes and was out cold for the rest of the night. I decided no more holding during the day and it's worked out so far. It's probably better for Ava too, having a little more one on one time. It just makes me sad that my babies are growing up so fast. Jaxen is already almost 9 months, which means almost a year which means I go back to work. That's a whole other post though....

Halloween

2009-11-08T07:52:00.000-08:00

Too cute for words

I can never get her to smile with her eyes open

Ava was looking forward for Halloween so much. She was always asking if it was Halloween yet and if we could go trick or treating. When it came down to it they were way too sick to go trick or treating on Halloween night. They both had really bad colds and I didn't think it was fair for them to go out and get others just as sick. Instead we stayed at home in our jammies and watched Charlie Brown's Halloween special. I really just had to put them in their costumes so I could get some pictures. Ava was a cute Snow White or as she put's it "Princess". Jaxen was priceless in his skunk costume. In the end I don't think Ava cared too much, she got to eat all the left over candy.

H1N1 Vaccine

2009-10-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

To get the vaccine or not, that is the question. I was so against the vaccine and I told everyone there is no way me or my children will be getting it. I was listening to the news and not one doctor was against it,but they are doctors, of course they are going to "recommend" it. The one side effect that stood in my mind was the chance of paralysis. The chance was one in 1 million but there is still that chance. The fact that it is a new vaccine is scary in itself. I just didn't know what to do. These sorts of pandemics are nerve racking and put you in positions you just aren't sure of. Who wants to be injected with all sorts of nasty things? But do these nasty things protect you or harm you?
There was a flu clinic in Raymond yesterday that started and 12:00pm and ran until 6:00pm. I initially wanted to get the regular flu vaccine along with my children. I got there at 11:30 and the line up was already down the sidewalk. I still wasn't sure if I was going to get the H1N1 vaccine. I started to think of the health of my children and the chances of them getting H1N1. The chances are pretty high according to the Health Region. Do I decide not to get the vaccine and take my chances of them getting H1N1 and the consequences of the sickness which could be possible death? Or do I decide to get them the vaccine and see if there any consequences to that. It is really a sticky situation to be in. In the end I decided to get the H1N1 vaccine as well as well as my children. I did figure the consequences would be worse to not get the vaccine. It made my decision a whole lot easier when I saw a respectable doctor and his family from Raymond waiting in line to receive the vaccine also. It was a nightmare experience waiting in line for 4 hours but I know that I made the right decsion for my family.
I have to tell Ava's experience. My sister Kerrie came with me to help with the children. We told Ava she would be getting a needle and it would feel like a little pinch. I would give her little pinches to prepare her and she laughed each time I did it. She was actually excited which was strange to me, I figured she just didn't get it. There was screaming kids everywhere but I don't think she was paying attention to that. Finally it was our turn after a four hour wait. She sat on my lap, pulled her sleeve and gave the nurse a smile. I looked at Kerrie in disbelief not knowing what was going to happen next. The nurse cleaned her arm with a swab and gave her the needle. Ava just sat there and gave a little chuckle and turned over to receive the next needle. She reacted the exact same way. I was so proud of my little angel. Then it was Jaxen's turn. As I was holding Jaxen I was looking at Ava and she didn't look so well. She was getting more and more white by the second. She looked sick, so I told Kerrie to take her to the bathroom incase she decided to throwup. When Jaxen was done, I went to get Ava from the bathroom but a Nurse was walking out with limp little Ava in her arms. My heart dropped as I followed them to the couch in the back of the room. After a little juice and rest Ava was ready to go again. I was the exact same way when I was little so maybe it runs in the family. It's just different when it's your little one instead of yourself. No side effects from the injection yet and lets hope it stays that way. I am not trying to promote getting the drug so please nobody think that I am. It was a hard decision for myself but I decided it was the best decision for us.

Potty Training

2009-10-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have decided that this is one of the hardest things both Ava and I have done. For me is trying not to get angry everytime she says "nope, I don't have to pee" then 5 seconds later she pee's on the floor. I think Ava really doesn't care to be potty trained but she really is too old for diapers. She is going to be three is Jan. and I really want her to be diaper free by then. Everyone tells me she will get it in her own time but I don't agree. If I let her stay in her diapers it will get harder and harder to get her out. I never really knew just how stubborn she really is. Daughter like mother I suppose. I even ordered the "The Potty Bootcamp". Let me just say drill time is just horrible. Imagine going back and forth back and forth between rooms and a little girl saying "mommy what are we doing?" "stop it". It just broke my heart. We did make it through the first day but it was unsuccessful. The second and third day there was some process but everytime she goes she thinks she should get a surprise. She still wears diapers when we go out and for naptime and bedtime. I make sure that when we are at home she only wears her panties. She has gone a few times on her own but refuses to poop in the potty. She was holding it in and I knew she had to go. As soon as I put on a diaper she went. This really is one of the most frustrating things I have ever dealt with. I hope she gets it soon!

Early morning drive

2009-10-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

I decided it was finally time to make the trip to Strathmore to visit a dear friend. Before I left I couldn't decide who I should take, Jaxen or Ava. They both have their own pros and cons but yet my heart was torn. Naturally one would think Ava might be the easiest but in reality not so much. She only eats at home or in her car seat, so fast food in usually the only option when out. My lovely little Ava has decided that she is now in charge and what she says goes. I didn't want to have to deal with a kicking and screaming child in the mall if she didn't get her way. So my poor little Ava was out.
Jaxen was the next runner up so we packed and were ready to go. We got to Strathmore eary afternoon, had some lunch and off to Balzac we went. Things we going good so far, had a little melt down in the mall but nothing a bottle couldn't fix. Three hours later we decided it was time to go. Traffic was nuts!!!! We got back home had some supper and played for awhile. Little Ellie and Jaxen we beat so it was time for bed. Jaxen it usually a good sleeper so I didn't think we would have a problem. At 8:30 both kids were out. Kristi and I went down stairs and watched a movie and had some snacks. Midnight rolled around and we headed to bed. I crawled into bed thinking I wouldn't be up til morning...wrong. My little man is such a loud sleeper, it drives me nuts. He wouldn't stop moving and banging his head at the top of the play pen. I can tell if he is restless but still sleeping but the moment I hear him sigh or coo he is up for good. I heard a little coo and we were up. I thought I could get him back to sleep but no luck for me. I knew it was over from there. I really didn't want him to wake Ellie and I really didn't want to stay awake all night.
So it was now 2:00am. What to do what to do??? I am a tad bit crazy so I decided to drive home. It was snowing so bad I thought I was going to have to turn around but thankfully it stopped. Jaxen was sleeping, I was driving, life was good. Never have I seen so much wildlife on the road, I had a couple of close calls. I got home around 5:00am feed jaxen a bottle and slept till 8:00am. Quite the little journey but if I am not sleeping at night I would rather be driving!

A little bit of Ava

2009-07-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

This little girl makes me laugh every day. She is so funny I can't even stand it. She also knows how to push every little button I have. But you think, how could you get mad at something so cute? Ava is now 2 1/2, time goes by way too fast. She is talking away and some things she says are just too much to handle. I often wonder where she comes up with some of the stuff. I have also learned that she listens more than I give her credit for. Kyle and I will be talking about something between the two of us and days later she will bring it up. We have to be careful of what we say because you never know when she will bring it up again. Her favorite peolpe have to be her Papa Max and Papa Buck. It's funny how little kids make up names for people.

Ava sure is a daddy's girl and has him wrapped around her little finger. What she says usually goes, for the most part. Who knew it was so hard raising these little angels. Ava sure gives me a challenge everyday. Some days I want to throw in the towel but how could I? I love my children to death and I would do anything for them.

Jaxen Edward Clifton

2009-07-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Jaxen was born March 11, 2009 at 12:06pm weighing in at 7lbs 15oz. I was induced at 8:30am and had him 3 1/2 hours later. QUICK!!! I stayed in the shower most of the time which really seemed to help. When I was 5 cm dialated I decided to get the epidural. Literally the moment the doctor was done I was 10 cm and ready to push. No luck for me, it was like going without. Hopefully if I do it again it will work, I would like to know what it is like to have an epidural that works. It only took one, yes I said one, push to get him out. Jaxen was so much easier than Ava. Labour always seems to be a competition between women to see who had it the "worst". Or you get the women who said it wasn't that bad. Everyone is different though right???

Jaxen is now 4 months old. He is a chubby little man weighing in at 17lbs. Yes, I am aware that is a little big for someone his age but the doctors aren't worried so I am not worried either. He is a happy little guy and only cries when hungry or tired. He smiles so much, it makes my heart melt. It's not easy with two and I can only imagine how hard it is with three or four. I am not ready to find out anytime soon but time can only tell.

I don't know what I am doing...

2009-07-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

This seems to be the happening thing these days so here it goes. I am not the best at things like this but I might use it more like a journal for me. Really, who wants to know about the Clifton's? I haven't figured out how to use the blog but we will see how it goes. This post is really just a test for me to see if I can even figure that part out. Here it goes.........