Mission, Chilliwack and To Surgery We Go

Port Ho!



 

Sunday, July 28th Cont.:

 

 

Sunday afternoon we got off the ferry and drove through to Mission (an hour East of Vancouver) to see the Hicks'.  Mike's brother Scott, Angela and their two boys live in Mission and the boys were just chomping at the bit to get there!  All four Hicks Grandsons (excluding B) arrived within a three year period so all four boys are very close in age (and silliness!).

Grandma!

 

 

The awesomeness (aside from seeing them of course) is that they've just moved into a new place with a huge outdoor, in ground pool.  We got in the door and the boys were off into the pool! 

 

I had started B on a mild blend of formula and pedialyte and he was tolerating it in small amounts but still not his happy self and still having bouts of cramping.



Strawberry munchers!

Mike's Mom and Dad had driven out from North Vancouver to spend the day as well as his cousin's wife Adrianna and her two cutie pie boys.  We had a great time, great food and great fun!  Ang's sister Lorraine made an appearance as well (while visiting from the East Coast) so it was great to see her too! We drove back (an hour East) to Chilliwack that night (late of course) to stay at my sister's place (who is still in Australia the bum), with the promise to return Monday for another day of cousins.

Uncle Scott

 

 

Monday, July 29th:

 

Monday was a hard day to get up and going (after a long night) so it turned into a late day by the time we got back to Mission but we made the most of it!

 

It was so great seeing the boys playing and hanging out together and Torin was just a complete fish wanting to be in the pool non-stop.

We had another feast topped with lemon cheese cake (as a trade to Scott for a van wash) and lots of laughs.  As always, it is never enough time and it was time to say another round of good-byes again all too soon.

Nate love
 

 

A dip with Auntie Ang

 

Fish boy T

Hicks crew

Harley lovin

The whole gang

 

Tuesday, July 30th:

 



Story books with Uncle John

Tues brought another slow start to the day (are you seeing a tired Momma trend here?) but we were very excited awaiting the arrival of our final few visitors.  My Aunt Terri and Uncle John made the (very long) trek up from Washington State to come and spend the afternoon and evening with us.  It was very hard to reason with Torin this trip why we couldn't go to Auntie Terri's house in the US.  Terri and John's has been on our stop-list of places for the last few times that we've gone out and it is always one of the favourites with the boys.

 

Auntie Terri and her boys

When I take a moment to listen to myself talk to the boys I realize how much I sound like my Aunt Terri and it always cracks me up!  I think because I spent time with them when I was a teenager and I always loved their parenting style.  My own parents were pretty darn great, don't get me wrong but it is Terri's humour that comes out sometimes in what I say.  Could be one of the reasons why my children feel an equal kinship to them.

 

Mr.B, Terri and I got to go out and gather the shopping for dinner that night and got to have some time to chat which was great.  We prepped yet another fabulous meal and were joined by my cousin Erica and her partner Chad (who drove out from Vancouver). 

 

I am sad that there were many people that we didn't get to see this trip but on the flip side we are so fortunate at the number that we did see!  I got to see so many of our family members (many travelled to see us) and for that I am certainly thankful.

 

I stayed up packing into the night on Tuesday night, the final pack...

 

 

Wednesday, July 31st:

 

Home again, home again, jiggity, jig!

 

We didn't get as nearly of an early start as I would have (unrealistically) hoped but we did leave Chilliwack for the final leg of our journey just after 10:30am.  We quickly found out that B wasn't as happy on the drive home as he'd been on the way out.  He kept my Mom busy with his constant demand for new or different toys (he got her trained quickly).  It was a rather uneventful (thankfully) trip home and although B wasn't as great of a traveller we decided to forge on and do the return trip in one day.  We actually made it home to Calgary in 13 hours (which is great) but it made for a 1am bedtime for the boys (and of course B didn't sleep a wink the whole way home).

Gorgeous BC

 

So here we are home again (and what a glorious place it is to be) and already planning out next years trip!  I always have such high hopes of connecting with people when we are travelling but I also never seem to weigh in the exhaustion factor of travelling as well! 

 

For those of you that we did get to see, thank you for making so many wonderful memories with us.  For those of you that we missed seeing (and I'm sorry for that), we'll hope to catch you next time and Calgary's only a (short) 13 hour drive away...

 

B's just now (Aug 6th) getting back to his regular (before trip) feeds.  He's lost over a pound and a half (which is not good) but is seemingly getting better.

 

Today (it is 4am afterall) is surgery day and we are feeling just a tad nervous and stressed about that.  The plan is for the surgical insertion of a new PEG g-tube, an endoscopy and biopsies of the stomach and intestine as well as new ear tubes.  The scary part for me?  He's scheduled for day surgery, I am amazed that he could possibly be in and out...unprecedented.

 

I will most likely send out posts on our FB page throughout the day.  Any positive thought and energy you can shoot our way is always appreciated!

 

From Our (Exhausted But So Very Happy We Did It) Home To Yours...

 

 



Parksville, Coombs, Cowichan Bay, Mill Bay and Victoria Take 3!

Happiest of Birthdays to my sweet middle boy, Rylan (Aug 6).  We are so proud of you my sweet, kind, considerate, empathic, silly and very goofy (now) 7 year old!!

I had such great hopes of blogging my way throughout our whole trip so that those of you that wanted to could join us for the ride.  Alas, best laid plans and all that...

Mr.B decided that he simply needed to shake things up on Weds night (July 25th) as his Momma was feeling just a wee too relaxed.  B ended up with horrible, back-arching stomach cramps and was (for good reason) miserable.  He had a good day and then it all just went south within a short period of time (in B fashion). 

We were able to finish off our trip hospital-free but we did alter the trip more than once 'in case of emergency'.  It is certainly not as easy or as fun blogging backwards!  I wanted to still finish out the trip on here as there were so many important memories and stories that came from it (not to mention all the pictures!).

I thought the easiest way would be to break up the trip in to a few posts to make it a bit easier to read and follow.

This will be the rest of the Vancouver Island visit...


Thursday, July 25th:

We got the day started off right with a visit from the boys Great-Aunt Marion (Michael's aunt), her daughter Kathryn (cousin) and her grandson Mason!  They made the drive up to see us from Campbell River and Torin was so excited!  Torin loves his 'Auntie Mer' and the fact that she talks to his Grandma Jean every night (Torin loves phones and most of all regular phone conversations).

Reading books with Auntie Mer and Kathryn

Mason, who is a few months older then B, loved playing with B's toys and watching the 'baby'.  He's a cutie pie for sure and Kathryn's little wonder.

I was glad that B was happy enough to pose for a few shots for his Momma.

Auntie Keeta got the pleasure of taking the big boys out for a walk on the board walk and then grocery shopping since B was in a very clingy and 'off' mood.  (Have I mentioned how much I love and appreciate how much my big sisters do for me and us??)  Apparently they think Auntie Keeta is a soft touch since they'd informed her that they needed to buy half the store!

We got to have a lovely dinner date with an old friend (since grade 2) Naomi who herself just spent the last three years sailing the south Pacific.  She would send me encouraging emails when they stopped somewhere with internet and even went so far as to post a note to B at the hospital when we were going through that first 7 and a half months of hospital living. 

Naomi and B chillin with the med supplies

Naomi brought with her the most perfect bottle of wine!  We didn't care how it tasted, we just knew it was great!

We were also joined that evening by my wonderful friend Kiran and her hubby Tyler and we were all sitting around chatting when I did a quick hand-over of Mr.B to Naomi so I could run to the washroom.  I knew B would be mad at me but I thought (as it generally does) that it would pass once I left the room.  So not the case!  I quickly came back into the room to an inconsolable B (poor Naomi!).  Braeden was simply beside himself and when I took him back I realized he was in pain.  He was jerking and then crunching with stomach pains.  I tried venting him with no real success and couldn't get him to really even calm down (so not B).

Auntie Kiran and Uncle Tyler awesomely offered to take the big boys down to the beach for their (promised beforehand) swim.  I sent my wonderful sister out to the store to buy some Pedialyte since B had spiked a fever and Naomi and I gave B a bath as a last ditch effort to calm him.

Thankfully the bath did calm him down and soothe him (and Naomi even got some smiles and giggles) but I knew I was in for a long night.

When Kiran and Tyler brought the boys up from the beach we got a wee bit more of a visit in but certainly was not the visit I'd envisioned!  I sadly said goodnight to all three of them and was very happy that they understood the unpredicableness of Mr.B.

I started running pedialyte for B that night with the hopes of giving his tummy a break (since this all kicked in after a feed) and he was very fitful through the night. 


Friday, July 26th (our last day in Paradise!):

Kennedy staged this shot for me and told Ry, "We need
to hold hands!"

The good part of Friday was that we had early morning visitors as Michelle  (one of my sister's oldest and best friends) and her Daughter Kennedy came by for a visit. 

Kennedy was a hoot with the boys and they all along great.  She was quite taken with meeting Mr.B, she loves babies!  Unfortunately B was still not feeling so hot and just wanted his Momma that morning.  I thought he was doing better (fever was gone) but then he started with the cramping again out of nowhere. 

My (thank goodness she was with us) sister and Michelle went on a suppository run to the drugstore for me with the hopes of giving B some relief on his tummy.  Braeden only needs a slight nudge for his whole GI tract to go out of wack.

Our Pediatrician (who was on holiday herself!) kept in contact with me and gave me her recommendations for treatment (which I can't even begin to express in words how very grateful and thankful I am for this woman and doctor!).  Her idea was that it could be a partial blockage (in the intestine).

We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon getting the house packed up and cleaned up for it's next inhabitants!  Katja, Greg and their girls arrived from Calgary to spend the weekend at the condo and were very kind since I'd not been completely packed up when they arrived.

We'd had plans that day to meet up with my Dad but he'd not been feeling well either so we took a side trip (in the fully loaded van) to a little place called Coombs.

A new generation of goofy goats!

Coombs is a small place (I think it qualifies as a town?) on Vancouver Island but it is world renowned for it's "Goats on the Roof".  When I was a kid (and living on the Island) a trip to Coombs was always fun because it entailed the biggest ice cream cones and a visit to the small market place with a fully grassed over roof that housed goats.  Yup, goats that live on the roof!  It is now considerably larger and many many more buildings since then but those goats (well new ones I'm sure) are still up there. 

It was a hot day so the kids only got to glimpse at the goats as we pulled in (they were trying to be in the shade in the heat).  They got to enjoy the main market place however especially since Auntie Keeta promised that she'd buy them a toy.  (Of course she also bought them each a shirt too!)

After many dollars spent (hers, not mine!) we headed down Island to Cowichan Bay to meet my sister, her partner Aaron and their daughter for dinner.  My niece Acadia simply brings me joy, she is a spitfire of energy and gives the greatest of hugs with her teeny tiny 2 and a half year old body!  She is like my favourite redheaded sister in so many ways and I take great pleasure in that!  My sister Reece (Marisa) is only 15 mths older than me so we grew up close together sharing many friends along the way.  We could not be more different from each other in so many ways (the joke is she is the country mouse as I am the city mouse from a favourite childhood book) but she is so full of love, energy and grace.

We had to say a sad good-bye to Auntie Keeta (my favourite oldest sister) as she had to head back to Victoria to return to work and we got to spend the night at Casa Gunner (Reece and Aaron's house).  It was another very late night (Acadia's latest night and I'm proud to say I'm a horrible influence) and B spent most of the night in night terrors.


Saturday, July 27th

After a painfully long night, B woke up with a completely dry diaper.  Completely.  I had been running straight Pedialyte into him so there was no chance he could be dehydrated.  The next panic was "oh no, maybe it's actually the kidneys!".  I texted the Dr. to let her know and she actually wasn't as worried about the dry diaper due to his age.  She again coached me through her course of action and after much back and forth we made a plan. 

Two peas in a pod!  Acadia and B (my sister is not keen on
having my niece on the blog but this is a pic that I don't
think that she could contest, too much)

Our original plan for the day had been to meet up with my Dad and then take an afternoon ferry over to the mainland and spend the night in North Vancouver.  After much discussion and phone calls to the local hospitals to find out the Dr's on call, Dr.Cassie thought it would be better for us to stay close to Victoria General as she knew the Pediatrician on call there for the weekend.  She even went so far as to call the Ped herself and fill her in on the 'basics' of Braeden and tell her that I may be calling her or asking for her if I took him into Emerge.  (Amazing)

A whole lotta Lavender!

Since the decision was made that we wouldn't leave the Island, we decided to spend some more time with my good friend (and Marisa's best friend) Jenny and her daughter Mimi (Amelia).  We went to the local Lavender Festival where I acquired some goodies and then the boys and I packed up and said our good-byes to my sister and her Mill Bay family.

Jenny and Moi

hangin with Grandpa

The next stop was (finally) a visit to see my Dad who Braeden had yet to meet (and vice versa).  It was great for all three boys to get a chance to see my Dad as he's had some continuing health issues over the past few years and is unable to travel our way.  Torin was happy he got to see all of Grandpa's phones in person (not just via Skype) and Rylan thought it was 'cool' to see where Grandpa lived.  Mr.B was still feeling pretty crummy to the point that he didn't let anyone else hold him but myself but he was content to lay on the floor and play next to Grandpa. 

We left my Dad's place (after an emotional good-bye) to carry on to Victoria and to spend the night at Auntie Keeta's house (funny how we'd just said our good-byes to her since we didn't think we'd see her again this trip).  The nice thing is that Uncle Mike got to meet Mr.B and see the big boys to catch up that otherwise wouldn't have happened.  A fantastic dinner and yet another late night for the boys and Sunday morning came far too quickly.

Ferret kisses at Auntie Keeta's

Sunday, July 28th:



Auntie Rain

We got a surprise visitor at Keeta's house in the morning, my Aunt Lorraine (our Auntie Rain to the kids).  I was happy to see her and that she'd get a chance to meet B as well.  She even managed to pry him away from me and get him outside in the sunshine so that I could pack and get organized without a baby clinging to me.

three, two, one, funny face Cristi!

Keeta made a fabulous breakfast (as usual) and we got ready to hit the road once again.  We did manage to squeak in a short visit with Cristi (Christa's boss lady and awesome friend) so that she could meet B and T could see what colour her (fabulously long) nails were.

Auntie Keeta and Uncle Mike's funny faces...:)

My Mom met up with us at my sister's house and we were off to the ferry en route to Vancouver (more or less).  We made one final stop on the side of the highway to give my Uncle Frank a quick hello and hug so as we wouldn't miss seeing him this trip and onto the boat, Mission bound!

From Our Home (Where Ever We Might Be) To Yours...

Sandcastles, Sun and SAND...oh the Sand!

(I wrote this post on July 25th but never got around to putting the pictures in and therefore not posting it...we'll just pretend that life didn't get in the way and I'll post it as is!)

Who on earth gets in their mini van to drive over 1000kms with their three kids to dip her (medically dependent) son's toes in the Ocean?  Me, yup me and I'll be damned if it wasn't one of the best decisions that I've ever made!

So much sand!

I can't even describe in words the J-O-Y the pure, unadulterated, blissful joy that this baby feels for this place, for the Ocean and the sandy beach.  Mr.B can't get enough fresh air, sand or sun!

Balancing with his head so that he could dig!

It never once crossed my mind it could rain the whole week while we're here, didn't even consider it because I knew I was doing the right thing.  I knew without a doubt in my mind that getting B here was going to be as rewarding to me as it simply is to him (and his overjoyed big brothers). 

The ocean is out there behind us somewhere! 
Sand, sand, sand!

For those of you not familiar with Parksville Beach, it has really low tides and lots and lots of sand (you can walk 1/2 hour on sand before you can get deep enough to swim some days).  We had an awesome play day set up yesterday with some of my wonderful friends (and their kids).  My fantastic friend Erin came down from Campbell River (an hour and a half North) with her two boys as well as her sister Treena and her daughter.  We were thankfully also able to coordinate a day when my other good friend Chuckie could be off work to come join us with her husband Davin and their two girls and Davin's sister.  Six adults and NINE kids (my sister Keeta joined us part way through) when it was all said and done to play and frolic on the beach!

Auntie Erin's snuggles and songs

Not sure who's cuter my good friend Chuckie or her daughter?

"Project HOLE"

 

Momma's tape job...it wasn't pretty but it worked like a charm!
Gotta love the hospital 'pink' tape!

I was very hesitant about B getting sand in his G-tube but I also knew that he'd want down and wouldn't stay on a blanket or under any stinkin sun shade (thank you very much!).  So I let go, I let completely GO.  I taped plastic over his g-tube port (with the awesome 'pink' hospital tape) and let him go...and GO he did!!  He was beside himself with pure, unadulterated J-O-Y.  He dug in the sand while balancing on his knees and head (with both hands digging out to the sides) and he got covered in sand, COVERED!  I'm not too sure how much he 'ate' but he often stuck that lovely, sand covered thumb into his mouth (oral aversion you say?!).  There were SO many highlights of the day but I have to tell you that when B started just rolling non-stop and laughing hysterically it was just too much, my heart simply burst from seeing his joy.

Click here for the most amazing video:  Mr.B's love of the sand!

I had quite the job of cleaning him up when we got 'home' but it was all worth it and the g-tube was clean!  Yay for recycled plastic and tape (although he wasn't too thrilled at having it removed!).

The boys with Pappa in front of their favourite one

We did take a trip down the beach the day before yesterday as well to see the world renowned Sandcastle Competition that takes place on Parksville's main beach each summer.  I used to come up to it as a kid so it was cool to bring my own children to it.  As you can see on the pictures that they are all very impressive and the photos can't even do them enough justice for the details involved in them all.  They boys also got to have a good play in the water park there afterwards and the much needed ice cream cone for the stroll home. 

We've also been partaking in a nightly swim at the beach once the tide comes up and I put B fully in the water the other night.   Wait for it...he LOVED it, big surprise eh?  I had him in up to his armpits and just swayed him back and forth while he laughed and 'sang' his joy.  He was unimpressed each time I stood back up but it was hard on his ol' Momma's back!  I think that he loved the feeling of weightlessness in the ocean since he just kicked his feet like mad.  I did lay him on his back and floated him as well but he enjoyed just being immersed the most.  Once the water comes all the way back in over the hot sand it is so warm and soothing to the soul!  Torin is simply in heaven at swimming in the ocean as well and my sister is stunned at his abilities in the water now, this is a kid that I we had to do so much planning around simply bathing him at one point!  I think Ry's favourite task is digging holes in the sand and finding all kinds of fabulous and new creatures. 

Auntie Keeta!

We had a switch-er-roo in my co-pilots again yesterday as well.  We took Pappa (father-in-law) to the ferry to go back to Vancouver and my oldest sister Keeta (Christa) drove up from Victoria to spend a few days with us.  The boys were certainly sad to see Pappa go but got a pretty sweet trade off with my eldest sister arriving to dote on them!

We also got another special visitor last night when my good friend, Adrienne came up for a short visit.  Ade and B were thick as thieves (as the other two were certainly enamoured as well!) and she got to have the full B experience with dipping him into the water tonight.  It was another late night tonight, I just can't seem to get these boys in bed before midnight!  All of this fresh ocean air and you'd think they'd be yawning off (like their Momma) by 8pm! 

We've got more visitors planned for tomorrow as well!

From Our (Borrowed) Home to Yours...