Busy, Busy, Busy

Okay...I have been a bad blogger, I admit it!!
No defence, could try the busy thing but it really does not take that long to do.
We've enjoyed alot of baseball. Last weekend we were in Dartmouth for a tournament. We were suppose to camp in Dartmouth on Friday night and play as well, but guess what...it rained. In fact, it poured!! Our game was delayed and we did not camp until Sat. We had a great camping trip. Sarah was able to come and keep Elysia company. They even set up the tent for us (rather than watch another game of baseball). We had all the camping players and their families to our site for a great campfire that included smores, Jiffy pop popcorn, fire crackers and mystical fire. It was a super time.
I have no problem camping and sleeping on an air mattress but I would prefer my own air mattress...nothing against my husband. But once Mike lays on the air mattress my soft squishy bed has now risen several inches and is rock hard. I wonder if they have a double air mattress but with each side having their own air baffle...hmmm....have to look into that.

A few weeks ago, Mike's family was able to visit. We had a great time, and Elysia and Graham love when they get to see their "Cape Breton" family. We had some good food and lots of great chuckles. Sheila's girls, Hannah and Kenna are getting so big and grown up.

We are off to Dartmouth for another baseball game tonight. Their is a big commitment to playing rep ball but Graham really enjoys it so it's worth it. Elysia is even getting into it, as long as I bring my camera and let her take pictures.

What are Hooters?!

Yes...that's right...my son asked "what are Hooters?" last night while I was driving the car and drinking tea...I near spit the tea onto the windshield. I could not look at Mike and Elysia and her friend, Kieran were dying laughing in the back...I didn't say a whole lot so Graham's answer was "that's okay, I'll look it up on the internet"...OMG, can you imagine the search results on that? So we had a little discussion about the restaurant and what the slang was for, we will have to keep a watch on his internet usage over the next few days.

Last night Graham played ball in the city, they won their game and did well. We have a double header on Saturday, three soccer games on Sunday and a ball game in Dartmouth on Monday...busy few days to say the least. In the middle of all that, Mike's parents, sisters, brother in law and nieces are coming for a visit. It will be nice, the kids don't often get to see their grandparents, aunts, uncle and cousins and they are quite excited for it. They are landing in the middle of our mayhem but that's just the way it is...they will come out and watch some ball on Saturday and for those of you who know Graham, know that he will be busting for a hit while they are watching. Elysia will be dragged out of bed again on Sat to work the canteen...not sure if she is loving this whole baseball experience or not.

I got myself a Credit Card...I had given up my credit card a few years ago to be "fiscally responsible"...it had not bothered me to this point. Not until my grandmother passed away and I was unable to rent a car in my name to go to her funeral. Apparently to rent a car, you must have a major credit card and it must be in the name of the person leasing the car...needless to say, the card is in the mail on it's way to me. If something happened to Mike while he was away I would have no way to get to him...

Goodbye Grandma!!

Talked to dad early this morning, my grandmother passed away. Lillian Roy lived a long good life...only the last few years had she started to "get old". I'll always have the picture of her fishing in my mind. My grandparents had cottages on Lac Gatineau in Quebec that they rented. We would go visit and swim during the summer at the lake and snowmobile in the winter. After my grandfather passed away, Grandma kept the cottage by the boathouse...and always had a line in the water and would go running down the dock if the bobble went under water...bye Grandma!! Love you!! She's somewhere now with her line in the water, waiting for a big pike to take a bite!!

Double Digits

Graham has turned 10!! Hard to believe it but he is now in the double digits. Graham's highlight so far has been the wrestling belt Grandma gave him, he liked it so much he went and bought a second one...he is having a wrestling themed party tonight...8 boys and Mike is in NFLD...God help me!

I sometimes get a little emotional on his birthday as I realize how easily this could have marked a solemn occassion...then I get over it and remember that he's happy and healthy (well, reasonably so :)) I had my "moment" this morning while I was talking to Josee on the phone. I was telling her that I had a hard time keeping it together while we sang him Happy Birthday at mom's last night. Well, enough of that.

Yesterday Graham had a double header, they won both their games...our canteen did well. Elysia even got up and helped out all day and I had a great day with her.

Mike is NFLD...he is in a cooking competition with all the different food service companies...he was the captain of his team. They took silver but more importantly they got the people's choice award...to me that means more because that's who they are trying to please in the long run...of course, I asked him if they were cash prizes...not so lucky!!

Elysia

It's been a busy few weeks...Elysia had her grade 8 prom and graduation. The night of the graduation it was humid and hot and you can imagine what that gym was like. Each student had to stand on the stage while someone said a blub about them...needless to say, Elysia did not enjoy this part, she was shaking. Next year it's off to Central Kings High School...my soul, where did the time go.

R.I.P. Sebastian

So poor little Sebastian met his demise. He was my yellow budgie bird that Mike gave me for Christmas one year...he was sunny side up in the cage this morning, sounds callous but I cried none the less. He was not feeling well the last little bit, they tend to get all puffy and sleepy when they are sick. Yesterday, Antoine (the white budgie) was not being very friendly to him, I think the instincts were kicking in. Bye little Sebastian, I know Mike in particular will miss your lovely squawking!!

Graham's Checkup

Yesterday Graham's cardiology visit went well. He does has some extra ventricular beats, more than last time, so they will do another exercise test to make sure his heart rate is speeding up and slowing down when it needs to. He can still continue with his sports. His heart function has not gone down any but it hasn't gone up, so he's still on the low side of that but he tolerates it well. His valve shows some calcification (hardening and narrowing) but no worse than last time. He explained that if they only have to replace the valve they can do that through a catheter in the leg if it's the whole root (which it may well be) then it's open heart. He said that we have at least a year before that but he cannot give exact numbers.and he needs to start wearing a medic alert where we are not always with him now. Graham said it was a little freaky to hear us talk with the dr about his surgery. It's funny because they ask all the questions to Graham now and you know him, he's more than willing to answer questions. He lists all his medications, talks about the heart beats, he's learning. I want him to always be comfortable when he talks to the dr so that he will continue to do it even when him mommy is not in the room (we don't talk about that day)

Elysia is thrilled to be coming with us to Dartmouth tonight for Graham's baseball game. It's just too long for her to be by herself, not that we don't trust her but we don't want to give her too long of a leash that she chokes herself on it. We remember what it's like to be that age (okay, maybe we think we remember that long ago). Bribed her with telling her she could take my laptop to watch a movie...

Off yesterday to take Graham to the dr, leaving today at 3 to go to the ballgame and then again tomorrow at 3 for Elysia's prom...these hours are great!!!!

Did I mention my husband Mike...he gets upset if I don't mention him...Mike, Mike, Mike!!!