Update

Dale is home. What a relief. I can't say enough how very grateful I am. The emotions are still running wild, knowing how this could have ended up and how different my emotions would be today. It all came at a good time- New Years Resolution time. I am going to make such a greater effort this year to embrace him and our love for each other. So often we get caught up in the daily grind and forget to take time to love each other. Not anymore. This really taught me and made me realize that life is so very unpredictable and I need to cherish every moment with him. In my mind, I could' ve lost him forever.

On a happier note, I am so proud of him. He shrugs off the experience, but I think he only does this because he was so prepared and experienced in outdoor survival and safety. If ever I was to be caught out in the woods, or if you are, hope and pray your with Dale. He is just so smart and knowledgable. A few things he told me...

• they decided to hunker down at about 5 or 6. It was dark, and there was too much snow to find their way out. He was very confident they would be alright for the night and then ride out in the morning.
• he said they had plenty of food and liquid. Even a frozen Red Bull served up some much needed energy!
• They estimated they cut down about 15 trees to make a massive fire... with a handsaw. His hands are still swollen
• one guy they were with wasn't at all as well prepared as the others- he was wearing cotton undergarments and was cold almost instantly. They wrapped him in some bubble wrap they had ( they had a new motor with them wrapped in it )and placed pine boughs on him and put him next to the fire

Dale rode out at first light to a little chalet/hut and called me. When I saw his number on the call display, I lost it. He lost it when he heard me losing it. Needless to say, everything was on the up and up from then on in. He made a fire, went back and got the rest of the guys and then made their way out without the help of Search & Rescue. He got home about 5 o'clock that night- about 24 hours since he was supposed to be home.
Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.

Close Call

A very scary night just occurred in my household. A night I never ever want to experience again. Here is the link from the news. CASTANET
I might add a few things:

- I decided to call in the RCMP/Search and rescue when Dale didn't come home at 7. He was to be in Enderby at 5, call me and make his way home. I think I called the police at around 10. I was loosing my mind, called a few friends and family members. The search was finally orchestrated and organized until about midnight. Even then, with the dark and cold weather conditions, they couldn't do much until light hit. At that point they were sending out helicopters. Luckily I had been persistant about making Dale write down where he was going yesterday. That seemed to help out alot.

-The human mind can be a horrible thing. I was thinking of every possible scenario- often not very positive.

I CANT WAIT to see Dale when he gets home. I LOVE this man so much. Annie and I are so lucky to have him on his way home right now. So very very grateful. There are so many families that don't get this happy ending. I feel so blessed.


I am exhausted, as is Dale, and will update you more on his night when we rest up.

My message to you all- Tell your loved ones how much you care about them and give them a great big bear hug... you just never know.

The Letkeman Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Holidays to All!

Well it is that time again... and as my fabulous Yoga Instructor would say... "It is the time for cheer (aka booze), plentiful joy (aka chocolate), joyful giving (aka credit card debt) and warm family gatherings (aka heated arguments with family)! Sorry, was that my outside voice? "
LUV IT - TOO TRUE!

Actually, Christmas this year is going to be amazing! We are SO excited for Annie's first Christmas! It sure makes this holiday season so much more fun, even though she is clueless as to what is going on! As the years go by, we will enjoy the holidays with her that much more each time!
We are staying in town this year, visiting all the grandparents! Coming up on a busy next couple of days for sure! Dale and I are also looking forward to waking up together as a new little family Christmas morning. Those memories and feelings are worth more than any presents!

I hope you and yours enjoy your family this holiday season.

Carter & Annie's Romantic Rendevous
Installment #2

... annie was so excited she was drooling??!!

someones getting into the holiday spirit...

see famous look-a-like faces

Hi! I'm 2 months old today!
Getting sooooo big! My doctor says I'm 12 pounds already!
Today I went to Mommy's school to watch the kids Christmas Concert.
Mommy got all sentimental realizing that her little girl would be up on that stage one day soon.
Mommy can't stop snuggling me today... I think she thinks I am getting too big too fast.

annie & her buddy carter hangin' out

mama ghost and baby munchkin

This little ballerina slept for 7 hours last night. I got up at 5 when she got up because I felt so well rested. She kept sleeping with Daddy and let Mommy have a relaxing morning.
A beautiful thing.

8 weeks old

8 weeks ago, i finally got to meet her. forever my life has changed.
i love being her mom.
she is becoming quite the little lady. her eyelashes are long and dark, and her little heart shaped mouth and pretty pink lips just add to her sweet little nature.
she has become a good sleeper, good enough for me right now anyhow.
she has just started to give us lots of smiles, and it just melts my heart.
she loves to snuggle me when she first wakes up. i wouldn't miss those for the world.
i love the way dale loves her.
shes such a little chubby monkey.

give a hoot

on our travels to williams lake on the weekend, we had an encounter with an owl.
we were driving in the dark and fog, and the next thing i knew a huge owl was sweeping down right towards the windshield. the wing span must have been 5 feet. it was huge and crazy. i screamed, and dale ducked and swerved. good defensive driving dale. the owl swept up over the car at the last second. it was intense.
the reason this intrigues me is i hear that encounters with different animals mean different things for you in your life.
does anyone know what an owl signifies?

......luck? money?..... sleep?

Sleep Update-

The bath does seem to make a big difference. On the nights I don't bath her, 2-3 hour stretches.
When I do bath her, 4, 5, even one 6 hour stretch!
Hoping it continues. Routine, Routine, Routine.

Nighty Night

After advice from a few people, I decided to add a nightly bath to her routine.
And... she had an amazing sleep last night! She slept for a 4 hour stretch-ate - and went right back to sleep for 5 hours! Heaven! Lets hop it wasn't a fluke!

So now, to help her learn the difference from day to night, here is our night:

1. Bath time
2. Lotioned up with a massage, which she hates, so I combat with tasty Vitamin D
3. P-Jammers on
   
4. Into Mommy and Daddy's Bed
5. Lights are out expect nightlight that shines stars on the ceiling
6. Mommy breastfeeds in bed
7. Nigthty Night

Then, in the night when she wakes up, I try not to interact with her at all. I feed her, burp her and roll her back over to snuggle in between Dad and I, and sometimes Gingi Pants! It was worked really well so far, but last night... TRES FANTASTIQUE!

Kelowna's Next Top Model

Annie Jane had her photo shoot today. I think it went really well. I can't wait to show you the pictures!

Webcam Fun

Times They are a Changin'

Annie is 6 weeks old. Again , like any parent, and probably like I have stated before... where the heck does time go? Part of me wants to make it stand still, the cute little bean is growing way too fast! I love to snuggle her, fall asleep on the couch nestled together, smell her sweet new baby smell. But the middle of the night feeds, colic and newly introduced baby acne make me wish we could fast forward a smidge in certain departments!

I must get stopped at least 3 times everytime we go somewhere. People always oogle over babies eh? "She's so little" is the most common comment. My response often starts like this... " Yes, but compared to other new babies..." She is small, of course, shes so young, but she is 90th percentile for weight and height. This means that on average, 50 being average, she is 90 in comparison! My chubby munchkin!

Annie has already changed so much. Her eyelashes have come in just recently, nice and dark and long. She does cute things like wail away that shes hungry but then when I lay her down to feed by my chest while I 'get ready', she smiles at me. She has started to make a fist and put it up to her mouth to keep her soother in, and put her hand kind of in her mouth to get spit ups out!
She loves her vibrating chair, falls asleep almost instantly in her car seat when we go for a walk or car drive. And yes, she has developed baby acne. Ugh. I took her to the doctor just to be sure it wasn't a rash from something, because now I'm paranoid because of all her issues at birth.

Thats it for now- sun is shining, calling us for a walk and the banana bread in the oven is almost ready!

New Hair

The ladies in the house both have new do's...

annie is 1 month old and full of colic beans

Where does time go? How come when your pregnant and want to have the baby, time seems to creep by. But then once you have the baby, all of the sudden time races by? Its freakin November! Annie is 1 month! CRAZY!

The last few days have been filled with ... ugh. Thats the only word and or sound that can describe it.Crying, gas, spit ups, cluster feeds. There have been times where the window looks like a good place to leap out of.
I know it will get better, but can't that time race by too?

We were supposed to get some photos tomorrow of annie with our amazing photographer. However, much to my dismay, she had a some personal issues that prevent her from doing these shots for us. I am very very sad, yet I wish her all the best. So, I am on the hunt for a new photographer, and will post some shots as soon as we get these done. Hopefully sooner than later, as she was never very 'little' and is quickly growing!

Anyhoo, still absolutely, undeniably in love with this little munchkin.

I'm Addicted

• to staring at my darling daughter
• bernard callebaut chocolate artisan bread
• coffee
• online shopping
• spending time with my little family
• pineapple
• reading blogs
• facebook
• sleeping - although i can't get enoughsleepy bear...
  

thriller dance....?

hanging with his babies...

bath time!

annie had her first big girl bath today. it was the result of her first 'up the back runny poop'.
she loved the new kind of bath- a nice water soak now that her belly button is all healed up.
super content laying there as i poured water over her.
no more of this sponge bath shenanigans.
shes a big girl now.

Food Journalling

So... Annie has continued to show great strides in her eating habits and thus weight gain. We are pretty much exclusively breastfeeding now (YAY!) and pumping here and there. I still have formula left over, which will always be good for a 'just in case' situation.
I have always kept a journal of what time she ate, how much, which side, did she get a 'top up' with expressed milk or formula, poop, pee, etc. Now, she has graduated. I feel confident that we have everything under control, and I will forgo her journal! What a big step for us!

But now, I am going to journal what I eat. Not for myself but for her. As far as my weight, I am feeling pretty good, as it slowly but surely is shedding off. Lots of walks, getting out and about, and hopefully soon yoga again. The reason I am going to journal is to see what i eat. Annie has had some pretty bad gas and runny stools, and upset tummy/spit ups. I would like to see if it is something I am eating.

• I don't think its dairy ( the formula had dairy in it and she seemed to be fine)
• it could be the chocolate/sugar from Halloween. I am a chocolate feen so I hope its not that
• I have only been having one cup of coffee in the morning. I didn't drink coffee during pregnancy so maybe shes not used to it? I don't know if I can give this up?!
• tuna- I love tuna and didn't eat it during pregnancy either, and have been having tuna sandwiched lately- no more now while I test this stuff out.
• I have had the odd 'dark beer' (Guiness) to help my milk flow- I think it worked- but not going to continue in case this it as well- same thing- no beer during pregnancy?!

So, hopefully I can get this figured out, and still keep my chocolate and coffee!

Finally dyed my hair... first time since January!
Yay!
No more two tone hair.
Its quite a bit darker than I have ever had it. but I am loving it.

Trick or Treat

Well, Halloween came and went for us with little excitement. The most exciting thing was Annie's umbilical cord stump finally fell off as we were dressing her in her 'costume.' She is such a big girl now- a normal belly button! :)

We only seemed to get about 15 kids, who, might I add, were very excited to receive the little mini tubs of PlayDoh I handed out this year. I have lots left over, good for crafts at school I guess.

We made the silly silly SILLY mistake of buying the 50% off candy at Safeway. Grrrrr.... I can't seem to keep my slimey little hands out of there!

But I also made the SMART move of going to Michaels yesterday to buy up a whole bunch of Halloween decorations and scrapbooking stuff for 70% off! Yay!

10-4 Over & Out

Annie had doctor today again. We have been trying to get her back to her birth weight. We succeeded. She was 9.13 at birth, but dropped down to 8.12 when she was hospitalized. She has been regaining slowly , but surely as my milk increases and the whole pumping, formula supplementing shenanigans continue. Today- 10.4!!! I couldn't believe it. Well actually I could. For the past two days, she hasn't fit into several onesies and even a newborn pair of denim jeans! Crazy- she is only 2 weeks!
I am glad she is healthy though, and now we have the A-OK to let her sleep in the night without waking her. Thank god. On the down low..... we have been doing this a bit lately anyway... shhhhh...

Motherhood

I never understood how people didn't have time to do anything. It baffled me that mothers would 'let themselves go."
I am now fully aware.
I am sneaking in a quick blog right now while the little pumpkin is sleeping. I probably should be getting myself ready, doing dishes, laundry, eating or something of the sort. But I don't want to.
I feel like all I do right now is feed and tidy. Feed and tidy. And i wonder where the days go?!

My milk still hasn't totally come in. I am pumping, breastfeeding, and supplementing (as per doctors orders). Sometimes it feels like as soon as I am done all that, its time to feed again.
It feels good to know that she is getting all the breastmilk I can supply, but I wish it would come easier. I continue to convince myself that it will. I have been attending the breastfeeding clinic here in town, they are amazingly supportive and helpful.

Annie is fully jaundice free. She is no longer orange and her billirubin is down below 100 ( upon re-entry to the hospital it was over 400!!). She is still taking antibiotics, and we are just waiting to hear back about some tests results re: her kidneys.
She is the cutest thing ever, and I could stare at her all day.I love her to death.
I love being a mom.... most days.... sometimes not at 3 in the morning... until I get to chill just me and her on the couch in the dark and gaze into each others eyes.

anxious to get home.... meditating froggie!