New favourite shirt

Didn't have any time on the weekend to take pictures of my little CHAMP. Luckily, she has decided that her Champ shirt is now her favourite and she wants to wear it ALL THE TIME. I have to peel it off her to wash it at night, lol.

What to do, what to do

I'll try to keep this short. As I've mentioned, we have some developmental concerns with B. She does great in school when it comes to learning the ABC's and printing. It's everything else that has her teacher concerned (again, have to say that we mentioned our concerns at the start of the year so this is not that surprising).
We are at the point that we have started seeking help for our daughter. However, getting the correct help is proving to be a challenge. No-one seems to know the right place to start. We have a referral from our family doc for a place in the city. Unfortunately, the waitlist is very long.
We can turn to some private therapy groups, but we will be paying out of pocket. This may be the right way to go though.

We need some answers.

What an amazing weekend

Brennyn and I had such a fun and food filled, informative weekend. I wish I had the right words to describe how thankful we are to the CHAMPS organization. I am so very happy that Brennyn is now a member of CHAMPS. This is the best organization, the friendliest people. They just make you feel welcome from the first second you contact them. It was so nice for Brennyn to be able to play with kids just like her. The older children had such patience for Brennyn. Brennyn looks older to some people (she is big for her age) and often they don't understand why she acts the way she does (she doesn't respect personal space for example, at all). She would ask these kids all about their hands/legs/arms/etc over and over again, but they didn't mind. They all hugged her goodbye today, and she talked about her "two new best friends Chris and Lucas" all the way home (both kids are teenagers, but she just loved them). Please, please if you are able to, try and support the War Amps program. These kids benefit so much from the CHAMP program. Brennyn is lucky in that she does not need prosthetics, but most of these children do. War Amps helps cover the cost of artificial limbs, etc for children in need. They do so much more as well, they give child amputees and their families all the courage and support they need.

B and I are off

It's a mom and Brennyn (oh and Grandma too) weekend. We are off to our very first CHAMPS seminar. I am so excited about this event. I'm so happy that Brennyn will be able to hang out with other children just like her and that I will have an opportunity to learn. Grandma is along for the ride (because it's our first seminar and B is under 6 they recommend a second adult so the child can play while one parent is attending the boring for kids information sessions.

More Long weekend Pics

Blogger is suddenly very slow at uploading my pictures. I only have enough patience to add a few pics at a time, lol.

The water was so clear and calm. The girls even ended up in the lake, it was such a hot day. However, that doesn't mean that the water was warm by any means so Mom only went in up to her knees. There have been years when we have seen snow flakes on the May Long weekend, so this was weather was so appreciated.

Trailer season again

Blair and I were debating how many years we have been vacationing at the trailer. I do believe we are heading into our 8th year at this park. Unfortunately, my parents (we have been mooching our trailer time from my parents) are thinking of selling the trailer. Let me be honest, they have held on to their trailer for at least the last 2 years for the joy of my children. Blair and I have a decision to make, just not the funds to make it an easy decision.

Backyard fun

Waiting

I've come to the conclusion that I am not very good at waiting. Wasn't so great while waiting for the referrals, LOA, travel approval and finally the trip to meet our girls. I wasn't so great while waiting for the genetic diagnosis for my daughter. I want answers and I want them now. I like to plan, I like to have a plan in place. I like to know what the universe has in store for my family and myself. Mostly, I want to make sure my daughter is able to receive the help she may or may not need. I do not want to be playing phone tag with the organization that is in place to assist us. I understand how busy these places are, they are underfunded, understaffed and trying to do the best they can. It's just frustrating when you are the parent waiting for some answers. Vent over!

Beautiful sunny weekend

Gearing up for summer, helping Daddy set up the swing set.

Love my new camera!

adventures at the doctor's office

For me this time, not Brennyn! My doctor ordered some blood tests for me, and luckily (or in this case, not so much) they have a lab right in the office. For some reason, the doctor clinic was crazy busy yesterday, perhaps everyone is in for their spring check up? Anyhoo, waited a half hour to see the doctor, which is speedy compared to how long we wait at Sick Kids (now that is a busy place) and ended up waiting another half hour for the blood work.
Was chatting to the lab tech about why I was having all this blood taken (night sweats, need I say more) and she was talking away when I feel an extra pinch in my arm and she says "oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I have never had this happen before". I look down and blood is gushing out of my arm. Seriously, I have never seen anything like it. Poor girl was panicking. I think she thought I was going to lose it on her or something. I just said, very calmly I might add "hey, as long as you stop the bleeding it's all good". She kept saying how sorry she was, and I kept saying, it's all okay. These things happen (not sure if they really do, but she was upset enough for both of us).
Finally, the blood was collected from my other arm and I was good to go. I am sporting a funky bruise now on one arm, heh heh. See, even a trip to the doctors office is never dull in my life!
Now if I can just figure out why I'm getting night sweats at my young age (and how to get rid of them) I'll be super happy. Oh, and my doctor looked very amused when I mentioned that I am way too young to be hitting menopause and said that sure I was young, young at heart!

Paging Dr. Brennyn

Bought these scrubs at Sick Kids last fall. There was a little incident on the car ride to sick kids one day (just me and Brennyn and no change of clothes) and this is all they had available in the gift shop. Turned out to be the best buy, B loves to wear her scrubs!

She is posing with her paramedic "Mr. R". Mr. R looks very similar to Daddy's paramedic boss!

Love my new camera

Decisions, decisions

Gave my notice in at work today, after 10 years (on and off due to parental leave). Yes, I gave my notice last year as well, but it was more of a leave. This time it's for real. I am very, very fortunate that my husband has a fairly decent paying job (make that 2 jobs). I honestly do not know what we would do if I had to work full-time right now. We have some additional appointments coming up for Brennyn, not going to get into the details right now. It's just a very busy time, and if I was working I do not know what I would do. I am also thankful that we live in a country/province where there are so many services available to help. Yes, you have to do a little digging to find them, but there they are. I love my little girl, she is such a special, beautiful person. I just wish she did not spend the first 2 years of her life in an orphanage (and she was at "one of the best orphanages", whatever that means). To those who think that international adoption is not necessary any longer, I strongly disagree. No child should have to live without a family. My daughter has a long road ahead of her, on top of her rare medical diagnosis. It's not fair that a child should have all these burdens, it just isn't.

Have the camera

We have purchased the new camera, now I just have to find the time to read the instructions and figure out how to take some beautiful pictures. I'm just a little excited. Lot's going on around here. More appointments for Miss Brennyn. Will update soon, I think, if I can find some time, somewhere.