Happy Easter

Happy Easter 2011. A quiet Easter in our house this holiday, I managed to find a few germs and ended up with a cold, so supper consisted of chicken soup and a roll, Darren made his own meal, and Greta had mushed baby food along with a bowl of rice cereal and apricots. She has been on a milk strike, although she woke tonight around 9:30 and drank a full bottle, hopefully tomorrow she'll want to drink a bit more. Nothing exciting to share worth dedicating a blog post about so a few holiday facts...

1. For Americans, Easter is the second most important candy-eating occasion of the year and the fourth largest card-sending event.

2. The tradition of giving eggs at Easter time has been traced back to Persians, Egyptians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, to whom the egg was a symbol of life.

3. Easter is a “moveable feast” celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on or after March 21, the Spring Equinox.

4. From the very early times, egg has been considered to be the most important symbol of rebirth and other common Easter symbols include the Cross, Easter Bells, the Easter Lily, and of course, Rabbits!

5. In the early 19th century, the first chocolate eggs were made in Europe. They remain among the most popular treats associated with Easter.

6. Fifty-seven percent of kids get up super early on Easter to see what the Easter bunny has brought them.

7. The initial baskets of Easter were given the appearance of bird’s nests.

8. When it comes to eating of chocolate bunnies, it is the ears that are preferred to be eaten first by as many as 76% of people.

9. 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year.

10. Funny fact no. 10 is under construction so:

Happy Easter – May spring provide every beautiful thing you enjoy!

Pics above are Greta's Easter pics from Sears and an impromptu photo shoot at Rachel's as I was enjoying purse shopping from Rachel's closet. Managed to get two to add to my collection - just what I needed.

Toodles.

The Invisible...

Hi everyone, almost 2 weeks has passed since my last post and I must first start off tonight's blog by sending out the biggest and most humbling thank you for your comments about my last post. I was overwhelmed with just shy of 90 messages, comments, and emails, with so many of you writing thank you! It took me awhile to really read those words and grasp the thought that I was getting a thank you, but I heard from so many who said the post made them think, both of their actions and FB Frenzied life, others wrote and said it was time to clean up their FB Friend list and others (and I must say quite a few) wrote and said, it was the motivation they were looking for and the FB Frenemy deletion was complete! I certainly didn't write my blog expecting people to delete individuals from their FB accounts, but I am touched that so many thought the post meant something and you could relate. We have had a busy few weeks watching Greta grow and explore. Truly amazing to watch this little girl learning and soaking up things we show or tell her. Each day there is something new, I'm sure this is the stage that most parents enjoy, as each day I can expect something new. Not like the first few months where the day was all the same: drink, diaper, sleep...drink, diaper, sleep - oh, I must clarify, I'm talking about the baby not myself! In the last few weeks she has learned to move. She is a scooter and she is going faster and faster. Who needs to crawl, I'm starting to think she doesn't like to get her hands dirty. It is pretty funny to watch, it looks more like a hop and reach action, but it is working for her. She has also mastered waving hello and goodbye (well, that sounds silly, not that she has a different action for each gesture, a wave is a wave - but she will wave if asked to say hello or goodbye to someone - we usually practice on the animals who come to visit her then quickly run away from her). She also waves to the birds outside, usually she'll wave at people once they have actually left her view, but I am seeing it. She is doing very well with sharing and definitely knows the word NO and Gentle. She hears them often! And after 9 months of doing Pat-a-cake, she is clapping! She is a chatterbox, of course! I have no idea what she is saying, BA is discussed a lot, but we never called her bottle any pet name other than MILK, so I don't think she is asking for a Baba like many kids would refer to a bottle. She does play ball a lot, has a pretty good arm too, but not convinced Ba is the ball either. Maybe it is her imaginary friend, she gets quite animated and says it over and over! Time will tell. She is also quite the charmer. We attended a Retirement Party yesterday for a co-worker and she went person to person visiting, smiling, showing off, thankfully she did not give me reason to write an "I am so embarrassed" story. She was so good and continued to be after the party as we then went to see my specialist. It was a long afternoon and she was quite the trooper. Yesterdays outing has me thinking and has brought me to tonight's post.... I must admit, yesterday I thought I looked okay! Almost pretty good! Many commented that my stomach was flat, some thought I looked smaller than before I was pregnant, others who saw me during my prednisone puffy face months could see a huge difference as the fluid retention has definitely come down, but what all those who made such lovely comments don't realize is I was in pain, agony actually. That is the sad thing about an invisible chronic illness, I can look fine on the outside, I can put a smile on my face and dress up, do my make up to cover up the black circles and the pasty white skin and people don't think I am sick. But what they didn't SEE yesterday was my fingers were so stiff that zipping up Greta's coat almost brought tears to my eyes, that my right and left sides felt like I ran miles to the party instead of driving and parking directly outside of the building, that the stress I am under makes my vision blurry because the headaches don't seem to ever disappear and the anxiety I feel about my next blood test, my next Dr's appt, my next hospital visit, my next medical procedure makes me want to throw up. So many times appearance is what determines if others see you as sick, but since I am on my way to "looking" better because my face doesn't look like a balloon, and I don't walk with a cane, and I don't have an IV pole dragging behind me, the perception is I am fine. Well, that is not always the case, the truth is chronic illnesses cannot be seen, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't affect the daily life and activities I, and others who have such an illness, once enjoyed. And lets talk about the medications for a minute...not only do people suffer with an illness or condition, but we are told take all this medicine - it will make you feel better...I would have you reading for days if I were to list all the side effects from the drugs I take. And lucky for me, I successfully worked through the entire list...and by successfully I mean I had them all. Well, maybe I didn't get prostate cancer - phew, I would be worried. Anyway, just food for thought and today's public service announcement. It's hard enough having an invisible illness, but the medicine to help control it just adds to the misery and stress. Hopefully this will make you think...don't tell someone you "wouldn't have recognized them" - that hurts, don't just assume because the outward appearance looks fine that the person must be faking or exaggerating their illness or pain- that hurts and if you want to - ask questions, inquire - I don't mind telling and sharing and I'm sure others wouldn't mind either. To end on a more fun note...enjoy the little video of our scooter!!! Starring Greta and her buddy Casanova. Toodles.

Friends and Frenemies.....

Another calendar page is ready to flip, where are the months going. April is here! It is usually my favorite month, the smell of spring (minus the mounds of dog crap around that is in desperate need to be cleaned up), the first Robins, the first flowers popping up, the Easter decorations that are hitting the stores. I just always liked April, but wow, now that it is April, I can start talking in the amount of weeks I have left before preparing to return to work...8 weeks and counting. I have a full 8 weeks that will include - trips, showers (not the daily one I have, but wedding and baby ones), a wedding, visits, Doctor appts, I have no doubt all the activities I have in the book are going to make the next 8 weeks fly by. The past 9 months as I have written so many times have been so very interesting, I have learned and done things I never dreamt would be part of my reality, I still go in to Greta's room at night and think, oh my goodness, there is a baby in the crib, in my house, and she belongs to me...WTF! You would think after 9 months of feeding, changing, shopping for, rocking, carrying and playing with a baby that it would have fully sunk in, but honestly, I sometimes take a double take and think, WOW, when did this all happen!!! I don't know if others feel that, maybe those who always knew they were going to be parents don't experience this reality jolt, but it happens often for me, of course, I can't really recall our "old life", it feels like Greta has just always been part of our lives, good thing, other wise I would head out the door and the poor little thing would be sitting with her toys or sleeping in her crib thinking, damn, that woman forgot about me again! I am happy to say, I have not left her once...although sometimes I am driving to the store or an appointment and I will check the back seat just to make sure I did bring her (for the record, she is just really quiet in the car).

So, 9 months have passed since little Greta has joined the world and it has me thinking yet again, who is a friend. This month has been such an eye opener, I was going to refrain from discussing friendships again, but I think it is my form of therapy to talk about it, and who knows, maybe shed light for others. I started to think about friendships as yesterday was my Birthday! Another year older and wow, do I ever hope and pray the year ahead will have a bit more luck shining on me (okay, I'm just looking for no bad luck and crazy things like last year), a lot more good news in the health department and I hope it is the year that I finally stand up for myself and stop letting others actions bother or upset me. I can no longer make excuses in my head for those that have not come near in 9 months, I had a baby, and yes, I have had a hell of a year with sickness, but I have liver disease, not a rare contagious disease that you will catch if you walk through my door. And sadly, I'm not talking just "friends"... family who live within a 20 minute radius of our home have not met Greta or maybe have given up 40 minutes in the last 9 months to "see her". Family of course is a word I use with some sarcasm, just because you may have a hint of the same blood line, does not mean you deserve to have a relative title. I realize there are many children I haven't met in person, but that is where Facebook becomes weird, there are Facebook friends that I feel via pictures and comments know Greta so well and I know their children and that is perfect! I love seeing a picture and commenting and equally enjoy reading a comment that a friend has posted. I don't expect to fly across the country and meet up for lunch, it would be nice of course, but FB has allowed connections and friendships to be regained and built around technology and for many friendships, I can honestly say I feel closer to some people that I haven't seen in 20 years because we can chat and share via FB than to some people I see regularly. But then there are the friends who you considered a part of your life outside of Facebook, who live in your town, who have celebrated milestones, careers, "life" that should have made some efforts and haven't. It was actually a Facebook comment last night that brought this issue to light yet again. As I read a Status Post from a new Mom of a sweet little boy (and although our friendship is via FB and she "found" me because she was a blog follower), she asked the question: where are the friends, where are the invites? Becoming a Mom doesn't mean you can't go out, that you can't go to supper, that you can't have visitors. I hated to read she was feeling the same way I was, but at the same time, felt a little bit relieved that this is not all in my head, that it happens to tons of people when a baby enters the world. And for those reading, I'm not saying this as a plea to come visit, it would just be awkward now anyway, I am writing it to make myself feel better and to tell those who are experiencing the fair weather friendships, that there is a time to just let it go and realize that some friendships and family relationships come to an end, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think 37 and 1 day old is a good time to say, I have better things to worry about, alot of things actually, but I do feel sad for those that will miss out on meeting some sweet little babies.

Anyway, despite my NEW Age, I feel about 77 but who is counting! I have thought about moving, divorce, dying, rotten relatives and friends, have thought about how lucky I am to have some wonderful friends and family, have eaten 2 yummy cupcakes, did have to return to changing diapers after my b-day break, reluctantly let Darren take Greta for a visit to Rustico, have been too lazy to turn the TV channel so I have watched cartoons all afternoon...ummm, that pretty much sums up 37 so far...surely I can only go up from here! I must also send a shout out and explain the picture at the top of the blog...Each year on my birthday I think about my Truro friends, the birthday parties, the themes, the toys of the day, the must have group party shot! Although my memory is poor, I do remember the birthdays! I have valued Facebook for many reasons, but despite moving away from my NS friends when I was 12 years old, reconnecting with those from NS is probably why I struggle deleting my Facebook profile. I love seeing how so many are still friends, and I think fair to say best friends, and I so genuinely appreciate the conversations I've had, watching their families grow via pictures and hearing from them. I miss being a kid, well, I think I do, at least miss being a kid in the 70s and 80s (not so sure I would want to be a kid today), we didn't even talk on the phone, you actually saw each other, went to play Barbies at each others house...or Dukes of Hazard in our neighbourhood, the parents would call you in at dusk, where you would go in to your house that didn't have a key to the door, and if it did have a key, who knows where it was, because the doors were never locked! Life was just so much easier back then. Now, as much as I am a techie communicator, Facebook has created a lot of imaginary friends. As I said, my birthday was yesterday and since I didn't have it posted on Facebook, 6 people remembered. This is life now, if a birthday doesn't pop up on the side of Facebook, it is forgotten. I do remember birthdays, but it took some work, and I am sure there are some I have forgotten over the years, but I really, really do my best to keep the dates written down and messages sent out. I did have a nice day, Mom of course went overboard and the house looked more like Christmas, and our friends Garry and Gwen and my old neighbour Janet joined us for a lovely supper, so much food that I am still not hungry and it's almost 4pm the following day.

So I leave you with this today...who are your friends...Do you have a list of 500 people on your Facebook, are they really your friends or were you in a competition to see how quickly you could gather up friends on FB. Do you comment on their photos, do you write them a message, or say hello once in awhile. If you don't, why are they there? If you needed a shoulder to lean on, do you think they would be there. Would you know their birthday if it wasn't posted for you to see, would you know their kids and pets names, do you care what they are doing or are you just creeping around on their profiles hoping they have misfortune and bad luck. I have learned a little too much this month about Frenemies (like the Push Present - I swear I am not making this up), it actually has hit the dictionary. As the Urban Dictionary states - It is the type of "friend" whose words or actions bring you down(whether you realize it as intentional or not). The type of friend you ought to cut off but don't because...they're nice... good ...you've had good times with them. You know ... they're good people that you can count on to bring you down again sometime in the near future. The friend you may or may not have cornered about their quicksand like ways and keep around because "its in the past"... and so was one minute ago. The person that will continue to bring you down until you demand better for yourself. When you ask yourself is that person my friend or enemy...they are your frenemy. Straighten them out or leave them. Don't put up with it.

Toodles!