Ok, so Christmas is just a week away...

where on earth did the month go? I have almost all the shopping done although I look and wonder if it really is enough. I have no baking done at all. Arend went out tonight after dinner and got some ingredients I need to do some baking but when he got home I just didn't have any energy left to think of baking. So I went and had a bath (even though I felt too sore to even do that) and then I came up to knit for a bit and relax before going to bed.

Tomorrow (saturday) is our Veltkamp Family Christmas at my sisters (who is married to Arend's brother). We take turns having Christmas each year. The guys other brothers will be coming down from Kincardine for the day as well. I'm not sure if our neice and her boyfriend are coming this year but I guess we will find out tomorrow. It is always a nice day!

I really can't believe that 2010 is almost to an end but I look forward to starting a new year and seeing what the new year brings for us. I know that both Arend and I need to work on our weight and our health. I really hope that we can start and stick to a routine of walking and exercise this year. I have gained too much weight this past year that it is just horrible to think of it. I'm not drastically overweight but I definately need to lose about 20 - 25lbs. I am hoping that the injections I have been getting for my back will continue to work well and that the fibromyalgia doesn't get any worse.

I look so forward to watching Keira, Hannah and Everett continue to grow and learn new things everyday. Enjoying the time we have with them and cherishing every second! Watching them and spending time with them has always been so important to me. Listening to them singing, watching them dancing, swimming, playing and having so much fun brings such joy to my life. Seeing the changes in each of them especially Everett ( he is only 6 weeks old) is so wonderful. Today I was saying to Kandice that he changes everytime I see him. He is now smiling, cooing, laughing and watching him and cuddling with him is so sweet. I feel so blessed to have a beautiful family with gorgeous daughters, wonderful son-in-laws, and the most beautiful grandchildren ever and the most wonderful husband that deserves so much praise for all he does for me and for our family! I love each and every one of you!

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to anyone who may stop by and check out my blog. Maybe in the new year I will have more people stop by and leave a comment or 2!

Do you or someone you know use cloth diapers or be interested in trying a great laundry detergent?

If so then check out my daughters blog. She has done a review of Rockin' Green Soap and has a 45/90 load bag of detergent to give away. Top load allows 45 loads and frontload allows for 90 loads per package. Rockin' Green is great for all laundry not just diapers. This is her very first Giveaway! Be sure to check it out. You never know you may be the winner!

http://www.gethealthymomma.blogspot.com/

If you like to read then be sure to check out this giveaway!

My daughter has her first ever contest on her blog. She is an avid reader and has a copy of Becca Fitzpatrick's book HUSH HUSH up for grabs. (Canada and US only)

All you need to do is follow her and leave a comment on her blog.

Krystal's Stellar Book Blog

Be sure to check it out!

the joys of being a female

Today was my physical which of course would include the dreaded PAP. Everything went well, we discussed a few things and I made it through the app't just fine. The doctor says she is convinced that it is Fibromyalgia that I have although we never did follow up on that discussion. I guess that means I will have to make another app't to discuss that. I'm not convinced that this doctor really believes that fibromyalgia actually exists. She also isn't convinced that the pain I'm having in my side is from my gallbladder. She seems to think that it may just be gas and has said the next time it happens I should go to the hospital and be checked there. They will likely do an ultrasound and run some other test she mentioned.

I have gone shopping with the girls a couple times this past week. Christmas shopping has begun!! I haven't done much but have managed to get a couple things. It's been fun and hectic at the same time. The little girls can be very excitable over Build-A-Bear and the toy dep't of stores...LOL but then again what child isn't? Everett takes to shopping so easily...he sleeps the time away, waking long enough to eat, get his diaper changed and take in a few sites along the ride. Gotta love the life of a 3 week old baby.

Today I got the Christmas Tree up and ready to decorate on Saturday when we all get together. This has been a family tradition, getting together for an afternoon or evening of fun, laughs and decorating the tree. I look forward to it every year and hope it will continue for many years!

Tomorrow, Hannah is coming to visit with nana and gramps for the night. Her parents are going to go to Toronto shopping on Saturday morning. Arend is going to a hockey game so Hannah and I have the evening to ourselves. What to do, what to do? Whatever we do, we will have lots of fun.

Introducing our Grandson Everett....our little prince

Everett Christopher Alfred born Thurs. Oct 28th, 2010 @ 9:11pm. Very proud parents Kandice and Chris and big sister Hannah!

This is a picture of Hannah holding her little brother Everett. He is just around 18 hours old here and was just home from the hospital a few hours. Now does that look like a proud big sister or what? She has been showering Everett with hugs and kisses and "I love you's" like crazy!

I had the honour of being at the birth of Everett as was I with Hannah and Keira. There is absolutely nothing more beautiful, then to watch the birth of my grandchild who I know is coming to a family who will not only love him or her but to cherish him or her forever!

My daughters are my pride and joy but now they share that spot with my grand children.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Fibromyalgia/CFS

Many years ago I was told that the pain and fatique I was feeling was likely the start of CFS (chronic fatique syndrome) and Fibromyalgia. I had 10 of the 11 out of 18 tender points that are used to diagnose fibromyagia. This is a syndrome that is still very often misdiagnosed or misunderstood because people including doctors still don't consider it a problem or believe that it actually exists. This is not a disease it is a syndrome! I have an app't with my family doctor in November for my physical so I will be talking to her again about this and seeing what she says at that time!

People with fibromyalgia (men and women alike) are often referred to as lazy. That is usually far from the truth. With the pain that is involved with this syndrome it is not easy to get out of bed in the morning or continue the day without having to rest. This syndrome is real and is widespread!

I got a link today on Facebook from a friend of mine who also suffers from fibromyalgia and wanted to post it here as well for anyone who may stop by, to read it and try to understand more about this syndrome!

Women in Chronic Pain

After reading this I hope that you have more understanding on how a person with Fibromyalgia goes through everyday life!

Autumn is here as of...

11:09Pm!

Can you believe it? Where did the summer go? I have to admit I do love this time of year although summer is still my favourite season. The smell of fall makes me happy! Yesterday while up at the trailer with a friend from work we were mentioning that we could smell the fall air. It was hot, in fact very hot the last couple of days and while we were up at the trailer I got a sunburn. I do of course have another reason to be excited that fall is here too....our new grandson is due to make his arrival on Nov 2nd. Where did that time go? Seems like it was just yesterday we found out that Kandice was expecting again.

Kandi reminded me that I hadn't updated my blog in a very long time and so I thought I should get to it today! The problem is that I just don't have a lot going on in my life to be blogging about.

I'm working on a new knitting project for "baby brother" (grandson). It is a beautiful blanket that Kandice picked out but man am I having some issues with it. I have to admit I have never really attempted any project that had much of a pattern to it and really I have to say this doesn't have much but I seem to have some troubles with it. I haven't given up on it although I have taken it out almost as often as I have started it...lol! But, I think I have finally conquered it or at least conquered the first set of patterns. I was determined not to give up and walk away from it and so far so good!

I am a self taught knitter and never really worked on learning all there is to knitting, just always picked something out that looked like I could do it. This has been a challenge for me and I'm sure if others were to look at it they would laugh and ask me what my problem was...with that said I just never did patterns before!!!

Kandice has now started knitting as well and is very excited to be picking it up. She is working on a sweater for Hannah. I wonder, well we ever get Krystal interested in knitting or crotcheting? I hope so but Krystal is an avid reader and enjoys sitting reading a good book in her spare time. Krystal has her own blog where she reviews books and gives honest opinions and reviews so be sure to check out her blog.

This weekend we are celebrating Keira's 6th birthday with dinner at King's Buffet and coffee and cake back here at nana and grandpas house. Her birthday is actually on the 29th. I can't believe she is going to be 6 yrs old. My little sweetheart is growing up and getting to be such a big girl. Which means nana is getting older too...oh dear!