Palmer Family Blog

Update

It's been a while since I've blogged anything important.  Our computer (or the one we're borrowing from Brett) was not working forever, and now that it is, we can't get the internet to work.  So I'm doing this quickly on Kandice's laptop and don't have any pictures to post.  Sorry.  I don't even know what to say.  I don't feel like anything overly exciting has happened lately.  But even as I typed that, I had 3 or 4 things come to mind that actually are exciting, so I lied.  

Firstly, our unborn baby girl is doing really good, considering. The cysts are still there and haven't shown signs of regressing, but they're not growing either..so that's good. And since she's growing, her lungs are getting bigger and the cysts are no longer taking up all the space in them, so by the time she's born, they may not affect her breathing.  That's what we're praying for.  Because if that's the case, they won't have to do surgery on her and they can just watch the cysts for a while and take action later on, when she's bigger and stronger.  So yay!!  Good news for us and her!!  It's been tiring going to all the ultrasounds and extra appointments for her, but obviously, I would do anything to make sure she is healthy, so it's all worth it.  I had and MRI which was a little scary.  I'm kind of claustrophobic, so I had to close my eyes and pray and focus on Jacey and Jeffrey to keep my mind occupied.  I made it through though, obviously, and they got some good pictures of the baby.  So it was all worth it.  We have a meeting with the neo natal doctor and pediatric surgeon next week to discuss all the birth plans/possibilities.  I'm excited for that just so I know what to expect.  

Secondly, our kitchen is FINALLY being worked on!!!  We have a contractor working on it everyday, and we got a really good deal with him.  It's slow going, but it's going and that's all that matters.  :)  I still can't believe that I'm actually going to have a kitchen, so I'll be really happy when it does happens, but for now, it's fun to think about!!  

Thirdly, hmm...I forget what was third.  Oh I guess Christmas and everything that happened then.  It was so fun to have Heather & Gannon and their two kids home for almost an entire month!!  It's so fun to hang out with them and be with them again.  We can't wait till they actually live here again!!  Soon!!  I loved playing with their kids...as always, but Nixon this time was more interactive with me than he's ever been.  He's gotten more used to us from all his visits and I'm happy to say he would actually snuggle me and want to play with me.  He also gave me my second nickname in the Palmer family.  It's Elimy.  He learned to say my name and I loved hearing him yell it out when he would see me.  Madi gave me my first one when she was learning to say my name.  It's Em-errrly.  It was also so fun for Jacey to have his cousins around to play with.  Nixon inspired him to walk and he loved following him around.  Except for when Nixon wanted to "play" with him and ended up making him cry instead.  Nixon plays with Madi normally and has learned a few rougher games than a one year old would enjoy.  Jacey will have to grow a year or two and then "play" with Nixon.  Pay back time!  For the actual Christmas Eve and Day, we split the time as evenly as we could between the Drapers and the Palmers.  We had some yummy food and some entertaining nativity pageants.  Christmas morning we started out at my mom and dad's, we had slept over the night before.  Jacey woke up with a pretty high fever.  He was energetic enough to enjoy opening a few gifts, but he pretty much slept that whole day and the next.  Poor guy.  We got some really nice stuff.  One of the best, most meaningful gifts I've ever received was the one my parents gave us.  It was a copy of my Grandma Wood's journal. She has faithfully kept a journal since 1978 (maybe 1977, I forget right now).  There are 10 volumes.  And she was one faithful lady!!  Already she has changed my attitude in moments when I was completely unhappy during the day and she has just been so inspirational.  Plus, I just love reading her words and feeling close to her again!  She was and is the best grandma and I love her so much and I miss her incredibly.  Anyway, it was a wonderful gift.  Other wonderful gifts, not in the same genre, just to name a few: a BEAUTIFUL winter coat that Jeffrey picked out all by himself, he has the best taste..always has; a video baby monitor from Cyndi and Kevin.  It already has become too good to be true and I can't imagine ever not having it, nor will I ever go back to only audio; a carpet spot cleaning machine, it sounds like a weird gift, but I did request it and I am very excited to have it!!  Not having had a kitchen and from eating in the living room with a one year old, I'm tired of being on my hands and knees scrubbing spills and stains, so I'm happy about it; Jacey got lots of toys and clothes, he loves them all, he's a spoiled little boy!  His favorite was a drum set with little instruments in it.  He walks around our house with his drumstick and hits everything he possibly can.  It's cute, but slightly annoying.  Especially when he decides to whack my head with it.  It actually really hurts; we got lots more, but I can't remember anything specific, but we were treated well, that's for sure!  

Fourthly, Jacey must have made a New Year's Resolution to not crawl anymore, because January 1st, he just took off walking.  Which I credit to Nixon.  He was doing it every once in a while, but not very confidently.  He would just resort back to crawling, but from January 1st on, he's only been walking and very well.  He's fast now too.  Especially when he's headed towards something he shouldn't be and we're trying to stop him.  He practically runs for it!  It's fun, but SOO much more work for us.  Especially me, it feels, because I'm geting more and more pregnant and my hips and back are losing it.  So it's hard on my physically to chase him and keep him safe.  But he's so adorable and I love seeing him progress and learn.  He's had such a bad month for his health.  He was sick on his birthday, then sick on Christmas Day and for about 3-4 days after that.  Then he had 3 teeth come in at once and 2 more try.  Now he's been dehydrated and has had zero appetite.  Poor guy.  His sleeping habits have gone out the window and I'm trying to let him cry himself to sleep again, so that he learns to sleep through the night again.  It's hard and my heart hurts to hear him cry, but it's so much more worth it once he learns!  

Fifthly, Ryan & Jessica Salmon and their little baby girl, Madeleine have moved to Calgary from Utah.  They are Jeffrey's cousins.  The Salmons used to live here many years ago, some of you may remember them.  I don't, but I would have been TOO little.  They are renting out Michael & Melinda's condo and it is so fun having them here!  We always hang out at Palmers with them and we have loved it!  Madeleine is a DOLL.  She is the most delicate, precious little baby.  She seriously looks like a porcelein (sp?) doll.  Beautiful!  And she's so smiley and good.  

Sixthly, (and by the way, these are not in order of importance, but in order of occurance) Crystal and Jonathan are moving back to Calgary!!!!  I can officially say it now that Crystal's blogged it herself.  I am ecstatic to have her back in Calgary.  We haven't lived in the same city since 2003, so it's time!!  It will be so fun to hang out with their family.  Especially for me and Crystal, cause we will get to do things with our kids during the day!  I can't wait!!  They're moving in about a week and half, and I couldn't be happier about all of the wonderful circumstances regarding their return home!  :)    

Well, that is all that I can think of right now.  I'm sure more things have happened, and I apologize if I forgot something significant.  It wasn't on purpose.  Life is good overall.  I can't wait to have my baby so that I can actually lie down in bed and not be paralyzed from the pain.  It seems so far away.  Anyway, hope everyone's settled down in the New Year routine again.  Sad that the holidays are a year away.  :(  That's the worst part of Christmas..the end.  Well, I better go.  We're trying to play a game, and I'm being a bum and hiding behind the computer.  Ta ta!!