Week 2

Praying Baby.
Comfy, comfy...

Mom and babe!

Pictures of our little one's first week!

Waking up.
Tummy time with Dad.
Sleeping beauty.
Where she used to live!
First walk.
First Bath.
So cute!!!

A stay at Alberta Children's Hospital

Last week we spent 3 days at Alberta Children's Hospital with our little girl. She was not gaining weight, was lethargic, and had (what ended up being a false positive) what looked like a bladder infection. The doc from Okotoks sent us to Calgary where we pulled an all-nighter in the ER while they took urine (she peed and the nurse caught it so they were able to get a 'midstream' on our 10 day old!) and blood cultures. They started an (itty bitty tiny) IV. The doctor was worried about her lethargy and high pitched cry so they did a Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap!) to rule out meningitis.

We were admitted while we waited the results and she was started on IV antibiotics. We were pretty scared and stressed to say the least. But, God is good, and all her tests came back negative and she picked up with the IV fluids. She started to gain weight and eat better. The facility (though somewhere no one ever wants to have to be) was amazing, as were all the nurses and doctors... just weird to be on the other side of it all!

My mom was able to come and stay with us at the hospital and help out with feedings, cuddles, snack runs... we couldn't have done it without her! Thanks Nana!

Now we are back home, and adjusting again... this time to a healthy baby that actually wakes up on her own to eat and cries (music to our ears!) Today- her 3 week birthday- she reached her birth weight! Yeah! Go Abijah Go!!

Niblet has arrived!!!!! :)

With praise and thanksgiving to God we are so excited to announce that "Niblet" was born on September 13 at 9:20pm. IT'S A GIRL!!!!! Her name is Abijah (said Abi-yah) and she is perfect! 7 lbs 14 oz.

Karmyn went into labour in the morning... Chad go 'the call' early afternoon... and by mid-afternoon we were well on our way. We got to the hospital in the early evening and after 1 hour of pushing our little bundle had arrived with a cry so loud even the nurses were surprised. She continued to scream through the night (but has since found her cute newborn sounds)! We stayed in the hospital for 2 days and then brought her home where we are enjoying every minute (we've even slept a little bit!!)

Bring on the Niblet!

With only a week plus a day until our "Best Before Date", the baby's room is set up, the little socks are washed, the hospital bag is packed, the belly is big, and the momma and poppa-to-be are excited! Now all we need is Niblet!
Setting up the crib- with only French instructions! My how we missed Canada!
The finished room.
My Grandpa Nordin's old glider soon to be put to good use.
NOTE: Running stroller all ready to go... I can't wait to be able to run again (even if it is more like a slow jog...)
Close up of the crib!
Change table fully stocked.
The smallest laundry I've ever done... can't believe this will all soon be worn!

Camping with the Family!

Dad with the trailer.
How is this the only pic of mom we got all weekend... I don't even know what they are doing!
Kirst being....hmmm.... not really sure what she is doing, but she sure looks dainty!
The birthday girls and Matty (whose goal was to look funny in every pic!) Notice the festive umbrellas- we tried to make it feel summery (with the fleece jackets!)
Jasmine. Jazmine. Jasamyne. Jazz. Not sure how to spell her name, but she sure is cute!
The boys reading... and soon they were sleeping.
Speaking of sleeping. Too much fun for pregnant old me... not sure if I knew that crown was on or not!


A couple of weekends after we got back into Canada, we had the fun opportunity to go camping with my family. It was the first time we were all together in over 2 years!!! We celebrated my birthday and Sarah's early birthday. Also got to meet the newest addition to the fam- Jasmine who showed off what she was learning in obedience classes!

Home and native land...

How great it is to be home! Our trip home went as planned (or better). We ended up pushing through on Friday and getting home to Okotoks in the wee hours of Saturday morning. We were so blessed with good weather, safe travels and our car stayed working (and nothing was stole even after leaving a window wide open all night by accident!). We actually only saw one single vehicle crash all 4100km! It worked wonderful to meet Chad in Cincinnati and then we headed to the Creation Museum. We stopped at the Mall of America in Minnesota long enough to find out that the bridge just collapsed! We were in the city when it happened!! We then passed into Canada and up to Winnipeg. Spent the night in Brandon where is "smelt like home"! We stopped in Moosejaw, hit the mineral springs, toured around Briercrest and headed home! We are tired but sort of unpacked and excited to be back in Canada (and a little relieved!!)

Oh so happy!

Well, I only have 1 shift left at work which is a little sad, but mostly happy as it means I am almost about to be reuinited with my husband!!!! I have so enjoyed working at the MICU and have been so thankful for the friendships and support everyone has given me especially in the last 8 weeks!

I always hate the goodbye part. I hate leaving friends and we have made some good ones here. Our landlords have been like a family to us and I will miss them, their concern and support.

I leave early Monday morning to meet Chad 1 day into the drive in Ohio. We are going to stop at the Creation Museum and just enjoy being together. To say we have missed each other would be an understatement. I'm glad it is almost over and I am SOOOOOOO excited to see my love again. I can't wait for him to see my growing belly and feel Niblet's strong kicks! I'm glad we will have more time to make the drive home than we did on the way down... but I'm still more excited about the company than the actual miles ahead of us!

I'm 33 weeks now and still feeling good. The heat here has been hard- I just go from air conditioned place to air conditioned place... although it has been more hot than usual at home this summer too!

Please pray for safe travels and that our car will run smoothly, not be broken into, not break down. We can't wait to be HOME!

Sleepy Baby

This will sooo be Niblet someday... although Chad says, naa! Niblet won't fight the urge- s/he will be YOUR baby after all!

30 down, 10 to go!

Well, I'm 30 weeks and still feeling great. Had a check-up this morning and my blood pressure, baby's heartbeat and everything looks good. Niblet has started to move around a lot more and the kicks are stronger and stronger- which is fun... just not at 4am! Getting more and more excited to meet this little person that is growing in me!

It is also only 4 weeks until I'm (we're) reunited with Chad and we can't wait!!! It is going by okay-fast. Just working lots and resting in between. It is hot and humid everyday here now but I just go from one Air Conditioned place to the next!

It's a VERY Special Day for a VERY Special Someone

Chad's Birthday is today and although I am sad that I can't spend it with him, I'm still Happy it is his special day!

Babe, I love you and hope you have a wonderful Birthday! I thank God that I get to share my life with you and I'm looking forward to a year full of shared adventures! Happy Birthday Hubby!

Mom and Dad's Visit

A week ago my parents were able to come and visit me in Virginia. Dad stayed for about a week and Mom for a about 10 days. I was so thankful they braved the many flights and airport hoping to get here. We had a wonderful time- it was so nice to have some actual time to spend together after living in different countries for 2 years! I got to stay at the hotel with them even in Lynchburg so it was a holiday at home (sorry I froze you with the air conditioning- I really am an 'oven'!)

NOTE: I can't get blogger to co-operate with moving the pictures- sorry they are out of order!

Mom Sailing on Chesapeake Bay.
Mom and Dad on the Sunset Sail.
The old City Hall in Richmond, VA.
Dad's very MANLY rental car... well, it was good on gas!
The Reflecting Pond and Washington Monument.

Karmyn and Niblet in front of the White House!
The riot police at the Capitol Buildings.
Karmyn at the Capitol Building.

Our Neighborhood

When they say 'big old rambling houses' this is what they meant. The pictures don't do justice, but we(I) live in a historic district where many of the houses are from before the turn of the century. Crazy but big and beautiful!

What do you expect?

When we were in China on our way home from Korea, we did a bit of shopping at a market in Beijing. Interesting to say the least. Everything was a knock-off, with some better than others. Chad bought a brown leather "Levis" belt for a few dollars (after the girl held a lighter up to it to show it didn't burn and therefore was real leather!) Before he left for Canada, he was wearing the belt and it fell apart. Disappointing at first as he likes the belt, he started to see if he could fix it. As he played with it, a small piece fell to the floor. What was it but a small, 3 pronged fish hook with an inch or so of fishing wire attached....?????..... we will probably never know!

The World's BIGGEST Stingers!

So a while ago, I was sitting at the computer when a hear a thud on the stove. Sounds like a piece of plaster has fallen from the ceiling. So over I saunter over casually... only to see a flying bug. I bravely get the tea towel to 'whip' the bug to the ground, when all of a sudden I see how FREAKISHLY big it is! Instead, I wait for it to land (I actually was quite calm!) and then grab one of Chad's big books to squish it (shhhh don't tell him!). That is it in the picture- next to a normal pen cap. Yikes! Hopefully there won't be any more!

I go into work a couple days ago and my one patient is a man who has been stung by one of these FREAKISHLY big bugs and had an anaphylactic reaction when the thing stung him IN THE EYE!!!!! No kidding!