In NorthCarolina

This is my fourth day here, time is going fast.
Today it is raining, but yesterday it was 70F, so room temp. So Jen and I put the kids in the car and did a couple of things. It was Jennifer's first time out and behind the wheel without her tummy. We went for lunch, surprised Paul by bringing his. We had the girls play around at an train station with an old locomotive they are able to climb on (and me too) while Jennifer sat in the car.

We picked up the necessary groceries. For Jen it was a long day, even I was tired.
She loves having tea with me so that was next. Then I sent her to bed while I washed the fruit and salad and did a load of laundry.`

Because it was Friday Paul ordered in Chinese food. Like I mentioned before the depression has NOT found him yet. he has had record months. He just went for an hour it being Saturday is rather unusual. We plan to go out this afternoon.

I will post a few pictures later. The baby is just so cute and the first glance I got of him when I walked in, I saw definitely Aila in him. But of course that changes every time. It is very cute to see the different genes in the offspring. Like Jennifer and her sister said: "The Decock genes are very dominant. Believe me when I tell you it is not only the genes. Hahaha!

Going South

Tomorrow I shall be going to North Carolina. It seems that Jennifer needs some help. Ted and I discussed it and both feel it is important I go. As we all know, with a newborn there is not much time left over for laundry, cooking, cleaning and shopping. So, there is where I come in! Paul has to mind his shop. The depression in the US has not "found" him yet. He has been extremely busy.

It won't be easy for Ted (and for me for that matter), he depends a lot on me, especially since I am home full time. But this is a time we both have to trust the Lord for.

Paul and Jennifer did the "Happy Dance" after I had arranged my flight, which he, by the way is paying for!

I'll be going for a week, the girls are very exited that their Oma is coming. I also hear the weather is a lot better. The trees are beginning to bud. Actually the best time to visit there is April when everything is in full bloom and it is just gorgeous.

Aila makes pudding (two years ago)

Nicely spooned into the dishes, hmmmm!

This is all we are getting, is she Dutch or what!!

Enjoying the "fruits" of her labour!

The good old days

Above Ron and Paul

Below Daddies little girl!

Yes, yes still here

I have not posted anything as you might have noticed.

Everything happening the last few days has been mediocre compared to all the excitement of last week. Little Nico is doing well. We saw him on the WebCam. he is ever so cute, but than I am an Oma, what can I say!!!!

He has those strong Decock genes and I hope for his sakes, only the good ones will remain, hahaha!

But that is an all together different story!!

The girls are absolutely delighted with their little brother.

I have been very domestic yesterday by vacuuming the entire house so I did not walk on the treadmill, I figured this was exercise enough! 

On Monday Ron and Lynne went on a Valentine date and the Grand kids came over here. I promised Evan the last time that I would make Kraft's macaroni and cheese and did they eat. There was not anything left.

Alyssa is a delight, she still loves doing puzzles, she turned two last November. But yet the puzzles are three years and over. She does like it when I watch her and I might hand her a piece or two.

Opa also had "her kind" of music on, and I took out my twister, that is a contraption that when you stand on it you are able to turn around at the beat of the music. Of course she had to try that and it kept her busy for awhile.

This is a great exercising gadget especially if you hold a couple of weights in your hands.

Who needs the gym, I have everything I need here at home.

Getting babies is hard work!

Does Paul look tired, or what?

"Daddy, why did the baby come out?"

 Three year old Eliana asked!

Samantha gives Nico a kiss, ever so gently!

A very happy Opa and Oma

Lost my bet

I guess I lost my bet, (see my previous post) Nico was born 12:20 today, so Ted won!

We are very excited, while Paul called we heard Nico cry in the background! Awwwwww, so cute!

Paul told us the weight, but I only remember 7lb and something, I think it might be 8oz. Well, I just told you(last post) that I don't listen very well, hahaha!

Congratulations Jennifer and Paul, a job well done!

You made this Oma very happy, wished I could be there!

Result

The outcome of my tests could not be better Dr. Harris my Oncologist informed me. The Hemoglobin apparently has never been this high. It also has been four years ago since the operation. I will see her again in August.

She said: "Your Hemoglobin is up because you gained some weight", and than she looked at my boots, (when they put you on the scale you keep your shoes on!) and the last time I saw her was sandal weather!!.

I then told her that I am walking every day for an hour and eat dark chocolate and plenty of nuts and........ But as always, she is way too busy to listen to my stories. She burbled into her recorder to update my file and for reports to be sent to all the doctors involved in my case.  (It amazes me that the medical secretary understands Dr. Harris!) and she was out of the door before I could say: "Thank you!"( I saw her a total of 2-3 min.)

Yesterday was the first time I went to my appointment alone because Ted is not able to walk from the car's parking spot to the Hospital. He dropped me off and waited in the car. Of course I could let him out in front of the entrance, but that means I have to find a parking spot. We did that with Ted's visit to the Hospital a month ago. I ended up almost crying. I'd found a spot but was unable to manoeuvre the car into place. In the meantime,  cars lined up waiting for me to be finished, which never happened, I ended up leaving the spot to try somewhere else, knowing people were shaking their heads or may be worse, all the while me being afraid that Ted already sat on Dr. Harris's  examining table.

Believe me, when you get a negative report from your Oncologist you want somebody with you! After all, one may feel good but what is inside we don't always know! Besides, I don't listen very well, I hear half of what they tell me, hahaha! That is also a problem Ted has with me!!

When I was in the Hospital the night before the operation four years ago, the surgeon came in with a picture of the tumor they had found and what I could expect etc. At that time Lynne our DIL came in and wrote down in "short hand" everything that the surgeon told me. All I remember thinking was, "whatever, do what you have to do", I had such a terrible head ache from caffeine withdrawal and not having been able to eat for days! I really could NOT concentrate!

Later after the operation I read Lynne's notes and I thought holy jeepers a good thing I was not listening, hahaha! So, sometimes it is to my advantage. It seems I can turn things off and on in my brain! Because believe me, I can listen!!!!

On a totally different note, Jennifer went to the Hospital, her water broke 2:30 am, they called us that they would be on their way as soon as Jennifer's Mom arrived to look after the girls.

It now 12:00 noon and nothing yet. Ted and I are betting on baby Nico's arrival. I say: "1:30 pm" and he said "12:30". I told Yvonne that we were betting, she asked me what I am getting if I win! "Nothing" I said. "Well Mom that's no fun, that is not betting!" She probably figured I would get an Ottawa trip out of the deal, no such luck for me! If you go to Ted's blog you know why!

But I am so very, very excited with this weeks big news, that Yvonne and Aila are coming in April for a week. Thank you Jason, you indeed are my favorite son-in-law! Mom-in-law happy, wife happy, life happy!

A MUST SEEN video for parents

Please take some time to listen to this

http://churchoftherock.ca/videoPlayer.php

My day

This afternoon we will be going to the Cancer Clinic once again to find out how my tests turned out.

Yes, I will let you know the results.

I have been feeling very good. I do my exercise routine and walk on the treadmill. I try to eat healthy, with other words, I do my best and let God do the rest!

A day or two ago, I came upon a site on which I saw a taping of a debate about the existence of God, between an Atheist and a Deist. Of course one thing let to an other and I ended up commenting on a blog (without mentioning which side I am on). I have observed in my life time that those who "Debunk Christianity" are actually brought up in "Religious families". They are also very, very argumentative, as if they are trying to convince themselves rather than you. 

What I found on this "Debunking Christianity site" is that there is such unfairly name calling.

So I posted a comment  asking them why they use those high volute words as if they are trying to impress other readers. Like: "Don't you argue with me, you are way too uneducated!"

I asked them also why can they not be polite, in business you would not get very far by telling your customer his ideas are like ' horse manure'.

Anyways, I am up against these "I am so smart" guys, which is rather entertaining!

So we go to the oncology department ground floor of Grace Hospital. Walk in, say hi to the nurse behind the desk who tells us to sit down. We might get asked by a volunteer if we'd like a coffee (and what in it) or a juice. We read for a while and then a nurse calls us and takes us further into the department. Before she tells us to sit down again she needs to weigh us. From where we are sitting we watch Dr Harris walk in and out of the two examining rooms. Patients going in and coming out some with pale faces and what other visible signs they might have.

In the meantime on the other side of this large place you'll find many easy chairs in a circle where patients are getting chemo, bags hanging on poles. Yes Ted was in one of those chairs at one time. The nurses are very cheerful, sweet and kind always ready to put you at ease. They keep the area rather comfortable with nice easy furniture to sit on.

Finally it is our turn, today they were 45 min behind schedule. We are herded into one of the examining rooms, being told to put on a nice 'fashionable' blue hospital gown and we wait, and wait, what will the answer be?

A nurse comes in with a few questions or if there are concerns we may want to tell her. Out she goes and we wait again. Finally Dr. Harris pops her head around the corner, in her hands our file she has briefly studied out side the room . Today she said: "The tests have not been this good!" Whether the results are good or not good, her voice is always the same. While examining Ted she told us (after all these years (over six years) since the last cancer operation to the liver), she doubts if there will be a recurrence but added I cannot say this too loud of course.

We of course are very thankful for the good news. Believe me, when you see the patients there you do not want to be one of them. We thank God for His goodness to us and are very happy to share it with you.

Hai la vita eterna?

Hai la vita eterna?

A what?

Question: "Do you have eternal life?"

You sure? Really?

http://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-life.html

(Click on the link and Scroll to the bottom of the page to read it in your own language what ever that might be)

Gone Dutch

Ted and I have gone Dutch, what the heck does that mean you might ask!

(Jason my SIL probably thinks as he reads this, when did they ever stop being Dutch! Hahaha! 

 

Well, look at the picture on the left, that is what we call `Stamppot` (English:`mash pot`). It is a traditional Dutch winter dish made from a combination of potatoes, mashed together with one or several other vegetables cooked in one pot.

 These vegetable pairings traditionally include sauerkraut, endive, kale, or carrot/onion (the latter combination is known as hutspot). It is usually served with either bacon, sausage, stewed meat or meatballs. The origin of stamppot is unknown, but it is a widely known Dutch dish and can be a cheap, hearty and filling meal. I grew up liking them very much. Actually any vegetable will do.

Well, I made it with broccoli and served it with a nice "Harvest Farmer Sausage double smoked", from Cosco. That is the only kind closest to the Dutch kind and is very tasty and not fat. Actually it is the only kind I buy. I am definately NOT a meat lover.

What an easy dish to make, this is how......

Peel potatoes and cut up (take as much as you'd normally use) place in a pot on the stove with about one inch of water.

Wash broccoli, cut in smaller pieces and add to the potatoes.

Place sausage on top add salt to your taste.

When done in about 20 min, remove the sausage.

Drain liquid , but save some to add to your gravy.

Mash the potatoes and broccoli, add some butter if you like.

Slice up the sausage and eat it with a nice gravy, hummmmmm!

I discovered a nice gravy mix in the store, it is the best, called "Sylvia's essential sauces"  Gravy mix Prime Roast Beef. It also comes in Chicken flavour. Family size 270 gram costs about 7.50  makes 2L. For one cup gravy I only need 1/4 cup of the mix. It tastes like real gravy the best I have ever bought.

So....go Dutch and enjoy! 

Happy

Okay now, have I mentioned lately how much I love to be home?

 I love it so much I almost feel guilty. Every evening when I get into bed, (no set time) I think and usually say: "An other great day tomorrow!" When I wake up (no set time) I can't wait to get up and do whatever suits my fancy! I do feel best though when I get up 6:00 am.

Ted and I definitely enjoy each other company, yes, even after all these years!

When I had my Ultra sound last week, the technician and I hit it of right away. Because of my unusual name (Geertruida) she asked me where I am from and why I came to Canada. I told her, well it is a real love story. "Do tell", she asked me.

I went about telling her how we met and as a climax I said: "Yes and that is now 49 years ago in April!"

"The way you look and dress", she said (and I liked that!) it is hard to believe you are this old (from my chart)!"

I told her that my husband tells me every day I am beautiful and yes I still love hearing him say that! I also mentioned to her that our Son-in-law Jason has a slogan, which is "HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE!" My husband totally agrees with him and he aims for that! Hahaha!

My Birthday outing

Since it was my Birthday the 31st and Hudson's the 28th, we went out for dinner at Applebees. The food was good and so was the company. Ted informed the waiter that it was mine and Hudson's Birthday. Too late, I knew the waiter would come and bring all the staff out to our table to sing the Birthday song. I guess for Hudson it came very unexpectedly.So, when his name was announced to the entire Restaurant he had this big grin on his face which was worth the embarrassment I had to endure.

Anybody that knows me, knows that I love unusual watches. 

Lynne bought this one for me, I love it!

The card above made and designed by Yvonne, she sent a present along with Ron on his last business trip to Ottawa!

The perpetual grin!

What a doll!

Ted and our oldest son Ron.

While waiting for our food, Lynne's keeping the boys busy

"Are you having fun Hudson?" I asked

Well what do you think?