Author: spaleksic

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25983b5255f2edc7500b84b5d9a9e2f0How are you? This little question has turned into more of a greeting than an actual question. When you answer it do you tell the truth? Or do you say fine, thanks. How are you?

I feel like I am lying if you ask how I am and I say fine, because in no way am I fine. So I have started saying I am great except for the brain tumor. I have gotten some interesting reactions to say the least. I do however have great hope that I will one day be able to say fine again and really mean it.

I have been telling people that I have a brain tumor, some out of necessity, some because I want to, and others because I don’t want to pretend that everything is OK. I have been openly sharing my story. It’s hard because it’s emotionally exhausting but it’s worth it. I don’t even know how many people have told me of friends, relatives, or acquaintances who have survived a brain tumor. I have lost count. Your stories inspire me and fill me with hope, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tomorrow we will be walking in the Brain Tumour Spring Sprint. I have raised money and participated in many walks for all kinds of causes but never one that affected me personally. I wanted to thank everyone for your donations, it’s humbling to know that I have so many people’s support. I have raised just over $1,000.00. Yahoo. If you would like to donate to this cause very close to my heart (brain) please do. Here is the link. http://www.springsprint.ca/site/TR/SpringSprint/General?px=1028237&pg=personal&fr_id=1217#.VWEjiU_BwXA

Walk shirtI decided to turn the image of a brain formed by hands into a shirt because I thought that it would make a perfect shirt for the kids for the walk. Every occasion around our house get some sort of t-shirt, this is no exception. I anticipate that they will be covered in food and or dirt and I may need to make another set before the walk tomorrow.

Smile

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I am an amateur photographer so I am always behind the camera which means that there are only a few photos of me and the kids. Each year around Mother’s Day we have a family picture taken by a photographer so I actually make it into the photos. Yesterday we went to the beach for the annual picture, and each year it gets a little easier. The kids will look at the photographer at least occasionally, and sometimes even at the same time.

I graduated from a college photography program before digital photography became accessible to the masses. There are those that would say that digital photography has taken away from the art of photography, and I would tend to agree. But I would also say that it has afforded those of us that are inclined to take photos a million more chances to snap a good shot. I remember taking both slide and film photos and praying that there would be at least one good shot in the bunch (to hand in for an assignment) and waiting days for film/slides to be developed, only to have to repeat the shots. Granted a lot was learned though carefully setting up shots, but I can’t even image how many rolls of film it would take to get a shot with multiple children looking in the same direction with their eyes open. I am hoping that Nicola (our photographer) was able to get a couple of good shots of our crew. Here are a couple of quick shots I took while the kids were playing at the beach.

Logan our 2.5 year old has a habit of saying smile (instead of smiling) when someone points a camera at him. His older brother is trying to teach him how to smile in this photo. I took these when we were in Welland last month. Logan is clenching a gummy worm in his hand because when all else fails opt for candy, it’s sure to get a smile.

I needed to throw this one in there because I am keeping it real. Logan was yelling “get this thing off of me”, poor Bennett. Definitely no smiles in this photo.

Kids 1

Celebrating 40 years

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1 (1)Celebrating 40 years of anything these days seems like a small miracle. Especially 40 years of marriage. I have been married for 4.5 years and that seems to be quite an accomplishment. But 40 years that’s in a whole other category. Today my parent’s are celebrating 40 years of marriage and for that they deserve a standing ovation, a parade, champagne, and I don’t even know what else because the truth is marriage is HARD. Really, really hard sometimes. Did I mention that they have FOUR children. Yet, somehow they have managed to endure all the challenges that life has thrown them TOGETHER.

6779196631_2e600c19fe_oIt’s fairly typical these days to drop a small fortune on a wedding. Don’t get me wrong it is a very big deal to commit yourself to another person, but it doesn’t have to come with a giant price tag. My mom once told me a story about shopping for wedding rings at Kmart. Believe or not you don’t need a giant rock from Tiffany’s to have a great marriage, a simple band from Kmart is the symbol of their 40 year marriage. My mom now has so much bling on her wedding ring finger I am surprised that she can lift her hand, but if you start with something plain there is a lot of room for upgrades.

Growing up my parents were interchangeable. There weren’t designated mom or dad jobs. Dad cooked, did crafts, washed windows, vacuumed, shoveled snow, snuggled babies, worked outside the house, braided hair, helped with homework and did laundry. And so did my mom. My dad learned how to do ponytails and give face lifts all at the same time. I have never seen my mom iron but that’s because my dad is really good at it. I have also never seen my dad sew because my mom is a master seamstress. They each have their own domestic talents.  Most years my dad worked and my mom stayed home with the kids but other years it was reversed. They were able to adapt to whatever the situation needed seamlessly.

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I am about to divulge a pretty big family secret, wait for it…. I HAVE NEVER HEARD MY PARENTS FIGHT. Not once in the 18 years that I lived with them did I hear them fight. No slamming doors, no swearing, not even any yelling (at each other). How is that even possible? I am flabbergasted that they either never fought, or really never fought in front of the children. Maybe they were just too exhausted from raising four kids that there wasn’t time or energy to expend on arguments. I have no idea how they did it. I do however remember them kissing in the kitchen, and the four of us pushing our way between them, yelling gross. Or the bemantic (child slang for romantic) candlelight dinners that they would have.

October 28, 2010-19-51-01-PaleksicWhen I was out the other day buying them an anniversary card I opted for a CONGRATULATIONS card that I though was blank on the inside, only to learn later that it said “Congratulations, all your hard work has paid off. Enjoy it”. While the card was probably designed for a new job, retirement, or promotion it is equally fitting for 40 years of marriage. Marriage is hard work and they did it together for 40 years so congratulations; enjoy it because that is no small feat. They are both pretty excellent marriage role models, and maybe just a little too good because it’s pretty hard to replicate what they have. But I have at least another 35.5 years to get it right. Have an amazing anniversary, Love you.

M&D

Worms, Dirt & Sprouts

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spaleksic's avatarMaking A Life

cupcakes 3

When I ask Sasha what he wants to eat for dinner, the standard responses are worms & dirt, or bugs & worms.  He is a five-year old boy, so no surprises there.  Now if he was served worms, dirt or bugs I am sure that his response would change.  Sasha graduated from pre-school this week, and I thought that these little sprout cupcakes complete with worms & dirt would be perfect for the occasion.

What you need to make these:

  • Chocolate mini cupcakes
  • Chocolate icing
  • Chocolate cookie crumbs
  • gummy worms
  • mint
  • mini clear plastic shot glasses

cupcake 2helpercupcake 1

Directions:

  1. bake & ice cupcakes with chocolate frosting
  2. dip the tops of the cupcakes in the cookie crumbs
  3. to get the little ones involved, give them a cold mini cupcake pan and the little glasses, have them put one in each circle
  4. Put a worm in each little cups – again a very kid friendly task
  5. fill the cups…

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Goodbye Mommy Guilt

spaleksic4 Comments

valentinesWhen I first found out that I had a brain tumour you could say that I was depressed, for the first two days after I didn`t get dressed and I didn`t spend much time out of bed. That might have been the brain tumour but it also might have been the burst ovarian cyst, and stomach flu which were also attacking my body at the same time. Regardless my kids saw me as a bit of a mess, because honestly I was.

On day three I got up, got dressed and headed to a birthday party (at least physically) and felt some semblance or normalcy for the first time in days. I was also pretty proud of myself that I didn`t break down and cry mid party at the thought that I might not be around for my kids subsequent birthday parties because those were the thoughts swirling in my mind at the time.

Later that same day I had a massage booked. The appointment was made weeks before and I thought that it might make me feel better to get a massage. I had sent my CT results to my massage therapist the day before mainly so that I wouldn`t actually have to discuss my recently discovered tumour, and also so that I wouldn`t waste precious massage time crying. When I arrived we chatted a little about how I was feeling, and then he treated me as he had every other time I had been for a massage in the last 5 years. He also told me about his mother in law who had a meningioma removed (same kind of tumour as mine) and she has a loss of hearing in one ear, and can`t swim underwater without special ear plugs. To him this situation was no big deal, but not in a way that I felt like he was diminishing my situation. Simply that it is an unfortunate event which requires surgery,healing and time. My massage therapist relieved more stress than I ever thought possible with only his attitude and his words. I left his office feeling better than I had in a while because I had hope, piles and piles of hope.

nap timeFor the first time in days I ate dinner at the table with the rest of the family. Sasha who had just turned 6, turned to me and really looked at me and said “you seem to be feeling better mommy”. And he was right, I was feeling much better. But that point was also a pivotal moment because I became acutely aware of just how much he was picking up on. I vowed at that moment to pull myself together, and have hope that this situation would be resolved in time.

Sasha’s keen observation, and my acknowledgement of the brain tumour have also given me perspective. My mommy guilt has disappeared. I have a hard time caring these days about sugar cereal intake, TV watching, and what kind of diapers are the best. Instead I am taking care of myself, giving the kids extra snuggles, and making sure that the big things like their emotional needs are being met. My new perspective courtesy of my brain tumour is to live, and raise happy healthy kids.

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Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls

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We went to a Great Wolf Lodge in Washington state last Fall. Sasha has been asking to go back constantly. It seems that it might just be his favourite place on earth. So on a recent trip to Ontario we stayed a couple of nights at the Niagara Falls Great Wolf Lodge. We also took the kids to see Niagara Falls, and for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. There are not elephants at Great Wolf Lodge, only wolves.

It`s fair to say that fun was had by all. It`s also fair to say that if you have a brain tumour located in the part of your brain that affects balance that it might be wise to stay off the big fast scary water slides. Or as my husband alluded to maybe I am just a big wimp, only time will tell on that one. Once I get Timmy the tumour removed I will try out the big fast scary water slides again and see if I fair better post tumour.

Hello Great Wolf Lodge
Waterpark
Sasha Bowling
Stanko & Logan
Ruby
Sasha 1
Sasha 2
Logan 1
Breakfast
Bunk bed
Waterpark
Bowling
Arcade
Sasha & Logan
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls

27 Canadians a day are diagnosed with a brain tumour, I am one of them.

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On March 18, 2015 I was diagnosed with a brain tumour2015-SS-Poster-VICTORIA-Eng. As much as I would like to sit around and feel sorry for myself I have decided to join the movement to end brain tumours by taking part in Spring Sprint. I believe no one should hear the words, “you have a brain tumour”.

This is why I’m fundraising for Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Patients and families need information, support and education. We also need more research. There are too few treatments for this disease and survival needs to be improved.

Every dollar raised by Spring Sprint goes towards these goals.

Thank you for giving and, more importantly, for helping the 27 Canadians diagnosed daily with a brain tumour. You’re changing lives.

To support me in my walk against brain tumours please follow the link to donate http://www.springsprint.ca/site/TR/SpringSprint/General?px=1028237&pg=personal&fr_id=1217#.VUuliflVhHw.

Thank you.

Spring is in the air

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I have been blogging about babies all week, in keeping with the theme here are some itty bitty baby booties.

spaleksic's avatarMaking A Life

The cherry blossoms and daffodils are in bloom in Victoria. Winter is over and spring is in the air. My apologies to those of you that are still in the depths of winter, rest assured that spring is coming soon, and if you want to beat Mother Nature a trip to Victoria might help your winter blues. With spring comes babies, and itty bitty baby booties. I have been knitting hats for the babies that have recently come into this world, but Spring demanded a change in the welcome gifts. Shoes for babies might not be practical but they are cute, and I just couldn’t help myself. I now have a small stock of shoes to be given as shower/baby gifts. For the three moms that I gave these shoes to this week, please send me your feedback. Do these shoes stay on? Are they easy to put on?

I…

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Welcome Bennett

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I just had the fantastic opportunity to meet my newest nephew when he was brand new. He was just a week old when we arrived for cuddles. When my niece was born my sister had pinned photo ideas, bought little outfits and had a pretty good idea of the pictures she wanted me to capture. When Bennett was born just 16 months after his sister, my sister Erin wasn’t quite as organized. Sound familiar to any of you second, third, fourth time moms out there? I wasn’t as organized when my second arrived either. Bennett and I had a lovely time snapping away, here are some of my favourite shots. I know that the basket is too small but I threw it in anyway because he was fast asleep and he was being a great sport about the situation.

Are we almost done
Chilling with my friends
hmmmm
Seriously couldn’t you find a bigger basket
Boring

After nap time Ruby got in on the photo action. She is so full of life and a joy to photograph. Here are her new born pics, they really do grow up quickly.

oh oh
lol
Really, you don’t say
Stopping for a quick cuddle

I remember when we had photos taken when Logan was just 2 weeks old, and the ones with both kids were a bit of a disaster. Logan was screaming his head off, and Sasha was holding on to Logan for dear life. These pics were a little bit better. Although Bennett was poked in the eye more than once. No babies were harmed in the making of these photos!

Smells like a new baby

Ahoy Matey

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About three weeks ago my sister, brother-in-law and niece welcomed little Bennett into the family. In honour of the event and my sister’s love of cupcakes I made a little welcome cupcake dessert to celebrate his arrival. His room is decorated in a nautical theme so I ran with that for the cupcakes as well. Welcome to the family little guy.

anchor cupcakes