Brag

It has been implied that we do not brag about our wee "sweet pie" (as she likes to call herself) enough so here I go...........

Since she was about a year old she has been able to count up to 6 and up to 10 with some help. Since about Christmas she has been counting to 10 all by herself and can recognise the numbers 1-10 (she was able to do that since she was about 9 months).

For Christmas she got the Fisher Price ABC animal zoo and can already name almost every animal. I think there is only about 2 that she is not sure of. Her favourite is the "nigh-gale" (Nightingale) and she loves the sound that the Ostrich makes and always tries to make the "ooooo ooooo" sound while wiggling her shoulders front to back.

If it is cold (ie getting in and out the bath) she says cold and then makes a brrr brrr type noise while wrapping her arms around her and shaking her body.

So far she is great at sharing but often misses out because of it. She will share with another child who does not return the favour and runs off with the toys Abby was playing with. I just hope that it does not put her off sharing.

For most of the time she behaves very well. I was so proud of her yesterday. I took a wee walk to a local wool mill outlet shop and Abby behaved beautifully she listened well and was obedient. The worse thing that I had to do was refold a sweater a few times that she kept picking up. Then later that night I was drying and brushing my hair and she was playing with balls that her Dada had brought up stairs to keep her busy. I had no idea if he had brought up the basket to put them in so I called for Abigail who dutifully came and I asked if the basket for the balls was upstairs, the best I was hoping for was that if it was she would bring it to me to see. When she didn't return with it I thought, it either wasn't there or she had no idea what I wanted. Once I had finished I went to see which of the possible answers it was................. to my complete surprise she had put the ball that she had been holding into the basket (she always helps to tidy her toys after much asking). I was amazed that she had connected the fact that I was asking about the basket so I could tell her to put the ball away! She also had upstairs a small bucket that we keep some of her little people in. I asked her to put the rest of the balls into the basket and then put the little people into the bucket, as I was going to get something, thinking that upon my return I would have to repeat the instructions at least 3 more times before they were completed. Yet again I was stunned to find that in the short space of time it had taken my to do my task she had finished what I had asked her! What a star! She got big cuddles and praise for a wonderful day.

I was proud again today when we took our trip to the local library (we have to go regularly because she loves books so much she gets bored with the same ones. This way she gets new books to read without us having to go bankrupt buying books and building a library to house them!). A few of the mothers in the village go on a Tuesday morning as it is coffee morning and while their kids (about the same age as Abby) were running all over the place throwing books and pull things off the shelves Abby was happy to stand about and play with the toys that are provided or look at some of the kids books or dance to the music they had playing. At one point she even asked me if she could play with the beads (one of those tables with the wiggly wires and wooden beads on them). Okay not in so many words but she did say "See beads" to which I replied "Okay, you can go play with the beads". And she did! There were times that as the other children tore past her she would have an almost shocked look on her face and I wondered if she new that their behaviour was wrong!

Here is wee pictures, she often puts things on her head and calls it a hat. Don't worry it was a clean one!

Prayers

I am sorry to have to blog bad news but we really need your prayers. As most of you know my dad has been undergoing various treatments for cancer for a couple of years now. We thought after some surgery that everything was under control and taken care of. However, after a few months and scans my dad had a negative report, below is the email that he sent out which explains it better than I could.

Dear family & friends

The result of my PET scan done in December was not as good as we had hoped. It showed that the cancer has returned. Two years ago the primary was in the colon with secondaries in the liver. There are still two secondaries on the liver (one we knew about that showed up on a CT Scan and MRI Scan) and four more specks have shown up in my abdomen. My oncologist said that PET scans have improved so much that two years ago these would not even have showed so they are very small specks. That means we have some time before we have to make our next decisions. Right now I am feeling good and able to do everything. My oncologist’s opinion is that he cannot cure this and in view of side-effects of a second lot of chemotherapy we postpone any treatment. According to him it would be a matter of managing symptoms and controlling pain. We are thinking about all of this carefully before we meet with him later this month to give him my decision. I am finding it very hard right now as after surgery things were looking good. It has taken me a few days before I could even write this but we wanted you to know. We need your encouragement more than ever and again we ask for your prayers.

With our love & appreciation and best regards for 2009.

John & Irene

Again I am sorry for the bad news. We will keep you updated as things progress.

New Year!

Over Christmas Abby loved saying "Mea Chri" to everyone.

We have been working on Happy New Year but so far have only managed to get.......
"Neu ear"

Not bad for a start I guess.
I do have video of Christmas but the files are to big to download so I will have to do something about that before I can post them.

Happy neu ear to you all!

Christmas 2008

I can't even think where to start. What a Christmas we had though quiet it was eventful. "Let's start at the very beginning, it's a very good place to start".

The Monday before Christmas my mum and dad arrived bringing with them my 88 year old Grandad for the holidays. Not a moment too soon as in my current condition we have been surviving on scraps of leftovers that I could face pulling together while hardly being able to stand for tiredness and hold my breath so the food smell would not make me vomit. But that is all more than you want to know right? My parents did what parents do best and took over the kitchen so I could rest and eat some healthy foods. With all the excitement nobody slept much on Monday night. Tuesday was the day for getting in the food supplies to get us through the time of feasting and by the afternoon we were all knackered (to use a Scottish word). Early evening things were not so enjoyable as my grandad became confused and seemed very unwell. We had to arrange for a doctor to come to the house to see him and the doctor called for an ambulance to transfer him to a hospital in Aberdeen. He was suffering from a severe urine infection. By tea time he was in the ambulance on route to the hospital.
Christmas eve was busy as mum and dad drove an hour to the hospital, one way, to see grandad and David and I entertained an energetic and confused by all the people appearing and disappearing 18 month old. We had our big Christmas eve meal in the evening and we all really enjoyed it. Abigail went to bed quite well and did not try to stay awake for Santa (at least this year). The rest of us had that inevitable last minute wrapping to do and setting out the presents for the morning. So it was a late night again.
"IT'S CHRISTMAS" came the shout from the bedroom - Mama and Dada's bedroom that is! Since being on hoilday Abigail has been sleeping until 9am most mornings and Christmas was no exception. We got up and ate some breakfast before venturing into the livingroom for the surprises that Santa had left.





Abby was so overwhelmed and exclaimed over and over "Oh, OH, OHHH". We opened a few of the presents and her stocking but she began to be distracted so we left her to play with some of her gifts while we got into stockings and a few presents. After a wee break Abigail was ready to get back to opening. Like most kids all clothing items were looked at and put aside. We eventually got through everything. Her 3 big presents where the Fisher Price ABC animal zoo, a rocking horse that she named "See Saw" and a tiger ride on toy.





Before we knew it is was time for Christmas dinner, followed by a nap for Abby. In the evening we headed over to the Gaunts' house to visit with their family. When we arrived Abby received yet more gifts. She got a fluffy pick housecoat that is just adorable and a stroller which she loves to push back and forward from the livingroom to the kitchen. We went out a few days after Christmas and bought her a baby doll to push in the buggie as she just had a little rag doll.







Boxing day we were joined by David's parents and brother and after our evening meal my parents left to head home for a few days as my dad had a hospital appointment on the Monday. David's family stayed over one night before going home and we enjoyed our time with them.
At the weekend Abby and I came down with nasty colds so we stayed home all weekend and David played nurse maid.

Meanwhile my Grandad remained in the hospital. He was to be discharged on Tuesday so my parents drove back up and collected him. He was much improved though he had gotten a cold in hospital the urine infection had cleared up and he was more him self. He had to have some blood tests taken on Thursday so they stayed with us until then. Which again was great with me as I didn't have to cook. It was also helpful on Wednesday as I had to get my first scan in the morning so we had built in babysitters.

The scan went well and we were relieved to know that everthing was fine and as it should be. I have had a lot of spotting in this pregnancy and we have had a few scary moments when we thought this wee one would not make it. Yet here we are at about 13 weeks, making my due date about the 9th of July. I will see my midwife on the 18th of January to do paper work and blood work. We are pleased to introduce you to our new little mystery........



If you need a little help it is a profile shot. the head is on the left side and there is a wee hand at the top in the middle. The leg is the long bent object at the right side and the body is the oblong shape running along the bottom. I hope this helps. It is a very similar picture to the one we had of Abby at the same stage.

David was responsiable for the devo to bring in the bells at the Church building on Hogmany. Due to my sickness and tiredness I stayed home with my parents. My Grandad was in bed before ten and the rest of us went to bed ASAP after midnight. So it was a quiet New Year.

We hope that you all had a great time over Christmas and New year and that God will bless you in 2009.

Lead up to Christmas

Thought I would post some picture updates in the run up to Christmas before I publish anything on Christmas.

Cheese! If you look close you will finally see some hair!



Visit from Grannie and Grandad. Can you spot the problem......



..... Abby had some slipper fun.

We had some snow, so in her welly boots, that at the time were too big but all we had, she and Dada took to the snow.



Helping!? put up the Christmas tree.



Trying on Dada's gloves.



Look at these baby blues....



Christmas is just so exciting it brings out some crazy faces!

Unwell

Sorry it has been a while but I am sure that you will all understand when I update you on our news..................

I just haven't been feeling very well lately and as some of you might be guessing already we are expecting another member to our family in the summer! We don't have much more information than that as I don't get a scan until the very end of this month. I think I am about 8 weeks and so would be due early July.

I will try to post more soon when I feel a bit better.

New Game

Abigail invented a new game that she loves to play in her cot when we take her out of the sleeping bag. She had just woke up from her nap today and I just hard to get some video for our Blog. Just watch ......