Landed in Toronto with My Feet Running

It has been a whirlwind week I think.  Since my last post on Monday, I have had lunch with an online friend (and one of my favorite authors) in San Jose.  She was fun, funny and just exactly as I had imagined she would be.  Thanks again Kristin for a fun day.  I hope we can do it again if I make it back to San Jose again.

Tuesday we checked out of our San Jose hotel and made our way back up the "Peninsula" as they refer to the west bay side of the Silicon Valley/San Francisco area.  After hubby finished his work on Tuesday (while I saw waiting for him in the lobby), we drove up through Half Moon Bay, and along the shore on Highway 1 into SF.  It was a little hazy so instead of going across the Golden Gate bridge, we decided to drive through the city... and drive down Lombard Street (the crookedest street).  Getting to Lombard and Hyde was a thrill in itself.  The road takes a 45 degree incline with 4-way stops along the way.  CRAZY!

We had our last dinner in California at the Elephant Bar, our new favorite restaurant in the area, then it was back to our original hotel for our last night.  Our flight on Wednesday was delayed at the gate for an hour but we still made it home a little after 10pm, not too worse for wear.

Since I've been home, Christmas prep is  in high gear.  Thursday and Friday were spent running from grocery store, to Wal-mart, a couple other stores, and the bank.  I was piecing together the pieces I will need for next week's Christmas festivities.  We're hosting Christmas dinner at our house on Friday for hubby's family.  I've also gotten most of my wrapping done which makes me happy.

This morning I pulled out the mixer, butter and flour and began my Christmas baking.  Two cookies down... many more to go!  Guess what I'm doing the first of the week?

I still have to finish Baby Joshua's gift.  I'm 2/3 done and hope to get it finished either before Christmas or before the end of the year.  Speaking of Baby Joshua ... and his siblings, Teddy and Emma... they are doing well!  Through the grapevine (my sister in NC) I have heard that they are doing SO well, that they are out of the neonatal intensive care and have actually been transferred to another hospital in their hometown.  God has been so unbelievably faithful to our family!  Thank you again for your continued prayers for these precious little ones!  I'll keep you posted on their progress, or you can use the link at the top right of my blog to go to their website "Quickly Outnumbered".

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

It was with a heavy heart that I packed our bags and had hubby drive away from the Monterey Bay area.  I think I'll ask God if I can have a beach house instead of a mansion in Heaven.  I want some ocean-front property there!

Yesterday, I forgot to mention in my excitement over sharing triplet's pictures,  that hubby and I saw a huge school of dolphins swimming, playing, jumping about in the surf along the Monterey Bay yesterday morning.  Our hotel is quite a distance from the ocean's shore, but from our 12th floor bayfront balcony we could see the bobbing bodies of ... something... so I grabbed the camera and zoomed, snapping away like crazy.  Later, I zoomed the pictures and it's either dolphins... or maybe even whales!!  I LOVE dolphins and it's always a bonus being by the ocean and seeing those magnificent creatures in the surf.  Even cooler if they were whales.  My pictures are quite pathetic so I'll pass on sharing them here.  You'll just have to take my word!

This morning after checking out of our hotel, we drove back to Monterey Bay in order to catch the noon screening of The Polar Express in IMAX-3D.  We arrived early so we used the visitor passes to the aquarium Hubby's client loaned us, and we went to check out the Sea Otters.  They weren't there on Friday when we visited.  I was disappointed.  They are SO cute and I was saddened that they weren't on display.  Today though, they were swimming about... washing themselves something fierce and being just so darn cute.  Here's a little pic of one ... I wish we could have caught just how cute they really were.

We asked at the visitor's desk if there was another place to watch the otters and they told us there wasn't, yet they did say we were just in time for the feeding of the fish in the big tank in another section of the aquarium.  We hightailed it over and were able to sit and watch the tuna, hammerhead sharks, barracuda, sardines and stingrays feed.  Fascinating stuff!

Over at the IMAX theater, the 3-D movie was fun.  I really enjoy The Polar Express and it was great seeing it come to life with the big screen's 3-D effects.  After the movie we hoped in the car and bid a sad farewell to Monterey Bay before making our way up to San Jose, our next stop.  I never seem to leave an ocean without a huge sense of loss in my soul.  It doesn't matter if it's the Atlantic or the Pacific... I just wanna be by the ocean and leaving it about breaks my heart.  I hope all those who live near the ocean truly appreciate what they have!

Our hotel here in San Jose is comfy.  It's a Homewood Suites and it has a nice little kitchenette, as well as comfy living area and spacious bedroom/bathroom area.  It will make a nice relaxing home for 2 days before we head off Tuesday to our final destination before home.

Tomorrow while hubby works, I'll be off having lunch with one of my favorite authors and online friend, Kristin Billerbeck.  I'm looking forward to meeting her in person and enjoying her incredible sense of humor "live". 

Well, hubby just came in the room so I think that's my cue to close up for the night.

Triplets and Technology

I know I'm late in spreading this good news but better late than never they say.  Without further ado... may I introduce the newest members of my extended family... the miracles you have all been praying for...

First is Teddy (Edward John)... born 9:37am - 4lb, 0.5oz

Little Teddy

Next came our little... "Baby C"... Joshua Paul, making his entrance at 9:38am at 3lb, 6 oz.

Courageous Little Josh

And finally, Daddy's little "princess", Emma Caroline, at 9:39am, weighing 3lb, 12oz.

Sweet Emma Caroline

Mommy and babies are doing well.  The little ones are in the Neonatal unit at one of Canada's best NICU's (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).They should be home sometime around 6-8 weeks I think and still need our prayers for them to grow strong and healthy so they can go home on time, or earlier!  I know some very anxious Grandparents ready to meet their new Grandbabies in person (as well as the rest of us!)  Krissy continues to need prayer as well as she recovers from her surgery and everything she's gone through.  Her heart has held up miraculously throughout her pregnancy, although her blood pressure was very concerning through her delivery process.  God has truly had His Hand on her and these little ones.  Thanks again for standing with us in prayer.  We appreciate your prayers and your continued ones too!

So with all that excitement going on, I haven't been able to concentrate long enough to blog.  Tonight I'm writing from our hotel in Seaside, CA where hubby is working like a dog working on reports from his last week of work, and preparing for his next week's work.  We got here Thursday night after hubby's workday in Menlo Park (and I got most of my Christmas shopping done), and Friday we were able to take a little time to tour the Monterey Aquarium.  Hubby's client so graciously loaned us their aquarium guest passes for free entry.  It was amazing to see the huge amount of different species of underwater life.  At some moments I couldn't get the characters of "Finding Nemo" out of my head.  There was a whole section on Seahorses in one area which blew my mind.  Who knew there were so many varieties of Seahorses under the water?  I was really struck by God's creativity and the fact that they are all under there where not many humans ever get to see.  Even though they are hidden under hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, God created all these creatures for His own pleasure and enjoyment, so intricate and unique... just like humans.  What a Mighty God we serve!

After the aquarium we took a quick jaunt to Carmel-by-the-Sea, one of my most favorite places in the State of California!  Sigh.  The Ocean.  The Charming "Dicken's-like" cottages.  Did I mention the Ocean?!

This afternoon after I snuck away before breakfast to mail out some Christmas gifts to family down here in the States, (and hubby did hours of report-writing), we hopped in the car and drove in the sprinkling rain to Carmel Valley Village to do some Monterey area wine tasting.  It was fun and I must confess, by the end of our little tour I was a tad bit loopy from tasting so many different wines.  On the way back to the hotel the rain had stopped for a bit so we took the chance to head back to the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  It was windy and chilly but still wonderful to see the waves crashing over the mighty Pacific.

After dinner, while hubby head straight back to his laptop (and those darn reports), I hopped online where my brother and sister-in-law were on MSN.  My brother popped us all into a chatroom and "M" shared the birth story of her new Grandbabies, while "R" sent pictures of the big day through as well as video footage when the babies were cleaned off by the hospital staff.  Absolutely breath-taking!  Having never been in a delivery room I was overcome with joy and awe... tears filling my eyes along with a massive smile on my face.  Don't you just love technology?  The fact that all the way over here on the other side of the continent, I can view pictures from my brother's laptop to mine in minutes.  I don't feel so far away and out of the loop now.

I nabbed one of the pics my brother sent through tonight that I'll leave you with today.  This sums up the joy of this week!

Mommy and Baby Emma Bonding

Pasta Palooza and the Random Dozen

Last week I was cutting carbs out of my diet, but this week I am chowing down on them like they are going out of style!  Last night, hubby and I were out to dinner with two of his clients at this lovely restaurant on a lagoon not far from the SF Bay.  I enjoyed a delicious Penne Carbonara pasta with a wonderful creamy sauce and bits of bacon and chicken.  Y.U.M.!!

Today, I met up with my online friend, Arlene, and we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at a quaint little Italian restaurant in downtown Burlingame.  This time, I enjoyed a chicken and ricotta cannelloni and caesar salad.  Again... Y.U.M.!

This afternoon, while back in the hotel trying to warm up from the unseasonably chilly weather outside, I received an email from hubby.  Guess where the clients are taking us tonight for dinner?  If you guessed an Italian restaurant... you'd be right on!  Hmmm... what will I have this time?  Good thing Italian is my favorite type of food!  This carbo queen is in heaven (although if we don't slow down on the pasta I may be buying myself a new pair of stretchy pants to wear home next week!)  Reservations are at 7pm so while my friends at home are preparing for bed... we'll be wining and dining with hubby's delightful clients over delectable dishes from "the old country" (aka Italy... not that I personally am Italian!)

By the time I awake (probably still full from today's nourishment) I should be a great-aunt again... three times over.  Yep.  Tomorrow morning at 8am EST Krissy will be in her scheduled C-section, giving birth to Baby A, B and C who will soon have names other than Baby A, Baby B and Baby C!  I'll let you know as soon as I know anything!!  Please pray for the safety of Krissy (her heart) and the babes!...Oh and for Paul too... as reality hits that he is now provider of a family of 5!  (Take a deep breath Paul!  God'll get you through! hee hee)

And to end this Wednesday post... it's time again for Random Dozen, thanks to Linda over at 2nd cup of Coffee!






1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about?  I think my answer here would be my weight... sort of.  I no longer expect to look like I did when I got married, although I don't "love" my "curves", I don't obsess about being skinny anymore.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom?  Roseanne ... ha ha... just kidding! I would think Carol Brady.  She was "hip" but yet demanded respect from her kids.  She was fair and would listen to them, but also was "submissive" to her husband's final word.

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn?  None... not even pig latin.  Any I'd like to learn?  Not really, although knowing French would be helpful as it's Canada's 2nd language.

4. Who is your personal hero?  Probably my Mom.  She taught me what it means to be beautiful on the inside, even when the outside has suffered what the world would consider not beautiful... and rejoicing in the Lord, despite the circumstances. 

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?  Christmas cookies... chocolate... stuffing... was I supposed to only pick one?  Oops... over-indulged even on my answers!

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value.  The one ornament that had... yes I said HAD... the most special meaning and sentimental value was a little snow globe ornament, with a tiny nutcracker inside.  Hubby had given it to me our first Christmas just after our first date.  I treasured that ornament and loved putting it out on the tree each year.  One year we'd gone out for the evening and came home to find our "real" tree toppled over ... water spilled everywhere and ornaments laying on the ground by the tree.  The ONE ornament that broke in the fall... the little snow globe.  You never saw two adults bawl their eyes out so hard over a tree ornament.  You seriously would have thought someone had died the way we went on holding each other and crying.  We have looked every year to see if we could find another ornament like it but still, years and years later still have yet to find another one.  (sniff sniff) 

7. How do you feel about snow?  Being from Canada one would expect me to say I LOVE snow... but can I be honest?  I LOVE snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then it could go until the next Christmas!

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything. It ranges between 6-8 hours I think... depending on if I have to work, if I'm doing something that makes me stay up too late... if my body aches in the morning and I need to get out of bed because I can't stand to lay there anymore.

9. Tell me about your first crush.  Alan Marr... my neighbor... probably in Kindergarten or Gr 1.  My first "celebrity" crush... Andy Gibb.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw?  Do I have to do anything with it?  If I have to... I would probably doodle and draw smiley faces or something.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast?  I generally will dress in layers that work for both current temp and forecast temps.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is?  Picking one favorite Christmas cookie is like picking a favorite child or nibling (niece/nephew)... you can't pick just one!  My top 5 are:  A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim version only), White Christmas, The Santa Clause trilogy, Miracle on 34th St 1994 remake, Elf 

So there you have it.  This week's Random Dozen.  Your turn now...

Afternoon at Tiffanys

It's still cold in the Bay area but that didn't keep this Canadian down.  This morning I got myself ready and down to the hotel lobby to catch the Airport shuttle to the San Francisco airport where I hopped the BART (subway) to downtown San Fransisco.

Getting off at the Powell station, I made my way up to the street level and through the mall attached to the station where I was able to get a few Christmas gifts for hubby.  Once done in this mall, I wandered out into the cool air and walked up Powell Street and over to Macy's in Union Square.  I found a few "touristy" type tree ornaments for our tree and then head back outside to wander the shop windows along the north side of Union Square - William Sonoma, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffanys.

I love coming to this area at Christmas.  A massive, decorated tree stands in the center of Union Square amidst the tall palm trees.  The store windows are beautifully decorated, none more beautiful than those of Tiffanys.  I brought my camera with me so I could take pictures of these exquisite window displays.  Here are the four windows at Tiffany's, San Fransisco:

 

 

 

Be sure to click on the pictures to see them larger ~ you don't want to miss them close-up!

After window-shopping, I made my way back down to the BART station and back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner out with Hubby and some of his clients.

They took us to a lovely restaurant along a lagoon, not far from the SF Bay in Redwood City.  Hubby had lobster while I had a penne chicken carbonara.

Now we're back to the hotel and hubby is back to work while I'm here blogging about my day.  Tomorrow I'm having lunch with one of my online buddies and then we're out to dinner in the evening with the bigwigs of Doug's clients.  I will really need to get back to work on my diet when I get home... or hit the treadmill for hours at time, with all this rich food I'm enjoying!

Feeling Like A Local

Hubby and I arrived in California Saturday at noon, after a "quick" 5+ hour flight from Toronto.  We spent our flight watching movies that helped make the time whip by.  First we watched "Post Grad" with Alexis Bledsoe (Rory Gilmore) which was pretty cute.  Then we watched Julie and Julia with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.  That was a really sweet movie, although Meryl's "Julia Child" voice began to grate on me after awhile.

After grabbing the rental car we head into San Francisco (just south of the Golden Gate Park) to a Christian bookstore to pick up my sister's Christmas gift and then head over towards the Ocean to get a glimpse of one of my most favorite things in the world... the ocean!  Sigh!  I LOOOOOOVE being near an ocean!

This particular day the waves were large and there were tons of surfers wandering along the sandy shores and in the surf.

One of the things we planned to do on our first weekend in California was to take part in some holiday events.  I had researched from home something fun and festive to do and I found the Hometown Holidays festival in Redwood City, CA (where hubby would be working during the week).  Once we had checked into our hotel, we hopped in the rental car and head down the 101 freeway to the quaint town of Redwood City.  We found a free parking spot a few blocks from the festival and we walked towards the downtown area where we found people lining the streets, waiting for the holiday parade to begin.

 

Finding a spot along the sidewalk, we watched as local groups walked, marched and danced their way down the main street corridor.

We saw angels...

and even the virgin Mary...

Mrs. Claus...

Miss Redwood City 2009...

and even flame throwers...

We left before the parade finished to grab a bite to eat but after dinner hurried down to City Hall for the tree lighting and fireworks.  After the fireworks display we made our way back to the train tracks to await the arrival of the Holiday Caltrain.

This train makes its way down the Caltrain line all decorated for the holidays, as well as hosting Santa and Mrs. Claus who greet the public and collect toys for Toys for Tots along the route.  It was really fun to see.

 

After the train made it's stop we head back down the main road towards the Courthouse where a holiday movie was getting ready to be played on an outdoor screen (we didn't stay for the movie as we were suffering a little jetlag by this time)...

and we passed by the beautiful ice sculpture of Santa on his Holiday train...

and then we head to the hotel to grab some sleep.  It was really fun being a "local" in a new town and we were so glad to participate in some holiday cheer.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in California as there was snow in the hills/mountains on the other side of the San Francisco Bay.  Locals here are all excited about the snowy weather but me... well I'm wondering where the warm California sun went!  Fortunately, today the sun did shine, although the temperature felt a little too much like home for my liking.  Maybe tomorrow will be a little warmer as I head downtown on the subway!

One More Week To Go!

Yep... only one more week to go until my 3 little great-niblings will enter this world!  Krissy just got word tonight that her C-section has been moved up a week and she will deliver her triplets by this time next Thursday (unless something happens and they have to move it to the Friday).  She is ecstatic, of course.  Paul on the other hand, while totally excited to meet his little ones, is realizing that finishing his basement that was flooded last summer has now become top priority, and a little bit of a stressor as the babies will most likely be coming home sooner than the expected February date they thought it would be.

Everything is going well in the pregnancy according to Krissy's doctors.  Praise be to God for that!  They are really happy with how everything is going and the reason for the bump in the baby schedule is that the babies have run out of stretching room.  Baby A(boy) and Baby B(girl) are estimated to be around 4.4 lbs now and Baby C(boy) is trailing at 3.4 lbs.  God has surely had His hand on that little one as the concerns of earlier seem to be not as concerning re: his umbilical cord's bloodflow.  Baby A & B have been "practice breathing" in preparation for life outside the womb as Krissy and Paul saw their little diaphrams moving up and down in today's ultrasound. 

Krissy and Pauls' entire family (extended as well) are all so excited with tonight's news and we all can't wait to meet these three little miracles.  They truly are miracles as we have watched God's healing hand touch Krissy's heart and these little bodies as they've been growing inside Krissy's womb.  Talk about a Christmas miracle this year!

Thank you to my precious blog friends for walking alongside us as our family has anticipated this blessed event.  We're in the home stretch now and do still need your prayers.  As hubby and I will be on the other side of the continent next Thursday, I'll have to update you once I get the "big" email with the details!

On sadder news, I bring another prayer request tonight.  My brother-in-law who lives in North Carolina, got word today that one of his sisters is very sick up here (in the same hospital as Krissy).  We don't have a lot of details yet but she is diabetic (has been since her youth) and she was throwing up yesterday and collapsed.  Her 20-something son found her and she was rushed to the hospital and is now in the ICU in I believe a diabetic coma.  It's not known if she had the H1N1 virus or not, but they fear that she could have water on the brain or some organ failure.  Please keep her in your prayers.  Her name is Valerie.  Thanks!

It never ceases to amaze me how this life goes.  Sorrow and joy weave throughout the fabric of life and we are constantly reminded that life is indeed frail.  Blessings to you tonight!