Trey’s big treat last evening was a piece of gum. Then when it was jammie time I told him the gum had to go. “Look Neenee, I’m going to swallow my gum and it’ll go into my belly.” With a word of warning from me, down it went anyway. Oh well, he could do worse!
Moments later I checked my email on my handy dandy ipod. When the ipod is in my hand Trey is always nearby in case I get bored with it and I need him to finish a game. I found a Government Health Warning email in my inbox telling us not to swallow chewing gum. I’ve seen it before and laughed before I even saw the picture but thought the timing was perfect so I showed it to Trey. It’s a picture of a fitness class with ladies all dressed in fine lycra sitting on large exercise balls. It appears that they have all blown large bubbles out of their butts. Trey was amazed and just slightly concerned that he was going to now grow a bubble.
It was Dija’s reaction that surprised me. The eyes filled with tears. The questions started. She was very concerned about her brother. So it was bedtime now and the bubble discussion was long gone… at least I thought it was! “Trey doesn’t have a bubble yet. Is he going to grow a bubble while I’m sleeping?” Then the tears started again. She really didn’t want to wake up with a bubble butt brother!
At the crack of dawn this morning Trey comes to the side of my bed as usual but with a very soft voice (unusual), “Neenee I waked up and I didn’t grow a bubble yet!” Dija was happy too and her story of the morning was how her brother had a good nap all night and didn’t grow a bubble. I bet they’ll both spit gum into the trash now instead of swallowing it. Gotta love teachable moments!

We’ve noticed Dija seems to have an eye turning in when she focuses. It’s not always turned but it seems like when she’s working to focus she’ll go a little cross eyed. Not sure what I was thinking when I booked both kids in for eye appointments the week before Christmas. Dija was first because if she didn’t come home again then Trey wasn’t going to go to that Doctor!
She cooperated nicely with the tests and I didn’t see too much trouble except she obviously saw better with one eye than the other. Okay – see you tomorrow with the other kid. Trey cooperated with most of the testing. That’s when I noticed how Dija had struggled with the depth perception questions – Great, She sees like I do! (Jokes from sisters not welcomed here) Between my bifocals and her googly eyes … I hope we can earn air miles or something!
What I really wanted to share about the visit was how Dija sat in the waiting area and told other patients in her sweet voice with her head tilted just so, “I have beautiful eyes.” I wonder why she thought she was really there. Then we go inside to see the Dr. “What your name is?” “Do you have a house?” She went on, and on. I could hardly get a word in. I waited until the next visit to fit my questions in.
Dija had to return in the New Year to look a little closer at her eyes. This meant those wonderful drops that make everything blurry so the doctor can see things better. First drop was fine but then she knew what they were up to. She did the quiet sad face cry. If you have ever heard Dija cry you’d know that quiet is not her style… it was rather sad but necessary to continue. After all that we find out that it’s necessary to go see a specialist. More drops in the future too. Yippee.
It’s a good thing those eyes are beautiful!

On January 8th we celebrate the life of Dija. We actually celebrate that she is alive. Not her birthday… we celebrate that in June but on this day we remember and give thanks. January 8th 2008 was a horrible day for our family and this story could have been very different if the day had played out mere seconds differently.
Dija was the victim of what I believe was an unnecessary accident that day. She ingested a lethal dose of methadone. I do not know how it happened because I wasn’t with her and the two adults who were present at the time do not tell the same story. So we may never know. Investigation closed. Those adults are no longer involved in Dija’s life.
It was after noon when Nana (my mom) took the two children and their mother to see the Dr and upon returning home in the van Dija was sleeping. Nana thought it best to put her in the closest crib which was in her house instead of sending her home. When Nana went to check her she was struggling to breath. Her condition deteriorated within seconds. Nana proceeded to perform CPR as she called 911. Ambulances arrived and managed to get Dija to the hospital where she was stabilized before the life-flight team took her to the IWK.
I have the hospital reports. I have read it in black and white. Her little life is miraculous… truly a miracle that she survived.
If you have read earlier entries and do the math you may figure out that this is the week the children moved in with us and began our happily ever after. This was the event that brought about this adventure we’re living. Our story could have been very different if Dija was anywhere else that moment or if Nana had the radio playing too loud and just didn’t hear her. Even if the ambulance didn’t arrive the moment it did or if the Doctor didn’t solve the mystery the moment he did. Life as we know it would have been very very different.
So on January 8th I give thanks. I thank the EMT’s for the work they do. I thank the team at Emergency (I’m sure they hear complaints about the waiting room issues) I simply thank them because when it counted the most they did what was necessary.
Dija made a full recovery and appears to have no residual effects from the incident. I still hold my breath when I hear sirens. If the kids are nearby we chat about how those emergency workers are helping people. They will grow up with an appreciation for people who serve our community in such an important way. Perhaps you can think of someone who serves people in your community and take a moment to thank them for the work they do – a little thank you can mean a lot!

Christmas Eve can be one of the most peaceful evenings all year. Unless you have little kids, that is. Papa was headed to Queens County to lead two Christmas Eve Services. I knew that attending two services with the kids was out of the realm of happiness so I came up with a plan. Justin and Astrid were participating in a service here in town so we’d go and hear the music they were doing. I’m not sure where my head was!
I managed to get them fed and dressed on time to go but it was a close call. I should have known at this point that pyjamas would have been a better choice. Parking was at a premium as we arrived just minutes before the service began. Then once inside I found the seating was sparse. We eventually found a little space to sit at the back of the church. I don’t expect the kids to be perfect but I know they are capable of pretty good behaviour in a public place. Well Dija somehow could not manage to speak without it being really loud. Trey just couldn’t sit still. They both had to be dancing or climbing all over me. They enjoyed the music and every time it stopped Dija asked out loud if that was the end of the singing. Then Trey had to pee… how do I handle that? I can’t send him alone to go. I can’t leave her alone to take him. I looked around for a familiar face where I could leave a child behind. I walked toward someone and realized they had a little person on their lap already. Then with no warning I lifted Dija and plunked her down on a poor unsuspecting woman who had never met Dija but I knew her and knew she’d forgive me. Trey and I made our quick exit and took care of the matter. We returned to rescue the “strange lady” that Dija had a visit with. I have yet to hear about the conversation while I was out of the service but apparently there was one. (Slight fear of what family secrets were shared)
The service ran a little longer than I had expected it to be. The kids needed to be in bed. It showed. I really don’t know what I was thinking. So at 7:15 we just walked out the door and made it home in 30 seconds. Then the pyjamas were on, teeth brushed, cookies set out for Santa and kids in bed. Three minutes later the house was quiet. Trey got out of bed once to ask me when I was going to bed because Santa wouldn’t come if I was still up. Then I enjoyed a peaceful evening and decided I’ll never take the kids to an evening church service at bedtime by myself. Lesson learned. I just didn’t have enough arms to cuddle both of them at the same time.