The Hoegler Family,

Surgery

2012-02-09T10:15:00.001-08:00

I am having the surgery in my throat and oesophagus today around 4 p.m. I am nervous and excited at the same time... and very very hungry. This fasting thing is hard...

Marcus recognizing words

2012-02-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

The other day Marcus said he would like to read with me. I was surprised, because all these years it has always been Mattias that has been interested in letters, but never Marcus. I wrote down "hat" and to my BIG surprise Marcus read it. Then I went on to writing "cat", "can", "pan", "ball" and a few more words. I realized that Marcus could "read" them because he recognized them, so I introduced him to the webpage Starfall that Mattias used to play with when he was younger, and Marcus loved it. Now after coming home from preschool, he says he has to go and work a little bit. Then he sits down on the computer and plays reading games at Starfall.com.

The other night he told Darren he was going to write, and he wrote the words "pump" and "pumpkin" with a bit of spelling help. The first time I saw him write something was this fall when he out of the blue wrote "stop" on his board when he wanted me to stop vacuuming, but other than that I have only seen him write his name. So I guess his interest for writing and reading has started. It will be interesting to see if he reads as early as Mattias did.

Marcus is really good at math too, and that is something Mattias has just started to pick up after starting grade 1. I have a feeling Marcus will like math even more than Mattias :o)

It is so fun to watch their little minds learn and their excitment when they get it.

Closing the Blog?

2012-02-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

Darren and I have again talked about the fact that we should probably close the blog, and make it only available for friends and family. I did try it once before, but wasn't able to because you can only invite 100 friends to follow the blog, and at that time we had more people following us.

I have a feeling that now when most people are on Facebook, our blog is less viewed, so we thought we might try closing it again. So if you would like to follow us, please email me or leave a message here. I will need your email address to be able to invite you and provide you with a password.

If we still have more than a 100 people that follow us closely, we will reconsider what we will do and I will let you know of course. Well... it will be easy to see, because then this page will still be up :o)

I will give you guys some time to get back to me though.

Our Weekly Routine

2012-01-31T14:37:00.000-08:00

I don't find myself blogging very much lately. The days are more busy now that I work, and to be honest it would just end up being a lot of boring talk about my problems swallowing, changing the diet to no soy and lecithin. Today I even heard that the wax on the apples contain soy. It can be a bit overwhelming.

We are also very busy with activities this season. On Mondays Mattias attends basketball. He absolutely loves it, and he is quite good at throwing the ball. Running is a challenge, but he doesn't complain. Then in the evening I go to choir practise. On Tuesdays Marcus goes to a neighbour called Kajsa. Her son is in Mattias' class, while I take Mattias to Dr. Steinberg after school. And today Mattias has a friend coming to us after dinner.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays I usually work, and Mattias attends the Beavers most Wednesdays. It is usually Mattias' EA from school or Dale that babysits on Wednesday until Darren comes home and takes both boys with him to the Beavers. On Thursday Sydney babysits. I like the thought that Mattias is building a close relationship to someone that lives with the same heart condition as he has. Usually Kajsa takes Marcus for an hour before picking up Mattias and walks them home with her son Julian and waits until Sydney arrives shortly after.

Fridays are often busy with things too. Two weeks ago we went to the Austrian Club for dinner, and last week we went with the Starlight Foundation for handicapped children and had an absolutely spectacular evening at The Planitarium, a museum about space. It couldn't get more perfect for Mattias, and Marcus really enjoyed it too.

On Saturdays Marcus attends hockey (without skates) together with Darren. It is a parent participation program, and he likes some of it, but doesn't like to do the more difficult things and refuses to try at times. Then after Darren takes Marcus to a music session, while he usually buys groceries. Mattias and I work with Globalskolen and his Norwegian lessons. On Sundays Marcus attends gym and Mattias takes science. Mattias found the 1,5 hour long gymnastics that he did this fall for his age group too long and tiring, so he quit. 45 minutes basketball has replaced that, and he loves it as mentioned already. And Sunday evening both boys attend swimming lessons. I usually swim around 800 meters too, and Darren watches the boys. After the whole family play together in the pool. And last Sunday we even fit in a trip to McDonalds for lunch and a "Phineas and Ferb" Disney show at The Pacific Coliseum.

And in addition to this Mattias has some homework from school, and also reading projects. He is getting so good at reading now, that instead of reading simple books, he has been given "chapter" books from school and gets to write in every chapter he reads instead of every book on his book report paper.

And sometimes I work a Tuesday, Friday or a Saturday if needed. Usually I only work two days a week, but sometimes it is one and sometimes three or four days, all depending. Those times I need to catch up on some sleep when Marcus is at preschool, and I find that I don't get much house work done. I also try to go to the gym once a week and also an computer course. It is a one to one course at Apple, and I can sign up when needed as long as they have an open slot. That can be hard though, since they only book one week ahead. Unfortunately it books up really quick, especially the times I can go when both boys are in school.

And not to forget a lot of doctor appointments for Mattias and me lately too. This Thursday I am going in for a two hour appointment with the anesthetist, preparing for my surgery next Thursday. And I have to admit I am starting to get pretty nervous about it all.

New Rug

2012-01-29T02:14:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago Marcus walked in his sleep and peed on our area rug. We cleaned and steam cleaned it and couldn't get the smell out. I went to 15 store, not exaggerating, but couldn't find something that was as good in size and colour and that brightened up the room the same way the old one did, but hopefully this will hide spots a bit better. I took these pictures more for myself as we where trying 3 different rugs that I had bought and brought home to compare and decide between, so I hadn't been botherd to tidy up the room first. But anyway, this is the rug we ended up with.

I don't have a picture of the old rug on this computer to attach here. I tried to copy one from my Facebook, but even though I can see it in my IPhotos, it doesn't show up when I try to download it....

Soy Trouble

2012-01-23T22:35:00.001-08:00

Took the first step searching for soy in the food I already eat and don't react to, but which I was told today, is probably still harming me. Well, I found it in my gum, Hals, kids crayons, margarine, all my sauces, favourite chocolate, all my dressings, in spices, yogurt, some bread products. I guess food will be very dry from now on, if I can't use any butter, sauce, dressing, soup etc. And I who love sushi!

Met a Dietitian Today

2012-01-23T14:11:00.000-08:00

I had a big AHA moment at the dietitian today. It all makes so much sense to me. Simple explanation. Every time I have food allergies, not when they are anaphylactic of course, but the regular reactions, I have pain down my whole oesophagus for hours. This causes irritation, (kind of what happens with EE that the doctor in USA thought it is which is linked with people who have food allergies, asthma and psoriasis), and makes my throat and oesophagus tighten over time. The dietitian taught me even more about my SOY allergy today. And I think this might be the cause of all my problems. I have cut out soy, but need to do an even better investigation to what contains soy. So much is not labeled, and even if I don't feel allergic reactions to it, it tightens my oesophagus. Now I know what to do. I still need the surgery, but by changing my diet, this might help so I doesn't reoccur. What I don't understand is that I told her exact same things that I've told all the other doctors....

She thought I was too skinny though and need to gain weight. Not happening! But I will start drinking almond milk and eat more vegetables. She also told me my diabetes could come back since I had it while pregnant. Nice. It feels like I am getting closer and closer to figuring out the cause to my problems at least. A bit overwhelmed, but happy to meet a good dietitian.

My surgery has been sat to February 9th. And in April I will have a 24 hours test with a tube down my throat to my stomach to see if I have reflux. Because I am refusing to keep using reflux medication just because my GP thinks that that is what I have. Medications have side effects, so why take them, if the problem has not been proven.

Rock Climbing

2012-01-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

On Saturday the boys went to a Rock Climbing birthday party.

Here is Mattias climbing

And this is Marcus.

Pictures from Norway

2012-01-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

The snow had melted right before we arrived Norway, but the boys still had fun sliding on the ice.

Mid afternoon and the sun is going down already.

We drove to Frognerseteren to find a good snowy hill.

Darren and Mattias.

Opa Dick and Marcus.

Darren and Marcus.

A happy Marcus.

The view from Frognerseteren with the Oslo fjord in the back.

Decorating the Christmas tree.

This is from my Mormor (grandma).

Final product, done by the boys.

Daniel, my nephew.

Celine, my niece.

Øyvind, my brother, and Mattias.

Finally Christmas Eve. Daniel is waiting patiently for Santa.

Mattias said in Norwegian that this was NOT the real Santa. The day after he wondered when he was going to get his gift from the REAL Santa.

The whole family gathered at my brothers house, with his wife's family too.

Papa reading the instructions on how to get Francesco to work. This was Marcus' favourite gift this Christmas.

Mormor, my mom, invited all the grandchildren to "Hopp i Havet". It was incredibly fun!

Mattias' biggest wish was to get a globe puzzle for Christmas. It combines all his interests: puzzles, countries, maps, flags and the solar system.

My dear friend Yvonne and her two sons Leo and Linus in front of the castle in Oslo.

Guro and Ingrid. The daughters of my dear friend Christine.

Marcus, Mattias and Jørgen, Christine's son, on the morning of January 1st.

We woke up to 15 cm. snow and went to Frognerseteren again with Christine and her family, and also my brother and his family.

Mattias and Jørgen having a blast.

Hege and Marcus.

Jørgen, Christine, Darren and Marcus.

Mattias surfing on his stomach. He was getting pretty brave at the end.

Bendik, Christine and Jørgen.

Mattias and Marcus.

Øyvind, my brother, and I.

Christine and Hege.

It was the best ending of the holiday. Spent with the people I care the most about and lots of new snow.

From a Child's View:

2012-01-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

Marcus in the car this morning: "mama, look at the sky. It looks like the reflection of earth. The clouds are countries and the sky is the water".

"Flag Genius"

2011-12-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

Mattias has drawn 57 flags and glued them on to a black card board. He can name all the countries the flags belongs too. Pretty impressive we think. We have a video of it, but the file is unfortunately too big to upload to the blog.

Update

2011-12-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

Just if someone read my Facebook and here and wonder why it says 15 Heimlich Maneuvers one place and 10 here it is because the people doing it to me told the medics that they had done about 15, but thinking back after I don't think it was that many.

I went to my doctor today, but she didn't have time to deal with me, even though I had an appointment, but she took the papers from the doctor in USA, and will fax them to the ENT and GI doctors I have already seen here. She said she would also get me to see a dietitian.

I had to take Mattias to the ER this morning. He had fever, complained of pain in his chest and legs all night, and now he has a headache. The x-rays of his lungs were clear, but the respirologist didn't want to take any chances on this turning into another pneumonia and started him on antibiotics. I hope he will feel better soon.

I have gotten two huge cold sores on my upper lip in addition to all this other stuff, and I am still pretty sore in the whole body after the anesthesia, so I really could need a break soon I feel....

Ambulance Trip and Surgery in USA

2011-12-11T00:37:00.000-08:00

For a while now I have had plans to go down to the states and do some Christmas shopping, but every time I was going Mattias either got hospitalized or had to go to a doctors appointment, but on Friday I finally found the time to go down. I left early, so Darren took the boys to school. When I got to Bellingham Fair mall I started shopping at Target and got quite some shopping done. It was already 11:30 when I dropped the stuff off in the car and I went to the food court. After three bites of calzone a piece got stuck in my throat. Apparently I got a bit cyanotic (problems breathing) and people came to help. I wrote on a piece of paper to calm down, that I have a condition and waiting for surgery, and that the piece of food would go down usually between 10 to 30 minutes. I also didn't want to go in an ambulance, but after one hour I wasn't getting any better, rather worse, by then I had had over 10 Heimlich maneuvers done to me - so you can imagine how sore I was. And the paramedics decided to take me to the hospital. For a total of 7 hours I tried to get the piece up or down. I was given muscle relaxant medication by IV, but the piece was totally stuck. An ear, nose and throat doctor came and had a look and couldn't see anything and, as the doctors before here in Canada, he said the piece of food was probably not there anymore, but that I was having reflux spasms. This is what I have been trying to tell the doctors here for over a year now is not the problem. The ER doctor came to tell me that my bill was probably around 7000 US $, and further procedures would cost more, but since it was Friday they could not get a hold of my insurance company to see if I was covered. Darren had by this time arrived at the hospital. I was then met by a GI doctor who said he would like to go down with a camera and look at my esophagus. This would probably cost somewhere between 8 to 10 000 $. I told Darren to drive me to a Canadian hospital, but as I was trying to move out of bed I could feel my breathing getting difficult again, and I thought there is no money worth saving if I might die on the way to Canada and I asked to have the procedure done. Half an hour later I was rolled down to the operating room. Two hours later I woke up feeling a lot better. There was indeed a piece of food stuck in my throat (I have pictures to prove it), and the GI doctor had managed to push it down to my stomach. He had however not been able to look down my esophagus, because the smallest camera they have for an endoscopy is 8 mm. My esophagus is even narrower than that. It is suppose to be about 30 mm wide, and also be soft and flexible. Mine is less than 8 mm, hard and stiff, and has some rings there. I was diagnosed with something called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. It is apparently often wrongly diagnosed as reflux or spasms, like every doctor has told me before. I have been so frustrated that they have not believed me when I have told them my problem. It is a rare condition, and it is more common in men than women. Everyone that has it also has asthma, lots of food allergies and psoriasis - and I have it all. The doctor also did a biopsy, and the result of that I don't know yet. There is not so many ways to treat this. There are some pills, which I of course can't swallow. But I will start to use the same steroid puffer that Mattias uses: Flovent, but instead of inhaling it I am suppose to swallow it. Not so easy. I am also suppose to stay away from a bunch of foods, which is not easy when I already have some many limitations because of my allergies. These are the foods I should try to avoid: milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, peas, beans, lentils, beef, chicken, fish, rye, corn, soy, potatoes, oats, tomatoes, wheat, chili, curry and preservatives. I mean what is left to eat? Vegetables and fruit I guess. I also have to try to make my food as smooth and liquidity as possible.

Later in the evening we drove home. But today Dale took me back so I could get my car. Darren took a taxi yesterday to the mall and drove the car to the hospital. I was of course not in any state to drive it home last night, so we had to leave it behind. It was a long line up at the border today, but we eventually got through.

The doctor told Darren yesterday that he had not dared to try to widen my esophagus yesterday as the narrowing starts quite high up and is very close to my breathing tube. So I now have to contact my doctors here and see where we go from here on. I feel so relieved though for having a diagnosis finally, and someone that believed in me. And hopefully my insurance will cover the cost of it all. Oh my, I really do hope so!!!

I feel good... (well, not really, my whole body, especially my back, chest and thorat is in pain) but I do feel happy. I was able to sing with my choir tonight, even did a good solo, I am alive, I have a great husband and two beautiful children, I am back working part-time. Soon I will see the rest of my family. And even though I feel I have quite a few challenges in my life, I choose to think positive and be grateful for what I have. And Christmas makes me appreciate that even more. ♥

Mattias' medical update

2011-12-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Last week we saw Dr. Steinberg, Mattias' psychiatrist. She was worried that one of the reasons why Mattias has been so sick this fall is because he is internally stressed by me going back to work. Explaining that people often have lower immune system, get ulsters etc, when they feel stressed. This was quite the blow to my face and I felt like a terrible mom. I really value her opinion, and lots of thoughts went through my head; should I quit, was one of them. Darren said to me that he doesn't think that me going back to work has impacted Mattias so badly, and it would be sad that when he is a teenager if I felt some recent towards my kids for taking over my whole entire life, and also any kid would have to adjust to a mom going back to work. And I truly love working, but I have told work that from now on I will only work two days a week. I also talked to school and his babysitters, and no one has felt that Mattias' anxiety level has increased, but you never know how he feels inside though, because Mattias never shares his feelings.

On Monday we had a check up with Dr. Human, Mattias' cardiologist. I told him of Dr. Steinberg's opinion, but he said that in these two pneumonia cases he actually thinks it is more the physical anatomy of Mattias that has caused the problems together with catching some bad bugs. After all seven kids were away from Mattias' class that same week he was hospitalized. Dr. Steinberg is worried that Mattias is not emotionally ready for another heart cath, and Dr. Human think that from what he saw on Monday Mattias can wait a bit longer. It is often recommended to have procedures in early summer anyway when there are less bugs and infections going around. So if Mattias stays healthy, we are looking at another heart/lung cath in May probably.

Then yesterday we saw Dr. Phang, Mattias' pediatrician (our Guru). He too agreed with Dr. Human, but values Dr. Steinberg's opinion of course. He told me that the respirologist, which we are seeing next Monday, has concluded that Mattias has "Chronic Bronchitis" caused by being on breathing machines over several periods after surgeries when he was younger. In combination of just having one good lung, high venus pressure, because of just having half a heart, and two stents in his left pulmonary artery, this is likely to cause problems in his right good lung and also develop secondary pneumonia when he catches a cold or infection. From now on Mattias will be put immediately on low doses of antibiotics when he catches a cough or cold. This is because we see that it seems to always lead to pneumonia and we need to start to treat him earlier, before it goes as far as getting into his lungs. Mattias will also keep taking diuretics for now to help with the fluid problems that his kidneys and liver don't seem to process properly when he gets sick. This will also stabilize his electrolyte etc.

So I can't say I was too happy to find this out about his lungs, but at the same time, I kind of already knew all this, we just didn't have the diagnosis for it. It has been frustrating to go to the ER, just to be sent home, and then five days later Mattias has been admitted for pneumonia. This has happened three times since June, so I am glad the doctors actually have decided to treat him earlier, even though you don't want to over use antibiotics either. Being on oxygen or other breathing machines like the BI-pap that he needed in ICU, is not good for the long terms for the lungs either.

Mattias also had a bunch of tests done for his immune system when he was hospitalized. Over all his numbers were okay. Some were slightly abnormal, but not so far off that it rises big flags. So we just have to keep being careful and good with hand washing and staying away from bugs and sick people. Easier said than done...

Marcus is "steeling"

2011-12-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

Marcus came to me and said this: "Mama I got some money and put it in my piggy bank".
Me: "Oh, who did you get money from?"
Marcus: "I just took it out of your wallet!"......

Is Santa real?

2011-12-04T21:30:00.001-08:00

Mattias asked: "is there more than one Santa? He looks different every time I see him. Maybe he shaves he beard a lot. How can he live on the North Pole? It is no country there, just ice. What if the ice melts then? Hmmm...."

Flying with Santa

2011-12-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a won a trip with Santa and Jazz Air for handicapped children.

Fin from The Canucks met us at the airport.

And then Santa arrived in his own plane.

That is Santa sticking up from the plane's roof.

(See video below)

Two excited boys.

Santa brought some pilot hats from the plane.

Santa sang and entertained, we got food, and had a great trip. Santa even sang the safety instructions in a funny Christmasy way. The boys really enjoyed their trip.

Santa is coming to town...

I had an allergic reaction to the first bite of the food, and got quite sick and very nauseous, so the last half of the trip I just had to keep my eyes closed and focus on not vomiting. Didn't really want to ruin the trip for anyone, or make a fool of myself.

Grateful!

2011-11-26T23:27:00.001-08:00

This morning we went to Children's Heart Network Christmas Party, and we got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause. So tonight I asked my 3 year old Marcus if he had had a nice day. This was his answer: "Every day in my life is nice mama, but the the best thing is you. I love you mama!" and then he kissed my hand. I can't even explain the feelings that rushed through my head after hearing that. I am so lucky!

CHN Christmas Party

2011-11-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

The Magichian "Captein Purple" was amazing. The boys could not sit down, they were laughing their heads off and was all into it.

Mmmm, breakfast.

Mattias made a ginger bread lady all by himself.

Marcus pulling some moves on the dance floor.

Big moment: Santa and his wife came.

The puzzle boy

2011-11-26T23:05:00.000-08:00

We finished the 550 piece world map.

Mattias wanted me to take a picture of the three of us being home together again. We had another puzzle party in the "grownup room" with the fire lit and Christmas music on.

Last week hospital stay

2011-11-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

This game is a physiotherapy game for Mattias' lungs. He is blowing air to make the balls go up. The first few days he wore a oxygen mask, but once he got well enough to move to nasal prongs we also tried to encourage him to blow bubbles etc.
(When you need more oxygen you have to wear a mask, and when you need less you have to use prongs, because the mask will then circulate too much carbon dioxide.)

"Do you want to try Marcus?"
Luckily I managed to stop them before some germs were passed on.

Both Mattias' teachers came to visit and they brought cards from all his classmates. After this Mattias was so much happier and started talking much more again. I wasn't there when they visited, Darren was, so no pictures unfortunately.

Mattias also received a pillow case with planets on from a "grandma sowing group". He also picked one for Marcus with hockey sticks on.

Leaving Home

2011-11-22T15:42:00.001-08:00

Mattias: "Mama, when I am 18 you won't see me anymore".
Me: "Oh, how come?".
Mattias: "Well, I am going to fly to Australia and apply for a job at the Wiggles and live in the Wiggly House. But if you would like to reach me, you can always call, I'll make sure to give you my number".

Eventful week

2011-11-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

Last week was quite eventful with Mattias being admitted, me crashing into one of Marcus' teacher's car and denting our fenders. Not fun, especially not when my car is so new. Then on Saturday I took Marcus to eat pancakes. I hadn't seen him since Tuesday, so we went to De Dutch for lunch. There I choked on a tiny little piece of bacon and spent 30 minutes in the bathroom with a cook doing Heimlich methods on me. Not fun either. Luckily Marcus was not faced by it. I guess he has seen it enough. So now I have a sore throat again. Can't wait for that surgery to come up. Hoping for early next year. On top of Mattias staying at the hospital, I was suppose to work four days last week. I managed to get one day off. So Darren and Dale had to help out quite a bit with making the schedule work between watching Mattias here and Marcus at home. Marcus also spent last night and Wednesday night at Dale and Helmut, but he thinks of that as a treat luckily. It was though, because I barely saw him all week, and I only slept 11 hours from Monday until Friday. So Friday night it was just awesome to sleep in my own bed with Marcus' little arm around me.

Today Mattias gets to go home. We have all his medicine picked up, but have been waiting for 4,5 hours for the paper work to be finished, and it will probably take some more time. The ward doctor just came by and said they are still waiting for the feedback from the cardiologist and the respirologist. Can't say I am impressed with it always taking a whole day to leave the hospital, but it's the same every time, so I guess that is just the way it is.

Mattias Update

2011-11-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

We had a rough night! Mattias keeps taking off his oxygen and desaturates. Then he screams and fights, and does not want it back on. I got a few good kicks in my ribs yesterday. When he gets mad he starts to cough, and that makes him vomit. So frustrating, when we are trying to keep fluid and food down. He is so skinny now. I had to change a shirt full of vomit in the night and almost ruined his IV (intravenoes) pulling the shirt over. Hopefully it will last a bit longer. And blood work this morning meant another round of vomiting :o(

Didn't get so good news from the cardiologist this morning either. In June we were told that Mattias had maybe two more years before next procedure, now we are looking at January. Mattias needs to have another heart/lung cath to see what is causing his right lung to keep having reoccurring problems. This is his good lung, but it might be having to much pressure, causing problems on his chest veins etc etc. Also wondering if the two stents in his left pulmonary artery is having problems. To be honest I thought Mattias was going to look better today, but it seems to be a slow recovery this time.

I have cried four times already today. "When it rains it pours". Once because I am so happy for my friend, that has waited over five years to adopt, and that finally has received the area they will be getting a child from. I am so happy she is getting close to pick up her so longed for baby. Then I cried because of the upsetting news about Mattias needing another procedure. Then I cried because Mattias said he hates me when I make him do blood work and oxygen, but he still loves me otherwise. And then I talked to Marcus on the phone, who I haven't seen in days, and I cried again. And after I talked to my mom, and my grandpa is not doing well either. Now, we might not be able to go for Christmas. We haven't been home in 1,5 years, and booked the tickets in January, so I really hope to go home, and hopefully see my grandpa one more time. The insurance won't cover us now that Mattias has been hospitalized either, so that too is a worry.

So feeling a bit sad today. Mattias won't even talk to me. But then I think of my friend Nancy and her daughter Abi that is waiting for a heart, and I feel that I should get my act together, after all this is not so bad considering what they are going through.

Mattias is hospitalized again.

2011-11-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

Mattias really wanted a puzzle with the world map on for his birthday, and from his friend Max he got a box with four different puzzles in it. It was all with the world map, but one with animals on, one with flags on etc, and all with different amount of pieces.

On Monday Mattias was sent home from school after two hours, he was not tolerating his tube feed and was tiered. So what did we do for the next two days, well we started on the puzzle with 550 pieces. It was Mattias choice, and it was of course the one with national flags on. So far we have done all the countries, and have only the ocean left.

Last night Mattias had a bad night with fever and cough again, so I took him to the ER today. Sure enough he had pneumonia. I wish somehow we could have started to treat him on Friday when I took him in as well, but his lungs were clear then. It's the same story every time though: I take him in, he is okay, and five days later he has a pneumonia. This is his third pneumonia in six months. This time it is in his right lung, which is his good lung, so a lot more scary than the one he had in October. Since his left lung is so poor it can't take over the work load and he is in need of oxygen. He has been admitted to the hospital and is also on IV antibiotics. He has also been referred to a respirologist (?), to see if it is possible to prevent these pneumonia's a bit more. Apparently the pneumococcal vaccine did not help him.

I am at work tonight, and Darren is with Mattias. Marcus is staying with Dale and Helmut. Luckily I managed to get tomorrow off work, and I will spend the day with Mattias, while Darren is at work. Marcus will be at preschool, with grandma and Sydney before either Darren or I come home. Today he spent a whole day at preschool before Dale picked him up, and apparently he was so tired he went to bed at 6:30 p.m. tonight

Best Birthday Party Ever!

2011-11-16T01:37:00.000-08:00

The first thing that happened was that the cheer leaders came to visit, and we came on the big screen at the rink.

The Giants verses The Rockets from Kelowna.

Mattias with his school friends Julian, Simon and Ryan.

So happy!

David, also a friend from school.

Spiderman cup cakes was served. We also had White Spot burgers and french fries, chips, popcorn, a fruit platter and non alcoholic drinks.

Ryan, Patrick, Marcus and Emma cheering: "YES we won"

Both parents and the kids said this was the best birthday party EVER. And we thank Michael Buble for this fantastic evening in his Superhero Suite. It will be impossible to beat this next year :o)

Remembrance Day

2011-11-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

On Thursday I attended the Remembrance Day Assembly at Mattias' school. All the children were dressed in their finest outfits, and kids that attend the Scouts was wearing their uniforms. So Mattias was wearing his Beaver uniform and was very proud. A Mountie also attended the ceremony. It was a very touching ceremony, and I even cried a few times. So thankful for living, and coming from, two countries that have peace and for the most harmony, were we have democracy and freedom to speak our mind. "Lest we forget".

Mattias and his class sang a song, and they were so good. Unfortunately Mattias had to leave for his snack right after and didn't get to experience the rest of the assembly, but I hope he will learn and appreciate it as he gets older. The other day he had been asked to draw a picture of what peace meant to him and he drew himself sitting on the toilet....oh well, such a man... :o)

Yesterday, on the actual Remembrance Day the Beavers were attending the actual ceremony in Richmond, but we had not planned to attend, as we were invited to Whistler to celebrate the birthdays of our friend's two daughters. However Mattias woke up with a fever, coughing and complaining about chest pain, so I took him to the hospital. After x-rays, blood work, swabs, ECG etc. etc. we found that his heart and lungs were clear. The blood work will take a few days to give us answers. But the doctors suspect it's a croup cough, which is going around these days. And it makes sense, because Mattias is a lot worse in the night. So now he is not eating and on the tube feed day and night. We asked if it was okay for Mattias to still go and celebrate his birthday at the hockey game tonight. He has been given the Michael Buble Superhero Suite for the Giants game and invited four friends from school with a parent and Patrick and Emma (our God children) to the party. So we will be 14 people all together. The doctor said it was okay, and that we should just bring some hand sanitizer. For other kids this is just another cold, and not something to worry about, after all there are kids with colds attending school every single day (unfortunately for us) the doctor said. So hopefully we will have a great party tonight. Mattias was suppose to attend another birthday party for Teo, our neighbour today, but will stay home and save his energy for the evening I think.

I will take some pictures and share.
The pictures from the Remembrance Day Assembly at school didn't turn out as it was way to dark in the gym.

Marcus does it again...

2011-11-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Marcus: "Mama, God did not create me to clean up. I was not meant for that type of work!"

Me: "Who is going to clean up then?"

Marcus: "You can do it mama, you are pretty good at it!"

Sunday's Birthday Party

2011-11-08T00:39:00.000-08:00

Mattias wanted a Phinas and Ferb cake, and grandma delivered as always.

The party was held at The Olympic Oval Gym. We had invited the kids from the street and our friend's children. About half was able to make it. Here with Mattias and Teo.

Mattias had requested soccer and basketball as the main sports for his party.

The parents.

After gym it was cake and candy time.

Video of us singing "Happy Birthday".

And then Mattias opened his gifts.

So excited!

Marcus and Ryan.

And after we rushed to a quick dinner at McDonalds before we headed for swimming lessons. Marcus wasn't feeling to well, so he and Darren watched from the side.

Family Birthday Party

2011-11-08T00:20:00.000-08:00

Opening gifts with some help from Uncle Chris.

Wow, a real telescope for me...

...this crane is pretty awesome too..

Ice cream cake fro DQ.

Mattias wanted a sparkly number six for his cake.

So Friday November 4th was his actual birthday, and we celebrated with auntie Gia, uncle Chris, auntie Sheri and uncle Jas. Opa Helmut also stopped by briefly before heading to the Austrian Club to entertain. Dale was already there working. Mattias also got some really nice PJs, and he decided to wear one of them the same night. He also received a mini Canucks zambonie, a game, some lego, money and a puzzle. It was a perfect day

Beavers Investiture Ceremony

2011-11-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday November 1st. Mattias was given his blue beaver tail plus scarf, and accepted in to the Beavers of the 12th Richmond Scout Group.

Happy Birthday Mattias

2011-11-04T01:36:00.000-07:00

I got home from work at 12:45 a.m. and started decorating cakes that Mattias will bring to school in the morning. And guess who came walking downstairs to tell me he is 6 years old now?! I brought him back to his bed, and he has already called me five times to ask if it is time to get up. It is only 1:35 a.m. - this can be a "long" night - or maybe I should say very short. So cute that Mattias is SO excited :o)

Trick or Treat Papa

2011-11-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Halloween

2011-11-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

On Saturday they got to wear their costumes at the gym. For some reason it is cool to have your legs apart...

Flying Spiderman.

Mama and Mattias, as Mario, having an ice cream at DQ after ordering the ice cream cake for his family birthday party this coming Friday.

Ready to leave the house for "Trick or Treat" on the actual Halloween Eve. As tradition Nathan and Kelly comes to our place for dinner and "candy collecting".

Mattias and Marcus made these with grandma on Thursday.

The one to the left belongs to Marcus - he wanted with teeth. Mattias wanted his with triangle eyes. Just like the seven pumpkins he had already drawn and cut out and hung on our front door.

Visiting our neighbour down the street.

I wanted to post a video of the boys surprising papa too, but it took to long to upload and after waiting an hour I am now going to bed. I will try again another day Marion.

Family Bowling

2011-11-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the four of us went bowling, then to Boston Pizza for a late lunch, and later in the evening we were all back in the swimming pool. It has only been me and Marcus for the last three weeks since Mattias has been sick.

Four weeks ago Marcus feel at the pool, and first now we are realizing that one of his front tooth is slowly turning grey. I was worried about it. So sad :o(

Camp Fire with the Beavers

2011-11-01T23:08:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday we went to a camp fire with all the scouts in Richmond. We listened to songs, jokes and stories, and ended the evening with some hot chocolate.

Smartypants

2011-10-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

This morning Marcus said: "Mama I need to play some computer, okay?"
I answered: "Okay, you can play some Starfall" Which is an educational webpage.
Marcus: "No, I will play some Nick Jr, it is good for my lungs!" ........

And yesterday we drove to the M&M meat store, and on the door there was a sign that said "10% OFF". Marcus saw it and said: "Look mama, it says 10 OFF"
The last week he has been spelling out every sign he sees and asking me what it says, and he is remembering a lot. Some he "reads" just because he knows that the sign says "Safeway" for example. For those who don't live in Canada, it is the grocery store we go to. But there are also words that I have not told him, like "on" and "off" and those he has figured out himself. I think he learned those two by looking at my calculator. So now the kid is "reading" too....ha..ha.. or at least recognizing some words. I think I will have a very exciting time the next few months. I get so thrilled when my kids learn new things :o)

October fun

2011-10-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Snuggling with mama is so cozy.

Going to the New Stadium and watching the Whitecaps with papa is even better....

...Especially when you also get to drive the Skytrain there.

(the picture is from the stadium though)

Having fun with papa in the park while Mattias and mama were at a birthday party at the Olympic Oval today.

Our clever 3 year old

2011-10-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

I was vacuuming the other day, and Marcus wanted me to stop, which I didn't. Then he went to his drawing board and did this. Holy, I stopped when I saw that. To the left in the picture he has drawn a circle with a line across to imitate a stop sign and then he has written "stop" below.

New Bike

2011-10-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

We figured out that if Mattias was ever going to be willing to loose the training wheels, it had to be with a new bike. We took the training wheels of his old bike, but he refused to use it after, and I ended up putting them back on. But most of the time he was actually not using them. It was more a safety thing for him, and a help to get started. Once he had speed he was okay without. We have tried the new bike twice today, and he wants us to hold him to get started and run beside him. I think within a short time he will be okay on his own.

Pictures from the renovated garage are below this post!

2011-10-15T16:44:00.001-07:00

Back to work

2011-10-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I went back to work at Global News. This week I have been there four nights. Leaving my house around 2:30 p.m. and coming home just before 1 a.m. It takes me around 50 minutes to drive there, but I give myself an hour in case of unforeseen traffic, however that didn't help much on Friday. I even left home an additional 15 minutes early, knowing there would be Friday traffic and still got there late. It took me a whole one and a half hour to get to work. So I guess Fridays won't be my favourite days to work.

I was a bit worried about all the new digital technology before going back, but that has not caused me any trouble. I feel good after four days of training, and have done my own whole shows the last two nights. Of course I have things to improve on still, especially the ending of the shows are tricky. A gazillion things going on at once. But everyone tells me that I am doing fantastic considering it has been six years and I have only trained for four nights, so I feel great.

I've always loved working at Global News. Everyone is so supportive and friendly. It is great to be back, and I hope we can continue to figure out child care a few times a week, so that I can continue this.

I must say it has been hard though. Being a mom from 7 a.m. and taking care of the house etc. before heading to a full day work does take some time getting use to again. It is not the same as just staying up late when you are actually working in the evening. Also when I come home I am so full of adrenaline, that it is very hard to fall a sleep. My shoulders are also giving me a lot of pain unfortunately. So I go to bed with a heat pack every night.

On Thursday I was so tired I paid for Marcus to stay an extra hour at preschool, and I went home to sleep. But Friday I went grocery shopping, did laundry, tidied up the house and vacuumed. However I have not had time or energy to work out this week. And today Mattias and I had to do a lot of work on the Norwegian school since we hadn't done anything during the week. When he came home I was gone right.

My choir also has solo audition next week, so I try to practise to that on my commute. Not the best, but it is all I have time for right now. I am not sure I will get any of the parts with this little practise, but I will try anyway.

Luckily the boys don't seem to mind too much that I haven't been around in the afternoon and evening. At least they haven't said anything or had any tantrums, but I do feel a bit weird not seeing Mattias all week. It was almost nice that he was home sick from school Tuesday. He is struggling with a cold and bad cough again. I took him to the hospital on Tuesday and he was given 3 days of steroids for his lungs again. The doctor said it was good we started early so it doesn't proceed into another bad pneumonia.

Well, that was the news for the last week. Next week will look much the same :o)

Renovated Garage Pictures

2011-10-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

The summer is over and the BBQ is back in the garage. We have always had the freezer in the garage, but now we have also made a shelf for the fridge that used to sit in Mattias' bedroom when he was tube fed throughout the night. This will come in handy for cakes or beer etc. when we have parties.

The other side is much fuller, and we haven't finished hanging hooks on the wall. So far it is just the shelving that has been done. Where you see the hula-hoops there will come one more shelf and hooks to hang the shovel and broom etc. And we will also hang the scooters, and a waiting pool for the kids. I like how we now have hooks in the ceiling for two bikes in the corner. The bench below is inside for the winter, but there will be much easier access to the bikes once the bench is put back outside in the spring.

Now I even have a shelf for juice and some dry food that I often buy on sale. Before the juice and water was just sitting on the floor. I never used to have any food in the garage though.

And once Darren takes his empty beer bottles to the bottle depot I will have another free shelf...or maybe it will just be filled up with more bottles... I like how we have gotten most stuff off the floor now and that it will be easier to access our cars without bumping into things.

I Love Helmut!

2011-10-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

I have the greatest father in-law. When we bought our house 5 years ago he said he would make all new shelves for our garage. It took some waiting, and the old shelves fell down a couple of times, so this spring I said to Helmut that with two new cars in the garage, I really would like to get new shelving, and that I really didn't mind just going to buy them myself. But he wanted to do it and said he would find time soon. On Thursday he called and said to start prepping the garage. He wanted to paint the walls too. He had mixed all his leftover paint at home into one can of nice cream white :o) I think that is so cute. Typical our Helmut. I was thrilled.

So on Saturday I emptied the shelves and put most of it inside our computer room in our house. Bikes and bigger things etc. filled up the middle of the garage. Then Darren and I took down the old shelves and sanded and filled the holes. Saturday Helmut arrived and he and Darren painted the walls. They then decided the floor looked bad and moved everything outside and washed the garage floor and sent me to Home Depot to buy cement paint. As I took Marcus to swimming, Mattias staid home because he has a bad couch, Darren and Helmut started painting the floor. When I came home though, Darren told me that one of the paint cans were the wrong colour. I bought two, looked at the first one and saw that it was the right colour, but never checked the second one :o( So back I went to Home Depot and got the right one, and told them to refund me the money. No way I was paying for that can after all that driving. Also Helmut had gone home, so we couldn't finish the job as planned that night. When I came home Darren had bathed the boys, and put them to bed while I made dinner, and then Darren went back into the garage to paint a second coat on the walls while I cleaned up the house. We had to move everything inside the house that earlier had been moved outside. So that part had not been planned out the best way I would say - moving everything three times - to the middle of the garage floor, to outside, to inside the house, shed and along the outside wall of our house for now...

Today Helmut hung tracks on all the walls and painted the rest of the floor, while Darren and I helped out, cleaned etc, and moved the BBQ and garden bench inside. It is looking great. Helmut put up a few shelves, but they still need to be screwed in, and he is also going to make more shelves. I can hardly wait to start putting things back up on the shelves, and get organized and not worry about the shelves falling down. And on top of all that we got a new looking garage - that I had not expected! All I was waiting for was some shelves. Now Helmut says he also wants to make better shutters for the loft entrances in the garage as well. When that man starts he never stops. Helmut is so talented and has so much knowledge, he can do almost anything when it comes to fixing and building. Next on his calendar is a new kitchen for Sheri and Jas in November he told me.

I will post pictures ones it is done :o)

Shaw TV interview that aired tonight

2011-10-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

This interview aired on Shaw TV three times today.
Our story starts three minutes in.
Below is the links to Shaw TV. One of them should work...
"The Express, October 6th, Part 2":

http://www.youtube.com/user/theexpressvan#p/u/1/QoWtBvR3nV0

In "Part 1" there is also a little teaser on the end if you are very interested :o)

http://my.shaw.ca/

Copy and paste it, for some reason neither will make a link for me.
Choose BC and then Vancouver, then select "The Express" and the "The Express, October 6th, Part 1" or "Part 2"

Just a bit frustrated about the way they spelled Mattias' name, but otherwise happy that we can help the hospital, and have fun at the same time :o)

Another TV interview airs tomorrow

2011-10-05T11:06:00.001-07:00

Shaw will air another story on Mattias tomorrow on Channel 4. If you have Telus TV. October 6^th at 3pm, 6pm 10pm.

Mattias on TV and in the News.

2011-10-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsPwgIZbM9o

Here is link to the TV interview Mattias and I did for "A Night of Miracles" fundraising at BC Children's Hospital. Yesterday there was also a big picture of Mattias on the poster for the venue in The Sun newspaper's health section.

You can also visit the BC Children's Hospital Foundation web page and read about him there:

http://www.bcchf.ca/storyofthemonth?donateNow

Photo Shoot at BCCH

2011-09-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures that was taken in at BC Children's Hospital a few weeks back. The pictures of Mattias will be used, and has been used for promoting "Night of Miracles" that takes place on October 22nd. They are fundraising for the catheter lab at the hospital with a black tie dinner that night.

Yesterday I also was interviewed by two journalist. One was making a video for the hospital that will be shown at the event. This one you will be able to watch on YouTube soon too. The other one will air on Shaw TV.

Life is really changing

2011-09-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

On Monday I got an email from an old colleague from Global News saying they were looking for a back-up PA (assistant director/script) and she encouraged me to contact the boss. After some thinking I did, and she emailed me back instantly. We talked on the phone two hours later, talking about the job and what they were looking for. Because it is a back-up position, it means that I won't have regular shifts, and it will be a challenge to find child care, but I am hoping between Darren, Dale and Sydney we can make it work. Mostly the shifts are from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. until midnight or weekends. So I would need someone to deliver the boys to school, or pick them up and be with them until Darren gets home. Marcus could stay longer at preschool sometimes, against pay of course, but that way I can catch a few hours of sleep too if necessary. I am excited and nervous, but really eager to make this work. The technology has changed a lot in six years, but hopefully I can get back into things and learn what I need in order to keep this job. Wish me luck :o)

Throat surgery

2011-09-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

In August last year I started having problems with swallowing and getting stuff stuck in my throat. I was also having a lot of pain. My family doctor referred me to an ear, nose and throat doctor who kept putting me on antibiotics. Nothing helped and in January I think it was, he sent me to a doctor in Vancouver for a second opinion. He too did x-rays and swallowing tests, looked down the throat and didn't find anything, so he referred me to a GI doctor, to have him perform a endoscopy, to see if the problem was actually further down. I had an appointment in June, but then Mattias was hospitalized, and I got another appointment in August. As you might have read, the doctor was not even successful in getting past my throat, it was way too narrow, so I never had the endoscopy. He also tried to use a balloon to dilate my throat, but was not very successful in that either he told me. I was in so much pain after, so some tearing after all did happen.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the ear, nose and throat doctor in Vancouver again. The GI doctor said I needed a surgery and referred me back to him. He thought clearly my throat is too narrow and that is why I am having these problems. The doctor yesterday still thinks it is weird that nothing showed up on his x-rays, and now wants to do his own balloon dilation before anything else. There is of course more waiting to be done, and I will most likely have the procedure done in January. I will be under full anesthesia so that it will be easier for the surgeon to perform a balloon dilation. He will also take some biopsy to make sure there is nothing else going on. Apparently it will hurt like hell for a couple of weeks. He basically tears the throat when dilating the balloon. Can't say I am looking forward to it, knowing how much pain I was in last time, and knowing that wasn't even a successful procedure. But, I sure hope this will fix my problem. Having problems swallowing during almost every meal and getting stuff stuck in my throat once or twice a week isn't much fun.

Adorable Marcus

2011-09-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

Today Marcus said to me: "Mama, I love your hands, they are so soft. And I love kissing your face, because that means I love you SOOOOO much".

Marcus is a kisser. I probably get around 50 kisses a day. I am not exaggerating. As soon as I get up in the morning it starts, and I am loving every moment of it, well at least for the most part. Sometimes I have to ask him to stop :o)

Halloween Costumes

2011-09-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

I asked Marcus what he wanted to be for Halloween, because papa was going to Costco with grandma to buy costumes. Marcus answered: "I don't need a costume. I am going naked!"

Mattias is going as "Mario" from one of his Wii games.

Hege Update

2011-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am hoping to change a few things in my life this fall.
Last week I purchased a card at the Steveston Community Gym, and actually ended up going every day from Monday to Thursday. Friday Mattias' school was closed for professional day, so then it was not possible, and our weekends are busy. My plan is to go two to three times a week. I will try to do this when Marcus is a preschool. I am starting very light though. I haven't worked out in eight years, and I still struggle with pain in my ankle, knees, hips, lower back, right middle back and both shoulders.

I also want to start a computer course in how to use Mac that I purchased when I bought the new computer in June. In addition to that I need to practise the lyrics for the choir songs. And of course there is all the normal things like grocery shopping, laundry, driving the boys to activities, and doctor appointments etc.

On Wednesday I went to have an allergy test done. I had been waiting since the beginning of the year, so I was happy to finally go there. The doctor tested me for 50 things, and nothing new showed up on the regular poking test on my arms. The blood test and asthma test I will get the result from later. So I am still allergic to cats, grass, dust and a bunch of foods. But one important thing I did learn though is that the reason why I do react to so many different things like some bread, soups, sauces, meat, chocolate etc is because I am allergic to soy. I kind of knew that, but after discovering a few years back that I could eat soy sauce I thought I wasn't anymore. And this is why I asked my family doctor for the referral to the allergy doctor, because I just couldn't figure out by reading the labels what it was I was reacting to from time to time. But soy is a bean so it totally makes sense. The reason why I don't react to soy sauce itself is because it is fermented, and this is quite common for people who have soy allergies to not me allergic to. But the BIG thing for me was that the doctor told me that it often doesn't say soy. Sometimes it just says plant or vegetable protein or lechitin. And sometimes it is being used as a filler for flour or milk, and won't be mentioned at all! NICE - NOT!!! But at least I am a bit more aware of what to look for and stay away from now.

Next week I am seeing the ear, nose and throat surgeon for my throat. I saw him in January, after asking for a second oppinion. He didn't find anything wrong either and referred me to the doctor that tried to do the endoscopy on me in August, and who stated it was clearly a very narrow throat I have. So I am curious to meet the doctor again and see if he agrees with me needing a surgery and when I can have it.
I am scared to death about the surgery, because I worry it will change my voice, and singing is one of the things that means the most to me. I absolutely love it, and get a lot of energy from being part of the choir and especially having solos.

A Beaver

2011-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

This fall Mattias is attending swimming lessons, gymnastics and the Beavers/Scouts (Norwegian: speidern). He was so proud in his new uniform today. And he wanted papa to come along, since most of the boys had their dads with them last week, when I came along. One parent has to attend until they are older. I hope he likes it. I was a scout for 18 years and loved it. We will see if we somehow can figure out how to attend camps later on too. It is a bit difficult when he is on medication and tube feed that needs to be refrigerated.

Las Vegas Trip

2011-09-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago Darren and I drove to Bellingham in the USA and flew to Las Vegas. We were there from Friday afternoon until early Monday morning (spent the rest of the day going home - plane problems). This was our resident for the weekend.

Nice bathroom, with separate shower, jet tub and it's own toilet room.

It even had a make-up dresser.

We stayed at the Venetian, and the hotel is just amazing. Also incredibly big, it was quite the work out walking around. Here in one of the hallways.

The inside of the hotel is built to look like Venezia.

And as it gets darker outside, it gets darker inside. The roof is painted to look like the sky.
You see it well on the picture with the gondolas because it was taken earlier in the day when "the sun was up".

A picture from the outside of the hotel.

The lobby.

We went shopping and spent to the limit you are allowed to take back to Canada. Every member of the family got new clothes. Lots of great brands to remarkable prices.

Dinner at the market square.
We went out every night and we also watched two shows. "Cirque du Soleil" and "Phantom of the Opera". It was not allowed to take pictures in the theaters.

The amazing fountain in front of Hotel Bellagio.

Inside Hotel Paris.

Inside Hotel Wyatt.

With a new blouse and jewelry :o)

It was over 40 celsius outside, so we mostly kept inside, except from a trip to the pool and a walk on the strip saturday evening.

A true artist

2011-09-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

If Marcus had his way he would be naked all the time. According to my mom I was the same way. That said, it is quite rare that I allow him to be naked. But the other day I found him by his drawing easel pure naked. He was concentrating on his drawing and I asked him why he was naked. The answer was "I draw better that way!"

I did of course take a picture, and even though it only shows him from behind, I won't be putting it out here for the world to see. To may creeps out there unfortunately. But he looked very cute :o)

Smart kids

2011-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

On Friday Marcus pointed out a number 12 on a bottle an said: "Mama, that is the number twelve, and if you put one and two together it makes three". I was pretty surprised, after all he just turned three in May. I knew he could count to 50, but I didn't know that he could recognize the numbers above ten. I now know he for sure can recognize up to 20. After that he was done "playing" with me.

Mattias is loving the Norwegian school, and can sit for up to two hours just doing his homework. That really makes me happy, and today he said his first Norwegian sentence to me: telling me he wanted to bike.

Family Photo

2011-09-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Last Monday we went to BC Children's Hospital for a photo shot of Mattias. He will be used in a fundraising campaign called "Night of Miracles" on October 22nd to raise money for the new catheter lab in the new BC Children's Hospital. They also offered us to take some pictures of Marcus and also the family. Marcus was mostly being a goofball, but we did manage to get one good photo, even though Darren isn't to happy with it. He was trying to talk the boys into smiling and not make faces. We have only received this one by email, but will get the rest on a CD soon. I am excited to see the rest.

Grow"n" up

2011-09-01T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mattias: "when I am 18 I can stop eating, because then you add a N to "grow up" and it becomes "grown up" and then you don't grow any more, so you don't need to eat, and after that you just drive a car!!!"

Norwegian spelling

2011-09-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Mattias has started Norwegian school online, and loves it. The other day he decided to write out one of the poems he learned with his letters. He had to mix big and small letters, but did all the spelling correct :o)

Throat problem continues

2011-08-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I finally had, or kind of had, my endoscopy to see if we could find out why I have problems swallowing and choke on food so often. I was suppose to have had it done in June, but that was when Mattias ended up in the hospital and I had to cancel it. It has now been over a year since the problem really started to be more than a small problem that I have lived with for years. In December and January I believe it was, I had two swallowing tests done at Richmond and Vancouver Hospitals without any results. And after seeing two ear, nose and throat doctors, I was referred to a GI (stomach) doctor. I never met him until right before the procedure last Thursday. First the nurse failed with one IV insert, and now I know why Mattias scream so much when they fail, it is a lot more painful than when it is successful. Well, after two tries the IV was in and I was told I would be kind of awake during the procedure, but not really remember anything after or feel anything. Well so much for that. I was hocked up to oxygen and was given a round thing in my mouth to protect me from biting on the endoscopy instrument. Already then I felt claustrophobic and had to concentrate on breathing through my nose. Then the procedure started. It was so insane painful, but I couldn't talk. I lifted my arms and waved, I chocked non stop and was crying. The doctor gave me more medication and kept on trying. He went from bigger to smaller instruments, but couldn't even get past my throat. He told me he was not successful, my throat was so tight. He said he could try one other thing, and without the camera he went in with a dilation/balloon instrument to try to dilate my throat, but not even that he could get in, and after two tries he gave up. In total I probably had instruments showed down my throat at least 7 times. It felt like an eternity. After I asked the nurse what to do for the pain and she told me it would be over soon, but if not to take some pain medication. I told her that I have not been able to swallow pills, and have even choked on a 5th of a Tylenol earlier this year, so she gave me the right dose to use when taking liquid Children's Tylenol.

I came home and went to bed, but by 4 p.m. I was in so much pain Darren took me to my family doctor. She wasn't there, so I saw a young guy. He said he would prescribe me some codeine gel, but after coming home we saw that the prescription I had gotten and picked up was for sore throat gargle water. It had no effect what so ever and I was really pissed. A friend of us that is a doctor tried to call around to some pharmacist to get another liquid pain killer, but no one had it and he recommended I go to the ER, so by 7:30 p.m. I headed to the ER while swearing, something I do not do very often. After 3 hours there I was given some codeine, and a prescription for morphine. Every 15 second when I swallowed it was like being cut with knives in my throat. You don't realize how often you swallow saliva until you can feel it I guess.

The next morning I did feel a bit better, and decided not to go for the morphine - how would I be able to take care of the boys then? I took the Children's Tylenol, gargle water and just tried to swallow soup and water two times that day. It has now almost been a week and it is still very very sore. On Monday I started taking solvable Aspirin together with the Tylenol and even though it still hurts while eating, it doesn't hurt every 15 seconds when swallowing saliva. And yesterday I was able to eat some pasta, and today some salad, so I guess it is going in the right direction. Hopefully I can stop using the pain killers soon. It hasn't exactly helped that Darren is away and I am alone doing the night shifts. Not much sleep these days, but oh well, I'll survive.

Anyway, now I have to wait for the doctors report to be sent to my family doctor which will take about three weeks, so that she can have me come in and tell me that she is going to refer me back to the ear, nose and throat doctor that saw me in the first place, so that he can perform a surgical procedure under full anesthesia to widen my throat. If there are any problems further down I do not know, because the GI doctor never was able to even get in. So I guess this means I will be waiting quite some time more. The GI doctor thought it was very strange that non of the other test, or doctors had seen that my throat was so narrow. Even after me mentioning that a doctor I saw in Norway 17 years ago told me my throat was a size of a 6-year old. The throat doctor I am now waiting for again told me it was not so. The GI doctor said the Norwegian doctor was absolutely right. Figure it out those who can???!!!

I just really hope the second time around won't be so painful. And I really hope it won't affect my singing voice. That is one thing that helps me keep sane :o) - my outlet.

The strange thing is that even without eating much I have only lost 1 kg (2 pounds) and not been very hungry. I think the Children's Tylenol most be full of sugar and calories.

Kelowna Holiday

2011-08-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

First day on holiday, and we went straight to the beach.

We made a lot of these over the week.

Kosi and Mama.

After a few days we decided to get some water toys.

We went to the same beach every day. It had nice sand, and grass behind to lay on, a big play park, restrooms and was very close to our apartment.

The whole week it was over 30 degrees and sunny, except Wednesday night when we got hit by a heavy thunder and lightning rainstorm. It even hailed. Roads were closed and some houses damaged. Apparently it had been 91 calls to 911 that night. We played games in bed. Mattias really wanted to go outside, Marcus was a bit scared like me and said he would protect mama.

Making sand men. Also a popular activity.

Riding Ogopogo, who according to tales lives in the lake.

Water parks are always fun.

We went mini golfing twice.

It's always me taking the pictures...

On Saturday there was a festival in the city, and the boys got their faces painted.

Mattias wanted a moon and an earth.

Marcus wanted to be Spiderman. We asked them not to paint around his mouth as he got a bad rash again. We tried to not use sunscreen on their face and body all week. They always wore sun hats, but we still had to put some sunscreen on their arms and legs. And I guess as Marcus wipes his face with the back on his arms it makes it on to his face. Both boys broke out in bad rashes again from the sunscreen. But it got really bad after being in the pool. So I think it's the combination of sunscreen and chlorine water that makes it really bad. The swim in the winter in chlorine water without problems.

Kelowna harbour.

Norwegian school

2011-08-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Mattias has started Globalskolen, a Norwegian school offered to Norwegian citizens living abroad. He will be learning how to write, read and hopefully talk Norwegian. It i expected to use between 1,5 to 2,5 hours a week on school work. So far he has just been playing on the page, but as of September the real work starts. We have bought the book needed, and are both excited about it. Unfortunately I have not been good about teaching the boys Norwegian, but hopefully this will improve from now on.

Photographic memory

2011-08-17T18:56:00.001-07:00

Today in the car Mattias told me that July first was on a Friday this year, and that August first was on a Monday. I asked him if he could tell me the other months too, and he did. Then I just had to call Darren and ask him to look at the calendar to see if he was right. Mattias could tell all dates and what day there where on for 2011.... how the heck does he do that?

Fixing men

2011-08-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

This was taken before our holiday. The boys were fixing the swing/slide set, and were smart enough to put on their protective goggles. Marcus' came from his tool kit, Mattias however used his swim goggles :o)

Impressed by Marcus

2011-08-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

Once I gave up potty training and just started using pullups on Marcus it basically solved itself. When we came to Kelowna Darren told him we didn't bring diapers. One accident in one week. Nice!

On Sunday, while having lunch at a restaurant, Marcus (3) saw Mattias write his name on some paper. Marcus then asked Darren to write his name on a paper. Darren then asked: "How do you spell it?", and Marcus went ahead and spelt his whole name. Moments like this is when it is so awesome to be a parent! We have never tried to teach this to Marcus, so it was a total surprise.
This week he has also impressed us by counting to 50.

Queen's Park, New Westminster

2011-07-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

Marcus had a blast at the petting zoo.

Mattias kept asking if we could pick a pet to bring home.

This sheep was Marcus' favourite animal.

And I fell in love with this little fellow.

We also saw kittens, pigs, a calf, turkeys and ducks.

After the zoo we spent some time at the playground, and in this tree house. Unfortunately it was too cold for the water park.

Play Land

2011-07-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

We spent six hours at Play Land on Saturday and had tons of fun.

Sunday walk and toilet talk

2011-07-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Mattias was at Canuck Place since Friday and I slept four nights in a row, since Thursday night was my night off. Darren worked yesterday, so Marcus and I had a very special day. I had almost forgotten how easy it is with only one kid (no fighting). We went to the beach and the farmer's market, strolled Steveston all while eating ice cream, clam chowder and banana bread. It is so nice when you don't have to think of eating times and diets all day. But I did miss Mattias though, and wish he could have shared the nice day with us. Even with the rain, it was my best day of the summer.

Marcus did almost have two accidents, but I wasn't stressed about it since we had such a mellow day. The first time I manage to catch it in his facial expression before it had gotten too far and ran to the bathroom, but unfortunately his pants got wet in there somehow. So we changed and continued our trip. At the end of the day we were at the play ground at the school, and I didn't manage to stop it in time. But I had a diaper, and wipes, so managed to clean him up at least. I used a whole box of wipes that day cleaning of cherries, sand and poohs.

Today we went to the water park and Marcus refused to put on swim diapers, insisting he wouldn't do anything. Oh well, so much for that. Suddenly I saw brown water dripping down his legs. Oh my, how disgusting. I got his swim shorts off and tried to wipe him clean. It was not easy. I think people around us really hated us at that time. That was when I decided that enough is enough. If he doesn't get that he has to use the bathroom every time I am not ready for all this cleaning up. (re: previous stories)

Later on he poohed in his diaper and while changing him Mattias ran off. I just could not find him and got quite panicked, screaming his name, and looking for him. He too had decided he needed a pee brake and had gone to the washrooms. I felt it was time to go home, and don't you know, after taking them to a quick ice cream stop at McDonald's, Marcus decides that when I am putting Mattias into his seat, he climbed back out of the car and ran out into the street. I just got my hand on him in time before a car drove quickly by.

Today was surely a much different day than yesterday. I was stressed to the maximum again. Mattias argues and fights constantly with both me and Marcus. He walks behind Marcus on purpose so he can push him. I just don't understand why he has to make everyone so miserable sometimes. He takes all my energy and patients. Even putting on shoes or jacket, and getting in the car is a fight. It is a fight to go somewhere, and then to leave. And he fights with Marcus over all and nothing. It is so draining, and it makes me so sad that we can't just have nice days like yesterday all three of us together.

James and Gillian's Wedding

2011-07-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

The Hoegler row.

My handsome husband!

This dress used to be my mom's, and I absolutely LOVE it. I got a few compliments for it too. Not often you see me with curls either. Sometimes I wish I had it all the time.

James and Gillian

Play Palace

2011-07-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

Last week I took the boys to Kerrisdale and the Play Palace. The boys absolutely loved it. Marcus had a hard time in the beginning, since his legs were too short for a few things and he got upset because Mattias didn't want to come with him to the toddler area, but after a while he got comfortable too. The plan for the day was to meet friends at the Dixon pool, but it was too cold outside for Mattias so I took the boys here instead. It was warm enough :o)

Humongous slides and climbing walls.

The toddler pirate castle.

This slide, were the first picture is from too, was Mattias' favourite. It was quite the climb up, and he turned quite blue at times, but refused to take a brake. He had no fear and jumped into it from the top. Marcus climbed up too, but was too scared to go down. He eventualy tried two times, and decided it was for bigger kids.

UGC Performance

2011-07-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday the choir I am in performed on the main stage in Stanley Park at the Vancouver Summer Live Festival to celebrate Vancouver's 125th birthday. It was so much fun, and really brought back some old memories from singing with NGV in Norway and working with VG-Lista Topp 20 at NRK TV.

Fun in the Sun

2011-07-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

July 7th, one of the two days it has been warm enough for pool fun in the garden. The slide only lasted the two days unfortunately...

Potty training

2011-07-14T23:26:00.000-07:00

When Marcus was only 18 months old he started to use the toilet a few times a day all by himself. This was not something we started, and I though "this was easy", but after we went to Norway for Christmas when he was about 19,5 months old he decided to stop. This spring he has shown signs of wanting to start again, but I just didn't have the energy to begin properly. About 1,5 weeks ago I decided to start trying really hard again. We have tried to talk him into using underwear for a while, but he hasn't wanted to, but now he was finally ready. And the kid does go to the bathroom several times a day, but usually one time a day he can't be bothered. I normally don't need to remind him, but it usually happens when we are all concentrating on some play that he does forget, and I forget to ask. The problem is that it doesn't bother him, and he doesn't seem to learn from it. So annoying! I don't really like the feeling of knowing there is several spots on my carpet where he has peed now. Totally have to get our carpet professionally cleaned, or buy a new one, when this is over. And for now I have been putting diapers on him when we leave home. Imagine a stinky car seat that can't be cleaned properly... no way!!

Yesterday he came inside all proud and said: "I didn't pooh in my diaper". I asked if he needed to use the bathroom, and he answered: "Nope, I poohed in the grass and one piece in the pool"..... Oh my, I was not very happy, and Mattias decided it was time to phone his papa at work and tell him what Marcus had done. When I potty trained Mattias, he took to it right away, and started using the toilet immediately. He only had one accident a few days later and another one a few months later. But he was 3,5 years old because we waited until after his surgeries and summertime. So I have to admit I wasn't really ready for this experience with Marcus. Can't say I envy dog owners!!!

School Performance and Graduation Videos

2011-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

I promised some videos from Mattias' school performance and graduation a while back. It has taken me some time, since I had to learn how to use the movie part in my new Mac, which I didn't get to until tonight, but at least here it is. The blog does not let me upload the videos in HD, so the quality is not the same as when I used to use my PC unfortunately. You can watch it in full screen, but the quality is terrible. This is definitely one part I don't like about my Mac. But I do like the editing program. Oh well... Enjoy!

The two kindergarten teachers are sitting in front, pretending to be at the beach...

Mattias is in the middle/right with a white and red stripe shirt on.

The other classes are cheering on the kindergartners as they are heading for their graduation party in the gym. Unfortunately my camera, which had fully loaded batteries, but probably was overloaded on video takes, decided to take a brake right when Mattias got his diploma, but you'll get a small part of the beginning.

I am proud to say:

2011-07-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

A woman in my choir read the article I wrote about Mattias tube feeding real food instead of synthetic canned formula. She works at a long care facility for handicapped people in wheel chairs. Some also have mental handicaps. They were already growing vegetables in pots at table hight so the patients could participate in the gardening. After reading about the benefits and changes the real food diet made to Mattias the facility decided to start a juicing program. They now make juice from the vegetables etc. in their garden. One man that has lived there for over 25 years, and that has never spoken, drank the juice, and loved it so much, he opened his mouth and almost roared "more". Many of the patients have said they really like the fresh juice. Isn't that just awesome? :o)

Todays adventures

2011-07-05T23:55:00.000-07:00

Today the boys went to the dentist. And they both went through all the steps without much problem. I was amazed. Last time was quite the ordeal, and the times before we didn't get anything at all done.

Marcus will need speech therapy as he is pushing his teeth forward with his tongue and apparently also has a lisp. I never even noticed. There is a year waiting list for therapy, but he is going in for a consultation next week and hopefully we can get some suggestion to what to work on while we are waiting.

Mattias watching TV in the ceiling. He only gagged once. So proud of him!

When we came home we played in the front yard for a bit. Marcus showed me how he could stand with one foot on his scooter :o)

And after that I took them to archeology camp. This was Mattias' first camp this summer and he didn't want to go. Once there I couldn't get Marcus to leave with me. I knew he was too young to participate, but asked if he could, telling them he was only three, but old for his age, and they accepted. They both had a blast. I then went to buy some groceries and home to make a snack for Marcus. After dropping it off I still ended up with a whole hour by myself. Nice!

Then we pumped up the waiting pool with a slide that Marcus got for his birthday and the boys had a blast. I will have to take some pictures of them another day.

Tonight I went out with a friend for dinner in Steveston. We sat outside, and it was just warm and nice all evening until we walked back home at 11 p.m. It was a good day, and that I needed after a very difficult day with the boys yesterday. It is quite the adjustment for all of us to spend time together 24/7 these days.

New Shed

2011-07-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

Helmut built a really solid concrete floor. I put up the shed, and then Helmut helped me screw it together. We needed two people since one had to hold it together while the other screwed. The roof was suppose to be put together by sliding one and one piece up and connect together, but it wasn't possible because the pieces would crash into the neighbours wall - too tight. So we had to assemble the whole roof and ask for help by two more people to lift it up. This will be the storage place for our patio furniture in the winter, now that our two new cars take up all the space in the garage.

Squamish

2011-07-05T00:35:00.000-07:00

Picking up some groceries for the weekend

Taking a stroll along the river

Throwing some rocks

Listening to the river and enjoying the nature

Snack time on a unique bench

Alice Lake

Canada Day

2011-07-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

Waiting patiently for the parade to start

Candy lover #1

My friend Jen in the parade

Most of the neighbour boys are on the hockey team together

We watched the parade with our neighbours from across the street.

Graduation Day

2011-07-05T00:13:00.000-07:00

A very excited Mattias about to graduate kindergarten.

Mattias with his well earned diploma.

And here with his teacher Ms. Mitchell.

I will upload some videos form this event later!

Picnic at Garry Point

2011-07-05T00:07:00.000-07:00

Picnic with Mattias' kindergarten class Sunday June 26th.

And soon we can have picnics in our garden too :o)

Tooth and tea

2011-07-04T23:53:00.000-07:00

Mattias lost his second tooth on June 21st.

When Mattias was at the hospital, mMrcus spent one afternoon at a princess tea party with Johanne and Charlotte and their friend in White Rock.

Time flies

2011-07-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

Last week, Mattias had his graduate party, he handed over the diploma to his buddy in grade 7 at his graduate party, we had a picnick with his class and then school was over. Friday we celebrated Canada day by watching the parade and then headed up to Squamish for the weekend. I have of course taken many pictures during this time, but still have to find the time to post them. It can be hard now that the boys are home all day. Unfortunately my camera, that is only 6 months old, and that was fully charged, decided to take a "time out" right when Mattias was given his diploma - but oh well, nothing I can do about that. I also have a picture of him losing his second tooth. And I really should take some pictures of Marcus one day soon too. He has gotten very in to numbers and letters, and has surprised me by counting to 30 and knows almost all the letters in the alphabet. The alphabet itself he can say, but he does mix up the letters B,P and T sometimes when looking at one and one letter in a non alphabetic order. Also V and Y are sometimes correct and sometimes not.

The first 25 minutes of our ride home from Squamish today Mattias "entertained" us by counting from 1 to 600. He was aiming for 1000, but got tired. Marcus was a bit annoyed at first, but then fell asleep. Smart boy :o)

Problem?

2011-06-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

The stories of Mattias below was not possible for my aunt to read properly, but I see the whole sentences on my computer. I have been having some problems with the blog text since we got our new Mac though. Are anyone else having problems reading the whole story? Please let me know.

Mattias is funny too

2011-06-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Mattias lost his second tooth today and I asked how much the tooth fairy had paid for the first one and then he answered this: "I got 5 dollars for the first tooth, but I think you earn more as you grow older. So it will probably be 6 dollars for this one, 7 for the next, then 8 and so on"...
Can you tell he is the son of a CA?

Me: "Mattias, don't walk with shoes inside my house please."
Mattias: "Sorry, but mama, it is OUR house".

Funny Marcus

2011-06-20T09:55:00.001-07:00

Marcus: "I want my cap mama, I am going to be cool".

I put it on him.

Marcus: "Mama, it needs to be backwards to be cool!".

Me: "Who told you that?"

Marcus: "A really cool, big boy, with brown cool cap, at Steveston park".

Me: "Marcus. Are you my baby?"

Marcus: "No, I am your big boy. But you can be my sweetie!"

When I came home from the hospital I hadn't washed my hair in two days, then Marcus said: "mama, do you want me to comb your hair so you can look beautiful like me?"

Pictures from the last three weeks

2011-06-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Marcus also wants to learn how to play the violin.

Visiting Canuck Place for the CBC News piece. These are pirates from the Kids Festival at Granville Island.

Tall Ships Festival in Steveston.

Viking Ship build at the Scandinavian Centre.

Pictures from the last couple of days at the hospital.

2011-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Mattias picked out a hockey balloon.
He had come off the oxygen mask and on to nasal probes, but was worried they were going to fall out, so for a little while he used a regular mask to adjust and feel safer.

His class mates and neighbours sent him "get well soon" cards.

Sitting up and feeling a bit better.

Making a father's day gift for papa.

Physiotherapy - blowing bubbles. Finally a smile!

Mattias is home

2011-06-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning Mattias got off the oxygen and was able to come home later in the day once we knew he was stable. He has started eating a little bit himself already, and ordered soft ice from McDonalds. Awesome sign! His energy seams to be coming back really fast, but the coughing is slowing him down a bit.

"Physiotherapy" clowns

2011-06-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Some clowns came by, suddenly Mattias got up and walked a bit and even cicked a ball a few times. Talk about great physiotherapy. His mood totally changed. He was smiling, and tried to laugh, but that was too hard. I was crying - so happy :o)

Good news

2011-06-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

Mattias has changed from oxygen mask to get oxygen through nasal probes. A good sign. It means he needs less oxygen. He has also lost over 2 pounds (1 kg) of fluid since yesterday. Moving in the right direction :o)

Mattias update

2011-06-15T22:14:00.001-07:00

After a night in ICU Mattias got up on the ward on Monday afternoon, doing okay. On Tuesday he even got to decrease his oxygen and move from a mask to nasal probes. He had gained 1,5 kg (about 3.5 pounds) in weight, but was peeing about once a day and we were hoping he was going in the right direction. He didn't have much energy to talk, but showed some interest in watching a bit of TV in between sleeping. And we also upped his tube feed to 70 ml per hour to maintain normal calorie intake.

This morning I woke up with machines beeping. Mattias was desaturating quite badly and I pushed the alarm button and also ran to get the doctors. He had to go back on the oxygen mask, since this can provide a higher volume of oxygen. He started on 10 liter when he got to the ward, had moved down to 3 liter on the nasal probes, but then had to go back up to 6 liters and on the mask again. He had also gained another 0.6 kg. (a bit over a pound). So the doctors decided to start him on Lasix to get him peeing and hopefully get rid of some of the fluid hugging his liver and lungs. He has not had much energy to sit or talk today. We really need to get him moving to get rid of the fluid, but it is so hard to make him understand that.

Mattias' anxiety is very high right now. He is scared of being weighed, wash his face, pee, sit up - basically anything but laying down and sleep or watch TV. He is terrified of anyone touching him or the equipment attached to him. If we just lift his blanket he screams. That and the crying is frustrating. His post traumatic stress syndrome is extreme. I feel so sorry for him but catch myself thinking "get a grip boy".

I find it a bit amusing when Mattias' pediatrician tells the doctors at the ward to follow my orders and leave me alone because I know best...ha...ha... I guess that means he has taught me well over the years. Just love Dr. Phang :o) Because Mattias weighs a lot more than normal, the doctor wanted to turn down his food intake in order to lose weight/fluid build up. I wanted to turn down on the IV fluid and keep the food, because I didn't think that less calories were going to make him lose the fluid weight, but rather make him lose fat and muscle, which he has way to little of already. As mentioned we need to get him up and moving to get rid of the fluid. His liver is also enlarged, probably hugging fluid. So the doctor turned his food down, and I accepted, but asked if they could call his regular doctors and confirm if this is what they wanted. Both cardiology and pediatrician agreed with me. And also his morning we had a similar episode as yesterday, where the doctors on the ward changed the food intake that I didn't agree with, but accepted. On the rounds this was brought up, and the cardiologist said "this mom has years of experience and know exactly what she is doing. I trust her, and we will change it back". The dietitian and pediatrician came by later and agreed with me too. It sure helps to be on top of things.

And I sure have to be on top of things, because two times his oxygen tank has ran out even though I have given plenty of warning that it is running low. But the nurse forgot because something else came up. And he then desaturates badly. I didn't even dare to go and get food, because I was afraid to leave him. What if he desaturated when I wasn't there. He knows to push the button, but by no means does that means someone is coming immediately. That can often take ten minutes, because people use it just to ask for things or tell them a medication is done on the IV machine and that it is beeping etc.

Last night he was given a new medicine that plugged his button. After the nurse said she forgot that it was not one that should go in the tube feed but rather orally. Mattias totally refused that when we tried again later. However, I tried everything to unplug it. Coke, hot water etc. Big mess, no luck, so I asked for a new one and was told that you can't get that in the evening. Not even ER has it. We called OR, and they gave me one. Glad I am persistent sometimes. So Mattias got his heart meds at least, but by then the pharmacy was closed so he never got another type of antibiotics to replace the one that plugged the button. Luckily he still got another type in his IV.

The IVs have been problematic too. Getting plugged and falling out. Darren woke up to his bed full of blood yesterday morning. They poked a few times too before he got the one he has now. Not fun to keep having to change his IVs all the time. This is his fourth one I believe.

That said though. I am very happy with this hospital. Wonderful doctors and staff. Who knows where we would be without them right. Without them I wouldn't know what I need to know, so I am grateful :o)

Mattias in ICU

2011-06-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Because of my new iMac I have not been able to download pictures from my phone. Still need to learn how to, but here is a little update.

Earlier this week Mattias had is booster immunization and got quite ill from it, with high fever and throwing up for 24 hours, but then he bounced back and was just coughing a bit later in the week. Marcus however had brocites and high fever and stayed home all week. He didn't eat anything for five days, but drank enough to be okay.

Sunday morning at 2 a.m. Mattias started vomiting and had 40.3 in fever. He kept on coughing and vomiting through the night. We gave him Tylenol and switched to Pedialyte (sugar/salt water) in his G-tube feed, but most came back up. He also didn't manage to keep his meds down in the morning. As the day progressed he was getting worse, and when he at 1 p.m. had a blue spell we decided to take him to the ER. There he was quickly put on oxygen as he was desaturating rapidly. He then had x-rays and blood work that showed that he had pneumonia in his right lung, and that he is possibly fighting a viral infection and also an ear infection in his left ear. He was put on IV, two different antibiotics and some medication for his constant need to puke. He was sent up to the ward. Later he was getting quite delirious, something both I and the doctors found alarming. Not knowing if it was just because of the fever or dehydration, neurological or too much blood gas. After some back and forth, more blood work, echo of his heart to see how it was doing etc, it was decided to move him to ICU. The echo showed that luckily his heart was doing okay and wasn't too stressed, even though the heart rate was high, and that the heart didn't have any fluid around it.

At midnight he was finally settled in ICU and his fever was also starting to come down. And luckily he had an okay night, and never needed to be put on a BI-pap machine to help with the breathing as we were fearing for a while. His heart rate came down and his fever was almost gone by the morning. When he woke up he asked if it was Monday, and that made us all happy, to see that Mattias was back to being his regular alert self. He has however slept most of the day, not spoken much, and only looked at me a few times with glazed eyes. He is still breathing rapidly and needing a high amount of oxygen. The problem is that Mattias' left lung is already very weak, and since the pneumonia is in his normally good right lung he has gotten so sick. It makes him very fragile to only have one good working lung. And it is scary! This is his 3rd pneumonia this year, but the first time it is in his right lung. It surprised us all how quickly he got sick, and I am glad we once again handled quickly enough. Now we just pray that his lung hasn't gotten some damage from this and that he will be off oxygen and home again soon.

Too much to do

2011-06-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Universal Gospel Choir sang with Tenore, last night we had rehearsal, and tonight we have dress rehearsal at Canadian Memorial Church where we are performing this coming weekend at 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Then we also have choir on Sunday and Monday. A busy week. But I am really enjoying it.

However what I am not enjoying is two little sick boys. Mattias had a immunization yesterday and was in so much pain he started crying at 5 p.m. yesterday. From then until now he has vomited several times, and only been able to keep some Pedialyte water down. I've already had to changed his bedding a few times. He also has a fever and is in a lot of pain. The pain killers work for a while, but it never last until it is time for the next dose.

Marcus is staying home for the second day in a row. He has a cough and also fever since Sunday night. So it has been some two hard nights. And I am a lit tired from last week when Darren went to Toronto. But I just really hope I stay healthy and keep my voice for the performances this weekend.

I have some pictures and stories I would like to tell from the last week or so, but it will have to wait until I have more time. But here is a cute story from last week:

Mattias: "Nihal's parents are from Fiji, and my mom is from Norway,
but Nihal and I are from Canada"
Darren: "Where do I come from?"
Marcus: "you come from our house!"

I found 1000 $ today

2011-06-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Marcus and I won tickets to a play at one of the theatres at Granville Island. It was perfect that it was on a Thursday morning, because Marcus don't attend preschool on Thursdays. We were a bit surprised to find out the play was in French though, because that was not mentioned in the draw and it had a English title. We found out after that it also is being played in English later in the day. But Marcus didn't seem to mind at all and he sat totally still en enjoyed the whole 30 minute play. At one point he said "winter is coming" and minutes later it did. So it had me wondering if he understands some French words. The boys like to see some French children TV from time to time, so maybe, who knows. Or maybe he actually understood better than me what the play was about by just by watching it.

After we headed for some errands, and one of them was to the bank. Outside the bank in the parking lot I found 1000$ cash. (6000 kroner) I couldn't believe it. And since Marcus was still in the car, because I was just heading for the ITM (mini bank), I went back to the car thinking for 10 seconds what to do. I decided to go into the bank and ask for the manager. I told her I had found some money and wanted to leave my phone number and name in case the person who had lost the money came back. At first I didn't want to tell her the amount, but she said it would help if she knew how much and in what kind of bills, so I told her. About 15 minutes later she called me and told me she had a couple there asking for the money. I said I would be back in about 45 minutes, since I had just entered Superstore for some grocery shopping and needed to pick up my contact lenses across the street from the store. I also asked the manager if she could check with the couple for a bank statement or receipt that showed that they had actually withdrawn the money. Thinking, what do I know, maybe the manager told all the counter staff about it in case someone came to ask, and one of them called their aunt or something and told them to come down and ask for that amount of money. But the manager said she could not ask for personal information like that. When I came back after an hour a woman was sitting there waiting. The manager had gone for lunch. The woman didn't speak much English, but I asked how she had lost the money, and she told me that she had gone to The Royal bank (or something) down the road and taken out the money and then come to CIBC to deposit it. I didn't ask for any proof of the story, but hope it came back to the right person.

I do have to admit that for a second right when I found them I was tempted to keep it, but I also know I would not have been sleeping tonight. I did the right thing. And in Norway the law is that you are entitled to 10% gratitude. So as I was returning the money I asked her, and she immediately said yes. I guess for her she was just happy to get most of her money back, because I do believe a lot of people actually would just have kept the money. And I am 100$ richer. After I felt a bit bad about that, but my brother said not to. He said I earned it for being honest.

CBC news interview

2011-06-01T01:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/BC/1258521056/ID=1962322010

Mattias and I were interviewed on CBC today. It aired on both the local and national news.
You can watch it by clicking the link above.

Cozy time

2011-05-25T11:59:00.001-07:00

This morning the boys decided to make the tub into a cozy bed.

A visit to the Zoo

2011-05-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

On Victoria Day we went to the zoo.

Flamingos.

Mini swine...or something like that...

It was good to have the stroller in the big park.

Moose

Hippopotamuses

Deers

Dromedary

Kids B-day Party!

2011-05-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Two weeks late we finally had time to celebrate Marcus' 3rd birthday with friends. The weather was even acceptable :o)

Mattias has now learned to swing without being pushed.

Marcus with his one of his "girlfriend's" Willow.

Johanne, Charlotte and Marcus.

Now Marcus has his own Whitecaps ball.

And this little video is for you tante Marion :o)

Singing the birthday song. We had a heard time lighting the candle and the sparkling number 3.