Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, As I mentioned yesterday, we went for a drive and walk around the coast at Ballygalley. It was a lovely afternoon, warm at 11 degrees but more importantly, no rain. Here are a few photos.... The above photo is of Stephen McIlwain and his two sons who we met on the beach. Stephen's family also attend our church and as you can see youngest son Ben is a bit of John Deere fan. Everything about him is John Deere right down to the baseball cap!!!! Too cute. There is a retriever in the above photo and the last time we checked he was half way to Scotland. This silly dog kept going and going and going, much like the Engerizer Bunny! Who said there were no polar bears in Northern Ireland?!?? I was contemplating life or was I watching the dog swim by? Hopefully the last photo of just the two of us!!! Yes, I wear Colin's oversized sweaters since not much else fits! 'Til next time, Heather and Colin

Dear Diary, Are we there yet? That's what I am starting to ask myself everyday but so far the answer is a resounding NO. Oh well, I waddle my way on through the day. I've been home on maternity leave now for two weeks and surprisingly, I'm not that bored yet. Alot of sitting around in order to get the blood pressure down, which has worked by the way, but the days are going remarkedly quickly. I make sure I go somewhere everyday and do a few things around the house just to ensure I don't feel too lazy and I'm still earning my keep! Colin had Friday off work and we did a bit of shopping for a chest of drawers for the baby and a few other things around the house like lights to replace the hanging light bulbs (thankfully there are no Schoons here as that could've proved dangerous to their heads). It's been put together and the nursery/office/guest room is becoming more baby friendly every day. By the end of this week, even if she came a bit early, we would even...

Dear Diary, I found this poem on the internet and thought it must capture what every expectant mother feels and thinks.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Gift -Bujayjay- I wonder if you ever dreamed… About me and the world unrevealed I wonder if you ever smiled… Whenever I talk to you from the outside I feel butterflies within… Is that you that I am feeling? I feel happy when you do that… Now let’s see, what else do you have? Every night I want to dream of you… Hold your face and kiss you Feel your soft skin and smell it… Give you a hug and tickle your feet That is real enough for me… To see you in my dreams and hold you tenderly However, I still can’t wait to see… My precious little gift… my baby. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I can't believe I am counting down the days already! It seems only like yesterday that I had an idea that I could be pregnant and here we are, 35 days to go! We are both excited and anticipation is growing daily especially now that I am home on maternity leave. ...

Dear Diary, By now 2008 has entered with a bang, quite literally around the world, in fact the City of London spent a cool £1 million on fireworks alone which is ridiculous if you ask me but that is another story. Colin and I have both returned to work today after the holidays and it's a good thing traffic was really light or else I would've been late. Colin thought he was going to Londonderry to start a new installation but the plans changed and he was told to go to Galway instead. Since he didn't expect to go and we were already half way to Belfast when he got the call to go, he didn't have an overnight bag to take with him. Being a man, all he needed was a new pair of knickers and socks and hey, why not wear the same clothes for a second day!! I can't imagine it but whatever, it doesn't bother him. I have 12 working days left before I start maternity leave on 21st January. I had a little freak out a couple of nights ago about this and Colin just smiled and tu...

Dear Diary, Merry Christmas! We wish our family and friends, wherever they may be, God's abundant blessings in 2008!

Dear Diary, I had a request from Marg to get some pictures of Heather. As the 'bump' has been growing, the folks back home in Canada wanted to see how Heather looks. So we got the camera out, applied the makeup and these are the results.. Heather by herself.......... and with me.......... Things are good, Heather still feels tired, but that's easily sorted by some extra naps..We hope you're all well and wish you God's richest blessing for Christmas and 2008... Love, Colin, Heather and baby...

Dear Diary, It's been a while since my last post. I guess I was waiting for something exciting to happen and nothing did. Take that as a good thing. We've keeping up busy working and just doing ordinary stuff. The pregnancy has been progressing well. I'm still plagued with fatigue but that's normal for me. This past week I went for my 28 week check up and received the Anti-D jab in my arm because my blood type is O Rh negative and Colin is A Rh+. I have added a link for more information because I really can't explain it very well. The baby was scanned and she looks great, her little heart is beating a mile a minute but right now she is lying transverse albeit loads of time to move into the right position. I know she is already a good little girl and will do as she has been told 'cause her mommy really doesn't want surgery!!! Colin's word of advice "Don't worry, it'll be fiine". I think I heard that before but I have to get back on my g...

Dear Diary, Well, people have been asking about an update to Colin's trip to Denver. He was very pleased and the possibility of us moving to the US is looking more and more likely but still nothing has been confirmed. While at the trade show, amongst other interested taxi companys (even some in Canada) there was an interested firm of taxi's in Manhattan wanting approx. 620 dataheads to be integrated with their current software. Also, one of the largest taxi firms in Denver (approx. 500 cars) is interested in Autocab and want to come to Manchester to try and seal a deal. Emails have gone out and phone calls have been made to the US but we are still waiting to hear if and when the Americans are coming. God is testing my patience but we are still optimistic! As for the pregnancy, all is well. In the last post I mentioned that I had to have a heart ultrasound, well, I went and there is nothing to be concerned about for which we are relieved. As for the blood situation, Col...

Dear Diary, A week ago Colin and I attended at the hospital for my 20-week ultrasound scan. It's still amazing to see and we're very pleased to report that the baby is growing and developing well. Both of us could've looked at her forever! In addition, I wanted to know the gender of the baby and we think we're having a girl but obviously not 100% sure until the day arrives. The first scan is her side profile and she has her knees pulled up and the second scan is her looking right at us! She was sucking her thumb (just like her daddy did!) and she even took a drink for us to watch. She was moving really well and quickly but I haven't felt her yet as the placenta is lying in the front of me - I assume I'll have to wait a few more weeks until she gets a bit bigger and stronger. As for me, I'm OK but still tired which has become a completely normal way of life for me. I have a heart murmur and my OB is sending me for an EKG on Thursday to make sure it's n...

Dear Diary, Mom and Dad safely arrived in Belfast on the morning of 14th September for a two-week visit with us in Northern Ireland. After a days recovery from jet lag, we ladies did a bit of shopping in Larne town centre and the boys were sent away to Lisburn to watch Larne get beat by Lisburn Distillery. On Sunday, it was church and a quick vist with Colin's mom to say hello. We left for County Donegall on a very windy Monday morning and we made a few stops before reaching Mallin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland. The waves were huge in Castlerock Lunch break stop and photo session We eventually made it up to Mallin Head and if we thought it was windy back home, we weren't prepared for Mallin Head! The terrain is very rocky along the coast The hotel where we stayed for the night A roofless chapel in a valley We returned home late Tuesday afternoon, had dinner and Colin took Mom to the church hall to play bowls with the church team. According to the master...