tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82637601032958622832024-02-19T09:29:56.499-07:00Flat-Out WhimsyCanadian Forces wife. Crafty as a fox, I also happen to be totally invincible. This is my story, hopeful happenings and life lessons, worrying and celebrating.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-22499307856186732542014-05-07T17:15:00.001-06:002014-05-07T17:17:19.281-06:00Ginger, Grey, and YellowBeing a new mum was overwhelming at first. I can't imagine anyone thinking otherwise as they hold, for the first time, the tiny person they've just spent the last nine months creating. Because of the method of my delivery, I didn't have the use of my legs for quite a while afterward. Lots of time to cuddle with my perfect bundle of joy and debate about who he looked like.
In our case, this was aAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-14111200638976486822014-04-28T02:52:00.001-06:002014-04-28T06:52:51.003-06:00A Whole New WorldAfter a hiatus enforced by yet another extended hospital stay (3 weeks this time) and subsequent concerns with my health, I am not only returning to blog another day, but also celebrating my promotion to Mummy! Charles Matthew Fenton Johns was born on April 11, 2014 at 5:20pm, weighing 6 lbs 6 oz. and measuring a whopping 18 inches long.His measurements are important: there was a point in the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-60195828994335830752014-01-27T13:30:00.000-07:002014-01-27T13:32:01.451-07:00Week(s) in Review: Home Sweet Home
Yeah, I know it's been forever since I posted an "In Review" piece. And to be honest, a LOT has gone on. Let's recap:
- I'm pregnant!
- We are having a boy! This photo is how we told everyone; most people got it, but there was some confusion as to whether or not it was twins.
- We went to Walt Disney World on our Christmas vacation!
- We survived Winter-Ice-Stormaggedeon-Pocalypse 2013 Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-72790721798376100142014-01-17T13:17:00.002-07:002014-01-17T13:17:16.075-07:00Flat-Out Friday: Baby Shaming
Stop me if you've done this before: You've just dressed to go out, and you turn and look in the mirror. "Well, I guess it won't ever look like it did on the mannequin," you think with a sigh before heading out the door. With me so far? We all know that's body shaming, and we ALL know that it's wrong, that we shouldn't do it to ourselves, and that it isn't healthy.
I have a confession to makeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-49174188492842866872014-01-15T16:32:00.000-07:002014-01-15T16:32:39.387-07:00From One Survivor to AnotherThis week I was asked by a dear friend to send along a note of encouragement and support to one of his family members who was unlucky enough to experience something similar to what I did two years ago. This request was very humbling but I agreed right away. Today, I would like to share what I sent with all of you.
(PS: the recipient is a giant Doctor Who fan - I couldn't help myself.)
..Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-5051192266273980082013-11-22T14:31:00.003-07:002013-11-26T14:06:41.371-07:00Flat-Out Friday: 7 Things About This Week
If you haven't seen it, you're lucky. Facebook has a meme going around right now to get people to share little-known facts about themselves. I've gotten tagged to do it, so I am, but with a twist. Since it's been such an amazing week (I wrote 'amazing' as I rolled my eyes heavily), my list is:
7 Things About This Week
It has been snowing since last Friday. I don't say this so you can pity Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-70886348358535646322013-11-07T22:25:00.001-07:002013-11-26T14:04:48.154-07:00Flat-Out Friday: Red is for Remembrance
Monday is Remembrance Day. Before I met Matt this meant a few different things, none of which have the slightest bit of importance to me now. It's sobering to think of how little this day mattered until I fell in love with a soldier.
When I chose to be with Matt, I chose to be in the military too. Not as an active service member, of course, but the military isn't just made up of the men and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-62139273915677268432013-11-01T12:19:00.001-06:002013-11-01T12:19:37.211-06:00Flat-Out Friday: My Official Title is "Lady Who Lunches"
Ah, Friday. When I'm all wound up I can always count on you to be so cathartic. And after my "buying a mom-mobile" experience this week, I can use catharsis.
So Matt and I had already planned to get a second vehicle once the time was closer for Sonic to move from being an on-board passenger to a party of one. And I have said since the beginning of our "if we ever have kids" dreamtime that, ifAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-49600816206877649162013-10-25T13:32:00.002-06:002013-10-25T13:32:16.347-06:00Flat-Out Friday: Just Buy It In White
Ever since publicly announcing my pregnancy, I have received details on many "old wives tales" about how to tell the baby's sex. MANY. It seems like everyone has some sure-fire way of telling whether the Flat-Out Offspring will be a boy or a girl. For kicks, I will list them below:
The Portuguese method: if your due date is closer to the new moon, it'll be a boy.
The Italian method: if your Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-2686270916141720752013-10-18T11:46:00.001-06:002013-10-18T11:46:54.828-06:00Flat-Out Friday: I'm WHAT?
Yep, the rumours are true. I am pregnant. I know that previously in this blog I have discussed how unlikely this would ever be, that I might never be able to conceive, and that I wasn't even sure if I wanted to. But here's the thing:
I have never seen my husband more excited than he was when we saw that little heartbeat on the monitor.
We'll assume Sonic is waving "hi" and not Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-88381051968111317082013-09-27T10:00:00.000-06:002013-09-27T10:00:03.790-06:00Flat-Out Friday: The Great Motorcycle Debate
About the only thing that Matt and I have disagreed on since we've been together has been motorcycles. And really, it's only been since my accident that our opposing opinions have actually come up against one another. It's not that I am against anything that goes fast on two wheels, or other people owning them - in fact, my family has a long, wonderful relationship with cycles.
My grandfatherAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-10694009976226682272013-09-20T14:05:00.001-06:002013-09-26T20:39:50.086-06:00Flat-Out Friday: What's Going On?
Just a quick post today to tell you all I'm still here, I'm still doing this blogging thing, and I'm gonna need a bit more time.
Last time I checked in I was just starting my EMDR therapy. This has been running since then in conjunction with my CBT therapy, swapping weeks as the month goes by. And of course, the appointments are on Fridays. This pretty much negates any sort of drive I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-36341667393725166042013-09-08T11:14:00.000-06:002013-09-08T11:14:33.320-06:00Happy First Anniversary, My Love
When we woke up a year ago today, it was pouring rain with hurricane-strength winds and a forecast to just get worse. Then, like a miracle, the sun came out and the wind stopped during our ceremony. To me, it was just one more sign: a sign that with you by my side, by being together, nothing can stand in the way of our happiness.
After all the ups and downs we've been through, Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-25586432909486396512013-09-03T11:09:00.000-06:002013-09-03T11:09:35.384-06:00Week in Review: Back to... Darn, I'm Old
Hands up if you feel like you've been run over by a truck this morning!
I can't believe it's back to school time already. More importantly, I can't believe that I have a niece starting kindergarten today that looked like this when I moved to Alberta:
Growing up should not be allowed. Look at those cheeks!
My stepchildren are starting grade 7 (GRADE 7!), grade 5, grade 2 and grade 1. I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-40456877204085277772013-08-28T16:28:00.002-06:002013-08-28T16:28:57.858-06:00Drawn Into ItI'm a grown woman and I'm not afraid to admit it: I like cartoons. When I was younger, I was always drawn to the happily-ever-after stories of Disney princesses, but as I matured, I realized that they don't all have to be perfect all the time. In fact, I prefer the imperfect ones; the ones that make me cry, or squirm uncomfortably, or even just leave me in thought when the credits roll. I prefer Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-27036954755833058412013-08-26T14:51:00.000-06:002013-08-26T14:51:09.088-06:00Week in Review: Catch My Breath
What a whirlwind of a week! There was so much to do, and I get the feeling that this is only the beginning; September is going to kick-start a crazy autumn season. Although it'll be full of crazy while by myself, as Matt heads back to Wainwright for two months, which may be better or worse, depending on how things go. To start, we had supper with friends on Monday night - a giant, 22lbs of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-14828708989835991442013-08-23T11:27:00.000-06:002013-08-23T11:28:17.803-06:00Flat-Out Friday: Cough, Sneeze, Snickt!
I'm sick. Ugh. I have a head cold. My nose is running and my throat is sore. It's gross.
I don't get sick very often, which bodes well for how my immune system is coping with all this accident stuff. And since I was battling three very different infections in the hospital (thanks in no small part to all those people out there that don't wash their hands), it seems my body is getting what it Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-91416618042272164602013-08-19T11:22:00.001-06:002013-08-19T11:22:37.871-06:00Week in Review: What is that Annoying Noise?!
Gosh, what happened this past week? It's such a blur I don't even remember. Uhm...
We finished our #yegquesting - for those who don't recognize what that is, you can catch up here. We officially have twelve entries in to win the night for two at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. I really really REALLY want to win. Really. It would just be such an amazing first anniversary experience.
Speaking Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-45365192422260127322013-08-14T10:00:00.000-06:002013-08-14T10:00:00.895-06:00My Furbabies
2013 seems like the year where everyone I know is having a baby. You know those years. Sometimes everyone you know is getting married and you have six weddings and you can't wear the same thing to all of them, and then you need to buy six wedding presents and you're broke and... yeah. This year I'm pumping out little bassinet/car seat sized knitted blankets like nobody's business.
So I thought,Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-80691444500076699592013-08-12T09:00:00.000-06:002013-08-12T09:00:02.051-06:00Happy Second Anniversary!
Two years today. It's been two years, and I'm still standing. Thank you to all of you for your love, faith, and understanding. It's been struggle after struggle and fight after fight, but with all the support it's been tolerable, and with a safe place to express myself, it's been healing.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-56591878474358869312013-08-09T12:16:00.002-06:002013-08-09T12:16:59.673-06:00Flat-Out Friday: Blaze of Sorry
I'm going down in a blaaaaaaaze of sorry...
Oh Bon Jovi. Thank you for being so incredibly corruptible to meet my needs. Because this is how I feel - like I'm getting shot down in some sick, apologetic hailstorm of crap. I have had a bouquet of GPs since the accident, and aside from the one that had a stroke and can't be blamed, only one of them has had any Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-74647209567077188742013-08-07T12:28:00.001-06:002013-08-07T14:13:00.980-06:00Real Life Kings QuestYou ever play the game Kings Quest in the 90s? I had a 8-bit version of it with nine 5-inch floppy disks, and I used to lie them all out on my bed so I could switch between them easily.
This summer, a local journalist has organized a real-life quest for intrepid Edmontonians to encourage the exploring their own city. She has launched her "yegquest" through the Edmonton Journal, and has brought Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-26095275434779989772013-08-06T14:57:00.001-06:002013-08-06T15:04:46.878-06:00Week in Review: Holi-daze
Ah, the August long weekend. A time of complete and utter indulgence. Aside from Christmas, I can't think of another holiday that lends itself to the kinds of selfish behaviours that Civic Holiday does. I was going to describe all the wonderfully self-indulgent things we did this weekend, but my blog post has now been eaten twice, and after a ridiculous appointment with my doctor this morning,Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-29178668278630296312013-08-02T11:57:00.000-06:002013-08-02T11:57:44.814-06:00Flat-Out Friday: Roadside Attractions
So amongst other things that occurred this week, one of the biggest events was a trip to Calgary to see another specialist. Matt has had this past week off for summer leave so he was able to drive me, which was good because I was nervous. How nervous was I? Every time I saw some poor animal dead on the side of the road I started panicking because its family would never see it again, and how Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8263760103295862283.post-42175847999124752442013-07-29T08:00:00.000-06:002013-07-29T08:00:01.115-06:00Week in Review: A Renewal
Well, howdy. It's time again for another Week in Review, and let me say that it has been a topsy-turvy kind of a week. Hitting some low notes and peaking at some fantastic highs, it has been another week in keeping with the trend this summer has been setting.
We both had appointments this week, and so we worked around those in our social engagements. However, we managed to fit in a treat on Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04521640847971888370noreply@blogger.com0