The Daily Hailey

Today was Brady’s second cycle of chemo this particular time around. What a mess it is to even try to explain that simple part of it 😅 I had the pleasure of going with him, even though I couldn’t stay in the back with him during his infusion. I sat in the waiting room and had a fabulous chat with a few people who knew each other and brought a ton of life to the space. As it happened, the woman of the group had previously been a social worker in the foster care system, so we ended up having a lot to talk about. It was surprisingly lovely, while Brady was bored and waiting for his treatment in the back chairs. 

We came home to a clean house, thanks to Cher 💜 and got to work tying up the loose ends of packing. There was very little left to do. Dekker got home first and started loading up the van, which he actually loves to do. Very shortly thereafter, we drove to Rae’s to pick up the babies after a day off 💜 

Coming home from treatment today felt really good. Brady says he feels strong and no ill effects at this point. We continue to pray for Gods strength to be the only strength we carry! 

And we pray that we can sleep tonight 😅 Friday nights at camp tend to be the rough ones, hahaha! Between LD and Spoons, someone has to give in to sleep eventually! 

Happy weekend, all! 

This weekend is supposed to be another cold one up at the lake, but we’re still going up, as we do! I got Brady a beef hoodie at VV that will keep him warmer than the ones he’s been using at the lake, so he can be more comfortable. Our blanket that was covered in marshmallow last weekend cleaned up nicely and can come back to be snuggled in. We’re bringing a second propane tank so we can run the propane fire as often as we want. And beyond that, we’re going to have SOUP! Yes, it is supposed to be cold enough that we’re planning for soup.

Tomorrow is the day to pack up all the end stuff, and while I haven’t had much of a second to prepare this week, I think its pretty under control and I feel confident I’ll remember the right things.

Brady also will receive his second chemo infusion tomorrow. So if you’re the praying type, please add him to your list.

Sleep well, all.

I drove into Saskatoon three times today. It was a FULL day, but a really good one.

I drove in this morning to bring a baby to a visit with their family. My dear girl, Cher, watched the other babes so I could go in hands-free 💜 I had a super nice interaction with birth mom, and got iced coffee on the way home. Wins all around!

In the afternoon, I learned how to de-eye a pineapple. Though this one still seems to have eyes 👀 at the top, it was more fun than I thought it would be, and took less time. Another win! I chopped up a watermelon, two packs of strawberries, and two pineapples.

I got the two babes up and drove back into the city to pick baby up from the visit. A really nice pick-up. No one cried. Babies were all happy to see each other. Two waved at one another.

We arrived home and popped into the house for a short time. Got babies dressed cute and loaded up all the fruit, a full diaper bag, bug spray, and headed back out to Saskatoon to visit with the family and loved ones of one of our other babies.

We spent the evening in the backyard with a large group of people we have been getting to know over the last year or so, and who we really, really love. Brady came right after work, and just in time. We ate hot dogs and all kinds of fresh fruit and veggies. S’mores after supper. The kids went hard, jumped on the trampoline, climbed on the climbing wall, ate sand, and hung off the slack line. Babies were passed from person to person. They drooled. Pooped. Got dirty and showed off their tricks.

No one wanted to leave, but it was time to wind down for the day. Babies were fussing, and even some of the other kids were at that special point of fatigue where every bump brought tears. So we picked a date for the next hang and went our separate ways.

I can’t tell you how happy I am to smell like campfire smoke. Finally.

I am appropriately beat, and I’m grateful that sleep is just around the corner 💜

And tomorrow we go again! Another baby, another visit. But YAY for all three babies getting to see loved ones this week!!! 🥳

Aaaaand tomorrows tomorrow begins another round of chemo! 😅

Sleep well, all. Pray for those you love.

As I scanned the fridges to see what groceries I needed to order, I found myself taking pictures of some of the ridiculous things the kids had written on the whiteboard that we have on the fridge. It began as an errand board, and it still serves that purpose for some of us, but the kids are dorks and they have discovered that they can add their own flair to it 🤣 Anyway, it got me thinking I should show you some of the weird stuff on my fridges. So here goes.

A Laela special: Make goldfish packs.

Dekkers older brother response. Of course.

This one is saved from earlier this year when Wavy was getting excited about writing. STOP STOP!

And one for Brady, too.

Kronk. Obviously. C/o Laela.

A very grumpy seagull, c/o Dekker. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. But I really like it.

This is a magnet that Rowan made for us years ago and I just really love it. 🦊

And this lovely gem that came through our place on the night that Brady had his seizure. I have no memory of it coming, but the kids insist that was when it came. I love it. It is SO fitting for that night.

There is a lot more, but these are the current gooders. We have comics kids draw, pictures from church, family pictures from Christmas, as well as business cards from countless medical people and social workers. When seasons change, I tend to empty the fridges off a bit and start fresh, but these types of things stick around a little longer. I’m sure most of you have things that live on your fridge long term. You get it.

Today marks two years of being an approved foster family!

I remember the day incredibly well. We were approved on a Friday. They decided to wait the weekend and bring us our first placement on Monday. Little did I know, the babe they had in mind would spend the weekend at the home of a friend of mine before making their way over to us that Monday, as promised.

And that child changed our lives.

Not only because that kid was totally awesome.

Not only because we spent a good chunk of hospital time together, one where we actually almost lost that precious life.

Not only because there was an unshakable bond formed.

But because, like mothers often say about their oldest child, this baby made us a foster family.

So on a day like today, I am so incredibly grateful we took the leap to start fostering children, and I am SO grateful for our Morsel.

💔 Goodness I miss that kid.

Foster care has proven to be incredibly challenging while somehow managing to be so fulfilling and precious. Nothing about it is easy or simple, but its terribly important and a huge need. Its messy and broken, of course, but to even have a small part to play in possibly bringing something smooth or beautiful to someone’s life is all worth it. The system may be broken, but these kids don’t have to be.

Two years in. I hear that tends to be the cutoff where many foster families burn out. And I see why. So we pray for endurance and the strength from Christ to cover us!

Onward we go!!

I like rocks. I always have. I still collect rocks as an adult. Don’t come for me. Or my rocks.

Since we started going back to Kinasao a couple of weeks ago, I’ve found a small handful of rocks shaped like hearts. And I’ve seen some cute artsy fartsy things to do with heart rocks, so I’ve started gathering some up in my own little camper stash.

This weekend, I found a particularly cool one. It looked like it had been worn down in a spot and some layers of the rock had come through. I thought it was super unique.

And then Brady ruins it and goes “Huh. That looks like a pressure sore.”

😒

On that note, the pressure sore Brady’s been working to heal for more than two months now is finally on the way out. Goodness those things are thankless!!

Happy rock hunting, all! 💜

🪨

Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful rain you gave us today!! We need it!! It is not always comfortable to be camping when it’s cold and rainy, but we are something of diehards over here. So we made the best of it, playing on the deck, having warm up breaks in the camper with the heater absolutely blasting. In the afternoon, the Dahlsjos took our five to their camper for a movie and some quiet, and brady, the babies, and I all napped for at least two hours. It. Was. Awesome. 

Rain or shine, this place is a huge gift that we continue to be so incredibly grateful for. 

Keep the rains coming!!

It was track day today. It’s one of my favorite days of the year. It competes with garage sale day. They are great days for moseying around and getting a sunburn, among other things, of course. I like that Brady takes the day off work and joins the group. We get to go to camp earlier that day thanks to that. Big bonus points to Cher who lovingly kept the babies home so we could go for the day, baby free!!! What a lovely change of pace! 

Anyway. We’re at Kinasao. It’s really been a lovely day both at school, home, in the van, and here at camp. Praise the Lord! 

Thank you for all You’ve given us! 

After a yummy supper and a decent sleep last night, I feel ready to take on the day. Kids are off to school, and babies are starting to chat. It’s time to get things going!

I believe a morning errand run is in order. I need to hit two pharmacies and the medical supply place. I ordered groceries. I want to prep and pack the bulk of the camp stuff today. Planning meals. It all sounds super basic, but even the simple things are trickier over here sometimes.

But I am bound and determined for today to be smoother than yesterday 💪

Ok! Its 9:01, so the places I need to call are officially open! The day (that has already begun) begins!!

I feel like I don’t have a ton to write about today. It was a big day, but also low key. But also not. Brady saw an oncologist and a couple of hours later, his physiatrist. Well. One of his physiatrists. He talked brains and got botox. Don’t at me about the botox. You’d get it, too, if you were in his position. Meanwhile I drove into the city to bring a baby to a visit, and then went home for a couple of hours. Bonus points to Cher for hanging with the other babies so I could drive home solo. I came home and had lunch and a little bit of sitting time before I woke the babies and went back into the city to pick up the baby from the visit. I got home to kids who were freshly home from school, and I brought in the three babies, none of which had a good solid nap.

It has been a little tough since I got home. But Brady is almost here, and then I think I’m going to take a quick five to just breathe in and out on my own.

The days are good. Don’t get me wrong. They have been loaded with good. Training for track is fun. Babies are popping teeth, taking first steps, learning first words, and showing off new skills. We are all bonding like no other, and its been GREAT. I am incredibly grateful! As Solly prays so often, thank you Lord for letting us have foster babies and for getting us into foster care!

But goodness. Some afternoons, between school and supper, I feel pretty on edge.

Thank you, friends, for so consistently bringing us meals. As we come to the end of our meal train, I find myself just overcome by the level of care we have received 💜 Thank you all for being good neighbours and putting into our family.