A Journey Backwards – and a Lost Heart!

Normally I would write with happiness and joy and love – and I feel all of those in my heart … I promise – but there is a lot of “BUT” today!

mmmm... Danish thebirkes

Most of you who read and follow my blog will know that I have not been to Denmark for 7 years. For all sorts of reasons – and I honestly wasn’t planning on going any time soon. BUT 3 months ago Bob and I made a choice. A choice that enough was enough and that our children should see where I grew up, the country they at least once a day hear something about“ In Denmark we would do …” or “I swear, in Denmark I would eat ….” or “Denmark is so good at ….” or the very best one “Dad and I did this in Denmark … “ or “I so wish I could show you Tivoli …” so many sentences where the word Denmark would be mentioned – and the kids were doing it too “I SO want to go to Denmark” or “I can’t wait till one day we go to Denmark”

Gosh she was so excited!

BUT we couldn’t justify Bob taking a lot of time off – because he’d just been home recuperating for 5 weeks – well 6 if you count the week where they switched on the cochlear. So he suggested I’d take the children for a 2 week period while he worked his socks off over there in Calgary. Well, once the idea was put out there, it didn’t take me long to get my head around it. And then we started the “I can’t wait till we see TIVOLI” or “LEGO Land Mum – really” or “you can finally have a “kaffebrød” Mum” – and the suitcases were out and ready to be packed pretty early on!

 

We left a couple of weeks ago – popped lots of “No Jetlag” pills on the plane and landed on a stunning morning. The sun was showing me and the children how incredibly beautiful Denmark is on a summer day (yes, I do know that with the summer Denmark has had this year, it was like winning the Lotto arriving in sunshine!) – My Dad took us straight to the Supermarket and we shopped – oh how we shopped … and then we went to the Bakery and I went crazy “one of those … and one of those – oh no, we HAVE to try that one too … and that one – how many do we have now?? Well, we have to try that one too …” the car was loaded between the shopping and the suitcases!



First ever Gammeldaw's with everything!

And from then on – I cannot even put into words what it has been like – I could try … I could try explaining to you all what it was like going to the beach and watching my children building sandcastles or swimming with them in the waves – or how about walking through the gates of TIVOLI – and then having lunch and playing with Aunty Jane and Uncle Jerry who flew in just to surprise the kids

Aunty J and two goofy kids!

 … and watching all three kids go from being scaredy cats to going on the roller coasters – again and again and again and again … or watching them eat everything that was put in front of them and loving it … especially the Danish ice cream “Gammeldaws” or “rugbrød” or “rullepølse” or how about a “Fransk Hotdog” … and then there was the candy – oh the candy … for years I have been trying to explain about the candy isles in the Danish supermarket … it was priceless seeing their faces – and then we tried all of it!

Kronborg in the Sun!

Jack with new "Hummel" shoes

We went to “Kronborg” Castle where I was last with Bob’s mum ... and they saw “Holger Danske” and we went back to Copenhagen for a total shopping experience – and Jack finally got his “Hummel” shoes – and a “Hummel” outfit and we got “Nisser” for Christmas at “Illums Bolighus” just because of the “You have to get something from Illums” - order from Bob (and there weren’t many of those!)



European Driver's Licence



And then there was the Bridge … and finally LEGO Land where we had another amazing day and the kids got their driver’s licence – you have got to get one of those! We saw H. C. Andersen’s museum on the way back and it was so worth a stop!



Maia at the top of "Runde Tårn"



We saw the Church where Bob and I got married – and of course I showed them King’s Pub where we met – and all (!) the places we have lived. I took them down “Kordilgade” and we shopped some more. And we went to the beaches again and the kids found and played with tons of frogs, oh and fished for crabs – and they kept on eating like little horses every night when dinner was served.

And then there was “Røsnæs” … Bob’s favorite place on Earth – and for the very first time I get it – I see it. I know why it is his favourite place – I can honestly say I haven’t seen such beauty for a long, long time.

Røsnæs!



Morfar and Jack at Røsnæs

 BUT now we are home. And I’m crying a little here and there. When unpacking I’m crying a little into the suitcases – and it is not because of the insane amount of laundry or all the candy we brought home either! 

Anna at Røsnæs

I cry because as I said to my Dad on Monday “Sometimes it is easier when you don't remember what it is that you’re missing” … and I honestly didn’t remember. I have over the last 7 years blocked out the good and the beauty of Denmark. Probably because it is a lot easier that way – BUT I promise you all … watching my darling kids fall in love with Denmark – over and over, again and again – throughout these last few weeks, it has changed my heart. And now I know we must not wait another 7 years and I know that next time Bob must come … so I can walk hand in hand with him at “Røsnæs”. 

Enjoy the photos … I know I will – more than once!

Kids with H.C. Andersen in LegoLand

To all of you who made our trip unforgettable – Thank You … we are all so grateful!

A super special “Thank You” to Heidi for “dotting the “i” … to all my Kalundborg friends – you’ll know that a night out with Heidi, having pathetic “forårsruller” på “Slotten” is the absolute best way to end what was my best holiday ever.

I’ll go cry a little more … while folding the first load of laundry BUT I’ll cry with a lot of love in my heart. I am very lucky to be Danish!

So I keep thinking ...

... that I should write a little bit about how our summer is going, but I also keep thinking that there isn't much to tell as we practically live by the pool. I bake a cake ... the kids munch it up - I bake another and pretty soon all the neighborhood kids are hanging out by the pool too!

Jack made Quesadilla and salsa one night - very very proud of himself !

We have been super lucky with the weather this year - I know that Europe hasn't, and I am really not trying to rub it in, but in the last month there has only been two days where I haven't been in the pool - and really it wasn't that it was that bad - it was just that it was not the 30 degrees we've had every day - or more!

Of things done in July I guess for Anna the top of the list has to be that she finally got to go see Taylor Swift - and I will say that although I wasn't looking forward to it, I did kind of get in the mood the days up to and once there we had a really good time. Taylor Swift is perfect for a first time at a concert and now that she knows what a concert really is, Anna says she wants to go again - but that she wants to sit in the first row - duh!!!

We went on our yearly trip to Park Omega this weekend and said hi to the bears, the goats and the wolves - and the many many deer we love to feed. - I'm happy to say that this year the mountain goats did not try to come through the windows and we managed to get through the whole park without getting a scratch on the car! It is a lovely park - the animals are amazing and it feels right as it is only Canadian wildlife - you don't bump into an elephant or giraffe, which makes it seem right and real!

Bob is still doing amazing with the implant - when he flew back to Calgary after it being switched on he managed for the first time ever to actually hear what the safety meassures  in case of an emergency ... and he has only been flying thousands and thousands of kilometres in his life - thank god he didn't need to know them before :)

Casper finally managed to "kill" his Christmas pig ... and this was only the beginning - the fluff is everywhere!!

Oh - I hear kids screaming for me - it's pool time ... and after that - a lovely gooey chocolate cake ...

It's a New Life

so ... Bob's life changed pretty dramatically yesterday when his implant was switched on for the first time!

As you can tell it was a bit of a shock for him the first time it happened but he quickly got very brave and told her to keep turning it up and make the volume louder!

She told him that he would probably feel the need to take it off as he'd be tired or overwhelmed, but that she really believed that it would be better if he wore it all day. She said that it would take time and most of what he'd hear yesterday and for maybe a few days was likely to be beeps and not necessarily make any sense. That it takes time for the brain to understand what is happening!

Bob being Bob - there was no way you could get it off him :)

And by evening he was hearing everything we said - here are a few of yesterdays revelations

1. Jack, Anna, Bob and I were having lunch around the table and he found this little piece of plastic wrap ... he picked it up, scrunched it into a little ball and I swear - you have never seen such amazement in anyone else ... he just sat there, gently scrunching this little ball of plastic - never having heard the sound of that before! He looked so happy - SO happy!
2. I went to chat with our neighbor and walked in to tell him - he was playing ball with Casper - again ... utter amazement on his face - listening to the ball hit the floor and for Casper's little nails clicking on the wood as he ran to fetch the ball. The smile on Bob's face - priceless! 
3. As we went out for a celebratory dinner - he for the first time ever was able to listen to the children in the back of the car, without having to turn and lipread ... extraordinary!!
4. When the kids finally had gone to bed and we were able to watch MI5 he just sat there going - "wow, I can actually hear them talk" and "golly, was that a mobile phone?" ...
5. He also managed to listen to music - and for the first time ever really heard what was said and not just the music. Actually he was unable to hear the music itself, it takes time for the brain to understand it all and he only heard the words of the song. He was so impressed.

I swear - I have never been happier for another person in my life - I have never seen such amazement on another persons face. I have only ever seen Bob this overwhelmingly happy at the birth of our children. It is mind blowing what is happening - he is learning sounds for the first time in his life. He has never been able to hear "st" sounds or "ch" sounds ... and now he hears them clear as a bell!

So yes - it is a new life and he is embracing it fully. He does not want to take it off at all and his progress within the first day way exceeded what his doctor told him it would be.

... but I should have known that shouldn't I :)

Happy 10th Birthday Anna & Jack

The birthday was so much fun. We started, as always, by opening presents very early in the morning - and then I had to bake little cupcakes for school so it was a tired, but happy Mama Mote who sent the little people off at 7.45 am!

The sleepover party itself - a few days later - was so much fun! It really was - I was getting a little worried the closer we got to the date, whether I had done something silly by inviting all these kids over for a sleepover, but it turned out well. The boys were by far the most silly ones and also the hardest to get to go to sleep - it was well after midnight and then they were up again at 5.17 am - however I didn't get up till 7!

The pool had only been open for a few days, and although the sun was out on the party day, it still wasn't that warm - but the kids didn't mind and jumped right in ... shaking every time they got out again!

Jack and Anna helped decorate the "movie cupcakes" and had a lot of fun with that. We had planned on an elaborate cake for the girls but Anna loves loves loves choux pastry so we went with that instead!

I will leave you with lots of photos from the day of and the day of the party itself!

Good Morning ... where are the presents???

OMG ... I'm going to a Taylor Swift concert ... OMG OMG OMG

A Pandora "peace sign" from Jack for her bracelet

No way ... tickets to Formula 1 ... really????

Sneijder outfit ...  he was really hoping for that one!!

 

and then there was of course a little something for Maia as well - which made her very happy ... can you tell???

and with the Sneijder outfit - a FIFA soccer ball!!!

 

A new Yoga Mat ... yipeeeee!!!!

Road Hockey - goalie outfit ...

Maia picked just the right pressie - a craft bucket!

A stick for the goalie!

Probably her favorite animal ... right after Casper of course!

And then there was cake ...

 

and cupcakes for the girls at the party

 

and for the boys ....

Jack checking out the Candy Buffet!

check out the marshmallows in the middle jar!!!

Brave ... very Brave girls!

 

still in there ...

 

the boys had had enough ...

 

But the girls stayed for a while!

and then onto the food!

All Easy Stuff!

Anna opening presents with the girls - there wasn't a spot left on her floor - it was one big mattress!

 

The girls did a fashion show ... no losers - only winners!

 

They totally took over that room - notice the kid in the back with the soccer ball - yeah, that is exactly what they did - they played ball in the family room ... I know, I know ... I am wayyy too lax - but given that I had allowed 14 kids for a sleepover, what kind of a Mama do you really think I am - I really don't care about the stuff - only about the fun!!!

And so that is that - the party is over ... only thing that remains - well tomorrow Bob and Jack will be out the door at 5.30 to spend the whole day in Montreal watching race after race after race! Jack is so excited - as is Bob, and there is no doubt that I would have loved to go too! Instead me and the girls will hang out by the pool which is now really nice and warm!

I'll leave you with a few photos of Master Jack ... He had been growing his hair for the longest time and Bob and I were secretly going nuts, but knew we just had to bite the bullet - Wednesday morning on the way to school we saw one of their friends, and we all agreed he looked great having just had a new haircut - I could tell Jack was slightly impressed, so after school while the girls were swimming, I told him "let's go and get a haircut and then we'll surprise the girls when we get home - that would be so much fun" ... can you believe he fell for that one? We were off within seconds (didn't want to risk him changing his mind!) and he did it! I cannot tell you how much I love looking at him, those incredibly blue eyes - they are so much easier to enjoy when there is not all that silly hair hanging around them!

Enjoy!!!

not much of a poser :)

Cool hey?

And then of course a bit of silly !

Another 6 Friends

I'm a SNUGGLE Owl

The thing that makes me happy

My Favorite and my Best

Are Kisses and Big Smooches

And Hugs and all the rest

Shall we cozy in a Quilt

Or Snuggle in a Bed?

Or hide beneath the warmth

Of my Lovely Pink Bedspread?

I'm a DREAM Owl

Quiet down - Don't make a Peep

We must go off to sleep

Let's be a Team

And make a Dream

Which leaves us feeling glad

We'll then wake up believing

It was the best we ever had!

I'm a GIGGLE owl

I love to tell Jokes - this is my Favorite

"Knock, Knock"

"who's there"

"Owl's"

"Owl's Who?"

"That's right, Owl's HOOOOO!"

Tee Hee Hee

Be my Friend, we'll have some fun

And please do tell - your favorite one?

I'm a ROCK Owl

Come JAM with me

Let's make good friends

I'll tell you what I like!

I love that music makes me feel

Like flying high above!

The instruments I like would be

Piano and the Flute

But really what I love to do

is singing and to HOOT!



I'm a GARDEN Owl

I have these great green wings

I know most every flowers

And other Garden things.

My favorite flower is the Rose

It equals lots of love

And Friends and Love goes hand in hand

That everybody knows!

I'm a PEACE Owl

What I love more than anything

is just to hang about

The feelings that my Peace will bring

I hope you'll sing about

Peace and Love and Happiness

Does make the world go round

So come new Friend, let's do compose

and show the would our sound!

A Very Happy Patient!

I thought there might be some of you who'd like to know how Bob is doing ... and as you can see he is happy and smiling - despite being very sore!

I had a call from the secretary of the surgeon who told me they tested the implant before closing up, and they were very happy to tell, it was succesful. Bob was, understandably, blown away by this information. It will take days, months and maybe over a year for Bob to get used to this implant, but the happiness and joy I saw tonight, despite the pain, dizziness and pathetic hospital bed, I don't think I will ever be able to put into words how incredibly grateful and happy I am on his behalf. Who would have even thought it was possible just 5 years ago?

He appreciates every card, crossword, message, email and thought - thank you for understanding what this means to him!

I have picked up the perscription for some nasty strong painkillers - and will be picking Bob up from the hospital at 6.30 tomorrow morning ... The Ottawa Civic is just another conveyor belt!