Sorry guys -- I know this isn't Spina Bifida related but I wanted to post the following.
http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2009/12/ereader-anyone-you-choosei-knowagain.html
It is a great site and right now is sponsoring an excellent contest -- take a peak! I would really like to win this contest but I wish you all good luck as well
Haven't posted anything in a while since I have been so busy -- but now going to try and post more
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Things that I am Grateful for!
After a sleepless night last night obsessing over an awkward situation I have found myself in. (I heard second hand that one of my sons friends parents threatened to kill herself and her children and now I feel I need to bring it to attention to those who can help (cops) if the friend who told me won't do it) I started thinking about how lucky I am and since it is that time of year when everyone thinks about this sort of thing, I thought I would put down all of the things I am grateful for. I know I was only going to make this blog about Spina Bifida -- well I lied
This is what I am grateful for
Jen
This is what I am grateful for
- That eventhough I have a little self esteem problem, I am still a cup half full kinda girl. I always try to find something positive no matter what is going on. Trust me its a great quality in a parent with special needs -- or lets face it any parent!
- My boys Jake (sweet boy with a wicked sense of humour) and Jesse ( My little cherub with the devilish personality)
- Jeff for putting up with my "Interesting" qualities for the last 18 years - & for helping making Jake and Jesse
- Jake's gleeful and naughty laugh
- The pure look of joy on Jesse's face when he gets the diaper off and runs for freedom
- Mom and Dad - For always being there for us & for knowing that no matter what - they would always be there for us.
- Dad- an extra shout out for him because he was so awesome. He had an amazing sense of humour and he truly cared for everyone. No one quite like him! He taught us about compassion and to always do the right thing, no matter how hard the challenge. Crap, I'm getting all weepy just thinking about how much I miss the quirky fellow.
- Mom - For putting up with Dad and all his quirky habits and his extremely charitable nature
- All my friends -- and you know who you are -- who put up with me warts and all. You know I love you!
- Amanda - Her beautiful soul and wicked sense of humour
- Natasha - Couldn't make it without her -- even with her lack of taste in movies
- Carianne - Wise women with a wicked sense of humour and compassion. Also must mention she gives the best advice - with absolutely no bs!
- Joan Kavanagh's damn fine Irish Tea, advice & just always being there
- The extrordinary staff on Neurosurgery at Sick Kids and the staff at Bloorview MacMillan - who have helped us with Jake's Spina Bifida
- SB&H - The outstanding staff - who help us and others dealing with the challenges of Spina Bifida.
- My job in the library at Humber College -- well most days anyway. Love helping students at Ref Desk and AskON
- Songs that make you cry (Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwrigh), tap your foot (Anything by Great Big Sea) or just make your heart burst (On my own from Les Miz)
- The sound of an acoustic guitar being played while hanging around my parents kitchen
- Snow -- well except for when I am stuck on a Go bus and it takes 2 hours to get from Humber College to Bolton
- Falling asleep while listening to it rain
- amalah . com - For making me laugh my ass off
- Books - especially ones by Julie Kenner
- Breakfast TV for keeping me up to date and entertained & for my crush on Frankie
- Attractive actors who are just more than a pretty face: Nathan Fillion, Anthony Stewart Head, Kevin Kline
- Joss Whedon - If you do not know who he is or have never watched his work -- you are less of a person ; ) Ok I really didnt like Dollhouse all that much but for him I tried!
- Daniel Craig -- well except for when he has that cheesy stash
- Chocolate, Baileys, Australian Merlot's
- The Internet for helping me keeping in touch with all those I care about, helping make my job easier, letting me enter lots of contests with very little effort and for being able to make complete strangers read my ramblings
- Glee - Quirky and show tunes, don't have to say more
- HBO - For bringing us Dexter, Californication and True Love - Thanks you are forcing the networks to try and come up with something new
- Those mornings where Jeff and the kids let me to sleep in -- Oh never mind that belongs in my fantasy world where I am married to Nathan Fillion and Anthony Stewart Head and Jake doesnt have Spina Bifida
- Jake's Spina Bifida
- Mom and Dad both being gone
- My lack of Ass -- seriously if I had one, clothes shopping woud be so much easier
- My horrible singing voice
Jen
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Letter for Current magazine
Here is the Letter that I sent to the SB&H for their Current magazine and for their website.
This is the 2nd year we have taken part in the Spirit Wheel Walk Run and I am extremely proud of how hard my family, friends and I worked on this year’s event. At the beginning of this year Helen Sklarz asked me if I would like to volunteer my time as well in obtaining some prizes for the SWWR. I couldn’t say no since they have done so much for my family as well as for so many families living with the challenges of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. It was challenging at times since I was busy with a newborn and quite frankly I was just not very good at asking for things. By the end of it though, I was a real pro at it and obtained some really cool prizes. My son even donated a prize he won from Breakfast Television, which made me feel really proud. I also have to say it was a life changing experience for me and I have now obtained a new nickname which I cannot mention since this is a family publication : ) If you want to learn more about my experience in helping with this event check out:
http://raymentspinabifida.blogspot.com/
We had an amazing time in this year’s event and raised $2000 for the SB&H. 16 of my friends and family joined in the walk this year and we walked 10km up Hwy 50 in Bolton. We proudly carried the SB&H banner and had tons of people honk at us or even stop to ask questions. It was an incredibly beautiful day and I am so blessed by all the incredible friends and family who took part in the event and those who supported us along the way. Hopefully next year we will raise even more money and help educate even more people about Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus!
The main reason I take part in this yearly event is because my older son Jacob was born with spina bifida. We had only found about his condition when I was 38 weeks pregnant so we were pretty freaked out about the whole thing. My sister-in-law Sheila was a Urology Nurse at Sick Kids so she was able to point us in the right direction for help. One of her resources that she suggested was SB&H. Everyone there has been an amazing help in teaching us about Jake's condition and all the resources that we can access.
The other reason I took part in this event was to educate others about spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Since Jake was born you wouldn't believe the amount of insensitive questions and comments people have made about Jake and his SB. I used to get a little ticked off but now I use these situations to inform people about spina bifida, and hopefully they will pass on what they learned to others.
Jake's spina bifida has made things tough but at the same time it has made us all stronger and we have met so many amazing people. I truly believe in the motto “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong”
This is the 2nd year we have taken part in the Spirit Wheel Walk Run and I am extremely proud of how hard my family, friends and I worked on this year’s event. At the beginning of this year Helen Sklarz asked me if I would like to volunteer my time as well in obtaining some prizes for the SWWR. I couldn’t say no since they have done so much for my family as well as for so many families living with the challenges of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. It was challenging at times since I was busy with a newborn and quite frankly I was just not very good at asking for things. By the end of it though, I was a real pro at it and obtained some really cool prizes. My son even donated a prize he won from Breakfast Television, which made me feel really proud. I also have to say it was a life changing experience for me and I have now obtained a new nickname which I cannot mention since this is a family publication : ) If you want to learn more about my experience in helping with this event check out:
http://raymentspinabifida.blogspot.com/
We had an amazing time in this year’s event and raised $2000 for the SB&H. 16 of my friends and family joined in the walk this year and we walked 10km up Hwy 50 in Bolton. We proudly carried the SB&H banner and had tons of people honk at us or even stop to ask questions. It was an incredibly beautiful day and I am so blessed by all the incredible friends and family who took part in the event and those who supported us along the way. Hopefully next year we will raise even more money and help educate even more people about Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus!
The main reason I take part in this yearly event is because my older son Jacob was born with spina bifida. We had only found about his condition when I was 38 weeks pregnant so we were pretty freaked out about the whole thing. My sister-in-law Sheila was a Urology Nurse at Sick Kids so she was able to point us in the right direction for help. One of her resources that she suggested was SB&H. Everyone there has been an amazing help in teaching us about Jake's condition and all the resources that we can access.
The other reason I took part in this event was to educate others about spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Since Jake was born you wouldn't believe the amount of insensitive questions and comments people have made about Jake and his SB. I used to get a little ticked off but now I use these situations to inform people about spina bifida, and hopefully they will pass on what they learned to others.
Jake's spina bifida has made things tough but at the same time it has made us all stronger and we have met so many amazing people. I truly believe in the motto “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong”
Saturday, June 13, 2009
More Prizes
Here are a few more of the prizes we have recieved. Some of the other prizes I dont have pictures for right now are:
2 Signed Books by Julie Kenner
Signed book by Bertrice Small
Signed book by Charlaine Harris
2 Books from Forresters Book Garden
4 Gift Cards for Walmart from Sarah Fleming Realty
XM Sattelite Radio package won from BT and donated by Jake
3 DVD's won from BT and donated by Me (Burn after Reading, The Women and Hamlet 2)
$25 Gift Card from Scholers Choice
3 $25 Gift Cards from M&M Meats
and maybe more to come : )
2 Signed Books by Julie Kenner
Signed book by Bertrice Small
Signed book by Charlaine Harris
2 Books from Forresters Book Garden
4 Gift Cards for Walmart from Sarah Fleming Realty
XM Sattelite Radio package won from BT and donated by Jake
3 DVD's won from BT and donated by Me (Burn after Reading, The Women and Hamlet 2)
$25 Gift Card from Scholers Choice
3 $25 Gift Cards from M&M Meats
and maybe more to come : )
Breakfast Television
Since Jake had to go to Sick Kids for his biannual appointment with his Neurosurgeon Dr Dirks on Monday June 8th Jake, we decided to go watch BT in person for fun. We had a great time and everyone was so amazing. They even talked to Jesse and Jake on air which was adorable. Jesse was his usual shameless self flirting with everyone and Jake was quite shy (for a change)
The staff who make the show run are incredible and made us feel very welcome. Kevin Frankish was awesome with Jake and let him take his picture. He even told Jake he was welcome to come visit ANYTIME -- he didnt even have to ask permission. Jesse is extremely smitten with April, Michelle and Janine (sp?) -- and I caught him checking out Tracey Moore's boobs -- the little flirt! We were not able to mention Spina Bifida on air, but I havent given up hope yet -- maybe Helen can get them to do an interview with someone at the SB&H for exposure.
I brought all the staff some of my goodies and passed on a Julie Kenner book to Jen for her to read. The only real disappointments of the day were that Dina wasnt there -- and we didn't get a picture of Frankie Flowers : ( All in all it was a fun time and we will definately go back when Jake has to go for an MRI in December. Here are a couple of pics
The staff who make the show run are incredible and made us feel very welcome. Kevin Frankish was awesome with Jake and let him take his picture. He even told Jake he was welcome to come visit ANYTIME -- he didnt even have to ask permission. Jesse is extremely smitten with April, Michelle and Janine (sp?) -- and I caught him checking out Tracey Moore's boobs -- the little flirt! We were not able to mention Spina Bifida on air, but I havent given up hope yet -- maybe Helen can get them to do an interview with someone at the SB&H for exposure.
I brought all the staff some of my goodies and passed on a Julie Kenner book to Jen for her to read. The only real disappointments of the day were that Dina wasnt there -- and we didn't get a picture of Frankie Flowers : ( All in all it was a fun time and we will definately go back when Jake has to go for an MRI in December. Here are a couple of pics
Friday, June 12, 2009
Spirit Wheel Walk Run 2009
Well ladies and gents, my walks are done! I just want to thank all the wonderful -- and brave people who tackled the giant hill and the rest of the walk in Bolton. Its pretty late and I am typing this in Jesse's room while he slumbers, so this is just going to be a short blog -- More to come later. Here are some shots of my amazing friends and family at the walk. You guys are INCREDIBLE -- the J Rayments and all those living with Spina Bifida THANK YOU!!! I will have a final total around the end of June, but I think we made it pretty close to $2000 -- and that is WITHOUT getting on BT and talking about the walk. WE ROCK!
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