It's been a hard day's night. And I've been working like a dog.

We made it. We made it through Remy's first official week at the bank.  Remy really enjoys his training, loves the company so far, and is enjoying the people he is working with. As a wife I couldn't be happier to hear this, and as the one working there Remy is pretty happy about it too.

It certainly has been an adjustment for our family though. Remy and I both have had different jobs throughout our marriage but for the last year Remy has been working from home so we've gotten to spend all our time together. Anytime I've needed help with something, some extra attention, or we needed to go somewhere he has been able to take a break and I have loved it, well 95% of the time I'm not a saint. :) Now Remy is gone 10 hours a day and we are learning a new rhythm. We certainly aren't complaining because we couldn't be more thankful for his job, it's just learning a new way of life. I make sure to have all the chores done, dinner on the table, and any phone calls or e-mails made so we can just have the evenings together and Remy can just relax.


I wanted to make Remy's first week of work special so I decided I would do something to surprise him everyday when he got home. It has been a blast coming up with different things to do and I love how surprised he is.

The first day was a plate of his favorite sugar cookies, I made them *Warning strong stomachs only* in hearts because I love him and stars because he's my super star (we both laughed super hard when I told him the reason for the stars) :

 The second day I made a "Welcome Home" banner for him that he saw as he walked up the stairs:

The third day I wasn't going to be home until 9 (YW) so I bought him his favorite snacks to have while I gone for the evening:

 The fourth day I brought the "Welcome Home" banner to the bus stop and waiting for him when he got off.

The fifth day didn't get a picture.

I was just going to have it be the first week but the Bishop told Remy "It won't last" so now I feel like I should keep it going plus it's fun. We'll see...

I am so thankful that Remy has this job and that he is able to work to provide for our family. He is such an amazing man and I am so grateful for all the things he does. 

Me ... And a gun ... and a man ... on the floor

Today is Father’s day. Today we honor those men who brought us into being. Fatherhood is a blessing, an learning experience, a test of endurance, patients and character. For some it might even seem like a curse at times. We have fathers who are tough (but fair, right?), and we have fathers who spend their entire lives devoted to the well-being of their families. Then there are some fathers who just beat their kids to instill discipline, or because the bottle or stress tell them to, but don’t worry, this isn’t one of those stories. No matter what kind of father we have, we often take the opportunity to regale anyone who will listen with amusing, tragic or sweet anecdotes of fatherly life-shaping which helped mold us into the people we are today.

            I’m going to take that tradition to heart. So join me will you?

My dad was once an auxiliary RCMP officer and – as I only today found out – a shooting instructor. So I thought, what better way to honor my father than by telling the story of my first memory of him. It all began with two big guns and two dead men,  and it ended with a lesson that has followed me all my life.

I am a six-year-old boy, playing innocently in my dad’s office. He is an auxiliary police officer. I love the crisp smell of the uniform.  Dad would go out and take down the bad guys like a movie hero. I know I shouldn’t be in here, but I am very curious. Dad keeps two enormous guns in an unlocked plastic box. I want to touch them. I want to feel their weight and play with their moving parts. I want to take down the bad guys just like dad.

The guns slide easily out of their foam cushions.  To my tiny hands, they are like two great cannons. Big boomers that can stop evil people. One is slightly larger than the other. It’s a 357, and I can’t hold onto it! But the other fits in my little hands snugly. It’s a 38 special! Now  I am Officer Remy Chartier; bad guys beware!

Two gangsters attack me from the open door. Boom! Boom! They’re dead. Their blood will get the carpets all icky. Sorry, mom. Another jumps through the open window. Boom! Back out the window with you, scoundrel! One huddles under the desk. “Mercy! Mercy!” he shouts.

“You’re under arrest!” I say. “Hands behind your head! One false move and I’ll shoot!” He obeys, and I slap the cuffs on him. He’s going to jail for the rest of his life!

Boom! A bullet hits me in the side. Luckily I wear a bullet-proof vest. I spin around. Another gangster stands in the open door pointing his gun at my head. Where did he come from? The hall must have softened his footsteps. I try to run. But I can’t move fast enough! Boom! He shoots me in the head, and for a moment I stumble around like Chucky when he was still human and the cops shot him at the beginning of Child’s Play. Am I bleeding badly? I think I might be. As I stumble around, my head hits the corner of Dad’s desk. It hurts so bad! I am suddenly just a six-year-old boy again, blearily peering down at the gun that, nine years later would very nearly put a bullet between my eyes for real.

Dad calls me into his office later that day, and I know I’m in big trouble. He had the guns sitting on his desk. I can’t see his expression, but I don’t have to. He makes me sit down.

“You been playing with Daddy’s guns?”

“No.”

Of course I said “no”. I was just a child, playing childish games. I don’t remember the conversation my dad and I had that day, but one very important lesson was born from it. My dad told me: “A gun, even an unloaded one is a tool, not a toy.”

I have never forgotten such a simple, yet practical lesson. I detest firearms. Not because they are tools used for killing, but because of the sheer arrogance and finality they bring about. Through the years, I’ve seen that the way of the gun leaves no room for survival. One who holds the gun can kill at a distance, and never get their hands dirty. It’s a cold and impersonal way to kill, and running is often futile.

I love you always forever Near and far closer together Everywhere I will be with you Everything I will do for you

Over the last few days Remy and I had a chance to celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary. Four years! It's been such an amazing experience. It has been so much fun celebrating this weekend and has been my favorite anniversary weekend extravaganza yet!

Thursday (May 24) was our actual anniversary and we kicked off with dinner on our deck. (sidenote: When I came home from being out Remy had my favorite flowers waiting for me, so that's actually what kicked it off.) We hung around the house for a bit before we went over to our friends Laura and Chris' house. They generously offered us a BOGO coupon to go see a movie (The Hunger Games- we read the series together so we thought it was fitting). We got to the movie theater (side note: We went to the 10pm showing because you know...WE CAN!), grabbed our snacks, hurried in (thinking we were late) only to find that we had the whole place to ourselves. It was so much FUN! I have never had that happen before. I mean I have had it come close with a late straggler ruining everything but this was a first. I was able to describe without whispering awkwardly in his ear, we were able to make inappropriately timed jokes, and yell out spoilers. Once we got home we sat on the couch and snuggled and talked. We talked about everything and laughed and just enjoyed each others company into the wee hours of the morning.

Friday- Ain't no party like a Chartier party because a Chartier party don't STOP! ( I mean I am a Zigler and we are known as the partiers!) ANYWAY so we continued the party on Friday evening. We got ready and snapped some pictures (and by some I mean like 50,000 but you will only see 2) and headed out for dinner.

We went to the Rendezvous (which we love!) and had fantastic food. We even got a free dessert once they found out it was our anniversary, bonus! We then walked down by the waterfront and stayed for the sunset. Isn't living by the ocean the best?
 

Once we came home we watched a show from our DVR (Touch) because some of us are too old to stay up for a movie (*cough* Remy *cough* Does anyone have a hard candy? I seemed to have developed a cough.) When the show was over we light some candles, popped open our non-alcoholic bubbly, and ate our traditional anniversary cake. After the cake was eaten we gave each other our anniversary gifts. We each wrote each other a letter and then read it.  Remy went first (of course I cried)

My Dearest Chelsea,

            Four years and more have come and gone since I knew I loved you. It’s hard to believe we’ve been through so much. In all honesty I can’t help but marvel that you’re still with me. I know you think I’m silly, but there it is. You’re everything I always dreamed of in a wife, and everything I never found in another person. No one has ever treated me with so much respect, love and kindness.

I know I’m not always the best at showing it, but I appreciate everything you do. From making our houses feel like homes, to taking me everywhere, to being someone I can talk to and rant at. All of it makes me realize how lucky I am. I only hope I mean half as much to you as you do to me.

I love all the little jokes and sayings we have which nobody else gets. I love that we can be a world unto ourselves one day, and good friends and adventurous wanderers the next. I know you don’t always enjoy those latter times in the moment, but they always make for amusing memories to reflect upon. I love that you are so patient and kind to everyone, even though I know sometimes you probably want to throw things at them.

            I am a better person after having met you. I can sense the changes within me, though I know I have a long way to go. You have helped shape me into someone closer to who I always wanted to be. You have taught me to express myself, to compliment, and to put other people first. Because of you, I am more confident and hopeful. I love you for all of that, and for just being you. I know this is only the beginning of our life together, and I look forward to the next four – the next forty – the next four thousand years.

With all my love,

Remy – your eternal husband.

And then it was my turn (and of course I cried)

To my dearest husband,

Four years! Isn’t that crazy to think about. Is some ways it seems to have gone by so fast and in other ways it feel like we’ve always been together, we’ve always been us.  This letter may have a few clichés but it’s only because I feel they really describe how I feel and they are going to come straight from my heart. I hope I am able to express to you how much I love you and how much you mean to me.

I love you more now than the day we got married. As I was growing up I knew I wanted to be married. I really really wanted to have a husband and home. I planned my wedding (oh dear heavens did I ever!) but I never once in the process forget that once the wedding was over I would be married. I found both of the ideas fun and exciting (the wedding and the being married).  I tried to prepare for marriage by learning homemaking skills and reading lots of ensign articles about what makes a good marriage. With all my preparation and planning (as with most things in life) I had no idea what marriage would really be like. I could never have imagined, certainly hoped but never imagined, that it would be so wonderful, so rewarding, and such a blessing in my life.

Throughout our marriage (well so far because it’s not like we’re done or anything) you have taught me so much.  I am constantly amazed at how much I am learning from you.  I am only going to touch on a few of those things in this letter but please know you have and still are teaching me so much. One of the most powerful lessons I have learned through being married to you is service.  You are so willing to do whatever I ask, always so willing to help me in any way you can, and always so willing to get me whatever I need. I knew that we would need to serve each other in our marriage but in my young selfish state I was worried “If I put his needs before my own, who will take care of me?”  I never should have worried because you have done the same. You are constantly putting my needs first and with both of us looking after each other it has made for a happy marriage. If we ever get asked what makes for a happy marriage I will tell them- service.

You have taught me how to become the woman I want be. This might sound a little strange but hear me out. As we both know, I have a gentle and sensitive personality. It’s simply how I was made and you recognize those qualities in me.  You not only recognize those traits but you let me be those. You have never belittled my sensitivity or made me feel less because of my gentleness.  You have allowed me to understand that those are my greatest strengths. Not every husband would. Not every husband would hold me as I cry when I think of the homeless people in the winter, or smile when I talk about something that has especially touched my heart.  You have allowed me to blossom as a woman and because of that I feel like I can more fully fill my role as a wife and someday mother.

You have also taught me to become a better wife. By being a kind and gentle husband it has made me want to be a kind and gentle wife. Even when we have moments where we encourage one another do improve on a behavior you are always so gentle and kind with me.  You make me want to be better.

Neither of us has seen a good example of how marriage is “suppose” to be and I love that we are winging it together.  I think so far so good!  I love you so much and I can’t wait to see how the rest of our lives turn out and where life takes us.  I hope we can keep learning from each other, learning about each other (crunchy peanut butter), and growing together.  I am so excited that I get to keep you for eternity!

Your loving wife

After we read our letters we reminisced about the last four years and made predictions about what our next year will look like. We still have a few things planned yet (like checker on Sunday) but so far it's all been amazing.
 

 Any great ideas on how we should spend our next one? I mean 5 YEARS!

P.S. When I was trying to figure out what song title to use for this post this song came on the radio while we were driving home from the waterfront. Fate? I think so!

I want to thank you

We're back (again). I've written about 100 different blog posts in my head in the last three months and then by the time I got to computer completely forgot them. does anyone else do that?

The last three months have been hard with recovering both mentally and physically. It took me a long time to feel back to myself in both respects but I am doing much better! I have tried to thank each of you individually but I also wanted to publicly thank everyone who came to our aid in our time of need. I can never express how much the cards, gifts, e-mails, meals, prayers, visits, talks, and kind words meant to Remy and I. Being away from our families is hard, we miss out on holidays, parties, visits, and help when we need it. It was such humbling feeling knowing there were so many of you who love us and were willing to step in. Remy and I are astounded and humbled by the people we are lucky enough to call our friends.

When the love came pouring in from so many amazing people, I felt so overwhelmed by it. I told my mom that I didn't feel like I deserved everything everyone was doing for us. She asked me what people need to do to deserve kindness from me. I quickly replied nothing! She then followed up with, but YOU have to earn it?

If I have to be away from my family you are exactly the people I want to surround myself with. I can never thank you (all of you) enough nor tell you how much it all meant to us. The whole experience has taught me so much and I feel like it really was something I needed to go through.

Some days I am totally fine and can talk about babies and pregnancy til the cows come home and some days seeing a mother with her baby can cause me to burst into tears. And I think that's fine, hard, but fine. I'm healing. I also don't mind talking about my pregnancy, it's something I went through and can relate to a lot of women while they are going through at least the first trimester. I hope it doesn't make too many of you uncomfortable when I bring it up. Some day I will even be able to commiserate about the whole 9 months!

Don't they know it's the end of the world? It ended when you said goodbye.

I’m going to write this post for a few reasons:

• ·         I want people to know why I am sad/depressed/different
• ·        I want my baby’s story written down
• ·         I have replayed it over and over in my head and I am hoping if I get it all down, I don’t have to try to remember it as often.
• ·         I don’t know what I am suppose to do, do I tell people and talk about it? Do I try to not make people uncomfortable? Which is better? What will help me the most in the long run? I just don’t know what to do.
• ·         Only my friend/family read my blog and I think it will be easier to tell the story once

*This is very graphic*

On Christmas day I knew I was pregnant. I hadn’t confirmed it with a pregnancy test so I didn’t want to tell Remy yet but I knew. We were staying with Remy’s mom and step-dad and I was trying to figure out a way to get out of the house to go buy one. My friend Laurie called and we planned for a shopping trip a few days after Christmas. This was my chance, I still had to figure out how I was going to get it without her knowing but I could figure that out later. I loved and enjoyed our shopping trip but it was definitely on my mind. I finally asked if we could stop by a drug store on the way home. I ran in and ran out (paying of course) with exactly what I needed. 

I nervously waited for morning when I could test. The little sign popped up right away and I was  shocked/surprised/excited! Remy was out shoveling so I very patiently waited for him to finish then I continued to wait while he drank the hot chocolate I made him, all the while I was bursting inside. I told him I had a surprise for him that I would give him in the bedroom. I had him close his eyes while I put an apple seed in his hand. Once he opened his eyes I told him that was how big our baby was! I was five weeks pregnant and due August 29! I luckily got everything on video.  Remy was in shock!

We spent the next while talking about OUR baby, planning, laughing, and reading everything we could about what was going on in there. I kept a journal every single day since the day I found out where I wrote my thoughts, fears, ideas, hopes, and pregnancy symptoms(so many).  I took pictures every week to chronicle my growing belly. I made sure to eat all the right foods, work out, and do all I could to take care of this little one. We decided to keep it secret until 12 weeks to be on the safe side (your risk of miscarriage goes down after the  trimester) and loved giggling together about the comments and conversations we had with other people. 

5 week apple seed

6 week sweet pea

7 week blueberry

9 week gumball

10 week prune

11 week garlic

February 14 was not only Valentine’s day for us but also the day we made our announcement video. We spent the evening shooting and editing and bubbling with excitement! We waited so long to share and we couldn’t wait.  The morning of Feb 15 marked my 12 week mark and off we sent the video to our families. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExypIbSSa68

We stayed by our computers anxiously awaiting the skype calls. Our moms were first, they were so excited and even cried a little. Remy’s dad sent us a lovely e-mail and Ashley messaged me on skype completely excited. My dad, step-mom, and little brother and sister were thrilled. Everyone couldn’t have been happier for us, even if they were a little upset we waited so long to share our news. 

Not an hour after the video was sent I started to have some brown spotting. I knew that it was normal and just took it easy and told myself I would just keep an eye on it. I was having a bit of cramping but again knew that it could just be my uterus growing and that it was normal.  As the day went on the spotting became heavier and even was tinged with bright red blood. I called my midwife and waited to hear from her. An hour and a half later she called and told me to come in right away. We hopped in the car and I drove us there. She tried to find the heartbeat and wasn’t able to so she told me she would call first thing in the morning to get me in for an ultrasound and for me to go home and rest.  When we came home I started cramping and it became extremely intense, I asked Remy to call someone to give me a blessing. I sat on the toilet and rocked back and forth, it was the only way to get some relief. Paul came and Remy quickly told him what was happening. I received the blessing and I knew I was going to lose our baby.  As I stood up to give Paul a hug I had an instant gush of blood. I ran to the bathroom. I was in so much pain, scared, and the blood kept gushing out. I was fighting my body, I knew what it was doing and I was trying to keep my baby in. I kept crying out, My baby! Remy and Paul called my midwife and were told to get me to the ER right away. I saw our baby. Our very tiny baby. The only way I know for sure is because of the little eyes. I called Remy in and showed him our baby. I didn't want to flush it but I didn't know what to do. That is the image I can’t get out of my head. Remy gave me some clothes to change into and Paul (I will never be able to thank him enough for everything he did for us that night) drove us to the ER. 

They showed me into an exam room and hooked me up to an IV drew my blood and then did an ultrasound. They found a little debris and asked me to come back the next day to get an ultrasound done with better equipment. I knew it wasn’t our baby so I didn’t get my hopes up.  I was on strict bed rest until my appointment. Paul had waited for us the entire time and drove us back home.  I called my mom and cried and cried. I wasn’t suppose to drive so I asked her if she could help find me a ride for my appointment. (She tried a few people and was able to get a hold of Leah who found a babysitter to be able to take us, I am so grateful to her.)  After a little ice cream, a chat with my mom, and some crying we decided to head to bed. 

The night was hard. I would sleep a little, wake up in excruciating pain, then go to the bathroom because of the gushes of blood and then repeat the process about every hour.  At about 7am Remy woke up and sat with me in the bathroom. I am so thankful he did because as I was sitting on the toilet I passed out. We were talking and the next thing I remember is waking up with my body slumped in Remy’s arms as he was shaking me awake. I woke up but felt so weak I was still slumped over on the toilet. Remy came in with some water, I was too weak to even hold the glass so he poured it in my mouth. He helped me get into bed. I was so cold, tired and weak and he held me to comfort me and help me get warm. We laid there talking (we weren't sure if I should sleep or not) until the next gush came. Remy helped me into the bathroom and I passed out again. Remy called the midwife after I came to and she told us to get our butts to the ER and call an ambulance.  We tried calling some people that live nearby and couldn’t get a hold of them. We then called Erica (Oma) and she said she could take us.  I took a few precautions to make sure I didn’t ruin her seats but I just had a feeling it wasn’t enough so I put down my coat before I sat down. 

When we got to the ER (a 5 minute drive at most) my coat had blood on it. We walked in and the nurse took my vitals and when I walked over to the other window to get my bracelet I saw that there was blood all over the seat I had been sitting on.  The nurse came over and asked me to stand so she could slip a towel under me.  When I stood gushes and gushes came out, my pants and underwear were so full and heavy with blood that they were slipping down. The blood was rushing down my legs and into my shoes and four golf ball size clots fell onto the floor through my pant legs. I was so scared. They had me get into a wheelchair and wheeled me back to the exam room right away while I cried.  They had me change and while I changed more clots fell onto the floor. The nurse was in there with me and had to throw my pants and underwear away because of the amount of blood. She was the most amazing nurse.  We told her we just told our families yesterday, she said “Oh and you even waited.” Yup, we waiting until we were in the “clear”. She told me that no one really understands unless they’ve gone through it and that unfortunately she had. She told me I needed to get a good support system of friends and family and that a lot of women have been through this and that I will be surprised who comes out of the woodwork to be there for me. She was amazing. They hooked me up to an IV and did an ultrasound where they still found the debris.  The doctor did a pelvic exam where he said “wow you weren’t kidding about the bleeding.” He found that I was dilated and that there was some debris stuck and that’s why I was bleeding so much, my body was trying to get rid of it. He showed me how much I was dilated with his fingers and that he was extremely surprised because normally women don’t come in dilated. He also told me that all I have to do is ask and they can get me pain medicine, I wish I would have. They had me clean myself up but I couldn’t keep up with the blood coming out and it was all over the floor. A tech came in to take some blood for tests and while she asked me to spell my name for her I passed out right onto her. The next thing I remember was laying down flat on the bed (I had been sitting up) surrounded by four nurses staring at me and calling my name.

My nurse (Jen) told me she was going to get the head nurse to allow me to stay in there until my ultrasound appointment.  Even with four blankets on I was freezing, especially my feet. Remy, my amazing husband, took off his socks and put them on my freezing feet.  Once, when I went to the bathroom, he made my bed. I was a little warmer after that.

After a while I was wheeled into the waiting room to wait for someone to come get me for my ultrasound. I sat and cried and drank water. Poor Remy hadn’t eaten anything at this point and I told him go get something but he didn't want to leave my side. I hadn’t had anything either, but they didn’t want me to just in case.

I was wheeled to my ultrasound and burst into tears. This moment was suppose to be wonderful. We were supposed to see our baby. I was suppose to look over to Remy and see him smile and for us to hold hands and be so happy to see our little baby on the screen bouncing around. That is what is suppose to happen at ultrasounds. But it was empty, completely empty, and as soon as I saw that I had to look away and cry. 

I was wheeled back to the waiting room to meet with the doctor. I was bleeding, in pain, and every time I looked at the mothers with their children and babies I cried. After what seemed like forever the doctor came and told me that my uterus was empty and that the OBGYN was going to meet with me. We waited again and while we waited my midwife called and told me that the OBGYN that was on call was a good doctor and to trust him. He finally came and met with Remy and I, I am so glad my midwife told me he was a good doctor because he was a complete jerk. He confirmed that I was empty and that a D&C wasn’t needed. I was so grateful.  He gave us the bare minimum of information and told us we could leave once my IV was out.

Jen came back to remove my IV (I left the hospital with seven poke-induced bruises). She gave us more information about what I would experience and what I should do ( and included instruction to have a movie marathon). I told her it was so strange to walk into a place with pants and walk out without any. She brought some mesh underwear (they are amazing!!) and some one size fits all scrub pants. Erica then came to pick us up.

We came home and called my mom, talked to my dad, my sister. I laid on the couch emotionally and physically drained.  The doorbell rang and at the door was Paul with salads and chicken. What a blessing!  I was trying to stay awake but I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I mean I fell asleep during Golden Girls! Who does that? While I was sleeping Leah was so kind to drop off some things I needed  and then my midwife came by to drop some things off.  

I am still exhausted, in pain, and emotionally drained. The hardest times are at night and when I'm alone. I know that it's going to take a long time to be okay again but I know I will be. I still cry all the time. I had bought these cute onesies as my first baby purchase. It's hard to have them in the house but I can't give them away, they were for my baby. MY baby was suppose to wear them. I can't imagine someones else's baby wearing MY baby's onesies, so Remy is going to pack them away for me. TV has been one of the only things that has helped. How strange is that, but it's true I just sit in front of it and zone out. I tried reading but my mind wonders and flashes all the images from the last few days. Talking is hard because I don't mean to but usually the conversation go back to my pregnancy and the miscarriage and when we aren't actually talking about it I'm thinking about it. Mostly I just need someone to come and sit with me while I watch TV and let me talk about it when I want and cry about it when I want and just be here.

Remy has been amazing, I honestly couldn't ask for a better husband. He has been my rock. He has been waiting on me, making me my soup and grill cheese sandwiches (the only thing I want to eat), listening to me, running to the store to pick things up, calling people for me, and bringing home flowers for me. He even moved our bed into the living room for me. I don't know what I would do without him.

Beautiful tulips Remy brought home.

Through all of this I truly do see the tender mercies of my Heavenly Father. There are so many thoughts, feelings, and fears running through me I have a hard time processing it all but the one thing I am sure of is that my Heavenly Father has a hand in my life and loves me and Remy. I want my baby but I know it’s just waiting for the right time to come to us and that we will be wonderful parents.

There goes the baker with his tray, like always The same old bread and rolls to sell

As many of you know, I have celiac disease. It's been a hard life change but it is getting easier. When people find out I have it I get many different responses. One of my favorite is "Oh I could never do that, I love _____ too much." I usually smile politely and make a comment but on the inside, on the inside I think "What do you think, I went down to the allergy store and said hmmm...which is it going to be? Oh I know! I'll pick gluten because it's in practically everything! That would really make my life easier." Honestly if that was the case I would probably have picked anchovies because I have never been to a baby shower/birthday party/Church activity where they were serving a giant anchovy.  

To help Remy understand a bit of what I was going through I did a comparison for him. It's like an alcoholic (carboholic) who is recovering but has to go to the pub (eat) three times a day and make the choice every time to not drink alcohol (gluten). I do feel better and that helps keep me motivated but I still remember how good everything is and I still crave it. Like a poptart, oh the unspeakable things I would do for a poptart! OR pizza rolls or...*wipes drool*  I also get people saying, "You should just cheat." It takes about 6 months for your (my) body to recover from one cheat.

Tanya holding our yummy gluten-free bread.

After all that complaining I must say I am very blessed to find out now because there are so many more options and alternatives than even a couple of years ago.  I have been so lucky to find things to replace most of the things I loved. My dear friend Tanya even helped teach me how to make my own bread so I can save money.  (A half loaf at the store costs $7.00!) I have also been so grateful to those many people who have gone out of their way to make gluten-free items so I can enjoy in the snack/dinner as well.

Semi-unrelated:
I was worried this would come off as too complainy but then I thought, well when the person that thinks that gets celiac then they can do it differently and be a much better person than I. That's my new attitude when I feel like I am being criticized or judged... "When you do ______ than you do it differently and you'll be a much better person than me."  Example I often get side-eyed when I get Remy to carry something and I don't have anything in my hands. He is my husband for heaven's sake he can carry stuff, ANYWAY so in my head I've been saying "When you have a visually impaired husband then you don't make him carry anything and you'll be a far better person than me."

Remy: 2011 - My Personal Retrospective

2011 has come and gone, and it's been a very productive and worth-while chapter in my life. I'm tentatively hoping I've at last found my calling in life, though I know much effort will be required on my part to achieve my full potential. But the future can wait a moment. For now, the past.

This year marked the appearance of my first published work, and it wasn't at all what I expected. In late 2010, I began working on a short documentary titled "Shining Forth: Prosperity". My aim was to make people think a little about what members of our society facing developmental and cognitive disabilities endure in the adult world. What do I mean by the "adult" world? A world where one must have a job and be self-sufficient. The documentary promoted the Farm at Cedar Woods, a non-profit organization aimed at providing such people with a variety of skills to be used in daily living and employment. In all honesty, I think we could all benefit from such a program. The documentary gained decent notoriety throughout Nanaimo, and even outside of Canada. I'm not sure of the end result - whether my efforts helped the farm or not. But the experience I gained was invaluable. Furthermore, it's lead to many subsequent opportunities.
In addition to "Shining Forth Prosperity", I also co-directed, wrote and starred in a public awareness film "Opening Doors", a short piece about art and accessibility for people with disabilities in Nanaimo. This film was a quite decent success, and the team I worked with were a great bunch of people. There is still work to be done even now, and it is my hope our message will reach many people.
This minor job led to a series of transcribing jobs which have provided me valuable experience and resume padding. The most interesting of these involves interviewing and transcribing the memoirs of an elderly journalist who has traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East. He's attended numerous events, from the Geneva Convention to various protests during the war of Vietnam, and well beyond. He's a fascinating man, and it is my pleasure to know, and provide this opportunity to him.
2011 also marked the year I achieved my very first A+ in a university course, and a 100% on a major assignment. I worked for a weak or so straight on an audio rendition of a novel I was writing. The result was a 10 minute audio book with some very nice music and effects. I've discovered I love this sort of thing. I love narrating and doing voices, even if I'm not able to read out loud. I love putting together soundscapes and having people really enjoy them. Everyone said my piece sounded very professional. I could definitely see doing this sort of thing for a living, be it for radio, audio books, or maybe game design. There is a university in London Ontario where I may have the ability to increase my understanding and talent. It bares looking into during this coming year.
Finally, my greatest achievement in 2011 happened in the middle of June. my beloved wife Chelsea and I finally had the unparalleled opportunity to visit the Vancouver LDS temple, where in a very sweet ceremony, we were sealed together as husband and wife for eternity, never to part. It's an inconceivable belief, even among fellow Christians. Essentially, it stems from our church's understanding that the bond between a husband and wife has the potential to stretch past mortality and into eternity. It's a truly beautiful concept, and the experience was unlike anything else. Words could not express my joy upon our sealing, but every so often I look at Chelsea and think "this is forever". And I know it's not an empty thought.
Many things happened this year - both good and bad. But these are the moments which stand out in my mind. Everything I've done, everything I've been through will be essential experience for the coming year. Because this year, 2012, everything changes.