tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9043849353717675782024-03-13T01:54:27.665-06:00the farmgirl diariesDawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-1500921604394514262015-03-26T10:26:00.003-06:002015-03-26T10:26:29.774-06:00We have mooooved!!Hi everyone!!<br />
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I am beyond thrilled to announce that the farmgirl diaries have now moved to a site of our very own! Please update your bookmarks to the link below to make sure you never miss an update again!!<br />
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<br />Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-1219671837998551742015-03-26T10:05:00.000-06:002015-03-26T10:05:05.274-06:00Follow me on Bloglovin<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6003071/?claim=jgs9b8rnbpk">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-54511470162139284162015-03-20T15:58:00.001-06:002015-03-20T15:58:58.586-06:00Spring!!!Happy 1st day of Spring everyone!!!!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dbgaoSiMOu7mVaJhsJut6tliz3JZrOyUOYqmhMMgaI6-EJtBqTnr5pg2LUAZEsQCTy2Qa7Affu4Cv2DBD6_J_W2V1pOJ2ITJC_6DWXgIztzZk9Mm7lwUeo_Y_-rTt5ZEt56jvEvoDipf/s640/blogger-image-1718305877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dbgaoSiMOu7mVaJhsJut6tliz3JZrOyUOYqmhMMgaI6-EJtBqTnr5pg2LUAZEsQCTy2Qa7Affu4Cv2DBD6_J_W2V1pOJ2ITJC_6DWXgIztzZk9Mm7lwUeo_Y_-rTt5ZEt56jvEvoDipf/s640/blogger-image-1718305877.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-5726964764601544332015-03-17T12:05:00.003-06:002015-03-17T12:10:03.058-06:00what I'm growing: Sunflowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am by no means a 'master gardener' but I do have a passion for growing fruits, vegetables and flowers here on our farm. Every Spring, the excitement builds as I begin planting seeds on my potting bench and watch them turn into seedlings, then plants to pot out in the garden for a late summer harvest that will feed our family and beautify our home.<br />
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A favourite annual of many gardeners is of course non other than the simple yet beautiful sunflower. It is a classic annual in the garden..it's big, it's bold and it truly is so easy to grow!<br />
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Last year I grew a sunflower patch in my garden that yielded 9' tall plants. I loved walking through there in the morning light as it made me feel so humbled and small. It always amazes me what can grow from a tiny little seed! Did you know the tallest sunflower on record is currently at 27'?! I would have LOVED to have seen that! </div>
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What is great about sunflowers is that they come in every size, perfect for every kind of garden whether that be a small plot, a container garden or a large field. There are dwarf sunflowers, doubles and they even come in a wide range of colours (Velvet Queen might be my favourite coloured sunflower - a dark, velvet-like shade of red)</div>
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During the summer months, sunflowers not only bring beauty to your garden, they also attract beneficial "friends" such as butterflies and bees. Of course attracting bees to your vegetable plot is a must to help pollination and as a gardener, you can't help but attract as many pollinators as possible! As a child I used to be afraid of buzzing bees in the garden but now I realize how beneficial they are and love hearing them work tirelessly collecting nectar. Wasps on the other hand...don't get me started!</div>
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Helianthus Annuus is native to North America and has been grown as a crop for some 5,000 years. At first, the plant only caught on in a modest way but so much has changed. Canada alone is a huge producer of sunflower oil and in many regions of our country you can see fields of golden sunflowers stretching as far as the eye can see from July thru to September. </div>
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Did you know that sunflowers are called as such not because they're shaped much like a sunburst but because the flower buds actually follow the sun? Turning East in the morning, to the South by noon and to the West by late afternoon. Once the flower starts to open, however, this "daily spin", stops and at maturity, most sunflowers will face Southeast.</div>
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When it comes to sowing these beauties, there are many different approaches (go with whatever works best for you!). Most often I recommend sowing the seeds 1" apart and 1" deep in well drained soil. Once the seeds begin sprouting, thin them down to about 2' for small/medium plants or 3' for tall, single-stemmed varieties. Full sun is best (obviously) and adding a bit of compost at planting time and watering in droughts is generally the only care you need to give them while they grow. If however you are looking for a prize winning bloom, feed them constantly and never let their roots dry out completely. </div>
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While I have grown sunflowers indoors for fun, I don't recommend doing this as sunflowers do not like any root disturbance while growing. The plants themselves grow rapidly but the flowers will not begin to bloom til mid-summer. If you are looking to have some for cut flowers, I recommend harvesting when the first few "petals" appear. Otherwise just leave them to do their thing in the garden.</div>
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I often will leave a few seed heads over the winter to help feed the birds that stay in our yard (we had quite a few this winter!!) but then chop them down in early Spring and resow them. However, oftentimes the seed heads will drop their seeds on their own and new flowers will start popping up in late May to early June!<br />
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Something I just learned last summer myself and I feel it's worth sharing is that sunflowers are allelopathic: their roots give off toxic properties that either prevent nearby plants from germinating or stunt their growth. This was proven to me when I planted a few varieties in my new zinnia bed. Every seed planted within 18" of the sunflowers never came up!! Lesson learned..</div>
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There are so many varieties of sunflowers out there for you to try and grow. Many hybrids offered are pollen free for cut flower use (florists) and their most attractive feature is that pollen won't fall (and stain your table setting, clothing etc) However the major disadvantage of this is that they produce far less seeds (some don't produce any!) therefore I like to plant a vast variety in my yard. </div>
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This year I will be growing at least 10 different varieties of sunflowers. My favourites at the moment are:</div>
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- Teddy Bear: a dwarf sunflower that produces fully double golden yellow plants</div>
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- Ring of Fire: this is a nod to my husband and his admiration of the "man in black", Mr Johnny Cash. It is a very different sunflower, a 5" pollen-less flower with bi-coloured petals</div>
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- Lemon Eclair: I am so excited for this new flower to begin producing in my garden this year! It is a delicious lemon coloured sunflower with a chocolate brown centre. Long, cactus like outer petals are grounded by a fluffy centre..very excited!!</div>
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- finally, I am also planting Vanilla Ice this Summer in my front flower beds to add height and also to use in flower arrangements for our farmhouse</div>
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So there you have it. My first edition of "what I am growing" in 2015. I hope you learned something new about these garden classics and I hope I have inspired you to throw a few of these seeds in your own gardens in 2015!! Happy planting everyone!</div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-34176602891627689212015-03-13T09:57:00.003-06:002015-03-13T12:46:43.600-06:00its the ups and downs..we have been home on the farm for a week now from our family vacation in Hawaii and life has been happening all around us. The weather has been unseasonably warm and I have soaked it up as much as one possibly could have, spending mornings letting the chickens out, cleaning their coop, raking leaves up from the beds and pulling foliage from cosmos and sunflowers for the compost pile. I excitedly planted my first tomatoes and flowers on my potting bench and stared thru the plastic dome like an excited child waiting by the oven for that fresh, hot chocolate chip cookie..waiting. We moved our farm machinery back to the yard for its yearly maintenance before we start seeding in a couple of weeks and even spent evenings out on the swing in t-shirts while dinners cooked on the bbq. Its Spring here on the farm..and I love it!<br>
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of course with all the excitement that life offers, so comes life's trials and challenges. this week Hudson is teething something fierce and my heart breaks for this period in his life. Two days ago, he began cutting 3 new teeth..all at once! his nose was running, drool trickled out from his sweet little mouth, a painful diaper rash erupted on his bottom and he was NOT happy!! My poor little baby is growing up!! Its exciting but challenging..</div>
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beyond the aches and pains of toddlerhood came even bigger heartbreaks for our family this week. My husbands grandma landed in the hospital near the tail end of our vacation with pneumonia and only recently was released. Then my mom let me know my uncle was hospitalized for stomach pains and was diagnosed with stomach cancer and is needing his entire stomach to be removed quickly. Then a text from my best friend about a personal heartbreak of her own...it was just one thing after another. People around me are hurting and I wish I could take that hurt for them and give them hope.</div>
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Then yesterday, I received a text from a very dear friend of mine that finally broke me. Her beautiful daughter, who just turned 1 last week and was born with down syndrome, has been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia. I was shattered. This family has already been through so much and this precious little girl..why? Why is this all happening? What is going on? I know its not for me to question the why's or the how's of this world but somedays I cannot help myself. Everyone is going through some form of struggle and I guess thats "just life"..whatever that means..</div>
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so here's to the ups and downs of life. the struggles and the victories. the hurt and the joy.</div>
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here's to life..</div>
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<br>Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-7653576099180543892015-03-09T04:30:00.000-06:002015-03-09T04:30:00.057-06:00the weekend lenswe arrived home on the farm Friday evening and I can't even explain to you how comforting it felt to pull into our yard. My dogs were happily barking and chasing our truck and I understood then how much this farm means to me. this weekend we were blessed with beautiful Spring-like weather, to which we played outside as much as we could. playing with our flock of chickens, cleaning up our yard from winter, swinging off the old tree, cooking meals on the bbq and getting my hands in the dirt to begin seeds again for this summers garden. the birds are happily chirping, the snow has almost disappeared (for now, at least) and our farm smells of musty earth and wet grass..I find myself looking for robins and meadowlarks..knowing that this could all too soon leave us for another wintry spell. but for now..I'm soaking up this sunny Spring weather. here's a look at our weekend thru my lens..<br />
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<br />Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-84089790090762073552015-02-28T09:00:00.000-07:002015-02-28T09:00:09.765-07:00The Farm Life Inspired Series - February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">oh that beautiful winter light..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">While many may complain about the cold bitterness of Winter, the photographer in me embraces it for its beautiful low light. I love how it sparkles off of freshly fallen snow and how it covers a frozen field in golden embers before tapering off for yet another evening. I find myself scurrying outside in the first and last hours of daylight just to watch it turn our farm from blue to pink to orange and yellow..there is no artist on earth who could ever outperform the prairie sky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What inspired me to snap this photo was how the Winter light could transform my morning walk to the chicken coop into something so beautiful and peaceful. I walk this farm every morning to take in the beauty that surrounds us in the country and in the winter? A fresh cup of coffee is a constant companion..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please continue on to view Lisa and Laurie's entries for this month</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">new here? click <a href="http://dawn-cosgrove.blogspot.ca/2015/01/farm-life-inspired-january.html" target="_blank">here</a> to read all about the farm life inspired series</span></div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-37919627104652190922015-02-09T05:00:00.000-07:002015-02-09T05:00:10.720-07:00Garden Book Review: Groundbreaking Food Gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday, I opened every window at our farmhouse and let the warm breeze inspire me to start thinking about my 2015 garden. I wandered thru our farm in my Hunter wellies and caught myself thinking it was actually April! But since it isn't, I did the next best thing...I ordered seeds from my 2015 catalogues and I started rereading my favourite gardening book of 2014: </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Groundbreaking-Food-Gardens-Change-Garden/dp/161212061X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423442493&sr=1-1&keywords=groundbreaking+food+gardens" target="_blank">Groundbreaking Food Gardens</a></div>
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this book is truly worth the cost and covers every type of food garden you could possibly imagine. Have a small patio but want to grow some food yourself? This book has you covered. Want to preserve your Summer harvest? This book has you covered. It gives you 73 plans for every type of garden you could ever want. Heirlooms, potagers, gardening with chickens, herb gardens..the list goes on!</div>
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I read about this book before it came out while reading a 2013 issue of Canadian Gardening. The author of the book, Niki Jabbour is Canadian (but don't let that stop you if you are American!) and she has garden plans for every type of garden. I personally love the illustrations to give you a better idea of the setup she had envisioned when creating all of the garden plans..<br />
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In this book, every garden plan is its own "chapter". I use that word lightly of course because it covers 73 plans and is 262 pages in total (basically 3-4 pages per plan) but you get a summary of what that "chapter" entails, tips and thoughts on each garden plan and illustration (as above) as well as a detailed planting list as well as a detailed illustrated garden plan broken down into sections.</div>
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My personal favourite chapters are: Culinary Herbs for Beginners, Eggs & Everything, Backyard Orchard, Canners Garden, Vintage Victory Garden, Vertical Vegetables and even a Cocktail Garden (!!)</div>
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So if you are in the mood for a new gardening book to inspire you this growing season..I highly recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Groundbreaking-Food-Gardens-Change-Garden/dp/161212061X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423442493&sr=1-1&keywords=groundbreaking+food+gardens" target="_blank">Groundbreaking Food Gardens</a>!!</div>
<br />Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-66119528958461382262015-02-08T16:18:00.001-07:002015-02-08T16:21:03.627-07:00the week in farm photos - February 2nd to February 8thHappy Sunday, friends!!!<br />
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This was a crazy good week for us here at the farm!! We honoured & celebrated my dads life on the 2nd anniversary of his death on Tuesday, on Wednesday we celebrated 31 years of my life (I still feel 25, is that odd?!?), we have had snow this week, rain, and sunshine..everything has been thrown at us but one thing is for sure - it definitely feels like Spring today and I am LOVING it!! A few weeks back, Adam left for the city while Hudson and I watched over the farm solo. It was a good week but I ended up having one too many problems with a few coyotes so I asked Adam to teach me how to properly load, carry and shoot a firearm..and this week we finally got to it! I'd say for a newbie that my aim was pretty dang good ;) Today we culled the last 2 roosters from this Springs hatching..its been a long time coming and today just felt like the day! We have been wandering around outside with our rubber boots on and light jackets. I have all the windows open in our farmhouse and I am dreaming of Spring! Today I ordered seeds and made plans for my clothes line and cutting gardens..have I mentioned I love living on a farm? Or Spring? or gardening? 'cause I do! I really, really do!! Here's a small peek at life here this week..<br />
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it never fails..the skies over our farm get me every time!!</div>
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this little man marked 1 month post op this week and I couldn't be more proud of him and his recovery..such strength babies have!!<br />
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as mentioned above..this week I learned how to properly shoot a rifle..I don't appreciate coyotes going after my chickens one bit and this should help!!!<br />
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not bad aim for a former city girl, eh?<br />
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my ladies have ramped up production and this week I sold my first 10 dozen eggs..so excited!!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">the stores are stocking up on tulips and I am biting the bullet hard these days..love filling our farmhouse with fresh signs of Spring!!</span></div>
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most definitely the biggest part of this week is that my farmer has been taking a <i>lot</i> of time out to work on a big, very special project that is just for little old me...anyone want to take a guess as to what that might be?!? (photo below is your hint!! More to come soon!)</div>
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so that was our first full week of February! As I type this the wild birds are chirping on all four sides of our home, the sun is slowly setting and I am enjoying a cup of tea and taking in the beauty of this Sunday..hope you all enjoyed your weekends!!! Here's to another full week on the docket...Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-75070654590002266432015-02-06T11:31:00.001-07:002015-02-06T11:31:01.742-07:00plans for preserving the harvest - 2015I have been thinking a lot lately about the direction I would Iike to see this blog take in the future. I know I haven't been the best at keeping this space updated these last couple of years but oh how I love this place. Taking a quiet moment out from our busy life here on the farm to write and update has always felt so special to me and I cannot tell you how immensely passionate I am for this life I live out here in the country! Reading a new comment or hearing from readers always makes my day and I want to continue to inspire and share with you all as life continues here at Cosgrove Farms!<br />
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My hopes is to have the farmgirl diaries be a hub of farmlife inspiration for you. Whether it be posts about farm life in general, farming operations, the farmhouse, the farm garden, recipes and canning and of course the farms feathered and furry creatures! I would love to hear from you about what you would like to read about more often or even learn!!<br />
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This year I really want to preserve more of my own harvest here from the farm garden. I have been going through all of the new seed catalogues with excitement and planning up new plans for a new garden space (more on that soon!) and have been reading through all of the canning cookbooks I purchased in the last few years but have yet to actually preserve from. Then I thought well maybe I could blog about canning as well! But then I was feeling silly thinking, "well how can I write blog posts about canning when I barely put up much of my own?" Sure I make dill pickles every year and my homemade raspberry jam last Summer is still causing cravings..but what about preserving the rest of the harvest? So here's the deal. This year I am going to learn everything I can about putting up the garden..and I am going to share it all with you right here on the blog. Every failure and success..and hopefully there will be more success than not but hey, we've just got to start, right?<br />
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So last night I went through my books and marked out my favourite recipes using produce I know we will enjoy. I am not wasting my time on preserving things we won't eat..ain't nobody got time for that!! But what we do have time for are things like: dilly beans, pickled asparagus, vanilla-rhubarb jam with earl grey (!!), salsa, boozy canned peaches, pickled beets, tomato sauce, tomato juice..ack I am so excited!! Below are the cookbooks I will be preserving from (as seen above as well)<br />
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Personally, my favourite books are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canning-New-Generation-Flavors-Modern/dp/1584798645/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423247301&sr=1-1&keywords=canning+for+a+new+generation" target="_blank">Canning for a new Generation</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Jars-Preserving-Batches-Year-Round/dp/0762441437/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423247351&sr=1-1&keywords=food+in+jars" target="_blank">Food in Jars</a></div>
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My list above of things I will be attempting to make this Summer are recipes found in either of these.</div>
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I can't even tell you how excited I am for this year..so many exciting things planned for the horizon!!</div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-69056889208401141952015-02-05T11:20:00.004-07:002015-02-05T11:20:47.316-07:00i carry your heart..<div style="text-align: center;">
you guys!! I am beyond humbled and honoured to announce my latest collaboration with fellow moms/professional photographers..</div>
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<a href="http://icarryyourheartblog.com/" target="_blank">i carry your heart</a></div>
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who are we?</div>
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please join us every Thursday for the latest collaborations from the heart!!</div>
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<a href="http://icarryyourheartblog.com/" target="_blank">i carry your heart</a></div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-74530654686865595072015-02-04T23:05:00.001-07:002015-02-05T11:15:43.236-07:00..hello february..<div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">it has already been a whopper of a month..and we are only 4 days in! On Monday, Adam left for the city again, leaving Hudson and I to watch the farm for one night. We made it through our days together and that night, I did a lot of thinking..</span></div>
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that night was the eve of my dad's 2nd anniversary being gone and well, it wasn't pretty. it wasn't awful either but it was my chance to get some thoughts out while I was alone for the night..a kind of cleansing, if you will. It was needed and raw and actually kind of perfect.</div>
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then yesterday we all quietly remembered dad and felt the absence just a little more than usual. as my mom said, it doesn't get any easier. but just like the precious two years leading up to it..we made it through. Adam came home from the city and we celebrated my dad with a dinner that reminded me of him and an ice cold beer..just what Daddio would have ordered himself ;) it's funny..so many people have made the comment that they wouldn't know what they'd do if they were me and had lost a parent themselves (or another loved one). The truth is..you really never know until it happens to you. Everyone deals with loss differently..I choose to celebrate my dad's memory often and grieve him quietly when a little darkness slips in from time to time. But mostly..we celebrate</div>
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then on Wednesday..I celebrated another year of my life. It wasn't a milestone by any means but 31 is definitely something to celebrate! We spent a really lovely day together as a family on the farm. The weather turned the coldest it's been in quite some time but the sun shone brightly with nary a cloud in the sky..I soaked every minute of it up! We went for a nice lunch, had a really yummy supper, I made a big wish before blowing out all 31 candles..</div>
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and then we ended our evening over at the theatre in my inlaws' home. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better day than the one I was given today. It was me and my boys..all I ever wanted ;)</div>
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so yeah..a full week already..a full MONTH! And it's only just begun!!</div>
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this week I watched the series finale of Parenthood (oh how I will miss it) as well as watched the movie, The Judge (have you seen it? Oh you need to!) for my birthday. then I sat down and thought about how these two shows were very similar in many ways..they revolved around the story of family and life moving forward and they've really resonated with me. As I was thinking about all I have taken in with those shows I also started to think about how these last 2 years have unfolded for me and what I have done for them. There were highlights and lowlights of each one but when I really think about it..I wasted them. I wasted a good two years of my life letting fears hold me back, worrying about what was happening in someone else's yard and fretting over what somebody thought of my parenting, my actions, my words. All..wasted. And I'm not going to do it anymore. My time here is worth everything to me. My family..my boys..they are my world. And that's all there is at the end of this...trust me</div>
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So here's to not holding back. Here's to loving without abandon and not apologizing for any of it. Here's to living this one precious life for all it's worth..</div>
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2015..you will be my best year yet..</div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-36432533296209347562015-02-03T05:00:00.000-07:002015-02-03T05:00:07.362-07:00..remembering..<div style="text-align: center;">
today marks two years since my dad's passing from colon cancer. time has gone so fast and most days it feels like he has been gone for what feels like forever, while other days he still feels "here". I have his photograph in our home and i pause often just to think of him and wonder what piece of advice he could give me on my pathway thru this life.. lord knows I have wanted his advice many, many times since he's been gone..</div>
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i celebrate his life eagerly today, and every day. he wasn't a man who would have wanted any less. each day was a gift to him and he was sure to pass on that belief to everyone he'd meet. he was joyful..he <i>loved</i> life..and even in his last days he said he wouldn't have changed a thing. how many of us could say the same?! lately i have been thinking of what i have taken from his death because, well, losing someone like that so early has to mean something, no? and no, I don't have it all figured out..some days i'm merely scrambling to pick up the pieces of the day but what i do know for sure is that life is short..way too short. it's too short to hold on to things from the past and its definitely too short to waste your time worrying about what might happen someday in the future. </div>
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what i do know is that last night, i stood watch over his grandson while he slept in his crib, as I do every night..and i worried that hudson wouldn't know his maternal grandpa and what i shame that was but then I realized that no.. my dad <i>does</i> know him and, through me, hudson will know who he was as well...a person of strength, love and light..</div>
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today I raise my glass to you daddio and i thank you for allowing me the privilege to have been your daughter. you were taken far too soon, although I truly believe no length of time would have ever been enough..</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">..forever and ever..my daddy you'll be..</span></div>
Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-13132161515267752342015-02-01T05:00:00.000-07:002015-02-01T05:00:00.084-07:00and then winter came back..Friday night we enjoyed a golden hour so lovely, I actually believed Spring was around the corner. We went out for a walk and put Hudson in his still-too-big rubber boots and tried to show him how to splash in the little puddles..it felt like a dream and I absolutely soaked every minute of that evening with my boys up..<br />
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and then we carried on with our evening routines until, eventually, we fell deep asleep..</div>
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...and woke up to Winter</div>
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yes I knew it was still January and yes I knew we were still in the midst of Winter..but for 2 glorious weeks it felt like April around here and, I have to say, I was getting quite used to the 'no jacket required' weather! But it has now been snowing for 24 hours straight and things are looking a little bleak here on the farm once again..</div>
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... well, the Spring-like weather was fun while it lasted...hello old man Winter, once again...Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-53048302113616264582015-01-31T08:03:00.001-07:002015-01-31T19:02:37.270-07:00Farm Life Inspired | January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new project that I am beyond excited about!! This past fall I was contacted by <a href="http://bountycreek.ca/blog-3/" target="_blank">Lisa</a>, a fellow Saskatchewan farm wife/photographer about creating a blog circle in 2015 that would invite you all in to our world as farm wives in the Canadian prairies. Her first email caught my attention immediately and I have been excited for this endeavour ever since! And now that 2015 is here, I welcome you with open arms to the Farm Life Inspired Series!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Each month, on the last day of the month, we will be sharing an insiders view of life on a Saskatchewan farm through our lenses. Our collaborations span from my Southwestern corner of Saskatchewan to the Southeast and Central areas of our province. Our hope is to give you a unique perspective of real working farms and daily farm life from across the great province of Saskatchewan! You will see a range of monthly topics in the series from prairie landscapes, to farm life, gardening, recipes, farm house, kids and of course the farm's furry critters!</span></div>
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<i>*I will be making some changes on my blog this month to create a new page for these monthly collaborations, so be sure to look for a link in my sidebar soon *</i></div>
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I moved to our farm in the Summer of 2011 from Alberta and had no idea how much this lifestyle would change me. My roots are now dug in deep to this land we call home and I am proud to call myself a farm wife living in the 'land of living skies'. When we go back in to the city to visit my family, I feel myself yearning for the quiet of the country. The drive home that entails concrete giving way to the open fields feels freeing and ever so inspiring. Our life is simple yet beautiful. We work hard and we love every minute of it! </div>
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When asked what it is about farm life that inspires me - my answer is always the same. Its the simplicity of it all. Living out here you get to witness mother nature at its prime. You can witness a sunrise for miles without interruption, you can tend to the lives of your animals and teach your children where there food comes from, you reap what you sow and you grow the food that feeds the world...I find every day out here to be a blessing worth photographing.</div>
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This month we are each sharing <u>one</u> photo that shows how farm life inspires us. For myself, this photo is absolutely a favourite from this past Fall. It sums up life here on our farm for me..which is witnessing a beautiful sunrise right after I let my chickens out for the day. Scenes like this one inspire me to capture our lives here on the farm whether its a walk with my boys down a country road, handing out treats to my lively flock or soaking up the sun drenched fields of a harvest afternoon. Farm life on the prairies is so uniquely beautiful and I cannot wait to share it with you through this collaboration!</div>
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Thank you all so much for joining me here today, I cannot tell you how honoured and excited I am to be a part of this group of wonderfully inspiring farm wives! Speaking of which, please join me in welcoming our next contributor in the Farm Life Inspired Series -<a href="http://www.laurieannphotography.com/farm-life-inspired-series-january/" target="_blank"> Laurie Johnson</a></div>
Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-79780544474792081892015-01-30T21:33:00.001-07:002015-01-31T19:03:16.586-07:00Be sure to check back tomorrow..<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br />Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-83461117767928754002015-01-30T12:15:00.001-07:002015-01-30T20:13:15.611-07:00heading homeWe left for the city last Sunday with plans of making the big trip for Hudson's post op head scan last a total of 2 days away from the farm. Due to a series of unfortunate events at the passport office, we were held up in the city until today and I cannot tell you how much I hate having lost these last 3 days at home.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hudson's head shape before/after</span></div>
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My friends..it has taken me 4 years to finally feel this kind of comfort but it's official: the farm is now truly my home. The city no longer beckons me. We have put down roots and I have let mine dig deep on our farm. It's the home I brought my little baby boy back to. The "four walls" of our farmhouse have housed me in ways unimaginable. They have sheltered me, comforted me, watched me laugh and cry and never once crumbled when my own body wanted to. They have witnessed numerous streams of morning light with endless cups of coffee and 13 months of bedtime routines. Home is a beautiful thing, isn't it?</div>
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As I write this out we are currently enroute back to our farm. We left the city in a blanket of cold fog which has given way to the warmth of sunshine on my face and endless open space. As the concrete gives way to open fields I feel lighter, happier and inspired. My son is sleeping quietly behind me, my husband is quietly whistling along to his 60's on 6 channel and I am taking in this moment of pure bliss. No worries..no concerns..just heading back to home sweet home...</div>
Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-57432525395984206162015-01-23T15:27:00.003-07:002015-01-23T15:27:42.225-07:00this morning on the farmyou guys!!! It's mornings like this one that happen mid-winter but have me dreaming of Spring. The sun is shining without a cloud in sight, the birds are chirping like crazy and the temperature is hovering above zero. I found myself putting Hudson down for his morning nap then grabbing my camera and heading outside to let the chickens out for the day and go exploring with my boys. I feel so much better about life in general when I am outside. The fresh air and quiet of living in the country feed me in ways I'd never imagined before.<br />
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This morning was so bright and cheery that I just had to capture it..hope you enjoy a glimpse of my exploration on the farm..<br />
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<span id="goog_1895651899"></span><span id="goog_1895651900"></span><br />Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-3021247250761694002015-01-19T07:14:00.000-07:002015-01-19T07:27:02.852-07:00Cottage GardenThe flowers have long been pulled, the frost is now thick on the ground and winter has made itself comfortable in our neck of the woods. So naturally, my thoughts turn back to Summer! While I absolutely adore all of our seasons, Summer holds a special place in my heart because I get to do what I love.. grow things/play in the dirt and be surrounded by beauty in nature. I am a gardener at heart and honestly? I come by it quite naturally..<br />
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This past Summer I spent a few afternoons in one of my favourite spots: my aunty's cottage garden in the city. To me, there is really no better way to spend a sunny afternoon then on her patio under the umbrella, sipping water flavoured with homegrown herbs & fruit and taking in the beautiful oasis she has created for herself these past few years.<br />
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My aunt has always been a garden inspiration to me..well, actually, she has always been an inspiration to me..period! She is so full of life and laughter and wise beyond her years. She has always felt like the centre to our family and someone I have looked up to my entire life. So when I popped in this past Summer with my mom and Hudson, you know I had to quickly snap up her garden!! These photos don't even do it justice, I'm afraid. But, nevertheless..please enjoy this little tour of my aunt's cottage garden in the city..<br />
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Thank you guys for stopping by today!!<br />
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xo,<br />
DawnDawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-18903284368003578982015-01-10T17:28:00.000-07:002015-01-10T17:33:25.377-07:00Post Op - Day 4As I write todays' post, I am stretched out on my mothers couch, Adam stretched out on the other and Mr Hudson is fast asleep in his crib at grandmas. I can hardly believe it but yes, we were released early this morning from the hospital! I can't quite wrap my head around all of this just yet..it seems a blur to me to have gotten from Wednesdays heartache of giving him up for his surgery to now having him sleeping soundly at my moms. Truly, truly grateful.<br />
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Last night Hudson went down at 8:30 and was given a little Tylenol at 10:30 then slept thru the night happily and without any other medication. You guys..that's just 2 days post cranial surgery and my superhero was sleeping like a champ!! He woke up around 6 am, smiling and happily playing with us. His eyes were slowly opening back up and although he is still so swollen, he looks amazing!<br />
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After being looked at by the neuro team and the discharge team of nurses, we were given the okay to head on home! I can't tell you how fast that room was picked up and cleaned out! We were ecstatic to say the least!!<br />
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We hadn't even left Calgary before the little man fell fast asleep in his car seat. When he was awake though he was babbling and giggling and it made my heart skip a beat to hear those noises again. My little man, although he'd been through so much, didn't show it [minus the incredible incision along his hairline.]<br />
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To be honest, what the surgeons did was absolutely amazing and I know that once the swelling goes down, the change will be remarkable. Yet, I do catch myself staring at him often. His personality is the same, his mannerisms are the same..yet, when I look at him? I don't see my baby. I don't see the little boy I gave birth to. And that breaks this mommy's heart. Yes his blue eyes are coming back to me but his face is wide and I don't know..right now I miss his old head..even though I know it needed to be fixed, to me he was perfect just the way he was. But I know everything will be fine once the swelling goes down in a few weeks. And all will be as it should!<br />
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As for us, we're laying low for a day or two at my moms before venturing off on the road again to home. We'll stick close to a hospital here for a couple of days but then I am so excited to get him home and start the process of recovery!<br />
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And a little note to each and every one of you..my heartfelt gratitude cannot be put into words for how your support has comforted us this past week. We have read each and every message online and are blown away by the community of support we have from friends and family near and far. You helped us get through this week and words will never express how grateful I am. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!<br />
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Once I get home, I will post some photos of this last week up here on the blog as we progressed from before surgery up to his post op updates!! Check back soon and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend<br />
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XoDawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-75586097736074019492015-01-09T16:40:00.001-07:002015-01-09T20:39:53.992-07:00Day 3They are starting to take the Christmas decorations down here around the hospital. I noticed it as I walked passed all the units to grab a change of clothing for Adam & I. To me, it was a symbol of putting December away for the year..a month of fears and worries and finally moving on to a bright new year. It made me utterly hopeful. I have been feeling overwhelmed these last few days..the weight off our shoulders has given me time to relax and finally feel all the emotions properly. I can't tell you how lucky I feel. Everything has gone so smoothly, the doctors and nurses have been amazingly kind to all of us and each time I grab my phone, it's filled with messages of love and support. I truly don't know how we became so blessed.<br />
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Last night was another good night for us. Hudson's swelling had peaked and he looked something out of a movie. It breaks my heart to see him like this bit it amazes me how well he is handling it! Can you imagine waking up with a searing pain in your skull and not being able to see or communicate anything? How would you handle it? I guarantee you I wouldn't have a tenth of the grace Hudson has. He's resilient and strong and blows me away at every cornerstone.<br />
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We had another super night shift nurse who worked swiftly and quietly and barely woke us each time she came in to check on Hudson. Hudson only cried if he was being bugged by a nurse a little too much but mostly he would sleep or quietly play with his eeyore. At one check in, the nurse found Hudson on his belly, at the end of the crib! Our boy is coming back to us ;)<br />
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This morning Hudson has been sitting up and playing lots. His eyes are starting to open a little bit and he's able to see us again and follow us around the room. He's eating solids a little at a time and being spoiled on apple juice often. Babies, you guys...are simply amazing!<br />
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It seems as though every hour Hudson's swelling has reduced little by little. By 11:30, you could see both eyes, slivers still but it was the baby blues none the less! He wanted to sit up and play and loved following us around with his eyes, taking in the room for the first time ever.<br />
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After lunch, the last of his lines were finally removed! Gone was the morphine and the endless beeps of monitors, our boy was free at last! First thing we did was put one of his favourite sleepers from home on him and carry him to the window to look out unto the world. Ever so slowly we are feeling normal again and it makes me want to burst with happiness!<br />
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At lunch today, Adam and I sat and talked about everything we have gone thru in our short 3.5 years of marriage and when we asked each other if we knew then what we know now, would we have chosen differently? The answer was a resounding NO. Our life is real. It's imperfect and messy and beautiful..it's ours and every day it leaves us feeling exhausted but happy..and isn't that what life should be about? Facing the obstacles head on and focusing on what's good and right.<br />
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As I write this, Adam is singing Hudson to sleep and the hospital is silent. Rumours are floating of a possible discharge tomorrow already and, although caring for him on our own does worry us a bit, I am so so excited to get him home and on to the road of recovery. 2015...we are ready!<br />
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ETA: Hudson went down for a nap around 5:00 pm and Adam and I headed down for supper while grandma stood watch. When we arrived back up in our room, we were greeted by a much wider eyed boy who was playing, smiling and intent to see everything he could. Tonight has been such a turnaround point in our journey. He's now on Tylenol every 4 hours and Advil every 6..that's it! Major cranial surgery 2 days ago and my boy is thriving on Tylenol..wow<br />
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Now he's settling in for the evening, curious to see how the night goes as it'll be his first without morphine (or monitors!) the nurse will be in at midnight & 4 am but won't have to wake him so, here we go! The end of day 3 and all I can say is this journey has been amazing and humbling. Here's to hopefully being released tomorrow before his FIRST BIRTHDAY on Sunday!!Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-11310866595566754052015-01-08T20:01:00.000-07:002015-01-08T20:01:39.617-07:00Post Op Day 2Well, we are in the thick of the swelling and the little man is handling things way better than I ever imagined possible! Last night was pretty good overall, Hudson woke up every couple of hours either wanting a bit more medication or really, just wanting to kick and move and have a little late night party! How he is handling the pain is indescribable, my boy really is a trooper!! This morning we were up and the swelling was really starting to show. Hudson could still open his eyes but his facial features were getting wider by the hour. When the nurse offered for me to hold him, I didn't hesitate. Nothing would make me happier than calming him down in my own arms<br />
We settled into a recliner and, within minutes, Hudson was asleep and finally peaceful. Knowing I could provide that kind of comfort to him was all I needed today. By this point though, Hudson's swelling had increased enough that he could now barely see and was going more by sound and touch. He'd fixate on things he could see through the slits of his eyes and he started revealing bits and pieces of his usual personality, almost to let us know that he was still in there, still with us.<br />
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Shortly after we were settled, we were notified that they had a bed for us up on the neuro post op floor and began the process of moving him from one crib to another and taking us upstairs. I was ecstatic to see we had yet another private room, this time with our own bathroom (and shower) and a window.. Finally we could witness the outside world again!! When Hudson (hopefully) opens his eyes again tomorrow, I cannot wait to show him our view of the mountains!!<br />
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As for the rest of the day, it was pretty quiet and went by fairly quickly. Hudson slept for most of the day or else played with his feet and found his favourite stuffy, eeyore was waiting in his crib to snuggle with. The pain meds are still low and steady and the nurses expect his swelling to peak tomorrow and hopefully by the end of the day he'll be able to see us again!<br />
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Once his swelling dissipates, the morphine will be cut back steadily and we'll be looking at a releasal possibly Saturday already, if not then Sunday..which we'd consider either one a birthday gift to the little guy himself ;)<br />
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Other than that..nothing much to report! The surgeon came in and was very happy with Hudson's progress as are all the nurses who get to come in and be entertained by our little mans grunts and squeals. It's hard for us to see him like this, he is so swollen he is barely recognizable. Feeling so grateful for his little gestures that show us he's still here with us, just hidden under layers of fluid and swollen skin.<br />
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I can't tell you how lucky we feel. Maybe that's an odd comment coming from parents sleeping at a hospital with our baby but, it's true! We are the luckiest people alive today..our boy flew through his surgery and is now recovering like a pro! We have a huge support group around us and with us and a family that loves Hudson and us fiercely. What more could anyone want?<br />
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Thank you all again for your love and support..you have no idea what it has meant to us!<br />
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I will post photos of this week once we are home on the farm again. For some reason blogger for iPhone isn't up to par these days and not allowing photos to be posted!!Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-68905531105966261682015-01-07T21:26:00.000-07:002015-01-07T21:26:30.736-07:00Operation DayYou guys..we made it through to the other side of surgery today! Words cannot express how grateful I am for each and every one of you. Your messages, your thoughts, your prayers...all of it. The build up to this day was excruciating. The research, the appointments, the fears, the guilt..and then last night a peace came over us..we felt calm for the first time since November. We trusted our team of doctors and we knew there was nothing more we could do but believe it would all be okay.<br />
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Hudson's surgery was scheduled for 8:30 am with us to arrive at 6:30. We didn't sleep all that well but better than expected and were anxiously on our way out the door by 5:30. Upon our arrival and admittance, everything moved very quickly! We waited in the holding area for about 45 mins before the Porter came to take us into the surgery holding suite. We said goodbye to our support crew of grandmas and aunties and I carried my little man in. The nerves were full and it took everything I had to keep the tears from falling in front of my baby. I was blown away by Hudson's team! Not only did surgery start at 8 am (earlier than expected), but the ENTIRE team stood there, waiting for us! The surgeons, the nurses, the anesthesiologist ..they all came to is and eased our worries, answered our questions and made it as easy as possible!<br />
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The time came to hand Hudson over for surgery and I could feel the tears welling up inside. All my fears were coming out at rapid pace ..the moment I had dreaded was here.. despite my best efforts I began to cry in front of Hudson when I saw him start to cry as they took him away from me. It was as if my heart had been ripped out from my chest to see him go away. I left that room in a daze with my husbands arms around me as the tears began to fall..<br />
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What happened next was the waiting game..a mixture of happy conversation and endless staring at the screen for an update on Hudson's progress. The surgery took just under 4 hours and both the surgeons came out to sit with us and answer any questions we had after they informed us that Hudson had breezed through his surgery like a champ. No blood transfusions yet, no problems..he was waking up and would be in the ICU within the hour!<br />
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Tears fell again for us but these were different..tears of joy and relief and all of a sudden a huge, huge weight lifted from our shoulders. We did it. Our little boy made it and we were finally on the other side. What a beautiful day it turned out to be ;)<br />
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The first glance we got of our son, I was nervous to round that corner yet, once again, blown away by his progress! There were no bandages, no steri-strips..just a beautiful incision from one ear to the other and a perfectly rounded head! He was asleep and looked angelic to us..my beautiful, beautiful boy!<br />
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Since we first saw him at 1:00, we have watched him sleep, open his eyes and engage with us a little, he's fussed a little but mostly out of hunger and is drinking a mixture of pedialyte and apple juice for now (and loving it!!) his swelling is slowly increasing, poor guy looks a bit like a pumpkin but still drinking , still watching us with calm eyes and even gave us a little smile tonight!! So, so proud of my little boy and cannot believe his utter strength! The night nurse tonight is so sweet and looking after us in the best way possible, even waived the "one parent through the night" rule and pulled in a recliner for Adam!!<br />
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So here we are, the end of Day 1 and couldn't be happier. When Hudson cries, his voice is hoarse from the breathing tube but he's still our boy. He's still here..his head may look different but my Hudson is still here. Thank god for that!!<br />
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We're turning in for the night, hoping Hudson can get a good nights sleep (as well as a good sleep for us!) I will be back tomorrow to update you all on our Day 2 (which we are expecting to be a little rougher with the swelling and pain) so again..thank you all so much for your kindness and comfort you have provided us these last few days..no words could ever express our gratitude!!Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-48408037887154677052015-01-06T23:01:00.001-07:002015-01-06T23:12:16.753-07:00update<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Talk about a roller coaster ride of emotions!! We made it safely to Calgary amidst a blizzard and very poor visibility..happy to be here safely and all together. Hudson went in for blood work first and did as awesome as could be expected. His veins are small and hard to find so it took the lab techs quite some time to find a valid vein then they pulled only 1 vial and had to do it all over again in the other arm. But my brave warrior made it thru with just a few tears..so so proud</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then we were off to get his head scanned for "before" shots where they put him in this little head wrap:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Surgery is booked for 8:30 am with us arriving at 6:30.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The drive this morning left me nauseous but tonight, after a really great evening with family..I feel tired but calm and almost peaceful.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our day begins early tomorrow so I best call it a night..thank you all for your continued messages, prayers and thoughts..please keep them coming as we enter tomorrow's surgery and recovery...</span></div>
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Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-904384935371767578.post-1745765387954158742015-01-06T07:57:00.000-07:002015-01-06T07:57:40.152-07:00thank youthe kindness you have all shown us has been remarkable. I wish I could reach out and hug you all for making us feel so supported..we have read each and every one of your comments left here and on my Instagram account and you have left us speechless! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.<br />
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Today we leave for Calgary. It's the final stop before the big day tomorrow and I am a mixed bag of emotions. Hudson is full of giggles and smiles these days and I hope we won't go too long before seeing his sweet personality again. It breaks my heart just thinking about it...</div>
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Today is pre-op day. He'll have bloodwork done so they can test his blood type and make sure they have a supply on hand in surgery for if/when they need to do a transfusion. He will also get a laser head scan today to show things such as head circumference and "before" pictures that we can compare to the "after" ones he'll have taken 2-3 weeks post op. </div>
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We'll also find out his surgery time for tomorrow, keeping our fingers crossed it's bright and early so that:</div>
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A) he won't have to go too long after waking without eating for his pre-op fasting; and</div>
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B) we can just get it over and be done with it</div>
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So here we go. I am fearful and hopeful and everything in between...but lets do this!</div>
Dawn Cosgrovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15195922432299501681noreply@blogger.com2