• Health - infertility

    Petition Challenge – Get 6 signatures #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    June 1, 2013 - By 

    If you live in Alberta, then odds are pretty strong that you know someone struggling with infertility. Quick – write down the names of six of your closest friends. Now try to figure out which one of the six is struggling with, or has already battled infertility. It’s that close. Infertility was, up until recently not talked about in Canada. But a funny thing happened this past year. People started sharing their stories. People started standing up to say yes I am 1 in 6. I want to talk about infertility and the pressing health care issues surrounding access to…

  • Giveaways - Health - parenting

    Win $25 K for Your Park – Kraft Celebration Tour #KCT

    June 1, 2013 - By 

      It might not have made front page news, but the day they unveiled Mayor Norm Jary Park in Guelph, the world shifted just a little bit for my brother and I. First of all, we had our pictures in the local daily, The Guelph Mercury (local section). That in itself was an event – and pretty cool for a grade schooler. I recall the photo opp with the mayor. I think I might have been nine or so standing in the background and my little brother was cute as a button perched atop a slide. Aside from the school playground…

  • family - Health - infertility

    Infertility Impacts Everyone: Katrina #ohip4ivf #onpoli

    May 28, 2013 - By 

    Meet Cameron. Grandma has dubbed him “the whole family’s baby.” He’s a sweet little guy, almost 18 months old. He made his Mom and Dad parents. He made Grandma a grandmother again. But his journey here was hard fought. Mom Katrina struggled through many medical, financial, physical and emotional hurdles to conceive Cameron. She was diagnosed with endometriosis and she had a few unsuccessful IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts. She had miscarriages and she tried various alternative and natural therapies designed to boost fertility and alleviate the pain of endometriosis. Eventually, after thousands of dollars spent and a tremendous emotional toll…

  • Health - infertility - Parenting - parenting

    Two – Interview with Curtis Shaw #creatingfamilies

    May 27, 2013 - By 

    Desmond Child, the legendary songwriter, with sons Roman and Nyro and Curtis Shaw Child. Together with surrogate Angela, the Shaw, have produced a magnificent documentary Two. My review of Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro, the documentary ran here on the weekend. Click through to read it if you are interested. This is thriftymommastips.com interview with Curtis Shaw.  1. I love the trailer and the full documentary for Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro and just want to say the message is beautiful and will appeal to many of my readers at thriftymommastips.com. I wonder if you can simply explain…

  • family - Health - infertility - Parenting

    Two: A Family Documentary for 2013 #creatingfamilies

    May 24, 2013 - By 

    “I think what gay means is two people of the same gender who love each other. At least that’s my understanding of it.”  – Roman and Nyro. I rarely review films, or documentaries here, but I received an interesting invitation this week to the International Premiere of the Annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival. I couldn’t go in person, but I am more than a bit in love with the concept of this documentary Two: The Story of Roman and Nyro.I needed to share because I know my readers would want to see this beautiful story of family. In the…

  • Health - infertility - Parenting - parenting

    Memories on #MothersDay #ABHC4IVF #ABPOLI

    May 12, 2013 - By 

    This year marks my 12th Mother’s Day.  That is nothing short of a miracle for me. I mean motherhood itself is often thought of as miraculous and wonderful, and a little bit magical sometimes too. But when you wait, and struggle and pass through the sad hallways of infertility hoping and banking on science, faith, community services like Children’s Aid, and friends to help you through to the other side well, then you know that when you get the honour of actually being a mother, it will be magnificent. Twelve years ago I had my own mother to share Mother’s…

  • Health - parenting - special needs

    Camp Memories #MuskokaWoods2013

    May 4, 2013 - By 

    Summer Camp is Awesome from Muskoka Woods on Vimeo. When I was a child I was shy to the point of being extremely socially awkward. I loved school, but was your classic tightly wound overachiever. My mom was a teacher and had summers off so there was never really a great need for us to be signed up for activities all summer long. We were beach babies, my brother and I, and we went to cottages every summer of our lives. We still do. But, one year, my Mom, a single parent and grade two teacher on a very limited…