Now we are four » Giveaway

Hope

alio — Mon, 17 May 2010 01:59:57 +0000

It is easy to take health for granted when you don’t know any different. But spend a few minutes reading the story of a bright little girl named Kate, the daughter of a friend and former teammate, and everything will be put in perspective. Kate’s mom is an incredibly strong woman and I am in awe of how well she handles everything. She is so motivated to do all she can for her beautiful daughter and I thought the least I could is share their story and information about the special fundraising event scheduled for June 7.

If you live in Ottawa, please consider attending Hope for Kate. If you can’t afford the tickets but want to attend, please let me know. I will be buying two tickets and would be happy to share them as I don’t believe we’ll be able to be there. Leave a message in the comments if you are interested.

Clara Jane

alio — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:21:20 +0000

And now we are four.

Clara Jane arrived on April 30, 2010 at 4:20 pm, five days past her due date. I was scheduled for induction on May 3 but since there was a slight deceleration in Clara’s heart rate during my non-stress test on Friday morning, the doctors decided it would be better to induce me then rather than let me go home.

So, I was induced to get things rolling and within four hours Clara was born. Luckily, Ian decided not to eat his lunch in the cafeteria or he might have missed the whole thing! My obgyn wasn’t the doctor working the floor that day but she happened to come down to see how I was doing right at the time when Clara was ready to come out, so she was there for the delivery. It only took about three pushes and then Clara was born.

I spent 24 hours in the hospital, which felt like an eternity since I wasn’t in pain and I wasn’t tired and I just wanted to get home with Clara and see Amelia.

*Congrats to my teammate Julie who correctly guessed April 30!

Book giveaway – last chance to enter

alio — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:52:11 +0000

Last chance to win a copy of The History of Love for the February book giveaway. Tell me your favourite love story in the comments to be entered to win.

February book giveaway

alio — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:37:29 +0000

Love is the theme of this month’s book giveaway for one obvious reason. Also, I happen to have two copies of this month’s book, The History of Love. I can’t believe I’m admitting this but I actually bought a hardcover version, read it and then when I saw the softcover version in the bookstore a year or so later I bought it again. I didn’t recognize the cover, and I didn’t remember the story from the flap copy. Only once I had gotten it home and read several pages did the story come back to me. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve ever unintentionally purchased the same book twice.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed it both times I read it. Here’s a brief description from Publisher’s Weekly:

The last words of this haunting novel resonate like a pealing bell. “He fell in love. It was his life.” This is the unofficial obituary of octogenarian Leo Gursky, a character whose mordant wit, gallows humor and searching heart create an unforgettable portrait. Born in Poland and a WWII refugee in New York, Leo has become invisible to the world. When he leaves his tiny apartment, he deliberately draws attention to himself to be sure he exists. What’s really missing in his life is the woman he has always loved, the son who doesn’t know that Leo is his father, and his lost novel, called The History of Love, which, unbeknownst to Leo, was published years ago in Chile under a different man’s name.

So if you haven’t read it but you’d like to, leave a comment letting me know your favourite love story. Winner will be chosen at random next Friday, February 19. Good luck!

Book winner!

alio — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:24:01 +0000

Using random.org’s random generator, the book giveaway winner is commenter #5: Bre, who said:

Because there are too many textbooks and not enough “literature for leisure” type books on my bookshelf. :)

BTW I loved going to the library growing up. Hope you girls have fun! xo

Congrats, Bre! Assuming you haven’t read Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett, it’ll be in the mail to you shortly.

As for the rest of you who commented, thanks for playing along. This has inspired me to start a monthly book giveaway. I supposed I’ll have to find a love-themed book to give away this month. Stay tuned!