Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

As we sit down to write this week’s newsletter, we’re reminded of John Lennon’s poignant words, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” This phrase resonates deeply with us in our current journey.

Our hearts are brimming with a cocktail of emotions as the festive season unfolds. It’s a period typically filled with joy and celebration, but this year, it’s painted with different strokes for us.

The past week has been a rollercoaster. Last Saturday, we were overjoyed when Alyce, our little warrior, received a clean bill of health from our midwife. But life, in its unpredictable manner, threw a curveball at us. During a routine check-up on Monday, some alarming signs in Alyce’s breathing and feeding patterns were detected. We’re incredibly thankful to our lactation specialist and the doctor who acted swiftly, referring us to the exceptional team at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

At the hospital, Alyce’s condition has puzzled the doctors. Despite all the tests returning normal results, her breathing and swallowing difficulties continue to be a cause for concern. We’re navigating this uncertain journey day by day, cherishing Alyce’s smiles and the fleeting moments of tranquility.

This year, our first Christmas with Alyce will be within the hospital walls. The staff, in their kindness, have placed a small Christmas tree in our room, infusing a bit of festive cheer into our space. This gentle gesture reminds us of the joy of the season, even amidst challenging circumstances.

We can’t express enough gratitude towards our family, who’ve stepped in to care for our two beloved dogs. Their updates and photos are little beams of light, bringing normalcy and comfort.

Your messages, calls, and thoughts have been an incredible source of strength. They remind us that even in our darkest hours, we are not alone. While we wish we could respond to each one, our current focus is entirely on Alyce, navigating this uncharted territory with our emotions at the forefront.

This week, we’ve been reflecting on a story about a man in a flood, praying for help. The story goes, in a severe flood, a man found himself trapped on his roof, fervently praying for divine intervention. As the waters rose, a rowboat approached, offering him escape, but he declined, convinced that God would save him. Later, a motorboat arrived with the same offer and received the same response, the man unwavering in his faith. Eventually, a helicopter hovered overhead, extending a lifeline, yet again he refused. Tragically, the man drowned. When the man met God, he expressed his dismay to God for not rescuing him, to which Jehovah replied that He had sent a rowboat, a motorboat, and a helicopter as answers to his prayers.

This story echoes our current journey with Alyce. We’re working closely with the medical team at Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital, recognizing them as our ‘rowboat’, ‘motorboat’, and ‘helicopter’. Their expertise and care are the divine intervention we prayed for. Just like in the story, it’s important to recognize and accept the help sent our way.

As we spend Christmas in the hospital, our thoughts gravitate towards the true essence of the holiday – love, family, and resilience. We’re learning to find joy in small moments and to draw strength from each other.

Thank you for being a part of our journey and for keeping us in your thoughts. We wish you a Merry Christmas, filled with love, laughter, and peace.

With love and hope,

Damian, Katerina, and Alyce

Woof, Woof! 🐾

It’s Boujee and Dapper here. This week, we have been spending time with our favorite Auntie, and boy, are we having the time of our lives! She has the best belly rubs, and even though we miss Mom and Alyce, Dad has been popping by to take us for those exciting walkies. He seems a bit distracted, but he always tells us that Mom and Alyce send their love.

What can we say about Auntie? She’s just amazing! She lets us sleep on the bed, which we absolutely love, and we’ve been watching so many cool movies together. She even takes us to the dog parks, but she’s a bit protective and doesn’t let us play with any of the bigger dogs. And guess what? It’s like a photoshoot every day with her – she loves taking pictures of us. We’re starting to wonder if she might help us start back up our TikTok page. We think we’d be stars!

Well, that’s all for now. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all our adventures. See you all later!

With lots of woofs and wags, Boujee and Dapper 🐾🐾