Hostage Situation Resolved

Dateline Edmonton

The ongoing drama of the kidnapping and ransom of Dougy the Duck was resolved to the satisfaction of all parties Tuesday morning.

The story, which has not been called the news item of the year by several disinterested sources, began on Saturday when Dougy was part of a family celebration. When the duck's owner, an Elizabeth Brianna, got back home she noticed that the duck was not among her things. She thought nothing of it as the duck often went missing, sometimes for days at a time, so she went to bed without it.

The next day her parents, Rachelle and Nik, revieved the following email:

Dear Lizzie,

This is Lynzie.

Do you love your Dougie? I thought I might let you know that I’m hold Dougie ransom. He is just way too cute and way too cuddelly. Don’t try to rescue him as I have him closely guarded by my watch dog Tuffie.

If you want him back, here’s what you’re going to have to. Take two (not one!!!!) cookies (chocolate chip) and place them in a white bag. Tuesday at Great Gramma’s, place the bag in my shoes at the door and walk away. Do not look back!!! At some point during the day, Dougie will be returned to you.

Your loving Cousin Lynzie!!!

The sender of the email, also believed by authorities to be the perpetrator of this not very heinous crime, was believed to be Lynzie "The Cookie Monster" Smith-Jones. Police are reported to believe that this is a fake name. The email included disturbing pictures that we are now gleefully publishing.



The pictures included an image of a Blue Heeler, likely the "Tuffy" mentioned in the email.

Lizzie's parents, operating in her stead, began negotiations. These negotiations are reported to have been tense, and we can exclusively reveal the following leaked email from what could be the most intense period of these negotiations.

Dear Lizzie,

I am not a monster. I am a professional. To alleviate some of your concern, the attached picture is dated showing that Dougie is still alive and well. I’ve even untied him to show my sincerity.

Don’t test me!! It’s morning time and I haven’t had breakfast yet and Mom took too long to change my poopie bum, so I’m grumpy. Do what I ask and all will be returned in good time.

Love,
Lynzie

This "Mom" is still considered a person of interest in this case.

Negotiations concluded in time for an exchange on Christmas day. While all parties have remained mute on the terms it is believed that ranson was 2 cookies, although there is some confusion over whether these cookies were raisin or chocolate. The duck, reported to be in fine condition, was returned forthwith.

While Police are still investigating, the family of Lizzie have released the following statement.
"We are glad to have are friend and duck Dougy returned safely. Although we understand there are many questions, we wish to put this whole incident behind us and move on with our lives"

It is unknonwn whether there will ever be criminal charges on the case.

Nik F. Wierdside Press

Messy Eater

so I thought I would mention that I started Lizzy on solids last week. I'm starting her off slow and on pablum and she's taking it really well.
She's so funny when she get going with eating, not only does she make a mess but we can't seem to fork it into her mouth fast enough. She's like a little bird.
When we try to clean off her face with the spoon she thinks were feeding her another spoonful in her mouth and she will grab the spoon and our hand and shove it into her mouth. Or she'll just dive for the spoon if she can't reach it.
I know this is not new to any of the mothers out there but it's a new experience for me.
Shell

Lizzy Balooooooooooooooooon

For my birthday Nik took me out to Jubilations dinner theater. When he booked the tickets he told them that it was for his wife's birthday/anniversary. So we got anniversary balloons
Today we had Lizzy playing with them and of course we had to take about a dozen pictures of it.


This is one of those times when we wished we had a video camera. It was so cute, we couldn't stop laughing.

Shell

My Gomer

The rat.
I feel so bad, since I know how to groom him. I let him get to matted so I had to shave him bald.
I sewed a coat for him so at least he isn't that cold when I take him for his walks.

Shell

He looks like a rat --nik ;)

Lizzy and her exersaucer

Well last night after we got home from our weekend trip up north to Edmonton, Nik built Lizzy's saucer.
She really likes it, but I'm not sure who likes it better...Lizzy or Nik
He was playing with it all evening after Liz went to bed
Shell
PS-Pic is coming soon...The camera was left in the car

pps Here is a (not very good) picture --nik

My beautiful girl

I don't think she can get any cuter. Everyone is telling me that's she's the cutest baby, what do you say to them... I know? it make you feel like you stuck up. It's really hard when someone with a new born say she's cute, you feel like you should say that to there baby but really there kid is nothing to look at. (some new born babies aren't cute)

We had these taken when she was 3 mos. and now she's 4 mos. she doesn't look like this anymore. still cute but growing. she's at that cute point in her life when she can almost role over. she gets half way and then lays on her side and screams cuz her arm gets in the way of going all the way over. and then she role back to her back and smile at you like she's conquered the world.
also, she's not just "talking" anymore. she screeching and screaming in a high pitch. it's very cute. I'm so glad now that Nik and I decided that I wasn't going to work just to put her in day care. I like watching her grow up.

Shell

Retirement

Lizzy has grown so much in the last few weeks, anyway, I've packed up all her cute summery dresses and outfits cuz she's too small for them. I had to take one last pic of her.

I've packed up most of her clothes that's too small but I think even with a garbage bag less of clothes, I still think she has more clothes then me or Nik.

Shell

What a difference a year makes

September 9, 2006

Today

Nik and Shell

photos

I played with these on the computer cuz the camera took really crappy pics
they're cute now
Shell

pic of Lizzy

I had some professional pictures done of Liz today. Anyway I took this one after she left, I'm going to try to get more, different poses and outfits, but she was crabby and wanted to sleep.
The pics from the professional are really cute and I'll post them when I get them in a couple of weeks.
Shell

New outfits for Liz

I had to take a pic of Gomer too, he feels left out.
I still love him.









I had to take a pic of this.
This past month Liz has been getting a lot of clothes, her closet has more clothes in it then mine, and she's still getting more, mom loves thrift store shopping for cute little outfits.
Thanks to everyone for the outfits so far, there all very cute


Shell

Baptism weekend

sorry it's sideways but i don't know how to flip it.
We finally got the big chicken Ryan to hold her







Kevin took this one. He did a good job, she's smiling







I didn't get too many pics from the baptism on our camera but i'm getting some emailed to me so they'll be up a few days
Shell

New pics of Lizzy

Dancing Daddy and Liz








Taken today...her eyes look like there about to burst out of her head sometimes, she's so cute









Shell

Farmer Nik (and Me)

This was taken when I was still pregnant, at my parents house
Shell

Thought I'd take a pic of us

Shell

Out cold

I had to buy bigger (3 month) onesies cuz she's getting to big for the newborn ones.
that probably isn't interesting news but it's hard not to snap pics of her every minute when the camera is sitting next to you. and now i know how to download them on to the computer
I've learned so much since i married nik.
Shell

One month old and still cute as ever

These weren't taken on the day she turned one month but they were taken a few days before and some a day after.

Shell

Before Going to Work

Man it must be nice to sleep through the entire morning like that. Not that I'm jealous or anything....


-nik

Pacing Lizzy

I wonder which side of the family that comes from?? ha ha (Nik's for all who don't know)
Every time he holds her, Nik can't be just sitting down, he has to pace up and down the hall to quiet her down. I can just sit with her. he he
Shell

Nick names or Nik names

So. I don't usually respond to memes (unless they're really cool) but I was thinking about doing a post like this anyway. This post was from Janet's blog, btw.



Nicholas - I go by Nik - not Nick, but Nik. The story behind this goes back over 10 years and the only interesting parts of it are "and it really ticked off my dad, so I kept at it" and "now everyone knows me as Nik without a c and I can't change it" so I won't tell it. Shell also calls me weirdo (hence the blog name).



Rachelle - Goes by Shell by me and some family. Just Shell. and skinny minny, but her dad calls everyone that



Elizabeth - is NEVER called just Elizabeth. We normally call her Lizzy. She has also been called Miss Elizabeth, Wiggle Worm, Stinker, Grumpy guts, Liz and probably other stuff too. I tried Betty when she was first born, but she is NOT a Betty. I have also called her Lindsay and Shell, but those were mistakes



Gomer doesn't need a nickname his name is GOMER! but he seems to have picked up the most in the house. he is Mutsky, Dumb Mutt, Doofus dog, gomie, psycho dog, etc.



so that's our nicknames. As for tagging someone else.... I aint gonna!

-nik

Lizzy pics

I sent this pic to all the uncles, aunts and parents and brother, sisters. I got this outfit at the thrift store, isn't cute.









I got this outfit from Nik's sister Cheryl and the bonnet is from Nik's other sister Michelle.

Jeff Foxworthy on Alberta... I got this emailed to me by a friend

To my friends & family that live or have lived in Alberta - you will
understand....

These are funny & so true!
Here's what Jeff Foxworthy (American comedian) has to say about
Albertans:
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you
live in Alberta .
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't
work there, you live in Alberta .
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in
Alberta
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you live in Alberta .
If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Edmonton for the weekend,
you live in Alberta .
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Alberta .
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you
live in Alberta .
If you have switched from "heat" to "air conditioning" and back again
in the same day, you live in Alberta .
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging
blizzard without flinching, you live in Alberta
f you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave
both unlocked, you live in Alberta .
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them,
you live in Alberta .
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you
live in Alberta .
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled
with snow, you live in Alberta ..
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and
road construction, you live in Alberta .
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in
Alberta .
If you find 10 degrees Fahrenheit "a little chilly", you live in
Alberta

Some of these are soooooooooo true.
Shell

Some things a mommy can just do better then daddy

so Niks been bugging me to post something on the blog so i guess now I will. I thought he was doing a good job and I didn't feel like it till now.
Anyway, Lizzy was crying this evening after a day spent with grandpa and grandma (and Brian). Nik couldn't settle her done, I pick her up and she settles right down and fall asleep. Never mind that when i tried to put her in her crib she woke up and started crying again. Then Nik was able to settle her done.
Shell

Is it Friday already?

Wow this fatherhood thing is a rush. My holidays are half over and I barely remember any of it.

We had a visit from Rev. Vanderkoi today along with his wife and the seminarian (they actually booked separately, but I asked them to come at the same time) and he mentioned as they were preparing to leave that it seems to him that men have a extra room in their hearts with a locked door that doesn't open until he holds his daughter. I don't know if anyone else understands what he means, but I know EXACTLY what he's talking about.

If I didn't feel that way already, God has given her even more tools for wrapping me around her finger. Firstly, she knows and reacts to my voice. secondly, she aways has a smile for me. thirdly she GIGGLES during her daddy time! it's not gas either; she has only done it while I was playing with her (and one time for mommy) and it's interactive, she only does it when she's alert and i'm tickling her or talking to her.

I am actually typing this with a hand full of baby, so I'm going to stop now

-nik

ps. I am going to try to get Shell to post later today so she can give her thoughts

Update

Hello everyone, just a quick update about Lizzy (yeah Lizzy seems to be sticking)
1) Because of the forceps (NOT vacuum) she had some bruising on her head and she was unable to latch on the breast
2) Because of the bruising and not getting enough milk, she developed jaundice (but just borderline for treatment)
3) Because of the jaundice, she was too drowsy to search for the breast or suckle it

so, here's what happened
We have been offering the breast for up to 15 minutes to try to get her to take milk from the breast. After that we have been bottle feeding her to get her energy up. They also gave her the blue lights to manage the jaundice. Well today she is alert, active, and HUNGRY! She's producing the appropriate number of wet diapers now and is already off the light. We continue to offer the breast and she has mannaged to latch on but hasn't figured out what to do next. I just hope she gets it soon so we can stop supplementing with formula, because let me tell you, formula is horrible stuff (it stinks going in and is worse coming out the other end) and now for the best news. Rachelle is going home tomorrow morning.

so, pray for our child's continued development and thank God for her health.

btw, the baptism is on August 12 in Calgary.

-nik

Please Allow Me to Introduce...

Elizabeth Brianna Fortuin

Born: June 22, 2007
Weight: 7lbs, 2oz
Length: *shrugs*


Also a question: do all fathers take time to start calling their kids by the correct name? I seemed to alternate between Shell and Lynzie today and sometimes seemed to think she was a he, but I think I got it all figured out.

So I guess this means I lost the baby pool.

now I'm going to bed

Baby pool

Is there a baby pool for Shell's baby? Cause if so, I'm taking the 21st. ;)

Guess who doesn't have a baby yet

That would be us

that's all the news for today

thank you

-nik

Baby

I haven't put anything on this blog in a while cuz I'm at that uncomfortable, get this baby out stage in the pregnancy. Well here's what's new... she's dropped so I can breathe easier but the back ache is worse now, and the heart burn. I guess you got to take the good with the bad. Hopefully I deliver soon, i know Gomer is sensing somethings up, since i have the nursery all set up and stuff packed for the hospital. He's more needy. I guess he senses that he's not going to be #1.
Hopefully the next post on this blog will be a pic of a baby but ya never know for sure
shell

Song in my Head

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found, was found of Thee.


Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
'Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou dear Lord, on me, on me.
'Twas not so mucd that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou dear Lord, on me, on me.


I find I walk, I love;
but O, the whole Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always Thou lovedst me.


-nik (not the writer of the hymn, just the guy posting it)

Coffee Addiction

From the internet somewhere

I am 73% Addicted to Coffee

probably not good...

Things that suck

Snow on May 20.

GRRRR

-nik

Last few days

so i just got back from Deb's shower (yesterday) and I had a good time, she got a lot of nice things. She has to fill up two houses now. anyway sitting in that truck on the way up and on the way down made me grumpy (I'm usually that way) since I didn't sleep well the past two days, I'm fat so I can't get comfortable and to top it all off, my feet started to swell. oh well, that comes with being pregnant. anyway, Nik and I have to go to the doc again and I'm going to see if I can get that much needed doc's note so I can go to Ryan's and Deb's wedding next month and then were off to our first birth and baby's class at the new children's hospital.
hopefully all goes well.
Shell

Gomer

he never ceases to amaze me, i thought at first that Gomer just hated cats cuz he does the same thing when I wear my slippers that look like cats but I guess he just doesn't like slippers in general.

I haven't groomed him in a while, but he's still cute.





Shell