Babies Born June 2006 #29

ive had a couple of wines tonight, quenching my thirst!
Nixon seemed to like lying to our tiles today cause they were cooler, luckily no bangs on the head but he has finally after an hour gone off to sleep. i think the heat has just thrown him, but i tell u what getting sick of him rolling in his cot then carrying on the be turned over!
he started trying to get up all on 4's today... ofcourse i think he is a while off mastering it but he has gone to that next step of wanting to try and get somewhere from just laying there like a slug!
anyway this room is still too hot so going to shut it off and go watch tv. dh watching kickboxing these guys are crazy...

OMG im dying, its 2240, and its still 35 degrees... i opened the house up thinking it was cooler, and its not, just muggy. Apparently theres a thunderstorm heading in, with a chance of localised flooding, and going to be 37 and muggy tomorrow... yuk!!

Mel - i would love to jump in a cold bath with the kids (they had 5 today, plus a 5 min run under the sprinklers this evening (about 8.30) before bed, but i would get my cast wet :( I'm going to ring the fracture clinic tomorrow morn, i was meant to get a call back from them, but have heard nothing yet!!

Nic - yay for Nixon!! He's such a clever little man, cant wait to see him crawling next time!

I ran around and did a clean up before (still have a sink full of dishes though!!) but my lounge is perfect :)

Pizza for dinner here, made Ryan go out and get it. i couldnt be bothered getting off the couch!!

IK - glad you got your power back on. Hope Oscar enjoyed his time in the laundry tin LOL!!

Nic - PML at the comment "wanting to try and get somewhere from just laying there like a slug!" Marley rolls over, then flays her arms around and lifts her legs like she is skydiving, then cracks the sads cause she can't roll back. The rolling in the cot drives me nuts too. She is never where I put her down and I'd love to know how she turns around and facing the otherway. They pick up on the crawling thing pretty quickly so he might be scooting around sooner than you think. Thats when the fun starts - you leave them for a second and then you can't find them LOL!!!

Simone - it would be good to get your cast off soon. The kids must be super clean after their 5 baths LOL!!! I still have the air con on and DH and I went outside for our coffee and it was not too bad, still hot but the wind was slightly cooler. Not sure if I want to turn air con off tonight but DH says we should.

Sleep well everyone.

Nic - mel's right, they'll disappear right before your eyes - you'll need to put a bell around their neck like i do my cat ;) hehehe

Hi girls- I hope all is well with everyone, and you Melb girls are not suffering too much with the heat. The weather here in perth has been all over the place, one day its hot the next it is overcast, I kinda wish it owuld just make up its mind.

Cee-cee: I have my fingers crossed that Ally doesnt have chicken pox, this is really not the weather to have something like that. OMG about tht 18 month old in the pool, that is terrible, what a close call.

Nic- Tori used to roll over in her cot and get stuck and start whinging to be turned back, but now she crawls all around in there, she never goes to sleep in the spot she is put down, and if you put her int here and she doesnt want to sleep she crawls to the end and peers out down the hallway as if to say- where is everyone and why am I in here all alone- its really cute.

Mel- I hope Chelsea had a great birthday, and good call on moving the party- it will be much more enjoyable for all concerned if it is a bit cooler

IK- I agree about the recycled water being a good thing, my dad does water treatment for a living and he was saying that the recycled water will end up being cleaner that what we are drinking already, plus once it is recycled it will get pumped back into the dams to mix with the other water. We are trying to do our bit for savign water, we always use the baby bath water to water the garden, and I think we might start using a bucket in the shower too because it takes ages to get the water the right temp.

Bath- Good call on the shelving, that would have been something I would never have thought about. Wardrobes can be quite dangerous too, when my mum was little she was playing hide and seek with her sisters and hide in the wardrobe and it fell down onto its doors and she got stuck, her dad had to life the whole thing up so she could get out.

Simone- a Good tip someone gave me once was if you are having trouble sleeping, get up and write down everything in your head so that you know that you have acknowledged it, and will remember it all to deal with at a more appropriate time.

Well it is has been a huge couple of days here, I worked yesterday and today doing 7am starts which was a real shock tothe system. DH has been great though, he has gotten upin the night to Tori every night for a week, and it has been wonderful to spend full nights in bed. DH had to pop into work today because there was a break down and i was at work too, my mum and dad are away and our back up baby sitter was away too so Tori went and spent a few hours with my brother and niece, she had a pretty good time but was happy to see her dad when he went to get her.
We are going to check out a couple of daycares this week, becase I havent gotten a job and i am going to be relief teaching, I am going to need to make myself available to work- we are only going to put her in one day a week, and DH is home one day, and mum is around a couple of days a week- by doing this I am increasing my opportunities to work, I only want to work 2 days a week so hopefully it will all sort itself out.
Anyway off to bed to read,not tired tonight, Tori and i had a 2 hour nap this arvo.

Ali - thats a really good idea, thanks :) i have to buy a new diary when finances allow (not going to get much money from centrelink for a while, for being on my own, so have to be really strict on myself for a bit) but i used to do something like that - i loved my journals. Whenever i had something on my mind, i would just ramble on and on until it was out of my system, then i could forget about it.

The hardest thing for me atm is i know i still love XH sooo much, but i know its not going to work out in the long term and i want to end it now so i can get on with my life. Im only 22, alot of people dont marry and have children for years, so i have had the children, now i can focus on bringing them up and getting a good job to provide for them. I feel so lonely though, Xh has been making plans to go out with the boys from work to poker nights and such, and hasnt even consulted me as to when he's like to look after the kids - i havent even been able to pee on my own since he left on sunday. Maybe he might realise that i need a hand. I did bring it on myself though, its my decision and i have to live with it and all the stress it bring now...

Sorry to blabber on...

Morning all - I was at work yesterday and busy as hell on Monday. Of all the days to start work I pick the one with the train shut-downs!! I caught a not too busy (but freakin hot) tram home and DH got me from the tram stop.

Went to bed at 8pm yesterday and the bag of rats was up all night with the heat so I am pretty sleepy today...and I gotta do more work work! Still, mothers group today so that will be a nice break

before I go here is my list of stuff I am ditching - lemme know if you want something so I can bring it to the next meet up:

1. hand mouli
2. blue hand knitted jumped with little white snow flakes around bottom - size 14
3. video of vol 1 of old Battlestar Galactica
4. video of The Fifth Element
5. video of directors cut of Blade Runner
6. hole punch - I'll swap it for the stapler if you want, Bath!!

Good morning... can't quite manage a smile yet... maybe after the storms arrive. I swear the only thing keeping me going is the knowledge that all our credit cards are totally clear and that our frugal lifestyle is going to pay off eventually. Yes, the heat is tough but I keep reminding myself that it's only for a few days each year... not worth forking out hundreds for... a new car is definatley a higher priority and could be achievable this year if I'm disciplined with expenditure. Besides... didn't have a/c in the 50's so I'm determined to find ways to deal with it. My family had ducted a/c when I was a child... we were the only family in our area to have it actually... but when my parent's separated we never had it again and I really suffered from suddenly not having it. The kids are doing very well here, better than I am!... because we have floorboards water and ice is flying everywhere but that's ok... they needed a wash! Interesting how the govt. has asked people to turn off non-essential electrical devices to help the people in black-out areas to regain supply... I went for a walk last night and every 2nd house was humming with an a/c unit... surely it would be comfortable after being on all day? Don't worry Mel :) I'm not jealous of yours... I accept that everyone has different financial priorites and I'm happy to accept the full ramifications of our decisions... you don't have school fees and if I was you I'd have bought an a/c system too! :)

We're going into MC today... boredom is the biggest problem here... plus I'd like to have lunch with DH.

SIm: I don't want to sound patronising but your XH needs to get his own car. How he gets to work is his responsibility not yours. I know that it's hard to fall out of love with somebody overnight, but it seems you guys have made a decision so it needs to be carried through properly... not half heartedly becasue before you know it he will work his way back into your life. I want to be supportive of your decision to leave him. But sometimes it's hard... some people think "being supportive" is agreeing with everything they do and say... just applauding every action.... I'm not sure about that. My definition of being supportive is helping the person reach a goal through constructive actions/comments and sometimes this might mean disagreement. He should not have access to your car. Maybe other Junies could sanity check this for me?

what is number one?!

That sucks you got stuck yesterday, i posted in someone else's post in the boohoo (think its rude train passengers or something similar) what happened to XH, and he actually got treatened by people, just for helping a little old lady!! People are idiots...

Bath - i know he needs his own car, but for the moment he needs to get into his own house more (SIL wont let him stay for long, and he has nowhere else to stay after that!) And if he has no way of getting to work, he cant work, which means no money here either... he's on a very small wage as it is. I only use the car on thurs and fri's (if it had air con in it i prolly would've kept it yesterday, but its just too hot to take the kids into that kind of heat, then expect them to sit in a sweltering car...) plus if we share the car, Ryan's also agreed to help with paying for the upkeep - its needs new tyres (they're almost bare, and im not going to have any money to replace them - had all my bills come in yesterday :( ) and the electrics (mirrors, radio so far) have started dying, so that needs to be looked at, and it needs its yearly service... And he always ptus fuel in it. So it saves me a little money, and i dont use it anyway. If we split easily, then it will make tings easier for us all. We want to keep this friendly for the kids...

Oh, and i forgot to add that after a late start to solids, Anneliese has taken to them really well!! She is no having 1/2 a weetbix for breakky, 2 cubes of fruit (sometimes with some banana custard mixed in) and a cube or 2 of savoury for dinner!! Little Miss Piggy :)

Rory if only I was a Melbourne girl I would've taken all the videos off your hands, ah well, I also don't know what number one is either.

Bath I think your sanity is fine, I can see both your side and Simones, but I agree a break is a break, no matter how hard it is.

Simone yeah Anneliese, that's good now that she's eating better, I think they do it in their own time and at their own pace.

After a hot day yesterday we've got another overcast day, it's still muggy tho so will see how the heat goes. BBL.

hugs xoxo

A hand mouli is a kitchen gadget that grates/shreads/zests etc... you rotate it... know what I mean? I'm happy with my old fashioned upright one... but thanks for posting the details Rory :)

On our way into the city now... see you all later this afternoon :)

Thanks for that bath :)

bugger i stuffed up......
Thismorning i was meant to have a 2hour pampering package with included a full body massage, facial and foot treatment.
It was at 10am and i forgot about it.....Nixon has a Paed appointment at 12.00 and dh was going to be taking him, instead i left to go to the shops to exchange something and wasnt till i got there 10.20 i realised what was on today.... re booked but its another 3 weeks away i was really looking forward to this it was my bday present from dh from august last yr that i was finally going to use!!

anyway bbl gotta take Nixon to paed myself now, will do personals this arvo
KICKING MYSELF!!!!!

Argh!! Buggar hey nic,i always do things like that, i need to get myself a diary or something :)

Back home and smiling now that the cool change has arrived... opened up the house... had a great time in the city: Borders/lunch with DH... didn't spend any other $ although Verity has been such an angel this morning that I have promised her a new pair of Haviana thongs and now that we have the same size feet I can borrow them off her! I hope her feet are going to slow down/stop now... it'd be great to be able to share the same shoes from now on plus it would save heaps of $.

Nic: Oh no! I know how you're feeling. When I was pregnant I forgot nearly EVERY hair appointment... I think I ended up ****ing off the hairdresser to the point that I don't feel comfortable returning! So now I just go to the local one here in our village.... cheaper anyhow... and they make me a coffee... the other place was all the way over in Fitzroy.... DH still goes there which annoys me because it's a waste of petrol i think when there are so many good places close by. Oh and I've been cutting Wade's hair for the past few months... bugger paying $20 a pop for him...even though he did love having it done and sat there like a statue like a little prince LOL Anyhow, i watched closely last time he had it done and if I do say so myself I reckon I do a pretty good job! I like it a bit longer on top so it keeps a bit of his curl... the hairdresser was a bit gung-ho and just snipped it all over... being fussy I take the time to get it just right... Verity lets me do hers too now and only needs an annual tidy up at the local place. DH will never let me touch his LOL he firmly believes it's best left to a professional and when it comes to his hair I agree.... too much responsibility! Plus men's cuts are always much cheaper than ladies so it doesn't really matter despite the fact that he has a cut every 6 weeks whether he needs it or not. He's my "high maintainence" man LOL his annual budget for clothing/shoes/accesories (eg cufflinks)/grooming etc way exceeds mine and it's only fair as he has a professional standard to maintain.

back in a tic... Niall's half way out the back door... he's become very mobile very quickly! Don't worry Nic, Nixon will soon follow suit! Enjoy the last few weeks of non-mobility!

Sounds like you had a good day bath!! I've been watching BOM intently all day. and been slowly watching the temp drop... dont know if i want the rain yet, as once it stops, it will just become really muggy!!

I used to only pay $20 for haircut/ colour and treament - my sister (the one up in the mines) is a hairdresser. Since then though, dont think i've had anything done to my hair - prolly why its grown so long!!

Ali - hope you find a great day care place for Tori. I was lucky enough to love the first place I went to (I was recommended by other friends who had kids there) and Chelsea has been there for nearly 3 years.

Simone - I don't know where I saw or read this but the saying goes "love is not supposed to hurt". Keep thinking about that when you are having a weak moment. It is so true - love is supposed to make you feel wonderful inside, not like a crappy worthless being! I agree with Bath too about the car, but can see where you are coming from. Can't DH catch the train to work? Sounds unroadworthy anyway, so he really shouldn't be driving it either. Just don't let him manipulate the situation with promises of money etc. The journal is a great idea.

Rory - you poor thing, nothing worse than a hot train/tram with lots of smelly passengers. Don't need any of the things on your list, but keep them coming. I should look through my things too. We used to have a mouli for my youngest brother - about 20 years ago!!! They were really good though - made good baby food.

Bath - I could do with some of your frugal vibes! I try not to spend money, but I always find something to buy. When we did our renovation, the air con was high on the list. We have all windows in the back of the house and we have a tin, flat roof with very minimal insulation so the house is like an oven on hot days. I am not looking forward to the time when school fees need to be paid - but it might not be much different to what I pay now in childcare LOL!!! Glad your trip to town was good. Love Haviannas too and the colours are getting more funky all the time - you can get shimmer ones now. You would die about how much I pay for my hair - around $150 every 8 weeks!!! Thankfully when I need Chelseas cut, they do it before mine and don't charge me (nor should they after forking out for mine). Wades hair looks good, so you do a great job. PML about your "high maintenance" man - but I like to see men who take pride in their appearance, theres not too many around. Nothing looks better than a well groomed man! Yeah to Niall for becoming mobile - they are all starting to take off now.

Nic - bugger about your missed appointment. 3 weeks will come around quick enough. I have a $150 voucher that my work friends gave me after Marley was born that I haven't used yet - must do that soon. Baby brain never goes away! Hope Nixon goes well at his paed appointment.

Amanda - the muggy days are worse than the hot ones! It is muggy here today too, just wish it would rain and rain hard!

Been to lunch at the shops with the GF. Kids were very well behaved and we had a nice lunch. Changed over some clothes that MIL bought for Marley (she got size 1's!!!) and got Chelsea a new dance leotard (see I can't help spending LOL!!!). I didn't buy anything though! Better go start dinner - I will pop back later.

XH does catch the train, but we live a little way away from the station... he's going to start getting lifts with his mum (who's working the Oz Open, and has to catch the same train - he's been taking her every morning! Why cant she drive grrrr...)

Hiya Mel :) I was worried that I might have offended you regarding the a/c... don't you worry: as soon as DH and I either buy this place or build our own a/c will also be a priority although i also hope to incorporate some design features to optimise natural heating and cooling if we build our own... I don't want ducted, just a system in the main living area. It's so hard sometimes making a financial decision and sticking to it when it involves long term goals. So many temptations. Gotta keep my eye on the ball though. Our logic is that our kids only get one chance at a top education and that DH and i can build a home and accumulate stuff any old time (just not right now! LOL). I also saw my parents choosing to build a home first and accumulating stuff and pursueing expensive sports like sailing and golf... then they got divorced and the house had to be sold and all the stuff had to be sold to move interstate... so what the hell was it all for??? At least nobody can take Verity's education away from her.... and her character is formed and she looooves school... so we've already got our money's worth as far as I'm concerned. Anyhow, I'd suggest you start putting aside a little extra money for the girls' education too darl, it's getting more expensive all the time... and the fees are only part of the story... there's uniforms, textbooks etc etc etc I wish that we knew that we were going to take this path before she started school... life would have been so much easier.

Gotta think about dinner here too... not sure what to do... maybe felafel rolls?

im just getting s cooked chook and salad for dinner, was thinking about making my own chips - must check and see if i have potatoes.. Hate this weather just have no energy, and always seem to have headaches...

yummy bath Falafel rolls! You will have to pass on that recipe!
Im just doig soft taco's tonight, quick, easy and yummy.

Rory- i hate trains on a normal day, can't imagine it with the heat of yesterday.... i thought they were all air conned now??

Yep Nixon's Paed appointment went well, always pretty quick, asks how he is going what he is or isnt doing, any concerns, checks his insides with the stethescope, checks his testies, checks his hips then we're done! Said to c him in another 4 months so ive made the appoint for Mid May but told him we may not still be here, so if not i will go c him b4 we leave.

Meant to say Happy 7months to Ruby for yesterday Nickel! and also BBL = Be Back Later
My boy is 3/4 of a year old yikes!
Happy 10months too to Ronan![/

Hi Nic: You can buy felafel ball mix at Coles from the health food aisle... really easy to do and turns out the same as the ones they hand out on Acland St. You just add salad eg shredded lettuce, diced tomato and a garlic or hommus sauce and roll up in flat bread... perfect hot summer night meal... but it's almost chilly now hey? looooovely :)

Happy 10 months to Ronan, and 9 months to Nixon!!

How time has flown :)

Not much going on here, just mad a quick satay stirfry for dinner, feeling really crappy. XH is just putting so much pressure on me - like today. The lounge room is immaculate (apart from the train set on the ground) kids room clean, ashing done... Dishes everywhere in Kitchen. Planning to do them later, once the kids in bed as ig et no interruptions. X gets here and starts on me!! Im too messy, if i dont keep the house cleaner, he will call DHS and take the kids off me!! Im trying to hard, i havent had a moments peace since i got them back - and while im not complaining that i have them i still need 5 mins to myself... I asked for him to stay her sat night with them, so i'll go do something and stay elsewhere. His response?? "I might already have plans, so i dont know." WTF? He's got poker on thurs and Fri night, a Doggies breakfast in Glen Waverly in Sat, and when do i get my time?? Apparetly never. AND he wants me to stay in melbourne until the end of 07. Well if this continues, i wont be able to, i have no family support over here, adn obviously no help/support from him... Im just so tired, i keep snapping at the kids all time time, and when they cry, i resent it. I just want some peac and quiet, and some me time... is that selfish?? im the one who broke the marriage up... i dont know. im all over the place, and i cant find my journal or a pen anywhere... (i put my jounal away because it was becoming depressing when i read back through it...) Im sorry im whinging so much, i just dont have anyone else to speak to...

quick one from me - been busy with mothers group and a sad little boy. I gave Flynn yoghurt twice in a row - yesterday he had little hard rabbit poos after it and today missed his mid arvo poo and was constipated and screaming in pain
looks like he is lactose intolerant, for now anyway.

hello to all - enjoyed reading posts but not much time ATM (have a council meeting tomorrow night and have to read my agenda yet - 100 pages plus as always......

goodnight girls

ETA : Sim sorry you are having a rough time, but isn't it better to be alone that with someone who makes you feel so bad? Cheer up luvvy, the only way is up from here......

Simone- XH has no right to tell you what he thinks of you or what to do anymore. Did he come down in the last shower if he thinks having 2 boys at 3 & under are going to keep things tidy for more then 10seconds? How are you even washing up with a broken wrist? did he forget your still using one hand? I think you need to tell him what night he will stay with the kids, even if you make it the same night each week your going to go insane if you do not have a break....i thought when you guys had a talk you were discussing things like this? If you did then you need to remind him of this he is their father to and you are doing the right thing by wanting him to be a part fo their lives but if he cannot give you one night a week maybe he doesn't deserve that right??

We were dicussin things, and thngs went downhill after he stared telling me the house looked like sh*t. Then after he helped put the kids to bed, i said "I'd like some time to myself this weekend" which gave him the option of picking a time - im not fussed!! But he said "i think im pretty much busy all weekend, you wanted the kids, well you've got them. Im still washing dishes with one hand, i have to, otherwise they dont get done! But i got water in my cast the other day, and it smells now... hopefully will get it off next eek. But my DR said its a pretty bad break in an unusual spot, so im not surprised my cast has been on 8 week this friday...

If he doesnt start helping me, im going to tell him that he cant come around every night when he feels like it, he has to draw up a sheet of the nights and plan properly. Im being pretty flexible - im even still cooking dinner for him!! Just so it seems a little more normal for thekids - they see daddy after work and until bedtime.) But if XH's not going to be around whats the point of trying like that anymore??

I have a headache i cannot shake, and i feel like crying all the time for no reason...

i honestly feel like im going insane already...

Sim I agree with Nic and I really think you should have a third party with you and your XH when discussions of this nature take place. It sounds like he is still able to intimidate you into getting the free fatherood ride :( You need to get back to Perth asap but until then limit the time that you and he spend alone together.

ETA: I hear you when you say you want to keep things "normal" for the children but what's going to happen when you go back to Perth?

Hey, I'm sorry, (((hugs))) you don't need to start dwelling on all of this at this time of night darl. And sitting in front of the 'pute for long stints is guaranteed to make you feel highly strung (it does something to unbalance our natural electrical charge... the opposite of what happens when we go for walks after a thunderstorm apparently.... you know how that's refreshing? Well being infront of a computer/tv for too long is really draining on us.

anyhow, try curling up with a book.... have you been to your library much lately?

THere is no way of me getting back to Perth in the near future. I just dont have any money. With the money from Centrelink (which wont come in for a month at least apparently) And child support, i will be able to JUST afford the place im living in (and finding another place is damn near impossible, we were lucky to get this one) and then bills, car loan (only $70pf luckily) and food and bits and pieces... ill be lucky to have anything left! Let alone enough to save up a few thousand dollars to move me and the kids back... 'm getting used to the idea now that i wont be going back. Im waiting to gt my cast off then going for my interview with the RAAF. Ryan will take the kids for my training (at least he has family support here) and i will be able to get some decent earning capacity when im out, AND get posted to Perth free of charge. And then i will be able to live comfortably, and buy a house and do all the things i want. Living on the pension, my kid swill have nothing.

Bath - don't be silly, no offence taken at all. I am always worried about the education side of things and where we would like the girls to go to school. I don't think private education in an option but Chelsea will go to a Catholic primary school which is where she goes to kinder. I would really like her to learn about religion as I never had the opportunity too (my parents were a bit anti religion and didn't let me participate in religious education at school - silly, I know). She will hopefully then go to a Catholic secondary school. We have been putting money into an account for Chelsea since she was born and will need to get started on Marleys. Once I go back to work, I will have more to contribute (and if I stop spending on silly things). I am glad you bought it up as I will start thinking more seriously about it know. Meeting Verity last week and seeing what a lovely sensible girl she is shows how important a good education is. BTW the felafel balls sound yummy, might have to head to coles and look for them.

Nic - great news at the paed appointment, he is a very happy, healthy boy. Happy 9 months to Nixon!

Simone - I have the same response as the others - what right has he to tell you how clean your house must be. Tell him if he can't support you and at least be polite, then don't bother coming over!! Sorry to sound so harsh, but it seems like he enjoys p!ssing you off and getting you upset. I can understand why you want to keep things normal for the kids, but what he is saying and doing is not normal and they shouldn't be part of that. Tell him he can see them at a time you both decide. If he is not happy with that, then bad luck. Stop letting him rule your life - and as for cooking dinner for him STOP DOING IT!!! He is big enough to fend for himself and as you said, he has family to support him. Maybe go to Centrelink and see if they can fasttrack your payments, you are officially separated so they should start paying you now. Can you get out of your lease early? You should try to decide a date to get back and do whatever you can to make it happen - sell what you can. Only you can make this happen and start a better life for you and the kids. You need to be with family. I don't mean to sound horrible but I hate hearing how bad he makes you feel.

Rory - poor little Flynn! If he was lactose intolerant, wouldn't he have runny poos? Don't know much about lactose intolerance but I thought it would make him throw up or have the runs. Was there anything else different about his diet? Pears usually do the trick. Have fun reading your 100 page agenda!

Just been chatting to my best friend in Brisbane (she is coming to Noosa with us) for the past 2 hours!!!! Its only 6 weeks until we leave and I am getting very excited. Lots going on tomorrow - I have the plumber coming to replace our hot water service (its had the gong!) and getting a quote for 2 new wardrobes in the girls rooms. At least its cooler tonight - the breeze outside is lovely :)

just got back home again - went to brigade and stayed too long. I'm knackered.
Simone - ditto to what the others have said, but you already must know what my reaction would be. You are not playing that game anymore - tell yourself that out loud, please! You are not 'his' to bully. What you and XH had was not 'normal', so there's no point trying to keep up that farce - better to normalise them to the new reality and explain it as best as you can.
Sorry I can't write anymore, I have to go!

Good morning Junies :) Am about to get the kids ready for a trip to NorthLand. We catch the bus from Ivanhoe Station... I've rung the bus company and confirmed that it will be a ultra low modern bus so easy to wheel the pram onto. I've done the trip about a dozen times before. Wade Loves it! The main objective today is to buy Verity's school shoes. I've discovered over the past few years that if you buy a good quality leather pair (like AirFlex) they last the whole year without falling apart. They also come with these cushioned leather-like inserts that she wears for the first half of the year... really extends their life and adds extra arch support. So important to look after children's feet. I'll probably receive another stationery kit of which will be given to Rory.

Simone: Hope you have a productive and peaceful day with your children and minimal contact with your X. I hope you don't feel like we are constantly lecturing you. It's so hard to make huge life changes... it doesn't just happen because you make up your mind about it. Obstacle after obstacle will pop up in front of you and it would be sooo easy just to take the path of least resistance... the path that seems to involve less fighting and conflict. I think it was Divvy who said "good things come from struggle" so you've got to be prepared for a struggle. You X will try to convince you that "all will be well" if you just do things his way. *shaking head* You're going to have to do things that he doesn't like and that will involve conflict and it will be hard. He will use your children against you then but if YOU stay calm your kids will be ok. I agree with Mel. Sell what you have to to fund your trip back to Perth. Sell your car! Sell the furniture. Start shipping stuff back now. Your X will probably be able to take over the lease... if not so be it... you might have to sacrifice the bond... more than worth it. I'm not saying these things lightly. I have lived through this before. I've moved across Australia several times. I've also moved house with children. I've also lived in a violent family situation and I know that all it takes is for your X to realise that you're not just going to resettle back into his idea of a family unit and he will become increasingly frustrated and you and the kids will suffer.

I can see that it might be tempting not to share your thoughts with us anymore if we keep nagging at you. I'm sorry if we frustrate you but we do care and we do have objective perspectives of your situation. I hope you can see some value to what we are saying. I guess if we annoy you too much you could seek support from other BB members but I hope it doesn't come to that. Have you been in touch with the Perth Junies? I'm sure they are ready to welcome you over there with open arms! Of course we will miss you but we honestly want what's best for you and your children darl.

gotta get ready to go! See you all this afternoon!

hello girls,
just a quick hello to let you all know that I'm also now in the July babies thread - nothing personal, I actually really really really like you all, however I feel that Ally is no where near as developed as your babies and she is so much more like the July babies... So for baby talk I'm going to hang out a bit there as I really want to compair Ally development and milestones with other babies her age, - but for general friendship I'm still going to post here... Anyway, I just did not want you all to think I've jumped ship if you see me post in July, he hee... chat later
CC

Hey girls... MY CAST COME OFF TODAY!! had it on for 7 weeks... my skin is peeling, and it smells... but is very tender so i cant scrub it really hard... just keeping washing it :) It still hurts a lot, so i just have to slowly get back into using it. The orthopedic surgeon seems to think i have some ligament damage, but hopes it will settle down with some physio. Have to go back in 6w for a check up...

Bath - i really dont want to go back to Perth!! I love it over here :) Im going to go back soon, just not right now. XH and i had a talk (over email, s i could not be swayed by anything, and i have proof of everything he has writen) and i have asked him to back off a little bit, and want at least 1 night a week to myself. Ask he's been staying here for dinner, he gave me some extra child support today ($50 extra) which will come in handy. But i told him to back off a little. Even though im lonely, i get the computer to myself, eat what i want, and if the house is untidy at the end of the day, it doesnt matter, no-one to nag me about it...

CC, Anneliese is nowhere NEAR these kiddies as well, she's just started holding her head up during tummy time!! Im in the august baby buddies too :) only because i went through my whole pregnancy with those girls!! And nic's with the april girls. We just post in both sections. Dont feel bad!!

You can discss with e what our babies arent doing ;)

Hope you're having a good day!

Hi CeeCee: yeah, don't worry about posting with the July babies :) ... I'm sure there will be a range of achievements/milestones with them too... babies are all so different. Niall isn't sitting yet, neither has he moved on from rice cereal and only has about 2 tablespoons of that each day... oh and occassionally some pureed apple... and the occassional rusk. However he is becoming more active and they develop an appetite with mobility. He is definately moving forward now but I wouldn't call it proper crawling yet. He can hold his whole body weight up off the floor, balancing/supporting his weight on his toes and hands.... then rocking backwards and forwards. Wade was sitting at this stage, it's hard not to compare... and he also had top as well as bottom teeth. Niall has 2 bottom teeth and a top one about to break through. I think somebody mentioned clapping... Niall can't do that yet, or wave bye bye. Those milestones are a few months off yet. He has just started being anxious around strangers which is inline with his age. Sometimes he will burst into tears when a nice little old lady peers too closely at him in the pram.... still it's not all the time... I know it will get much worse. He is taking longer to settle at night, which is also normal for this age group, now we don't expect him to self settle without tears. Motion still helps and he settles well in the pram, but we are trying to avoid letting him become dependant on that. Often after his last feed at night I will just let him crawl around the end of our bed until he naturally drifts off as I read a book... then i transfer him to his cot. He will sleep there until 3am when he wakes for a feed which I do in our bed. After he drifts off i transfer him back... it's usually no problem.... then he will sleep until 7am.... then he comes in for another feed and usually naps until about 8.30am. I expect his sleep patterns to become more erratic over the next few months... He might settle down again by the time he is about a year old when he could go either way: become more unsettled or sleep through: Verity became even more erratic, Wade started to sleep through more regularly.

Well, Niall's just gone to sleep after crying for about half an hour. i sat at the end of the cot above his head where he couldn't see me and stroked his forehead. I had the radio playing, room dimmed, fan on. Then a rowdy song came on so i got up to change stations (to a drone-like news channel which is very soporific for babies) and when I was up doing that I turned around and found him asleep!

Going to help Verity cover her school books now... hope everyone has cool, peaceful and productive afternoons!

CeeCee- dont feel bad as Simone said i also post in April buddies. Nixon is probably the last to do anything in that thread cause he really isnt a April baby (most are crawling and talking and standing but Nixon isnt) but i still like chatting with them and hearing what their bubs do, gives me an incling in what i am in for!! so i still wanna hear how Aleise is doing and what she is up to aswell as yourself ok.

just got back from chadstone... waste of time took 45min each way... dh and i argued the whole way there so i said lets do our own shop and meet back. i took nixon i didnt really get anything done other then essentails (medicare, meat, toilet) and bought some things from toys r us with a voucher i had.
bath we were gonna go to Northland we should of would have only bee half the distance.
AF arrived yesterday and is very heavy, very crampy and i just feel aweful, bloated yukky feeling....

I completely understand, CC! It is a bit weird to read through posts that describe things that you're not up to yet. Like with us, Oscar is nowhere near having solids as meals, just as tasters, and many of our Junies are feeding substantially more than I am. And there are other things that Oscar is doing that others aren't. The lucky thing for you, Simone, Nic and Jess is that you have two places to post!
Oscar is a bit off today. I'm not sure yet what it is, but last night and this morning his body was hot. Until this afternoon he didn't seem any different, temperament wise, but he does now seem a little off.
I bought some 1 size clothes today at a local recyclers - just to make sure that I have clothes to phase into! Of course, our friends will have bags of 1's to loan us, but it's nice to have a small bunch of things in each size that we can keep for subsequent kids. I also tend to choose more gender neutral clothes (just how it ends up being, not on purpose!), so we can pass them between my sister and I. So much for the challenge not to buy stuff outside of essentials! Speaking of which...
Oooh, in my bigger news...I am getting aircon in my car tomorrow! I ran it by DP after getting a quote for it, and he has given it the nod :) It's actually for Oscar and not me, because I just love to roll down a window and savour the heat...but how can I get Oscar to appreciate that feeling when all he feels is yuck?? I can't, so AC it is. We also do a lot more camping than I did as a kid, so as much as I lived without AC as a child, it was only really that once a year camping trip in summer that we had to suck it up. It seems a bit extravagant to do it, but with a CFA discount, we can get the AC going again for just over $200. The car has had AC before, but it needs a bit of an overhaul.
Simone - good call about discussions over email! I think it is slowly sinking in for XH that you are not going to change your mind and that this is for real. Mel is right on the money with what she said in her last post. And I am so glad that you are cast free! Just in time for the weekend's horror weather forecast, too :)
Ok, I said I was going to make a smoothie and that's what I'm going to do now that Oscar has fallen asleep in the Ergo.

Well, told XH i need a break, and told him i want to go to Kareoke tonight... thinking of heading into moonee ponds, as i dont want a really late night, and the last tram comes back this way about 12am...

Either that or i will just go to skyways (they havekareoke, but dont know what its like)...

Anyway, XH said he'd watch them and get them from daycare, but i have to get him first... he's even going to do my dishes :)

If i dont come back on later, i'll talk to you all tomorrow - sorry i havent said much today, my wrist is hurting a bit...)

Hi girls a late one from me today,

Simone glad to hear that the cast has come off, have fun tonight and I'm soo glad that you get to have some me time.

Nic sorry to hear AF is playing havco this month hope you start to feel better soon, take some panadol and have a lay down.

CC Cody still isn't doing some of the things that the others are doing yet either, he can sit up for a little bit, he's just learnt to blow raspberries, he can't get up on his knees yet but he does move backwards, like Bath said all babies develop at their own pace, so enjoy talking to us and the July girls.

I've been lurking for the last few days mostly as I've just been having a blah feeling, can't get motivated sort of feeling, hopefully it will past soon. Ok going back to lurking for a while.

IK I hope Oscar picks up soon, I'm going to try and make your slice later tonight.

Bath did you end up making the second batch of IK's slice?

Hi Mel and everyone else.

hugs xoxo

I'm sorry for being away but its been too hot to use the computer.
Here's my moan....I'm sorry but i need to let it out.

As you all know we live in a van, only a little one but at least its owned by us.
DH, as much as I love him, does nothing with the kids but is wonderful with the cleaning, cooking etc... I never go anywhere without at least one child!!!!!!!
We went to the Real estate agents the other day and it seems that we now have a black mark against our name. So no house anytime soon, its cool we can handle it! The heat is driving me around the twist, we have no air con., no evap, nothing! The way we are coping with the heat is opening all the windows and sitting in a boiling annexe watching DVD's.
We don't have a stove or hotplates(they blew the fuses in the house!) and do most of our cooking in an electric frypan. If we have to cook stuff like lasagna or roasts, then we organize for my aunts to cook it....I don't want any sympathy, and thats not why I'm writing this... I want ppl to realise that there are ppl in this country who have no house and are trying to survive. DH can't work(even though he wants to) because of his back and we are trying to bring up 6 children on Centrelink benefits...I'm not ashamed of being on this and before ppl say but you are getting good money there, well think again.
We live on $600 a week and out of this we pay for our bills(yes we pay for electricity, and water), fuel for our car(which we own),food to feed the children, school fees, storage fees, and at the end of the week we usually have $50 left. Now it might seem like I'm whinging here but I'm not! I'm lucky that I have family around and I am extremely grateful for all their help.
For the first time in a very long time, I'm going out on the 27th WITHOUT any children.My mum has gratefully offered to look after all 6 children for me for a couple of hours. I'm going out for a bit of fun at my 12th year School Reunion.
As I said before I'm not looking for pity and I'm not looking for sympathy..I'm looking for understanding.