Babies Born June 2006 #44

[jaspen]

hey everyone - no time to chat as flat strap!!!! just thought I'd drop in and say hi to all on my way through to the luandry to unload the washing that probably finished ages ago while I was out - ug!!!

[Jesswith6]

Still hot as here, not as astinking as yesterday but still hot.
Got the fright of my life this morning about 10.30, was heading around to mum's to pick up some salad stuff, when in front of me was a 4ft king brown snake crossing the road!!!!!!!!!
To say I was scared is an understatement. It was heading towards someones dogs, so the police officer on duty, kindly disposed of it for us! So scary it had come out of the vineyard behind us and was looking for water, so the kids can only go outside now if there is an adult with them!

[New Dawn]

Jess how scary I dont think I would know know what to do if I found a snake! I would have more than likely just stand there and screemed until someone came out to have a look. LOL I'm not to good with things like that.
Well Dh will be home again tommorrow so I will be a bit quite again for a week. we are taking the kids camping to ellis beach this weekend as if we dont do it this weekend then the stinger nets will be out so there will be no more beach swimming for us. there is only a short time that we can swim at the beach up here as in the dry the water is too cold so you have to wait until oct so the water can warm up, and the stingers aren't out yet ( we hope ) as in nov the nets come out and I dont let the kids swim in the net. they put nets out so that it is safe to swim but I always think if you have a net that is 3mtrs wide and jelly fish have tentles that are up to 1mtr long then you only have a small part of the net to swim in safely and who can keep their kids that still just not worth it, and as irigange ( dont know how to spell it ) are the size of a thumb nail they can get through the net anyway.

Well for some silly reason I thought I would become crafty so over the weekend I made 4 little teddys for the christmas tree, and as they turned out to be easy to make I thought to myself how hard would it be to make a patch work christmas dress for the girls ( with out a pattern ) so of I have gone to the shops and gotten some stuff and have borrowed my friend sewing machine ( I havent used one sence I was 15 ) which she doesnt know how to use as she has never used it. So now I have all the stuff I need to make the dress apart from the know how so I will keep you up dated on my efforts to be a Mather Stewart mum.

[MelS]

Tali - thats awesome that Kai is saying her first words! You are turning into Martha Stewart lol!! Spotlight had a big sale here last night, 20% off everything. Did they have the sale up there? The teddy's sound very cute and I hope the dresses turn out, you are doing very well doing it without a pattern. Don't forget to take pics! I have a sewing machine but an pretty hopeless at sewing - its one skill I wish I had with the amount of money I spend on kids clothes! I think its gorgeous that Zayden loves gardening. He will love having a vegie garden of his own. He can grow the vegies and Cheslea can cook them lol!

Nic - sounds like you have some wonderful support and resources around you and its brilliant you are using them. You are doing everything you can and you deserve a big pat on the back for that. You are a good mummy!

Bath - how exciting taking Sunday School, should we call you Mrs Bathsheba! Its hard trying to spend time on the computer with the kids awake. I try to do it when Marley is asleep and Chelsea is doing something else but sometimes she comes and asks me if I am finished yet! Hope you find some time to "sneak" on.

Rory - Chelsea loves salads and she was eating them by about 2. Marley is not very keen on lettuce but likes tomato. The wood fire pizzas sounds delicious, did you try Kelly's pizza base recipe?


Jess - how scary, I would have freaked out! I have only seen a snake once when I was about 10 and I can still vividly remember it. Good idea not letting the kids outside without an adult.

Amanda - glad to hear your foot isn't broken, that would make packing and moving very hard. Hope your application goes well, it must be frustrating having to move. Packing must be driving you crazy!

Hi to Julie, Maya, Jaspen, Tali and anyone I've missed! Hope you girls are all well.

My girls dinner on Sunday was fantastic! My GF bulldozed her house and built a lovely old fashioned weatherboard up in the hills. It is just amazing, so fresh and clean and NEW! It was so nice to catch up with girls and two of them have had new bubs so lots of cuddles all round. Marley's face is clearing up but she has a big scab on her eyelid which looks yuk. Chelsea has her ballet concert next Tuesday so things have been hectic. I had to rush out yesterday and buy the rest of the things for her (tights, make up etc) and she is very excited. She has photos Wed night, day rehersal Sat, night rehersal Sun and then the concert Tuesday. We will all be stuffed by then!!!!

Work today so I better go and keep working

[*Ali*]

Hi All, I am still alive and kicking, just a little tired. That precious daughter of mine is still getting up between 4-5 most mornings, and just the other night she learnt to get herself out of bed (she is in a big girl bed, has been for at least 3 months) so the last couple of nights it has taken us ages to get her to bed because each time we put her in, 5 secs later she is out again, both nights we have resorted to the pram.

Only 2 weeks of work to go after tomorrow, not that I am finding it that bad now, but could think of so many other things I would prefer to do at home. Plus I would really like to spend some time with Tori before the baby arrives.

I hope everyone is well and I will endeavour to get back in here and catch up properly in the next few days.

PS I have added some more photo's of Tori into my gallery if anyone wants a stickybeak

[PlonkeeMumma]

Hi Ladies

Jaspen – hope all the males in your house are better – nightmare having 3 of them sick – equivalent to having around 10 females sick I reckon!

Tali – bugger for your mobile taking a swim in the dunny! I know what you mean about the same ones having to clean up at playgroup each time. We have a rosta for the washing up/vacuuming thing but everyone is suuposed to help put all the toys away and you can guarantee that it’s the same ones week in week out doing the tidying and the same ones sat one their bums chatting or having left early. Sorry to hear you had such a pants time at sizzler – your MIL sounds like shes good at making you uncomfy and being rude. Hope you get to move away soon. (One BIG positive about being on the other side of the world to mine – althought the negative being when they come to visit its for a very looong time!). Lol about your DS loving the bhg mag – he could talk to me too – I have it on subscription from my boys for last Christmas! He’ll be nice and handy when he get older! Good on Kai saying her first words and wow – you are so organized making some Christmas decorations already – I quite fancy giving the stars a go – the teddies look abit complicated for me! Have a great time camping at Ellis beach – we stayed in the huts there a few years ago – great place! And we swam there and were the only ones there – it was late September for us so water was lovely and warm but no sign of stingers. I didn’t ever trust the nets either – just used the lagoon in Cairns and the rockpool in Townsville.

Hi Nic – welcome home. Hope your feeding problems with Tyron are working themselves out. I know you’ll do what is best for both you and him and not let anyone push you into anything. Oscar was my lazy feeder, wouldn’t attach then when he would he would pop off again within 30 seconds – nightmare when your boobs are so sore and I was also in agony with my c/s scar hurting every time I fed (very rare – even most of the midwives didn’t believe me!) I gave up b/f him when he was 2 weeks old as things weren’t getting any better and I just couldn’t stand the pain but I felt so guilty that i expressed for the next 4 weeks. For me I think that was the biggest mistake I made as my DH gently pointed out at a later date I spent so much time attached to a pump and so little actually with my bub that we ended up having some bonding issues. Not saying this would happen to you or anything – just my experience – just hope you manage to sort out the bf probs so you can continue and don’t have to go down the ‘avenue of guilt’ i did! Have to admit that once I did end up f/f i didn’t get any negative comments off any friends or mums in mothers group (who all managed to bf) – only crap I got was from ILs! Enough rambling – hope I’ve managed to phrase things right – I only mean to be supportive of whichever you chose but I’m so rubbish at phrasing things! Hope Nixon is enjoying being with his brother. Lovely smiley picky in the bath!

Maya – wow Oscar sounds like a little fish in the pool, he’s doing so well. Hope you’ve managed/are managing to get your assignment done. Hope Oscar is ok after his temp and spew a few days back.

Mel – ouchy for Marley, poor ducky getting her head stuck – I would have been panicing too! Glad the marks are going. Gorgeous pickies of your girls on your homepage – I love the cubby house too! Your girly dinner on Sunday sounded great and how lovely to cuddle some newborns.

Rory – yummy to the wood fired pizza! Sounds like you had a nice time.

Amanda – Glad your foot isn’t broken. Sunday must have been the day for it as my AF turned up too after being MIA for 2 months! Lets hope we manage it next month! Did you get the house you applied for?

Bath – yay for taking Sunday school classes – can definitely imagine Mrs Bathsheba Mel! Hope you manage some sneaky time on BB while the boys are occupied elsewhere and yay you thought I looked taller from my photos – I wish!

Jess – scary re the snake! Glad the policeman could get rid of it for you.

Ali – Poor you with Tori getting up so early – Will has been waking around 5 most days for a few weeks but we try and ignore him till about 6 – he’s not getting upset just talking but very difficult to ignore once he gets excited as he is in our room and stands at his cot shouting dadda and jumping up and down! You’re brave putting her in a big bed – Oscar was well over 2 before we moved him in – Will just lived in bassinette then portocot with mattress until then as we just couldn’t face dealing with Oscar escaping from the big bed. Yay for only 2 weeks left, will be lovely for you to spend time with Tori before bubs arrives. Love the new photos of Tori – especially the nappy on head one!

Had abit of a busy time recently with the builders announcing that the house will be ready before Christmas!!! Great in terms of us saving lots of money but bad as I’m not seeming to have much luck finding anyone that can put the floors down/fence the garden etc before Christmas so we might have to live with concrete floors for a while then move out for a few days. Had a bit of a meltdown yesterday as since we heard last week I have been trying to ring and get quotes from people and do so much organizing on top of all the normal kid stuff, house tidy, cooking, cleaning stuff and I just ended up feeling so stressed as it’s not working. When james got home from work I just went and hid in the lounge with a mag and a bar of chocolate (v healthy tea!) while James entertained and cooked for the boys. This is where we really miss not having family to just sit with the boys for a few hours so we could go to showrooms to view things just us and no kids! We were in a floor place on Saturday and they weren’too bad but then Will’s did a hugely stinky nappy and it stunk the place out! Time for a sharp exit!

The boys started swimming again on Saturday and they had a whale of a time. I was so pleased as we missed last term what with going away so I wondered if they would have gone backwards but the opposite seems to have happened so I was very pleased.

We had a lovely day on Sunday as we drove out to John Forrest national park and there is this wonderful pub there that is very child friendly and you can sit outside looking out into bush and they put (proper) food out for the roos and the birds so the kids loved seeing all the wildlife. (And I had a sneaky beer as James was driving) Although Oscar announced to MIL on the skype later that night that he had had beer as that is what he was calling the lemonade that DH bought him! (DH was under instruction to get soda water to avoid the sugar eebiejeebies but he forgot once at the bar!)

Went to a shopping centre early yesterday, straight from dropping DH off at work to try and find some curtains for the new house – even though every 3 shops I took them somewhere they could play I had still bored them so much that they were both asleep in the pram by 11am – poor loves they were so good and didn’t even complain when they were awake. They stayed asleep in the car when I got home so I left them there and hurriedly tried to make more phone calls but by then they’d had enough sleep for the day so only managed 10 minutes of peace all day – hence the later mini-melt!

Walking group was ok again today – we went to the coffee shop with the enclosed playground so I thought it would be less stressful then last week but within one minute of putting them in it Will was crying and had a badly scratched nose and top lip so he now looks a mess (would go well with Marley now Mel!) – I have no idea what happened as he was still standing so either another kid (there weren’t many) had pushed his face into a bar or he’d just tripped into it. Anyway, that was the end of my socializing so I spent the rest of the time in the playground with them and a further 2 minutes down the line Oscar was crying with a split lip!!! There must be something in the water! Anyway, walk back to the car was nice and arranged for my friend to come over tomorrow morning as I normally meet her somewhere on Wednesdays but the car is in for a service. One of the other ladies has asked us all round to hers after the walk on Melbourne cup day so we can have nibbles and wine and the kids can play which is really nice of her as I don’t know her very well, so looking forward to that.

Anyway, better stop rambling! Hope you’ve all had good days

Julie x

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oh my goodness, Julie, I can imagine trying to do the showroom circuit with kids! Have you done the eBay shopping for those things? I've seen bathroom ware, tiles, fittings, all of those things on eBay and a mum in my MG did just about all of her new house (sort of a reno, but they moved out and gutted the whole house to start from scratch on everything but the external walls!) and really saved a bucket load.
Ali - time is really flying, soon you'll be the second Junie with the baby on the outside! I will definitely check out the latest Tori photos. I put some new photos of Oscar on my Facebook account...I really love some of them - very candid snaps of him playing in the nude.
Tali - I can't imagine going to the beach and having to be extra careful about where you swim! One day I will know about it, as I would love to take Oscar up to Darwin and 'do' a resort for a couple of nights.
Jess - geez, any other snake but a king brown! I tell you what, they will be everywhere this summer
Well, Oscar was getting better the day after I posted, but seems to have slid backwards again. He has been in good hands with my dad or MIL, but I tend to think that because he hasn't been with me, it has delayed his recovery. This sucks big time because I was hoping to have this overdue assignment in this week. Probably won't happen. In fact, tonight, just after a major spew episode, I decided that I'm not going to be overly upset if I fail this particular unit and concentrate on the exam for the other subject (all assessments are in for that one). I'm doing one subject per semester from now on, which sees at least a 2009 finish date, but I don't care. It's not about finishing fast anymore, it's about finishing effectively without affecting Oscar or the next kid. My own ambitions can bloody well wait. All he wants is to be with me, and especially now that he's sick, what do I do? Pass him off to someone whilst I attempt this lark.
We were out tonight at an annual dinner and whilst he was very clingy, he wasn't that much trouble - I just couldn't network at all, but that's ok. DP came this year, so they could meet him and talk to him instead. I didn't want to leave Oscar with anyone because of how he was and I didn't think it would be such a huge thing for him to be unwell and asleep in the sling or buggy away from home...as opposed to being in the sling or bed, unwell and asleep. I know DP will probably think I'm being a drama queen, but this has been going on since Sunday night and I will take him to some kind of doctor tomorrow. I'm thinking about the traditional chinese medicine place up the mountain a bit, but may settle for his GP, as long as I can get some sort of medical cert to say I've been caring for a sick child during swatvac week! This is crazy, I can't keep putting Oscar second to my study
Was supposed to go to Booby Club tomorrow, but best if I keep Oscar away - I've promised a lift to the group leader, so I may still take her and meander back down the mountain at my leisure with my sick boy. MIL can't have him again till Friday and my dad was finally getting back in touch with his mojo and doing stuff with the house (he hasn't had mojo in years, so I'm loathe to interrupt it with babysitting duties!). Plus, I reckon Oscar will just remain sick as long as I keep palming him off.
I'm going to bed, I'm starting to get really down on myself.
PS - Dee - how are you going with your study? You're nearly done!!

[nickers]

Hi All,

Ali- going to have a look at Tori's pics now!
Jess- OMG i would have actually crapped my dacks i thinks jesus!
Maya- well youve been doing so well with all your studies etc if you failed one thing i think it would be forgiven! I dunno how you do the study and the mummy and the tupperware and the wife thing all continue to do it all so well! how si the tupp going btw? doing many parties? i got dh to take me into the office yesterday had to collect some stuff and get the Novemeber previews to squiz at and send out!
Jules- OMG poor boys! and poor you, geez i wonder what happened if it was another kid or not. Thanks for your story on bf, it sounds like a very similar journey that i am travelling atm. I have a double electric pump so for now only takes 5mins to pump out 200-300mls!! but once my milk calms down a bit and i dont have the electric it would take a lot longer.

anyway i mentioned a while ago how sick my nan has been. last week she took another bad turn and obviously i was in hosp so couldnt visit. but when i got home i wanted to go see her, so mum took me and the boys on Monday. It was like she was just holding out for everyone to visit. i was able to get Tyron's first and only shot with his great grandmother as she passed away about 8.30am thismorning aged 88.
Its very ironic that she held on long enough to meet my boy and passed on his due date.
Its very sad but she has been very ill for a long long time and now she can finally rest in peace and watch down on us. My poor pop though for the last 5yrs his life has been visiting her at the home every day, i really dont know how he will cope without that. they had their 65th wed annaversary in August.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Nic - I am so sorry about your Nan It sounds like a lovely send off, to have met Tyron and moved on, you can tell him that forever Thanks so much for your words, too, about my study - I'm in such a state of flux about this one subject at the moment, and the co-ordinator and one lecturer are not the most helpful people to have staffing the unit - very unapproachable because they rip you to shreds just for existing!
Oscar is still very snotty, got the runs (so no more solids, thank goodness for BFing) and we have a doctor appointment in the afternoon. Had I called for an appointment for myself at such late notice, I wouldn't have got a look in, so I have to make sure that if it's for Oscar, I start by saying "I need an appointment for my 16 month old"...or they will fob me off! Gotta go for now, get some brekky into me.
Thinking of you, Nic, and your lovely Nan

[Bathsheba]

Good morning girls, especially Maya and Nic you're both in my thoughts as I potter around here today, still in my jammies. Maya: I agree, doing one subject per semester is much more manageable when you have a family... I started out as a full-timer but whittled it back to 1 subject per sem. and it made it so much more enjoyable again. I'm also wondering how Dee is getting along with her studies: we all need to celebrate her graduation if that is what she has achieved. Don't worry about stretching it out to 2009. Time has a different meaning when you have small children: it's more precious and you wouldn't want to look back at these years and think "where did it go?". I'm feeling a bit sad as I am finding it harder to remember Wade's baby years now that Niall has come along You just get so caught up in things... and all I've been doing is being a SAHM!

Nic: My Nan passed away in similar circumstances back in 2001 when I was studying. It was like she held on to see us one last time (we had to travel interstate). I am so sad about her never meeting my boys as Verity was my only child at the time but at least she got to meet her. I can feel her presence though and her photo looks down at us from our foyer. She was the relative I felt closest too and sometimes the grief catches me unexpectantly...but you are right, she is a better place now and she is full of joy and I'm sure her spirit is with you often.

boys boys boys.... gotta deal.... (it involves the fruit basket )

[MelS]

Nic - big to you sweetie. So sorry to hear about your nan, but I bet she is finally able to rest in peace after seeing her great grandchild. She is probably up there smiling down on you all.

Maya - great idea to drop down to one subject, it doesn't matter when you finish it. You wonder why some lecturers even bother teaching if they don't like students!!! I am very lucky to have some brilliant unit coordinators/lecturers to work with. Poor Oscar, hope the dr does the trick and gets him back to his old self. Will have to check out the nudie Oscar photos lol!

Julie - Chelsea loves her cubbyhouse. They are pretty expensive but was a very good investment. Your poor boys, they are in the wars. Yeah, Marley and Will could compare their wounds! I can only imagine how difficult it must be to organise quotes while also trying to look after the house and the kids. Showrooms don't tend to be very kid friendly. Glad the boys are enjoying swimming, its such a fun activity to do with the kids and has such good benefits too.

Ali - Tori is such a cutie, I really love the pigtails! I don't know how you are doing it, up at 5am! Getting big kids to stay in bed can be tricky some times so it must be even harder with a young one but hang in there.

Bath - You just get so caught up in things... and all I've been doing is being a SAHM!
You are not JUST a SAHM! I really admire you for having the patience to be a SAHM. I seriously believe that a SAHM works 10 times harder than a working mum! I get to have a break going to work but you are there 24/7. Any wonder you get caught up in things, you are a very busy woman.

Chelsea had her 3rd school transition day today and it was music. They didn't let the parents go with them this time, we could go and have mtea with the other mums and check out the uniform shop. Its all becoming so real,that my little girl is going to school next year. She is going to look so cute in her little uniform. Marley had a ball playing with some of the younger kids, I think she is going to be great going to creche. So long as she has company and some toys, she is happy. Chelsea has her photos for her ballet concert tonight at 5-6.30pm, why do they do these things right at dinner time?

Better go and hang some washing out, its great drying weather today!

[New Dawn]

mel- dance class mare so much fun I am tinking of joining may up next yr, I remember my poor my at this time of year always up to her eye balls in seqins as she had 5 of her 6 girls in dance class at one stage which if ok when you are little as you only do one or two dances but when you have the older ones they do about 6 so that is alot of sewing.

Maya - I think slowing down a bit will do you well if that waht you need, as ahrd as it is you ont want to miss out on all the baby yrs and now is the time that they are so much fun ( trying but fun) and all to soon they start school and then they change forever. hope Oscar is feeling better soon. Its always the way with GP's but thankfully they have a heart when it comes to little kids and fit you in.

Nic- sorry to hear about your nan, I hope your pop does ok the 1st yr is always the hardest for them. My Nan died ten yrs ago !mth before our wedding, and my Pa still wears her wedding ring on his little finger and talks about her. To be married for 65 years wow.

Julie- hope all goes well with the new house but it will be really good if you get to move in before christmas even though you will be really busy.

Well I have made one dress for kai she wouldnt model it for me but I tried to get a few photos and will try to upload them soon. it was much easier than I thought amazing what your brain can remember.
well I should really get of the computer as it is the 1st day DH is home and here I on the comptuer instead
Hi to everyone I missed

I forgot to mention Maya no one swims at Darwin the only people you will see at a beach in Darwin our people with dogs as you can let your dog swim there but no one else as they dont have nets there plus they have friendly croc's that swim up and down the beaches.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Thanks again, girls - good timing...my mobile phone was run over on my way back from Monbulk! I was feeling pretty crappy until I realised that it still rings and answers and there's half a photo of Oscar on the front mini-screen...so data is probably salvageable! Still, it's making for a crap day.
Oscar is on me and I don't think he'll like it if I try to palm him off to the bed or buggy - he'll sleep in the buggy for MIL or my dad, but now that he has me, I don't think anything else will do. Oh, well.
I'm going to email my tutor (who will have to run it by the co-ordinator, so not much hope there) to see if I could possibly be allowed to either hand in my assignment after my last exam or have my exam in December. I'm pushing my luck with that, but even if they don't let me, I"m thankful that this is a 2nd year unit and not a 3rd year like my other subject (exam two weeks away), because the 3rd year units' marks are the ones that are looked at more than the other years, when it comes to applying for postgrad courses. It's not the end of the world. Right now, with Oscar feeling the way he is, I can wear the failing of this unit, quite frankly. I don't even care anymore that other people can do it with more kids at home, cos it's all relative, and I'm not coping with it very well, I've discovered. If ALL I had was Oscar and study, it would be one thing (although two very big things!), but I"ve also got my other committments that are pretty important on my 'life spectrum' scale (CFA, ABA and my riding club). Plus, I already have an honours degree, so Oscar can grow up knowing I was smart at some stage LOL!
Forgot to answer you, Nic - Tupp is going really well, considering I was not supposed to start till November! I have a few parties lined up, so they should help with accomodation in Ireland, as well as car hire. I've even been able to buy a couple of extra things for my kit for the season that I will be keeping for myself - the fix'n'mix bowl and the spatula! My mum still has her bright yellpw FNM bowl from the 80's and I really wanted one of my own (as she definitely still uses hers, so stealing it would have me riddled with guilt!). I'm really loving it and realising that it's dead easy, fun and profitable. It's the perfect job to have when you've got a family, huh? Now to convince my friends so that I can get a recruit!
My mum's an odd one. As fraught as our relationship gets, she can have moments of gold. She has a pair of boots that she used to wear when we'd go to the city, or out on excursions that were super comfy and could be walked in for hours. We aren't the same shoe size and she said that if I could find somehting like them, she'd get them for me for Christmas. So, I found something really similar, ordered them, and she's going to pay for them. They will be dead handy for going to Ireland and walking around London, and they'll be my first choice when I take Oscar out to the zoo, city, aquarium, circus...whatever! I just dont' have any shoes that are properly lined and comfortable for a lot of walking. My cheap Kmart Grosby's are comfy, but the leather and lining is cheap Indian stuff and will let water in at a moment's notice. Anyway, that and the new bikini I ordered are keeping my spirits up...the little things!
Bath - I second Mel's comment about 'only' being a SAHM. I know what work it requires to be one, because I see it all slipping away from me as I try to focus on other things! I've decided that I can't be a SAHM and a student at the same time (well, not at the pace I was attempting), because they are both too involved to get the proper amount of attention. DP was dusting and clearing stuff of the weekend and saying how much he had done and that I wasn't helping. I said "no, I'm not helping, because I can't". What I have thought since is that it takes a once-off attempt by him to clean the loungeroom and kitchen (yeah, so he shouldn't kid himself, he hasn't progressed to the bedrooms, bathroom or study yet!) for him to realise how much work it involves, yet when I don't do it and keep on top of it, he doesn't acknowledge how labour-intensive it is! Not only that, he refuses to see that when it's just me and Oscar, Oscar wants my attention. When it's him and Oscar, he can get stuff done because Oscar doesn't consider him to be nearly the cuddle opportunity as he does me. So, the "how come I could cook the dinner with Oscar around and you can't?" line just doesn't wash with me anymore. I won't vent anymore, he was very nice to me on the phone today - especially when I told him that I'm probably going to have to let go of one unit this semester (he was just recovering from being told I was dropping to one per semester for next year). So, if I fail, that's fees for that unit and I have to do it again another time. Today, I DON'T CARE.
Enough of my whinging. Today I got my cousin's wedding invite in the post, so it feels a lot more real now! I'm actually going to be back in Ireland, with my 'two favourite allies' (as I like to call them when we're going on a trip somewhere, as per the Chillies song...three when Odin was the only dog we had and he'd come camping). It will be COLD, but that's ok.
Tali - thanks for the tip! I had heard that beach swimming wasn't done, and I had heard of a resort where you can swim right near your hut on the water and that's about it. I'd still like to go there, though. Maybe even have an impromptu civil service there?? Dunno. Getting married in Ireland is too bloody hard, with paperwork and all this advance notice...it's all a bit non-spontaneous, which is fine for younger couples with no kids, cos you want to be sure you want to do it and all that planning takes staying power, but when you've bypassed a step or two (moving in and having kids before getting married), the 'making sure you're sure' doesn't really apply. I think we both want to surprise ourselves just a little, whilst still thinking enough to do it somewhere nice and off-the-cuff. DP has vetoed Byron Bay...dont' know why, but he panned it last week!
Mel - how confronting to have to imagine Chelsea in a uniform! Nooooooooo!
Better get some lunch, then off to the doctors with my sickly child.

[Jesswith6]

Hello ladies
Nic- Firstly let me say that I am so sorry to hear about your nan, your pop will be the one who will find it hard. My GF died 5 yrs ago, 4 yrs after his darling wife had died.I miss them everyday, unfortunately my Nanna didn't meet all my children, but Poppa met all but 2...but i know they are watching and taking good care of me.....anyway enough of my soppiness. All I am trying to say is that at least she saw Tyron...i think that would've been the last thing on her mind.

Tali- "friendly crocs?" Is there such a thing????? Dad grew up in Northern Queensland and he never has a nice word to say about the big scaly lizards!

Maya- I am soo jealous that you are going to Ireland, Can I come, because I am small enough to fit in the suitcase!!!!!!!!!!!

Bath- I hear you about forgetting things about the older kids when you have a toddler. I've been a SAHM as well now for 11 years and its true you get so caught up in things, certain things just seem to disappear.

[AmandaJ]

Nic sorry to hear about your gran, but as the others have said she is in a much better place now, I wish that my nana had got to meet my boys but it was not to be, but I know that she is looking down and she sees them and looks after us all, big squishy hugs for you.

Maya it's so hard trying to keep house as well as studing and looking after a toddler and a sick one at that, I'm not sure what else to say but I'm sending heaps of hugs to you as well, I hope that you feel the pressure off your shoulders soon. Yay on the new shoes and bikini, how nice, when are you leaving for Ireland again?

Julie hopefully this will be our month, good news that the house will be finished by christmas, sorry that the flooring and fencing won't be done by then. Isn't it always the way, take your eyes off them for a second and bang they hurt themselves.

Bath sounds as if you need some hugs as well.

Hi Mel, Ali, Tali and Jess.

Well we should hear back from the real estate tomorrow about the house that we applied for on Saturday, and Lockie was back at CC today, yay. So he's over the chicken pox (Mel?) thanks for asking and fingers crossed no-one else has them (most probably just jinxed myself, lol). Got the letter from our real estate today and we have to be out by the 22nd of November so 4 weeks, so we really need to get a house soon.

Mel I had Lockies interview for prep today, wow it goes so quick doesn't it, I still have to look at getting him a uniform and we already have his book list so will have to start getting that soon as well.

Better go and get dinner ready and get ready for House tonight.

hugs xoxo

[Smoke Jaguar]

Amanda - I hope everything falls into place really soon for you! My fruit and veg lady found a lovely house in Rosebud (Peninsula town) where she can nurse her sick husband, bought it and realised they hadn't even come close to getting a buyer for their Melbourne house! However, four days before auction, they sold and now all she needs to do is finalise the sale of her shop (will be sad not to have her there, I love getting my fruit and veg frm her!) and then they're off. Haven't we all found, over the two years that we've been Junies, that things fall into a place? I'm positive they will for you!
Oscar is on antibiotics because he's got a chest and ear infection Doc said that if he throws up overnight or gets really hot, to take him to the hossy for chest x-ray...which tells me that she suspects pneumonia if he doesn't respond to his meds. Anyway, I think the meds will do the trick and I'm hoping to have half my boy back tomorrow, and I'm wondering if he'll be ok for swimming on Saturday.
As for school, I've had a breakthrough. I'm withdrawing from the unit I've a snowflake's chance in hell of passing, and I'm going to really push to have it show on my record as a 'late withdrawal' instead of a fail. I will push on with the unit I've done all written assessments for and have the exam in 2 weeks for. When I repeat the unit I"m dropping, I will be a bit ahead of the game and instead of being 2 units for that semester, it will really be one and a half...that's what I figure, anyway! I feel SOOOO much better now and everything is not so oppressive anymore. Except for the fact that when I got to my AGM tonight the kitchen had closed, so I'm going to make some sandwiches or something for myself now, I'm starving!
Jess - don't be too jealous, I think Ireland in the winter is an acquired taste...be jealous if I get to go in the summer! For me it's a family trip, like Julie's, with some sightseeing thrown in while we're there, otherwise we would have gone to Central America for an OS trip. Although, in the middle of summer when it's hot and smoky, I'll be tucked away in a pub sipping on a Kilkenny...sending cold vibes to my fellow firefighters!
Nic - I was talking to a family friend the other week who has terminal cancer (she thought she'd beaten it), and she was getting so down until she started talking about her grandkids. She's a bit of a downer anyway, and she started off by concentrating on their difficult births. So I got her talking about how she actually gets to see them and play with them and she felt a bit better. I told her that my FIL didn't realise just how terminal his cancer was and he never got to meet Oscar, so checking out after meeting your grandkids is no small achievement - I reckon your nan must have been so proud of you and your sister! From the sounds of it, your nan's funeral will be a very fond farewell, instead of a sad one
Got the hungries, gonna go...

[MelS]

Tali - thankfully we hire the dance costumes! I would be so hopeless trying to sew anything lol!!! In saying that, I have spent a fortune on makeup, tights, new shoes, hair piece etc, etc! She really loves it though and looked so beautiful tonight, their costumes are great. Your mum must have been a wizz, sewing all those costumes. Well done on the dress, can't wait to see the pic.

Maya - poor Oscar, a double whammy of infections! Lets hope the antibiotics do their job and he is feeling much better tomorrow. Maybe give swimming a miss and let him get is energy and strength back up. I'm sure he won't mind lol! How nice of your mum to buy you your new shoes - she can surprise you. Excellent idea about the withdrawal, hopefully they can sort it so you just get late withdrawal, not sure what the cut-off date is. Hope your sandwich hits the spot!

Amanda - glad to hear Lockie is over the chicken pox, you guys should be right or you would have noticed symptoms by now. I have my fingers crossed you get the house, they don't give you long do they? Did the interview go well? We didn't have to do an interview, I just sent in a really nice letter (suck job letter actually!). Oh I hadn't even thought of the book list. We have an information night coming up so maybe they might give it out then.

Better go and get clothes ready for work tomorrow. Night all.

[jaspen]

Nic - so sorry to hear about your nan - it is wonderful that she got to meet Tyron before she passed though.

Amanda - fingers crossed for you finding a house real soon.

Maya - I'm with Tali - don't swim in the ocean near Darwin - even the freshwater areas can be sus at some times due to the large reptilians having moved up stream during flooding during the wet. Have fun doing the final planning for your OS trip and with all you have on I think you've done the right thing with the study. Hoping Oscar is better real soon - I usually find that within a day of anitbiotics my boys are on the improve if the infection hasn't spread to far - hoping its the same for Oscar. I'm with Mel though I'd be giving swimming a miss just to give the ear infection time to fully clear even if he seems fit and happy.

Bath - hearing you about the forgetting things that the older ones did when little. I never thought I owuld but if we didn't move so often such that I could correlate when things happened to a place I'd have know idea when things happened.

hi to Julie, Ali, Jess, Mel, Rory and Tali - will try and get back fro more personals later - I just got a whiff of something that needs attention.