Babies Born June 2006 #44

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 :hug:

Good morning girls, especially Maya and Nic :hug: 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 :( )

Nic - big :hug: 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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

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.

wow girls - all these long posts! I can't possibly write one as long but they make good reading :)

all is well with us - Flynn is sleeping well, DH is doing stuff around the house and a great job with Flynn, and I ONLY HAVE 3 DAYS OF WORK LEFT after today!!!

Just briefly... Wade sick today so no French Music :(

Jaspen: How true! Moving every 2 years has it's advantages!!! Because we moved around alot before having the boys I am able to remember sooo much with regards to my own childhood and Verity's baby and childhood. But because we have been here for 4 years now I'm finding it hard to define events and the way Wade was when he was little compared to Niall... it all just blends. I can remember Verity toddling around our place in Warrigal when she was 1 and a half to 2 and a half easier than I can Wade toddling around here! Oh well, hopefully there will be move on the cards soon :) I guess it could be solved by making home videos... we just didn't have the camera when Wade was a baby.

Woo hoo! No temp last night:) AND no throwing up. Now he just sounds like an emphysemic with a runny nose...but he's way happier. He desperately wants to play outside but it's cold and drizzly, so he'll have to make do with my company. Might even entertain the thought of a shopping centre to keep his senses occupied by the car trip and sights and sounds.
Yep, no swimming - for some reason, when I was wondering about it, I forgot about the ear infection component of him being sick and I was wondering how long his chest would take to clear up instead! What a d!ck I can be.
I decided I should not be making any decisions whilst Oscar is sick (except for dropping that unit!)...my Tupperware order was all over the place and I'm glad I held off sending it in!
yay, Rory - you'll be your own woman soon!
OK, gonna write some snail mail to rellies to see who'll put us up!

Maya: that's good to hear Oscar is on the mend... my boys are going to pick up where Oscar has left of though it seems.

Nickers: I've just updated you avvy and sent it into AstroLady.... I hope you like the new dog image (more like your breed) and I made Nixon standing and lengthened your hair a bit because I noticed from your piccies that it's grown heaps since i saw you last. ETA: oh and of course I put dear little Tyron in your arms :)

glad to see oscar is on the mend Maya but Bath not good to hear Wade and Niall are now coming down with it. After a houseful of sick males the last couple of weeks I feel for you.

Well I have just put some photo's of the dress I made kai still making may's if you want to have a look, anyway better go before DH gets back with DS he already thinks I spend all my time here LOL just got back from shopping where I got the girls some nice dresses for summer gee they have some nice stuff for kids atm shame same cant be said for the ladys clothes. went through the 80's once just dont know if I can do it again. hope the ladys under cut and spike dont come back too.

Hey ladies, just quickly while DH has gone to corowa. Pat came down with an asthma type virus (can't call it asthma even though the dr said it looks like it!) late yesterday afternoon after we arrived home from Euroa. He started wheezing and coughing and was generally unwell.I got some panadol into him and after a rough start finally went to bed about 12am.... at 5 Pat started screaming and didn't calm down until 6.30 when Dh got up for work. He went back to sleep for 20 mins and I quickly had a shower and dressed and fed the kids.Realised about 10 to 9 that Dh had taken my purse and Liz's bag with him to work , so put Pat in the pram and all 6 kids and I walked into town before school.
He slept most of the day, as I gave him another dose of panadol, but this afternoon he started to get distressed so i took him to the dr. who prescribed him ventolin through a nebuliser, prednisolone and unbeknownest to me he also had a ear infection, so he's on antibiotics as well.

Question to any of you ladies who have asthmatic children, How do you get a 17th month old to sit still so you can put the mask over his face?

poor pat - sorry jess can't really help cause have never dealt with asthma quite so young - when i was akid they used oxygen tent like things for the littlies not masks (and i believe fed their meds into this air supply). are you allowed to do it when he's asleep (although the machines used to be so noisy this mightn't be feasible anyway) otherwise the smallest confined space you can and just keep putting up to/as close as you can to his face as he breathes in

Bath - how are the boys tonight, hopefully not too unwell. Sickness really flies through the house when you have more than one child, they infect everyone!

Rory - you must be getting so excited to be nearly finishing work. Glad Flynn is sleeping better for you.

Maya - glad to hear Oscar is feeling better. I'm sure your head will be in the right place soon, esp now your little man is on the mend.

Tali - wow, you did an amazing job of the dress, Kai looks so cute! And esp as you didn't have a pattern. The bear is fantastic, you are very clever! Loved the photos of your kids, they are all so cute! I'm with you about some of the fashion at the moment - 80's was not one of the good era's fashion wise and I don't want to do the big hair thing ever again!!! Kids clothes are gorgeous, not good for the bank balance lol!

Jess - poor Pat, and I have no idea how to keep a mask on his face. When Marley had her allergic reaction she was 8mths old and they ambo's just held the mask as close to her face as they could. Hope it does the trick for him and he is breathing better soon.

Hi all, looks like sickness season for the Junie Babies atm. Tori is a bit under the weather too, although I think she is having trouble cutting her 4th Molar rather than being sick, 3 have come through but the 4 th one has just cut the surface and seems to be sitting there. She is still getting up at 5 am, but I am getting used to it now, I think that my body has started to adjust to the early start.

Nic- Sorry to hear about your Nan, it is so nice that she got to me Tyron though. I hope you find comfort in knowing she is now at peace.

Woohoo Rory on only have 3 days left of work, I have 5 days to do over the next 2 weeks and then I am off, I cant wait I find it a real effort to get motivated to get there.

Bath/ Maya/ Jess I hope all your boys make a speedy recovery from their illnesses- there is nothing worse than having sick babies when there is nothing you can do to make them better.

I am catching up with Tanya and Lucas tomorrow which will be great as well as another Perth BB member, I figured I should try and get my socialising done now because I know as the weather warms up I am not going to want to leave the airconditioned comfort of home!

Anyway I better finish cleaning the house (or start) so it looks presentable for my guests tomorrow.

Thanks again Bath for my avater i look forward to seeing it uploaded!!

My Nan's funeral service was really nice. My pop actually got up and spoke which surprised me, he is a really quiet type person, never says boo, he did so well was very proud of him. My uncle, dad and sister all got up and spoke as well and it was nice to remember back tot he "good old days" instead of the last few years where she was really ill.
As we were driving from the church to the burial a huge storm hit, we had to stay in the car for a while, it eased a little but when realised it wasnt going to stop the procedings went on. And 2 min after it finished the rain stopped.
My MIL looked after Nix so we only took Ty, it was a lot easier not having to chase after Nixon in a church etc.

Bath- not that i never got what you said before but now since having the two children i totally get where you come from when you talk abot what Wade has gotten up to etc! Nixon has been a little terror the last week, im sure its to get extra attention but he has thrown some major tantrums, screaming episodes, getting into EVERYTHING...... but the last 24hrs he has been really good so maybe he is startign to learn that Tyron isnt going to go away!

Ali- Say hi to Tanya for me, thats great you guys are catching up. thats great 5 days left whoo hoo! i hope Tori feels better soon

Jess- oh poor Pat, hope he is ok mate
Rory- yay almost finished work thats great stuff!

took nix back to swimming first time in 3 weeks he loved it! the last few times he has carried on a bit, think he's had sore ears etc but not today he had so much fun, then the best part was when we came home and he slept for 2.5hrs!

Nickers good to hear from you - woohoo for being able to go swimming with Nixon so soon. I kinda have this doomsday expectation that my whole life is going to go to $hit for months after bub arrives (but then again I was like that with Flynn - I figure if I expect the worst then anything else will be a nice surprise!)

Ali do you get daylight savings in Perth - you will get another hour out of Tori pretty soon. Woohoo it is 8.15 am here and Flynn is still asleep!

Tali, I love the dress you made - little girl clothes are SO much better than boy's clothes LOL!

Jess hope you get the cool change and that Pat is better :(

We went to friends' place for a BBQ last night and Flynn had a ball running around in just a nappy and shorts. He is covered in scratches and bruises but doesn't seem to care - man he's tough! The number of times he took a dive or bumped himself it is a wonder he didn't break something - gotta love those green bones! Only thing that scares me is if DH and I are this casual with Flynn, by number 3 we are going to have a real daredevil LOL!

Ali - 5 days left, that must be a great feeling. Are Perth trialling daylight saving? Remember something in the news a while back. How is Tori feeling? Those molars must be awful coming through.

Nic - well done to your pop, it must have been something he really wanted to do. Gotta love swimming the way it tires them out. Great sleep Nixon had, hope you had time to chill out and rest while he was sleeping.

Rory - it was pretty warm last night. I like your sentiment, think the worst and if it turns out better, thats a bonus!!!

It is so windy in Melb today. My clothes dried outside in record time! Nothing much happening today, Chelsea has concert rehersal at 5.45pm and a bit of housework needs to be done. Best get back to it! Love daylight saving, just not the first day when the day seems to disappear.

Hi to everyone, have a great Sunday :)

Jess - hope Pat gets better soon I dont know how to get the asthma meds into them mum use to put my sister infront of her fav movie or toy and bribe with food but she was about 2.5 or 3 at that stage so a bit easier.

Rory - I too use to think that all the girls clothes were sooo much cuter than boys when I only had a boy but now that I have girls I look lovingly at boys clothes as they all look so much better than they did 7 yrs ago, I guess you alway want what you dont have I'm sure if I had a boy again I would look at all the cute girls clothes, LOL.

well we got back from camping yesterday and we had a great weekend, the weather is on the turn at the moment so its getting a bit muggy but we found a really nice shady spot, took up a lot of room much to the envy of others who turned up on the the saturday, We let DS have the day off school on friday so that we could get there and get the good spots which worked cant believe how many people turn up at 5pm and then try to set up in the semi dark only to pack up there tent by 9am the next day. Well I better go we have gym today hope everyone has a good day.

Tali - your camping trip sounds fun and great that you got a good site. Have you been making any more craft projects?

Wow, its a real ghost town in here lately. Everyone must be busy, busy, busy.

I am at work today but leaving early as I have Chelsea's ballet concert tonight. She is so excited about it, they had their rehersal at the theatre on Sunday night and she told me that they have stars all over the roof!!!! They are doing a Hi-5 song, When You Wish Upon A Star, which probably explains the stars on the roof. I can't wait to see it, she has been practising her moves every night.

Better get back to it! Hope everyone and their kiddies are well. :)

Hiya Mel :) I hope you have a lovely night at the ballet! Are you going to record it? Sometimes they don't allow you to make you own recording and make you buy the one they make (which is often better than you could do yourself but sill it's often very pricey!) It would be a wonderful thing to remember... verity used to do that kinda thing at school but I blinked and now that's mostly behind her!

Went to PlayGroup this morning and everyone missed us from last week which was nice... but still feel a bit flat. Niall is doing white poo and I don't know what that means... none of my other two every did that... geeze each kid throws something new at you don't they??? He seems ok in every other regard. I hope it's not serious... if your body stops digesting fat then it can go pale... I think I'd better go back and see the MCHN... haven't seem her in ages, see what she thinks.

Rory I know what you mean about green bones. Niall fell off the table yesterday (I was bathing Wade and Niall wandered out into the dining area)... I didn't see it, just heard a massive thump and then a cry... and last week he sliced his thumb with a knife that he reached in a drawer and grabbed while I had my back turned... oh AND the same day he almost electrocuted himself because I had pushed the change table closer to a wall where there is a lamp attached to the wall within reach. While I was fetching clothes off the floor he reached over to the lamp and stuck a finger up into it. i didn't realise it didn't have a globe in it and it was turned on!!! :o Well he squealed, pulled his hand out and cried and cried OMG OMG OMG I was beside myself with panic. I checked his finger for a burn and even his feet! (apparently if you get electrocuted the soles of your feet are often burned but of course this wasn't going to happened this time because he wasn't standing, he was seated... but no burn. I don't think it was much more than a zap but sheesh! it was scarey... phone!

Hi Bath!
Sorry, not a long one - I emailed my mum last night, but she got it this morning at work...no time would have been good. And it was always going to be received badly. Can't talk to her in person like a normal person, so email it was...uh-oh...

Bath - oh my god, how scary! I would have been freaking out. Well it happened in 3's so no more bad things can happen. Never heard of white poo before, the kids have had many other colours but not white. Be interested to hear what the MCHN says. We are not allowed to take video or photos at the concert, which is very frustrating but I can understand what they are trying to do. The DVD is available for $60 which I think is a bit much, so we are all putting in to buy 1 copy then burning it (ooops, I didn't say that lol!).

Maya - oh not more trouble with your mum, as if you haven't got enough on your plate. If you need to vent, email me!

Bath we better make sure Flynn and Wade don't start conspiring next time we get together LOL!! Speaking of which I have an appt this Friday but won't be able to drop by :( Ah well, next time.

Maya, I know what you mean about mothers not being normal....mine is being ok at the moment but has been known to go off the deep end!

Tali sounds like camping was fun - can't wait til we can go again :)

Mel have fun tonight at the concert!

All is well with us - Flynn is going great guns and sleeping really well. DH measured him the other day and he is off the charts for height which is understandable but a worry - I was kinda hoping he would take after my side of the family and be a "normal" height LOL! DH is now busy on big projects around the house - putting up a side fence (colourbond, not timber), building a car port, renovating the laundry and other stuff. Thing is I want him to do little things like put a nail in Flynn's room to make the net curtains sit straight LOL!!

Bath sounds like your going to have your hands full with Niall, poor little bubba, hope you find out what the white poo is as I've never seen it before.

Maya sorry to hear your having troubles with your mum again.

Mel I hope that Chelsea's dance goes well, yay for cd burners, lol.

Hello Rory, Ali, Nic, Tali and Jess.

Well I thought that everyone else was going to miss out on the chicken pox, but no on Sunday morning Kailen came and a said "mum, I've got chicken pops", lol, and sure enough he did and alot more the Lockie did and then on Sunday night just before I put Cody to bed I checked him and he had about four spots and Monday morning when he woke he had more. So two weeks to the day the others broke out. Poor Kailen has them in his mouth and down his throat as well so eating is a bit hard for him. We've also got another application in on a house and should know tomorrow or Thursday if we've got it. Better go, getting tired.

hugs xoxo

Sorry to hear the boys have the "chicken Pops" Amanda....I hate it when that bug is hanging around!

Jess, love the new name :)
Rory - can't wait to see the new work!
I'm feeling flat as flat can be. I am SO glad this doesn't happen to me often, it's debilitating. I considered this week whether I might have some sort of depression, but I still think I don't. I think I'm just flattened from the last month and a bit, and that when my exam is done I will be on the up and up again. I'm sad about my mum though. It's stuff she needs to hear/read, but I still hate doing it to her, she'll be crushed and I hate that because she'll miss my point from sadness and self-pity. I should have held off. I wish she was here and not in the country.
Im feeling particularly deflated because I've lost ALL my contacts in my SIM card and phone. The data cable doesn't seem to work:( I guess I can see it as a good spring clean? Anyone who is important enough I can get their numbers into my new phone, and other people can text me eventually and I'll save their info. The new carrier SIM wasn't supposed to take effect for about 24 hours! The stupid run over phone didn't have bluetooth so it was always really fiddly to get data from it, so I"ve got at least 2 beautiful photos of Oscar on there, never to be retrieved. Bugger, bugger, bugger! I must mutter 'fresh beginnings' to myself over and over...
Sorry, I'm such a downer today.
On the up - I had a good chat with a tutor today, and even though she can't change my mark for a piece of work, I will only ever write brilliant Literature Reviews from now on!
Bath - just remembering your post about hte lamp and Niall...heart in mouth moment!
DP is talking about travelling Australia for a year when I'm done with this course. No problem except the dogs and my horse...ho hum, what a tumultuous week...

Well, you know hun, if you ever want to come up this way for a weekend break you are always welcome.
Thanks by the way about my name change!

Maya – couldn’t do ebay shopping for our house stuff – all main stuff was chosen with builder but other big stuff such as floors, carpets, window stuff, paint for walls and fencing has to be sorted by us. Glad Oscar is better now. The new photos on your facebook are lovely – I really should get my butt into gear and get some proper ones done of us 4. Sorry that you’re feeling low – I’m sure its exhaustion more than anything as you’ve been pushing yourself so much recently, you must be so looking forward to finishing that exam. I guess the situ with your mum doesn’t help – I know email sometimes seems cold but it is sometimes the best way to say everything you need to without ending up in a shouty match. Travelling Aus for a year when youre done sounds wonderful – will you finish before Oscar has to go to school? “hugs’ to you, hope you feel lighter soon.

Nic – sorry to hear about your nan but glad she hung on long enough to meet your new little Tyron. Your pop sounds like he was amazing at her funeral bless him – it must have been so hard for him. Glad you have an electric double pump – wow 5 minds – I used to be 45!!

Mel – Chelsea’s transition days sound like they went really well. Hope Chelsea’s ballet concert went really well – she is getting a big girly.

Tail – the Christmas dress you made for Kai looks lovely. Glad you had a great time camping – sounds lovely – did you end up at Ellis beach?

Jess – hey another new name! cool. Hope Pat’s better – his astma type thing sounded scary.

Rory – yep we get daylight saving here in Perth – doesn’t seem to make any difference to my little pita’s – we’re lucky if we get to sleep to 6am – lucky you at 8.15 and Flynn still sleeping!

Bath – scary times with Niall’s splat off the table then the lamp – ouchy! I’m sure toddler’s should be renamed ‘danger detectors’ as they manage to find anything dangerous even though there’s mountains of other stuff around!

Amanda – sorry to hear all your boys have come down with chicken pops! – hope you avoid it. Good luck with the house.

Had an average week since I last posted (have been slack!). james had the Thursday off so we went and did housey things and chose floor and carpet – definitely cant be fitted until late Jan so concrete floors for us for a month! Also handed in application for enrolement for the new school for Will ad Oscar! It feels like so far in advance but they had said places were filling fast so thought id better get in there. The school goes from kindy righ up to year 12 so at least there will be continuation for them and it’s only 5/10 minutes walk from the new house.

Will was really bad on Friday with coughing and temperature so didn’t take him swimming on Saturday but took Oscar – he did so well I was so proud. On Friday night we did a mini dinner party with DH boss and his wife which I was dreading but ended up really good as they are so relaxed and she is from Peru and really outgoing so it was interesting to talk about life over there. I was abit worried about watching what I said and not going on and on about the kids as they have been going through IVF for years and it sounds like she keeps getting pregnant but mc each time so didn’t want to rub salt in but she kept asking about them and seemed really chilled about it, I’m not sure if they’ve stopped now as she is over 40 now – such a shame she would be a great mum.

James went away on Sunday arvo to Melbourne for work but is back tomorrow night. I have had Oscar in bed with me and Will in the cot next to me (as normal) so have been quite relaxed about him being away. Took the boys for haircuts yesterday – wills first (have put picky in the gallery) – he was so good and didn’t bat an eyelid – I though he looked abit ‘bruiser’ like but cute when they spiked it. Oscar was a nervous wrech and cried all the way through again – sat on my knee cowering like he was being tortured! Never mind he looks loads better and even asked for another haircut today so it coul dn’t have been that bad!

Anyway, off to tackle my 3’ ironing pile while watching last half hour of NCIS (can have a little letch at gibbs – so sad!) the numb3rs while having a loooong G & T.

Julie x

Amanda- Sorry to hear about the chicken pox hope they all get over them soon with out too much scaring. They are going around our school at the moment but so far so good and DS hasnt brought them home if he hasnt had them by the time he is 13 he get the vacc for free but I might not wait that long had always thought that if he hasnt got them by 10 then I will vacc as any older and it can get very embarrassing.

Maya- hope you pick up soon maybe your just feeling run down and need to relax a bit I too get like a bit flat like you say its not depression just not your normal self hopefuly you get to take some time to your self soon and dont stress too much about your mum I'm sure what ever you felt you need to say was what she needs to know, once she gets over it maybe it will open the line of commuincation between the two of you.

Julie- sad that you will have to have no flooring for awhile I guess a few cheep mats will have to do for awhile. Wow having to enrole the boys already some of the better schools up here are like that and at the moment as they dont have enough high schools you have to book your kids in ( even the public ones ) as soon as they start 1st yr but in the end the public schools have to take your kids so this is just leading to too many students. LOL at Oscar hair cut anticks my DS use to do it all the time in the end I would have him on my lap and I would have to hold his head still not fun but the good news is he did grow out of it and now loves getting his hair cut. Poor little Kai still hasn't had a hair cut yet her hair is sooo fine and fly away looks like she will get my unmanageable hair flat and fine. By the way whats ironing I wouldnt know doesn't get done in my house I was told when growing up if you want it ironed then do it yourself so I guess thats how I do it now only if it needs it much to DH's dissapointment the only time I have ever iron is when I lived down sth to keep warm, so maybe if we move I will start again LOL.

Bath- How scary with the lamp, always happens the minute you have your back turned.

Mel - how did the dancing go I bet it was really cute the Tiny tots always are the hit on the night. How many turned the wrong way that always made me laugh ( I was always the one who turned the wrong way or forgot the steps LOL ) I hope to get may started next yr but might just wait until we have moved. DH has been home so haven't done much craft but I will be starting again soon have to do some cross stiches for my sisters weddings if I get them done now atleast I know there done and wont go into a mad rush to finish a week before. I will be doing a few more stars, christmas trees and teddys so that the kids can stick on squins on the weekend.

Roryrory- I have two tall children to have always been in the 90% on the charts but kai is my little duck and in only in the 5 to 10% for her height so you may too get a shorter one, one day.

Well DH has gone away again we look on the net for houses found a few we liked one is in selby and is in bush land which we love but as I grew up around there I'm a bit worried about bush fires but I live with cyclones now so I guess its much of a muchness both can ruin your house. the other one was in boronia but has pool and really dont want one but other wise a really nice place just so hard to tell when you cant see it with your own eyes and I know that the realestate agents always take the photos from the best angle. We are getting a bit p***ed at the system that melb has as the price you see isnt the price at all that really want alot more so why do they even put that price there. up here the price is what they say it is and in darwin you neg with a cheeper offer to what they want and work up to something your all happy with. but to say the house is $320,000+ and then when you ring them they tell you it close to the $400,000 mark now thats a big jump. sorry for the vent but it just really hard to find a house when you dont get the system down there. Plus can anyone tell me whats with the way you put in a offer and they tell you that they are taking all offers until a date and then will take them to the seller and they will choose the highest bidder but they wont tell you if you get out bidded you just have to guess and tell them what you think the house is worth, and hope that you got the highest bid agrrrrrrrr just make me mad and confused I think we will just have to wait untill we get down there and rent for awhile and see what happens now all we have to do is decide on where and when that will be.

I might have to make a poll for all melb people to tell me where the best place thay think is to raise children.

Anyway I better go as if I sit here any longer and lison to the 101 dalmations DVD anymore I might scream. May has watch it 3 times in a row now and for the last week she would have to know every word by heart now.

Tali I feel your frustration as I have been a buyer and a seller 4 times (bought twice, sold twice). Renting for a while sounds like a great idea as I personally wouldn't buy a house unless I could both see it in person AND more importantly see who your neighbours are going to be! I would rather live in a dump with lovely neighbours than live in a gorgeous home with awful noisey abusive neighbours, believe me I have been there! Maybe if it was just you and DH you could cope and wait it out hoping they would leave but with kids it's too dangerous. For this reason I would also buy a very basic house but in a nice suburb. Location Location Location. I also don't like the idea of hoons screaming past my front door every night or drunken louts spewing in my front garden. I have been there too... but not with kids thankfully. If your price is about $320,000 and you want a full detached house in a nice area then you might be happier on the edges of Melbourne rather than in the suburbs. We love our suburb but that would be lucky to get a 1 bedroom bedsit in our area :( as blocks of land are $600,000. So that's why we rent. But there are lovely places up in the hills that I think you would find appealing. I think the reason our "system" is the way it is is because there are soooo many people down here wanting so few properties. If you were a seller and you put a set price on your house (say $320,000) then sold then found out that your neighbour sold their similar house for $400,000 at auction then you would feel pretty crap. Because there are so many properties down here it often takes people a while to find a house they might want to bid on... whereas in Cairns you can probably drive around and look at every place for sale in a few days. Here it takes weeks (if you aren't particular about where you live). Anyhow, it is a tricky system but it is learnable. AS I said, I highly recommend renting at least for a little while until you get a feel for a particular area. Rent where you would like to live and make sure that you go for walks around the streets that you like to live in. You would be surprised by how much of a 'feel' you get for a street. The lovely leafy street that appeals to you first visit one Sunday might turn out to be a dangerous traffic nightmare when you return on Monday peak hour... and the lovely house that is nice and peaceful looking on Monday might be the one next door to the area headquarters of the local bikie gang the next Saturday afternoon. We have lived in our house for 4 years now... and we now know that yes, it's the right place for us. That will be true peace-of-mind when we have the money to buy :) Don't make a rushed decision darl.

Thanks Bath I guess I feel like if I buy a house then we wont get cold feet and move again, we have been aproved for about $450 so plenty of $ but just not sure where to go like I said. Its hard when as I feel like I should stay to areas that I know but when we have the opp to go anywhere and start a fresh it seams like a wasted opp to stick with what we know. Plus DH will still be on a fly in fly out roster so had to keep the airport in mind too. Plus he wants to work on the cranes when he has had enough been away and we have a good savings behind us. thanks again the thought of neighbours didnt enter my thoughts really dont want bad ones, who hate kids and dogs as I have both, after living a very sheltered life in the defence where we were always given a house and you didnt have to prove who we were or ask if we could have a dog this all seams very strange and scary world.

Rory - your DH is far too handy, wish mine was. I hope you get your nail put up, I tend to do those things myself as if I wait for DH it never gets done. Glad Flynn is sleeping well for you. Almost time to finish work isn't it?

Amanda - you poor things! It certainly is very contagious. Must make house hunting a bit hard.

Maya - don't be too hard on yourself. Life has been extremely hectic for you and you have been a busy girl. Take a big breath and try not to let it get to you. I hope your mum understands what you are trying to get at and you can get the relationship you want with her. I have emailed you my phone numbers.

Julie - at least the concrete floor will keep the house cool in summer. The school sounds great and even better that they can stay there right through to yr 12. I love Wills haircut, he is soooo cute! Thankfully with girls, you don't have to get it cut often. Chelsea has had 3 haircuts in 5 years!

Jess - love the new username too!

Tali - if you see any in Boronia, PM me where it is. I live a few minutes away and know the area pretty well. MIL lives there too. Selby would be a fair hike to the airport though. Do you prefer bush or beach? There are some good areas around me with good schools etc but it depends on what you are looking for. The Melb house market is just going nuts and the higher the demand for houses, the higher the price goes. I would steer clear of auctions as they have been going so over the reserve its ridiculous. Bath makes an excellent point about the neighbours etc, as I would hate to have bad ones.

Thanks for all your well wishes for Chelsea's concert. She did an amazing job, remembered all her moves and the lines to the song. I was such a proud mum (and DH and MIL too!) and had tears in my eyes watching her, she looked beautiful. Tali, it was funny watching the ones that forgot their moves or went the wrong way!!! The kinder tap dancing was adorable, everyone gave them the biggest applause, they were so little but danced great. The whole concert was brilliant, such talented kids, esp the older ones. One of the yr 8 girls won a scholarship to the Victorian College of Performing Arts, so she will be in Yr 9 next year studying dance full time. She did a solo last night that took my breath away. The only down side was it was a very late night (a bit late for the little kids), finished about 11pm then we had to collect the kids and they let them out 1 at a time and there were 170 kids all up in the concert so that took ages. Then getting out of the carpark which was gridlocked, took another half hour, so we got home near on midnight. Poor Chelsea fell asleep in the car and she slept till 10.30 this morning. We have just had a quiet day today, I've let her chill out and watch dvd's and relax.

Hi to everyone else! :)

Thanks Mel that would be good to have someone who can do drive by's as its so hard to tell on the net. I kinda Know the area as had a few friend who lived around there when I was in high school but dont know the area to well anymore I have decided that I am going to go a get a melways after swimming class tommorrow so it can help me get a idea on the area and so forth. By the way I have know idea how to PM someone so you will to talk me through it once again ( one day if I'm lucky I will get the hang of all this stuff.)
Glad Chelsea did well shame they always finish so late the little ones are really tied by the end. why was it on a week night and so early in the year I thought most of these thing start in nov?

*Pops her head in and waves to everyone*

I have been reading but had no time to post, I will be back later to catch up properly but just wanted to let you know I am still alive and baby & Tori and I are all doing fine.

I hope everyone is well!