Oooh have fun Mel!!! Enjoy your flight... I would LOVE to be taking off somewhere! Enjoy being served and eating food that you haven't had to shop for and make! I'm sure your DH will cope just fine Looking forward to reading your post-holiday debrief!
Hi all,
Mel - I know you're having a great time, wanna hear about it when you get back! I know, I haven't reported on last Monday yet, I'm still processing...will formulate something soon (have frantic boy who needs help with a bath and bed cos DP is getting drunk with BiL...grrr)
Ali - I'm a bit late on this one, but if you're not travelling further afield, stick with PT!
Well, I'm on the home straight now. Have my birth pool that I've borrowed from my wonderful friend (who's a BB doula, actually!) and I've got my salt lamps ordered (cheaper than getting 2 or 3 of the candles I was going to get...on eBay, of course ), so I'm all set. I've been having niggles and today BxHicks. My last gig for the Healesville venue was last night and I'm glad, cos it was hard work getting all those breaths in! Oscar seems to be adjusting well to talk of the baby beign in the house and needing his help with the baby. He's also not upset by the idea of sharing 'babu' anymore, which is ace, cos I'll need his help! He's helped keep my boob size down this pg.
I've been keeping my brain active here on BB, as well as IRL with this Birth Choices stuff. I made it into a Fairfax Leader paper and look set to be in one again shortly (with my local MP and other local activists, including Kazbah!). I've been tangling with some engaging material and it means I'm more tired than I would be otherwise..sigh!
Better go, I'm about to be attacked by a light sabre (my mum insisted that Oscar needed one cos his friend had one and I wasn't going to get him one...grrr...).
Hope everyone is well. Amanda - how are you going?
Have a good week!
OK, not sure how Oscar could get any cuter. He's really melting me this week - he understands soooooooo much!
I'll give a run down of the rally, now that I've got some thinking time:
Got into Canberra airport later than scheduled cos there was a knock-on effect of delayed flights, and my friend Mel (doulamelanie here on BB) collected my GF, her DD and I. She tells me she met someone I knew in the foyer of the hotel...it was Kazbah! We get into the hotel, crash through the doors and I headed to the mini-bar for a packet of chips. We all cooed over GF's DD, who had only just turned 1 the week before. I was sent into the bathroom to have a luxurious bath with a hot chocky and some handmade truffles we'd ordered as room service (we thought 'what the hell?") and then settled in for a great night's sleep with no DP stinking out the room or Oscar coming in during the night....bliss!
Woke up in teh morning and it was grey and drizzly. No matter, we were pumped and sms'ing and calling other people we knew who were around. I missed my pool session to watch the stupid Sunrise session - what a wasted opportunity! We all went down to brekky and I thought I might get a swim in for later, so I didn't do my hair. As we're at the buffet, we see Tracy Bartram come in and Mel talks birthy stuff with her briefly...I raid the Coco Pops dispenser with the glee of a madwoman. Mel did an interview with the smallest doco maker team present that day, then they ask if I want to say something...argh! My hair!! I figure I'm not going to miss my opportunity for a few offending follicles (shut up, I know, I have way more than just a few follicles...).
We realised the time had marched on and I wasn't going to get my swim and I had enough time to dash into the shower and get dressed to make it in time to the Tent Embassy to meet with our local MP. Well, we did and he was really on board with what we had to say (and has been since last year, way before the Bills were introduced) and so supportive - he's there in a piccy with us on the steps of Old Parliament House in about two or three local papers (he did a press release).
From the Tent Embassy we walked up to Federation Mall and walking up that hill was amazing - the amount of people spread before us was very inspiring, despite the rain and cold. We ran into Cookiemonster and her family (I was with Kaz as well) on the way up and just kept running into people I knew for the rest of the rally! I saw Kelly and her fella, loads of Homebirth in the Hills people, my midwives (very comforting to know they were there!), as well as some people I know through ABA circles. It was interesting to hear myself explaining to Jason Wood (our MP) that we all know each other through various, sometimes intersecting networks - isn't that just the way the Mummy Network operates? School, sport, boobs, birth? It's our strength and can also be our 'weakness', given that our lack of formal collectivity has allowed the fragmentation of our rights, and our interconnectedness has brought us together for important things. Anyhow, I digress.
We got wet, but we were also excited to be acknowledged by so many pollies who are actually on our side with real facts, instead of one-liners practised to ensure votes. Inspired by the women's stories we heard, too. Dr Sarah Buckley spoke and I spoke with her briefly afterwards (we've been in contact before through Facebook). Tracy Bartram was just perfect as the MC.
We broke off and my small group went for a big lunch and back for a look-see at Parliament House. The flight home was like a charter flight for all the Vic supporters...yet knowing it was only one flight back home amongst many planes carrying people who felt strongly enough to lend a face and voice (or who weren't so far advanced in pregnancy!). Again, heartening to know my middies were on that flight, too!
So, there you have it, my Canberra experience. Informed and inspired by so many women from BB and from my local networks
Bath - hope the night isn't too cold at the G!
Better go, DP has nearly finished filling the birth pool for the trial run...
I am so proud to know you Maya, what a great experiance that would have been, not that I would ever be brave enough to have a home birth myself I believe its our rights as mothers to choose the way we have our children....
Mel sounds like you have been having a ball in Brisbane... I think I am the only one who doesnt get out and about on my own, I havent been anywhere with out at least one child by my side since having Zayden, my time will come one day I am sure... maybe when BHL has a noraml job so that I dont feel guilty leaving him on his days off...
Well not much to say here, we are still TTC our little one with out any luck, BHL is no longer sure he wants to even have a 4th which is heart breaking... we are still TTC for now but I know that my time is fast running out, if it doesnt happen by Christmas I dont think it will... I am Hating Mackay, so I have been feeling quite down, hence been a bit quite, I told BHL that I would like to be back in Cairns by the end of next year, so we will see what happens, I am missing Melb and my family heaps which isnt helping, Kai walks around with a photo of her nanny and granddad and tells me she is missing them, so that is also very hard... things just dont seem to be going right for us at the moment BHL also doesnt like Mackay so at least that something, but been new in the job he doesnt want to ask about other sites just yet...
well thats about it
love you all I miss our dayly chats we used to have... but I guess as our junies get older and new children come along, things too must change...
School holidays are in full swing now. The kids are running through the house in one door and out the other as I type.
Maya: great report! Well done chicky! Weather was fine at the G... result was not oh well...there's always another year!
Tali: for you... I hope you get the best Christmas present imaginable with a BFP.
Nic: Good to see you
I think our Junies thread will keep pottering along I know what you mean Tali about children growing older and new ones arriving on the scene but this will still be a constant because we have so many lovely members in this thread. I post fairly lightly in here only because I have so many other threads vying for my attention eg ATM a Cholestasis thread that somebody needs help with... but I always drop in here and read what everyone is up to.
Well, Bath, at least the Pies lost!! I was sorry bout the doggies.
Our Junies are still giving us good conversation here, I agree I always come back here, too, when the other boards fray at me a bit. Also, I avoid talking about Oscar in my current belly buddies thread except where it's related to pregnancy and making comparisons etc. so that the first timers don't feel like an older child is intruding on their headspace! Particularly at this stage of the game where we are all waiting on newborns, and that's the only reality for many of them - I'm cool with that
So, I think I'm the last one standing in this thread who hasn't had a second kid YET...always the last to catch onto a trend
I have my GF on board with my intention to have Oscar here no matter how grotty he may be. DP is still thinking of a 'back up plan' in case Oscar is flying off his nut from tiredness or whatever and I keep saying that he stays with us, no matter what because having this baby is about our family, thick or thin. He's now outnumbered I can see where he's coming from, I just want him to see that it's more important for Osc to be integrated into this change (particularly if we're going to be home and HE'S the one who leaves) than for him to attend to me in labour (as I'll have at least one middie and my GF!) if GF can't deal with him, for whatever reason. Both GF and I recall our younger siblings being born and being sent away (we both would have been about 2 at the time and the memory is still palpable) and I never want Osc to feel that we can't deal with him (not till he's a grotty 13 year old!). So, that was really the last sticking point that I think isn't that sticky with the middies and GF on board with the same idea as mine.
So far, he's handling it great - he talks about meeting the baby in the birth pool and we were chatting about helping the baby with clothes, baths and sharing Babu. I'm glad we waited till Oscar was a lot more articulate and able to reflect back his understanding, it's been a much more bearable journey for it.
I'm still in a state of flux over kinder next year - does he come with me to uni and do the kinder program? Will we even live somewhere I can travel to uni from or will I be studying from home? In that case, will I send Osc to a childcare place that has kinder? Or just kinder and hope for the best in study time? If we have moved further out, where's my head gonna be with my trusty support networks so far away and establishing new ones? ARGH! We need a long lost relative to leave us with a good inheritance so that we don't have to move too far for what we want!
Nic - how is Nix going with the appointments?
Tali - never say never!
Bugger, neighbour's kids have come to play...why wouuld their parents do that when I'm 38 weeks pg? It's hard enough keeping Oscar from mischief!!
Oh no! I hope the neighbours kids are behaving themselves! I so know what it's like being the recepticle of every kid in the neighbour despite feeling fragile! I had 7 kids to look after by myself on last weeks rainest day!!!
Regarding siblings at birth: on reflection it's something I wish I could have offered Wade (I think Verity would have felt uncomfortable about it at age 9) when Niall was born. And also, not just for his sake... for mine! I really think having Wade there to cuddle between contractions would have helped my own natural ability to deal the pain. I took photos of Wade as a newborn along to my hospital labour... they really helped... but having him there would have been better. So good on you... I'm sure he'll be fine... and benefit in many ways. People assume that a child watching a birth would be "scary" just in the same way that it scares some women watching TV doco style births... but kids have a totally different outlook. It's like how a young child would happily go up to a snake and crouch down next to it for a closer look... the child only receives fear by a contagious process. I'm not saying that giving birth is like a snake! LOL Maybe a poor analogy... although I'm not that scared of snakes... they don't mean to be dangerous after all Anyhow, I'm just one for normalising every aspect of life for kids when they are young.... not making everything taboo by hiding everything... a bit like death too... a child shouldn't be sheilded (I think) from death. If a pet dies when the child is at school i would never suggest getting rid/burying the animal before the child got home. I'd involve the child in the farewell and grieving process. I just think it's respectful.
Well the house is quiet... Verity and Wade are playing with the neighbours out the front and Niall is in the foyer playing with his Thomas the Tank Engine trains
DH on leave for a week as of tomorrow we're going to shift furniture!!!
Last edited by Bathsheba; September 21st, 2009 at 04:08 PM.
I agree, Bath - kids tend to fear what their parents fear. I've heard so many parents (through the Homebirth network) say that their kids have such a normal idea of birth with no fear about it They also reckons it makes a big difference in sibling relations (at least for the younger years!) to see their baby brother or sister being born.
My parents' dog died a few weeks ago and I decided to tell Oscar right away. I didn't want to explain it to him when they got here and he'd ask for the dog, and he 'gets it' as much as a 3yo can get the fact that the dog's not going to be around anymore. He was a bit young this time last year to fathom that his great grandfather had died. I had to explain to him that our dog was not well over the weekend and he eventually caught onto what that meant, too.
Well, the neighbour parent sent over sangas and melon, so that sweetens the deal a bit (sangas for the kids, I can eat my own thing from the safety of my study!). Geez, older kids need a lot more attention! I've got either brother or sister dobbing on the other or on Oscar - sheesh. Ok, one's gone home now, so I'm just dealing with the sister (who's too scared to watch the Dark Crystal, so Oscar has just learned to compromise and watch Hairy McLary!). The little brother sulked home after scratching his leg in a fall and I think I was supposed to make a bigger deal of it than it actually was...oh, well! All is quiet and I can think again...ETA: little brother is back with a Ben10 toy (fan-friggin-tastic) and they're watching The Silver Brumby. Oh, dear, what happened to my chilled out day??
Thanks so much, Bath
Teens - one thing at a time! These kids weren't so bad in the end. It almost ended in tears - Oscar got kicked in the groin by a frustrated 4 and a bit year old and we all had to have a talk about it. I'm sure he thought he was going to be sent home and be told off. Instead, about 15 minutes later he came into the study (where I can get a good view of loungeroom and the backyard) and said that Oscar had hit him on the hand, so I had a talk with Oscar about it. So far, since growing out of his experimental hitting from earlier days, he doesn't hit in frustration or retaliation (he hits ME in frustration, but not other kids), so it would be nice if he didn't get kicked in the nuts in his own house!
I hadn't really done this before, the having neighbours kids over - it's a new world for me! When they've come over, DP's been home and in the backyard and I've been able to hide in the house (it's only been happening recently), so it was bound to happen these school holidays.
Thanks for being online, Bath, to read my banter about it!
Better go do the things I foolishly thought I'd get done whilst 'supervising'...hope everyone is well and still enjoying the Cats win
Maya we had Zayden in the room when we had Mayleaka, wasnt by choice as we were in a hospital but she came 2 weeks early before I had anyone up to look after him...
He coped wonderfully, he did have kids TV on, and did tell you to be quite a few time coz I was making too much nosie for him...
I cant say that he remembers any of it but he was only just 3 when I had May... He was getting a little bit board there for a awhile but lucky for all of us may arrived only 4 hrs after comming into the hospital...
Best of luck with your up coming birth, I am sure it will be a really speacil experance...
Speaking of homebirths I was reading a thread by Alan about one he did, and realise he lives near me ( well near Cairns ) so if I do ever manage the what seem the imposiable at the moment, I might just consider using him in a homebirth, if that is we as woman can still have them...
Fingers crossed you can have Alan take a ferry across for you one of these days soon, Tali!! Awesome story, huh? Thanks for your story about Zayden; Oscar will be about the same age and if he's watching a DVD on the computer, we may get told to take the music volume down! A friend of mine had an unplanned homebirth with her last child and the kids didn't realise what was happening and were watching TV. They were asking for snacks and she had to tell them to get snack themselves cos she was 'busy'...next thing, they've got a little brother!
I've pulled up well from yesterday - I don't expect the kids over today, it's too windy and wet. Oscar is watching the Dark Crystal...bad mummy, but he was in tears from being told he could watch it later - he wanted it NOW. There aren't that many movies he gets attached to, he's been liking the Muppets, too with the Rainbow Song.
He mentioned being kicked in the groin by the neighbour again when I tucked him into bed last night I hope it doesn't stick in his mind for too long!
I've been MIA.....sorry, I've had a shocker of a winter, someone sick every week and it was just way to much to handle I think. I just couldn't post, I've read almost all posts.
I've had a sick free house for just over a week now so hopefully everything is getting back to normal, Julian still only has 6 teeth.....he is chewing everything in sight. He's also walking around furniture and can stand unaided and has taken a step from the coffee table to the chair I was sitting on this morning, so I think that he'll most probably be walking by his birthday.
We're getting some pixie photos done on Saturday morning and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get one done with him in his birthday MCN that we got him, as well as a family shot and one of just the 5 boys.
Cody is growing so fast and he's quite the character....he's chatting constantly, whether to himself or his brothers and even DH and I, very funny at times. He also has quite a temper at time as well so have to keep an eye on that.
I've been reading a book called "star parenting" by Sherrynne Dalby, it's so very interesting, it's about the personality traits of your childs star sign and how their personality works and I've seen some very definate changes in the way I parent the boys and it seems to be working some what. It's helped me understand how certain signs work ect. If anyone would like me to photocopy them the star signs and send it to you let me know even if you just want a read, very very interesting.
We had Kailen's 9th birthday at the beginning of the month and wow I'm not liking the attitude change that comes with this age, I thought the terrible twos were bad they have nothing on the moodyness that he is having, lol. I don't think the gallery is up and running yet but I did an awesome castle cake for his birthday, took 5hrs in total to decorate. I also did an elmo cake that I was very proud of for a friends 21st.
Maya so hearing you on the neighbourhood kids, I've just started school holidays here and I've had a constant stream of the neighbourhood boys over, one boy in particular is getting on my nerves a bit, he likes to play my boys off against each other and it has been ending in tears lately and he's also always playing rough tackling/play fighting ect and it always seems to be my boys hurt or with the ripped clothing, not to happy about that. I can't believe that your little one is almost here....will be waiting for your BA. Just reading back about Oscar watching the Dark Crystal, my boys love that as well, it's an awesome movie.
Tali I'm hoping that by christmas time you have another bub on the way, everything happens in it's own time and I know how painful it can be when you want it now and it's just not happening that way
Hi Bath, Nic, Mel and Ali I hope you are all doing great.
Ok after a long hiatus I've now blabbed on enough for now. Till next time
Lovely to see you back Amanda! I hope everything cotinues to improve on the family health front! I know what it's like... the sickness domino effect... and with 5 kids I can barely imagine how hard it must be to get through that! It's one reason that as much as I would enjoy returning to work i don't think i could face the worry of someone falling sick knowing that eventually it would go through all of us and that just 1 week off work would be getting off lightly! So yay! for warmer weather and no having to stress so much when our younger kids strip off! Good grief does any other June Baby just hate staying clothed??? Niall just won't keep his pants on these days! And the other day i saw him in the corner with a small pair of binoculars inspectig his penis and shrieking with glee at how small it was (I bet you wouldn't hear any other male doing that!!! LOL). DH has been home on leave this week and is getting a real taste of how frustrating it all can be too. bit of potty training regression. Oh and Amanda i have a similar book on Astrology and how to parent each star sign it's uncanny how similar our June babies are! Niall is also our court jester AND the one with the temper... it's the twin nature coming out! Your cakes sound wonderful... and yes, the BB gallery has been down for months now I'm starting to load up photos to FaceBook instead so you could also link to that (it's an allowable link)... can't wait to see them!
Oh and also LOVE The Dark Crystal! One of my all time faves. You girls have reminded me I must get a copy. Speaking of movies... took Wade to see Up at the cinema today... great movie... really good to see such a strong focus on the older generation in a kids movie.
Am on DH's laptop and struggling to type easily... but will pop in again soon
You've really had a rough ride with sickness, Amanda So good to hear about the boys, it's been a while Sounds interesting about the star signs thing. Not sure what Oscar is doing - doesn't seem to be very Gemini, but maybe I'm reading it all wrong!
Bath - Oscar seems to be over his automatic strip-tease caper. I put it down to him really liking the hand-me-down clothes he's been getting lately. He's even pretty good at picking out his own outfits...such a metro male! He went ages not wanting to keep clothes on, though - hot or cold weather. Well, you know - you saw him in January getting all nudey in the bot gardens...that was typical behaviour for such a long time!
Great midwife appt today, we're all very happy with everything. Don't know why I was all of a sudden worried I didn't have everything I'd need. I wonder if that means I'm imminent? My normally 'keep it simple' approach has become a bit frantic with an overwhelming feeling that I'm leaving everything to the last minute...dumb, I know, cos everything is in place for the birth to happen and I finished my birth plan last night and she thought it was really good. Just burning feel good oils, lathering up in my new massage oil and keeping the house peaceful with mood lighting!
Bath - I told DP today that we had to get a copy of the Dark Crystal to keep, especially as this time next week the library copy is due back and I'll have to borrow something else to grab his attention if we haven't had the baby by then...cos he is seriously watching this film at least 3 times a day. I mean, great, I LOVE this film and I'm so happy he's not scared of it and that he follows it and it's enhancing his language skills...I can't believe I can watch a film I like this many times and not get sick of it... Which film did you see? I'm thinking that Oscar would like Ponyo, cos he really liked Spirited Away, which also has cross-generational appeal. Great that DH is home to help with school hols!
Better go or this DVD will never be watched and ice-cream not eaten...can't let that happen
Just quickly: movies: yep, Niall has his favourites which he just watches over and over and over again. My BIL copied a heap for us but Niall especially will be very hesitant to try something new until he knows every word of one by rote! At the moment Niall's movie of choice is The Aristocats (circa 1970's) featuring Ms Gabor once again as the mummy cat. Niall loves Eva Gabors voice and the music soundtrack HERE is a link. His previous fav movie was The Rescuers also featuring Ms Gabor as a white mouse.
Oh and you'll be fine Maya... you've got everything you need LOL I know the feeling though, but rest assured many of the things I bought just before all my babies were born i regret as unnecessary
Enjoy your flight... I would LOVE to be taking off somewhere! Enjoy being served and eating food that you haven't had to shop for and make! I'm sure your DH will cope just fine 
), so I'm all set. I've been having niggles and today BxHicks. My last gig for the Healesville venue was last night and I'm glad, cos it was hard work getting all those breaths in! Oscar seems to be adjusting well to talk of the baby beign in the house and needing his help with the baby. He's also not upset by the idea of sharing 'babu' anymore, which is ace, cos I'll need his help! He's helped keep my boob size down this pg.
Well done chicky! Weather was fine at the G... result was not 
oh well...there's always another year!
for you... I hope you get the best Christmas present imaginable with a BFP.
I can see where he's coming from, I just want him to see that it's more important for Osc to be integrated into this change (particularly if we're going to be home and HE'S the one who leaves) than for him to attend to me in labour (as I'll have at least one middie and my GF!) if GF can't deal with him, for whatever reason. Both GF and I recall our younger siblings being born and being sent away (we both would have been about 2 at the time and the memory is still palpable) and I never want Osc to feel that we can't deal with him (not till he's a grotty 13 year old!). So, that was really the last sticking point that I think isn't that sticky with the middies and GF on board with the same idea as mine.
we're going to shift furniture!!! 
I hope everything cotinues to improve on the family health front! I know what it's like... the sickness domino effect... and with 5 kids I can barely imagine how hard it must be to get through that! It's one reason that as much as I would enjoy returning to work i don't think i could face the worry of someone falling sick knowing that eventually it would go through all of us and that just 1 week off work would be getting off lightly! So yay! for warmer weather and no having to stress so much when our younger kids strip off! Good grief does any other June Baby just hate staying clothed??? Niall just won't keep his pants on these days! 
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