Baby Born ~ September 2007 # 73

[Cally]

MD - DH doesn't 'do washing' so there was no problem with things going back in the wrong drawers!

Case in point - Miss K away, DH stayed up late watching tennis. I left a note as he was still asleep when I left 'Can you put the sheets in the machine and put it on - detergent already in there'. He's done that. Specifically that - sheets only. Pillowcases still on pillows. When queried 'But you don't always wash the pillowcase'. Yes I do, they are the things that get drooled on, have sweaty heads on etc - Far out!! I suppose I should be grateful they were hung out and brought in, I hadn't asked for that.....

Arte - glad you are having a good time so much that you've forgotten the days. And super good news about W. Not so much BIL.

[Trillian]

Fingers crossed he does Arte! Your BIL is a total Douche. I have plenty of sympathy and patience for people with depression and mental illness, but crap like that is just not cool. That's just being downright manipulative! If I were his family and gone around there expecting the worst I would have kicked his damn ass for finding him sitting at a computer.

MD, I have trouble with sleep rhythms over summer too so I can only imagine how much worse it would be for you

So saturday night was brilliant! I didn't get a pic of the big man because he was only there for a short time - he drove up from melb that day and had to go back that night and by the time I got the camera after his speech he was gone. it was a fantastic speech though, I haven't laughed that hard in ages! A lot rude and a bit crude at times, but so brutally honest - the man calls a spade a goddamned shovel But I tell you what, you think I'm passionate about the cause, well I have nothing on him! He's such a perfect ambassador for the sheep industry.

Oh and I can't believe that I forgot to say this but someone had a visit from the tooth fairy on Tuesday night! Not sure if any of you would remember me telling you about his front tooth that went black after a fall at the pool last year? Well he got a gum boil just above it and it was starting to annoy him so I had a dentist appointment on tuesday anyway and took him along. Dentist confirmed that's what it was and had to pull the tooth out. So the poor kid is sitting there completely still while he jams a gigantic needle in his mouth to numb it and then didn't even flinch while it was pulled out. So the tooth fairy brought him $5 for his trouble. Funny thing was that out of all of them, he's the only one that has insisted that he leave his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy LOL. The others all left theirs on the kitchen sink in a glass of water. Then the tooth fairy has to come back again TONIGHT because the tooth directly below that one came out today! Little turd was opening a bottle with his teeth and it came out root and all. He won't be getting $5 from the tooth fairy again though. That was a one time only deal So he will look like the Turtle Man for quite a while as I don't think his adult teeth are even close to coming through.

[Ozstar]

Wow at him losing two teeth trill!!

I'm sorry I've only skimmed posts. I just wanted to post so I didn't lose the thread lol.

The school lunchbox and cooler bag thingo are doing my head in lol. What have you all bought??

[Trillian]

Hey Oz I brought a backpack that has two full depth pockets - one for lunch box/drink bottle etc and the other one for books. It has a small pocket on the front but they don't use them usually. It's just a bag I got from a surfy type shop - all the kids have this style although the brands vary. A's is a 'unit' one like this one here. He has a stephen joseph dino lunch box.

[Ozstar]

Thanks for that Trill. I think you posted the lunch box on FB didn't you? I've bought so many different lunch boxes and cooler bags lol

[AnyDream]

Hi Oz. We bought a cheap cooler bag at Kmart. I looked for one that was as simple as possible, it's basically an insulated bag with a velcro fastening. That way it can go and out of her schoolbag easily. I don't bother with an actual plastic lunch box, mostly because they have to be enormous or they don't fit any smaller containers or even a decent sized apple. The cooler bag holds it all together and is flexible enough for it not to matter if you put something in that is an odd shape. We have a few smaller containers for cut up fruit and yoghurt, etc. We got a stainless steel drink bottle with an easy-open straw from Target, because it's the same design as the one she had for kindy, so I know it doesn't leak. It's small enough to fit inside the cooler bag if desired.

[Ozstar]

Thanks MD, I was thinking of ditching the lunchbox and using the smaller, more simplistic cooler bag.
I love being able to come here and ask for advice!!

[Artechim]

We have made it to Dunedin. Cadbury tour today which is fun. Raining now but hopefully not tomorrow. W has a camp friend in the camper next door which make life easier.

Trill, yip BIL is stuffed. It is the head injury, he has lost a lot of social constructs. I don't think he has said thank you to anyone in almost a decade. DH spent some time with him on a good day and he wasn't too bad. Good for DH who feels a bit helpless living so far away. Apparently BIL got smacked over at the pub some time last year and got another head injury which compounds when you already have one. Probably explains why he is so much worse now, living in squalor and just vile to everyone. The saddest thing is the ILs who still have hope that one day he will get some therapy and be better. Personally I think the best anyone can hope for is that he stays afloat. Can't say that though, it is such hard going for them and they need to have hope it won't always be this way. Excuse my little venty whinge, can't say what I really think out loud.

I just got A a Crocodile Creek bag, good size and well made.

[AnyDream]

Arte - Sounds like your trip is going well. I hope you enjoyed the magical mystical chocolate tour . Venty whinge re BIL is excused, sounds like such a tough situation, and even harder when the rest of the family is not really talking about it.

Trillian, I have just discovered that people who make safety glasses (ie Bolle for tradies) make them with amber lenses that block out large chunks of blue/green light - at a fraction of the price that "blue light blockers" are being sold for on the internet. I'm on a quest to get me some, figure that would have to help even a little.

Your sat night sounded awesome! Great to have someone talking the talk that makes your industry go round. I bet he was frikken hilarious too.

And OMG - tooth fairy?! H had a tooth pulled when she was 7 and didn't bat an eyelid LOL.

Cally - LOL at your DH changing the SHEETS.

Anyone doing anything for Oz Day tomorrow? We've just had the ILs pull back in to town - so I think I'll be making myself scarce during the day on my own projects (incl. hiding away to listen to the hottest 100 LOL). BBQ roast lamb tomorrow night, might have to slap a pav together too.

[Trillian]

MD, check out ebay - they have heaps of them on there. Just google amber safety glasses. Totally figures though that if you buy the fancy-schmancy 'medical' ones that they would be a hell of a lot more expensive. Do you have blackout curtains on the windows too? Definitely hide away from the IL's - you've done your duty for this year I think We're just going out to a friend's place that has a pool and then out for tea. We were going to go water skiing but one set of friends don't like doing that - he can't swim and she just doesn't like water LOL. Not LOLing at the guy though, he has a congential arm thing happening which means he can't move his arms fully to swim so he just never learnt. I'm kinda disappointed though. We've not had the boat out at all this summer so I was looking forward to it.

So I think I'm all ready for school next week. Had a bit of a freak out the other day when I realised it WAS NEXT WEEK! Finally have all of L's stuff labelled and packed. Just have to cover his books and we're done.

Arte, how's the caravan of courage trip going? Even though BIL has the bad head injury, I bet he is still fully aware of how he is manipulating you all. But I'm glad that your DH had some quality time with him. Must be so hard for him to see that.

ETA - MD, posted a link on my FB wall for you - didn't want to post it on yours kwim?

[AnyDream]

Thanks very much for that, Trill. Will have a look. I don't have blockout curtains but I wear an eyemask in bed. It's a really glamorous look, especially once I've got my daffyduck mouthguard in as well. LOL. I hear you on the freakout!! It was E's last day at family day care today. Very sad. (Although I'm looking forward to the upturn in our finances as a result ).

Big changes coming for you with L. When will you be taking him up there? Another whole level of momentousness.

Well done on getting everything labelled. Haven't done that yet. Still need to move a couple of buttons and cover books etc, shouldn't take too long though.

[Cally]

Turns out I need to get more labels for the mountain of socks. At least there is only one day of school this week so I can have her socks for that day labelled. Must order more labels this weekend.

Our plans for today is just to go for a picnic somewhere, hoping the rain holds off. We went to the Aus Day celebrations in town last year, it just seemed to be lots of people wandering around, but no real activities. Having lamb burgers for dinner.

MD - the upturn in finances will be pretty good. We have enjoyed these holidays, previously we have had half price for childcare them, but she hasn't been since 20 Dec. DH has been buying up big on Lego.

[Cassius2]

No plans for Australia day here! DH is actually referring a cool game today at AAMI stadium...the opening game for the A League match between sydney and melbourne.
I cant go as me wrangling 3 kids on my own for that many hours with a whole bunch of football fans just freaks me out but a bit bummed that miss such a cool game for him.
so, i vacuumed and mopped the floors, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom put on 2 loads of washing and did the gardening. BORING. i have no radio so cannot even listen to JJJ!!!! i am dying!!! it is my tradition and I am failing lol! oh wait, i can probably stream it on here....

[Cally]

I've got it streaming. We don't even get JJJ here, I have been listening for 30 songs and they are all brand new to me.

Had a nice picnic this morning. Now DH is at work, K and I hit the creek for a bit more of a play and now she is into the ever popular 'playing schools'.

[Ginger]

hi girls

listening to jjj hottest 100 right now, my tip is thrift store

sorry i havent been keeping up with personals at all. have had a lot on our plate here. it turns out that we have received a diagnoses for J and it turns out that he has autism. at first we were devestated to get the diagnoses, but we are doing a lot better now that we have had some time to think it all through. he is still the same kid as he was before, he's still just J to us and we wouldnt change anything about him. we feel that he is in the right hands with us, as we will give him all the help and support that he needs. we are starting to get the ball rolling with some early intervention for him. he is the most beautiful amazing and quirky little rockstar.

[Cassius2]

Holy G. You knew there was something he was trying to tell you...must be some surety now on what you are dealing with, but still massive news to take in...no wonder you have been too busy to BB as intensely!

Recommend you chat with Meow on here. she is awesome and has some super insights etc.

BBL have a date with the neighbours across the road

[Artechim]

G, I can imagine the shock of a diagnoses like that. You are right though, he is the same kid as before and you are the best mum he could hope for.

Cass, how did you end up going with the d and c?

Trill, certainly he must know that a suicide hoax isn't on. The look on his parent face as they dashed out the door...especially when a text inviting them over would have got everyone out the door just as quickly. Very frustrating.
Caravan of courage lol. Going really well actually. Starting to fall apart a bit the last couple of days (w) but there are only three days to go. I think the toll of travelling and sugary snacks and leaving the ILs is catching up with him.

Md, I will ask DH what amber glasses cost through work if you like.

Cally, so far I have been spared having to play schools. Have I ever mentioned that I both hate and suck at pretend play? However, W has been playing an ipad game called plants vs zombies and so the kids have been playing zombies a fair bit. DH taught E to say 'brains' so she walks around being a zombie too. Bit disturbing but cute.

We are in Christchurch tonight. Did a drive by of some of the earthquake rubble. The few blocks around the centre of the city are blocked off and empty, with weeds growing through the concrete like apocalypse movies. We went to the zoo today and I saw a baby gibbon that was only born last night.

[Cassius2]

wow, your caravanning trip is flying by!! I told DH about your first day of offal-ness and he couldnt stop laughing...i am assuming that all the gore was eventually washed off lol?

I can imagine that the kids are probably nearing their end and wanting to be home soon. although TBH they have done super well; the longest we went without home base in between was 18 days on the road (LA to Seattle and back). you reach a point lol.

cannot believe the BIL did a hoax like that stupid, so stupid. argh, how hard this must be for his family