Chapman Crazyhouse

School Holidays are upon us

2011-12-14T06:47:00.001+10:00

So here is a picture to tide you over until a real blog post later today…

Nightmares

2011-11-05T14:33:00.001+10:00

Start like this: 9pm, Friday night, 1 kids goes down with what I think is food poisoning.

By Sunday night I realized it wasn’t food poisoning, the 6 people vomiting tipped me off .

The only one who didn’t get sick was Luka, even though Rani spewed on his head while he was asleep.

The kids missed Trick or Treating, even though we had bought costumes, and stuffed the mailboxes in the village with notes containing balloons for people to attach to their gates if they didn’t mind supplying the village* children with lollies {we have a lot of elderly people in the village , and that way if people don’t want the kids knocking on the door, they just don’t hang up the balloon- brilliant idea I thought, I read it somewhere, and there actually was a lot of balloons up }

So so so thankful we now live in a house with 2 toilets.

{back later with Luka’s 4th birthday post- poor little man was sorely neglected while we were all feeling sorry for ourselves and cradling our buckets.He did, however, get his wish, Buzz Lightyear, who has kindly kept him entertained while they act out the entire movie Toy Story 3.}

* Whenever I call where we live ‘The Village’ I get an image in my head of the residents of Minden chasing strangers away with a pitchfork. You know, “Get out of our Village. Outsiders arent welcome!!!” sort of thing. Its not like that at all, in case you were wondering,- there is just a giant sign at the entrance that says Minden Village*

2 Hours

2011-10-30T11:40:00.001+10:00

No, my hand was not caught under a rock {btw, how hot is James Franco teehee} , rather, this is the amount of sleep I've had this weekend.

Why is it that kids always ALWAYS spew at 3am. Well, it started at 9pm, but there is always one at 3am too. Poor Jai, he was so sick. And I felt proud that I can clean up puddles of vomit without vomiting myself! He seems to be feeling better now, Cara has just come down with it, so that’s 2 down, 6 to go! Lots of lemonade, dirty washing and buckets lying around at the moment {and can I just say that I am getting a Hills Hoist soon and am overly excited about it- the clothes line we have now can fit 2 loads of washing on it, I have 3 loads squeezed on it , a load of blankets and towels washing now, and another pile of clothes waiting patiently. So I fully expect to love the clothesline guy as much as I love the air-conditioner dude}

I have had a few photoshoots lately. I have to say that getting a photo like this

makes me really love what I'm doing! I mean, I know I don’t have backdrops or studio lighting {dream dream} but so far everyone seems to like the photos, and I'm sure ill be set up properly very soon {lusting after backdrops and those mats that look like wooden floors etc.} And I just laybyed the Canon 60D!!

Now, im going to lie down with Eden and watch a crappy movie. But heres some more pictures anyway hope you had a great weekend, not involving vomit!

Waiting on Summer

2011-10-27T18:24:00.001+10:00

Its starting to get hot here. Not as hot as it will get, but as the days get longer and we drag the pool out of the garage, I feel summer approaching.

While the bigger kids finish up the school year {6 weeks to go} the babes and I drive with the air conditioning on to escape the heat, ending up at deserted parks where I can sit in the shade of giant trees and watch them run wild.

I sit there and watch them run and play and chase birds and eat dirt

and it makes me happy.

I hold their hands on long lazy walks to spot koalas in the gum trees, laughing when Eden wakes it up with happy squeals when she finally spots it.

sit with Eden in the shade, listening to birds and bugs, while Luka spends forever looking at birds.

And before we know it, its time to come home, and meet the kids when they get off the bus, everyone tired and hungry and hot. Time for dinner and baths and homework and real life.

And they go to bed talking about that koala.

A belated birthday post

2011-10-23T07:22:00.001+10:00

Happy birthday Mr Ed, Fred,Freddy,Freddler,Jai Ethan.

It has been 7 years since we had our first son join our family of girls.7 years to learn about bugs, and dirt, and how high we can climb –current record-shed roof. We have learnt to identify cars at a glance, and praise people for their driving choices {at the grocery shop, to a complete stranger getting out of his hotted up Holden, ‘Nice car mate’

7 years, and I can still remember the words your daddy spoke when I told him the scan showed a boy, “Bulls*!t!!!'” lol

7 years of superheroes,and guns,and an obsession with karate.

You have been in school for 2 years, and I admit I underestimated you, and your concentration span.You love it, and are doing great! But next time when you have a magic trick due in, it might be good if you mentioned it before Friday morning.

We took you to movieworld for your birthday, showered you with lego and weaponry and a Batman castle cake.

You gave yourself the black eye

Typical.

7 years and it feels like yesterday you joined us, with your little buddah face, a clone of your beloved Daddy.I love you so much Jai, my first son, big brother,little brother, Im so proud of you, and cant wait to see what you become!

Those grey hair moments

2011-10-17T07:47:00.001+10:00

Its Jai’s 7th birthday on Tuesday. And since his godfather was here for the weekend, we took the boys, Eden and Rani, to Movieworld.

It was a gorgeous day, sunny and hot, and started out with Jai’s dreams coming true…

{he was so excited about meeting Batman, had been practicing what to say for weeks

“mum, what if I say , Batman,I’m your biggest fan?” {hysterical giggles}

And Luka? Well, his favorite is Scooby Doo. But he was a little star struck!

Lots of rides, overpriced food, the kids were having a ball. Luka got chocolate ice cream all over himself,like a chocolate beard, and I was forced to take his shirt off to clean him {and Eden} up.

Then, it happened. Now can I mention we had FIVE adults watching FOUR kids. I spoke the dreaded words {which I say at least 15 times a day, such is my paranoia and his love of running off}

“Where’s Luka?”

He was gone. In a theme park. We all just split up, running. I ran into a shop to see if they could get a message over the loudspeaker or something. The lovely lady asked for a description.

“3 years old, shaved head, boardshorts, no shirt, very dirty feet” – here’s the part where I start feeling like the worst mum in the world.

No shirt!! why didn’t we bring spare clothes!! And why didn’t I make him put his shoes back on!!! And why did I let go of him AT ALL!!! {this is what I'm saying to myself in my head}

I turned around and saw Luka, perched on Nate’s shoulders. It had been about 7 minutes. And I have at least 40 new grey hairs.

{ I was so worked up –or ‘distraught’ as the shop assistant put it- that I then proceeded to panic…

“Where’s Eden???!!!!!”

I was carrying her.

Apart from that, and when Jai went to ‘look for Daddy’ and took forever to come back, it was a good day. I don’t do scary rides though. I’m just there to carry the bags while I wait for others to have rides haha.

Next time, maybe I will buy one of those leash things like I've threatened in the past.

Queensland

2011-10-09T16:51:00.001+10:00

Yesterday

Today

That’s Queensland for you.

Puddles

2011-10-08T21:48:00.001+10:00

Six monsters

2011-10-07T21:18:00.001+10:00

and just because its too adorable not to share…

{fighting to kiss Eden}

Some days

2011-10-07T13:02:00.001+10:00

There is only time for a quick blog, a few sentences, while Eden pours Sultana Bran on the floor and Luka hijacks Cara’s television, while last nights lasagna dish soaks in the sink and washing waits in assorted baskets, while a tiny horse whinnies for food and a very annoying inside cat meows about going outside…

Today is one of those days

Thank goodness its Friday…

She is finally starting to realize

2011-10-05T14:13:00.001+10:00

that the gorgeous little girl in the mirror, who never comes out no matter how much she ‘kno kno 's’ {knock-knocks}…

and shares the same love for untying her shirt ribbons and chewing with her mouth open….

is someone very familiar!

Sneak peek anyone?

2011-10-05T08:07:00.001+10:00

{my favorite wedding shot}

{Isla-14 weeks}

{my favorite photo from my shoot yesterday-look at those eyes!!!}

I am so thankful that I am starting to get work, doing something that I love!!

And even more thankful that I am finally finished editing them all!!!

13 things about the Chapmans

2011-10-03T13:08:00.000+10:00

1. Simon and I met in grade 10.And got married 6 years ago.

2. We never planned such a huge family, but love {mostly} every moment.

3. We have all embraced country living, after 10 years in town.

4. We currently have 2 turtles, a blue tongue lizard, a cat and a dwarf miniature Shetland pony, Frodo, who you might have seen a few posts ago. He has lots of health issues that require constant attention, but is happy living with us and all the kids.Rani is getting chickens for her birthday, and im thinking about a goose.

5. We own *gasp* 3 televisions. And a dvd player. And a wii and a ps3. I never said I was anti-tv hehe

6. We havent had a holiday for 2 years! Boooo!! Im trying to con Simon into going away next month, maybe a caravan park??

7. I have always been, and always will be, a stay at home mum.

8. We ~~force~~ insist the kids help with housework etc.Cara and Dakota can also cook a meal, which I love, because when I left home I couldn’t cook at all, and that was hard!

9.Public School. A little country public school, but public nonetheless.

10. We immunize. We don’t circumcise, its not really offered here anymore anyway, unless there is a medical reason.

12.We have taught the kids that no matter how much we all argue etc, we are a family and will always love each other, I think its unrealistic to think that you will never fight within the family.

13. We think our kids are awesome!! so so awesome!!!

2 weeks

2011-10-02T12:35:00.001+10:00

Of school holidays. Beginning with my first wedding shoot, and although I was nervous about being nervous, I think it went well.

A loooooong day, a flat camera battery crisis averted by a friendly wedding guest, many many many photos, which I have almost finished editing!

Followed by a surprise party for my beloved Nana. She was surprised all right

And it was nice to see everyone. My family is kind of the black sheep of the extended family. And we took up a whole table. Eden won everyone over with her squeaky shoes. And I loved being told how beautiful my family is.

Beautiful, even when Eden does her ‘smile’

This is me with my brother and sister, and Nana and Pa. We hardly ever get photos together.I hate getting photos taken, and I’m sure Stevie was just wanting to go back to the bar!

2 weeks has left time for many many kids to sleep over, we have had 9 or 10 kids here constantly. When we werent swimming of course

Or just getting soaked

I also finished my shots for Wild Things of Noosa. Go and have a look, you might recognize a very adorable model! I am so happy with how they turned out…

Its been a nice 2 weeks.

Don’t get me wrong though,

I am soooo looking forward to school tomorrow!!

I am hoping to take Eden and Luka out for the day, maybe a walk along the koala track, a play at the park, and an icecream eaten while looking at Wivenhoe Dam. If the weather co-operates. It was just becoming gorgeous Queensland spring, but over the last few days, it has turned cold and windy again. And of course, I spent last weekend packing the winter stuff away!

Well, the vegetable garden calls. It is begging for more soil and mulch, and then it will be ready for planting! We will also be starting our straw bale gardens again soon{last years are now mixed into the veggie patch}. Luka and Jai are going nuts inside, so im going to rug them up and make them help!

Hope your last 2 weeks was as ,um, interesting as ours.

Look mum

2011-09-14T20:34:00.001+10:00

Here's the swing! Put me in the swing *kissy face*

Go on, mum, push!!

I'm waiting!

Wheeeeeeeeeee!

September 11 2001

2011-09-12T08:19:00.001+10:00

I was 6 months pregnant with Rani, 21 years old. Sleeping in our double bed with Rani squirming inside me. Simon woke me and we watched the television in silence, horrified.

My heart breaks for all of you. It did then, and it does now.. And my thoughts are with you today xxxx

Life as we know it

2011-09-08T09:17:00.001+10:00

Spring! Spring is here! And we are so happy that it is beginning to warm up. No more dressing gowns, no more traksuits, one very hair horse that is waiting for a haircut…

I am starting to pack away the winter things, getting out Edens adorable summer wardrobe

and taking the kids to the park again. Washing is drying faster on the line, and Eden is squeaking quickly around the house {yep, squeaky shoes-adorable!}

The 4 bigger kids are nearly at the end of 3rd term, Dakota just built an entire tiny town for an assignment, the science fair is coming up-Rani is doing ‘Tornado in a Bottle’ and Dakota is doing ‘Fireproof Balloon’, while Cara’s school won 1st place in the Rock Eisteddfod.

I have my first wedding job next weekend, and I am terrified! I know ill be fine, and do the best job I can, but still, terrified. I also have a pregnancy shoot next week, then the baby's first pictures, which I am really looking forward to!

I am spending way too much on adorable clothes for Eden, from Etsy and Madeit.com, I just cannot help myself,and luckily she is staying in the same sizes for a while , so she gets a lot of wear out of everything. She also gets bags of clothes from friend of ours, so I think she is set for about the next 3 or 4 years! And lets not talk about the tutu collection.

We will be stocking up on new togs now,my mum and dad have moved from the farm, into a smaller place near us, with a pool!!! Oh my, I cant tell you how much we have wished for a pool, our whole lives! I know, stupid, but I am so looking forward to taking the kids swimming constantly over the summer!

Well, Car is nagging me to go shopping, Eden is whinging,Luka is trying to watch Honey I Shrunk The Kids –again, so im off,

till next time xxx

We’re Going Down!

2011-08-24T19:25:00.001+10:00

Thankfully we didn’t. But that didn’t stop Luka yelling it as the plane landed {and lets not forget the whole ‘3,2,1 Blast off!’ for the first 20 minutes of the flight} While I fully planned on taking photos of us all on the plane, I guess I overestimated my talents, and was unable to even get my camera out of the overhead locker,while trying to deal with Luka,Eden,Jai,dolly the dolly, 3 bags and breakfast. Yoghurt was everywhere, Luka developed a fascination with the tiny plane toilet, Eden wanted to get down, and Jai didn’t want to eat prunes. Still, I felt better when the lady behind me said quietly ‘ youre a great mummy’ { I figured it was because I didn’t kill them during the flight}

Oh yeah, we went to Rockhampton, to visit my beloved best friend, who just happens to be Jai’s godfather, his sister and her fiancé.

And we had fun

Lots of fun

Feeding ducks and turtles, playing at the park

riding in the jeep with the roof off.

I was seriously spoilt, I did not lift a finger the whole time hehe!

Eden discovered that throwing sand is fun

lots and lots of fun

and really, who am I to deny her lifes little pleasures?

besides, if you can deny this face…

youre a lot stronger than me!

The best part though?

Feeling the love

and loving watching the bond Jai and Luka have with Jake, Jess and Dylan.Thanks guys, for the holiday, we appreciate every second!

hehehe Luka and his relations {he thinks he is a monkey, don’t ask}

Taking a step back…

2011-07-18T08:32:00.001+10:00

It may make me a terrible blogger,an awful facebook friend

but taking time out,during their 2 week holiday,is somewhat necessary. And taking a step back leaves plenty of time for 4 hour monopoly marathons

playing so long Eden falls asleep

and kite flying

Edens face was so amazed,and amazing,all at once…

Time to run from 5ft brown snakes….{no photos but i watched it slither into the wall cavity,so its probably still in our walls…

Time for tea parties

and posing with new haircuts

time for running round the yard in sock monkey hats and pink polka dot boots

Taking time out has become routine for me. Blogging occasionally, and having a few weeks rest from facebook gives me time to appreciate and remember the little things

like how much she loves chocolate cake

and big huge things

like how special they all are.

I need a step back sometimes,

or maybe its a step forwards

into life with one amazing family…

Everyday

2011-06-30T15:46:00.001+10:00

Since she came along

I have changed.

I see what i have

and although they arent always picture perfect

they are my miracles,my blessings,my whole world.

So my blog may be erratic at the moment

but im just going with the flow.

savouring every moment

everyday.

And everyday

no matter how bad

i am so thankful.

Love like crazy.

Just When I Think

2011-06-09T19:25:00.001+10:00

She cant get any cuter

2011-06-01T16:46:00.001+10:00

really

REALLY

love love love

my brand spankin’ new Canon 500d!!!

I mean, i really love it!

In case you cant tell

Just because

2011-05-29T20:34:00.001+10:00

Im so excited…..

http://www.swimfactory.com.au/

all these photos are MINE!!!

and……im upgrading my camera….

its a Canon *drool*

see you with many many pictures tomorrow xxxx

Luka

2011-05-26T21:34:00.001+10:00

{yes,he's chucking a tanty}

So, do you like stuff?

2011-05-26T21:27:00.001+10:00

Yep,its a Simpsons reference. One I use a lot actually,when there's one of those awkward silences probably should have gone with Weekly Wrap Up {even though its only Thursday} but ,well, boring! I figure if this is my ‘diary’ I should start writing our ordinary things, which i want to remember just as much as the major things.

We finally got the yard mowed, not such a huge deal, but made me feel so much better after finding the 5ft snakeskin on our back veranda. Normally snakes don't bother me, and never have, but come on ! The back veranda!

Sports days. 2 of them.Little kids and big kids. And tomorrow is BVSSSA {so much fun to say lol} – Brisbane Valley Small School Sports Association,inter-school sports. Dakota for discus and Rani for sprints. We will head out early,and be home late. Will be very interesting to see how Luka and Eden behave,I'm always chasing Luka around when we are out….

Did I tell you Cara is working? Yes , that's right, I am the parent of a working person! Just Sundays at the moment, but she will work towards getting her Retail Certificate, which is great for her!

Dakota has been performing in Oliver, I'm going to see it Saturday.I went and saw the full dress rehearsal,it was great! I'm so proud of her, committing herself to rehearsals for so long, and getting up there on stage and singing. She plays one of Fagan’s gang and also is in the choir.

Rani and Luka are being little terrors,as usual. And when did Luka learn to speak so well? Tonight in the bath,I said something was funny and he said “no it isn't”….. suddenly he is a perfectly spoken little boy,instead of my little Fatboy. And Rani has rediscovered a love for dolls. She is constantly playing dolls lately. Of course, we got rid of most of the dolls, so now she wants more dolls.

Rodger the cat is being annoying. He does not want to be an inside cat, despite the many warm sleeping places, he wants to go and kill birds. Therefore, he is getting something snipped {or chopped }. I don't think he will like it.

My Christmas shopping is already well underway. Mostly because I have been going nuts on madeit.com, and can only justify it by putting stuff away for Christmas.

And Eden. She is the most loved,spoilt little bean.

That is the new face. The angry face <3

Spoilt rotten.

And doll obsessed too

Not that I mind.I love it!

Edens hospital timeline part 2

2011-05-24T17:24:00.001+10:00

well, here we are , part two. All this stuff happened over a year ago, but it feels as though it was yesterday. Its so funny how time goes by so slowly, but when you look back it was over in an instant.

You can read part one here if you missed it…

3/2/2010 Day 14

Today was a bath demo- and me at number 6! She is like a skinned rabbit in the shallow bath, and the first suit she gets to wear after her first ever bath is a 00000 pink stripy suit, that says I love mummy and daddy.

4/2/2010 Day 15

Today is a major event, I get to bath her by myself! The first time I have ever held her completely naked, I just held her to my neck and relished it! It was slightly terrifying, she is so tiny and fragile. Im getting pretty good at hooking her leads up again too! She was 2030g today, so back to her birthweight!

5/2/2010 Day 16

Weight up another 20g! She hasnt had an apnoea for 3 whole days, so it looks like they will stop the caffeine and also the fortifier, as she is finally gaining weight. I am enjoying her being in an open cot so much, I pick her up as soon as I arrive, and it takes me forever to leave. Im getting hardly any sleep, but its worth it. All for her.

I can remember the complete exhaustion. Beyond exhaustion. Even when I was supposed to sleep i was too keyed up. I was constantly crying. We were trying to get the 4 kids to school every day, sort something out for Luka ( who I was desperately missing), working around Simons work schedule, I was borrowing cars off relatives to get to the hospital, and money to buy fuel and pay for the parking ( sometimes if i went down twice it was $18 a day), trying to do all the normal stuff, like grocery shop, bill paying etc, ugh, I dont think Ill ever be that tired again.

6/2/2010 Day 17

weight is steady at 2050 today, so the fortifier is stopped, and also the caffeine! So only a few days until she can come off the big monitors!

8/2/2010 Day 20

Moved! We have moved! Well, to the other side of the room! And onto the small monitor! Weight up a massive 120g today! Dr Kate has a chat with me and reassures me Eden is doing great.

9/12/2010 Day 21

Huge emotional day. Early start, and , sick of the carpark full sign, I caught the bus with Seths mum. And when we got to the hospital, the Gold Coast Titans were in the entrance. Of course, they visited the SCN, and you know how interested I am in football (not at all). After everything died down, it was bath time. Eden lost 140g. Everyone is freaking out and I am terrified, I just dont want a setback now, when the end is so near.I call the SCN that night, as Janet promised to reweigh her. Reweigh is up 20g from this afternoon, but she has to see the doctor in the morning.

10/2/2010 Day 21

weight is up another 30g. Doctor thinks the scales were misread the day she had the huge weight gain. The last few days I have been trying to be at the hospital for 2 feeds. As they space them further apart, its harder to be there. Simon is back at work, so we are working around night shift schedule. Eden is doing really well with 2 breastfeeds a day, she grunts and carries on when i put her down, funny little monkey

That was what I greeted her with everyday “ hello, my tiny monkey” and after she was moved into the open cot and i could hold her as much as i wanted I sang Skidamarink –a-dinky-dink to her every day. You know that one?

11/2/2010 Day 22

Eden is up to 52ml every 3 hours. And…… ALL MONITORS WERE SWITCHED OFF TODAY!!!!!!!!!

12/2/2010 Day 23

When I get to the hospital, 1/2 the NG tube tape has been peeled off. Its the first time I have seen her right cheek! The scar from the cesear is so little, I cant stop kissing her! She is being moved to 4 hour feeds tomorrow, to try and get her to wake up for her feeds. She sleeps constantly, but her eyes are always flickering and she pouts her little lips and frowns.

13/2/2010 Day 24

Stared 4 hour feeds today.62ml. She only has 2 tube feeds today, the rest being breast if Im there or a bottle of expressed milk. About 3 people tell me today I have heaps and heaps of milk in the fridge. Is it wrong i feel quite smug? haha I just cant wait to be feeding her, instead of using the breastpump. Im trying to pump every 3 hours, except between 12-6am, and apart from one or two scary no milk days back at the beginning, Im doing pretty good.

I hated that breast pump. Hated it.

14/2/2010 Day 25

Looking at her chart first thing in the morning, i notice Eden has had NO tube feeds, except 2ml at 2am. Then I picked her up- the NG tube was GONE. Well, guess what I did? Yep, cried! I could see her whole face!!! And the NG tube being out means HOME!

15/2 2010 Day 26

Get to the hospital just as the doctors are beginning their rounds. You cant be in there when they are doing this, so I went down and had a hot chocolate(dunno why cos it was about 32 degrees, I am fully acclimatised to the air-con in the SCN and am just sweating everywhere else I go!) When I come back, I pick Eden up and whisper in her ear good morning, and Lynn says , “Lisa we think shes ready for home. Could you come back and room in tonight?” UH,YES YES YES!!!

I gave Eden her 8:30am feed (late cos of the doctors) and race home to pack a huge massive way way too big bag, express, for the last time !!, and race back before her 12:30 feed. She has a bath, and her feed, then we are sent to our own room (sharing with Mummy and Baby Wittle, also from the SCN). Eden and I are above the ambulance bay, closest to the window. It starts to rain after I unpack, and I carried her to the window and showed her the world for the very first time.

I must have stayed awake until midnight, just looking at her, in awe of the fact that she was lying beside me, no monitors, no alarms or bright lights, no schedule. She ate and ate all night, and wouldn't let me put her back in the cot at all!

16/2/2010 Day 27

Wake early, thinking, this is it! And although we are supposed to stay 2 nights, after Edens great night last night. Im keen to take my baby home! After a long morning, Debra gives us the news- Its Time!

Wheel Eden back to SCN (for the last time!) for a medicine demo (she will stay on Pentavite and Ferroliquid-iron for a while) and a CPR video, also her final bath and weight check (2440g). I dressed her in her teeny tiny Bonds outfit, and wait.

After all our paperwork is done, I pack up and wait for Simon.When he arrives, bringing Luka, we go back to SCN to pick up all my bags of breast milk. I thank Lynn profusely, take one last look through the SCN doors, then, finally, carrying my sixth child, my fourth daughter, we leave the hospital. As we walk through the electric doors, people smiling at Eden, such a tiny little apple face peeking out of her pink blanket, under her preemie beanie that her Great-Grandmother knitted her, it starts to drizzle, Edens introduction to the world.

I cant stop smiling.

The car seat straps and buckle, tightened as far as they go, sit just under her chin.

And thats it. That was her whole SCN journey. When she was in there, this diary sort of thing is exactly what I was looking for. I just wanted other peoples experiences, and hope.

Edens early birth was caused by the large sub-chorionic heamatoma (which, I am told was caused by me getting pregnant again too soon after losing Zoran –it was only about 3 months), which caused the placenta to rupture (they removed a 300ml blood clot, and Janet said they were sucking blood out of Edens stomach almost all night).

I had been warned about prematurity, and ERM, but after the bleeding started at 24 weeks, and stopped again at 31, I had had no bleeding for 2 weeks. I was starting to relax, and enjoy the last part of my pregnancy, up until then it had been constant worry and stress. The night before the birth, I was mopping, and just remember feeling weird. I thought I was just tired!

The whole SCN journey ( ooh feels like Im on Big Brother- “lets look at your journey” Why thank you Gretel, I will)was the hardest, and the best experience of my life. The best because I learned so much, and because it gave me so much to be thankful for. Since her birth, I see beauty everyday, i see miracles everyday, I see good in everyday. Lifes not perfect, and its just plain HARD sometimes, but, man,oh,man, life is great!

When life hands you sticks, make a stick gun

2011-05-24T17:23:00.001+10:00

That's what this boy thinks anyway.

{when he was little, I didnt buy guns. So he chewed his toast into the shape of a gun and shot me. I gave up.Caved}

Jai Ethan, number 4,oldest boy, both big and little brother. He was given his first car at the age of six months, and that was it. The obsession began. He has added guns, playstation and football to his obsession list, but rest assured, he can still sniff out a car in a houseful of girls in 10 seconds flat!

He is in grade 1 this year, doing so well,learning to read,and giving his first book report last week. He makes me laugh. With his funny stories or words,or just his weird faces

{yeah, i thought that was a big scratch on his head too. Found out later, it was Milo. Yummy}

He is a great big brother

most of the time.

He has always been chatty.From the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep. If no one will talk to him while he is in bed, he has conversations with his toes.

He has boundless energy

and rarely is a picture taken of him not partly blurry.

My goofy first son. Gotta love him!

Just for you,Julie

2011-05-21T21:30:00.001+10:00

Planking.

Pointlessly amusing.

{thanks Cara for the photo btw}

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T20:26:00.001+10:00

{babywearing}

I’m that mum…

2011-05-17T20:56:00.001+10:00

Thanks Susan….

I'm the mum who….

is forever washing towels

doesn't mind at all when i wake to find Luka,Eden and Jai in my bed

loves hearing about their day at school

is very happy when hubby cooks the dinner,and we can find enough chairs to eat together

who kisses my babies goodbye and hello…. and whenever else they’ll let me

who loves that Luka loves playing with dolls

just as much as playing with cars…

who can recite the entire dialogue from the movies Toy Story 1,2 and 3..

and is currently working on Shrek

who throws on whatever is handy in the morning

and spends 45 minutes dressing Eden

who would love to have more children

no matter what anyone thinks

who lets my boys ride motorbikes by themselves

and acts like im not gritting my teeth in terror

who is in awe of my beautiful big girls,and loving watching them grow up so much.

who is sad my little Fatboy grew up so fast

Im the mum who

knows that I am so blessed to have this life….

girly girl

2011-05-16T20:50:00.001+10:00

Yes,my youngest daughter is definitely that.

Bows or frills,

and all things girly,

like dollies in a dolly sling,

have become the new normal.

After 5 years of cars,bugs and craziness,

we are back swimming in a sea of pink.

My little muma’s girl,

can be a cheeky monkey,

and she has this big brother wrapped round her little finger.

But one things for sure,

we certainly have a girly girl ruling our family!

{ I am sooooo excited to be blogging again-in case you cant tell by my 400 posts over the last 2 days!}

Edens hospital timeline part 1

2011-05-16T15:53:00.001+10:00

So here we are. Almost 15 months on and im finally blogging about Eden in SCN. Better late than never hey?

I have decided that i will blog this like a dairy,day by day, and ill chuck some stuff in from my actual diary that I kept at the time.

I might break it up into 2 parts as well, and a huge pat on the back if you manage to get through both!

I have wanted to blog this for ages, not just for you but for eden too. I love the idea that someday i can go, “look kids, heres my blog starting from 2005!” But anyway, I digress…

20/1/2010 Eden Elizabeth arrives . You can read about her birth below this post!

21/1/2010 Day 1

“woken up every 2 hours for stats. Wake up at about 6am, the nurse tells me that there was an abruption, and a 300ml clot. She tells me “you were very lucky” After I see the doctors etc, get unconnected from everything, shower ( most humiliating moment of my life? being towel dried by a 18 yr old nurse, mumbling sorry about my legs, I thought I had 6 weeks to shave them) I am taken to SCN. Eden is in the 3rd humidicrib,attached to a drip, on oxygen, a tiny scar on her cheek from the Cesar. Im afraid to even touch her.”

I started expressing that day, into a syringe. Eden is having 3mls every 2 hours, through the NG tube.

I was woken up at 1:10am, for my first cuddle. Eden is almost 29 hours old. I cry.10 amazing minutes.

Then i get to feed her through the NG tube for the first time. Cry again.

22/1/2010 Day 2

“Oxygen off, increasing feeds.Caffeine has been started for apnoeas, she has had a few, forgetting to breathe Im told. Kangaroo cuddle for half an hour, and yes, cried. again. Told Bean tonight so many people are praying for her. Also got to change my first nappy! whod have though id be thrilled by a nappy change ! Eden has such a tiny froggy bottom, her nappies are newborn, folded in half, still hanging off her!

23/1/2010 Day 3

“Im sent home with my giftbag and my orange breastmilk labels. But no baby.I scour the town for a breastpump, and after hysterically crying at the 4th shop, I get a staff discount.(and it was still $200!) We go home, i eat, express, and despite not being allowed to drive for 6 weeks, i drive back to the hospital . When I finally get home again at about 11:30pm, I collapse in tears.

We live about 35 minutes away from the hospital, The drive is okay, mainly on the highway , only horrible when you get into town, living in the country gives me no patience for traffic lights.

24/1/2010 day 4

Bean keeps slipping out of her ID bands. Lynn put a new set on her today, so the old set has gone onto my camera bag, and onto pink dolly. She was started on Iron today, and Pentavite.. Simon came up today and had his second cuddle-the first being when she was born, he arrived back at the hospital to a new daughter and a doped up wife. I am jealous he got top hold her first, and hate that I missed the first 14 or so hours of her life. Hate that I didnt see her enter the world. Today is the worst day, crying in the nurses arms.

Also, this morning when the kids started back at school (with no books because I had to spend the book money on a breastpump and tanks of fuel) the principal told me that the school had gotten Dakota, Rani and Jais books, and to pay for them ‘whenever we are able’ . So Im sure that impressed the kids/parents, a hysterical woman sobbing her thanks to the teachers. People are really astounding me with kindness, i am forever grateful.

* I think moving here, getting the kids into this little country school ( they are in classes of about 13 compared to over 30 at their previous school) was one of the best decisions we ever made. People here just embraced us with love and assistance wholeheartedly.

25/1/2010 Day 5

Starting to get yellow.When i go up that night,she is under double lights for jaundice.

26/1/2010 Day 6

Australia Day. And the highlight is the free parking!!! Woo hoo!! When I see Eden, I decide today is ‘Day of the funky glasses’

Watching mothers come and go, I am happy for them, but jealous it isnt us.

The drive home has turned into therapy of sorts. After those first few days, I cheer myself up on the night drives home by blasting Britney Spears and Lady Gaga.

Man, I used to get so excited when the Carpark Full sign wasnt out! Like, pathetically excited. “ YES!!! YES!!! SWEET!!!”

27/1/2010 Day 7

1 week old today. Tolerating 32mls of breastmilk nicely, only throwing up her milk with the Pentavite in it. Doctors see her at lunchtime ( oooh sexy Dr Alberto- he makes all the nurses giggly) and decide to leave the lights off.

Day by day.

1 week down.

28/1/2010 Day 8

When I get to the hospital, I nearly walk past her. She is clean! She had her first spongedown at 2:30am, and was weighed for the second time. She is 1.77kgs ( 4 pounds)

29/1/2010 Day 9

Eden has lost another 20g.

At 6:15pm tonight, I was able to breastfeed for the first time. It took her a while , but she had about 15 minutes worth.

yes, again, cried. actually, sobbed.

30/1/2010 Day 10

Routine…

up,express,hospital,home,express,hospital,home,sleep.

Repeat daily

31/1/2010 Day 10

When I call SCN (every morning between 6 and 7) I am told Bean had a bottle!

She is still holding at 1750g, so fortifier has been started.

1/2/2010 Day 12

Bean gained 60g. Porker:)

2/2/2010 Day 13

Just another day (with two breastfeeds!!) when Debra announces its time for an open cot!Of course , all the gorgeous clothes I bought for her are miles too big, so she is dressed in scratchy ugly hospital clothes. But hey… OPEN COT!!!!!!

She has gained another 60g, and today was her last apnoea.

On the way home, I hit the shops, and buy 5 miniscule outfits and a jumper for a teddy bear that fits her perfectly! I love shopping but it feels so wrong to be shopping without her, shes not safe inside me and i dont have her in my arms.

you know, 13 is my lucky number!

Well, there, halfway done,stay tuned for part 2!

Dear Bean

2011-05-15T10:12:00.001+10:00

*here is your waaaay overdue birthday post my love*

When i first realised you were there,snug inside me

I knew there was something truly special about the baby we had conceived.

You began to help us heal and grieve for Zoran.

I thanked God for you.

At 12 weeks

I thought we had lost you.

I didnt know if we would even get to meet you

I asked for help. I asked for people to pray.

People prayed for you.

For you.

Beautiful strangers showed us more kindness and love than I had ever known.

We, they, prayed for you.

That first ultrasound,me dying inside

fearing the unbearable news,

‘Theres bub,squirming around’

hot tears of joy.

you were proving you were a survivor, a fighter, amazing.

I dared to hope

you were hanging on

I thought the worst was over.

At Christmas time,

7 months pregnant

I used to lay in bed and stroke you through my skin.

I woke up before dawn every morning and lay in the bath with you, in the dark, the moon shining in the window, bathing you in light, the whole house silent, and felt like we were the only two awake in the world.

I got your baby clothes out of your drawers and pressed them to my nose almost everyday.

I wished we could share those moments forever.

33weeks 4 days

you decided you couldnt wait.

on the 20th of january

at 3:57am

I woke up (thinking i had peed myself ~~again~~)

I waddled to the toilet

cradling you with one hand

you oddly quiet

I looked down and saw blood. Lots and lots of blood,

I decided to drive myself to the hospital, made it as far as the Crossroads, and my waters broke.

I came home and called an ambulance.

I spent my first ever ambulance ride terrified I would lose you.

But

you were fine

fine all day

fine

while i lay

hooked up

contracting

hungry

(I crunched those ice cubes in defiance of the nurse telling me to suck them)

you were fine

until

daddy went home

then we almost lost you

your heartrate dropped

fast.

You were drowning in blood.

I still cant think about it. alarms,rushing,yelling,so many people running pushing us down to the OR, me pleading ‘please hurry’ while screaming in agony.

Morphine, out.

you were delivered by caesarean at 8:26pm. You had to be resuscitated. Twice.

On the 20th of January 2010

(no idea what time it was,sometime before midnight)

they wheeled me to your humidicrib in SCN ( I couldnt keep my eyes open, but i remember you had on a tiny purple beanie.)

you had arrived

weighing a tiny 4 pounds 4 ounces (2.03kgs).

It was 12 hours before I saw you again.

Walking through the SCN doors,

I was led to your humidicrib,

too scared to open the ‘portholes’

I sat and stared at you

and whispered

“Hello Bean.”

Eden Elizabeth

you

completed our lives

taught us how to be strong, and positive

taught us some people truly are beautiful

taught us there is beauty in each and every day

showed us how blessed we are

showed us how much we were loved

showed us how much we were capable of

when I met you for the first time I knew you were amazing.

I knew you would change our lives.

Happy Birthday Eden Elizabeth.

I carried you then

ill carry you as long as you let me

One small step for Eden

2011-05-15T09:28:00.001+10:00

Actually, it was a few small steps :)

and we were so proud of her!!

*in case youre wondering, this gorgeous dress is from Michelle at Spectacular Girl.This is my favourite dress, just begging for a ‘Tea party shoot’ dont you think?

I am completely obsessed with the Australian version of Etsy, Madeit.com , and all things handmade (just wait until you see Edens Easter present!)

Tutus on the beach

2011-05-14T17:42:00.001+10:00

There's something about babies in tutus on the beach that makes me melt.

and even though she didnt start out in a tutu

and certainly didnt start out actually liking the beach….

it didnt take her long to remember shes a Queenslander

and start revelling in the feel of the sand between her toes

and her fingers :)

The weather was overcast,and after the beach we headed to the Mummy Tree Markets, Eden was spoilt rotten,as usual, amber necklaces from Bambeados, gorgeous bloomers from Wild Things of Noosa, super cute hair clippies and headbands from Amber J, an amazing tin tea set from Fairy-licious and Goblin Grunge, amazing stalls and amazing stuff, cant wait for the next one!

And after the markets, lunch, then the beach again! (we were at my sisters and she lives a street away from the beach)

this time, she loved it straight away.

And we broke out the tutu

*Yes, I know you cant see her head! But look at those chubby legs, and that saggy belly, so adorable!

You have to admit,there's something special about tutus on the beach.

Note to self…. always check the ISO settings before attempting family photos..

2011-05-14T16:44:00.001+10:00

* here is a post I wrote ages ago, and didnt publish! Im doing it now, just because I love these photos. Also note we DID get flooded in after i had written this!*

Because there were some I absolutely loved

and some that were oh-so-cute

( the boys, loving on their baby sister, is just too cute for words!)

but mostly, they were way too bright ( obviously the first sunny day in a while, we didnt get flooded in (close!) but it has been a wet miserable Christmas) So, i guess thats a reminder, its not like ive ~~ruined a whole photoshoot and had to do the whole thing again~~ ever done that before so surely ill never do it again ( cue laughter here)

I was a little bummed out, I love how they looked with the new wagon (Grandmas present to the boys) out of 156 photos, there was not a single one of all 6 kids I liked! And now, it being school holidays ( another reason to hate the rain, 6 kids stuck inside because the grass is too long because its too wet to mow, and the yard is all wet and muddy, and there is a tent and a Slip n Slide just waiting by the back door –still in their boxes! I shouldnt complain, last year we were in a drought, and plenty of poor Queenslanders are flooded in, and being evacuated. Sigh. Queensland. Crazy weather!!) all the kids are gone or going out ( Cara is at the beach with her mate, Dakota, Rani and Jai are going to their grandmas) so I wont get to try again until the end of the week.

I am planning a surprise picnic on Friday, rain or shine. Ill be up all night cooking, luckily I got lots of practice over Christmas! Wanna know what we ate for Christmas lunch (remember, 19 people!!!)

pickled onions, cheese, kabana, chocolates, marinated peppers,olives,corn relish dip, chocolate balls (my mums speciality lol)….

Ham,turkey, roast pork, prawns, watermelon salad, tomato salad, normal salad (haha you know what I mean!) potato salad, pasta salad…..

Mango cheesecake, pavlova cheesecake, tiramisu, raspberry cheesecake, pavlova with mango and cherries and plum pudding…

Yep, thats why i put on 3kgs….

We started straw bale gardens! I saw it on MckMamas site, and the kids are loving it. The poor veggie patch was completely flooded, it was a total swamp for about a week, so Thursday we will replace the dirt and try it a bit higher up! In the meantime Rani and I got our straw bales going. We have radishes, beans, marigolds and watermelons. The radishes and beans have just begun to sprout, even the boys are excited!

( yay!! See our shed!!! Yay!!! –sorry but it sat in our garage in the box for exactly 14 months, so, again, YAY!!! and you can see the garden too, we dug it out, when we should have built it up, told you I am no gardener! All it has is a few hopeful beans, a rotten Pomato, and a dying pea)

We also have , out the front in big tubs, peas, basil, tomatoes, sunflowers and butter beans. And…. the kids and I are going to try a salad tower on the weekend so ill let you know how that goes!

Eden will be one in just a few weeks.

One

in a few weeks.

WHERE did the year go!! Unreal to think that this time last year, I had no idea she would arrive so soon.

This time last year she was safe (well kind of she didnt have the most relaxed time in there!) inside me.

This time last year i looked like

This time last year she was The Bean

Now…

( damn ISO)

I know, you cant see her face, but come on! How cute is that!

Life has changed so much in a year.

Our family became 8.

And that tiny little girl with the head the size of an apple (really, ill have to photograph her first beanie, and the jumper she wore home from hospital – i got it at Pumpkin Patch. In the teddy bear clothes section!) showed us the important things.

The entire family is so in love with this girl.

Our tiny precious miracle

So ill be back, with her birth story (FINALLY!) and a letter to my precious daughter on her first birthday.

Woody, he’s part of the family

2011-05-14T15:39:00.001+10:00

The absolute best Christmas present I bought last year was Woody.

Even though he is obsessed with Ben 10( and got the much coveted Omnitrix from Santa), Luka and Woody have been inseparable since Christmas morning.

Woody comes shopping with us, watches tv with us, sleeps with Luka, gets carted around in the dolly sling I made for that specific purpose, even eats with us

Hes looking a little the worse for wear, thats for sure, but I always want to remember the most loved present Luka ever got, and the love between a little boy and his cowboy

January 2011

2011-01-29T16:14:00.001+10:00

January will be forever in my mind.

The first we heard was Towoomba (about 45 minutes from us) had been smashed by a wall of water. In the main street. The water swept downstream, devastating all the towns that lay below. Grantham. My heart breaks.

We werent too worried. A lot of telephone calls between relatives and neighbors, thanking god that i was able to contact everyone, and so far everyone was ok.

We all received the sms from the government/ses telling us to evacuate. But we had 8 kids there, the water was over the road both ways, we werent going anywhere.

The water reached our back fence, and our side fence. Both our neighbours had water through their houses.

After it was over, we tried to get the girls friends home, before the water hit Ipswich. The whole area was just devastated. I have no idea how simon got the wagon over the roads.

Even more devastated when we heard that Jesse, little 4 year old Jesse had been swept away and lost. The kids all knew him. They lived just round the corner. They left when they got the same sms we did. It happened at their school. Broken hearts. So many.

Driving around (we did get the kids home, we ended up meeting some relatives of theirs,very complicated and lots of driving) we were just stunned. Our whole area has just been torn apart.

see that roof? We were just driving around in tears. Sobbing.

Our local shop. See the strip of road? Its from the opposite side of the road.

The school, thankfully opened on time,thanks to awesome blokes with a backhoe!

The kitchen of the house we helped clean. Poor Shell, it was so so awful, just awful.

Jais little mate from over the road moved into his new house with his mum 3 weeks ago. All they have left is the frame of their house.

Please pray people, for the lost, and for what everyone has lost. People have lost so much. I am so thankful we all were ok, and that we live in such an amazing area, everyone has just pulled together to do whatever they can.

So whatever youre doing, please send Queenslanders your love today.

The last few months

2010-12-29T21:45:00.001+10:00

You know, I used to think I had a handle on it. But boy oh boy, six kids are hard to keep track of :) So, the end of this year, Christmas included was crazily unorganised for me. But hey, it all got done in the end.

November was Lukas 3rd birthday. I suppose the fact he doestnt cry at Happy Birthday means he is growing up. Obsessed with Toy story and Ben 10, I think he liked his birthday present….

Or maybe not…

( just kidding. Thats the ‘angry face’. He loved his police car)

We started December with school concerts in the church hall, end of year break-ups, and another disappointing raffle (19 prizes and we didnt win one!!!)

I continued to dress Eden in all things pink and frilly.

And she retaliated by learning to crawl (just in time to destroy the Christmas tree- which by the way is BLACK oooh new tree and I loved it!!)

Hey, shes learning! And…..

Whats that you can see (apart from the ‘thats enough photos’ face?)

Yep, its teeth! Two teeny tiny perfect pearly white baby teeth.

* so, while I am here, and also, posting her birth story soon ( she will be one in just a few weeks!) a health update.

Eden is finally caught up on her immunizations (she was delayed because of a chest infection when she was due for her 4 month needles) She is just over 16 pounds, which is low (off the scale my tiny monkey!) but steadily gaining. The doctor is referring us to a paediatrician at her next visit (12 months) just to check out her weight and development.

Eden also sees a physiotherapist every 6 weeks, she is doing well, reaching all her milestones (she only had trouble with rolling) and she has another appointment in two weeks.

She also sees the hospital doctors once a year until she is 5, she has another appointment in February.*

And then, Christmas! An all time grand total of 19 people fed! And about 1200 photos haha. Edens first Christmas. The kids all were spoilt rotten again, and Luka terrified of Santa, but all in all it was a great day, spent with family and friends, surrounded by children, and a ute load of rubbish!

So, late as usual, but

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

love from everyone at Chapman Crazyhouse xxx

( the crazyhouse also now includes a bird, 2 blue-tongue lizards and soon, something little and fluffy!!)

**as promised, next year I shall return with a vengance! I cant wait to catch up with my over-the-ocean mates ( Kimber watch your mailbox my lovely!) **

A boys gotta do

2010-12-29T21:43:00.001+10:00

When its the start of summer,

and stinking hot,

then it starts to storm,

a boys gotta do,

the only thing there is to do.

Whats that you ask?

Why, jump on the trampoline ,

in your underwear,

of course.

What?

Youve never tried it?

Well,

Luka fully recommends it!

*the haircut however- i fondly call it the ‘Barney Rubble’- is endorsed by no one in the family. Both boys had killer mohawks, then in the next school newsletter there was a note, “ Mohawks and similar haircuts are not permitted at school… blah blah blah ( yes i know its a wild haircut but come on, Jai is in PREP, and hes a good boy, and we only spiked it up once) so we just let them grow them out, hence the ‘Barney Rubble’… Not a good look, but I still reckon he pulls it off:)

My glorious riot of colour

2010-12-29T21:42:00.001+10:00

(12 December 2010)

I am by no means a green thumb. Far from it. In fact, i may have invented the term ‘brown thumb’ just for myself. I kill plants. I dont know how, but no matter how hard i try, I kill them. (Luckily for us, Rani is in charge of the veggie patch). So, you will understand how surprised I was when this popped up in the garden.

Even more surprisingly. I didnt plant it.

When it first appeared , i thought it was a weed. Really. Well, come on, like i said, I didnt plant it.

Then it flowered. In September.

I looked at it, and the words ‘glorious riot’ just popped into my head.

Weird.

I thought about it.

Then it hit me.

My glorious riot of colour had appeared right where we buried my precious son. My precious son, who would have turned one in September.

And now I am becoming a , dare I say it, a green thumb. The garden is weed free and thriving,

and when I am near my glorious riot of colour, I swear I can feel him.

Pulling weeds out from between the flowers feels like I am finally getting to take care of my third son, the son I missed out on.

I know he sent us Eden, to help us heal, and you know what?

I think that this little bush represents everything my son could have been.

A spectacular, glorious riot.

Smitten

2010-12-11T23:42:00.001+10:00

with my almost 11 month old….

And yes, i promised to blog more, and i will. But this year truly was about soaking up this girl.

This beautiful angel. I feel so blessed each and everytime i look at her.

Two teeth,crawling,getting into stuff,still a mamas girl.16 pounds!!!

I miss you guys,i really do. I mean, i really miss you! And next year, I shall return with a vengence.

But for now, its all about them

And her….

The headress

2010-10-16T15:31:00.001+10:00

Well, what a week! Almost a flood, currently blowing a gale force wind. And the headress…

Oh my, almost as stunning as the tutu.

Let me tell you that we are all seriously infatuated with this girl… She has taken over our whole lives, and we love every minute!

I am so missing your lives…. And arent you so lucky… Ill be back tomorrow!!

Yes its me

2010-10-03T16:55:00.001+10:00

Back, sigh… Damn computers and internet, so new computer, new internet connection, back. Well, i will share a big updated blog very soon (plus i think some overall blog facelifts are in order) but for now…

We initially started having no internet because hubby had no work ( something had to go) And even though i missed you all TERRIBLY, i started to enjoy having no internet, and the kids… oh my, the fighting has almost stopped, they COMMUNICATE with me again!! So yep, Im back, but to a limited 1/2 days a week.

All I want to say is that i am so happy with my family, and every time i look at that little bean I think of you all … we love you!!

Isnt she amazing!

So yep, I will return this time. I am so so so dying to catch up with everyone's blog. This will take forever! (I hope these pics publish for some reason i cant see them?)

Remember me????

2010-08-19T13:36:00.002+10:00

Yep, we are back. New computer, new internet connection, I have missed you all SOOO much. I think about you guys EVERY time i look at my sweet precious miracle Eden. So, here i am, back again, hope you remember me! Prepare to be bombarded with my life again. Love you all, so glad to be back!!!!! I have about 4 billion blogs to read and write now:)

So blessed

2010-02-28T16:46:00.001+10:00

To have all of you!!!

Yes, I have been so neglectful of my poor blog! Reading them, writing them, terrible all round! THE BIG NEWS…. Bean is home, has been home for 11 days to be exact. It was 26 days… 26 days I could not have made without all your thoughts, and prayers, and messages. I could never begin to thank you all enough xoxoxo

I am just so…. utterly, completely,obsessed :)

Cant put her down! I update more regularly on my facebook page ( if you have one, you can add me if you want!) but just have not blogged. Slack I know. I kept notes while bean was in hospital, and have been wanting to blog it, but have just been too distracted.

Wouldn't you be distracted by that face?

Or that one?

*sigh* Bliss. * Tutu from Kimber :)

So, forgive me for not blogging.

I have a very special reason:)

this made me cry… again..

2010-02-01T19:42:00.001+10:00

as if 1 depressing post wasnt enough…..

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen~*~
(Erma Bombeck)
Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his
instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he
observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.
Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to
profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles.
"Give her a preemie." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God?
She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God.
"Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That
would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea
of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so
rare and so necessary in a mother.
You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own.
She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect She has
just the right amount of selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally,
she will never survive.
Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.
She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word.
She will never consider a step ordinary.
When her child says momma for the first time,
she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--
ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--
and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone.
I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life
because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in
the air.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

I aint no MckMama, or the post in which i sigh. A lot…

2010-02-01T17:15:00.001+10:00

Obviously, I aint no MckMama. You can tell this by my non-blogging.

I would like to be keeping a record of this time (or, maybe secretly I wouldn't) but am just ….ugh…. who knows.

*Sigh*

Some days I come home so happy, over something as little as *she had her 1st bottle* at 6:30am 2 days ago or something HUGE like

*we have breastfed for 3 days in a row, only for 10 minutes, but still so thrilling I cried*

she put on 60grams last night!!

But then she will vomit (bad apparently, and she always vomits up her vitamins) or my milk will dry up (seems to be ok now, but stressful,which is bad,which makes me stress more)….

*sigh*

I am just all over the place. If I'm at the hospital, i feel guilty leaving the other kids, if I'm home i feel like I'm abandoning the bean.

*Sigh*

It has been 12 days. Yesterday, an open cot was mentioned….if…she gets her feeding sorted.

*sigh*

I heard the ‘staff assist’ buzzer today, and mourned my last few months of pregnancy.

*sigh*

I just want her home so badly

*sigh*

Dear Bean

2010-01-27T16:51:00.001+10:00

My dearest baby bean,

We have waited for you for so long. So many people have thought of you, and prayed for you. Now you are here, I feel beyond blessed. Today, you are 1 week old. Happy 1 week birthday my angel.

I never thought I would know the meaning of things like

Nasal gastric tube

bolous feeds

what your bpm and sr should be

what your ‘stats’ should be

what your bilirubin level is

your ‘gestational age’ in reference with your ‘lb age’

this is killing me. seriously. I am beyond tired, weepy and crying all day. Seeing you is so wonderful, I never thought I could just sit, and watch someone , for hours. Never thought taking your temperature, changing your foot probe, changing nappies and feeding you with a syringe down your NGT would make me so happy. Never thought I would be so very excited that you were weighed.

(she is now 3.9 pounds, down from 4.4 pounds. They have upped her feeds and today she started pentavite along with the caffeine she gets daily at 12pm)

But this is killing me. Leaving you, I always cry on the way home. I know I am not getting enough sleep, but there is no way around it. And tonight, with your Daddy back at work, I feel as though I am abandoning you.

Today, I held you for almost 45 minutes. You opened your eyes, those big blue eyes. You are so adorable, and placid, I cold hold you all day.

We should be reaching milestones now, your first smile, your first longer than 20 minute sleep. Instead your milestones are measured by increases in your feeds, the turning off of the blue lights, and weather or not your alarms are going off.

This is killing me. My milk now ‘lets down’ at the exact time of your feeds, even at home. The breastpump is a cold substitute.

You are 35 weeks on Saturday. Maybe, just maybe, I will be allowed to try and feed you. Last night, you tried to eat your hand as it brushed past your mouth. I was thrilled!

Bean, I want you to grow,eat,get fat. I want to bath you and dress you and photograph you. But mostly I want to hold you. To sing to you, to dance with you, to sleep with you beside me. Hurry up, beanie. I miss you.

love , Mummy.

Im in love with that little bean!

2010-01-25T18:25:00.001+10:00

Day 5.

Today I am on a high. It hasn't been like this since she was born (I've been a mess) … Leaving her is the most awful feeling. But seeing her is perfection.

Eden is now on 28mls of milk every 2 1/2 hours. On day 2, she was on 3mls, so a huge achievement! She hasn't been weighed or bathed yet, she is still solely in the humidicrib, but i am getting a little cuddle a day, and it is absolute bliss. Im hoping she will be in an open cot soon, and I can bath her and hold her…

Today I farmed the kids out and spent the whole day with her. I am home for dinner, then will go back up tonight. She has jaundice today, so will be under lights for 6 hours , but otherwise she is doing great!

I know she is doing so well because of all your love and prayers!

We can never thank you enough!!!

THE BEAN HAS ARRIVED

2010-01-23T16:42:00.001+10:00

Eden Elizabeth was born Wednesday night, after a placental abruption and emergency c-section. She was 6 1/2 weeks early, and is in special care. I wanted to let you all know she is here, and safe, and perfect. I am home, and a wreck. I have lots of photos, but will be back to blog later. I have been home for 2 hours, and am now going back to the hospital to be with her. thankyou all so much for all your love and prayers during my pregnancy, i can never tell you how much it means to me and the bean.

This girl

2010-01-16T16:58:00.001+10:00

As we prepare for our last baby girl, our first baby girl is about to turn 13.

My firstborn, we learnt everything along with her. A pair of teenagers who knew nothing, yet somehow we still managed to raise a beautiful, well mannered (well, mostly-except for those teen angst moments), oh-so-special girl.

Who I guess I will have to start calling a young lady:)

I love this girl so much.

Guess???

2010-01-14T20:17:00.001+10:00

what

got

for

Christmas (and finally assembled)

* yep, im quiet again. Its school holidays here, and really hot, hubby has just had his holidays and i have been so busy with well, life! I am missing you all ( you know that right?) so much! Kimber, i am about ready to switch phone company's just so I can text you, its very frustrating! Heres hoping ill get some blogging time in 2 weeks, when I will only have 1 baby home!! (well for a month or so anyway)

Beanie girl is doing great, kicking my ribs and making me pee 500 times a night! My bag is packed full of pink things and i cant wait to finally meet my miracle girl:) I am 33 weeks tomorrow!!!

Happiness is in the mail

2010-01-04T20:24:00.001+10:00

So, this morning was off to a bad start. For some reason, Luka has decided that he likes to be up at 4am. This was about the 4th morning in a row, and I was seriously tired and grouchy. LOVE changing nappies and wiping up spills at 4am!

I was tired, grouchy, and still in my pjs when i heard the mail lady beep her car horn.

And look what hubby brought inside!

Aaaaah, that explains why it took sooo long to get here! Maybe Quarantine suspected Kimber of something suspicious hahaha:)

Oh my, is that pink frills??

IS THAT REESES ???!!!!

You bet it is, a giant bag, and the cutest snowflake pendant (you know I've never even seen snow!) which i am going to buy a chain for 1st thing tomorrow so I can wear it!

But, oh my, back to the frills!!

Kimber, I LOVE it!!!

And i think the bean will look ADORABLE in it !!

Dont you agree??

THANKYOU

so much Kimber, you made my day/week/month !!

XOXO

*Now, its your turn for a package, lets hope quarantine doesn't keep it again:)*

This is how we roll

2009-12-30T18:15:00.001+10:00

At Christmas time that is :)

We count down the days with our teddy calendar

* when I was a kid that bear used to frustrate me sooo much- Christmas is right there !*

We leave the obligatory snack out for Santa ( this is the first year for a while that we haven't given him beer- Jai wouldn't allow it !)

We end up with an obscene present pile

We ( well not me but everyone else) actually slept in – until 6:30am… and someone was very happy with the fact Santa left a ‘big, huge gun and a small holding gun’ just like he had asked.

In fact, everyone was hugely happy with what Santa had left. Well, almost everyone.

Some people are never satisfied

*actually, the huge tantrum was over the fact that mean mummy turned Ice Age off*

…..Of course, there is many pictures but mum has been forbidden to use them due to bedhair in many shots *cough*girls*cough*…..

And we had the cutest reindeer imaginable

*for once I put my camera away and just enjoyed the day- well when I wasnt cooking or cleaning or trying to control my crazy brother and crazier kids*

So, that was our Christmas. Now Im looking forward to just waiting for the bean! I know it seems crazy but by the time Christmas is all over I am SO sick of SHOPPING!!

Lately

2009-12-29T16:52:00.001+10:00

It has been hot hot hot, hence the wearing of just underwear

The girls have been getting along surprisingly well

My bean belly ( 30 weeks and 3 days!!) is growing

We are greeted by the cutest face whenever we go outside

(we finally have Frodo home!)

I am just about to catch up on some blog reading- will post our Christmas photos later too!

*my new years resolution- to blog more!! *

A long overdue post…ive missed you so much!

2009-12-14T16:48:00.001+10:00

Well, ill start by saying, hello strangers! I have been missing ~~stalking your blogs~~ you! Also, if you have somewhere to be, be warned this is a loooong post! I owed you one!

It has been really really really really really hot here. I mean, hot. And our air conditioner broke.

And we lost our much loved Chuppy.

Either from snakebite or a heat induced heart attack. We don't know. It was very fast, and a big shock. He was only 3.

So i have been feeling really shall we say, crapola. Its just too hot, and we have been so busy, i just feel overwhelmed. And drained. Hubby has gone back to Monday to Thursday nights, i am so glad he has steady work again (well, until he finishes in 6 days then we will have to see what happens) but it means i am having to do a lot of ‘stuff’ you know, everyday stuff, shopping for food for 7 hungry mouths (I'm hungry too!) Christmas shopping, (i have about 10 presents left to buy) all the end of year school stuff ( today is officially the first day of school holidays here) etc etc. So I am feeling very tired and unmotivated.

BUT, in bean news , I had a hospital appointment, and an ultrasound, and everything seems fine. They cant find any reason for the bleeding, but beanie girl is growing fine (even though I've only put on a total of 2.1kgs- i was tiny compared to all the other women at the hospital)) and all her measurements are good. And….. we made it to 28 weeks!! Officially into the 3rd and final trimester!! I marked the occasion by packing my hospital bag , so all ready to go, heres hoping bean stays put at least another 10 weeks!

Hmmm, what else has been happening? Well,

I get my camera back this weekend!! I am so excited, and cant wait to bombard you with photos!

Cara graduated primary school, now I am the mother of a high schooler! She was unimpressed, more impressed with the fact she was allowed to dye her hair for the occasion.

Dakota has been selected as one of next years ‘school leaders’. I was so so proud of her!

Rani turned 8, and i made a pastel rainbow cake……. and have no camera! I dug out the old fuji, and will post some pics of half eaten cake soon. ( It has been so hot, i got up at 4am to start the cake- the only time it is even mildly cool!) Rani asked for , and received, the present i spent a month trying to buy last Christmas (sold out everywhere), the Fish Bank. She has saved over $50 already!

Jai had a day at school, to prepare for next year. He looked so cute in his uniform, i almost cried. My 1st baby boy, grew up so fast!

And the fatboy? Or the not-so-fatboy? (We have kind of switched to Lou-Lou) Well, he is still adorable, still in love with his mummy, and toilet training! Going really well, my big boy! Still dont know how he will take the newest addition. It will be interesting, since he still likes to go to sleep with his arms around my neck!

And this??

This is what happens when it hasnt rained for about 6 weeks during a heatwave!

photos… its been a while…Ive missed you!

2009-11-30T13:14:00.001+10:00

Frustration

2009-11-30T12:56:00.001+10:00

With the public health system. Having my apparently non-urgent ultrasound pushed back to tomorrow. Frustration. With doctors who are unconcerned. With bed rest orders, then ‘don't bother’ instructions.

However…. i finally saw a doctor who told me something! She explained that the risk now (apart from premature labour) is that the baby will not have enough room to grow properly. ( this fact, together with the fact I've put on exactly one and a half kgs -at 26 weeks- scares me a little) So they will finally (after me in tears) do another ultrasound to check the hematoma, and beans growth. They are also doing blood tests to check how much blood i have actually lost.

I was all set to write a huge happy blog last week. After my bed rest was lifted ( as it was making no difference at all), and an ultrasound and blood tests scheduled, I was feeling great. Had a big week, Jais godfather visited and we went to SeaWorld, and the beach and Britney Spears ( soooo bad, it was great haha… the lip syncing, the huge delays, the awful dancing, just great!) , then Thursday, I hit the wall, and have slept for the last 3 days.

I will update tomorrow night after ultrasound and blood tests. Beanie has made it past 26 weeks, and although i am still bleeding, and I'm thinking anaemic, she is such a strong little girlie, always kicking me. Go hard baby girl, only 13 weeks to go:) I am currently swinging from hugely confident to massively depressed. Hence my erratic blogging, and total lack of commenting. I miss all your blogs, and i hope after beanie arrives safe and sound, i can get back into the swing of things:)

will post some photos later, finally put my baby in to be fixed * remember when Rani stood on my beloved camera and broke the screen?* he will be ready in 2 weeks (and much cheaper than I thought), I cant wait, finally some good news!

Its beginning to feel like Christmas around here… Jai asks every single morning, “is it Christmas now?'” It will be along 25 days…

The view

2009-11-22T08:45:00.001+10:00

from bedrest –when I can- is reassuring.

I should have updated you before now, but i really dont know anything!

I am frustrated

and cranky

do not want to blog

or take pictures (major for me)

or answer the phone

or talk to people

or doctors

or deal with this.

Me and beanie have been to hospital, where they said I was not bleeding anymore, but come back if it starts again. I WAS still bleeding, and haven't stopped!

They would not do an ultrasound

‘maybe Monday’

Back to the hospital in the morning, no more GP for me, its all hospital appointments.

I am so scared.

We made 25 weeks beanie girl, just stay put for a few more please.

Tuesday

2009-11-17T16:41:00.001+10:00

I feel so weak and worn out.

I have been lying around all day.

Its hot, really hot.

Hubby is at work.

The house looks like a bomb has hit it.

The bleeding is getting worse.

I have a doctors appointment first thing in the morning.

I am scared.

Beanie is still kicking away.

That is good.

I am still waking up to be sick.

That is good too.

I have made 24 weeks, so beanie would survive if the worst happened.

That is amazing!

Back tomorrow xxx

MIA

2009-11-16T19:42:00.001+10:00

Missing in action. That's me. Complete failure at the whole ‘post every day for 30 days’.

Hanging over my head has been the doctors warning- ‘the only risk is between 24 and 31 weeks,of premature labour’

I have had no bleeding since week 19 and a bit.

Reached 24 weeks on Saturday.

Tonight, the bleeding has started again. Right on cue.

It is not a great time for us, with Christmas and the new school year coming up, hubbys hours have been halved.

I am tired of always worrying.

About Beanie. About money. About Christmas and having 4 kids in school next year and how we will manage. About hubbys job. About the fact that right now, i feel as tired as i can remember being, and its only going to be worse when bean arrives. Will i cope?Will I ever actually be a photographer, or is it just an insane dream?

I am tired.

I am sick of whinging.

I just want to be able to relax again.

I will make a doctors appointment tomorrow.

Its my blog and ill sook if I want to

2009-11-10T07:12:00.001+10:00

*praying for Stellan and MckMama *

Do you know what sook means?

Spent the majority of today like this

for no apparent reason. Aaaah , hormones…

A new perspective

2009-11-10T06:57:00.001+10:00

Fine. Ill admit it. I suck at posting.

But, technically, it doesn't say, 1 post per day. So, I may be cheating, but I'm doing my best,haha.

Can you guess what Im doing? :)

Fatboys (belated) 2nd birthday pictures.

2009-11-07T12:09:00.001+10:00

*in case you cant tell, when everyone started singing Happy Birthday, Fatboy started crying*

Letters Of Intent

2009-11-07T09:15:00.001+10:00

Courtesy of Julie….

Dear sons,

You know the roll of toilet paper does not GO IN the toilet right? So, why am I repeatedly pulling soggy almost full rolls out? Its bad enough we buy the giant economy sized packs- that I am yet to EVER see anyone else buying at our local grocery shop- but now I have to go get MORE!

And you know, when you get up at 5am, maybe you could just watch cartoons or eat breakfast, as opposed to having complicated,prolonged,noisy car races.

I get the whole obsession with bugs thing, you being boys and all, but forgive me if i do not appreciate a cockroach or a spider being shoved in my face while I sleep.

If you didn't eat in my bed, that would be great too.

On the other hand, you two boys crack me up everyday. And your love for each other makes me so happy!

*oh,before I forget,pee goes IN the bowl. Just in case you didn't know.

Love you boys so so much

Love mummy.

Things to come…

2009-11-05T16:56:00.001+10:00

Imagine

what it will be like

when there is another one

to fold clothes for…

*yes I promised birthday pictures. But this is what I spent all day doing, so birthday pictures will wait until the weekend*

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T19:53:00.001+10:00

Fatboys birthday started at 3:48AM!!!! So he had a grouchy,whingy birthday, and fell asleep before we got to the cake. We still love you little man, but now we are (all) going to bed!

Oh, and see the sweat-beads on his nose? It was SO hot here today, I am not looking forward to summer,especially since I will be hippo-sized.*ok I just googled this- It was 36 degrees here today,which is about 96.8 degrees for you guys. Hot. And only going to get hotter.We are in the 3rd month of spring,summers going to be a killer!

The last night….

2009-11-03T20:29:00.001+10:00

That The Fatboy is one….

So much has happened since his 1st birthday!

This will be

The last year he is the baby

The last year he is not a big brother

(he will be an awesome big brother!)

So hard to believe! Goodnight my sweet one year old. You make me smile every day:)

(also so hard to believe? That I will soon have another baby that teeny!)

I am loving …

2009-11-02T15:05:00.001+10:00

Fatboys ‘zoooooooom’ face (thats the noise he makes while he does the face)

taking pictures of my expanding belly. (hubby asks - “Why are you taking so many photos, surely you know what you look like!”)

my crazy boy

my beautiful girls

my handsome hubby, who I have been with for 14 years!

banana caramel fudge tart….mmmmmmm

Pink,pink,pink:)

Perfectly content with life:) Now, if I could only stop throwing up!

Letter Of Intent

2009-11-02T14:37:00.001+10:00

Yes Im late…again… so here goes, Im going to do this…

laugh if you will (especially since im already 2 behind haha)

Back to business..

Courtesy of Julie,here my letter of intent (only about 4 days late)

Dear people over the road,

Once again it is the weekend *… And for some reason the fact that it is the weekend means you are obligated to

a) get rip-roaring drunk

b) force the neighbourhood to listen to your awful music choice

c) ~~screech~~ laugh VERY loudly until at least 3am.

And dont get me wrong, its not like I dont enjoy the giggle I get watching the mailman (and yourself) poke the mail into your squashed-during-a-drunken-burnout-in-your-driveway mailbox. I admit that I did get a laugh out of watching your hubby shirtless and drunk trying to pick his motorbike up out of the ditch where it slipped out of his hands.

Maybe you have no furniture inside, and that is why you sit outside all night, whether its raining or freezing or whatever.

This letter makes me sound , I realise, like a complaining neighbour but surely the fact that after you moved in, 4 neighbours near you have since moved,says something.

Seriously, I do not mind partying. But could you possibly GO INDSIDE YOUR HOUSE after say, 1am?

Thanking you,

one of your neighbours…

*it WAS the weekend when I wrote this:)

I really sound whiny! But oh well, I feel better,lol

Just Because

2009-10-27T07:48:00.001+10:00

I have been trying to get a lightning shot for about 2 years….

AND I DID IT!!!

* yes, am again late blogging/commenting. The good thing is I have about 4 posts ready to go! So unorganized, all beanie brain at the moment (meaning, mush between the ears!) She has been making me sick all night for the last 2 nights, I am tired and grouchy but still oh-so-happy. *

She has a name!

2009-10-25T07:09:00.001+10:00

This is a super-short post, will post my Letter Of Intent and my 21 week update later (better late then never)… Oh, and so I don't forget… Fatboy started saying, 3 days ago

“ I wuf you mummy” (love you) …

But, the moment you've all been waiting for… I've decided, hubbys okayed it, Bean will be called…

Eden Elizabeth Chapman

Eden just because I love it, and Elizabeth for my Nana…

Oh my baby girl, my bedroom is swimming with teeny pink baby clothes, you are kicking me constantly, still making me sick, cant wait to see you:)

Wordless Wednesday (only a day late)

2009-10-22T15:00:00.001+10:00

Jai Ethan

2009-10-21T06:43:00.001+10:00

5 years ago, our first son was born.

Jai, you made me sick for 10 months.

It was worth every moment.

We braved a whole new world, after 3 girls, of cars and bugs and mud and trucks and hotwheels aplenty!

My little hellraiser:)

Now, at 5 you

play the ps2 every chance you get

sleep late (in your own bed finally I might add)

love your sisters

adore your brother

always greet me with a ‘Good morning mummy’- eyes still half closed :)

are most polite, even wishing everyone that rang you a happy birthday, on YOUR birthday

throw terrible tantrums over ps2 games ( “I suck at this!”)

love scooby doo and superheroes.

are going to school next year, which you are most excited about

love chicken,hate cheese

still treasure each Hotwheels you own. You still have the first one you ever got (you started carrying cars around at 6 months)

tell us “ You will make me cry again!” when you get in trouble

make me laugh everyday

Love you Jai , my big man xxxxx

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-14T14:22:00.001+10:00

Shout it from the rooftops!

2009-10-13T15:05:00.001+10:00

I cant even begin to find the words to describe how I feel.

One hematoma (the 161mL one) is GONE. The other has gotten smaller, and they said it looks as though it may absorb soon. (we will keep an eye on it- but I have not been bleeding for almost 2 whole days-so, fingers crossed)

And…………..

Its a GIRL

and even though I already kinda knew, it was fantastic to hear them tell me for sure!

She is healthy and chubby and was holding her ear and looking at us ( I even saw her eyeballs). The 3D was amazing, seeing her tiny little face, with her hands going up and down, and tiny starfish fingers waving:) I pick up the pictures tomorrow.

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU, all of you, for your prayers, and thoughts. I believe Bean couldn't leave, there is already so many people who are waiting to meet her!

10 on 10 (except its the 11th here)

2009-10-11T18:59:00.001+10:00

Wow, weekends. Full-on. Crazy. Hence this being a day late. The girls were at sleepovers this weekend, so the boys took the opportunity to, ah, shall we say, ~~go absolutely crazy and drive me nuts~~ work off some excess energy. Fatboy practised his angry face

and ‘the finger thing’ which he has done from about 12 months. You cant see it very well in the photo, but he loves to perform it!

Jai was here

as soon as my back was turned! ( Oh the concentration! )

I went to my favourite baby shop, and bought a few special things to put in here

including this, which I couldn't resist!

I squeezed in some pictures of not-so-little-babyfeet

in between cleaning madly (or should I say ‘nesting’)..

I took my 19 week ( yay!!! - I am so happy- I believe I've mentioned once or twice) belly shot ( you are warned- bear attack!!- I tried black and white but stretchmarks just as obvious,sadly!)

and started to get backache…

Rani came home with bed hair,after a weekend in her friends pool

and I looked at this while sitting down:)

It was a big weekend

Sweet baby bean…what's in a name??

2009-10-08T08:19:00.001+10:00

My little beanie, still hanging in there. But 1 thing (well, apart from all those other ,major things- 2 hematomas) is really bothering me. What are we going to call this bean?

As I watch my bean belly grow ( couldn't do up my pants this morning-yay!) I want to put a name to my –last- bean… (Cant be called Bean its whole life- but I think it will stick around as a nickname for a while) And its only 5 days until I find out if its a girlie bean for sure! I'm already internet browsing, tutus and stripy pink stocking hats and tiny shoes and big flower hats oh my! ( If it is a boy bean, I will have to seriously revise my shopping lists)

I got nothing. I like Maliyah, it just keeps popping into my head, but maybe only as a middle name. Boys, I like Koby, but apart from those 2 ‘like’ names (not ‘love’ names, like the others were) I really have nothing.

Any suggestions?? It has to ‘go’ with all the other kids names, Im pretty fussy - which is why Rani was ‘Baby Chapman’ for close to a month.But come on, throw names at me (not literally,you know)

18 almost 19 weeks bean kicking me constantly, I am so happy. So happy. Stay put Bean, love you so much!!

* wow 3 posts in 3 days, does this mean IM BACK?*

Just cos you asked nicely, heres a belly shot with a smile:)

(And Melissa, my tattoo on my arm says Jai and Luka, the girls names are on my back)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-07T16:19:00.001+10:00

I feel summer….

2009-10-06T16:52:00.001+10:00

Even though its only Spring.. Its hot,hot,hot here already, and I have felt altogether sapped of all energy for the last week or so. I'm sure the constant bleeding is not helping, and am planning on asking for another iron level test at my next appointment. Yes, it continues, but the bean is reassuring me with kicks/punches every day.

Hey, I made 18weeks!! And made my ultrasound appointment too, 1 week from today, I cant wait. There is a big stripy purple hatbox on top of my drawers, with 3 tiny outfits,1 tiny nappy and a pack of breast pads. ( I decided last week to start my ‘organising’ which just means I buy 1 thing every grocery shopping day-like nappies,wipes,breast pads etc. After Jai and Luka we did not need any baby stuff for 3 months!) Every time I look at the box I smile a secret smile:)

*and do you think its a sign that 3 times when I've gotten in the car that song “Brown Eyed Girl’ has been playing??*

The girls are back at school after a 2 week break. At one stage I had 4 kids inside and 3 pre-teen girls asleep in a tent. At no stage was there less than 7 kids here.The house still looks like a toy shop and several wardrobes exploded, but Im sure Ill get on top of it eventually (although I may need mountain climbing equipment to scale Mt Washing)

Hubby has had the ‘man flu’ ( you know, its a ‘cold’ when a woman has it and 400 times worse for the man) and I am tired and cranky and emotional so we argued for about 3 days. Sigh.

Anyway, back to summer. Apart from the heat, you know summer is on the way when you get swooped by a magpie. (its a black and white bird that gets really agitated while nesting,and angrily swoops your head-when we were kids we put ice-cream containers with eyes painted on them on our heads-it looked as stupid as it sounds, but the magpie doesn't like being watched apparently) And however horrible this may sound, it was HILARIOUS watching Fatboy riding his tiny bike, getting swooped by this magpie (it didn't actually HIT him, just scared him) screaming, ‘ Birdie!!! Birdie!!!” Daddy rescued him after Cara fled screaming:) Now he has a morbid fear of birds.

So, its way too hot now for Babylegs (sob) but maybe you'll agree that these are pretty cute too?

*note to all-see those prickles all over Fatboys pants? They stick to EVERYTHING,and there is about 500 in my house waiting to be vacuumed up when it cools down.*

This is one boy who look like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth

but I think he may be slightly put out when bean arrives…

For now though, there has been lots of cuddles,and kisses, and “Come on mummy,up” at 5am and this

going on. I just discovered babywearing, and bought the sling to take to Darwin. I love it! And so does Fatboy:) Maybe I should have bought the pink spotty one though (sorry Bean)

And here you go, the 18week belly. Containing my face! I think I look giant, but I don't care:)

20 weeks (and a few days)

2009-09-28T07:27:00.001+10:00

How far along? 20 weeks

Total weight loss/gain? um, gained about 5kgs in about 3 weeks! I have visions of getting to 30 weeks and just being an elephant!

Maternity clothes? Still need maternity bras, the old ones were fine until Fatboy stopped breastfeeding, now my bras are complaining. A lot. Mostly fitting into my old clothes, Im at that ‘maybe she's pregnant,maybe just chubby’ stage.

Sleep? Still falling asleep before 8:30pm every night. Have been waking up when hubby gets home at 2am, I usually get up and we talk for a while, then Im back to bed until 5am when Fatboy decides to get up.

Best moment this week? She is always on the move when she hears her brothers playing:) And I can see my belly moving when she kicks now too! And………….. no bleeding for almost 2 weeks!

Movement? Yes,yay!!!

Food cravings? iceblocks,still, and had to have ‘something crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle’ Settled for gumballs:)

Gender? Girl!!

Labour signs? No ..

Belly button in or out? In.

Stretch marks? Um, yeah… I may just leave this question out from now on,haha.

What I miss? My toes, cant see them anymore. And sleeping with Fatboy. Decided that we should have at least a few months on our own in bed before bean arrives. Fatboy has moved (with no complaints at all ) to a toddler bed in our room.

What I am looking forward to? Enjoying the next (almost) 20 weeks. And shopping for my baby girl (grin)

Weekly Wisdom? Buy a body pillow. I love mine, but hubby does complain that it takes up almost as much room as a person:)

Milestones? I'm halfway there! And girlie bean is going so well! And my hematomas are gone/going. I've stopped bleeding! Bean is so active! So many milestones, so much to be thankful for!

* picture later, maybe my WW, I meant to post this Saturday,and Jais b’day post on Sunday. It was a busy/stressful week*

Letters of Intent

2009-09-26T08:13:00.002+10:00

Courtesy of Julie, over at Foursons. Join in!

Dear Creators of Cosmopolitan Pregnancy,

First, let it be known it has been almost 3 (gasp) years since I have bought a pregnancy magazine. But I was slightly shocked to pay over $13. (Okay , maybe I'm just a cheapskate).

The thing that sprang to mind when I started reading was “Oh wow, there's so many lingerie adds in here” I mean, I am not opposed to lingerie but now that I am preggers, am I meant to have lots MORE lingerie than I would normally? Frankly, Im already considering moving into my favourite pregnancy underwear, mens undies. Comfort and extra support, I feel they are truly an undiscovered blessing. And yet, mentioned nowhere in your magazine.

And the fashion. I realise that the maxi-dress is, once again (or still-thankyou Nicole Richie) in fashion. But does that mean that every single pregnant woman has to wear them? In case you are not aware, it gets hot, real hot, here in Australia and the thought of spending the summer sweating from my boobs to my feet is not one I cherish.

There is the jeans though. The $260 dollar jeans. Really? $260? For maternity jeans? I wore my normal jeans unbuttoned, with a long shirt or my belly belt over the giant gap. Didn't cost me $260.

Lets move on. To the prams*. Should I feel like a bad mother because your prams, ranging in price from $800 to about $3000, seem like a totally unnecessary expense? The most I have spent on a pram is $200, and no one ever complained. We hardly even used it!

I have saved my biggest complaint until last,however. Of all the women you interviewed, in the entire magazine, every single one said “ I have been very lucky and have NO stretchmarks at all” OH WOW. REALLY?? Where is the woman saying “ I look as though I have been attacked by a bear or similar wild animal, none of those creams helped, I look as though silver slugs have crawled all over my body!” WHERE WERE THOSE WOMEN??

In closing, I don't think Ill buy another pregnancy magazine, because frankly, I'm onto #6 and don't really need your advice anyway.

Yours faithfully (well no, not really).

Mummy of almost 6 monsters.

* pram= stroller. Apparently, we make up our own words.

In which I declare I am sick of being stressed

2009-09-24T18:13:00.001+10:00

So Im not going to.. Stress that is. Easier said than done, but I realised I am almost halfway through this, my final, pregnancy, and have not really enjoyed a second of it. So, bugger it, Im going to be a happy pregnant lady.

*if you were at Lowood IGA today, that was me gazing at my belly in the reflective windows.Sorry*

Well, bean update. Doctors visit. Pointless. Quote “ Its not really our area”

Hospital visit. I weigh 64.9kgs, which means in 16+ weeks I have LOST 3.1kgs. Dont stress. Breathe. Beans heartbeat all good, love that whooshing heartbeat, and I could hear mine in the background, it was kinda nice hearing both at once:) But again, midwife could not give me any information.

So, countdown 2 weeks 6 days until next ultrasound, then another hospital visit, where I get to see a doctor who will be able to give me some information. Of course, after the hike up the hill to my car after hospital visit ( Ipswich Hospital, you should be appalled at the parking at the hospital!) I was pouring blood. Again.

But my feet are disappearing.

I couldn't be happier.

In other, non bean news,we had a crazy dust storm yesterday. I woke up to clear blue skies, by 10am, it looked like this.

The kids are all home, ( Julie, they have school all year round, 2 week breaks in March, June and September, and 6 weeks off over December/January) so we stayed shut-in all day. Even inside you could taste the dust. I have been cleaning up this thick, red dust all day, but took time out to join every other Australian writing ‘Wash Me’ on their cars!

(we aren't allowed to wash the cars until the weekend, because of the water restrictions we have here)

And just cos Fatboy is adorable, and he made me laugh!

Im the mum now.

2009-09-20T07:31:00.001+10:00

As I was driving my drunken brother, his girlfriend and their mates home at 10pm last night I pondered aloud

“Isn't this the sort of thing mum (my mum,Karen) should be doing?”

My brother (Steven, but we only ever call him Stevie,which I'm not sure if he likes since he is now 24 ) replied

“Nah, mum wont do anything anymore,you're the mum now”

Which I guess I am.

So,why you ask, did I pick him up? Well because

a) Im just that nice :)

b) one of his mates works at the ultrasound clinic, and is not only getting me in to see the specialist at my next appointment, but is also getting me some 3D and 4D pictures!

So, although the bleeding continues ( want to hear a funny story? Sent hubby to stock up on pads for me –sorry but its part of the story- and he came home with adult NAPPIES! I may have had 5 kids, but am not quite there yet!) and I feel pretty tired and worn out I feel pretty confident today:)

and I also cant help but think that OF COURSE the bean will stay, how could she? not when there is so many people waiting for her!and praying for her! and thinking of her! ( at the next ultrasound the 3D will pick up if its a definite her or not).

(Yes , being overtired makes me slightly hyper)

Did you guess who had the red mohawk?

Fatboy,naturally. Dont worry, it was just hairspray left over from the girls crazy hair day. It was the last day of school here on Friday, now they have 2 weeks holidays. I have forgotten 3 times, having already got the uniforms ready, bought school food when getting groceries, and reminded Dakota that she had to go to bed early tonight because its a school night.

I love this one, even though you cant see his face properly.

and here's Dakota and Rani (Jai was inside refusing coloured hairspray)

and

as promised…..

how giant do I look! And I love it:) Stay put bean, just stay put! Because there is cute clothes waiting :)

and lots of people who want to see you!

Sometimes,you gotta chuck a tanty.

2009-09-18T19:04:00.001+10:00

Well, i actually do not feel too bad right now surprisingly.

But if you were in Ipswich shopping centre today, and saw a pregnant lady crying behind her sunnies, that was me.

I picked up the ultrasound results.

And it is completely different to what they told me.

I dont know WHY they would tell me what they did!

I have not 1, but 2 haematomas.

1 is 7mls (considered medium) near the cervix.

The other, above the gestational sac, is not 15mls, as THEY TOLD ME,

it is 161mls.

One hundred and sixty one.

I think I felt numb.

So, after my fight-back-tears-woman you're in the middle of the shopping centre moment…

I went and bought a maternity dress.

And 2 teeny-tiny oh-so-girly outfits.

Then I came home and rang the doctor (our family doctor,hubbys for his whole life and mine for the last 15 years) and was told I could not get an appointment until the 28th of September!

I ‘chucked a tanty’ as my hubby says the kids do.

They squeezed me in on Monday( 3 days away).

Sometimes, you GOTTA chuck a tanty.

I actually took lots of photos today.And I wanted to respond to what some of you said last post( thanks for the websites-I am hungry for info, and some were REALLY helpful, and the stories, and Sassy, i will write you an email very soon) But I am so tired right now, and me and the bean are going to leave the girls watching 17 Again and go to bed. I will post the pics in the morning though ( Someone had a bright red mohawk today-guess who?) ( and I look HUGE in my new dress) (and the teeny-tiny outfits are oh-so-adorable) but all I can manage right now is

goodnight,love to all xxx

Good news/bad news, or, nowhere near wordless Wednesday

2009-09-16T20:10:00.001+10:00

The good news is, the bean looks great. Big fat belly,nice head and heartbeat, looking very chilled with arms behind head. At the moment, they are saying its a girly bean, but maybe a little early to tell. They are putting me at 15weeks 3 days, instead of the 17weeks 3days my dates suggest, but bean is growing fine since last ultrasound.

The bad news. Ugh. I always think its bad when they say “let me just get Dr so-and-so to have a look”. The haematoma has gone from 15mls to 150mls, making it large instead of the medium it was. You can see it, sitting right over the entire top of the placenta. And they cant or wont reassure me, only saying “ They are USUALLY fine, they USUALLY go away, there is USUALLY no risk to the baby.”

I feel so ? strange. I just cant relax. And cant find much on google, 1 awful website gave the odds of a healthy normal pregnancy a 46% chance, which doesnt comfort me much.And a few said if the haematoma gets too big, it can cause the placenta to separate, causing premature labour.

So, now what? More waiting and praying and hoping. Another ultrasound in 4 weeks, and a hospital appointment ( just booking in, they are seeing me earlier than usual because of the bleeding, but I am hoping they will be able to give me more information)

I wanted SO much to go straight out and buy baby clothes, now I STILL feel like ill be jinxing it. My mum bought me a teeny-tiny tie-dyed purple jumpsuit though, i so hope we will be dressing the bean in it next year.

Thankyou, again,always,forever for your messages. Im in tears at the thought that there is so many people that care for me and my bean, that there is people on the other side of the world praying for me and the bean today/tonight, love to you all xxxx

Dear Bean

2009-09-16T06:31:00.001+10:00

Dear Bean,

please stay. We love you so much …

Love Mummy

the bleeding started again last night. I was so excited about this ultrasound, now i am terrified. please think of the bean today…

Thinking about…

2009-09-15T17:51:00.001+10:00

Thinking about…….

the second ultrasound tomorrow, including a check on the horrid peri-sac heamatoma…

Thinking about……..

seeing the bean again!

Thinking about……

the sad fact I did not mention Fatboy has not had a breastfeed for 3 whole days.

Thinking about……..

when Fatboy was born.

Thinking about…….

far-away blogging friends that mean the world to me:)

Thinking………

pink suitcase

(baby girls clothes)???

or red suitcase

(baby boys clothes)???

Rest assured, ill be straight on tomorrow afternoon to let you all know if my sweet bean is okay:) Fingers crossed xxx

Darwin- its a 2 Litre beer

2009-09-14T10:22:00.001+10:00

that was the gift I presented my husband with. A 2Litre beer. He was thrilled:)

After visiting my doctor , who assured me ‘Yep, you can fly if you want’ the boys and I got on a (4 hour ) flight and headed to Darwin. It was hot. Really hot. And even though we arrived at 2am, it was hot.

We squeezed in a few hours sleep, and later that day, headed to Litchfield. the boys had an absolute ball, as did I with Sonny (nope, not fixed, I am sending him off his week, as it can ‘take up to 6 weeks’ and I wanted to take him to Darwin.)

It was so gorgeous, and peaceful ( well until the boys started racing leaves, sticks and shoes)

Jai, being the boy that he is, had to jump off the edge about 100 times, my sisters boyfriend and Jacob all too happy to catch him…over…and over…

We spent a fair amount of time sitting around ( haha) and I finally watched Australia (you know, with Nicole Kidman), which wasn't too bad. We also went and saw the ‘Jumping Crocs’ … As soon as you get on the boat, you are greeted by this

just waiting patiently beside you. They get these crocs to jump up out of the water for a piece of meat . It was freaking me out that they were just swimming around the river!

We are on this little tin boat, all hanging over 1 side, and the crocodiles are doing this

Does this seem CRAZY to anyone else?Also crazy? The fact that the tour guide dude let JAI drive the boat (okay, he didn't do too badly until the crazy 180 turn).. So somewhere, there is tourists (including one dare-I-say ~~really really~~ slightly annoying American couple) with pictures of the ‘crazy Aussies’ who let kids drive boats.

And the final night, we watched the sunset on the beach, people applauded. Seriously. Applauded.

After a 4 hour flight home (at 1:45am) I slept for about 2 days.

***On a bean note- I feel much more secure the last day or so. Im not sure why, but am all of a sudden feeling confident that the bean is fine.( and it may be my imagination, but did I feel that tiny tap-tap a day or so ago??) The bleeding stopped about 3 days ago, I have another ultrasound in 2 days, all fingers and toes crossed. ( Im also going for a 3D ultrasound!

I am going to watch The Business Of Being Born tonight, homebirth is crossing my mind. Is that totally crazy??? ***

Excuses,excuses….

2009-09-10T09:18:00.001+10:00

Im still here. With more excuses as to why I havent been here… Still preggers. 16weeks and 1 day to be exact. Still bleeding. And when I say bleeding, I mean literally pouring blood sometimes… I so want to be happy, excited, blogging about the bean every day, but just cannot relax. Aaaah bean, I want you so badly, must you scare me this much?? And i think because I lost my last baby at about this stage, I am walking on eggshells even more so.

((and so far my least fave comment when announcing my pregnancy??? “Oh No” Its comments like that that make me so ANGRY /DEPRESSED. WHY would you say that????))

Anyway, Im starting over.. the amount of blogs I have to catch up on is overwhelming, and at the moment i just want to curl up with my babies not answer the phone, or even turn the computer on. Which in turn, makes me feel guilty. So ill just start from today… and please know that all of you mean so much to me, your comments and prayers, i guess i feel like ill be jinxing the bean if I talk about him/her.

I have another ultrasound next week, I have been to the doctor, who assured me that the bleeding cant hurt the bean, but how can I be excited about being pregnant when Im still constantly buying pads?

Kimber, i miss you, and will email you later .. I am an awful awful other side of the world friend, i am so self involved/bean involved at the moment, but I am thinking of you often. xxx

In other, non-bean/ depressed me news, the boys and I just got back from Darwin, a visit to Jais beloved godfather, and my gorgeous mate, Jacob.. I needed the break, and have many photos to blog later. And only spent 80% of the time bleeding, and only 1 night crying ( thanks for listening Jake) …

So there it is, more excuses. If you are a new follower, please introduce yourself (again) and ill follow you too, and my old faithful followers, i hope you can understand.. I truly was dreaming about getting pregnant and blogging it all, but its not the final, dream, trouble free pregnancy I envisioned.

Meet the bean- yay!!!

2009-08-21T18:14:00.001+10:00

Still feeling fantastically, superly (yes spell check I realise that's not a word) happy. The kids,after a few questions

Cara : “ So now do we get a new car?”

Dakota : “ What???”

Rani : “who are we having a baby by?” ( I think she was hoping our sausage dog was having puppies)

are very excited.

I have just started reading all those blogs I have missed- theres only about 4000,so if I am slow to comment, please be patient:)

Hubby is officially on night shift- 4pm until 2am, 4 days a week, which we are slowly adjusting to. I am still tired, but the kids are being great, so we will manage.

Even though its winter, Fatboy looked like this

most of the day.

And I look like this

my belly stretches out quick, i just look chubby though!

And here is my bean….

So very happy to be writing this post. So happy.

Thursday

2009-08-20T20:08:00.001+10:00

Blessed : divinely or supremely favoured; fortunate

Gratitude : the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

I wanted to wait until I was sure, the bleeding, which had stopped,started again 2 days ago. So I finally forced myself to go for an ultrasound.

He smoothes the gel on my belly, and says the sweetest words I have heard in a long time

“Theres bub, squirming around”

And I say, “You mean its alive???”

And he says “yes, absolutely”

And i put my hands over my face and cry uncontrollably.

Gratitude does not begin to express what I feel for you all. Your comments, and prayers and hugs were so appreciated, so so so so much, and I guess the (5cm ,11week,4 day old) bean sensed how very much it was loved already. I will never be able to tell you all how very very grateful and appreciative I was/am to have your support.

The bleeding continues, I have a peri-sac haematoma which we will be keeping an eye on, but I am still throwing up every day, (which is a good sign) believe it or not, the last 3 mornings I have woken up at 3:48am (same time everyday)to be sick! And Ive never been more thrilled to be sick!

Im writing this at 8pm, exhausted, Ive been on a high all day, beaming insanely for no reason:) Im about to go to bed, and am so looking forward to reading all the blogs I have been missing! So watch out for overload of comments! (and maybe even a belly pic tomorrow? )

Thankyou all so much , I could say thankyou for eternity and it still would not express my gratitude. xxx

wednesday

2009-08-12T16:45:00.001+10:00

today is the last day I am 28. It is my birthday tomorrow. i only want 1 thing.

i have made another doctors appointment for friday.

thankyou for your thoughts/prayers and messages. love you all

floating in time

2009-08-11T10:41:00.001+10:00

thats how i feel. I had an ultrasound appointment, which i cowardly cancelled. I cant bear to hear them say there is no heartbeat. again. hoping against hope, and loving you all for your thoughts and prayers… i dont want to do this again..

2009-08-08T13:19:00.001+10:00

please pray, its happening again. I dont want to lose this baby!

I am still here-wish I had a laptop!

2009-08-02T14:12:00.001+10:00

Cos then I could type from my comatose position on the lounge. I go from, bed, bath, lounge, bath, lounge,bath,bed.(with many toilet stops to hurl) So although I miss you all HEAPS, blogging is hard at the moment. Hoping you all bear with me, i am missing your blogs HEAPS too!

Still very depressed re Sonny. Poor thing, waiting to hear from my uncle,hes a photographer, hopefully can replace screen for me.

This is too short, and although Ive written my tim tams post, its slightly delayed due to the fact I know I cant/wont post them:(

Help me- any tips for all day sickness, wet rag run over by a truck exhaustion,inability to stay awake past 6pm? It was so like this with the boys- for 9 months! Still, I have never been so thrilled to feel so awful!

Hoping ill be back soon…. I have a doctors appointment this week:)

I truly envy Sleeping Beauty

2009-07-25T19:08:00.001+10:00

Slept for 100 years. Aaaaaah. Imagine that! Yes, I let ANOTHER day go buy without a blog, or reading blogs and feel slack and guilty. I know I have awards to accept too. I suck :( Im going to try to catch up now, if Fatboy and assorted other children co-operate.

I fully intended to post last night, it was a full-on all-day spent ~~chasing those horrible boys around why do they run when i follow them~~ sitting nicely with the boys ,watching the girls run , ~~wasting all my $$ on crap food~~ eating delicious tuckshop food , ~~sweating like pigs~~ enjoying the sunny day, acquiring the most ~~stupid sunglasses sunburn I look like ive been wearing goggles~~ becoming tan and watching Fatboy ~~fall over about a thousand times~~ try out his new shoes.

All in all a good day, many ribbons and much fun. Then… disaster struck. My beloved Sonny the Sony. Got STOOD ON!!! AND CRACKED THE LCD SCREEN!!! I am not ashamed to say i ~~cried hysterically~~ was quite upset. So, now to get the poor boy repaired. He still works, but he is in pain:(

I miss posting pictures, and Julie is suffering babylegs withdrawals. So…….

and this was sports day…

Since I suck im going to make it up to you. Stay tuned for another tim tam giveaway. Im writing it now and will schedule it to post tomorrow morning. Good luck, my mates !

Id like to thank the academy

2009-07-24T07:42:00.001+10:00

Ok, I started this post on Tuesday, but I guess all those thoughts/prayers kicked in, because I have just finished a 3day vomiting streak (too much information Im sure… sorry) that involves lying comatose on the lounge watching the entire season of Gossip Girl, between trips to the bathroom. Eating is not necessary (dont worry my record is 6 days with the Fatboy) So bear with me my ~~stalkers~~ faithful readers.

Feeling better today, but now have to go to Inter-School Sports Day. I will have the camera out though, which I have not done for days so will try and post again later… After a visit to Krispy Kremes, which I just saw a huge sign for at the service station on the way to hubbys work( I nearly crashed I was so excited) Also forced myself to go to the Target Toy sale last night, I felt horrible and couldn't be bothered standing in the layby line, therefore spent $500 on toys! But now its done! How organised am I , haha!

So, back to my 4 days in the makings post….

I got this

from Angela at Mom’s Fortress of Solitude…

AND I got this

from Cailin Marie over at 5kids,1lizard & a hermit crab . So thankyou ladies, thankyou.

Im passing one (or both) to these awesome blogs!

Living In The Land Of Chocolate

Yes, Im That Mommy

Life In The Fast Lane

Iwill come back and add some more later, and my 2 MORE awards from Kimber…

Not My Kid Monday

2009-07-20T14:24:00.001+10:00

A twist on Not Me Monday, courtesy of MckMama…

*****

That is NOT MY KID taking photos of herself on her mobile with too much eyeliner.

Well, Cara is not almost a teenager- cos that would make me,um, never mind… She does not hate me mentioning anything to do with puberty or even SAYING the word puberty. She did not join facebook when she was at a sleepover, and when I found out she did not have to add me (yep,dorky old mum) as a friend so I can check on her! She did not dump her ‘boyfriend’ like this

Boy: Hi, Cara?

Cara: Oh, hi, youre dumped.

She did not tell me it was because he had been texting her friend, and I did not have to stifle a giggle. She is not giving me grey hair…

*****

That is NOT MY KID groaning and crying on the floor because they dont want to feed the dogs

Dakota (I have to tell you this because it was the worst not my kid moment but apologies in advance) did not once, at the age of 5, proclaim in the middle of CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH ALL MY FAMILY “My mum and Dad had sex last night” ( I swear to you it was not true!!!) I was not mortified! Dakota does not do this awful noise whenever I ask her to do something lately. It does not kinda go like “Urrrrrgggghhhhh” It is not extremely irritating!

She did not make a “Fairy House” with Rani to attract / trap fairies (despite not actually believing in fairies) and she did not write a tiny note to my mum that said

“Dear Karen, this is the fairy queen. We cant make it so can you remove the food and note from Ranis fairy house she made”

so Rani would think the fairies had been.

I did not think it was so sweet!

*****

That is NOT MY KID sitting sulking outside in the driveway because her older sisters are at sleepovers

Rani did not get yelled at all weekend. She does not constantly torment and provoke her brothers and sisters then cry so they get in trouble. She does not hate having her hair brushed/combed and did not spend the entire school holidays with bed hair and when school went back she did not scream like a banshee when the knots were combed out.

She does not stay up late insisting “Im not tired!” and does not have to be physically dragged, kicking and screaming ,out of bed for school. She does not have a favourite pair of shorts that she wears constantly, washed or not. She was not angry at me last night (bedtime again)and did not write me a note that said

You used to be nice and now your mean. Im stealing your slippers.From Rani.

*****

That is NOT MY KID you see chucking a tantrum in the Hotwheels aisle despite owning about 1 million cars already.

Jai did not claim the toddler bed that I had intended for Fatboy. He did not dress up as Hulk last week and did not insist “You play Hulk too mummy” We did not play Hulk all day complete with jumping, throwing and roaring.

He is not at that stage where he points out (this is so not a list of things he actually HAS pointed out at various shops) any sort of prosthetic, bald people, chubby people, pimply people etc. I am not constantly hissing “Be quiet Jai!” He did not once say at the grocery shop checkout “ Look at that lady's huge muscles” which were in fact,not muscles but rather large “bingo arms”

He did not wear the same clothes for 2 almost 3 days ( I would NEVER let my kid do that) because he has developed a bath aversion. I did not finally hold him down and strip him off and put him in the bath. He did not then refuse to get out.

He would not play the ps2 24 hours a day if I let him.

*****

That is NOT MY KID you see screaming in terror because a strange man with a beard smiled at him

Fatboy is not obsessed with “My 1st Baby Animal Book” He does not insist on reading it 600 times a day and does not call all the animals ‘cow’ or ‘quack-quack’

He did not come up to me this morning and say “Yuck. Bumped” which does not apparently mean “grab a peg and a nappy, I reek” He did not proceed to grab the nappy and smear the contents on himself,the floor, the door and assorted clothing. He did not think it was soooo funny!

He has not developed this ear piercing screech that he does whenever he doesnt get his own way.

He does not sit on my lap and grope down my shirt saying “tittie” He does not try and force me to go to bed so I can feed him. He does not scream “NONONONO” if I try and give him a bottle.

He does not love his babylegs as much as mummy does and does not say “Woohooo” whenever he gets dressed:)

(Seriously, I could go on and on haha but it already makes us sound pretty messed up!)