Autumn Harvest Festival

One of the many things that I love about Grace's pre-school and school is the festivals that they celebrate. It's a lovely time for families to get together, and be involved in the school community and for the children to have enriching experiences.

Last week we got to celebrate the Autumn harvest. There was a list of ingredients, and families were asked to choose one to bring along. Duane picked Grace up that day, and chose the sour cream. Now sounds like an easy task, but I was a little concerned that I would be stuck looking for "organic, free-range, hand-milked sour cream that only came from happy cows" Turns out any would be fine, so off to the shops to find 2 large tubs of sour cream.

On the day of the festival, we all headed up to the pre-school at 3.30pm. We had been told to bring along our picnic baskets and blankets so that all the families could enjoy the harvest meal together outside.

The kids all had a great time running around the yard and playing. Grace loved showing Xav off to all her friends, "This is my brother Xavier", she would tell everyone so excitedly. They'd then run off and play together in the sandpit, on the swings or in the tree house.

As the sun started to set behind the beautiful hinterland, everyone gathered together in a large circle for some singing. The kids led the way, singing songs loudly that they had obviously been practicing for the festival. We all were then asked to tip-toe inside and find a nice comfy spot, and Miss Christine would tell a story. Miss Amanda sung a song about story time, a candle was lit and then Miss Christine revealed a table full of Autumn things. She retold a beautiful Autumn story that the kids had been learning over the past weeks about a bulb who was looking for the perfect place to rest.

After the story we all headed outside to get all the food ready. There were 4 tables set up and on each table were different foods that had to be prepared. Each family was asked to go around each table and start the preparation of the foods. The kids were all eager to have a go, their excitement was gorgeous! Hands were washed and dried, then straight to work.

The first activity we did was to squeeze the orange juice. Grace & Xav both loved it and were awesome little juicers, getting out as much as they could from each orange.

Next was scrubbing the potatoes.

Then the pumpkin had to be cut up:


And lastly all the bread had to be buttered:

All the kids loved being involved in the preparation of the food. You could see the satisfaction in their faces as they filled the large jug with orange juice, as they carefully scrubbed the dirt off the potatoes, as each piece of pumpkin was delicately diced and as each piece of bread was buttered.

After everything was prepared a large table was set up with all the food. Each family took in turns going up to get their meal. We all then sat down on our picnic rugs happily drinking the freshly squeezed orange juice and dipping freshly buttered bread into our steaming hot pumpkin soup with a dash of sour cream on top.

It was a beautiful afternoon and and a great chance to meet up with all the other families outside of the pick-up and drop-off times.

Busy week

I have had the most exciting, thrilling, nervous, anxious and emotional week.

It's been fantastic and such a learning experience for me, but I am now absolutely exhausted and relieved that the intensity has subsided.

It's been such a roller coaster of events, but all went well and there is a beautiful little baby girl at the end. Also a Mother who is feeling fantastic, confidant, fulfilled and courageous.

I'm still yet to write up the huge story, but Nicole did end up going into labour and trying for her vbac. Unfortunately she did end up having an Emergency Cesarean, but she is so thrilled that she got to experience labour and the power within her body. There are so many reasons why this was important for her, but noticeably the biggest one now is that she has a story. Not just a retelling of a scheduled event like her first birth, she actually has a birth story full of pain, courage, strength and power. She has come away with the control, never once submitting for something she didn't want. She directed the journey from start to finish, and what a ride it was!

Now on to the cute part of all this - The gorgeous little baby girl.

Lucienne Bijou Lily - 9pd 12 oz's of squishy newborn goodness. She is absolutely adorable, and such a sweet alert little girl. If I was the baby stealing type - this is one I could easily take home and love. She is just perfect.

I was also lucky enough to spend last night with Lucie and Nicole at the hospital. Loic had to pick his Dad up from Brisbane airport and little Logie was needing some Daddy time. Of course I was overjoyed at getting to spend the night not only with a snuggly newborn baby, but also getting to chat to the Midwives when they got a chance. Little Lucie was a perfect slumber party companion, only waking every 2 hours to get drunk on Nicole's milk which was on it's way in.


I really wasn't prepared for the intensity of supporting someone mentally and physically through labour. The week up to Lucie's arrival was such an emotional roller coaster, and I have doubted whether I gave Nicole my absolute best. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it can also play havoc on or minds. I have been playing everything over and over in my head and I keep thinking of a million things that I could have done to help her more. I did think at the time that she was coping beautifully with the contractions and I was just supporting her as she found her own way to the end of each one. Maybe I should have ramped it up a bit then?, then maybe she wouldn't have lost focus or let fear creep in. Who knows, as I said hindsight is a crazy thing! I do know that I have learnt so much from this experience, and I'm sure this will be only of benefit to the next birth I am lucky enough to be involved in.

It was the very first birth that I had witnessed though, well other than my own. During labour communication seems to halt and instinct and intuition kicks in. It's really hard to judge if you are doing the right thing or not, or if there is something else that would be more beneficial.

It was an amazing experience though, one I would never want to give up. It's also cemented my passion, and confirmed that Midwifery is the life path that I want to take.

Mothers Day 2009

I was hoping that this Mothers Day would be an extra special one and I would be witnessing my very first birth, but the stubborn little Miss has better ideas.

Anyway, it was still a fantastic day & I was spoilt rotten by my 2 little munchkins.

The morning started off with Grace creeping in with her pillow under her arm at some ungodly early hour. It was kinda nice though to have her to snuggle up to - she's a great cuddler! Xav woke about 7.30am, so Duane and Grace got up to go get him and sort out the morning fun.

A luke-warm cup of tea was bought up to me to enjoy in bed, I was told that cold toast could also be served up, or we could go out for a lovely breakfast. As appealing as it was to have toast crumbs scattered through my flannelette sheets, I decided on the eating out option.

The kids then excitedly presented me with all my special presents. First there was a colourful macaroni necklace that they had hand painted at playgroup, which also had a great big diamond sparkler taking pride of place in the centre.

~~Taking pride of place hanging on the rear vision mirror~~

Next was a red felt heart that Grace had hand sewn at pre-school, also on it were some beads that she had threaded and sewn on. She had great pleasure in describing how she had made it and that she hadn't done it all by herself, the teachers had helped. With the felt heart there was also another necklace. This one was some autumn leaves that she had collected and threaded into some twine. There was also a card that both kids had made together, with some lovely words written by Daddy.

The last gift at first glance looked like a fold up chair (I was gearing up to act excited), but then after a few moments I realised it wasn't a crappy chair it was in fact a Tripod!! Yippee, I have wanted one for a while. not really sure what to do with it, but I'll definitely look the part!

After presents we headed up to the Grand for breakfast. We had the whole place to our self, so the kids had a ball running amok in the restaurant - sliding down the bannister's and swinging off the rails. Cheeky little monkeys!

I had a decadent breakfast of French toast and caramelised bananas - Yummo! The kids pigged out on poached eggs and way too many babycinno's.

After breakfast we picked up 2 carts and went for a drive around the course. The kids love going to see the cows in the back paddock and also the kangaroos that hang around the bushes.

It was a lovely Mothers Day, the presents were perfect - Of course just being with my beautiful family was the best present ever!

Waiting patiently....

I'm so excited!

One of my best friends is 40 weeks pregnant today and anytime now she is going to meet her baby girl. Her first birth was a caeserian for a low lying placenta, but this one will be a much longed for VBAC and I"M GOING TO BE THERE!!!!!!!

I can't explain how privileged, honoured and excited I am about seeing my very first birth (apart from my own and virtually the whole library on u-tube!)

She is looking gloriously radiant and feeling fantastic, ready for the exhilarating journey of birth and meeting her baby. A vbac is a struggle, but she has fought hard for what she believes is best for her and her baby and I know that she can achieve it. She has changed care providers, from one Ob/hospital who would not "let" (cause yeah, its his body to decide) her even attempt a vbac, to a hospital that does them all the time and is fully supportive. One hospital does what is best for the ob's (convenience, more $$ etc) and the other wants what is best for the Mum and Bub, using evidence based practice not scare mongering.

The anticipation of labour commencing must be strange for her though, her first child was born at 38 weeks with not one hint of labour. She is eagerly waiting for her first sign that the birth dance has started, and I am permanently attached to my mobile waiting for the call! My bags are packed and the MIL is on high alert to come when called to look after the kids.

I'm wishing for her a beautiful, empowering birth, where hopefully the baby comes out the natural exit. A vbac does have a risk of repeat c/s, but the hospital has a great c/s policy. I know that Nicole desperately wants a Vbac, and the thought of another c/s motivates that more, but if it was necessary and she has control in how it was handled she will be ok.

I'll be making sure that if there is a choice to how things are done, they are done for the better of Nicole - not to make any one else's job easier. I'll do everything I can to make keep her birth space protected and making sure that everything that happens is done out of informed consent.

What everyone should have hey!

Best piece of advice I could ever give to anyone to gain correct information:

BRAN - remember it.

B - What are the benefits?
R - What are the risks?
A - What are the alternatives?
N - What if we do nothing?

By using the above you are given the whole picture. It's your right to make an informed choice, but sometimes all the options aren't given. By keeping the above in mind, it's easier to remember what to ask and to make a choice based on everything.