Holding my breath

Ok so its Sunday night and everything seems to be going ok!

Xavier has been in bed for 3 1/2 hours and we haven't heard from him, could things be better??

He has been fantastic over the last 2 days. Not sure why, but I don't care as long as he is back to his happy self. My money is on the a/b's, and the fact that he isn' t on them anymore. I googled 'cefaclor' which is the a/b that he has been on for the last 2 weeks, and yes it is a rare side effect but it does cause joint pain. It all kinda makes sense now; why he was so distressed when I tried to lay him across me to feed (must have hurt), why he would collapse to the floor crying when he was crawling and why he was constantly hitting and rubbing his head. It all makes sense He hasn't done any of that over the last 2 days, he has been so happy and content. He is even feeding!!! My supply didn't even drop off too bad, but I am offering him extra feeds to try to bring to up again.

He is still on the medication for the giardia, but I still doubt he had it (but not enough to stop the medication!!)

So I should find out the results from his blood tests tomorrow, I am sure that now they will come back all clear!!!

I am so, so, so happy that my precious little boy is on the mend. This last week has been one of the toughest I have had with the 2 kids, it was so heartbreaking knowing that something was wrong but now knowing what. I am so glad that I kept pushing and persisting. I hate to think that he could of been on the horrible stuff for any longer than he needed to be.

Tomorrow I am going to devote to my gorgeous little man. Grace has got a make up day for school so its just Xav & I. We have some shopping to do then we might curl up together for a luxurious nap.

Clickety-click, 66

My very clever and talented husband had a major achievement yesterday!

He shot 66 at the Grand Golf Club and is now the proud owner of the course record. Well he has the ameteur course record, Stuart Appleby has the professional record of 65! Par for the course is 72, so that is a magnificant 6 under! He had a bogey free round, a score card full of pars, birdies and even an eagle.

The previous course record of 68 (which was also Duane's) has been there for a few years and Duane had been wanting to beat it for ages.

He was so happy and excited, even more so that it was in the 1st round of the club championship. This brilliant round puts him in the lead at the moment, leading by 6 shots.

Not bad for a guy that only plays golf once a week now! He has so much natural talent for golf. He says that he is playing better now than he ever has. Duane did try to get onto the Japanese tour and although he made it through the first 2 rounds, he unfortunately missed out on the 3rd. I'm not sure how he would have coped anyway, he didn't really have the drive or passion for it. I mean he has the passion, just not in a competitive & selfish way. Also we missed each other terribly when he was travelling all the time & he really missed being at home.

I just keep telling him to wait for the 'seniors tour', by then we'll be free to travel the world together!

He can't wait to get the kids into golf. It's such a great sport and they will have the most patient and talented teacher!!

Poking & prodding the baby!

~~Xavier after having blood take....his poor little arm!~~

My poor little boy had his blood taken today. He was a very brave boy though and dealt with it so well.

The nurses were all trying to get out of doing it, nobody wanted to "hurt" my baby boy. The lady that did end up doing it was so relieved that he was ok and not in too much pain. Before she started she said that I didn't have to stay if I didn't want to as it can be quite traumatic to watch. There was no way I was leaving my baby in there alone, imagine how frightened he would have been without his Mummy and being jabbed. So I held him down as I whispered in his ear and kissed his little face.

He cried and sobbed as she took the blood (all 2 viles of it), but once it was over he was fine. He even had a few smiles. So after he had his little bandage put on we headed over to visit the pead.

The pead that we are seeing is Dr Price. He seems nice enough, very thorough and was friendly with Xavier. I told him about everything that has been happening, then he gave him a check over. He checked his ears, throat, tummy and penis. He mentioned that he may have kidney trouble or urinary tract troubles becuase of his partial cicumcision. Apparently an anomoly on the outside of the body can actually mean somethings is wrong inside, so he has asked me to get a wee sample to check.

Xavier's ears seemed fine today, but they have probably cleared up from the A/b's. The Dr has told me to stop giving him the A/b's though as they are probably causing him pain as it is one of the side effects. He has given me a script for another type to use if his ears get infected again. I also have a referral for Xavier to get a ear examination to see if he has any inner ear blockages that are causing him grief. The earliest I could get in for this is the 22nds April, unless a cancellation comes up.

After the Dr had gone over everything he asked me whether there had been any gastro in the family. He said that Xavier may be experiencing stomach pains and that it was can be dangerous in babies. He then mentioned having to keep an eye out for Giardia, so I told him about Duane having it when I was pregnant. His head spun around and he said "this changes everything" I told him that Duane was treated, but he said that we all should have been done. Apparently it can remain dormant in your body and then reinfect those in very close contact. He has put Xavier on medication to treat the Giardia without even having a definate dignosis. He said that it is vital that it is treated, even if it is only a small chance that he has it. I feel a litte uncomfortable about giving Xavier medication for something that is not confirmed but both the Dr and pharmacist have reassurred me that it is ok. The Dr has also said that if Xavier improves dramatically over the weekend to also treat Grace. So I guess we will see how that goes.

One a good note, Xavier has fed ok today. He fed at 6am, 3pm and then at 5.30pm & he was ok with it. I am so glad that he is feeding again. It would have broken my heart not to be feeding him, especially when he is sick. I love giving him "mummy's milk" & all the good antibodies that come with it. Its my own special little medicine.

So now we just wait for the blood results. I am actually dreading it. I have only ever told Duane & Mum this, but I have always thought that something is wrong with Xavier. I'm not sure what, it's just a feeling that I have had for the last few months. I dont' want to give the thoughts too much energy so I push them away, and then this all comes up. I hope that it is just my over active mind and not my intuition.

Still not good

Well Xavier is not getting much better.

After not feeding at all on Tuesday I was hoping that he would make up for it in the night. He woke up at 9.30pm and couldn't be settled. He was just hysterical and getting so hot. I tried to feed him but he kept pushing me away and getting so distressed. He slept in with us, but spent most of the night writhing around in pain. I finally got him to feed at 1.30am, I virtually had to force him on. Once he was attached though he had a decent feed. I was so glad that he did though, I was so full and uncomfortable. I tried to get him onto the other side, but he just fell asleep.

He fed again at 5am and then didn't feed again all day. It's like he is pain when I lay him down to feed. He pushes me away and gets so upset, he gets really hot and big fat tears spurt out of his gorgeous blue eyes. I get so upset watching him get so distressed, but I also don't want him to not feed. I would be so upset if he didn't feed again. I know that he is a pain in the bum sometimes to feed, but I highly doubt that he is self-weaning at this young age. I really think that he is in some type of pain, or he has been and he is associating the pain with feeding.

He was so clingy and just cried all day today and yesterday. He still seemed to be in so much pain yesterday so I called the on call Dr to come out again. He checked him over and said that his ears and throat are still red. He thinks that he might be still unwell as he is getting over the infections and also that he may be having a reactiont to the A/b's. He said that sometime the A/b's that he is on can cause joint pain, so to keep him topped up with panadol.

Last night he still wouldn't fed when he went to bed, so gave him a cup of expressed milk. He took some of it, but then started doing the same thing that he does when I feed him. He woke at about 2am again and I bought him into my bed and he fed again. He was a little better, not crying and moaning in his sleep as much.

Today he is still really upset and fed once but only when I was laying down. I thought that it might be hurting him the way that I hold him when we feed. So today I tried every other way possible. Nothing made him feed.

I took him to our regular Gp today, hoping to get a referral for the recurring ear infections. Xavier was being a little charmer, I don't think that the Dr believed everything that I was telling her. As I sat there telling her about hime being in pain and crying all the time, he sat there smiling and "making eyes" at her. But then he started to go down hill again. He was so upset and she could definately see what I was talking about. She checked him all over, but couldn't come to any reason why he was inso much pain. She thought that maybe his teeth are causing him grief but agreed with me that his behaviour seemed too extreme for that.

She has given me a referral for a pead and also to get some bloods done. I went straight to pathology to get it over and done with, only to be told that they needed 2 staff to do babies. Hmmm, 1 to hold down and 1 to stick 'em I guess. My poor little baby.

Anyway I managed to get into the Pead tomorrow at 12.30, lucky someone cancelled or it could have been a month away. Fat lot of good that would have been for now though. As much as I would pay anything for my little boy, its still an expensive little visit. $280 all up, but I do get $200 back from Medicare. I coul have gone public, but not sure how long I would have to wait though. I have also made an appt to get his blood taken at 11.20. I am so not looking forward to that, especially if he wont feed. I have always settled him after his needles with boob. He has always been great with getting needles, I hope that he is fine with giving blood.

Grace is hopefully going to be at school tomorrow. As she missed out on Tuesday I am trying to get her in for a make up day. If she can't get in I'll try to drum someone up to have her, I would prefer not to take her to the Dr's!! She has been an absolute angel through all this. We have been stuck at home all this week and she has been great. Normally she gets a little crazy and housebound, but she understands that Xavier is sick. She just wants to help me with him which is so sweet. I do let her hold his arms down when I am putting his ear drops in, it's so hard to do alone!! I hope that doesn't come back to bite me on the bum!!

Actually something funny. Grace must have overheard me talking about Xavier 'cutting" teeth. So the other day she was playing with her kiddy scissors and I heard her say, "Gracie will cut Xaviers teeth" Oh dear......looks like its back to full supervision with the scissors!

~~Grace being busted painting everything BUT the paper~~

What a shocker!

We have had a shocker of a day!

Xavier wasn't too bad last night, only woke once for a booby feed. I thought it would be more considering his ear infection.

I was looking forward to having a realxing day at home, just me and Xavier. Well that didn't happen, Grace woke with the snottiest, yukkiest nose I have ever seen. It was just like 2 plugs of silicone shoved up her nose. As much as I would have loved to send her, I did the good parent thing and kept her at home. She had a little runny nose in the morning, but was fine from about 10am onwards....dammit! Should have packed her off then......if I could have peeled Xavier from my chest to at least have a shower!!

Xavier was a mess ALL DAY. He spent most of the day crying and moaning whilst grabbing his ears. He just wanted his Mummy to cuddle him all day, and he just cried if I put him down. He slept on me on and off all day, just having little 40 minute catnaps. I enjoyed the cuddles, but it makes it hard to get things done for Grace.

Xavier came into my bed at about 5am and had a feed. It's now 8.30pm and he hasn't fed again. Everytime that I have tried to feed him he has bitten me. Not just a little gummy bite either....the boy has 6 visible teeth, with others on the way. He bit down so hard the first time I screamed, I wasn't expecting it. Scared the crap out of all of us; Grace, Xavier and me. I expressed a dismal amount, 50ml. I haven't expressed since Grace was 6 weeks old, I just don't like it. However it was urgent today, I kept thinking that the dreaded mastitis was coming. There was a lump in my right boob and I was going hot and cold. Not sure if I was fighting of mastitis or just a cold.

Grace thought it was hilarious though! She kept wanting to drink the expressed milk, I had to hide it from her! If I was any better at it I would express some for her, but it took my very full boobs 20mins to get 25 ml each time I expressed. I concentrated so hard, but I couldn't get a let down.

Xavier was still having wet nappies so I doubt that he is dehydrated. He was guzzling the water, but a bit of his solids. I hope that the A/b's kick in soon and my little boy likes his boobies again. I am kinda hoping that he wakes tonight and spends the night with me. I'll open the "booby buffett" and he can help himself all night!!

**I forgot to mention Xaviers other misfortune today. Not sure how he did it but he somehow face planted on the carpet. He was screaming and I picked him up and there was blood everywhere, mixed in with his snotty nose too of course! I think that he had cut his lip. Maybe his little mouth is sore and that's why he doesn't want to feed?

Sunday night ritual

Ok so the last 4 Sunday nights have gone like this:

• During the day Xavier starts getting a runny nose which gets worse about 4pm
• He starts getting irritable, extremely tired and pulling at his ears
• I put him to bed early, he goes easily
• After about an hour he wakes and will not settle
• We then spend the next 6 hours trying to settle an upset bub who will not lay down to sleep
• Xavier sleeps with us and has booby all night as that is the only way he will go to sleep
• We go to the Dr first thing Monday morning and Xavier has an ear infection
• YES THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT

It seems my little boy has a case of Sunday-itis and saves all his sickness up for that night!

Last night was one of the worst yet though. He was getting fevers even on panadol and was constantly hot and sweaty. He spent the first part of the night asleep on my chest, but if I moved at all he woke up and cryed hysterically. Made it a bit hard for me to eat dinner & go to the toilet. I tried putting him back into his bed, but everytime he layed down he woke straight up. I eventually got him to sleep on the couch and then took him to our bed when I went. I can't remember how many times I fed him overnight, but everytime he squawked he got boobed. It was the only way to get him back to sleep again.

As it's Easter Monday there is only 1 Dr working at our normal sugery. I called to make an appt, but it would have meant up to 2 1/2 hours waiting in the surgery. No thanks...bad enough dealing with my sick little cherub at home let alone in a sickly surgery!! So I called the house- call Dr's and they were happy to come out. I was told someone would be there within the next 2 hours, But I had no sooner jumped in the shower and the Dr turned up. How good was that, it took less than 1/2 hour!

I explained to the Dr about the other ear infections. He checked Xavier over and yep....ANOTHER BLOODY EAR INFECTION!!!

We have been so careful since the first one, trying not to get any water in or near his ears. We've even had to miss out on our family spa, which we have every second night. Duane had ear troubles when he was younger and had to have grommetts, so I can only assume that poor Xavier has picked this up from "The Penney" side. Thats were all my kids get their faulty bits from. Hahaha

Anyway the Dr gave us a new script for A/b's & ear dops. He has also suggested that we go back to our Dr and get a referral to a Ear, Nose & Throat specialist to find out why he is getting them all the time.

I am really glad we have found out about the on call Dr's though. What a great service and its bulk billed to Medicare!

I should get back to cuddling my sick little baby. When he is sick, he just wants his Mummy. he's such a Mummy's boy......or is it just the boobies he wants???

Easter 2008

We have had a lovely Easter.

I was very excited this year because I got to do an Easter Egg hunt for Grace. Mum used to do them for us every year, I even remember doing one at 18!!

I clearly remember the last one she did for me. I had just met Duane. I had gone with Daniel to Stuart Mattheson's house, I think that Daniel was trying to set Duane & I up. There were a few other people there, and we all just sat around chatting and enjoying some drinks. Slowly people started leaving and it ended up with just Duane and I laughing and making polite conversation. Duane served up so many cups of tea, that I actually thought it a little strange. That certainly wasn't my drink of choice, and he was serving the tea with dinky little saucers. Who does that??? Especially at 19!!

So we sat there drinking copious cups of tea & getting to know each other. The sun started coming up....we had been chatting all night and it was now morning, Easter Sunday. I said goodbye and drove home. As I was driving up my driveway, mum was hiding the Easter Eggs for the hunt. Although I probably groaned at Mum for doing it, I still loved doing the hunt that she always put so much effort into.

This was the last one for me, as in the October Duane & I made the big move from Tassie to Queensland. Its a tradition though that I want to share with my children.

Anyway back to the now.

So after an early morning wake-up, Daddy and the kids hung out in our room whilst Mummy went and checked the Easter Bunny had remembered us.

After the all clear, we took Grace into her room to find the first of her treasure. She had made an Easter basket at school the week before so I had set that up on her bookcase with the first egg (well yogurt covered fruit wrapped up in foil) & clue for the next one.

It took a few clues before she started to really get into it and eagerly ran to the next hiding place. Easter bunny was very creative and had printed out the clues on Easter paper. We spent the next hour or so finding eggs in all sorts of places. In the mail box,

the TV,

toys,

and lots of other places.

At the end of the hunt, Grace sat down and gobbled up the treats. She was very generous and offered some to Mummy & Daddy.

I made blueberry pancakes and we all had a lazy, long breakfast. After heaving our full belly's from the table we went to the hospital to visit Grandma. Grace proudly gave her an Easter Bonnet that she had made and also a sugar free chocolate bunny, can't imagine how yummy that would have been !!! Grandma gave the kids a yogurt bunny each. Grace was familiar with the egg thing by now and immediately opened hers and gobbled it down. I did my bit and assisted Xavier's with his, well I ate it and then fed him! That counts right?

The kids were well behaved at the hospital, Grace belted out a few of her favourite songs. The old bitties all smiled and encouraged her, but I am sure they were glad to see us leave!

After we all had a snooze, we headed over to The Ryans for a BBQ lunch. It was a lovely relaxing afternoon. Emily kept Grace amused, which is always a bonus. Grace loves following her around and copying everything that she does. Emily has a electric ride on scooter that she rides around the house. Grace was sitting on it and playing with the key hole when she must have turned it on. She went flying back into the couch, the look on her face was priceless, she was not expecting it to move. Xavier was doing well until later on in the afternoon he started getting a runny nose and really upset. Well it turned out that he had another ear infection.

Silly Mummy!

I love long weekends!!

It usually guarantees me a little sleep in & also lovely family time!

We have just been hanging around the house yesterday and today, getting a few little things done. Yesterday we spent the afternoon planting 50 lomandras in the front yard. Grace & Xavier had a blast mucking around in the dirt and getting filthy! Grace found a few lizards to chase and Xavier pushed a cardboard box around like a walker. Grace also helped us dig the holes and cover them back in once the plants had gone in. Slave drivers that we are, we even got her to pick up the empty pots at the end!!

We also went and visited Wendy in hospital. She's doing well now, still not as mobile as she hoped she would be at this stage but she is getting there. She seems to be enjoying herself, well as much as you can enjoy yourself in hospital! She chats to all the other women in her ward, getting all the gossip. Its got better story lines than neighbours, the stuff that happens is crazy!!

She looks really good and has gotten out for a few showers and to go to the toilet, hopefully she wont be in too much longer!

Today we went to Westfield to get a few things & pick up Grace's new car seat! She now has a fancy convertible booster as she was starting to our grow her car seat. She is so tall. The new one is suppossed to go up to 26kgs (she is about 14 1/2kgs), but she is already at the 2nd highest strap height. Oh well, we can just pass it down if she gets too tall!

The kids got to have a little play outside, then we all went and harrassed the lady with the free taste tests. It was yummy today; stir fry, fruit & natural yoghurt and hot cross buns! Grace kept going back for more, we discouraged her of course (woudn't want her filling up for free...would we!!)

Grace always likes to go on the horsey ride on the way out, it's the bribe I use to get her to stay close at the shops. Well Duane put her on it today, and she went to get off and he noticed something strange. SHE HAD NO UNDIES ON. I had dressed her, but in the haste of getting out the door I had forgotten to put undies on her. She had taken herself to the toilet before we left, climbed up into the car and strapped herself in and also climbed out. We had not noticed. My little girl had been "airing her bits" for about an hour at the shops, Duane hadn't even noticed when she was at the playground. Once we realised I quickly grabbed a pair out of her bag and put them on her. She kepy laughing and saying "Silly Mummy, no undies" Well sorry dear....your the silly one going out with no undies on & it BETTER not be repeated when you get older!!

We then came home and put up my lovely birthday pictures from Trudy! I have been nagging my "non-handy man" husband to put up some other pictures, so he finally got those up too!

I bought a mosquito net for Grace's room ages ago, so we put that up today. It's hanging over her bed and she keeps calling it her "fairy bed" We also put some of the dining chairs in her room and made a tent/cubby. Grace loves playing in it with her teddies. She puts them all to sleep in there, spending ages patting them.

I have just finished making up a little Easter Egg hunt for the kids tomorrow. I am still reluctnant to give Grace too much chocolate so I have made some youghurt covered fruit which taste sooo nice. I have wrapped them up in foil, so thats what she is hunting for! I can't wait!! I love having kids and getting to do all these fun things with them!

Actually I should mention Grace's first encounter with Chocolate. Well her second, my brother had given her a freddo frog once before! She has also had it when we have been cooking, but apart from that we haven't ever given it to her. I knew that this year we would probably not be able to avoid it though, so we had decided to let her have some!

They had a little easter egg hunt at playgroup last Thursday. Grace got into the excitement of looking for the eggs and once she had found them she bought them straight up to me. She was looking at them strangely, not really sure what all the other kids were so excited about these tiny little balls! She gave them to me until she saw the other kids eagarly unwrapping and stuffing their faces. She came back up and took the 2 small eggs and ate them! She was given another 2 later, but she gave them to me saying "Mummy's treat" Ahhh so sweet! I think the biggest reason I had for not giving her chocolate, was her realising what I was eating all the time! I am a chocolate tragic...I love the stuff. So it looks like my little addiction is going to have to go underground, I'll only be able to indulge when Grace is not around!!

Xavier is 8 months!

Oh dear another month has passed so, so quickly!

Little Xavier is growing up, slowly slipping out of the baby stage and hurtling towards being a toddler. Aaaahhhhh No, no no....I WANT MY LITTLE BABY!!!!!!

Okay...I am going to accept he is getting older, well I really have no other option, do I? So I will pack away all the grow suits and all in ones and accept my little boy is just that!

The last month has been a tough one for X. He has had the 2 (or maybe it was just one really long one??) ear infection, and then also the outer ear infection. They have made him so upset at times. Hopefully he is all over them now but now the dreaded teeth are causing him grief. I am always reluctant to blame things on "teeth", but I really think they are annoying my little boy. he has cut his 2 front top teeth in the last week, and now the teeth either side of them have cut too. Ouchie!

He has been busy perfecting his clapping technique, this is coming along nicely! He has started waving sporadically and also scrunching his little fists up into "twinkles"

Xavier is crawling so quickly and he is getting into everything! His absolute favourite thing is to speed up the hallway and pick the vent off the wall. We have resorted to covering up the vent with a box, but I am guessing it wont be long before he realizes he could still get to it. Today he zoomed into the bathroom and pulled up the drain from the floor. I walked in and he was sitting innoccently on the floor with the drain in his hand and a gaping big hole on the floor! He loves getting into the kitchen cupboards or jamming himself behind the fridge door when I open it.

I actually really like it now that he is confident crawling. He can get around the whole house and loves just following Grace and I around. He especially loves watching the washing machine, he sits there mesmerised by the clothes going round and round.

He is a real sticky beak, and gawks out the window every time I change him. His change table is set up beside his bedroom window and everytime, he pulls back the curtain and looks outside. It's funny first thing of a morning when its still dark in his room and he pulls back the curtain and gets a face full of sunlight! That makes him blink and his little face scrunches up!!

He pulls himself up on everything and is starting to walk around the furniture easier. The little terror has even started letting go and standing for a few seconds. I am so not ready for him to be walking, mentally I am not ready!!

Xaviers favourite toys at the moment are, anything of Grace's (shoes, socks, hair bands etc), remotes, balls, tamborine & his set of jingle bells. He has perfected his pincer grip, so nothing on the ground is safe. Everything he finds on the ground goes in his mouth, any skerrick that has been dropped. He concentrates so hard to pick it up and shove it in his gob!! I have fished out all sorts of things; cornflakes, paper, felt etc.

He loves his food and is on 3 meals a day, with a few cruskits. He has eaten everything that I have given him so far. We are still not really adventurous, mainly just fruit, vegies, cous cous, weetbix, rolled oats and toast. He handles finger foods really well and has no trouble with lumps. I think that he will take after Grace in the "good eating" stakes.

Xavier is still a "booby boy", although he doesn't treat them so well! He really needs to learn some manners when it comes to his "milk". He often just dives his head into them and starts slapping me, wanting a feed. Also when I do feed him he is so wriggly and constantly pushes and slaps me. He is getting better at actually feeding now though, not just having a suck and then a gawk around. He gets on with the job and is usually done in less than 5 minutes. I'm not really sure how many feeds a day he has, probably about 5?? He

Xavier loves his sleep and is great at it! He has just cut down to 2 day sleeps, one from 7.30am - 9am and then again from 12-1.30pm. He sometimes has a quick snooze in the afternoon, if he gets a bit grumpy. Bedtime is still 6pm and he mostly goes without too much of a fuss. I love that I can just put him down and he goes to sleep himself, make life easier!! Sometimes he wants a little bum pat, but usually he is just happy with his (pink!!) mulsin wrap and dummy!! He usually wakes once a night, and depending on how tired I am, he either goes back to his bed or spends the night with me. He is a shocker to sleep with, but I do really love the morning feed and cuddles!!

He has also started saying a new word. "Car, car, car" I'm not actually sure that is what he is saying, but we are going to claim it anyway. Very fitting 3rd word for a boy, don't you think??

Lazy Weekend

We have had a lovely, lazy weekend!

Yesterday we spent the morning at home, getting a few little things done. After the kidlets had their sleep we all headed off to the camping show.

Ever since our weekend away Duane and I have been dreaming about coastal weekends away in a camper trailer. I had found one that I thought would be perfect as it would go straight onto our exisiting trailer, so I wanted to check it out. Well it would have been perfect for just us two, so we either leave the kids at home & go away alone (as if!!) or we think of an alternative!!

We both fell in love with a fully kitted out camper trailer, it has everything!! But it also costs huge $$, so that has went to Duane's "drawer of dreams" Maybe I should explain that, my dear husband has a top drawer full of brochures of things that he has wanted over the last 10 years. He loves prize homes and I am sure that he has every house pamphlet, and even multiples of his absolute favourites! I even think that he has his all time favourite laminated, well one of the 3 copies of it is!!

So with the camper trailer dumped it looks like we are going to settle with a fancy tent! Yes, there is such thing as a fancy tent. Its a coleman with 3 rooms, double ventilated (so if the kids did sleep in we could because it would be cool enough), easy to put up, blah blah blah.....I didn't listen to the rest! It does look nice and we can get the comfy self inflating beds, with the cute little bunks for the kids. So we are going to wait until it comes on sale then start out camping adventures!!

I'm not sure if I have distorted memories or not, but I used to love camping as a child. One year my brave mother took 5 kids on a trip around Tas in the Christmas break. We all had a blast, going to the beach, fishing & spending time together. I want to create those memories for my kids. It's also a cheap thing to do and we live so close to so many beautiful places it would be a waste not to explore them!

So I am hoping by this time next year our camping supplies are fully stocked and we have been on a few little trips already! Time will tell hey!!

~~~~~~~

I just want to note how much fun it is having the 2 kids! They are really starting to enjoy each other now and I love watching them play together. I am finding it so comfortably & easy with them now, not sure if I am just getting better at this Mummy "gig" or my kids are at a great age! Whatever it is, I love it! I dont think that I can put in words the love that I have for my precious children, I am so blessed to have them in my life. It sure makes it alot of fun!

Birthday celebrations

Nicole and I had been planning for years to do something special for our 30th birthdays. Originally the plan was to hire a house boat and get rolling drunk every night.......but then we all went and had kids!! Really stuffed up that idea.......most of the girls are either up the duff or breastfeeding!

So to save the hassle of fishing the kids out of the water when we are half drunk, we decided to go with a much sensibler option! A holiday house on the beautiful Pottsville beach!

So we gathered up out nearest and dearest and headed out for a combined family adventure. The house was perfect: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, beautiful deck, trampoline, cubby house and just a short walk through the dunes to the beach.

The kids all played nicely & the adults did too! I actually think that we did well to have 11 adults and 5 kids all together with no arguments! The only one causing a stir was Grace over her back pack. Grace has a high 5 backpack that she loves and we take everywhere. Malia is also obsessed with high 5, and just wanted to look at the bag all the time. Well Grace wasn't too happy with that and was constantly saying to Malia, "No touching Malia, Uh Uh Uh" Malia in all her casualness just took it in her stride, but we did let her have her "fix" when Grace was out of view!!!
We spent the days lazing about on the beach opposite the house and also at the little estuary up the road. the estuary had lots of little fish and rocks for the kids to explore. We walked around the tiny town of Pottsville & Duane and I dreamed about living in a seaside town. I would dearly love for my children to grow up in a small community. I love the Gold Coast and all it opportunites, but I also think along with the opportunity comes problems. How great would it be to live so close to a secluded beach, and be able to walk to everything! I have asked Duane to keep it at the back of his mind, maybe something to do before the kids start school??? It would really depend on work, we are so lucky with his work hours now I wouldn't want to give it up!

Anway back to our holiday! We all lazed around reading, hanging out in Trudy's hammock and eating. There was lots of junk food to be consumed and we were all in holiday mode with regards to food!!

There were big plans for a party on the Sunday night. It was to be a theme party with alcohol flowing freely and Nicole and I reliving the good old days! Well the party turned into just a dinner with drinks and laughs! I had a glass of my Moet that I had been waiting for the right moment to open, this seemed as good as any! I am not a champagne lover so I think it was a little lost on me, but I did enjoy some "Pure Blonde" beer...very nice! It was a very sensible and quiet affair, no crazy drunks or silly things happened to talk about the next day!

Actually the only person that got drunk was Emily! We all had a giggle at her ability to fall of a chair with a bottle of Moet in her hand and not drop it! She then told us that she was going to get her Pj's on and would be back! Well we didn't see her again until the morning, where she revealed she was actually going to be sick that why she left. So after our amusement went to be bed Nicole, Trudy, Loic and I all sat up reminiscing about the good old days!!

It was a very tame celebration but still great! It was so nice to be away with some of my best friends & my little family!! We might have to make it an annual celebration!!

~~We wanted our official phographer Trudy to snap a Family portrait, and this is what we got! Kinda sums us up though! ~~

30's not that bad....

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Well didn't that come around quickly! I can't believe that the last 30 years have already happened.

30 used to seem so old. When I was younger, I couldn't imagine what it felt like to be 30. And yet here I am 30, married, 2 kids, 2 houses & 2 dogs. Wowee I am a grown-up! I still find myseld referring to other people as adults, I don't think that I have ever called myself one though.

Anyway now that I am now into my thirties, its all not too bad! My 20's were fantastic, and I imagine that my 30's will be even better! My 20's were full of fun and adventure, my 30's will be too, just with the added bonus of kids! Also what was fun to me in my 20's would probably horrify me as a 30 y/o.

I am going to embrace the next era of my life, its going to be both exciting and challenging. I am going to enjoy every moment and be the best mother I can to my kids. I also want to build my relationship with Duane, it is important that we stay in-tune with each other as a good example to our children.

So the next era of my life is going to be great! Being 30 is not about the "down hill" slide, its about bigger and better things, and about a reorganising of our priorities. Where once I would have enjoyed nothing more than a night out....I now enjoy a night in, just our little family.

So from now on I am "early 30's", & still young enough to dip back into my 20's if I feel the need!

My little sick boy

My poor little boy has another ear infection. Well actually the Dr thinks that it is the same one he had 2 weeks ago, and that the Amoxyl A/b’s didn’t work on it. So he now has some stronger medicine & I am praying that this gets rid of it.

He has been really grizzly of a day for the last 2 weeks. He had finished the 5 days of the Amoxl, 2 weeks ago, and I just thought that it was his teeth bothering him. His front gums are so swollen and red, with little white slits poking through. His front 2 teeth are through, but there are another 4 trying hard to break through. Friday and Saturday night he was really upset. I tried everything to get him to sleep, in the end he slept in with us. He refused to take the dummy, so I just layed down and fed him to sleep and fed him again if he woke. He was screaming in pain, but I was just putting it down to teeth. Well yesterday he was really grizzly again, and always wanting to feed. He went to bed fine at 6pm, but then woke at about 8pm and SCREAMED constantly until 2am. Duane and I tried everything, rocking, cuddling, feeding, dummy, Panadol, bonjella and Duane even had him in the pram walking him around the house at midnight. Nothing was working, he just screamed the house down. I got to sleep a little, whilst Duane held onto him and paced him around the lounge room, just like when he was a newborn! I couldn’t sleep though, not hearing my little boy screaming his little lungs out.

I wanted to call the on-call Dr, but in between settling Grace back to bed and Duane trying to calm Xavier down there was no time to. By this time I knew that it wasn’t just teeth, there was something else wrong and it was causing him immense pain. Finally Xavier went to sleep at 2am and Duane & I crashed into bed absolutely exhausted. Grace woke at 5am and my lovely husband let me keep sleeping. Xavier woke not long after & I gave him a quick feed and put him back into his bed where he slept until 7am.

I feel so bad for my little boy, he was in so much pain and I couldn’t take it away. His face & the inside of his ears are covered in scratches, where he was clawing at his face in pain. The Dr said that the ear infection looks really bad and it would have been causing him so much pain.

We are going awayon the weekend to celebrate Nicole & I turning 30 this week, but if Xavier doesn’t sleep well over the next few nights I think that we will have to cancel. We are renting a holiday house with 4 other couples, and there is no way I will put him or anyone else through it. Normally if he is upset I can comfort him with a breastfeed, but nothing worked last night. I have never felt so helpless with my child.

I hope that the A/b’s kick in soon and he is back being happy!

Daddy's little boy!

~Daddy & Xavier 9 days old~

My clever little boy is now saying "Dad".

Duane was outside pushing Xavier and Grace on the swing. He always takes them out about 4pm, it gives me time to get dinner ready and have a quick tidy up without the risk of sucking up the kids in the vacuum!!

Xavier was having a great time, giggling and chatting to himself, when all of a sudden he started saying "Dad, Dad, Dad" What perfect timing, just as Daddy was pushing him. He kinda says it in a whingy voice, but its getting there!

Daddy and Xavier share a very special bond. Xavier was birthed into his Daddy's loving hands, it was such an overwhelming and beautiful experience for Duane. He was a little scared about the experience, considering it was a waterbirth and Xavier was under water for time it took his head and then his body to come out!

Anyway, Duane really enjoys having a little boy. As soon as he walks in the door from work he is looking around for his "Little buddy" or his "Little man" Xavier always has a big grin for him and I don't doubt know he will greet him with a big "Dad"

Duane has dreams of teaching him all about golf and going out and having a "hit". No doubt there will be lots of friendly competition!

Duane's favourite toys when he was a little boy were his matchbox cars. He would spend hours playing with them and had a little metal case that he would cart them all around in. His Mum said that becuase he was a shocking sleeper he used to sit up until midnight playing with his cars! At Christmas he gave Xavier the cars that he used to play with and they take pride of place in Xavier's little case now. Xavier was very lucky, Poppy made him his own special little case, just like Daddy used to have!

I love seeing the two of them playing together. Xavier looks a lot like his Daddy when he was younger too. Daddy has always had a knack of settling Xavier down and has spent many nights pacing around the house with an unsettled baby.

Daddy must seem so high up to Xav. His little head cranes back trying to find the top of his Daddy. He loves being carried around in Daddy's big strong arms...he must feel so safe!

~Daddy & Xavier 5 months~