Fathers Day 2009

The day started off nice and early with the Il's turning up at 7am for a big yummy breakfast.

I was all keen to have a big feast of pancakes piled high with fruit, cream and smothered in maple syrup, but the points would have added up after the first mouth full. Instead, we had crumpets with mixed berries and honey or scrambled egg and garlic mushrooms. Both of the Dad's were happy with the choice, and none the wiser that it was a weight watchers friendly breakfast.

After breakfast Poppy was proudly given his home-made rum balls, (which the kids had fun making into a variety of shapes from logs to teeny-tiny balls) and a packet of his much loved licorice allsorts and a toblerone bar. The kids had delicately wrapped everything up in tissue paper with lots of ribbons and after being very eager for the last few days, were very excited to finally be giving Poppy his presents.

After the fuss of Poppy was over and done with, Daddy was next on the list to be spoilt. Grace was bubbling over with excitement at finally being able to give Daddy the present she had lovingly prepared at pre-school. The carers had asked each of the kids what they loved about their Daddies, and wrote it into a card that each child had drawn for their Daddy. Miss Christine told me later that she had to stifle her laughter as Grace told her all the things she loved about her Daddy. So this is the card:





To go with the lovely card, Grace had made a Gingerbread Man at pre-school too. She carefully carried it out to the car, hiding it behind her back away from Daddy's prying eyes. It all got a little tricky for Miss Grace and she dropped it, and the poor little Gingerbread's man fell off. So come Fathers day, not only did she have a lovely card stating how great her Daddy was at picking up dog poo, she also had a decapitated Gingerbread Man. He was really feeling the love.



The kids had also made lanterns for him and picked out a block of Toblerone, which they then insisted he share with them.

We spent the rest of the day around at The Pengs house where the kids were once again spoilt rotten. Every time we go there and visit, they drag out things that have been bought and put away for the kids. Xav was given a few pumpkin patch outfits which had been bought for his birthday, Grace got some jeans, t-shirts and a pair of Ed Hardy (apparently a trendy brand) pink ugg-boots. Cause everyone needs a pair of them. She's over the moon though and has spent a lot of time stomping around the house in her uber trendy boots giving fashion parades. No idea where that girl gets her love of fashion, makeup and bling from - certainly not me!

Duane also scored well, coming home with a Sony surround sound system. It was an extra one that Tim had and thought Duane would use it. Worked out perfectly actually as our Dvd player that we use to play Cd's mainly on, has started to refuse to open and close. Haven't looked too closely, but no doubt the kids have shoved something in there.

So that is a wrap up of Fathers Day 2009. Duane was happy with all his presents, but most of all being able to spend the day with his fabulous kids. He really is in his element when he is with Grace and Xav, they are very lucky little kids.

Duane really is a fantastic Daddy. He has all the time in the world for the kids, so patient and willing to play with them whenever they want. He often takes the kids out by himself, with not even a second thought. He is just as comfortable as me taking them shopping, to the park, to the Dr, to the hospital - Anywhere really. The kids love that he will spend hours on the floor playing with them. Zooming cars around make believe race tracks or tenderly cradling and cuddling dollies to sleep. They love nothing better that their after bath ritual of turning the lounge room light of and running around with torches playing ghosts or having a tickle fest on the floor.

The relationship that the kids have with their Daddy is really very special. He is tender, loving, patient, silly, considerate and fun.

He is the perfect Daddy for them.

Sharing the love

Ok sharing is caring and all that crap, but really do some things have to be shared?

It's me doing the sharing this time though, the kind person that I am. Yep I've passed on my delightful gastro bug to Grace and maybe Duane.

Grace & I spent Sunday afternoon visiting Trude. Grace had a snooze on the couch, whilst Trude and I chatted and munched on Aldi Chocolate bullets and Trudy's homemade raspberry muffins....Yum. When Grace woke up she was a little quiet, but soon perked up when Trude offered her some marshmallows and a chance to dig around in her dress up box. We left around 5.30pm and Grace was still fine, not showing any signs of feeling sick.

After dinner I asked her if she would like some custard, normally a stupid question - she always wants custard. Well this time she didn't, then kept saying that her tummy was sore. Of course. I guess if was only a matter of time.

Nothing else came of it until 1am in the morning when we heard screaming coming from Grace's room. We both raced in and poor Grace was sitting in the bed crying with the remnants of last nights roast chicken scattered around her. Her sheets were stripped and shoved straight into the washing machine, towels were layed down on our bed and she came in with us. The night was a haze of Grace moaning, heaving and then spewing into a towel. After each time I would whisk the towel out and grab a new one, gosh we went through about a dozen towels during the night. Poor little thing was so scared and frightened about the vomiting, but still managed to sleep between.

Duane woke to get ready for work, had breakfast and then promptly upended it all in the toilet. So after a call to work he crawled back into bed with us. He was a little tired, but fine for the rest of the day, he thinks he might just have been vomiting after seeing Grace vomit, cause it didn't feel like gastro.

We had a very low key day at home, just watching endless amounts of Tv. Shocking, but there's not much you can do when the whole house is feeling like they are dying. Xav has so far not joined in, but he has come down with a green snotty nose - so maybe he'll go the cold route and not the gastro one.

Every time Grace had something to drink or eat (dry crackers) she would just vomit it straight up again. She kept saying she was starving and wanted something to eat. I made her up a drink of gastrolyte, but she wouldn't drink it, so I went out and got some of the hydralyte icypoles. I was gone about 45mins, and Duane said she vomited 3 times.

She loved the icypoles, downing 2 straight away and pleading for more. She kept on perking up and telling us that she was feeling better and needed to eat and then in the next second she was back to laying down and looking terrible.

She hadn't vomited for a while, so we covered her bed in towels and put her in there. Well along came 1am again and once again she was crying out for us, vomit everywhere. She spent the rest of the night in our bed, vomiting up bright green bile - which I can only guess is from the icy poles. It was another long, long night and to top it all off, I have woken with a head cold. My sinus's are blocked, my throat is thick and mucousy and my head is feeling like it is about to explode.

Grace has been ok this morning(scrap that she just vomited AGAIN), she managed to keep down some weetbix and another icy pole. We are having another quiet, lazy day in front of the box watching back-to-back episodes of playschool. None of us have any energy for anything else. I'm also frantically trying to get all the washing done whilst it's not raining. I have a lot of towels, and they are all either on the line or in the washing machine.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some energy back and I can disinfect everything and be rid of this horrible bug forever. All the floors need doing, the toilet needs scrubbing, the bathroom and all door handles need disinfecting. All washing has been given a hot wash and a dose of canestan, I know it's for fungal things but made me feel better. Hopefully the hot sun will kill any other remaining germs.

Also, the kids haven't been taking their immune care drugs, so might prirotise a trip back to the naturopath to stock up. NO WAY do I want a repeat of last years cycle of sickness. Actually, I've just been reminded that this is my first cold in 4 years that I can take drugs! If I start feeling worse, I'm getting them.

Ok, the kids are due for a sleep and I don't normally join them, but today I need to.

January 17th Photo

Every day after my shower Grace wants to put on perfume. It's just another one of the girly things that she likes to do. Of course Xav wants a squirt too, which I was happy to indulge him in until Daddy found out. Seems he doesn't want his little boy stinking of "Chloe", so he hightailed him into the bathroom for some boy smells. One whiff of his "Eternity for Men" and the ladies will be swooning!!

HAPPY 18 MONTHS OLD MY SPECIAL LITTLE BOY!!!!!

January 9th Photo

It was a lovely afternoon at the park. Xav and Grace flittered between the swings, climbing the fort, zooming down the slide and hiding behind the trees.

The sun was shining brightly, even though it was getting to the end of the day - which meant for some crappy photos. I was desperate to get a decent pic as I hadn't picked the camera up all day. I clicked away and then sat down on the bench to delete all the outtakes, whilst Duane pushed the kids on the swing.

Next thing there was a flash of pink hurtling through the air, a thud and then a cry for Daddy.

Poor Grace had gone to brush a lock of hair from her face and had lost balance on the swing, tumbling back first to the ground.

Daddy scooped her up and consoled her as only her Daddy can. Me, being the ever attentive Mother busily snapped the moment away. This pic is about 10 shots in, all the other ones are of her red, scrunched up face with tears streaming down her cheeks. This one is after she had settled and was telling us how she went flying through the air. There are bits of bark still on her arm and down Duane's back, and the look on her face is one of just contentment.

Doesn't matter what happens, Dad will always (try) to make it better.

I also wanted to put this pic in too......Its a flash of Xav - the child never stops!

Hubby to the rescue

It's seems the dreaded gastro bug has invaded our house again.

I have been feeling queasy since yesterday. I haven't vomited yet, but I am nervously waiting for it to happen. I am trying my hardest to avoid all triggers, but this is not being helped by my son's rotten nappies. It seems that Xavier has a touch of diarrhoea too, he is also a little grumpy and constantly clawing at my top trying to get to the milk.

Grace was a little off yesterday, so we stayed home from playgroup so not to share anything around. She started getting warm yesterday afternoon, so after dinner and a dose of panadol she went to bed in an exhausted heap. I checked on her just before I went to bed, she felt clammy so I fully expected her to pay us a visit overnight.

I went to bed early, hoping that an early night would perk me up a little. Duane had other ideas, but after I gave him a graphic rundown of how I felt he quickly turned over and gave me his back!

So last night both kids spent in with us. Thankfully we have a king size bed, and even then the room is tight. I had a relatively good sleep, in between Xavier pulling my top down for a feed every 5 hours or so.

Today was suppossed to be Grace's first day in her new school. She has been moved up to the 3-4 year old room, seems she was getting a little bored with the younger ones. Either that or they got sick of her! Anyway we were laying on the couch this morning when she started coughing and complaining of a sore throat, then it all came up. Vomit all over me, her and in every crevice of the couch. It was disgusting too....real, chunky smelly vomit. How I didn't heave myself I'll never know. Cleaning up was not much fun, it has been raining her for the last week and the washing is piled up. Lucky I guess that my practical husband bought me a dryer for Christmas one year, and that was even before kids!

So it was no school for her. How was I going to cope considering I was feeling so crap myself? Super Daddy to the rescue.

Of course considering the crappy weather Duane was quite willing to take any excuse, so within an hour of my distressed call he was home tending to us all.

We all went to bed together for a lovely sleep and now the boys are out getting some groceries. Grace is lying on the couch munching on some apple in between joining me for some cuddles. Although she is sick she is still insisting on wearing her pink fairy skirt. Cant imagine all that tulle is very comfortable to sleep in, but oh well.

Oh and after Xavier's party on the weekend my camera decided to conk it. I'm glad it made it through Xav's first birthday, but I hate not having it on a daily basis. I love just taking random photos of my kids every day. At least it is under warranty, but wont be back for a week or so. Lets hope its here in time for out holiday on the 2nd August. I am so excited about this. We are going to stay at a farm stay in the Hunter Valley. Will be lovely to get away together as a family. Kids can watch the animals and Mum & Dad can sip on wine!

All better now Mummy!

Grace is still at the delightful age of a kiss fixing everything. So after my 3 weary days of lying on the couch and the kids pretty much fending for themselves, Grace kissed me all over and declared, "All better now Mum, lets go play" I guess she was getting sick of all the TV and sandwhiches that I had been feeding them!

Anyway, I am all better now, I think its more to do with the course of A/bs and the horrid sinus infection clearing though! I'll take Grace's kisses just in case though. My sinus's finally cleared on Friday and it was DISGUSTING. It was 2 huge globs of yuck, but it felt sooooooo much better once it was out. The horrible things were starting to drive me mad and they had even started bleeding which was just yuck!

So just as I was getting all better, the man of the house decided he needed a little rest so he decided to inhale the germs. I really wish he hadn't of got it because he makes a shocking patient, nothing like a case of 'man-flu'. I guess it is kinda good though because at least he realises how hard it was for me being so sick and still having to deal with the kidlets. He keeps saying, "How did you do it....I am dyyyyyyyyiiiinnnggg, you must be superhuman" I've got no real answer except that I had no choice. It's not like I get sick leave and could just wallow in misery whilst tucked up in bed. He does get this luxury though, but I think he feels a little guily so he has been helping me out with the kids!

My little munchkin Xavier has decided that he doesn't want boob before he goes to bed of a night. He didn't last night or tonight. I offer and he just pushes me away and starts crying. He did have a feed last night, and I am fairly certain that he will visit again tonight. Its just a pain though as tonight my right boob feels a little blocked and there is a lump there. I might wake him for a feed before I go to bed just in case.

No other news really. Grace and I had a girly afternoon shopping together. Well mystery shopping, I had a few jobs today so she tagged along. The boys stayed at home together, no doubt playing cars or something masculine.

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!!

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~

15th March 2007

Well I seem to have lost a week worth of entries! Bugger!

We had our spa put in on Monday!! It is so nice to jump in and relax! Gracie absolutely loves it too!! She loves splashing about and jumping up and down! The first day we had it she wanted to be in it all day! I think that we have a water baby on our hands!! We will have to get her some floaties though because it is so hard to hold on to her now…she wants to be off by herself! Duane and I have been going in it every night! The massage is really nice…but it’s also nice to just relax in! It’s so cold when you get out of a night though!! We have been keeping the temp at 34 degrees Celsius…as being pregnant I can’t have it too hot! The midwife said not to go above body temp! I love that we will be able to use it all year round though! We are even thinking about putting a tv outside so that we can watch Dvd’s and listen to music! Very nice!

We are off to Tasmania today! It’s the first trip Duane & I have taken there together since our wedding! It’s also going to be the first trip Duane & Gracie have taken together and also the first time that Duane will see our house down there! We are staying with Deb for 3 nights then heading up to Launceston for Angies high tea then through to Devonport for a week! We want to go to Salamanca markets and also take Gracie to Dr Harry’s hobby farm! She loves animals so I think that she would really enjoy this!
I am actually looking forward to coming down this time! I get a little bored and homesick when it’s just me and Grace, but I think that I will be fine having Duane with us! It will be a nice break away too!! I hope that Duane starts to feel better though. He is still feeling weak and doesn’t have much energy! Maybe the break and clean Tassie air will be good for him! I just hope that it’s not too cold!!

I am still feeling good! I am definitely feeling a lot more movements now! Almost every day I get to feel our baby boy wriggling about inside me! It never ceases to amaze me!! Duane even got to feel the other day which was nice! Actually when Duane had his hand on my tummy it was the most movement that I had felt! I still feel a little nauseous at time but nothing too bad!

5th March 2007

I just love my little girl so much!

She really is such a sweet and gorgeous person! She is happy and easy going most of the time! She just loves following me around the house doing our jobs!

I really think that this age is the easiest so far! Yes we have tantrums but they are only short lived thus far! She mainly gets upset if I take her away from something that she is enjoying.
Mostly that is climbing in a totally dangerous place!

She just adores her Daddy and can’t get enough of him when he comes home from work. Sometime she just stands and the window waiting and yelling “Daaaaaaad” hoping that he will be home soon!

She very rarely says Mum, but she is getting quite a little collection of works happening. She can say Dad, Mum, bub, Daisy (very clearly) sometime Lily, Duck, quack. A few times she has said pretty and lately she has been trying to say shoes! There are lots of other words that she has for tings but I am yet to work out what they are for. She comprehends a lot though…way more than we give her credit for! She also copies everything that we do! Duane was playing with an empty coke bottle and hitting Lily on the head. After he put it down Grace picked it up and gave Lily a huge whack to the face,. Poor lily gave a half whimper/half bark…it must have really hurt her.

We went to the information session for Steiner playgroup this morning. I like their philosophies but I really don’t think that we will be able to afford private schooling for our kids! I am fine with that because we have Gilston Primary just around the corner which I think will be great! I might go to the Steiner playgroup…haven’t’ decided yet! After that we went to McDonalds so the kids could have a play in the playground! Gracie loved it and had so much fun going through the tunnels!

Duane and his Dad were busy yesterday laying the foundations for the concrete! We are getting our spa delivered in the next week and I can’t wait! It will be so nice to go out there after dinner and have a nice relaxing spa! Might even be able to have a nuddie dip!

2nd March 2007

Can you believe that it is already March 2007!!! I can’t believe that I will be 29 in a few days…and then it won’t be too long and I will be the big 30!! It’s also hard to comprehend that when I do turn 30 I will be a mother to a 2 y/o and also have a 8 mth old baby! I still can’t quite believe that I have bought another person into this world and am about to experience it all again! Amazing!!

Duane is starting to feel better! Turns out that it was a viral infection but because he couldn’t eat or drink anything it got quite bad. He is now trying to eat and drinking lots of gastrolyte!. Hopefully he will be better soon! I have an ulterior motive though!! I want the concrete finished so that we can get our spa delivered before we go to Tas! I can’t wait to be able to jump in and have a nice (cool) massage! I am sure that Gracie will enjoy it too!

Gracie is being very demanding to Duane as soon as he walks in the door from work. She stands at his feet and does a few little grunts and puts her hands up! She just wants him to hold her all the time! She rarely does this to me though! She just loves her Daddy so much! Even when she has been hurt she always wants him not me if he is here!

The funniest thing happened last night! I had just gone to bed and was reading. I always check on Gracie before I go to bed and open her door. After I had gotten into bed I hear a funny little noise. Then it started getting louder and louder! It was Gracie having the hugest laugh in her sleep! It was so loud that it woke Duane up and we both just listened to her! It was one of her full on belly laughs…so I guess she was having a funny dream!! So cute!