Rejected

Well I got into the Bach of Midwifery at ACU.

Even though I already had it in my head that I wasn't going to accept the offer if I did get in, I couldn't reject it without exploring every possible option to see if maybe there was a way. Nope, not going to work, unless I was prepared to put the kids in day care and sacrifice so much of our family time. The uni is a 2 hour each way trip from here, way too far. I spent the whole day going over and over the timetable, trying to work out if everything could be crammed into the one day. Well it could, but would mean from 8am -8pm of solid lectures, prac's and tutorials. Yeah, way to get burnt out quickly hey!

Next idea was to start Nursing at a uni closer to me. I was keen for that, eager to get started and closer to the end. However after having a chat to the the lady in charge of Midwifery, she's not too confident that the nursing subjects would give me any credits for Midwifery. The curriculum hasn't been set yet, and she thinks they will make the subject a lot more midwifery specific. She's the one to take advice off, considering she's setting up the course for 2010. It was great to chat with her, really put everything back into perspective. She asked how old I was and also how old the kids are, then told me that I was only young and the kids are only young so enjoy them for the year. She explained how the Mid course is so demanding on families as you have to do so much practical work and also follow through 30 women with antenatal, birth and post natal appointments. She suggested that I spend this year getting ready for next year, involving myself in all things babies and birth and reading everything about maternity that I can get my hands on. No one has any real idea what the ranking will be to get into it, there's talk that it will be high seen as how it is the first year and plenty of people are eager to get in. I hope that my 89 will be enough to give me a spot, even the last one - I really don't mind.

So I am a lady of leisure for 2009. It's going to be a great year for me too, I'll make sure of that! The kids are less dependant on me now, so I'm getting lots of me time. I'm making the effort to go walking as much as I can, trying for every second night to get out with a dog and clear my head.. I'm keen to start a photography course and hopefully work out what all the extra buttons and dials are on my camera. Duane & I are going to make more time for each other, whether it be out of the house or after the kids have gone to bed.

It's also a big year for our group of friends. 2 of my best friends are having babies this year and I am looking forward to helping them out as much as I can. I know how appreciated it is to have an extra pair of hands, whether its meals being prepared, washing up down, clothes hung out or just holding onto a newborn thats still adjusting to the outside world whilst Mum has a quick shower. I missed out on helping with the first round of babies, and now my kids are a little older I can offer more assistance.

So 2009 is going to be a productive year, lots of things I want to achieve and also lots of time to just be a family.

I know it is the right thing to do, but it absolutely killed me to press "reject" on my application.

It's my dream, it was there and now I'm just hoping and praying that I get an offer next year at Griffith.

January 21st Photo

After a long morning of craft on the lounge room floor, it all got a bit much for Grace. I went out to the kitchen and came back to find her sound asleep, looking just adorable.

She's slowly weaning herself of her daytime sleep. I'm not liking it, but it's either no sleep or up until 9pm. As much as I hate giving up my "me" time in the middle of the day, I'll sacrifice it for the early night.

January 20th Photo

Just enjoying some quiet craft time. Grace was busy gluing little bits of cellophane and crete paper to cardboard, Xav was just taking the lid on and off the textas. I sat with them for a while, but then got a little too confidant and ventured off to do some cleaning. Came back to find Grace still busy gluing and Xav covered top to bottom in texta, he'd also decorated the wall and the fridge.

I really should have learnt my lesson by now!

January 19th Photo

Just a cute pic for today!

Grace & I were mucking around on the trampoline. She loves to lay on the tramp and gets me to jump around like an idiot - making her bounce around. The other thing she requests is "typewriter". It's where I sit on her chest, pinning her arms under my knees and use her chest as a typwriter. Spelling out all different storries for her as she wriggles and tries to break free. Adding in the obligatory "bing" as I poke her on the cheek. It's really just a form of torture, but she begs for it and I oblige because there is nothing better than a giggling Grace.

January 18th Photo

Grace was desperate for a pair of thongs like mine, so on the weekend we went shopping for her own special pair. I thought about getting her a pair of havianas, but the $20 price tag put me off, so we ended up getting cheap pair from Target. We then headed to Dreamworld for the morning and of course she wanted to wear her new thongs, and silly me didn't put her other shoes in as a back up. Well she tripped and stumbled her way around the theme park. If she was going slow she tripped up, if she tried to run she fell over. Finally by the end of the day she got the hang of them though and now only having the occassional tumble.

I took this pic at the new indoor play area at Dreamworld, hence the super green astro turf. She's definintely a real little girl now, thongs and all.

Here are some other pic's of the day:

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!!!!!

The Tantrum

Finally silence. The kids are in bed and I am glad.

I've just gotten back from an invigorating, heart thumping walk up the hill and back down. Damn I needed it, the 3 y/o has been driving me bonkers, I just needed to get away before I followed through with my threats of donating her to charity. It was hot, sweaty and humid, but nothing a quick dunk in the spa on my return didn't fix.

I think I had been lulled into a false sense of security. Grace has been perfect over the last few months, rarely causing a hassle and able to snap out of any mood easily.

Well that was until yesterday happened. Oh, golly gosh. She copped me a beauty, catching me totally unawares with, I am sure, the biggest tantrum that has ever been thrown. Ever.

The day had been going well. We were having our regular get together with Nicole & Chelsea and all the kids. Logan and Xav had been having fun together. It was quite funny actually, Xav was very interested in Logan with no nappy on. He crouched down to get a good look at his bits, then wouldn't stop pointing at them. He sees Grace nudie all the time and never takes any notice, but for some reason he couldn't stop gawking at Logan. No doubt these pics will get dragged out for their 18th!




Anyway, the 2 boys retired for a snooze whilst we had a nice relaxing lunch. Grace was missing playing with Malia, but she was behaving nicely. I should've known something was going to be brewing though, she had been up since 6am. I am also trying to get her out of her day sleep, unless it is absolutely necessary. The days she has a sleep now she wont got to bed until 9.30, which although I miss the quiet time in the day, having her up that late is so bloody annoying.

So after the boys woke we thought the kids might enjoy a stroll to the park. Walking down was fine, both kids held onto my hands and cooperated nicely. At the park was fine, the kids all happily played on the slide and swings. We then went for a little walk on an old unused bike track, picking up leaves, bark, feathers and just enjoying the stroll.

Even leaving the park was fine, no annoying whinging about "Just one more swing, puhleease", we were all happy and heading back to Nicoles.


Well that was until Miss Grace decided that she would prefer to walk alone, ahead of me, right beside the busy road. I told her that she had to hold my hand, first I asked nicely. Then it was all on, the whingy, screaming toddler noises started as she frantically tried to break from my grip. I gripped harder, knowing that if I lost it, she would be off. I regripped my hold on both kids wrist, and picked up the walking pace. Grace was still inconsolable and could not be settled, she just kept on screaming at me to let her go. Xav, being the partner in crime, then also started screaming and squirming. It was hot and muggy and I was starting to get frustrated and over it, but as we were so close to a busy road I couldn't really just walk of and leave them, although at the time I would have loved too.


Nicole was behind me all this time, staying well out of the firing line. Probably her first experience of a full on tantrum, certainly not something she has experienced from her very placid 16 month old. No doubt scared the bejeevers out of her though, considering she is 6 months pregnant and going to have the same age gap that I have between Grace & Xav. Good experience though, if you can deal with a tantruming 3 y/o, you are ready for anything!


So I mustered all my energy, scooped Xav up onto my hip, grabbed Grace firmly by the wrist and marched on back to the house. The screaming kept going, and it was a long and exhausting walk but we got there. Grace was promptly put on the step and told she was in time out. I left her for a bit until we had both calmed down then we had a chat about what had just happened. She had a drink and went back to being a happy little girl.


For the most part of the afternoon she was perfect, only breaking into her very annoying, sing-songy whiny voice every now and then. Duane only spent a few hours with her that afternoon but even my placid husband was ordering a stiff drink when she was down for the night. Actually being the non-drinker that he is, a stiff drink for him was a splash of rum in his coke!


I'm hoping we don't have too many repeats of the "episode", I'm not sure how many more I can take!