Casting

Caleb and I went in this morning to see a couple of friendly Occupational Therapists who made a plaster casting for Caleb's right arm. He wasn't exactly thrilled and would only cooperate if he sat on Mummy. Once it got started he settled in and would feel the wet and sticky and fluffy bits. He chose green for the protective covering and giggled when I used a wet cloth to clean off dried plaster from his ribs and under arm. The casting starts between elbow and shoulder and ends near his knuckles, with the thumb separated from the other fingers.

When we return in a week for removal and a new one, it will start mid forearm and end at fingertips - that will be a challenge and slight struggle for his little hand. The biggest challenge will be when they bring out the mini saw to remove the current casting. Caleb will be climbing the walls.

The casting was complete, Caleb asks 'Can we take this home?' Sure can matey! (It is stuck there for a week! With that question and my subsequent positive response I was a pretty cool mother.)

Back home Caleb asks if Zali can have one tomorrow? No. Can his other arm get one? No.

Fast forward to this afternoon. I don't like this anymore, please take it off? No. I think I ain't a cool mother anymore, I might be a mean one.

Other than the emotional challenges for me, a big one will be all the 'people' asking about his broken arm and looking at me in surprise . . . obviously I am a bad mother who cannot look after my child. On top of the existing looks and questions about his (always) broken/injured leg, this should be a fun few weeks of explaining to noodleheads.

Hurtie

So. Saturday night and I am exhausted. I can't hack the hard work of grocery shopping lately - really takes the stuffing out of me. I am guessing this little baby won't like the shops, much like Zali.

Bubbles has settled really well. Buttons and her have been playing - chasing each other around and wrestling and being fun. Buttons is an elderly lady in doggie years, but she is keeping up pretty well. Molly is still in a huff. She is spending a lot of time on beds upstairs, being Caleb's or ours, and keeping out of the way.

Caleb loves band-aids at the moment. When he wants one on something hurtie, he says he will wait until after his bath and have it on then, thanks. And he always remembers. Right now he has a new band-aid on his big toe - it has a scratch.

Zali is saying more words and singing parts of songs, as well as getting some more dance moves and actions. She is hip, she is funky. She is a dag.

When the two of them are having 'issewes' they each have their side (of me) to sit on. Caleb has always had the right side and Zali had to have the left, no choice. Not sure what their little minds will think of when the new baby Telfer comes along. I asked Caleb one day and he said they could go in the middle, hmm, we'll see. Today when they were having some 'issewes' I was ready to push both of them on to the floor!

Enjoy your long weekend, love them cause Daddy and Grandma are home!
Hugs.

May

I cannot believe it is May. Happy to have arrived at the best month of the year, but strewth . . . where is the year going? The chilly mornings and need for a blanket over my knees while watching Oprah - loving that.

Speaking of blankets, we are now the proud owners of a brand spanking new ensemble . . . wait for it . . . a king size bed! Wahoooooooooooooo! Packed up is the queen size wooden slat bed, goodbye, you served us well. The newie arrived on Tuesday and I am thoroughly in love. I have wanted a king size . . . for. ever. The husband hasn't totally taken it over yet, but give him time. This morning at some ungawdly hour when Caleb came in, there was plenty of room for him to snuggle in and still be comfortable for everyone. Hell, when Zali came in at a more respectable hour, there was still room for her to get some snuggles. Have I said I *love* this bed.

I have been very quiet, very unsocial and living in my own little sorry world. However, I am starting to come out of it. I think I might be emerging from this nasty business called morning sickness. I am starting to eat a better variety of food and not feel immediately nauseous. I even had a coffee yesterday! I splashed out with my final scrummy (usual) breakfast with the gorgeous Jill - who, sniff sniff, goes home on Saturday. Miss you already!

I am sure there has been an abundance of extremely thrilling events in my life, of which I cannot quite recall at this moment, so I will move on to something cute. No! Snigger. Not more about me!

This . . .


Bubbles. She is a nearly-9-week-old tiny-ball-of-cute pup who has Caleb wrapped around her tiny paw. Zali is keen when she is in the mood (if she is having a strop, this bouncing ball of happiness is *not* welcome).

Not sure if these pictures show her size appropriately, but this is a bucket. She had plenty of room. Without the fluff (or if she has a bath and resembles a drowned rat) she is a little bag of bones. When she is full grown, Bubbles will be bigger than our Tenterfield Terrier, Buttons, but she will be a small dog.

This is her today. See that butter-wouldn't-melt look? She totally knows how to work it.

Molly the cat isn't impressed. Buttons is getting used to her and will appreciate the company, but she still has the need to teach Bubbles who is boss. At the moment Bubbles thinks that is funny.

Caleb is very attentive. He carries her around, hooked up in his left arm, and she just sits, very calm like a little doll. It is great that she is friendly and loves everyone, she loves company and will follow you around. Caleb loves to feed her and look after her like a little 'baby'. He is up straight away at 5.30am (her waking time) when she cries out and races downstairs to play. They proceed to play chasey and run giggling throughout the house. Did I mention the 5.30 *AM* part? He asks 'where is my baby dog?'

Hope you are all well and happy.

G

I will start with a bit of a recap of the last week.

Had my scrummy breakfast with Jill, she is fantastic company and a fantastic person, we laugh together. Was sick. Sick again. Sick more. Jill and her daughter Catie visited on Friday - Caleb loved playing with Catie, Zali loved the chocolate cake that they made and shared. Other than that, basically cried (damn hormones) and played my new obsession Sudoku. I have wanted to buy a Sudoku book since Sheree explained how you play them. Finally I remembered on Saturday and I have hardly put it down - I love it. However I need a pencil sharpener and a rubber, my pencil is getting pretty blunt and I need to start a few of them again. When I make a mistake and can't find what I have done, I think it will be easier to rub it all out and start fresh. Less confusing, maybe.

$1 dvd day so I traipsed over to Civic to get some, and now am tossing up whether to attempt to scrap (I seemed to have lost my scrapping skills, read: i suck) or plonk myself on the lounge and watch dvd's all day, in between playing Sudoku.

Are you watching It Takes Two tonight? I can't wait, should be fun. I like both Julia and Russell, and they both have different things going for them. Good luck to them.

ok

Yesterday: debilitating headache.

Today: ok. Busy, but ok. Was nice having play time with my angels, appreciated their company today, and we all got to nap just before lunch.

All Good

The baby that is, not me. Still crook most of the time, and tired tired tired. I generally put on a 'happy face' when I am around anyone so I am not a misery. Looking forward to getting a break and being able to actually feel like food, instead of just eating cause I gotta.

Saw my sweet Ob today - he is such a gem! Great seeing the same receptionist and obstetrician, they know all about me and it isn't hard to get back into the swing of things. Love them.

Blood pressure was great - good start, let's keep it that way. Everything else good but my blood count being down, increase intake of iron. Eek. Have had apricot chicken cooking all day so hopefully I won't be sick of the smell by dinner time. Fingers crossed.

Saw the little string bean on the screen. He/she was kicking around - Ob says 'oh he's active'. Heartbeat pounding away strong. All good and made me happy. When the scan first started, Ob says 'there he is . . . Hello Mummy! Hello Daddy!' Ob is a bit of a character.

Got my referral for the morphology scan and have booked it in. See the Ob again in a month. Full steam ahead.

Now time to rest.

TGIF

A wonderful Friday to you! And *cheers* to the weekend!

A bewt day seeing friends. Zali, Caleb and I headed out just after 9am. Checked the post office box and got a fruit bun each at Baker's Delight. Headed over to Macca's to make use of their playland and saw the ever beautiful Karla and Eli. Dropped by my old work to be a delivery driver for my husband and saw the forever stunning Kate - where Kate, Nancy and I got a giggle at Caleb walking the halls in Daddy's motorbike jacket (it was dragging along the floor!) and Zali's assorted stares/glares and general facial expressions.

The sleep was extremely short (and on the way home) so I missed out on a nap! Arrgghh! I did seem to close my eyes for a millisecond to wake from Caleb asking 'Who is this?'

Yummy Mummy Janene and Baby Amy were knocking at the door - who I was expecting but that little nap must have totally wiped me out for five whole minutes!

It was really nice to have lots of company today to get through the day. The week has been so old with school holidays that I didn't really know it was Friday. But, yippee!

Got a call from my GP today saying about my blood type (which I knew) and needing extra needles cause of it (which I knew, but still not fussed about) and that my blood count is down. I have trouble eating most of the day, choosing to eat something that at the particular time doesn't give me the feeling that I want to throw up. Meat is not something that makes me feel warm and fuzzy, more like ewwwww! All this while I am already taking an iron supplement - oops! Obviously it will be monitored, but might be one slight reason why I am constantly tired.

Anyhoo, enjoy the weekend! Have got a great week coming up. See my obstetrician (yay!!), get paid (yay!!), the most delicious breakfast with a most gorgeous missed friend Jill . . . bring it on!

Gee

Going to bed at 11pm last night I checked on the kids. Caleb just needed his sheet and doona pulled up, and Zali was laying on the floor next to her trundle. Great.

I picked her up and placed on her bed, and then neither of us got more than a sniff of sleep until after 3am. She was cranky, whingey, tired, unsettled ... I don't know if it is teeth, if she is just cranky or starting to get a cold. Or maybe all of the above.

About 12.30pm the husband came in to check and proceeded to get Vicks BabyBalsam and Bonjella. I applied both and then my turn to walk on the cold tiles in the kitchen.

Poor Caleb had been disturbed by the noise of Zali and wanted me to lay with him - I wanted to check he was ok and still covered. Husband went and slept next to him, on the trundle, so he ended up with company.

We had half of one ml of Panadol for Zali. Crap! I had to use Caleb's, which means 4ml for her, and she is not great with medicine. Up the stairs I stumble with her water bottle, a banana in case she was hungry and the Panadol. We had every base covered. She wasn't too bad taking the medicine, skulled the water and had half the banana.

Eventually we could lay down, but she had to chose the position and make sure it was very comfortable for her and totally killed every muscle in my body trying to keep her happy. I wanted the rest of the house to get some sleep. These are the nights that never end. These are the nights you don't want to share your bed with anyone. These are the nights . . . that suck.

Easter, Kindy and Garlic

For Easter we bought some new shelves. Not real big on chocolate (husband not that fussed, it makes me sick, kids don't really need it - and while they are young and don't complain, we are going with it) so there was only a smidge of chocie. Loving our new shelves - there are actually two of what you see below. I made this one, and husband made the second later in the day. Husband and I got a few chocies, scratchies and movie tickets. The kids got chocies, clothes and slippers. All very lovely and very appreciated.

Caleb was up first and dying to try on his Wiggles shirt and Wiggles slippers. Zali drifted down after a while and went straight to scoring the chocolate.

The chocolate went down well, surprise surprise! Chomping in to that used-to-be-bunny.
Does she look like she is smoking this? I think those are eyes filled with pleasure.

This photo I think is cute. Not sure exactly why, it isn't fantastic in any photographical means, I just like seeing her as is. Maybe cause she doesn't have hair since the hairdresser slashed it.

The first day at her new kindy. It went very well, she very much likes to play outside in this little house. She is putting on a 'dramatic moment' these days ... just for me. She gets upset when I take a step away to prepare for exit, and she is clingy and teary. Which lasts approximately 3.7 seconds after I am gone. She totally works me.

Last Wednesday they were all in the little people's outside area dancing and singing and having a great time. There were smiles on all faces and Zali was very happy. This girl loves to dance and groove to the music. It took 1.2 milliseconds from when she saw me coming through the gates to change to her 'oh, what have you put me through' tears and tragedy.... Until I pick her up for a cuddle. All is well and she has gotten her way. Again, she totally works me.

I am a walking talking chunk of garlic. It is seeping out of my eyes, ears, hair follicles and belly boken. We stopped into the Coffee Club not far from home while picking up a few necessities from Coles. I ordered garlic bread as part of the tucker, how can you go wrong with garlic bread? Holy cow, Batman.

There was a little bit of bread and butter to accompany the WHOLE JAR OF GARLIC!

Initially we thought it was melted cheese, there was so much. After staring at it for several days, I thought, I might wipe some garlic off. You know how you get those bottles of minced garlic - it was that, and she layered with a shovel. No, a bulldozer. I scraped off enough loose garlic to feed the entire rugby fraternity.

The funny part was seeing Caleb's face change when he lowered his jaws around the piece. He didn't actually bite, I think the flavour hit him before his lips connected with the bread. He was nearly gagging (which was a little, smidge, I shouldn't really laugh, bit funny). I tried to be tough and had three bites. When my eyes started rolling back into my skull, I decided to take it up and say there was a little bit too much garlic and the bread was inedible. I cannot imagine that someone would actually eat *that* *much* *garlic*.

Stupidly I didn't accept the refund (I didn't really like to complain) and he said he would have another out in five minutes. Oh lord! I started scrapping again. We did eat it, it truly wasn't as bad as the first lot, but we have morphed into chunks of human garlic. No vampires around here tonight. Or for the next week!

Bitsa

Is it just me, or is there a *lot* of strange things happening lately. Or is it that the 'strange' are actually talking on national/international TV.

Pregnant men, father-daughter lovers producing children, sister-brother on court order not to have sex . . .

I am starting to feel like the odd one out being (somewhat) normal. Ok, maybe calling myself 'normal' is a stretch, but work with me.

A great gal - the gorgeous Jill - is returning 'home' for a visit. She and family moved to beachside NSW, is loving it, building their dream home and she has even become a scrap teacher! How could her life be any better? Breakfast with me at Jamaica Blue, Carindale for a french toast, maple syrup with bacon and caramelised banana with a side of whipped cream. Oh behave! We have a date, and I am a little excited! I love this girl, she totally rocks.

Ugh, my belly is not feeling great and making my whole body pay for it. Bit of churning, bit of hunger, bit of thirst, bit of please-be-gentle-with-meeeeeeeee. This kid is working me!

Some cute person I know went to see 'our' obstetrician today. Hope it went well. So jealous! I have to wait one more week until I see him for the first time - V. Excited! Plus I get to see baby on the screen again and hear that little heart beat.

Not sure why I love hand-sewing on my layouts, but I do. Even though I get bruising and sore thumb and pointer finger, the pain is worth the beauty...

When I get some sunlight and a minute away from the angels, I will upload more layouts - I am loving scrapping at the moment, hope it lasts.

JJ - gawd I would have *loved* a photo of Husband stuck in the Thomas Tent - how hilarious!
Terri - thanks for visiting and leaving comments, you rock!