Chattering On

OMG it's been that long!

2009-01-22T08:16:00.002+09:00

I haven't posted in nearly a year!! Can it really be that long?!

I guess it can.

Too much has happened to update here in five minutes, so I will save it for when I have more time. Currently on the last leg of summer holidays here, so no time for anything. I will update soon.

My Favorite Song At The Moment

2008-02-29T21:10:00.004+09:00

Love this song!! It's called New Soul, by Yael Naïm.

~Sam~

Another Quick Post

2008-02-28T21:09:00.009+09:00

Just a quick post and more photos than anything else and that's why I spend most of my time on Flickr these days as it's so much easier and lazier to just post photos than actually write anything.

It was Sasha's 6th birthday last Friday. We had a very small party at home for her on Saturday. Bret excelled himself once again and made Sasha a mermaid cake. Sasha decided she wanted a mermaid cake, so we had a look on the net and found one. Bret had to try and scale it down a bit to fit on the cake board as it was huge. I've still got frozen cake in the freezer.

We had made a whole load of blue jelly that was going to be put around the meramid to look like water but we completely forgot, lol. She still looked pretty good and Sasha thought it was great so that was the main thing.

Just for a giggle, had to put this in. Why Bret should stick to making birthday cakes and not sushi...

He took the photo not me, he ate it, not me, lol.

Also wanted to share this little video of Sophie, who might I add is five months old now. She is growing up so fast, and she is the cutest little thing ever.

::video coming soon::

~Sam~

15th Feb 1939 - 28th Sep 2000

2008-02-15T11:03:00.007+09:00

Today would have been my dad's 69th birthday if he had still been alive. I can't help but feel that the day he died part of me died as well. I am a totally different person now compared to the person that I was before his death and I'm sad to say I am not a better person.

My parents death is something that I fear I will never get over or move on from. Whenever I am upset about anything it always leads back to the memory of losing them. Everythng in my life is measured against whether my parents were still alive or had passed. It is a horrible way to live. I know that I would be a better parent if they were both still here.

Yes, it's not hard to tell I am having a really bad day. Lack of sleep combined with having a hard time with the kids this week and today being dad's birthday has made me feel incredibly depressed.

I tried to put Chloe in to a bed this week in Sasha's room. We made a huge deal of Chloe giving her cot to Sophie and encouraged Chloe to sleep in her big bed. The first night it went reasonably ok, she got up a few times when she first went to bed and then was up several times during the night but went back to sleep without much fuss. The second night was a disater, she screamed the house down and would not go to sleep in her bed at all.

We were all so tired from not having much sleep the night before and from being up at 5.30 in the morning (this was the time that Chloe thought would be good to get up for the day!). So I caved and let her sleep back in the cot in her old room, moved Sophie back in the bassinette in our room. I feel like such a failure. I'm ready just to go out and buy another cot for Sophie so Chloe can stay in her cot and be done with it. I guess what made last night worse it that is was Bret's late night trading at the shop so I had to deal with all this on my own.

I can't wait until this hellish week is over!

~sam~

Ebay Strike Feb 18th - 25th

2008-02-10T10:50:00.000+09:00

I know, I know......

2008-02-09T20:57:00.000+09:00

I know I said I was going private and now I'm public again. I think I was having a bad week, felt pretty upset at all that was going on in the family situation etc.

Feels better this week, maybe I'm handling things better or differently. I don't know, just feels... not so bad anymore.

Too tired to write anymore at the mo, will update with more soonish.

~Sam~

Getting things off my chest...

2008-01-20T16:33:00.000+09:00

I'm not usually one to air my dirty laundry in public but I do like to get things off my chest every once in a while.

So my big dilemma at the moment is of course Bret's totally dysfunctional family, lol. Which up until now I've never really been able to talk about. So a bit of background information first. Bret's mum and dad are divorced and have been for the past eighteen years or so. They haven't spoken since the divorce and Bret's sisters and his brother no longer speak to his dad either. We are the only ones that still have anything to do with his dad.

I love his dad don't get me wrong but because we are his only family he comes around to our house every single day off Bret has. It's driving me nuts! I like my own space and I like to know when people are coming over especially when I have a little baby in the house. If I'm breastfeeding I don't want people peeping through the windows to see if we are home , this has happened. Or if I'm trying to catch up on sleep have some one banging on the door, this has happened too. I tell you it's like that bloody show Everybody Loves Raymond!

Then when I'm with his mum and sisters they are always bagging his dad and telling me all these horrible stories of what happened in the past when they all lived together. It's really doing my head in.

I think it wouldn't be so bad if my parents were still around because I would have their support and just knowing that I still have my family would kind of even things out. But when Bret's family is all I have, as far as parent type family members are concerned it really saddens me.

I'm just fed up with it.

And then another thing, his dad has offered to buy us a gas heater for our new house, quite an expensive one. Which is really, really genorous of him but I feel it's like something that he will have over us. When we were showing my brother around out house at Christmas time Bret's dad turned up to have a look as well and made the comment about the gas heater and that he would have his chair here in front of the gas heater. Neither Bret or I said anyhting but inside I was fumming. I mentioned to Bret's mum what he had said and she said that he will be thinking that eventually he will be able to move in with us!! Over my dead fucking body!!!!!!!!!

So there you go that's the way things are. I know nobody has the perfect family or perfect life. I just wish things were different. I wish Bret would stand up to his dad but he won't. I remember how my own parents moved all the way over to Australia from England because my dad's parents used to come over everyday to visit......

~Sam~

Going Private

2008-01-20T16:07:00.000+09:00

Been thinking about it for a while. I made the mistake of giving out this blog address to all my rellies when I first started it. Yeah, dumb I know. There are times when I really want to have a good bitch and I can't because of it.

So unless you're invited you can't read it.

Also I worry about all the creeps and sickos out there that might be looking at photos of my kids.

Nuff said.

~Sam~

Happy Birthday Mojo =^..^=

2008-01-20T15:29:00.000+09:00

Happy 4th Birthday for yesterday buddy, my favorite pussy cat XD

~Sam~

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T08:18:00.000+09:00

(not my photo, wish it was =D)

Happy New Year!!

Hope you all have a wonderful new year full of love, health and happiness.

~Sam~

Dust Echoes - Mermaid Story

2007-12-18T21:07:00.000+09:00

I saw this today on ABC2, it is so beautiful :o)

A beautifully animated aboriginal dreamtime story from Central Arnhem Land. A song man goes wandering and later finds himself living with mermaids under a waterfall. As time passes, he misses his family terribly and must make a choice.

More can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/dustechoes

~Sam~

Happy Birthday Boo

2007-12-18T16:42:00.000+09:00

Four years ago today a little kitty came to live with us. I had decided that we must get a cat, I had wanted one for years and now the time was right to get one.

One afternoon Sasha (who was only 22 months old at the time) and I went to a rescue home for cats not far from where we lived. I was so excited to be getting our first kitten. As we were getting out of the car Sasha decided to chuck the tantrum to end all tantrums, right in front of the crazy cat lady who owned the rescue home.

She took one look at us and said "We don't sell our cats to families with small children". I think what she really meant was we don't sell our cats to people with demonic children. I was heart broken. I came home with my tail between my legs and told Bret what had happened. I was upset but also angry. I knew that we would give a kitten the very best home it could have. We already had two dogs and they were spoilt rotten.

Not long after there was an ad in the local paper that the vet clinic down the road from us had a load of abandoned kittens that desperately needed homes. So off we went.

We waited in one the rooms in the vets and in they brought this tiny little kitten only four weeks old. She was so small, she looked like a little black fury spider. Her eyes were still blue, she was young to be away from her mother. She had been dumped on the vets doorstep at only two weeks of age. How could we leave her there, this was the kitty for us!

And as they say the rest is history. Boo is a spooky little cat. She often appears out of nowhere and sometimes you can feel you are being watched and you look up and there she is. She is my little witch's kitty. She is happy to have a cuddle but only when she wants to. She is quite affectionate and loves to smooch around your legs. She has a sixth sense and knows immediately when someone is lying down on the couch, she comes in and nesltes next to you for a little cat nap.

We love you Boo. Happy 4th Birthday!!

~Sam~

Photo Overload

2007-12-17T20:28:00.000+09:00

I've really been neglecting my blog lately. Too much to do and not enough hours in the day. So what better way to catch up than with lot's of pics, lol.

Where do I start......Sasha has finished Pre-Primary and is now on Christmas holidays for two months. She was a star in her schools Nativity play and I must say she made a beautiful star indeed. She had made her teacher laugh by asking how exactly they were going to string her up from the ceiling.

Chloe is becoming more of a madam every day. Two going on thirteen I think. She does make us laugh though, I forgot how entertaining (and trying) toddlers are. She and Sasha are best friends and love to play together (most days). She stands up for her self a lot more now and I had to laugh the other day when I heard Sasha saying to Chloe that she was being very pushy.

Sophie is twelve weeks old this Wednesday, that's twelve weeks people!! Where does the time go?! I can't believe how fast she is growing. She is a little sweetheart, lot's of smiles and she tries her hardest to talk and I just melt when I hear those little cooing sounds and squeals that young babies make. And....wait for it, she is a good sleeper!!!! Yep, I have a baby who sleeps through the night. Well about a 6-8 hour stretch at night, in my books that's sleeping through. She even went ten hours the other night. That never happened with Sasha or Chloe. I must admit I have let her cry a bit more than I did with the other two, teaching her to self settle at an earlier age and I think that has done the trick. It's amazing how much better you feel when you get a decent amount of sleep.

I'm trying to make an effort to lose some of this baby weight that I've put on in the last few years. I worked it out the other day, I have spent the last six and a half years either being pregnant, having babies or breast feeding babies. No wonder I'm about twelve kilos over weight. 55 kilos would suit me fine, feels like so much weight to lose. I lost about ten kilos after I had Chloe but it slowly crept back on last year and I knew in the back of my mind I wanted to have another baby and I kind of felt like oh well if I'm going to be pregnant again what does it matter. Oh well, slowly, slowly is the key I think and just keep chipping away at it.

House news, things are going really well. Since I last wrote we now have a roof, ceilings, plastered walls and kitchen benches, bathroom cupboards and sinks and laundry cupboards and sink. Oh and a front door!! We are officially at lock up now. Not much will happen now as all the tradies go on leave for about 2-4 weeks depending on which company they work for.

So for now, that about sums things up. My treadmill beckons :o)

~Sam~

Feather Goblintree

2007-12-05T21:33:00.000+09:00

Because I'm bored......

Your fairy is called Feather Goblintree

She is a bringer of riches and wealth.

She lives in high places where the clouds meet the earth.

She is only seen when the first leaves fall from the trees.

She wears pale blue like the sky. She has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!

~Sam~

Thursday Whinge

2007-11-22T13:09:00.000+09:00

Well good news, we have a roof finally. It's only taken four months. I'm happy it's on but I'm pissed off it's taken so long.

I rang our builder today just to see where we are at and they said we probably won't be moving in until May. May!! They laid our slab in March, started on the brickwork in May and it won't be finished until May the following year. How pathetic is that. Fourteen months to build a house is an absolute joke. All the tradesmen go on holiday for Christmas in about middle of December so that means no work will be done for about a month. We can expect to be at lock up stage by about the first week of December and then they'll start on the kitchen fit out in the New Year and tiling, painting will follow after that.

I just can't wait to move, I feel like we are in limbo here. There are things I'd love to sort out and rearrange in our current house but what's the point. I suppose the plus side of moving in May will be that we will miss most of the stinking hot weather which will be good because we won't have air con for a while in the new house. Gotta look on the bright side I guess.....

~Sam~

First Smiles

2007-11-17T13:03:00.000+09:00

Sophie has been smiling for about four to five weeks now. She is nearly eight weeks old already. She even slept through the night the night before last, well, from 10pm until 5am. In my books that's sleeping through :o) It's amazing how much better you feel after having a decent amount of uninterrupted sleep!

~:~: First Smiles at 3 1/2 weeks :~:~

~:~: More smiles at 6 1/2 weeks :~:~

~:~: And more smiles at 7 weeks :~:~

~Sam~

:[

2007-11-08T13:46:00.000+09:00

You Are A Vampire

You have a real thirst for bliss, and you consider yourself a true hedonist.And you're not afraid to walk alone in life, if it means getting what you truly crave.You truly enjoy entrancing people. Not to mention the ensuing pleasures of the flesh. Your tastes have been called decadent and bizarre. You usually give in to your temptations, no matter how primal
Your greatest power: Your flawless ability to seduce and charm
Your greatest weakness: Human flesh
You play well with: Werewolves

What Kind of Monster Are You?

Quickie

2007-11-08T11:37:00.000+09:00

I've been neglecting my blog lately. I just don't have enough hours in the day for all the things I want to get done. Computer time is at the top of my list, but unfortunately the housework still has to be done and kids looked after. Priorities, right? lol.

Sophie is going really well, she is six weeks old already. We are going for her six week check up tomorrow, so I'll have an update then on weight, growth etc. We still aren't getting a great deal of sleep, but not too bad. As long as I catch up on some z's somewhere in the week I'm OK.

I rang our builders today to see what was happening with our house and the lack of a roof. Finally the roof is being put on next week. We've waited over three months for the roof, just ridiculous. Hopefully I will get down there on the weekend and take a few more photos of the little bit's and pieces that have been done lately.

I joined Facebook a little while ago and now I have to say "I love it". It's very easy to spend a lot of time on there, not good for the housework, lol. Have caught up with a few girls I worked with on there so that is nice.

I've also being playing with Live Journal a bit. Decided to try it for my dolly blog, felt a bit isolated on blogger and most DOA members seem to use LJ. I find it a bit tedious uploading photos on there, blogger is much easier but LJ is much better for comments and the friends feature. We'll see how it goes, still keeping my other dolly blog running as well.

~Sam~

Awww Shucks!

2007-11-01T09:41:00.000+09:00

I am very lucky to have been given an award from the lovely Pam over at Random Thoughts.

My first blogging award ever!!! Thank you Pam, it's a great compliment :o)

So as the tradition goes now I am to give this award to other great bloggy friends who I love, so I'd like to award:

Tracey
Jen
Catwoman

~Sam~

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T13:58:00.000+09:00

This is Boo! our Halloween kitty.

~Sam~

Feeling Better

2007-10-29T09:16:00.000+09:00

First off I want to say a big thank you to everyone for leaving such lovely and caring comments. It's so nice to know that people care and are thinking about you.

I'm still sleep deprived, not quite as depressed though. I don't think I am suffering post natal depression, I really think it is just lack of sleep and if I don't get much sleep I am not very nice to be around. Everything feels worse when you are tired. Plus I guess I keep comparing this time around to when I had Chloe and Sasha.

When I had Chloe it was absolute bliss, exactly what I always thought having a baby would be like. I had a great age gap between Sasha and Chloe, three and a half years difference. Sasha was toilet trained, she was quite independent and we didn't have to be rushing out the door every morning for school. Chloe was an easy baby, sure she woke during the night but she seemed to settle quickly back to sleep by herself. She quickly developed her own little routine and I was so much more relaxed. I just enjoyed it so much and felt like I was on a natural high for ages.

When I had Sasha it was a roller coaster ride. Bret says I was an emotional train wreck when I had Sasha and looking back I was. My dad had passed away just eight months before I fell pregnant with Sasha, I was still grieving by the time Sasha was born. I really hadn't had much to do with babies before I had her and it was a learning experience to say the least. I was truly miserable and felt it was the worst thing I had ever done. Don't get me wrong, I loved her with all my heart and soul but I just felt so out of control and so depressed. Looking back that probably was post natal depression and I didn't realise it. Then when Sasha was seven months old my mum got sick and then three months later we found out she had cancer. To cut a long story short, mum passed away when Sasha was just sixteen months old. So it was a very emotional start to Sasha's life and my first time round as being a mum.

This time with having Sophie I guess I expected it to be as easy as when I had Chloe. Thank god it's not like when I had Sasha! It's a lot busier with Sasha being at full time school, we have to be out the door at 8.15am during the week and that is hard when you've been up three or four times during the night. Also Chloe is still really very young and she needs a lot of my help to do things.

Sophie isn't a bad sleeper, she is a normal baby and wakes every three hours or so to be fed. She is learning to self settle, which is great and she is still only just four weeks old (I have to keep reminding myself of that!). She is a "good baby", LOL. Just for the record I hate when people ask "Is she a good baby?", no she is the spawn of Satan I should reply and I will the next person that asks me!!

So yes, I am feeling better, sometimes it's hard to see the wood for the trees as the expression goes. I really should stop beating myself up I guess, I can be my own worst enemy at times.

Well that's it, my blogging time is up, Sophie is awake from her two and a half hour sleep (can't complain about that!).

~Sam~

Sam is Sleep Deprived and Cranky

2007-10-25T17:57:00.000+08:00

The title says it all........

Do I have post natal depression??....I'm not sure.

Am I suffering from sleep deprivation??.....Yes, definitely yes.

Am I dying for time by myself??........Yes, yes, yes!!!

Does that give you an idea as to how I am feeling right now? Depressed, cranky and tired beyond belief.

~Sam~

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2007-10-16T08:34:00.000+08:00

I forgot how tiring a newborn can be! Sophie fed every two hours last night. Ughhhh, my eyes are hanging out of my head. It takes about forty minutes to feed and settle her, so I am lucky if I had an hour and a half sleep in between feeds. I keep telling myself "It's not forever", lol. At least when you've had babies before you know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Everything else is going ok. Sasha and Chloe are well. Sasha goes back to school tomorrow after having two and a half weeks holiday. I am kind of dreading the early morning school run. The thought of getting up at 6.00am after having maybe six hours broken sleep if I am lucky makes me feel sick. I am not good without much sleep. Some people it doesn't bother too much but I find it hard to cope with. I like to have about nine hours of uninterrupted blissful sleep each night. Guess I won't be getting that any time soon.

I'm still feeling very uncomfortable stitches wise. I have an open wound about two centimetres long and about half a centimetre wide "down there". Sorry if that is too much info, lol. It is very sore to say the least. I know it will heal but I wish it would hurry up. I know if I could rest more during the day, keep off my feet etc it would help a lot. But it is a bit hard when you have two other kids to run around after. So if anyone has any tips or info on healing up after an episiotomy or tear I would love to hear it.

Not really much else to tell you. We are still waiting on a roof for our new house, so there are no photos to post or news to speak of.

I do have photos of Sophie of course :o)

Here she is having a bath. She is growing up so fast - three weeks old tomorrow!

And here she is with her first dolly :o)

~Sam~

It's a Me Me

2007-10-10T16:51:00.000+08:00

I was tagged by the lovely Shari over at 30 Year Old Mother Of Two Seeks Sleep to do this Me Me.

How could I refuse :o)

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Let's see, I would have been totally stressing out because Bret and I were getting married in the following March. So I would be frantically organising our wedding and snapping at everyone in the process.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

I think we had just done our Pre-Start on our new house that we are building. For those that don't know, Pre-Start is when you finalise all your tile colours, kitchen benches, cupboards, bathroom fittings etc with your builder when you are building a house. I don't think a lot else was happening. Chloe would have just had her first birthday and we were still trying to decide whether or not we should have a third child.

Five Snacks You Enjoy

Anything chocolate.

Chips.

Tim Tam Biscuits

Coffee.

Anything fattening and unhealthy.

Five Songs That You Know All The Lyrics To

This is going to be very tragic.... because I guess I don't really know a lot of songs. I'm not really the singing out loud kind of person, lol. So I'm going to miss this one entirely because I can't really count Ring a Ring a Rosie or Bob the Builder in my repertoire.

Five Things You Would Do If You Were a Millionaire

Buy a brand new Toyota Land Crusier for me.

Buy a Porshe 911 for Bret (his dream car).

Pay off all our debt.

Hire a cleaning lady and a nanny!

Go on a big holiday.

Five Bad Habits

Swearing way too much.

Bitching.

Spending too much time on the computer.

Spending too much money.

Twirling my hair.

Five Things You Like To Do

Playing with the kids.

Shopping.

Spending too much time on the computer.

Sleeping.

Blogging.

Five Things You Would Never Wear Again

Leg Warmers.

Bubble Skirts.

Stone Wash Jeans.

Mini Skirts.

Anything Strapless.

Five Favorite Toys

Well they're not exactly toys, but I lovvvvvvvvvvve my dollfies.

Again not a toy but I couldn't live without my computer.

The Sims 2, not that I have time to play anymore.

My Fuji Fine Pix camera.

My Wallace and Gromit alarm clock.

Who Do You Tag?

Jen

Rachel

Catwoman

Emma

1st Blogoversary

2007-10-09T09:17:00.000+08:00

1 year ago today I started this blog. I can't believe a whole year has passed!

Amazing....

I've met some fabulous fellow bloggers along the way. I don't want to play favorites here but I just have to tell these people I love them -

M over at Two Under Two! - You crack me up no end girl and I love your honesty.

Emma over at A Day in the Life of a Mum to 4 - You were the very first person to comment on my blog! So glad you did :o)

Jen over at Creamy Silver - I've never met you but I think you have the biggest heart of anyone I know, people like you make the world a better place!

Catwoman over at Canadian Thoughts in Texas - I love the way you write and your stories always make me laugh.

Well I had planned to write a super long post, I was feeling very cranky this morning due to lack of sleep and I was going to have a good venting session. But seeing as it has taken me all day to write this my mood has kind of improved. Amazing what caffeine and cute kids can do!

~Sam~

Settling In

2007-10-06T11:35:00.000+08:00

Well I'm back in the land of the living. I'm healing up (stitches wise) and feeling much better. God, you don't realise how much you take your backside for granted until it's ripped in half!

The family is going great. Sophie is settling in really well. When I was pregnant I remember thinking how will she fit in, how will the dynamics change etc. And it's like she has been here forever already. Of course things have changed and we've had a few issues but it's working out ok. Having three kids seems like such a bigger family than with two kids, it's just amazing. I'm loving it!! It's busy, it's hectic but it's great.

I haven't been posting much myself lately but I have looking around at everyone elses blogs. I have found some great new blogs!! I love finding new blogs. A big hello to Shari over at 30 Year Old Mother of Two Seeks Sleep - I love your blog and it has become a daily read of mine :o) Also g'day to Pam at Random Thoughts, Jess at The Tattooed Mama and 3xmom at Three Time Mommy - I'm really enjoying what you all have to say :o)

And a post baby post wouldn't be complete without pictures now would it?

~Sam~

Sophie's Arrival

2007-10-02T19:08:00.000+08:00

I finally have some time and energy to write about Sophie's birth. Also I can finally sit down in front of my computer without being in pain. My stitches split open over the weekend and I've been in agony. I saw my doctor today and he assured me they aren't infected and they will heal without being restitched.

So, the story of Sophie's birth, here we go.

Wednesday, last week I woke at about 4.45am to go to the toilet. Nothing unusual about that, happened about three or four times a night for the past couple of months or so. I got back into bed and then felt mild like period pain. It went away and then it came back and went again. Okay, I thought, maybe I better start timing this. They were coming about every ten minutes. They weren't too painful and I really wasn't sure whether this was the real thing or not. Having never gone in to natural labour before, I really didn't know what to expect and I remember saying to my doctor on the Monday before "but how will I know I'm in labour?". His response was "Oh, you'll know".

So I woke Bret and we got up and had some coffee. The contractions had got a bit stronger and a bit closer together, so I went for a quick shower. It was now about 5.45am. I went to the toilet again and this time had a bit of a pink show. Ah! this had to be it.

I rang my doctor and then rang my best friend to come and baby sit for me. By this time the contractions were getting a lot stronger and a lot closer together. My friend arrived at 6.30am and we said hi and goodbye in the driveway as I was desperate to get to the hospital by this stage as the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and we had a half hour drive to get to the hospital.

So we had a painful and what seemed like a never ending drive to the hospital. We arrived just after 7.00am. The first thing I asked about was an epidural. I had an epidural for both Sasha and Chloe's birth and I was numb up to my eyeballs for both of them so I never felt a thing. That's just how I wanted Sophie's birth to be as well. Little did I know what lay ahead for me and probably just as well.

The anaesthetist was in theatre when we arrived and he wouldn't be out until an hour later. Oh my god, I would have to wait a whole hour! I felt like I couldn't get through another five minutes let alone an hour.

The midwife suggested I go into the shower to see if the hot water would help. It did help a bit but I was in so much pain I didn't know what to do with myself. It was all happening so fast and so unlike anything I imagined this birth was going to be like. I just thought I would get induced, have my epidural put in at the same time, all very civilised and controlled. Instead I was sitting on a stool in a shower, slumped over and mooing like a cow.

I'm not sure what the time was, maybe about 7.30am the nurse said that she better have a look to see how I was going, seeing as I was in so much pain. To my surprise and I think the midwife too I was 8cm dilated. By this stage I was really panicking, I was still holding on to the hope that I would get my epidural. The contractions were really strong and painful. I just couldn't get my head around what was going on and how fast everything was happening.

My doctor came in at about 8.00am and so did the anaesthetist, but yep, you guessed it, it was too late for an epidural. I was 10cm dilated and was being told to push. I remember looking into my obstetricians eyes and saying "It wasn't meant to be like this". Yes, I'm a drama queen I know.

I didn't really have the strong urge to push like I thought I would. I was pushing with all my might and not really getting anywhere. So out came the vacuum. I had some local anesthetic put in (ouch!!) to numb things a bit. But having that vacuum inserted without an epidural was hell on earth. I take my hat off to any woman that goes through natural child birth. Why anyone in their right mind would want to give birth without any pain relief is beyond me.

Sophie was coming down in a posterior position which means her back to my back which means really painful. She wouldn't turn on her own so the doctor had to turn her with the vacuum. When my doctor said I was going to feel like I was bursting he wasn't kidding. I have never been in so much pain in my life. I screamed and screamed. I felt so stupid but I couldn't control it. Poor Bret I don't think he knew what to do or say to help me. So with a couple more pushes or was it screams and she was out. My beautiful little Sophie was born at 8.38am. Well I guess not so little, 7lb 13oz, she is my biggest baby so far. But god I love her so much and she was worth every bit of pain and I would do it all over again in a heart beat and the funny thing is as soon as she was born I forgot all about the pain as if it never happened.

The great thing about having no drugs was I was up and about probably an hour after she was born. When I had Sasha and Chloe I was unable to move for a few hours until the epidural wore off. It was great to be so mobile so quickly. So it certainly wasn't the birth I was expecting. But I'm glad I have experienced natural childbirth now and going into labour by myself.

She is a beautiful little baby, I am totally smitten with her :o) She didn't end up being jaundice like we thought she would with the ABO incompatibilty issue. She had her blood tested just after she was born and she is Bret's blood group so she should have gone jaundice but for some reason she didn't. We were so glad she was ok, I had prepared myself that she would be going under lights but she didn't have to. I was so happy and relieved. We came home from hospital on Saturday, it was so good to get home.

So on with a few pics :o)

~Sam~

Introducing....

2007-09-29T21:15:00.000+08:00

Sophie Joan

Born Wednesday 26th September 2007 at 8.38am

Weighing 7lb 13oz

We are both doing well and absolutely delighted to be home. I'll write more soon :o)

~Sam~

P.S - Thank you for everyones lovely comments on my previous post xoxoxox

Random Blog Thoughts

2007-09-25T09:37:00.000+08:00

To take my mind off things, and by things I mean the baby and when will I go into labour. I thought I would do a post on my thoughts about my blog and blogging in general.

I feel intimidated by people who have a lot of comments on their blog and I feel more comfortable posting comments on a blog that doesn't have many comments.
Sometimes I feel like I don't know what to say in a comment and think that people must think I'm a loser.
I worry too much about what people think of me.
I get upset when people who used to comment on my blog don't comment anymore.
I worry about posting pictures of my kids on my blog and for this reason I am seriously thinking of making my blog private.
I am seriously addicted to certain blogs, in a healthy, light hearted way, don't worry I'm not going to start stalking anyone, lol.
I love it when new people comment on my blog.
I love it when I find new blogs that I like.
Sometimes I hold back when I'm writing, ok most of the time I hold back when I'm writing.
I wish I hadn't of given out my blog address to certain family members, another reason to go private.
I love blogging.

That's all I can think of for now, I will keep updating as I think of more.

~Sam~

Made It

2007-09-24T13:53:00.000+08:00

Well I made it until Monday! I saw my doctor today and was pretty sure I was going to be booked in to be induced on Wednesday 26th (my due date). But it's not to be. The baby hasn't dropped, she is still floating up high and they can't induce you if the baby hasn't dropped.

I'm so shocked, I really just assumed we'd be ready to go. I was induced with both the girls, one day over due with Sasha and twelve days early with Chloe. I just can't believe it. So we have to wait until labour starts naturally. I have another appointment booked to see my doctor next Tuesday and he said when I was leaving he thinks he will be seeing me at that appointment, so he obviously doesn't think I am going to start labour by myself. And here I was last week totally stressed out of my mind that I wasn't going to make it until today. Oh well, the main thing is the baby is still going well, I'm still going well. If she has dropped by next Tuesday I guess we'll get induced some time that week, if she hasn't I guess we wait a few more days. He said the max amount of time he'll let me go is ten to eleven days over. After that I'm not sure what will happen, maybe a cesarean?? If it has to happen, it has to happen. As long as I end up with a healthy newborn at the end of it I don't care how she comes out.

Yesterday was the longest day of my life, I thought it would never end. I knew if I made it until midnight my doctor would be able to deliver her if she came early. And then to be told today she hasn't even dropped yet, all that worry for nothing.

I was also having a major meltdown because I spoke to Bret's mum and she is sick with pneumonia and she was supposed to be baby sitting for us this week. Bret told me on Friday she had a chest infection and I didn't think anymore of it. Then when I spoke to her myself yesterday and she said the doctor had told her it was pneumonia, I totally freaked out.

How can she look after the kids if she's that sick and could she pass it on to them and with a new baby coming home soon after. Yes, to say that I was a mess is an understatement. So I rang my best friend to see if she could somehow babysit for me instead of Bret's mum. Of course she could and said it was no problem. She has three kids herself and her youngest is only eight months and yet she said she would be able to come to my house at 6.30am so that Bret and I could get to the hospital for 7.00am. What a fantastic friend I have, I am so lucky. She has also said to us to ring her during the night if the baby comes naturally and she will come and look after the girls. Thank god for friends like that.

Anyway today Bret's mum went back to the doctor and he said her lungs are clear, she is on the mend. So she still might be able to babysit after all if the baby comes next week and she is 100% better.

It's funny how things just have a way of sorting themselves out isn't it. So I am going to stop stressing, I am going to enjoy the last days of this, my last pregnancy. And the other thing, I will definitely get my little Libra baby after all :o)

~Sam~

I'm still here....

2007-09-21T11:29:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm still here. No baby yet. What a week it has been, it has dragged and dragged and dragged. It doesn't help that I am always looking at the calendar and thinking "just this many more days" or "I made it through another day". It has really been doing my head in lately. I just want to make it through until Monday now, when my doctor is back and I have my appointment to see him Monday morning. Hell, I'll be happy to make it through until late Sunday night, then I know there is a good chance he can deliver my baby.

I have mentally tortured myself all week and it has been exhausting. Now I remember why I asked to be induced early with Chloe - to avoid all this waiting and angst. I'm not good with surprises, I like to know what is happening and when. I like to be prepared and organised. I can't wait until Monday!!!!!!!!!!

This week has been so busy, so it's not as if I have just been sitting around all day doing nothing. Monday my best friend dropped in for coffee. Then Tuesday was grocery shopping and another friend dropped around for coffee. We also had Sasha's learning journey at school, which was held after school and the kids got to show their parents what things they had been working on through out the term and then I went out for dinner with some of my friends that night. Yes, Tuesday was a very busy day for me, glad it's not like that every day. I'm an introverted kind of person and really need time on my own to recharge.

Wednesday was playgroup and I finally got to hand in my job as treasurer. I've done it for almost three years, I figured it was time to give someone else a go, plus I will be just too busy to be going to playgroup for a while. So that was a relief to get that out the way. Chloe also started with a loose, rattly cough on Wednesday and I thought "oh great another cold".

Thursday it was even worse, her eyes were streaming, her nose running, snot running out every where and she is totally miserable. She has been sticking her fingers in her mouth, so I had a quick check and it looks like her two year old molars have decided to make an appearance. Great timing..not. Thursday was also Sasha's first sports carnival at school. Luckily Bret didn't have to start work until later in the day so he came along too. Sasha had a great time, all little team sports for her year, nothing to stressful, just fun.

We didn't stay for the whole thing which was a shame, because of Chloe being so unwell. On the way home she vomited three times, just juice and water with a few milky chunks in for good measure, the smell was divine really. Anyway, she was covered in it and her car seat covered in it. I was hoping for a quiet afternoon but that was not to be. So we get home, I bath Chloe and then have to take apart the car seat, wash the cover and all her clothes etc. The day just got worse and worse. Bret decided to go off and do a few things before he had to start work, yeah great timing there. Chloe slept for about half and hour I think and was miserable as sin when she got up. God, I hated yesterday.

I read Sasha's library book with her before she went to bed, it was such a sweet book by Mem Fox called Koala Lou. About a little koala who loves her mum and loves it when her mum says that she loves her. Well that was it wasn't it, I couldn't even finish reading it properly without sobbing my heart out. Sasha kept saying it's alright Mummy. God, what a day, I was so glad to go to bed and just get some sleep.

And so here we are today, Friday. Chloe is still not well but at least she is asleep. Hopefully a good nap will make her feel a little bit brighter when she wakes up. I have had the past hour and a bit to myself and I feel much better, a little more relaxed. Still wishing it was Monday morning, but trying not to focus on it too much for the sake of my own sanity. At the moment not feeling any twinges or signs that the new baby might be making her appearance any time soon. But who knows that can change pretty quickly can't it. Wish me luck!

~Sam~

Nesting

2007-09-13T14:30:00.000+08:00

I am nesting something fierce. I don't know where this energy is coming from. I can't remember feeling like this with Sasha and Chloe. I've read about it in books and thought oh yeah I feel a bit like that. But this time around I have this really strong urge to clean and organise everything.

It started with our back room, which is kind of like a big play room, TV room, junk room and study all in one. It looked like a bomb had gone off, toys every where, books and junk every where. I even found a nice puddle of dried up cat vomit near my desk (thanks Mojo). Yeah, it was pretty gross to say the least.

Because it's at the back of the house it is an area that does get neglected and lately I figured if I keep the front lounge room tidy then there is no reason to take visitors in to the back room so it can be my dirty little secret. Anyway I got stuck into it the other day, packed things away that I have been meaning to do for ages. Cleaned up all the toys, cleaned my desk area. I feel so much better!!

Then today I cleaned my car out, another job I had been putting off. It wasn't too bad as I had cleaned it out a few months back because the kids had food all over the back seat and floor. We bought a new back seat cover and I was so excited, I wanted it all nice and clean and vacuumed out before I put it in there. Then I go to put it in and it's no good if you have three kids because there is no holes in it so you can use the middle seat belt. Darn it, I was so looking forward to using that seat cover and getting all the car seats rearranged to fit in the baby capsule.

I've also been trying to keep the house a lot tidier and any bit of clutter drives me insane. This is not like me at all, lol. I guess it's all part of the nesting thing.

I had a check up with my midwife today because of my OB being away in Ireland on his big obstetrician's reunion. Baby looks fine and still moving around heaps. It's always so reassuring to see that little heart beating on the ultrasound monitor. I had a friend who lost her baby at 37 weeks and it makes me so scared. They still to this day don't know why their little baby died, it's just so heartbreaking. Anyway we won't dwell on that too much at the moment because it doesn't take much to set me off these days as it is.

Tomorrow Chloe and I are off to a little friends 4th birthday party. It's at an indoor playground place where the adults can have a cuppa and some nice food and the kids can run wild. They call in Kids Paradise, I always joke to Bret that they should call it Parents Hell. It's not that bad really, it should be fairly quiet tomorrow, being a week day and all. It will be nice to catch up with the other mums for some adult conversation.

Next week I'm trying to keep things pretty low key. I think we've got a few little things on, Sasha's sports carnival, a friend coming over for coffee, dinner with the girls on Tuesday night. Well maybe it's not so low key after all. I certainly won't be making anymore plans from now on that's for sure. I want to make the most of my last week of being baby free. Well I say my last week, she could decide to come early and that would throw all the plans out the window, lol. They come when they want to, don't they :o)

~Sam~

Just rambling

2007-09-07T14:15:00.000+08:00

Not much to say , just a quick update of things really. Two weeks and five days to go, not that I'm counting or anything.

I saw my OB on Monday, he said she (the baby) is still floating around a bit, she hasn't dropped yet. Different to what he said the previous time I went to see him, then he said she had dropped. So who knows. My doctor flew out of the country yesterday for his holiday, bloody rude I think, fancy having a holiday when I'm due to have a baby! Anyway he has an off sider, who I have never met, but he is supposed to be very nice and he will look after me if I go into labour before my doctor gets back. My doc comes back the weekend before I am due (I'm due Wednesday 26th Sep). So fingers, toes and legs crossed I make it until then. I really want my own doctor, I'm used to him, he delivered Sasha and Chloe. He said he thinks he will see me (still pregnant) when he gets back, I hope he is right!

I put up the bassinet today. We bought a new one. The last two times we have used Bret's sisters one. As much as I have appreciated her lending it to us I always hated it. It's wobbly and bulky. So this time around we bought a brand new one. We needed a new mattress anyway, so for an extra 80 bucks or so we got a whole bassinet with a stand and everything. It even has a little basket underneath to put nappies and extra bits and pieces in. Which will come in so handy as I won't be able to dash to Chloe's room in the middle of the night for clean nappies without waking her up and we don't have much room in our room for all the new baby's things.

I think we are ready for this new arrival, everything is pretty much done. Hospital bag is packed, apart from the clothes that I'm wearing day to day. Capsule is ready to go into the car. Certainly will be a bit squeezey in the back seat from now on that's for sure. So I think we are ready should she decide to come early.

S'all for now.

~Sam~

Dearest Chloe,

2007-08-29T15:37:00.000+08:00

Two years ago today you came into our lives. What a gorgeous little bundle of joy you were, and still are today. Oh how I hoped that you would have brown eyes like your daddy and to our surprise you did!

You didn't stay a tiny baby for long and were rolling over by four months and crawling by six months. Then at twelve and a half months there was no stopping you and off you walked. You've been running and jumping ever since.

You are sweet and kind and ever so patient. You love to sing and dance with your big sister, who you absolutely adore. You love The Wiggles and Peppa Pig.

What would we do without you kiddo? You are a precious shining star in our little family tree and words alone cannot express just how much we love you.

Happy 2nd Birthday our dearest Chloe

Love Mummy and Daddy xxxxxxxx

~Sam & Bret~

Chloe's 2nd Birthday Party

2007-08-26T12:22:00.000+08:00

It's Sunday, yay!!!!

The party went well, not too hectic, not too stressful. We were even ready about ten minutes before everyone arrived, go us! We didn't have many guests, Bret's eldest sister and three kids couldn't make it and neither could his brother (pretty much expected him not to turn up, but that's a whole other story). So in total we had about six adults and seven kids. Pretty small party and it was really nice. Chloe is not big on huge crowds of people so it worked out well. It was great to catch up with close friends and Sasha & Chloe played with their cousins and friends.

The only awful thing that did happen was Chloe was stung by a bee on her finger or in her words a "buzzy". So after a dose of antihistamine she was quite drowsy and a bit grumpy. Luckily this all happened as the party was pretty much drawing to a close.

I think Bret and I did really well organising everything. Bret even made and iced the birthday cake! What a super dad he is :o) We didn't have any outside help at all. If my mum and dad were still around, our lives would be so much easier. But they are not so we are very self sufficient. I see this as a good thing, when my mum was still alive I did rely on her a lot but now I can do anything and I'm very independent. I suppose we could ask Bret's mum for help but we never do. I'm sure she would help and she always says if we ever need anything we know where she is, we just don't feel right asking her. And as much as I love Bret's dad he really is absolutely no help when it comes to the kids or anything to do with them.

On the baby front, I haven't had anymore scares. Feel a bit uncomfortable, like there is absolutely no more room for this baby and my tummy has stretched more than humanly possible. Sometimes it feels like she is head butting my cervix (which she probably is) and it makes me double over in pain. I don't know what it is, maybe I am starting to dilate or ripen (I hate that word!). Who knows, I just want this baby to hang on a few more weeks. To be totally picky I want this baby to wait until the 24th September at the earliest. I already have a Virgo daughter and this time around I would like a Libra, lol. My biggest want of all is for this baby to be totally healthy and normal. Even though we've had tests during the pregnancy I won't breathe a sigh of relief until I hold her in my arms.

Anyway here are a few pics from Chloe's party and even a bit of video :o)

~Sam~

It's not it.

2007-08-24T13:31:00.000+08:00

False alarm, you can go back to what you were doing :o)

No seriously, must have been something I ate, just an upset tummy I think. But gee, it gave me a bit of a scare I really thought that was it for a time there.

Looks like Chloe will get her party after all. I think I'm almost organised for it. I'm sure there is something I have forgotten, but who cares.

I know it sounds awful, but roll on Sunday when the party will be all over and I can vege out and let the house get messy again and not be worried about it.

~Sam~

Is this it?

2007-08-23T13:50:00.000+08:00

Having never gone in to labour naturally I really have no idea what it feels like to start with. I've had a funny day today, lot's of cramping pains. Nothing regular, nothing that I could really time. I've been to the toilet several times (sorry too much info I know) and have that sort of crampy feeling in my tummy like when you have the runs. But I don't know if it is that or if this is the start of labour. I'm only 35 weeks so it would be pretty early for the baby to come now.
I have been rushing around this morning cleaning up in preparation for Chloe's party, so maybe that isn't helping.
I'll just have to wait and see I guess.

~Sam~

Energy = Zero

2007-08-21T16:00:00.000+08:00

God I'm fed up! I can't be stuffed doing anything just lately. Could be something to do with the two and a half kilo watermelon in my stomach. I could go to bed and sleep all day. I am totally over getting up in the mornings and taking Sasha to school, gee what a good mother I am.

Another busy week ahead unfortunately. And me being the bright spark that I am decided a few weeks ago to invite all the rellies over on the weekend for a little party for Chloe's 2nd birthday. I mean the poor kid can't go without a party can she, I'm sure she will be scarred for life if she doesn't have one.

So now I have to clean up the house, do party food shopping and make something that resembles a birthday cake and I only have Thursday free this week. I should be cleaning now rather than sitting here typing. Just can't be bothered.

~Sam~

Sadness

2007-08-16T13:55:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I really wonder about the city we are living in. So many really awful things seem to be happening in Perth lately. Or is it just because I am a mother now I see the world through very different eyes than I used to.

Just now on the news a woman who had been missing for nine days in Perth has been discovered dead in Kings Park in Perth. This lady who I do not know, but feel connected to because my old boss is her husbands cousin. This feels just way too close to home for my liking. She went innocently to a dance class last Tuesday night and was never seen since, until today when Police confirmed that it was her body in a grave in a public park.

Oh how I feel for her two daughters. This is just so terrible. I wish I could pick my family up and go and live on another planet away from all this.

Is it because I am pregnant that I'm feeling this way?, so emotional. It probably is and I shouldn't dwell on things that are totally beyond my control. Sometimes I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and what kind of a world am I bringing another precious baby in to?

I just can't believe this poor woman was murdered.

~Sam~

33 Weeks - On the Home Stretch

2007-08-08T12:50:00.000+08:00

I had a check up at the OB on Monday. Everything looked fine he said. The baby weighs 2kg now which is a bit bigger than average. She is head down and in a posterior position, hoping she will turn around before she is due. Sasha was posterior and it made it a long, hard labour. She's still got seven weeks to turn so I'm not worried yet. Iron and sugar levels were all good so that was a bonus. Not much else to report from the OB visit. Got a couple of ultrasound pics, a bit hard to make out clearly but nice to pop in the photo album all the same.

~Sam~

Goodbye July

2007-07-31T12:40:00.000+08:00

This month has just flown by. Not sure I got everything done I was supposed to. We are pretty much on countdown now, for the baby and the house being finished. Only eight weeks this week until the baby is due to arrive, and she could come sooner than that. *Note to self - pack hospital bag*.

My god only eight weeks at the latest!! How quick is that going to go! I really need to get this place sorted, still so much crap to get rid of on eBay and junk to sort out in the shed. Need to borrow the bassinet from Bret's sister and buy a new mattress for it. Need to get a tandem pram sorted out, not that we will use it that much but it will make life a hell of a lot easier when it's just me and the two little ones and they both need to go in a pram.

Then there's all the packing to do for when we move. To be honest I haven't put a lot of thought in to that one yet, I'm more focused on the baby's arrival and settling her in once we are home from hospital. So I will worry about that one in eight weeks, and believe me I will be worrying.

I had a blood test yesterday for iron and gestational diabetes, should get the results next week when I go to my OB. Feeling very tired and ever so slightly cranky today. Didn't sleep well last night and woke up feeling like a zombie this morning. Got up late and ended up only just making it to school in time for Sasha, then Chloe chucked a tantrum on the way out and I felt all the other mothers eyes upon me. Yeah you've got it easy I thought and then I realised hang on, it was my choice to have a five year old and a two year old and another one on the way in only eight weeks time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am I insane?! I think the answer would be a definite YES.

The house is coming along nicely, we have the roofing structure on (not sure if that is the right terminology) they are the steel bits the roof goes on to. See pics below :o) So once the roof goes on it's full steam ahead, no having to worry about bad weather delays. Maybe we could be in there by Christmas. That would be great, I'm so over this house at the moment. The traffic up our street is getting worse, hoons drive like absolute maniacs up and down it. Plus there is a lot of building going on around the corner so there are a lot of really big trucks carting sand and earth moving equipment. There will be a really bad accident on our road one day, I just pray to god it doesn't involve any of us or my beloved pussycats.

On that happy note I will close off and go and have much needed coffee and chocolate ;o)

~Sam~

P.S - Congratulations to Tracey, Josh and big brother Harrison on the arrival of baby Lachlan xxxxx :o)

Back to School yay

2007-07-26T13:41:00.000+08:00

Sasha is back at school today after having two and a half weeks school holidays. We really didn't do a lot, I feel a bit guilty. But I just didn't have the energy and wanted to have as much time at home as possible seeing as this was to be our last school holidays before the baby comes.

We did go out a few times so it wasn't as if she was totally house bound the whole time. She enjoyed having her pajama days as she likes to call them where she stays in her pajamas all day long, lol.

This was the first school holidays where Sasha and Chloe really interacted like siblings I think. There was a lot of arguing over toys, screaming, tantrums etc. Chloe is certainly growing up and doesn't like to be pushed around by Sasha anymore and she certainly let's her know about it, lol. So it is nice today to have some peace and quiet.

Baby wise, I am feeling big! She has definitely grown a lot in the last couple of weeks. I feel a lot more pressure on my bladder that's for sure so I'm thinking she must be head down. I'm feeling a little bit tired again but not sure if that's just due to late nights. I have horror heartburn when I lay down at night, Mylanta is my new best friend. That's about it really I think. Feeling very absent minded and as much as I love my husband, he is really annoying me at the moment. Oh yes, I'm definitely pregnant!!

~Sam~

Tindra

2007-07-20T20:13:00.001+08:00

Another new girl arrived at our house today. Say hello to Tindra :o)

Lot's more photos here.

~Sam~

School Holidays and Baby Scans

2007-07-17T14:00:00.000+08:00

We are into the second week of the school holidays. So far it's been fairly quite and relaxed. Sasha and Chloe have had their moments, arguing like normal kids do over toys etc. Sometimes it drives me mad, the constant bickering and then the high pitched squealing that only toddlers can do. You know the ones that make your ear drums bleed.

I had an appointment at the obstetrician yesterday. The baby sure has plumped up, on the ultrasound she looked like she has really chubby cheeks. I forgot to ask what weight she was. Amazing what they can tell you from an ultrasound. I have a little pic of her from yesterday, a bit hard to see in much detail, but it is of her face. She was playing peekaboo and was hiding half her face by nestling into my uterus. Awwww that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I can't wait until she is born and I can give her a big kiss and a cuddle. 30 weeks tomorrow, so not too long to go. It really has gone very fast this pregnancy.

We are still deciding on names. I fell in love with a particular name shortly after I had Chloe and was adamant that if we ever had another baby and it was a girl that she would be called this name. Note, the veil of secrecy surrounding the name, lol. We like to keep it secret until the babe is born. We made the mistake when we were pregnant with Sasha telling everyone her name - Jade Ashleigh. Of course when she was born she looked nothing like a Jade Ashleigh and she was definitely a Sasha Jayne, lol. So when I was pregnant with Chloe we decided to keep the name hush hush and until she was actually born. As it turns out I have changed my mind on the original name we picked for this new bub, still not 100% decided though. I guess we will know when she is born :o)

Roofing steel for the house arrived last week, hopefully I will get out there sometime this week to take pics. Might even have half a roof up if we are lucky, woo hoo!

~Sam~

So Beautiful

2007-07-13T16:23:00.000+08:00

If you have a spare minute read this http://badladies.blogspot.com/2007/07/mommy.html make sure you have some tissues handy.

~Sam~

Happy Birthday to Me

2007-07-11T17:09:00.000+08:00

Yes that's right, it's little old me's birthday today. 35 today, no more checking the 30 - 34 year old box on forms etc, lol.

Had a really nice lunch at a friends house today. Bret had decorated the lounge room with balloons and streamers so that was a nice surprise this morning (what a sweetie he is). Of course the girls loved it too and have been playing with the balloons ever since.

Having a very quiet night in tonight, no late night partying for me, can't think of anything worse to be honest. Ordering my favorite Chinese takeaway for dinner for Bret and I and that's about it. Happy days :o)

~Sam~

Chloe

2007-07-07T18:48:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to post this cute picture of Chloe I took the other day. She's not normally one to pose for the camera so I was delighted with this shot of her. Just look at those big brown eyes! She is such a sweetheart.

~Sam~

This and That

2007-07-05T13:41:00.000+08:00

Just received Sasha's school photos back, she looks so cute. I can't believe that is my little baby girl, they grow way too fast.

I've reached the third trimester this week, or was it last week? Only twelve weeks to go now, wow, that sounds scary. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable now in my pregnancy, needing to go to the loo every five minutes and feel like my stomach is in my mouth most of the time. Getting to sleep at night has also become more difficult and not because I'm not tired, just find it hard to get comfortable and turn my mind off. Oh the joys of pregnancy. Totally worth it in the end though :o)

Here is a pic of me from last week, so about 27 weeks pregnant. I'll spare you the image of me with my bare belly showing, lol.

See what I mean about getting round all over! Oh how I wish I looked like one of the pregnant models in the pregnancy magazines, lol.

House news....there is now house news, still waiting on roofing steel to arrive. Not sure how long it will take.

Got a new dolly this week, that has been the highlight of my week. Pics here if you are interested. She's a sassy one!

That's about it for now :o)

~Sam~

Clearing my Mind

2007-06-28T13:51:00.000+08:00

Just wanted to put my thoughts on to paper so to speak today. It has been quite a busy week again. We had a lovely weekend with Bret's family down for lunch on Saturday. His cousin Kristen (Hi Kristen if you are reading this :o)) came over from Sydney for a short visit so it was lovely to see her and Michael & Abbie. I forgot to take photos on the day - d'oh!
We all had a drive (except Bret's mum, she had to go out afterwards) down to our new house to show them all around, it was a good feeling. As much as I love our old house, it's never really been one that I'm especially proud of. I think with being in a constant state of renovations I spend half my time apologising to people for the mess when they come around. With our new house I think we will feel very house proud and will enjoy showing it off a bit.

I've had a lot of trouble probably for the past three weeks with Sasha at school in the mornings. She has never been a clingy kid and usually was the first one to rush off to join her friends whenever we were out anywhere. But lately when I drop her off at school she has been hanging on to me and saying "One more cuddle Mummy" and "Don't go Mummy". This of course breaks my heart into a million pieces. I have to prise her off me and somehow shuffle over to the teacher with her attached to me and try and hand her over, all the while trying to make sure Chloe doesn't go running out the class room door.
It almost got to the stage where I was dreading taking her to school. She had also started playing up a bit when I put her to bed at night, not wanting me to leave and taking longer and longer to say goodnight. Very draining to say the least. I know it has to do with having another baby and she must be worried about where she will fit into the mix. Here I was thinking Chloe would be the one I would have trouble with, but I guess being the second child she already knows what it's like to have to "share" Mummy.
Anyway yesterday morning while getting ready for school Sasha tells me that she had made a promise to Mrs Woodward (her teacher) that she would only give one kiss and one cuddle to Mummy in the morning before school. So I said well you better keep your promise then hadn't you, fingers crossed behind my back!
We get to school and sure enough one kiss and one cuddle and say goodbye. Mrs Woodward gave me a little wink as this was going on. Needless to say I love that woman!! Even at bed time last we had just one kiss and one cuddle and then said goodnight, it was amazing. I am really hoping this is going to last. I didn't realise how much it had been wearing me down. When I got into the car yesterday morning to come home I just filled up with tears, it was such a relief not to have to go through the ordeal of saying goodbye and her being upset.

So this week has been quite an emotional one. It was the four year anniversary of my mum's death on Tuesday. So not a nice day, I wasn't overly upset but just had a general feeling of sadness I guess. It was a wet and rainy old day and I think that makes you feel a bit down in the dumps too. It was also the first anniversary of a little girls death who was savagely murdered in a public toilet in a shopping centre about twenty minutes drive from us. When it happened last year everyone you spoke to was talking about it and I think everyone hugged their children a little bit tighter for weeks afterwards. It certainly had a huge impact on our community and will do so for many years to come. As far as I know the man that was charged is still yet to be sentenced.

Sorry for such a gloomy post, wasn't intended to be that way. Seems I had more on my mind than I realised.

~Sam~

Fun Monday - Bookshelves

2007-06-25T08:58:00.000+08:00

Swapwitch is the host of this Fun Monday. Here is her challenge:

Plato said, "I can learn more about a person from an hour of play than in a year of conversation."
Someone else said, "I can learn a lot about a person by just looking at their bookshelves and garage."
So, Fun Monday's challenge for June 25 is to post pictures of your bookshelves or stacks of books. Hopefully, we will be able to read some of the titles. If you want, while you're at it, post pictures of ANY shelves...shelves with toys, dishes, collections, Aunt Gertrude's ashes in an urn, etc. Also, post pictures of your garage, carport, or places where you store 'stuff.' (No fair cleaning first, but if you must, maybe this will be the motivation to do so.)

I have been wanting to participate in a Fun Monday for some time, but never seemed to find one that suited me or that I remembered to do. But when I saw this one I thought this is the Fun Monday for me!! I am a bookworm there is no denying it. My shelves are full of books and clutter, they do have some sort of organisation by subject but you wouldn't really know it by looking at them, lol.

So on with the pics.

The first pic above is one taken directly above my desk. We have a row of through shelves running the full length of the wall above our computer desk. As you can see it is full of clutter as well - photos of the kids, cards, ornaments and if you look closely a Christmas angel that never made it in to the Christmas decoration box last Christmas. Most of the books here are gardening and health and beauty at the top, Genealogy and cooking on the second shelf and a bit of a mixture on the third and more cookbooks.

The second pic is the end part of the bookshelves above my desk. More clutter, a couple of Bratz dolls, another Christmas decoration, lol. This side of the top shelf has mainly craft and doll books. The second shelf has all my self help books, yep I'm a sucker for self help books especially time management and organising books. Then the third has a few health and fitness books and a lot of baby and parenting books.

Now for even more clutter you can't go past the third pic which is the end of my desk which happens to be Sasha's end, need I say more, lol. There are also piles of my books here which are what I am selling on eBay.

Then to the left of that bit of desk (above pic) is the rest of the books that I am selling and postage and packaging materials and Chloe's baby album and photos that I am still trying to get sorted out (you will have it by the time you are 18 Chloe I promise).

Underneath the end section of desk is this lot, more and more boxes of books!!! So as you can see I am surrounded by books and clutter.

In the lounge room we have two corner bookshelves, these are filled more with ornaments and photographs than books.

The above dresser is also in the lounge it is filled with fairy ornaments and Russian nesting dolls. I love collecting things - fairies, dolls, cats, rabbits etc, etc, so my little collections are sprinkled throughout the house.

Lastly, this little cabinet is in our entry way, it is filled with lot's of little itty bitty ornaments.

So there you have it, lot's of books and lot's of clutter :o)

~Sam~

I've Been Tagged! :o)

2007-06-18T13:50:00.000+08:00

Wow, I've been tagged by Hannah. How cool is that :o) So off we go.

The rules are simple. There are 9 questions (3², each of which has 3 answers, to give a total of 27, or 3³. The whole point is that the questions are somewhere between eclectic, banal and downright bizarre, so that you can answer completely truthfully without actually giving much away. Just put down the first three answers that come to mind if you can’t work out the “most appropriate” three.

Objects Within One Metre Of You

1. Chloe's baby photo album - the poor kid is nearly two years old and I'm only now getting her album done.
2. Boxes and boxes full of books that I am in the process of selling on eBay. Yes that was a shameless plug, lol.
3. A bowl of tomato soup that I am having for my lunch.

First Names of People You Sat Next To At School

1. Leisa in primary school and highschool, still one of my closet friends.
2. Leanne in highschool, we still keep in touch.
3. Michelle in highschool, lost touch many years ago.

Programmes You Won’t Watch (this was a toughie as there isn't much I won't watch on the idiot box, lol)

1.RPA (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital) - a hospital show here showing people being cut open and being told they have a terminal illness, not my idea of entertainment.
2. Days of Our Lives - Need I say more?
3. Wubbzy Wubbzy Wow Wow - The most annoying kids TV show known to man!

Favourite Trivial Pursuit Categories

1. Geography
2. History
3. Science & Nature

Superpowers You’d Like To Have

1. Super speed - So I could get housework done super fast.
2. Invisibility - How cool would that be!? I'm sure I would get up to no good.
3. Super Strength - Would come in handy when moving furniture and opening new jam jars.

Newspapers, Magazines or Periodicals Read Regularly

1. Woman's Weekly - Has good recipes and interesting stories.
2. The West Australian Saturday Edition - Probably the only newspaper I read really, I like the birth and death notices - weird I know.
3. Family Circle - I loved everything about this mag and then they stopped it last Christmas, haven't found anything to replace it.

Songs You Dislike

1. Ghost Riders in the Sky - Used to scare the living crap out of me as a kid, probably still would now if I were to hear it again.
2. Anything Heavy Metal.
3. Anything by the kids group Hi-5 - extremely nauseating!

Blog Posts of Your Own That You’d Recommend

1. Happy Birthday Sasha - purely because I adore this photo of Sasha.
2. Sisters - again because I love these photos of the girls.
3. Just for fun foodie post :o) - the first foodie post I ever did and it was really fun and tasty too :o)

People You’d Like to Tag

M
Little Miss Moi
ChrisB

~Sam~

Just Because

2007-06-15T13:10:00.000+08:00

Isn't it a nice feeling when everything just feels right with the world, well, my own little world that is. That is how I feel today. Must be all my crazy, happy pregnancy hormones floating around my body. I just feel really happy today, really content. I look at pictures of my girls and they just fill me with overwhelming joy and love *sigh*. Oh why can't life feel like this all the time, lol.

~Sam~

House News

2007-06-14T14:04:00.000+08:00

On the house front it is pretty much finished, well as far as brickwork goes. I think it took them three weeks altogether, pretty fast I reckon. It's fantastic to walk around in and plan where we are going to put things.

We are really happy with it. We actually reversed the original plan and added the games room and moved the alfresco so it's kind of like seeing it for the first time because the display home looked quite different. Bret should have been a builder as he changed all the plan himself and added rooms and it all fitted in with the existing roof line. He did good :o)

Chloe in what will be the front lounge room

Sasha in her bedroom

Sasha in the games room

Bret walking through what will be the kitchen (that's my walk in pantry in the centre)

Chloe in the family/dining room (kitchen to the right)

Front view of house (front door entry to the right)

Alfresco at the back of the house

~Sam~

All About The Girls

2007-06-14T12:46:00.000+08:00

What a week! I would definitely be no good as a high flying jet setter, I wouldn't cope with the pace! Last week was a whirlwind. Sasha had an assembly on Tuesday and received her first "Be Proud" certificate for pre-primary. She was so excited when they called her name out, she pretty much jumped all the way on to the stage and couldn't stop jumping when she was given her certificate from the principal. So many people said to me afterwards how cute she was. I only took my regular camera, I really wish I'd taken the video camera now.

Her certificate said "Be proud of the way you are putting such a great effort into your independent writing. You always display a wonderful enthusiasm for everything you do and keep us all smiling with your delightful sense of fun".

Sasha at assembly (far left)

Wednesday and Thursday are a complete blur I can't even remember what happened on those days now. Friday after school Sasha had a school disco. She has a better social life than I do. I took Chloe along as well and she thought it was great. They both danced the night away, how cute.

Sasha and Chloe

Sasha with her little school friends (Left to Right Jack, Sarah, Sasha and Charlize)

Saturday Sasha started ballet lesson again. It was down at my old highschool in the gym, so that brought back some memories, lol. Anyway she had fun and she had her bestfriend Sarah with her so that was lovely. They looks so cute in their little tutu's.

~Sam~

Foundation Day Long Weekend

2007-06-04T11:57:00.000+08:00

Well over due for a post I think. Once again we are all full of cold - blah! I guess its to be expected this being Sasha's first year of full time school. She is bringing home every nasty bug known to man. Touch wood she hasn't brought home head lice yet, speaking of which I had a strange dream about head lice last night- weird.

This weekend has been a long weekend , today is Foundation Day. No idea what it means, but nice to get an extra day off. Poor Bret has had to work Sunday and today. Not many locums want to work Sundays or Public holidays so he does it himself. Good for us money wise but a pain because we could all be doing something nice if he was off.

I took the girls out today to Minnawarra park to feed the ducks and have a little wander around (see pics below). It was nice to get out in the fresh air and let me tell you it was fresh, I'm not used to this cooler weather. It was really nice though and all the flowers were out in bloom, very pretty.

Then we had a quick shoot past the block, or should I say new house! Yes that's right we pretty much have a house now. The brickies have worked at lightening speed. According to Plunketts (our builder) there aren't many available brick layers in WA so they are flying in teams from the eastern states. We have a team of five brickies all from Sydney. They started two weeks ago and they think they will be finished by Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. So in two and half weeks they have built a 400 square metre house - amazing!! I can't wait until we can have a proper walk around inside, we had a little walk around in there on Saturday and it was really exciting seeing where everything will go. Sasha was picking out her bedroom. She keeps saying she wants to share a room with Chloe and have a bunk bed. This would be a good idea as I think they would settle in a lot quicker if they were together. I'm just worried about Sasha waking Chloe up all the time, even though she is the older one she is the worse sleeper and the one that gets up during the night. We'll see I guess when we move in there.

So here are a few snaps from last Thursday and Saturday, I didn't take any photos today. I'm sure we will be down there again on Wednesday to take photos of the finished product :o)

~Sam~

Walls!

2007-05-26T16:02:00.000+08:00

We have walls!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! Never have I been so excited to see brick walls, lol. Woohoo!!!!!!!!

This is of course down on our block of land where our new you beaut house is being built. Notice all those beautiful grey cloudy skies too. Yes, we have rain at last. I think it's about 20 degrees during the day, maybe a bit cooler some days. It's heaven :o))

Also a shameless plug - I am selling heaps of books on eBay at the moment. So if I'm not on here blogging or reading your blog I am listing books and anything else I don't need on eBay. If you are interested look here. There isn't many on there at the moment, but I am hoping to get a lot more done in the coming week.

Baby wise, all is going well. I am feeling really strong kicks from my little Juniper Snowpea (pet name, don't worry it won't be her real name, lol). I am getting rounder by the day, I am sure my bum gets as round as my stomach and as large. I carried exactly the same way with Sasha and Chloe, so it's no great surprise. Anyway all is well that is the main thing. I'm feeling great, lot's more energy and motivation to get things done. My God, could this be nesting I wonder?? I do feel this urge to have everything organised and clean. I'm making the most of it, I could feel the exact opposite in a month.

~Sam~

HPV Vaccine

2007-05-23T13:49:00.000+08:00

I have noticed lately in the media there has been a lot of talk about the cervical cancer vaccine or HPV vaccine as it is also called. When it first came out there was nothing but praise for it, now it seems some people are against it. I even heard on Oprah today women, mothers of young girls who were saying they didn't want their daughters to have this vaccine because they didn't want to have to tell them what it was really for- a sexually transmitted disease. I couldn't believe my ears! How can someone deny something that could potentially save another persons life, for God sake. I am so angry about this. My daughters will definitely be getting the vaccine. My mother died of cervical cancer. Her life could have been saved if this vaccine was available when she was a young girl.

I think women have been kept in the dark about Pap smears and the HPV virus etc for far too long. You know how it is you are told as soon as you are sexually active or you turn 18 you are supposed to get a Pap smear test. But why? I think it's only now people are learning about the HPV virus. It's like the common cold of the sexually transmitted disease world. I think I read that if you have had one sexual partner then there is a fifty percent chance you will have the virus. About 80% of the population have the virus. Some people get this physical symptoms of the virus which is genital warts, others will never know they are carrying it unless they get an abnormal pap test. Apparently there are many different strains of the virus. I think there is such a stigma attached to genital warts, so nobody ever talks about it or any sexually transmitted disease. I just know my girls will definitely have the vaccine and it doesn't mean I think they will be promiscuous young women when they grow up, but let's be realistic here, I'm sure they will have sex and if I can some how protect them I will.

Sorry for my rant, I just feel so passionate about this topic especially as my mum died from cervical cancer. She had abnormal pap tests since she was in her twenties, she had a cone biopsy after my brother was born to remove pre-cancer cells. This in turn caused five miscarriages, can you believe how dumb doctors can be!! It takes the loss of five babies before they say oh you have a weak cervix because of the cone biopsy, lets stitch it up so you don't lose your next baby - which is me, thank God they did that I wouldn't be here otherwise.

Anyway the years pass, mum still has abnormal cells, nothing is done. She has more intensive pap tests called a laposcopy . When she was diagnosed with cervical cancer she must have missed a laposcopy, she was in stage 4. At the time we didn't really know what stage 4 meant, but now we know it was obviously really bad. Mum had intensive chemo that made her really sick. She was to have five doses of it. When she got to number four she caught a bad cold that turned into pneumonia really fast. When I went into the intensive care unit to be with her, I was told in an ever so matter of fact way by one the doctor's "Well she was terminal". Say what??? I never knew this, none of us did. To this day I will never know if my mum knew this. I couldn't ask my mum because she was hooked up to a life support machine. I found out from the doctors that the chemo was never going to be a cure it was just buying her some time. The cancer had spread out of her cervix up through her uterus out into her stomach and surrounding organs. Any cancer is bad, if it can be prevented, why wouldn't you prevent it.

~Sam~

For more information on the Australian HPV vaccination program see here australia.gov.au/cervicalcancer

Reunion

2007-05-21T13:04:00.000+08:00

(Left to Right) Melissa, Naomi & Ethan, Taryn & Joel, Clare & Ryan and me

A few weeks ago I organised a very casual reunion for all the girls I used to work with. We had it on Sunday just gone, at our place. There were ten of us altogether, a couple didn't make it unfortunately.

Tracey, Melissa & Ryan and Clare

Melissa, Naomi & Ethan, Taryn & Joel, Clare and Ryan and Tracey

It was really great to catch up with everyone. A couple had just become mums so that was nice to see their little babies. Everyone got along really well, it was like no time had passed at all.

I hadn't seen Paula for nearly seven years, where does the time go?!

Paula

Vicky, Hannah, Claire and Jake

I'm really, really glad I organised it, I had been thinking about doing it a couple of years ago and just never got around to it.

Sherrin and Paula

Naomi & Ethan, Tracey and Taryn & Joel

Vicky and Clare & Ryan

All the kids had a fun time too :o)

~Sam~

Two Lovely Surprises

2007-05-21T11:46:00.000+08:00

A big thank you to Emma. I received some gorgeous hand made cards from her in the mail at the end of last week. They are all a work of art and she is very talented. They are so pretty I don't want to use them :o)

I had a quick squiz down at the block last week. Surprise, surprise we have bricks! After a month of supply delays they have finally arrived. Not sure how long it will be before work actually starts now. Not that we are in any hurry as you know. It must be awful for people who are desperately waiting to get into their new homes and it ends up taking almost two years to build. We are in the very lucky position where we can stay in our existing home until our new house is finished because we are going to rent out our old house once we move.

~Sam~

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T15:10:00.000+08:00

Today is Mother's Day. I was thoroughly spoilt today which was lovely. Sasha had made me a lovely clay bead bracelet and some gingerbread heart biscuits at school. We all tried the gingerbread this morning and decided that they might have been a bit heavy handed with the ginger but it is the thought that counts after all, lol. The beads and the little box they came in I will treasure forever. She also made a beautiful card and the words inside were absolutely beautiful. This is what it said:

Happy Mother's Day

There is a lovely legend

That's still believed today

That god created Mothers

In a very special way.

He took a dash of wisdom

To this he added love

And mixed in all the kindness

He could find from up above.

And when he was all finished

He sent them from the skies

Today we call them Mothers

But they're Angels in disguise.

I also got a beautiful gold locket and chain from Bret and the girls and some perfume (that I chose myself). We went out to the cemetery this morning to put some flowers down for my mum. It's so sad that she isn't here to celebrate Mother's Day with us. Sasha talked a lot about her on the way home. I wish she could remember her.

Then we popped in to see Bret at work on our way home. So it has been a quiet day, but a nice one.

Happy Mother's Day Mum

I Love You

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

~Sam~

Bit's and Bob's

2007-05-06T13:36:00.000+08:00

I haven't been posting as much lately. I am trying to get all my baby clothes washed and sorted out for the new baby. At the moment my kitchen table, lounge room and laundry are full of little peoples clothes. It's like a pink explosion. Lucky we are having another girl so we get to reuse all these clothes.

It also dawned on me the other night when I was trying to get to sleep, that when this new baby arrives I will have no where for all her clothes, nappies and bit's and pieces. As Chloe will still be in her own room (we only have a three bedroom house) and I have no where else to put the change table.

We certainly won't be moving in to the new house anytime this year I'd say, as we still don't even have any bricks. The particular brick we chose is in production delays so it will be another two weeks before they are ready. Here I was worried we would be moving in with a brand new baby and it doesn't look like we will be in until well after Christmas now. A letter came from the builder the other day stating that it is now 315 working days they are allowed until completion. I emailed them to see whether the 315 days is from when the slab was poured or from now. We shall see what they say.

So long as the baby doesn't grow too quick I will be able to keep her in the bassinet in our room until we move, I think I moved Sasha and Chloe into their own rooms when they were about four months old. Fingers crossed it will all work out nicely.

Another thing I have been thinking about is ABO incompatibility, I had it with Chloe. I must have had it with Sasha too because she is the same blood group as Chloe (B positive) but it's not so bad with the first born and gets progressively worse with each pregnancy. The easiest way I can explain it is that I have O positive blood and my babies have Bret's blood group which is B positive. I produce antibodies against their blood group during pregnancy which doesn't cause a problem until they are born and a small amount of my blood passes to them and starts to attack their red blood cells. This in turn produces a byproduct which is bilirubin which causes jaundice.

Sasha was a little bit jaundiced but not enough to worry about. Where as Chloe was very jaundiced and had to have phototherapy which meant she had to be under bright lights for a few days. It was very upsetting to see her go through this. I know there are a lot worse things to happen to a newborn but it still wasn't nice seeing her lie in a little crib with a tiny mask on to protect her eyes, she looked so helpless. All I wanted to do was hold her but she had to stay there in between feeds. So if this baby is the same blood group as Bret then we will have another case of ABO incompatibility. I guess this time we know what is all about but it still would be nice not to have to go through it. It means a longer stay in hospital and I really want to be home for Sasha and Chloe. I will have to remember to talk to my doctor about it at the next appointment.

My little reunion is all set for the 20th May. It will be really nice to catch up with my old work mates and see what they have been doing. I hope they can all come, still a few I haven't heard back from.

Well that's about it really, not much else going on.

~Sam~

Big Scan

2007-05-04T08:57:00.000+08:00

Yesterday we had our big 19 week scan at the hospital. Everything looked good and normal, phew, what a relief. She is definitely a little girl, we had the doctor double check :o)

It was lovely to hear her little heart beating, as soon as I heard it tears started rolling down my face. I think I get more emotional with each pregnancy and I just can't wait to hold our new little daughter.

We got lot's of photos this time and a video. There are quite a few 3D photos as well, it amazes me how they can do this.

~Sam~

Five Questions from Little Miss Moi

2007-04-27T17:07:00.000+08:00

Well this seems to be the latest MeMe going around at the moment. As I have never taken part in one before, yes that's right I am a MeMe virgin, I thought it would be fun to have a go. These questions were kindly provided by my fellow Aussie Little Miss Moi.

1. What's the number one most frustrating thing about building your own house?

This was quite a tricky one as there have been a few frustrating things. I guess so far the most frustrating thing was finding a house plan that would suit our block and our budget and then falling in love with a house that we couldn't afford. In the end we found another house that was perfect once we made a few modifications and has turned out to be much better than the first one we fell in love with anyway.

2. How do you maintain such a high level of domestic goddessness when you have two little tackers and another on the way?!

Well domestic goddess might be stretching the truth just a little, lol. In my fantasies I imagine myself as Nigella Lawson, she's gorgeous, she can cook, she always seems so patient and loving with her children and her house is amazing. In reality I am more somewhere between Marge Simpson and Rosanne, lol. So there, my facade has been shattered, I am just a humble housewife. My house is usually a mess, unless I know you are coming and then there will be a cleaning frenzy and it will look semi ok. The bed sheets never get washed as often as the should, my kids watch way too much TV, we eat takeaway more often than we should and I am always in rush and completely unorganised.

3. Best thing about where you live? And do you take advantage of this as much as possible?

The only thing I can think of here is the parks we have around the area. We have one right across the road from our house with a playground for the kids. But to be honest we don't use it much at all. So I guess the answer would be no, we don't take advantage of it as much as possible. I guess we are lucky enough to have a big back yard complete with swings, sand pit and cubby house and that is where the kids play the most.

4. What new years resolution did you really really want to keep, but you haven't...?

Argh this is an easy one. My New Years Resolution was to lose weight (it's the same every year). I had lost weight after having Chloe (my second baby) but I had gradually put some weight back on and I was determined to shed it again and get fit. Then I fell pregnant at the start of January quite unexpectedly, we were trying for a baby just didn't expect it to happen the very first month we tried! Yeah so that put an end to that, I have been trying to be reasonably healthy but I am failing miserably. When this one is born I will get back on track for sure, I won't have time to eat anyway running around after three kids!

5. What's your favourite thing to cook, and givvus the recipe!

I have so many things I love to cook and I really enjoy making and eating luscious desserts. This is one of my favorites and the reason I need to go on a diet ;o)

Toblerone Cheesecake

Base:
1 cup plain chocolate biscuit crumbs
80g melted butter
1/4 cup ground almonds

Filling:
2x 250g block Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup caster sugar
200g Toblerone Milk or Dark chocolate, melted
1/2 cup thickened cream

Method:
1. Combine biscuit crumbs, butter and almonds, press into the base of a lightly greased spring form pan. Chill.
2. Beat Philly for two minutes or until smooth. Add sugar, melted Toblerone chocolate and cream, continue beating until well combined.
3. Pour onto the prepared crumb base and refrigerate for 2-3 hours until set, or overnight. Serve topped with Toberlone shavings.

Serves 10

Thanks for the questions Little Miss Moi, I hope you enjoy reading my answers :o)

~Sam~

Quick Post

2007-04-26T12:56:00.000+08:00

Just a quick post. Not a lot to report on here. Sasha went back to school today after having three weeks holiday. Just got a cute pic (see below) of the four of us from my mother in law taken a couple of weeks ago down at the block. I haven't been to the block in a couple of weeks, must go and check to see if our bricks have arrived yet.

Also need to finish organising my work mates reunion. I have a lot to catch up on now Sasha is back at school. I'm almost over this cold now, can't wait until it's gone. Well that's about it, for now :o)

~Sam~

Anzac Day

2007-04-25T11:20:00.000+08:00

Today is Anzac Day. It is the day we commemorate those who served in World War I at Gallipoli.

So in true Anzac tradition we made some Anzac Biscuits. They are very easy to make and taste delicious!

Here is the recipe I used today:

Anzac Biscuits

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup coconut
125g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

Combine oats, sifted flour, sugar and coconut in a large bowl. Combine butter and golden syrup in pan, stir over low heat until butter is melted. Combine soda and water, add to butter mixture, stir into dry ingredients while mixture is warm.
Place three level heaped teaspoons of mixture together about 4cm apart on greased oven trays, press down lightly. Bake in slow oven about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Loosen biscuits while warm, cool on trays.
Makes about 30.

So here is the finished product. They certainly aren't the prettiest of biscuits but they are scrumptious with a cup of tea.

When we made these today I decided to make double quantity because they don't last two minutes in our house. So I measured everything out making sure I was doubling the quantity. When I came to put spoonfuls on the tray I thought that the mixture seemed drier than usual. Maybe I was a bit heavy handed with the coconut I thought. No worries, popped them in the oven and then I suddenly remembered, in true pregnancy brain fashion I had only put in one quantity of butter. D'oh!! Quickly whipped them out of the oven and added the rest of the butter and mixed them all up again. They still turned out ok :o)

~:~:~:~

Today is also Pippa's 8th birthday. Pippa is our Jack Russell. She has quite a life story our old Pip. Bret and I originally bought her from a pet shop when she was just a pup. Jesse was three at the time. To say Jesse didn't like Pip was an understatement. I'm sure they would have got used to each other given a couple of weeks but I was sure we had done the wrong thing buying her and it had been a spare of the moment thing. Lucky we knew the lady who owned the pet shop, we explained the situation and she said she would give us a full refund and we took her back just a few days after we originally brought her home. I was heartbroken and I felt so guilty. We had my mum staying with us at the time as she had just got back from England after looking after her sick parents. Mum also was heart broken and she had become quite attached to Pip.

So to cut a long story short my mum actually went back to the pet shop and bought Pippa back the next day. She said she would be moving out to her own place very soon and she could take Pippa with her. It made perfect sense and I was so happy we were able to get her back. So mum moved out about a month later and Pip went with her. In that time Jesse and Pip became friends. Mum would bring Pip over and she would play with Jesse just fine. Jesse tolerates Pip, she does play with her a bit but she isn't fond of sharing a bed with her. They have a funny sort of relationship.

Anyway a few years down the track my mum passed away. She loved Pippa, she was her little baby and I think she was a good little companion for my mum and made her feel safer living on her own. When my mum was in hospital for the very last time one of the first things she asked me was if Pip was alright. So Pippa came to live with us again when mum passed away. It's like fate wanted us to have Pippa after all. We love her, she is definitely part of our family. I do feel like she is my last link to my mum in a way.

Happy 8th Birthday Pippa :o)

~Sam~

Chloe's First Hair Cut

2007-04-22T10:15:00.000+08:00

Forgot to say that on Thursday 18th April this week Chloe had her very first haircut. We decided the mullet had to go, lol. She now has a chic little bob. Well, almost a bob anyway, she doesn't have much hair at the sides so it looks like a bob from the back. I guess it will grow in to it. She does looks gorgeous though :o)

I didn't manage to get any photos of her while it was being cut as she was sitting on my knee and there was no one else free to take a photo for me. I feel a bit guilty because when Sasha had her first haircut I got heaps of photos and made two beautiful scrapbook pages with the pics that even included a snippet of her hair. Poor Chloe will have a snippet of hair and that's it. I hope she doesn't get middle child syndrome, lol.

Photos to be added soon....I promise Chloe!!!

~Sam~

::: EDIT :::

Here are some pics of Chloe, not the best I must admit. Do you know how hard it is to get a 19 month old to stand still. There are a couple of cute ones taken with Sasha this morning while they were still in their pj's. Chloe has just started saying "cuddle" and she says it to Sasha and then throws her little arms around her and gives her a big squeeze, it just melts my heart!

~Sam~

It's a......................

2007-04-21T09:59:00.000+08:00

Okay I think I have calmed down now after my hissy fit the other day. I'm still feeling pissed off about everything but I am putting it down to this rotten cold which I've had for a week now. I think I must have got a bit run down so I'm taking some pregnancy vitamins and Berocca (vitamin B drink) just to pick me up a bit. Plus it's obviously pregnancy hormones making me more sensitive than usual.

Well if the little ticker at the top of the page isn't the biggest hint as to what sex the baby is I don't know what is, lol.

Drum roll please...........................

It's a girl!!!!!!

Yes another little princess on the way. Poor Bret, he did want a boy, not desperately but he would have liked a son. I wasn't bothered either way, I just want another baby and as long as it is healthy, normal, happy what more could I ask for. It is a bit sad to think we will never see a son grow up because we won't be having anymore children after this one.

I guess to be totally honest I always wanted another girl. Of course I would have loved a boy just as much. I couldn't imagine myself with a boy and I was worried how a boy would fit in to the mix. I am quite a girly girl and Sasha and Chloe will no doubt be the same. Maybe it will be like Little Women or Little House on the Prairie or something, lol. Lot's of dolls, dress ups, tea parties - oh I'm loving it already!! Maybe I need to change my blog name to Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice, lol.

It's funny my best friend has three little boys and when she had her third little boy Joel, I joked around and said well I'll have to have another little girl to even things up. Now we could be like the Brady Bunch!

Anyway so there you go. We just have to think of a name now. We've got a couple that we like but nothing definite yet. At least we've got a few months to think about it.

~Sam~

Ramblings of a crazed, sick, hormonal pregnant woman

2007-04-17T17:30:00.000+08:00

I had an appointment with the obstetrician (hoping I will be able to spell that word correctly by the end of this pregnancy without having to use spell checker, lol) yesterday. Everything looks great he said. I was relieved big time. I hadn't felt the baby move for a while and I was getting worried. I told Bret and he was worried too. I know we are still only fairly early on in the pregnancy (17 weeks tomorrow) but I had started to feel this one move at about eleven weeks and I just expected the movements to get stronger as each week went by but they kind of stopped a couple of weeks ago. As it is, I only feel it at night when I get to bed and I am usually so damn tired I'm asleep within five minutes, so it probably was moving and I was asleep.

I know I am a worrier, that's me. I guess hearing so many people having miscarriages lately makes me worry even more and it being the third "too good to be true" baby etc etc.

We did find out the sex of the baby. I'm not ready to spill the beans yet, just want it to be our little secret for a few days anyway. We even had my mother in law and one of my sister in laws ringing up yesterday afternoon to see if we knew what we are having. We were out when they rang so the answering machine got it. I was a bit miffed about it actually. I felt like if we want to tell you we will, when we are ready to. I know it's our third child and everything but it's still special and exciting for us. I have told my brother (Hi Lee if you are reading this ;o)) but he's my brother, my own flesh and blood and I told him, he didn't ask. I don't know why I am making such a big deal of this really.

If I'd had my way we wouldn't have found out but Bret really wanted to find out. This being my last pregnancy I would have liked to just found out the old fashioned way - when the baby is born.

Just got an update from Bret, his mum even rang him at work today to ask about the baby. Of course he told her. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I'm not normally this cranky, oh who am I kidding, yes I am! I guess my hormones are racing and I have the cold from hell this week. I coughed so much today I threw up, gross! Coughing violently when you are four months pregnant with your third child is not good for the old pelvic floor muscles or should I say lack there of!

~Sam~

Slab Party

2007-04-16T09:14:00.000+08:00

We had a little slab party on the weekend down at our block. It was a last minute decision so we only had a few close friends there. Just a few drinks and nibbles in the late afternoon. The weather was lovely, not too hot thank goodness. The kids had an absolute ball, sand bundy heaven you could say.

So we have officially christened our slab :o) Afterwards we went to the local pub for dinner with a couple of our friends. It was a great afternoon and evening to say the least.

We are all off to the obstetrician's this morning, just a check up, but we are hoping to find out the sex of the baby. Stay tuned :o))

~Sam~

Loser

2007-04-09T10:23:00.000+08:00

I love the Biggest Loser!!! Yes, I'm coming out of the closet today, lol. I love, love, love that show, dumb I know. I have to watch it every night!
I really hate Chris and I hope he doesn't win. I hope Munnalita wins and I really hope she doesn't get voted off tonight.

I am a sucker for reality TV, I just can't get enough of it. I guess I don't really watch that much TV, just Biggest Loser and that's it really. I spend way too much time on the computer instead. Blog reading has replaced my TV watching, lol.

I am so happy for Michelle over at And Then There Were Two! she has just a beautiful baby girl. Welcome to the world Lily!! Isn't it strange when people you have never met on the other side of the world feel like people you actually know. You wonder how they are going and hope they are ok if they haven't updated their blog recently, lol. I was worried about Emma over at A Day in the Life of a Mum to 4 when she hadn't posted for several days and so were a lot of other people. If only people in everyday life cared about one another as much and showed it.

~Sam~

Happy Easter :o)

2007-04-08T17:35:00.000+08:00

We've had a fairly quite Easter this year. Good Friday was very relaxed - we just stayed home, made the most of not having to be anywhere. Saturday was spent in a cleaning frenzy to make the house look presentable for family coming on Easter Sunday. Which of course is today. Everyone has gone home now, phew. We had a lovely day, just a BBQ lunch and chocolate mudcake for dessert mmmmmmm!

All the kids had a great time together, they all play together so well. Sasha and Chloe have six cousins. I used to love playing with my cousins when I was little (well for about two years when we lived back in the UK).

Somethimes I feel a bit on the outer with Bret's family. It's hard not having any of my family here. Anyway, it was still a good day.

~Sam~

Bits & Pieces

2007-04-03T10:49:00.000+08:00

Just a few things to catch up on. On Saturday we went to the Minnawarra Festival in Armadale. It's an art and craft type festival which runs once a year for a couple of days. I resisted buying anymore crafty things as I have no room to put them. They had some lovely little prim dolly's there on a stall which were very sweet and cheap but I was strong and I kept on walking.

It's the same every year, but still nice to go to all the same. Sasha enjoyed it. Her most prized possession of the day was a balloon cat, lol.

Chloe had her chicken pox vaccination today. She seems to be ok so far, no adverse reactions etc. We are going to one of Sasha's school friends today after school for an Easter egg hunt so that should be fun :o)

Only two more days left of school after today, yay!!! I am really looking forward to the holidays. It will be so nice not to have to rush around in the mornings. We leave at 8.10am everyday, which I guess to some people isn't that early, but for me it is a struggle to get myself and then two kids ready and be out the door. How will I ever cope when it's three of them to get ready!! I'm sure we will be late for school a lot once the new arrival is here.

I'm still organising my old work mates reunion. So far I have been in contact with five out of eleven people who I am trying to find. I have sent out four letters, yes the old fashioned snail mail. It actually felt funny sending out regular mail, I even wrote the letters by hand! I had to go to two shops yesterday to track down some nice writing paper. I tell you, letter writing must be a dying art! I still write to some of my relatives in the UK but not as much as I should. It is just so much easier to send an email, isn't it or to write a blog, lol. That is actually why I started this blog, as a way for my relatives to keep track of what is going on in our lives. Sadly I don't think they ever read it :o(

Whoops got a bit off track there. Not much else to report on really. Week 15 in the pregnancy this week. I'm bursting out of my regular clothes now and still too small for maternity clothes. I hate this in between stage. I really need to start exercising more than I am, which is zero, lol. I am getting a lot of sciatica pain and I'm sure sitting around doesn't help at all.

~Sam~

Just for fun - foodie post :o)

2007-04-01T13:13:00.000+08:00

I love cooking, I love cookbooks , reading restaurant reviews and now I love food blogs! So I've decided to do my own little foodie post today. Nothing too serious, just for a bit of fun.

These were a favorite of my mums, she was the one to introduce me to them. Bret loves them too and affectionately calls them "salmon croakies". They are very tasty, with a creamy centre and a crunchy golden crumb coating, but definitely not highbrow. They are great to take on picnics, and make a nice light meal or supper. They are equally good served hot or cold.

Salmon Croquettes

White Sauce

90g butter

3/4 cup plain flour

2 cups of milk

salt, pepper

415g can salmon

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 small onion finely chopped

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

2 teaspoons lemon juice

plain flour (extra for dusting)
2 eggs for glazing
oil for deep frying

First off you make the white sauce. Melt the butter over a low heat, remove from heat, stir in the flour, working until smooth. Return to heat, cook for a few minutes, remove from heat, gradually stir in milk. Return to the heat and stir until boiling, simmer for a couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper. This makes a really thick white sauce which is the base for the salmon croquettes.

Add to the white sauce the finely chopped onion and chopped parsley. Add the salmon which has been drained (I usually add a couple of tablespoons of liquid from the salmon to the white sauce, it adds to the flavour), bones and skin removed and flaked, curry powder and lemon juice. Give it a really good mix and spread it into a shallow dish and refrigerate until firm (about 45 minutes).

Mould the mixture into croquette shapes (egg sort of shapes), roll into plain flour and dust excess off. Then dip in beaten egg and finally, gently press into breadcrumbs.
It helps to have flour, egg and breadcrumbs all set up in a little production line. It is a bit messy and fiddly all the dipping and crumbing but the finished product is definitely worth it :o)

Fry in deep, hot oil for a few minutes, turning once, until golden brown, drain on absorbent paper.

Enjoy!

~Sam~

Quiz Fest

2007-04-01T09:51:00.000+08:00

I borrowed this off Chris. It was fun to do, I love these little quizzes.

So I'm 50% normal (could be worse I suppose, lol) with a purple brain and I should have been born in March! Cool :o)

You Are 50% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal...
Other things you do are downright strange
You've got a little of your freak going on
But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic.
You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense.
Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Your True Birth Month Is March

Moody
Secretive
Revengeful
Trustworthy
Affectionate
Loves traveling
Loves attention
Shy and reserved
Musically talented
Loves home decor
Not easily angered
Sensitive to others
Loves special things
Attractive personality
Loves to serve others
Loves peace and serenity
Observant and assess others
Loves to dream and fantasize
Appreciative and returns kindness
Hasty decisions in choosing partners
Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic

What's Your True Birth Month?

~Sam~

Suki

2007-03-31T18:06:00.000+08:00

I wasn't going to post anymore dolly pics on this blog, that's why I created Resin Angels - my ball joint doll blog. But I just wanted share this one, this is my new girl Suki.

A little while ago I wrote a post about how I was devastated I missed out on buying a dream doll of mine - Miss Lily Pearl. I managed to track down a CP Soo head which is the same head mould as Miss Lily.

Maybe one day I will get her faceup redone to look more like Miss Lily, but for now she is my little Suki and I'm enjoying her just the way she is. I think she is so cute!!

~Sam~

Sisters

2007-03-31T10:22:00.000+08:00

We had some professional photos taken of Sasha and Chloe at a place called Pixi Foto a couple of weeks ago. We picked them up yesterday :o)

I think they turned out quite well. Chloe was a bit scared and I think it shows, poor little mite, she is not as social as Sasha used to be at the same age. I also wished I had got their hair cut now, oh well at least we finally have photos of the pair of them together!

~Sam~

What more could a girl ask for?!

2007-03-29T11:41:00.000+08:00

We have a portaloo!!! What more could a girl ask for, lol.

I can't believe I am posting this pic!!

Also today was the last school assembly for the term. Sasha's class and the other pre-primary class performed to little songs. It was very cute, they all looked so small. Poor Sasha was right at the back so it was a bit hard to see her. As soon as I can work out how to get video downloaded from my Handycam I will add it on here.

~Sam~

Reunion

2007-03-28T14:35:00.000+08:00

I am all excited today. I have decided to organise a reunion for the girls that I used to work with at my last job.

I had been thinking about it for a while now and then got talking to an old work friend today and she mentioned it.

I love doing this sort of thing. I am very sentimental and I hate to lose contact with people from my past. I had a bit of a get together back in 2002 with some of the girls I worked with. But I couldn't get a hold of everyone so I didn't feel I'd really caught up with everyone, unfinished business if you like. So I will keep you updated as it progresses.

~:~:~:~:~:~

We went to the block on the weekend and the sliding door frames and some of the windows have been delivered. We also have power connected to the block now. I couldn't resist another photo opportunity, lol.

~Sam~

Old friends

2007-03-26T15:36:00.000+08:00

I had a much better day today compared to yesterday. I had a good night's sleep last night and I am feeling back to my old self today.

I caught up with a dear old friend today that I hadn't seen for years. We used to work together in a pharmacy back in 1994/1995. We remained friends after I left to work in another pharmacy and she was to be my Matron of Honour at my wedding. Both she and another old friend who was to be my bridesmaid fell pregnant the year leading up to my wedding.

About a month before my wedding I made a decision that I will deeply regret for the rest of my life. I decided that it would be for the best if these two dear friends, who were both heavily pregnant, were not in my bridal party. I hate myself to this day for that decision. Instead I had two girls that I worked with, two girls who I was really close to at the time but now I no longer see at all.

I just felt that my two pregnant friends weren't interested in my "big day", when I was talking about table centre pieces they were talking about baby things. Which of course is only natural when you are pregnant, but I couldn't see that then. I wasn't in that stage of my life yet, I was still in the selfish, self absorbed "I'm getting married" and it's all about me stage.

Oh how I regret my decision, knowing what I know now, it didn't matter that they were pregnant. That is what getting married, becoming a family is all about, but I just couldn't see it back then. All I could think about was the fairy tale wedding and beautiful photos and a lovely reception. How shallow.

So we both shed a few tears today. I'm sure that whenever we do catch up I always apologise for my decision. I'm lucky that we can openly talk about it I guess and she does know how much I regret what happened and she forgives me. Maybe one day I will be able to forgive myself.

I didn't mean to blurt all that out. But it did kind of feel good to get it off my chest. So aside from all that we had a really nice afternoon catching up with each others news. I'm really hoping that we will keep in touch more and become close friends like we once were.

~Sam~

Venting

2007-03-25T10:35:00.000+08:00

Well I'm sitting here at 10.30am, which should be 11.30am, but daylight saving ended today, Thank God!! I will definitely not be voting for Daylight bloody saving!!!!

Eating my apple crumble and custard, pure comfort food, mmmmmmmmm. I am tired and grumpy. I had the worst nights sleep in my life last night thanks to several groups of drunken, rowdy teenagers walking up and down our street at some ungodly hour last night. Then another bunch of teens decided it would be fun to play in the park across the road from us during the night. I just hope they have the worst hangovers today, karma guys karma.

Sasha was up a few times last night, wanting to go to the toilet and not sleeping well because of a cold she has. Chloe also woke a few times, she is normally the best sleeper in the house. So today she is unusually grumpy because of waking last night, she is now back in bed.

So I sit here venting and hoping to feel better. I am hoping to convince Sasha that having a little nap in Mummy's bed would be a good thing. Fingers crossed.

~Sam~

Second Trimester

2007-03-22T11:28:00.000+09:00

Well I've made it to the second trimester in my pregnancy this week. I'm thirteen weeks and one day today. Everything seems to be going well. I had an Obstetrician appointment on Monday and he said the baby looked good, my blood pressure was good and my weight was good (only gained a kilo, phew).

A couple more pics for the album :o)

~Sam~

We have a slab!!

2007-03-22T10:31:00.000+09:00

We now have a concrete slab - yeehaa!! It was poured on Monday this week and we arrived to take photos just as the guys were finishing it off. It kind of looks small, though I've heard a lot of people say this, it's when the walls start going up that you really see how big your house is.

Last Friday they put in all the form work and pipes for the plumbing. So we have gone from this....

To this.......

I really don't think anymore work will happen now until after Easter. Maybe the bricks and window frames might get delivered but that's about it. Yay we have a slab!!!

~Sam~

Anniversary

2007-03-21T12:27:00.000+09:00

Nine years ago today was one of the happiest days of my life - Bret and I got married. As with any wedding there were a few hiccups leading up to the big day. The church (a privately owned, renovated old church) that we had booked got it's council approval knocked back so we had to rush to find a new venue to get married in and we had to change the date of the wedding day because of it.

We ended up getting married in what used to be an old church in Armadale called Minnawarra Chapel. I'm really glad we got married there now, as I have lived most of my life in Armadale. Our photographer that we had booked committed suicide, god rest his soul, poor man. We found another photographer without any trouble and the hire car we had booked (a stretch something or other) didn't arrive in the country in time so we had two old Rolls Royce's instead. So there were a few ups and downs in the planning of the wedding but it was all worth it in the end.

We had a lot of rellies from the UK come over for our special day so that was lovely, it was so nice for all our family to be together. All in all it was one of the best days of my life. I can't believe it was nine years ago!

Wow, doesn't time fly when you are having fun! So much has happened in that time. We have been through so much together it's amazing, amazing that we are still together, lol.

We've had a lot of happy and sad times, but we've stuck together through out it all. I'm not sure if we are the same people that we were nine years ago, deep down we are I think but we've been through a lot with losing both my parents, owning our own business, having children etc. I guess it's these life experiences that make you the person you are today.

So here's a little toast to Bret and myself - May we have many, many more happily married years together!

I love you honey xoxoxoxox

~Sam~

Relief

2007-03-15T16:01:00.000+09:00

Today I had my First Trimester Screening Test, it's the scan that's checks for Down Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities. I am so relieved to say we got a really low risk result. The doctor said we couldn't have got a lower risk result if we tried, which was really great to hear.

I was really scared about having this test done, I was so worried it was going to be bad news. I think because we already have two beautiful, healthy children I felt we were being self indulgent having a third child. That we are some how tempting fate (yay for my negative attitude, not). Also because this time around we fell pregnant the very first month we started trying, I mean that is totally unheard of for us. It took about three months to fall pregnant with Sasha (our first) and nearly twelve months to fall with Chloe. So it was kind of too good to be true, I thought there has to be a catch.

Anyway I was over the moon with today's result and it was so nice to see our baby. We also got to hear it's little heart beating (makes me fill up with tears every time). We kept Sasha home from school so she could come with us to the appointment. I don't think she really remembers when we used to take her with us to the doctors appointments when we were pregnant with Chloe. I'm not sure what she thought of today, she kept asking me if I was OK while we were having the scan done. I'm glad we were all together for the appointment.

We got some little photos to take home and a video of the whole scan. A couple of the photos are in 3D, it's a bit hard to make them out. Actually it's a bit hard to make any of the photos out, lol. The first one shows the sound waves of the heart beat, the second one is probably the easiest to see that it is a little baby and the third is a close up of the Nuchal fold, that's the fluid in the back of the neck that they measure for the test. The 3D ones are the last two. They didn't have the 3D imaging when we had both the girls so this is a new technology for us.

~Sam~

Phase One Complete

2007-03-14T13:58:00.000+09:00

Just a quick post. Had another look down the block today. The sand pad is totally finished now. All lovely and level, ready for the concrete slab, which will be poured next Monday we found out from the builder today. We are all systems go :o)

~Sam~

Sand Glorious Sand

2007-03-13T13:06:00.000+09:00

So after spending an hour and a half on Playgroup paperwork (and I still have more to do), paying bills, catching up on emails and my favorite blogs I finally have some time to write on my blog! Fingers crossed Chloe doesn't wake up early from her nap.

Whats been happening?? Bret is on holiday this week, not that he is getting much rest, so many jobs around the house to do etc. I went for my dermatologist appointment on Monday, just a check up as I had a skin cancer removed a year ago (damn Aussie sun!). I have to go every three months for a check up, though I am sure this is just a way for the doctor to rake in the money, as I'm sure that every six months would be often enough to catch any changes in my skin. On the other hand I am glad to be getting my skin checked as it was when I was pregnant with Chloe that my skin cancer developed, I'm sure all that pregnancy hormone pumping around my body had something to do with it.

We had a quick look down the block this morning to see if anything was going on. It was great to see more work taking place. I never thought I would get excited about sand!! Yes, we have a sand pad, woo hoo! The guy was there this morning levelling it all out. Plumbing should be the next step I think and then they will lay the concrete slab. Hopefully we will have a slab party when that's done, if our bricks have been delivered by then we can use them as tables, lol.

It's so exciting to see a house being built, especially your own of course. It even feels like it's bringing us all closer together as a family, does that sound silly? It's great to be doing something for us and our future. I really think when we move it will be like a new lease on life for us all. I can't wait.

So in the last few weeks, we have gone from this.....

To this......

And then today to this.....

On the pregnancy front I am starting to feel really well now. Morning sickness has gone (for good hopefully) and I am feeling a bit more energetic. I'm having a little bit of sciatica pain but I'm putting this down to weight gain on the backside and hips, lol. We are having the First Trimester Screening Test on Thursday which checks for Down Syndrome and any other genetic abnormalities. Hopefully everything will be okay. It will be a relief to get this test out of the way. If there is anything wrong or we present as a high risk we will have to have an amniocentesis, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

~Sam~

Winter Wonderland

2007-03-08T16:40:00.000+09:00

Okay now this is more like it. This is the kind of weather I would like to be having right now. It is of course in my Sims neighbourhood not mine ;o) We on the other hand had another scorcher of a day. Hopefully soon it will cool down a bit.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...........

~Sam~

Blood Tests....ewwwwwww

2007-03-07T11:18:00.000+09:00

So I had my blood tests this morning. Six vials of blood thank you very much and me being the big baby that I am nearly fainted when it was all over.

I was sitting there in the chair the nurse was filling in the paper work and then I started to feel a little hot and short of breath. Then I had that funny feeling in my head and ears and I had to say "I'm feeling a bit faint over here". She helped me lie down, I couldn't believe how awful I felt and it came on so quickly. The nurses were so nice and they said it was most likely because of the hot weather we have been having and I was probably a little dehydrated.

So embarrassing! I've never nearly fainted while having blood taken before, I must be getting soft in my old age. When I got home and saw Bret I just burst into tears and I told him what had happened. He of course said I worry too much and it didn't matter.

I'm on an emotional roller coaster this week....and I want to get off!!!

~Sam~

Heatwave

2007-03-06T18:07:00.000+09:00

Oh did I mention we are having a heatwave and when I say heatwave I mean heatwave! 42° Celsius people! And we have the same forecast to look forward to tomorrow. Not happy :o(

~Sam~

Flat

2007-03-06T11:51:00.000+09:00

I've been feeling rather flat the last few days. I'm just so tired, I'm in bed by 8.30pm nearly every night and when I wake in the mornings I wish I could just roll over and go back to sleep. I don't remember feeling this tired when I was pregnant with the girls. Maybe I'm just getting old.

The housework is just out of control, I just can't seem to keep the house tidy, let alone clean lately. I guess that comes with having an eighteen month old running around and a five year old too. I wish I could keep on top of it rather than battling to get the smallest job done all the time. Am I worrying too much? Why is it sometimes a messy kitchen can totally destroy you and bring you to tears and other times you don't even notice or care.

I've also been missing my mum a lot lately. Just wishing she was here to talk to. She was the only person in the whole world that truly understood me and accepted me. I'm sure that some part in my brain shut down when she died to block out how I was really feeling. Every now and again (like now) I get really upset and think about our relationship.

I'm sure it's my hormones doing all this to me! I'm eleven weeks pregnant tomorrow, gee where has the time gone. I felt the baby move for the first time a few nights ago. When I go to bed at night it usually starts moving around. This has to be the earliest I have felt movement in all my pregnancies. I didn't feel Sasha move until about eighteen weeks, I think that was because she was my first and I didn't really know what I was feeling and also because my placenta was at the front which would have shielded a lot of her kicks. Chloe I started feeling at about twelve weeks and this one at about ten and a half weeks. It's such a lovely feeling I wish I could bottle it and keep it forever.

On a positive note I haven't had any morning sickness now for about a week, yay!! So now I am making up for it by eating everything in sight. I will have to be careful not to put on too much weight, I'm sure my obstetrician will be telling me off if I do. That's the only thing I hate about going to see my doctor is getting weighed :-( I am going off to pathology tomorrow to get some blood taken for routine tests and also the Down Syndrome test. I'm getting the Down Syndrome scan done next week. Fingers crossed everything will be OK.

Oh well this ain't getting the housework done is it, I better go and get that bloody kitchen sorted out while the little one is asleep.

~Sam~

Seasons

2007-03-03T19:49:00.000+09:00

Yesterday I was lucky enough to get a copy of the new Sims 2 expansion pack Seasons. So I have been engrossed in the world of the Sims for the last twenty four hours. Seasons bring weather to the Sims for the first time ever, it rains, it snows, it hails!! Oh I just love it!!

I know small things amuse small minds, but I can't help it, I love the Sims!

Here is my Sim alter ego raking up some leaves (it's currently Autumn in our neighbourhood).

I will post some more pics along the way. I think it takes about five Sim days to get through a season, so a couple more days of Autumn and then we will hit Winter.

On to another topic, totally unrelated to the Sims. While browsing on another journal type website a couple of weeks ago I saw that someone who owned a doll that I loved was going to be selling most of their doll collection. So, I emailed this person to see if they were selling the doll I adored. Anyway she got back to me a few days ago and said she would love to sell her to me but unfortunately she had already sold. I was heartbroken!!!

So in desperation I put a thread on the Den of Angels website searching for this doll. A few days had gone by and then to my absolute amazement her new owner messaged me today. But unfortunately she doesn't want to sell her, I can't say I blame her. It was worth a try, I guess it just wasn't meant to be :o(

So, Miss Lily Pearl I have to love you from afar, I tried to make you mine but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I won't give up though and maybe one day you will be home with me ::sob sob::

~Sam~

Jesse

2007-03-01T20:30:00.000+09:00

Just a very quick post before I turn in for the night. Today is Jesse's 11th birthday. Who is Jesse you ask, she is our first born. Our dog, lol, a neurotic Border Collie x Kelpie. We got her before Bret and I were even engaged. Yep 11 years old, feels like we only just brought her home yesterday. She may not get as much attention as she used to do and she certainly has been put down the lower end of the pecking order since we have had children but we still love her to bits.

Happy 11th Birthday Jesse

~Sam~

Progress

2007-02-28T13:25:00.000+09:00

Well today after Playgroup I headed on down to the block to see if anything was happening. To my surprise it was a hive of activity. The trees had gone and there was a big front end loader levelling out the block.

Probably not the most exciting story but for us this is big, this means things are finally starting, woohoo!!!

Oh, I'm so ready to move. We have been in our current house for ten years this year. Well, ten years of Bret and I living together. This house was actually my parents house and Bret and I bought it off them when we got engaged. So technically I have lived in this house for twenty seven years, which is such a long time. There are so many happy memories here, but also sad ones because both Mum and Dad have passed away. It's bittersweet really. We have made a lot of changes to the house over the years to make it our own. But whenever we do anything I always think oh my Dad built that or my Mum planted that tree etc. So there is always a memory that goes with anything that we change. It wouldn't be so bad if Mum and Dad were still here, I guess I think of the house as part of them.

So it will be so good to move, a new fresh start in a house that is just for us. We will still keep our old house and rent it out. Hopefully we will get good tenants, no I will rephrase that, I will make sure we get good tenants. We own another house that we rent out and it has been nothing but trouble with bad tenants. I cannot believe how some people live! It's normal to have a bit of mess and even more so when you have kids. But clothes strewn from one end of the house to the other, dirty dishes in every single room and I won't even mention the bathroom ewwwwwwww. We have had two tenants like this and I'm ashamed to say that one of them was family! The other tenant we had was using one the bedrooms to grow hydroponic marijuana in. That was a nightmare, we had to get the police in. Scary stuff. I'm sure that house is jinxed.

~ Sam ~

Number 34 :o)

2007-02-27T13:15:00.000+09:00

I had a lovely surprise today when I discovered I had made it on to Emma's list of 50 bloggers. I am number 34 by the way :o) I was so happy, it really made my day. I guess it's nice to know that someone out there is actually listening/reading to what you are saying/writing.

I have got Sasha, my eldest daughter home from school sick today. I got a phone call yesterday morning from her school to say she wasn't well and would I come pick her up. She is still not right today. I thought it might have been from having such a busy weekend and too much party food but now I am thinking it might be a virus. Poor little mite, she seems to have perked up a bit now.

I am feeling fairly lethargic today. I think because of the hot, humid weather we are having. I am happy to say this is my fourth day of not having morning sickness, yay!!! I am hoping we have turned a corner and are now over the morning sickness stage, I will be 10 weeks pregnant this week.

We had a drive down to our block yesterday to see if any of the site works have been started. But no, nothing has happened yet. They have repegged the block so I am hoping that something may happen this week. When I rang the builder last week they said they were scheduled to start this week. I'm not holding my breath!

~Sam~

Fairy Party

2007-02-26T09:04:00.000+09:00

Sasha had her Fairy Party on Saturday at the Fairy shop in Pioneer Village. She had such a good time. From what I can tell so did her little friends. They all got to dress up in fairy or wizard costumes, they played games, had lot's of party food and birthday cake. They all looked so cute all dressed up (see pics below).

I was so impressed with the Fairy shop, Fairies Forever is there proper name I think. They provide all the food, drinks, birthday cake, lolly bags etc. The "fairies" look after the kids and play games with them. It was so nice to just go somewhere have a great party and then come home when it was finished and not have to worry about cleaning up. This was the first time we had a party for Sasha somewhere other than home. Might be a new trend I think :o)

While the kids had their party all the mums went across the street to the cafe and had coffee and something to eat. It was so nice and relaxing to be able to chat without little people running around.

Then we came home and Sasha spent the rest of the afternoon unwrapping all her presents and playing with all her new toys. What a great day!!

~Sam~

Happy Birthday Sasha

2007-02-22T11:56:00.000+09:00

Five years ago today you changed my life forever. I could never have imagined how much love I was about to feel. You have made me a better person, more patient and tolerant. You have brought so much joy to our lives, what would we do without you. You really are our little ray of sunshine.

I love you so much and I'm so proud of you.

Happy 5th Birthday Sasha

~Sam~

Paper Bag Album

2007-02-21T18:05:00.000+09:00

I was asked to post a few pics of a paper bag album, so here you go Emma :o)

This one I bought off eBay quite a while ago and as you can see I haven't got around to putting any photos in it yet. It is quite small, measures approximately 16cm (6") square. It is actually made from brown paper bags that have been secured together to form the spine of the album. I think you could really let your imagination go wild with these and because they aren't too big they wouldn't take too long to make :o)

This one has this lovely poem on the back that always brings a tear to my eye when I read it:

I saw Faeries in the meadow

early one spring morn,

They were dancing, they were singing

and playing hopscotch,

I could have sworn,

They danced upon my fingers,

Whispered in my ears,

Gave me kisses like a butterfly.

And their sweet music brought a tear.

A saw Faeries in the meadow,

at least one that I can fair.

Or maybe it was just my beautiful daughter

with dew and sunbeams in her hair.

~Sam~

Feeling Tired

2007-02-20T09:18:00.000+09:00

I've got a terrible case of writers block today. Could have something to do with the fact that we were all woken up this morning at 4.30am by little miss crying her head off and then refusing to go back to sleep until an hour or so later. It wouldn't be so bad if we could sleep in but of course today is a week day which means school etc.
I'm sure Sasha will be having a nap at school today. I think I might too when Chloe goes down for her nap.

So anyway I guess I am feeling more tired than usual because I am pregnant with baby number three. Yep, that's right, I'm pregnant again (am I insane??, lol) just thought I'd slip that in there :o) It has happened a little bit sooner than we planned but I guess these things are meant to be. We are thrilled, excited and scared stiff, lol. I hear so many stories of how having three is just so much more work. I guess I am about to find out first hand.

It will certainly be a very busy year ahead, with building a new house, a new baby and moving. It will be good though. I am so ready to move, a fresh start, a lovely new house. We won't know ourselves. And a new baby to boot! Well, not literally, you know what I mean, lol.

So here is baby number three's first photo shoot. It was taken a couple of weeks ago, when I was only seven weeks, so it's very tiny.

I am feeling quite sick this time around. With both the girls I had maybe a few off days but not nauseous like this every single day. Of course Bret thinks it must be a boy, lol. I really don't have any inkling as to what sex the baby is and to be honest I really don't care as long as it is healthy and normal. I would love another little girl though and think of all the hand me down clothes she would get!!

~Sam~

Year of the Pig

2007-02-18T11:38:00.000+09:00

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!

That's right we are now officially in the year of the Pig. I heard that it is the year of the golden pig and this only happens every sixty years (don't quote me on that). Anyway it is supposed to be very lucky, especially for those who are born in that year. Hmmmm makes you wanna have another baby, lol.

We have quite a menagerie of Chinese zodiac signs in our house. I am a Rat, Bret is a Pig, Sasha is a Horse and Chloe is a Rooster. I like Chinese astrology, well I like any astrology really and numerology, don't get me started on that one.

On to a totally different topic, did I mention they are bringing out a new Sims 2 expansion pack very soon. Well, they are and it's called Seasons. What does this all mean you ask, well it means the Sims now have weather!! How cool is that! It is going to rain, snow, leaves will fall off trees, Sims can get sunburnt. Yes, I know small things amuse small minds. I can't help it, I love the Sims.

~Sam~

Angels with dirty faces

2007-02-16T12:19:00.000+09:00

As I was downloading photos off my camera today I found some really cute pics of the girls that I just had to share.

They are growing up so quickly! Why is it with the first one you are wishing they would do more - learn to crawl, then rushing them to walk. I remember saying to my mum, "Sasha is never going to walk!" and of course she did, sadly it was one week after mum died and she never got to see it. Then with the second one you hold them back, not wanting them to grow up too quickly.

Chloe is running now, she moves so quickly. Luckily she doesn't stray too far from me when we are out. Sasha was just the opposite, she couldn't get away from me fast enough when we used to go out.

I am sure I have taken far more pictures of Sasha as a baby compared to Chloe. And I certainly have more pics of Sasha in photo albums, poor Chloe's pics haven't even made it on to paper yet! Oh yes the digital age.

Isn't there always something to feel guilty about when you are a mum!

~Sam~

Chattering On

OMG it's been that long!

My Favorite Song At The Moment

Another Quick Post

15th Feb 1939 - 28th Sep 2000

Ebay Strike Feb 18th - 25th

I know, I know......

Getting things off my chest...

Going Private

Happy Birthday Mojo =^..^=

Happy New Year

Dust Echoes - Mermaid Story

Happy Birthday Boo

Photo Overload

Feather Goblintree

Thursday Whinge

First Smiles

:[

Quickie

Awww Shucks!

Happy Halloween

Feeling Better

Sam is Sleep Deprived and Cranky

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

It's a Me Me

1st Blogoversary

Settling In

Sophie's Arrival

Introducing....

Random Blog Thoughts

Made It

I'm still here....

Nesting

Just rambling

Dearest Chloe,

Chloe's 2nd Birthday Party

It's not it.

Is this it?

Energy = Zero

Sadness

33 Weeks - On the Home Stretch

Goodbye July

Back to School *yay*

Tindra

School Holidays and Baby Scans

So Beautiful

Happy Birthday to Me

Chloe

This and That

Clearing my Mind

Fun Monday - Bookshelves

I've Been Tagged! :o)

Just Because

House News

All About The Girls

Foundation Day Long Weekend

Walls!

HPV Vaccine

Reunion

Two Lovely Surprises

Happy Mother's Day

Bit's and Bob's

Big Scan

Five Questions from Little Miss Moi

Quick Post

Anzac Day

Chloe's First Hair Cut

It's a......................

Ramblings of a crazed, sick, hormonal pregnant woman

Slab Party

Loser

Happy Easter :o)

Bits & Pieces

Just for fun - foodie post :o)

Quiz Fest

Suki

Sisters

What more could a girl ask for?!

Reunion

Old friends

Back to School yay