We’ve had a big week so far – school continues to be great for Jess. She has settled in really well, bought home her very first readers (level 2 – Big Grin for Jess) and loves sports day when she can wear her green skirt. After the first day she informed me that the school had “3000 toilets and the girls toilet has a picture of a girl wearing a dress, but the boy is naked”. They also pray each morning to “Gawd” so we are working on elocution as well!!

On Sunday Justin, Holly Amy and I went for a walk around the mountain while there was a break in the rain. We left Meg and Jess playing with GND (Girl next door). When we got home there was a distraught neighbour babbling on about ..Jess…tree…hospital…arm…

It turns out Jess fell out of the tree, gave her arm a really deep and long gash and they took her to Emergency. I drew the short straw and had to dash off to the hospital to see the blood, face the tears etc. Strong, brave, manly Justin choose to stay home with the other kids! Jess was the brave one apparently, with Meg being a trifle upset about the incident (she is always the one who has the greatest empathy for others). So we waited at the ED for about 2 hours before being taken in. Mum graciously came and sat with us to keep us company. The Doctor was lovely and calmed Jess down who was freaking out about having a needle, but then didn’t even notice when it was going in. “Have you done it?” she asked him incredulously. He was a good sport! 7 stitches later she was all done and jumping out of her skin to get home and show everyone. The bandage around the spot also gained a lot of mileage.

Monday was to be my first day alone (as in with all the children in official “care”) with Amy starting Possums Playschool, but Jess stayed home as a result of her injuries. That was OK. She just took it easy and we had a nice day together.

So… Possums!! Dropped off Miss Independent at 9.15am. Sam was there so she had all that was important to her. “Bye mum”. 9.20am back in the car and leaving my baby behind. I knew she would be ok, but I have to admit I did miss her! Having Jess home filled the void, but Tuesday I was on my own, laughing all the way to the shops, enjoying 2 hours walking around, coming home and doing what I wanted (Oh sweet Oprah it has been too long since we last met), then picking them all up. She had a ball. She was dirty and tired, but full of chat and keen to go back next week. She is fairly exhausted now (Wednesday) so we are having a quiet day to regroup our energies.

Bootcamp is going great. I just love it. Monday we boxed and ran, did millions of push ups and many minutes of wall squats. My thighs are getting very strong (Justin did comment that I looked like Serena Williams but insisted it was a good thing after I socked him over the head with my shoe). This morning we did more running and then stations – one was lying flat on our backs doing lift ups with tyres, another was throwing medicine balls and the other was lifting kettle bells. In the running (2 laps around the oval) the Boy beat me, but I kept pace and made him work really, really hard for it. I was working hard too!! When I got home I told Jess about the young whipper-snapper who beat me and she said, “Well that is because he is in the Olympic Games”. Jess, my champion, of course no-one could beat her mum who wasn’t of Olympic caliber!

Holly and Meg are taking part in a Triatlon on Sunday. It takes in a 100m Swim (in the AIS Pool), 3km ride and 500m run. It is just for fun and not a race, but they are pumped and I hope they compete well and in the right spirit. Keeping fingers crossed for no rain.

I’m going out to dinner tonight with my best girls. Been trying to arrange it for ages. One delicious Thai meal coming up.

Take it easy till next time……….