One week till race day and I am taking this week seriously! I so badly want to beat my previous time that I have a plan of attack involving lots of water (drinking), stretching and warming up, and running my longest route 3 times this week. I would say no chocolate too, but I have to buy all the fundraiser ones from Jess’s playschool, so there goes that idea!

I was offered 8 hours a week working at the hospital, but due to circumstances beyond my control I have had to decline the offer. Crazy hey! Only 8 hours and yet such a trauma to be able to arrange my life around. All the factors involved here are doing my head in, and in the long run it will be best to hang off until the end of the year. I’m bummed about it, but what can a girl do!

This week Holly was honoured by receiving her SRC badge at the school assembly and I was able to pin it on her. I was so proud. Then, unexpectedly, Meg received a Principals award for “Great Colouring in”. Kate was up from Melbourne for the weekend and was able to see the girls get their things and bask in a bit of Auntie glory!

Jess is coping quite well with her new Playschool commitments. She is very tired at the end of the day and yesterday she fell asleep in the car (5pm) I put her into bed and she woke at 6am this morning. Amy is teething, she has a cold and is possibly the grumpiest baby in Canberra at the moment. She is driving us all nuts. I was rubbing her tummy to settle her down last night (2am) and I was freezing so wanted to get back into bed. I stopped the rubbing to see if she would stir but all I got was a swift swat to indicated “Don’t stop the rubbing”. She is quite a character and loves hanging out with the girls and doing whatever they are doing. She loves shoes too. She even says “Shoes” and does a little tap dance when they are on. I have 2 pairs of Holly’s first shoes that fit her perfectly – black patent buckle ups and pink boots. Awesome!

Holly has a friend over today so we are heading out for a picnic lunch and then a wander around a national attraction, probably the museum or war memorial.

A busy week ahead. Hope it is a good one for everyone 🙂

We had a day at the coast yesterday. Decided Saturday night that it would be nice to get out of town, so we piled all our gear into the Blue Van and headed for Batemans Bay. We had swims at 2 beaches, a play on the sand, a walk and a late lunch around Mogo town, and then home again. It was good fun and on the whole the kids were great and enjoyed the ocean. Amy is taking after her sisters in her hate of the sand. Go to put her on it and her feet go up around her ears! Holly went body surfing and caught a few waves much to her absolute delight. They all had new swimmers on (there were on sale at the end of the summer season so picked up some bargains) and looked chic as well as a bit bronzed!

H and M are starting dance classes tomorrow. I have held off on the after school activities for as long as possible, mainly because with the other kids in tow it makes life very crazy, however these classes are at the school and thus just down the road. It is called Physical Culture and is a mix of Ballet, gymnastics, aerobics and jazz. Both cannot wait to get in there and prance around and I cannot wait to see them do it 🙂

Jess had her orientation session at Possums last week and this week she goes all day Thursday and half day Friday. She has promised a painting for Justin for his birthday. I hope she goes OK. I’ve been getting a bit paranoid about her. She is sooo tall, like a head above the other kids. I was often taller and bigger than everyone and very self conscious about it. Everyone remarks on how tall she is, but underneath she is still a 3 year old. Please let her be OK.

I was working on the computer this morning and Meg wanted me to play with her. She said “Mum I’m at school all day now and don’t get time with you, can’t you come and play with me now?” How to innocently pull a guilt trip in one easy lesson!! Gosh these kids really make my emotions work overtime.

Haven’t heard anything about the job after the interview last week. I’m not getting my hopes up! I put my name on the canteen roster, and organising a cake stall and cake decorating competition for the Carnival in March and am trying to get a scrapping album finished. Who has time to work? 🙂

Allrighty, that is about it. Looking forward to a good week.

Week 2 of school, so far so good. Meggie started her full days yesterday and loved it. She is so adaptable and eager. Hope the wheels don’t fall off at the end of the week!

I’ve registered for the Shri Chimnoy 4km race on 10th March and in training now. I’m trying not to eat wheat and am feeling so much better without the bread, pasta and cakes that used to make up most of my diet! I’m also off the grog as I believe that was not doing me any good – my hands would swell and get really itchy after a glass of wine. Not a good look!

Let me tell you about Amy. Nearly 17 months now and what an imp! She loves to steal. If there is a drawer at her height (my desk, bathroom and kitchen drawers) she opens them up, takes stuff out then runs away. If you catch her in the act, she runs faster. I’ve had to empty out all the drawers, especially the bathroom ones. All my makeup, creams and brushes were going missing. justin’s shave sticks and aftershaves end up all over the house. She is onto copying too. Last night I was leaning against the bench talking to Jusitn and she came up and leaned up next to me, just like I was doing. She mimics lots of sounds and can say ‘Thankyou” and ‘apple’. She is really just a beautiful poppett.

I had a job interview yesterday for some more work, but I’m not sure if anything will come of it. It didn’t sound too promising, but he was able to offer me a desk job! I said “Thanks but no thanks” and this is mainly because having a job requires a huge logistics program and thus the actual job has to be what I actually want to do. I’m not that desperate!

I’m going to be an aunty again! Justin’s sister is due in August and we thought she would never have another child so it is all very exciting for us.

Sorry not much else to report. I’ll do better next time!!

Edited to add: Just picked the girls up from school and Holly told me that her class had voted her SRC rep. I’m so very proud!!! SRC = Student Representative Council

It all went smoothly. She found her desk, her name badge and her friends and then it “Goodbye Mum and Dad”. I did have a few tears, but it was all a combination of children growing up, not having a job, being tired and a feeling of helplessness at it all. However, I got home from school and had a phone call about an audiology job. I’m going for a meeting with the manager on Monday so fingers crossed it will be a promising outcome.

I tried to put up some photos of Meggie in her uniform but I am the greatest techno phobe and with the new camera I need Justin’s help to get them onto the puta.

Holly was very nervous yesterday when she returned to school. She had a little meltdown, but the teacher took her by the hand and she was OK.

Amy has running down pat. She loves a good chase if she knows she can get away. If I am too close, she just jumps into my arms. She calls out “Daddy yoo-hoo” and ‘Blankie woo-hoo” but for me it is just Mama. Even Dash was Mama.

Much to be done, have a great week.

Very very frightening!!

Last night at dinner it began to storm and then a very loud bolt of lightening cracked very brightly just outside our house. It struck a tree across the road, sheering of a big branch and leaving mess everywhere. Jess was so freaked out she ran to me screaming, and Amy got such a fright she cried too. I must admit, the loud bang made me jump a foot too. After that, everything was ok, but our phone had short circuited and is now kaput. It ends a bad week for me and phones. Amy dropped my mobile into Dash’s water bowl; Amy took a phone and hid it, but it was on and so the phone was engaged all day yesterday (I only found it when it was running out of battery and I could follow the beeps), and now the only replacement phone we have is a very old Telstra beige one, that has a cord and thus is not a walkie talkie one – OMG how will I go on!!!

On the work front – my lovely new job is no more! The job I was to be doing for the next 3 months has fallen though because I was replacing a girl who is now not needing the replacement, so I am back to square one. Sad. I have made a few phone calls for other things, so we’ll see what comes of all of that. Maybe I’ll just end up doing tuckshop duty!

Meg is very excited about school starting on Tuesday. Holly returns on Monday and then in Mid Feb, Jess starts her 2 mornings a week at possums playschool. I don’t really know what to do with myself with barely any kids on deck. I really need a job!

Have a great weekend.

Day three is nearly over. I’m realising a few things about myself – I love food, I think about it all the time and what I can eat next, and even though I am also thinking I will never put a bad thing in my mouth again, I am dreaming of cream buns. Weird, huh!!

I lost another kilo – that is 2.4 so far. Mostly fluid retention I reckon. My face feels thin under my touch and I look different. I walked my route this morning, with Dash (who has returned for another holiday) and it took alot of effort. Isn’t it amazing how much food into our bodies can regulate our emotions, energy and total feeling of wellbeing?

Holly wanted her hair cut a bit shorter, so I did it. Looks a bit fluffy but I did an grand job. Mag saw the results and wanted hers done too. They are both now sporting much shorter styles. Maybe I could consider a new career!!

I’ll pop a photo up tomorrow. I’m playing scrabble on facebook and it is the most addictive things ever. Keeping my mind off cream buns!!

Made it to the second day. Yesterday was easier than I expected and I felt ok, no headache or irritability. Today is a different story and I feel quite lightheaded, nauseous, tired and cranky. I took a light jog this morning, as when I got up I was feeling quite energised, but when everyone was having breakfast I got really hungry and then felt sick. Hoping this little phase will pass. The natropath told me it would be like this. All the toxins are being ejected from the body and it doesn’t make you feel so good. On a brighter note I lost 1.4kgs. That is inspiring me to keep going. Today will be a very low key day!

I’m trying not to think about food. Ignoring the empty feeling in my tummy and the growing headache! Only 3 days to go 🙂

I saw a natropath on Tuesday looking for a reason for a few health complaints that I want fixed up. The upshot of it all is that I am now on a 3 day liquid fast in order to empty my Gastrointestinal Tract. After the third day I take Probiotics which will repopulate my gut with the right type of ‘flora’ and fix me up from the inside out. Sounds great, but at the moment I am hungry! I only started today – well last night at dinner was the last thing I ate. He said today and tomorrow will be hard, but Saturday I’ll be feeling great and tempted to continue for a few more days! Yeah right – we’ll see about that.

I’m distracting myself so I don’t think about eating, The kitchen is sparkling and I have 2 loads of washing out on the line. I might do the bathrooms next, but I might have to conserve energy for the next few days!!

I’ll tell you about Melbourne. After arriving we headed straight to DFO in Spencer Street and shopped for about 4 hours. I purchased shoes x 2, a skirt, goggles for the kids and had a wonderful time browsing and trying on dresses and tops without interruption. Bliss. After we all met up again we went to Kates place where Rohan pulled off an amazing dinner and Auntie Maureen and Peter came too. Great night. It took a little time to get used the trains going past Kate’s place, and that they had to toot their horn as they went through the crossing was a bit hard to take all night long. However I slept and the next morning we were off to her local mall, home for lunch then into the city for our 2pm session of The Phantom of the Opera. This is the 3rd time I’ve seen it and it was just as magical and brilliant. Loved it.

After that we (eventually) found a bar for a few drinks before our reservation at ‘fifteen’. No Tobie, but a few chefs from the show and our waiter was familiar. Now I have to say, it was a GREAT meal. And I mean great. When I think about one dish I had I still get goosebumps. Everything about it was wonderful. And even more wonderful that I was there with my sisters, 2 wonderful sisters-in-law and Mum.

Sunday, up again early and out to the Victoria Markets. Purchases were 2 handbags (i even haggled with the price!), a hat, running socks and 2 delicious American donuts (and I wonder why I am on a detox!!). After a few hours there we decided to see a movie, given that the cinema is something I never get to do at home. We saw 27 Dresses and it was lovely. I cried, I admit it!!

Arrived home to find the girls so ably looked after by Justin and everything in order except their hair. I thought I was living with gypsies! They had a great weekend doing all the crazy things that I never want to do so that was good.

Back to normal now, but still hungry. We might go for a walk to take my mind off the grumbling.

Have a good 3 days eating what you desire!

I really need a weekend away! As much as I have enjoyed the holidays, I am going a little spare repeating the same phrases over and over throughout the day. My daily word allowance is taken up with the repetition of things along the following lines….

– why did you do that?
– don’t hit her
– don’t touch her
– don’t even look at her
– sit on your bottom not on you knees
– she wee’d where?
– please don’t dob
– please don’t whinge
– please don’t cry
– I’m going to cry if you do that again.
– No, (insert friends name here) cannot come over again today.

I think you get the idea! I have taken to roaring like a lion to release the stress rather than keep it internal 🙂

So tomorrow when we get to Melbourne and we all have no children for 3 whole days we are going wild. DFO watch out – we are headed you way and we are unleashed and possibly dangerous.

Holly had a great birthday last week. On Saturday she had some friends over for our first ever birthday Pool Party and it was a huge success. The pool party concept must be the easiest in the history of party themes, because the kids just swam for most of the 3 hours, got out halfway for a spot of lunch, pass the parcel and a pinata – Breezy! I didn’t know what games to play given that these kids are 7, go to about 10 or so birthday parties a year and are quite savvy with the games thing. So I changed the pass the parcel concept to make it that as they unwrapped a layer, they had to do a challenge in order to get a prize. For example, one had to hold her tongue while singing happy birthday, one had to do a sum, one spell a word, limbo, hop for 15 seconds and sing songs etc. It was hilarious and quite exciting for the kids to see what they had to do when they unwrapped the paper. Great game! I was also so impressed with the level of swimming skill and confidence these kids had in the water. None of them have swimming pools, but do swimming lessons and it really shows. Well done parents!
909 ^Holly and I with her party cake at her birthday pool party.
912 ^ Meg the little mermaid

Here are a few pics of the kids in the water – we set up the slippery dip so that the kids can fly down it into the pool. They have had endless fun with that one. I wish I could fit on it to have a go myself!
905 ^Holly flying off the slide
930 ^ Jess crashed out after the party

We had dinner for Holly’s Birthday with Mum and Dad over, Holly requested her favourite dinner – Burritos, and then we had Birthday cake (from Adas and Lin) which she chose herself mainly for the pink cream and chocolate sprinkles all over it. Cake was so delicious, thanks you A and L xx

I filled in for a sick colleague last week and spent a good 90 mins up in the ICU testing 3 very small and sick babies before they were transferred to other hospitals. One was so tiny, barely 900 grams when born at 25 weeks last October. I would be surprised if it was 2 kgs now, all these months later, but it did pass the hearing test so that is one less thing for those parents to have to be concerned about. I’m just loving my job so much. Looking forward to this year and seeing what happens in regards to my position and permanency etc.

Mum, Lisa and SIL’s Penny and Sascha are heading off to Melbourne this weekend to visit Kate. On the agenda – shopping, Phantom of the Opera, dinner at Fifteen (Jamie Oliver’s restaurant form the TV show) and a bit more shopping.

We bought a new camera and Jus has been taking mega amounts of photos, so here are a few of my favorites.
915
918 ^Dressing up at the Discovery Zone at the National War Memorial
924 ^Meg and I ‘flying’ a helicopter
927 ^Justin and Girls in front af a fighter plane
921 ^Trampoline fun at my aunties place.

Have a great week