Tina Fey for President

Can't help myself. It's just too funny.



Sorry Colleen.

Sitting at the Cool Kids Table

Tomorrow, I am going to meet some of my favourite bloggers. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm terrified. Ridiculous, isn't it?

Candi is coming to Brisbane tonight (probably on the plane as we speak) and Renee, Nicole, Jenn, Mel, Nat and Cali (From EB) are coming along to meet her.

Why am I so nervous? Other than Sam being the most difficult child in the history of the world. SO they'll all meet me and this out-of-control toddler and decide I win Worlds.Worst.Mother.

At least I'm pretty sure Xander will behave. He's pretty lovely to take out.
Will update after the event.

My aim is to a) not make an idiot of myself so they all talk about how stupid I am after I leave and b) For Sam not to break Southbank.

Not much to ask, is it?



Damn, I wish I'd had time to do my eyebrows today.

And Again

Couldn't work out how to embed them together.

Have to admit. She was a good sport.

Still terrifying though.

This is ALL I know.

I absolutely didn't stalk Nic's pregnancy buddy group on Essential Baby. I absolutely didn't squeal when I read this.

So that's all I know.

Baby Brindle born 3.45pm, 4kg or 9 pounds, 52.5cm long. Both doing great and it was a good experience

Not a lot of information there, people. So if anyone is in the know, would you mind telling me (if you're allowed, that is. And totally on the quiet if you're not,lol).


Nic, I'm beyond thrilled for you. I'm overjoyed that you have your heavy, long baby of indeterminate sex. :)

Can't wait to hear more. Love to you, Luke, Hugh and LittleD.


Welcome to the world, little one. You have been born incredibly lucky. The look in your Mama's eyes right now is that of the purest type of love. Your Daddy so proud, so relieved to meet you. You are already blessed with life's greatest treasure, an adoring, protective big brother. May you always be enveloped in the softness of their love, the strength of their belief in you and the wonder that is your family.

Sweet dreams, LittleD. Rest tonight. The world is waiting for you.



Goodnight, Nicole. You did it.

Tomorrow.

As most of you know, I've been following the pregnancy of my friend Nicole since the beginning. She's had such a difficult time, learning LittleD was sick. Waiting for a ,diagnosis and prognosis'. Doctors who held out little hope of improvement.

I've marvelled at her strength, he positivity. He belief in the child she carries. The certainty that this baby would be ok, would fight and that there would be a happy ending.

I read, tears welling in my eyes, as appointment after appointment left her frightened, depressed and doubting herself. I had butterflies in my stomach before each scan, feeling her nerves, wishing I could provide any comfort to her as she awaited news of her baby's progress.

I cried out in joy when a scan revealed that things had, in fact, changed for the better. That somehow, probably through alternative treatments Nicole had pursued, LittleD had shown some improvement. That maybe, maybe things would be just fine.

And now, it's time. Almost certainly, Nicole will be rewarded for her faith, her hope and her love for this baby. Tomorrow, she will hold him or her in her arms, and her heart will swell, filling up with love. She will look adoringly at the tiny creature in her arms, and commit to memory every sound, every time those eyes look at her as if to say "Oh. I know you. You're the one who's been looking after me all this time. Thank You".

Tomorrow, her family will welcome, with jubilation and relief, it's newest member.

You probably won't get to read this until you're home, Nicole. But nevertheless, from my family to yours, from one mother to another. I'm with you. I'm thinking of you. I'm praying for a peaceful, calm entry for a baby who's already had enough excitement. I pray for a beautiful, beautiful birth. For tonight, for the last time in this pregnancy, take a moment. Place your hands on that beautiful belly of yours. Feel LittleD. Reminisce about all of his kicks, his somersaults. The energy and hope you've focused onto him or her these past months. Enjoy your last night together in this blessed way.

Good luck, my friend. I don't for a moment imagine you'll need it. So, instead, take my best wishes, my friendship and this enormous cyber hug. We'll all be waiting with you.

Tagged.

Renay, from The Day I Lost My Mind has tagged me. I love a good tagging. Does that sound slightly dirtier than it was intended?

I'm not sure what the rules are of this one, Ren doesn't say. So stuff rules. Write what you like. And send on the tagging. Lets make it 5 people.



1. Where is your cell phone? On my kitchen bench.
2. Where is your significant other? At work. It's 11am and I'm missing him terrible. Is that pathetic?
3. Your hair color? Brown. With a sad amount of grey. Time to do my hair.
4. Your mother?


Gone. She died 5 years ago. Missing her a lot.
5. Your father? Living in NZ. I worry about him a lot.
6. Your favorite thing? Laying in bed with all of my men. Joel and I with Alexander and Samuel in between (more often on top of, lol) us. We snuggle, talk,laugh and are terribly silly. There's nothing I love more.
7. Your dream last night? Is still upsetting me. I dreamed Joel was dying, cancer. That it was very advanced and that he had only days left.
8. Your dream/goal? To be a half way to decent writer.


9. The room your in? My office. Though Xander insists that it's his. He does have his own desk and computer.
10. Your hobby? Writing. Reading.
11. Your fear? Losing someone else I love.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Happy with my family. I want some of the financial pressure to be off, to stop living week to week. I'd like to be studying.
13. Where were you last night? At the hospital, snuggling up to my new niece.
14. What you’re not? Strong enough. Talented enough. Smart enough. Motivated enough.
15. One of your wish list items?

A new bookshelf. I have literally more than 60 books (given to us recently) sitting on the floor, because my bookshelf is already overflowing (and was 2 deep to start with).
16. Where you grew up? Brisbane for the first 11 years. Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory for the following 8.
17. The last thing you did? Checked on Ave. I feel sad for her. I want Rora to come back and feed from her Mama, I don't think Ave's ready to let go. (Is that too stalkerish?).
18. What are you wearing? Black and white skirt. White top.
19. Your TV? Not sure what you're after here. But it is paused in the middle of an episode of The West Wing. Am going to fold some washing and watch it.
20. Your pet? I dont' have any.
21. Your computer? I'm frighteningly dependant on it.
22. Your mood? Pretty mellow right now, actually.
23. Missing someone? Very much. I'm craving a snuggle with Alexander and a kiss from Joel. A take-my-breath-away-backed-up-against-a-wall kiss. You know the ones?
24. Your car? A bone of contention at the moment. Which one to sell, which one to keep. We disagree pretty strongly at this point.
25. Something you’re not wearing? My wedding rings. My hands are a bit swollen at the moment (arthritis). I had them on this morning when I went out though.
26. Favorite store? I love wondering around Myer. But nothing beats Borders.
27. Your summer? Plan to spend it at the park or beach, surrounded by family.
28. Love someone? So much I can barely breathe when I think about it.
29. Your favorite color? Soft Pink.
30. When is the last time you laughed? This morning. Alexander was cranky with me so got his play phone and "Called" "Mr Grey" (his vice principal, and the one the kids are more 'scared' of) to tell him I was making bad choices. Joel and I were trying so hard not to laugh. We failed.
31. Last time you cried? Last night. I was helping Tam try to breastfeed Madeline. She was unsure at first, but soon enough, Maddie and Tam had it just right. I watched them, and felt such an intense sadness. I'm so happy it's workign for her. I wanted desperately for it to be a beautiful experience for her. But gosh, it breaks my heart how horrific breastfeeding was for me.


I tag:

Jenn
Renee
Simone
Nicole
Kim

Just for a giggle.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN!

To the citizens of the United States of America

From Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy). Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter "U" will be reinstated in words such as "colour," "favour," "labour" and "neighbour." Likewise, you will learn to spell "doughnut" without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "-ize" will be replaced by the suffix "-ise." Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels.

(Look up "vocabulary").

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as '"like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U. S. English.

We will let Microsoft know on your behalf.

The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to
take into account the reinstated letter "u"' and
the elimination of "-ize."

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.


4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent.

Guns should only be used for shooting grouse.

If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.


5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler, although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred
to as Lager. Australian beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys.

Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters.

Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body amour like a bunch of nannies).


12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America.

Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australians first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen

PS: Only share this with friends who have a good sense of humour (NOT humor)!

Madeline Isabella

She's here. Tam was in early/pre labour all of last week. Her waters broke at 5am on Monday morning. They sent her home and told her if nothing major happened, to report back at 7am yesterday (Tuesday) morning, which they did.
She'd been having mild-moderate (they don't feel mild at the time, but in hindsight, they were manageable, IYKWIM) contractions since lunch time Monday.

She went into active labour at about lunch time Tuesday. They called me at 3, she was still only 4cm (had been there for hours), and nothing was happening. They called back at 8. She was still only 4cms. Tam was distressed, Josh was having a really hard time seeing her in that kind of pain. The plan was to give her an hour, then do a C Section. They asked me to come sit with them.

I went up, and things seemed ok, she'd just had an epidural so was feeling better, energised. Maddie's heartrate was incredibly flat (still within normal limits, but no changes at all, for hours), so they got a bit concerned. At 10 they did a test to see how she was. They took a little of Maddie's blood (small incision from the scalp) to test. Because Tam's waters had broken 40 hours previously, they were expecting bad results and to rush her in for the section.

They were pleasantly surprised to get a reading of just 1.6. Madeline was happy, her trace started looking much better, and as Tam had had the Epi, they decided to just check her every couple of hours.

At 10.45, they did another VE. She was still posterior, but Tam was finally 9 cms. She'd gone from 4 (where she had been all day) to 9 in just 3 hours. An hour later, she was fully dilated. Because of the epidural, she couldn't feel a thing, so found the pushing difficult. It brought back so many memories from my labour with Alexander. They were eerily similar in so many ways.

Long story short, after 3 hours of pushing, it was decided, to do a C Section. Tam was violently ill, exhausted and Maddie wasn't recovering as well as you'd like.

Madeline Isabella was born at 4.22am, this morning the 15th October. Exactly 13 months after her parents married. She was 8lb7oz, and pink and beautiful. Very, very alert initially, though as of 9pm tonight, she'd only been interested in feeding once today. She's doing beautifully. I left the new family alone at 5am, and came home to get some rest. My beautiful husband took the day off work and sent me to bed. If you knew Joel's job, that is a big deal for him.

Tam still hasn't slept. She's not slept in 3 days now, at all and is exhuasted. I'll go in and see her tomorrow and get some decent pictures. For now, this is what I have.




I'm exhausted and have a splitting headache. So this post doesn't really do justice to my new niece. I'll be back, hopefully tomorrow for something better.

Not only am I stealing someone else's idea....

But I'm barstardising it. I'm doing "Not Me Monday" on a Tuesday.

So. I did not just eat a bowl of mashed potato for lunch because I'm having a bad day and needed comfort food.

I did not sit and watch the view (even though I never watch TV anymore) because I wanted to hide in my bedroom.

Most importantly, I did not just tell you that Tammy is currently in active labour.
I didn't. Honest. Because she said not to tell anyone. So I'm not.


Honest.











"Not me Monday" comes from a blog I found from a blog I found from Donna. Makes sense, right?

Letting Go, a little bit at a time.

Last week, there were a couple of days where I had to send Alexander to his class while I ducked into the office to finalise some things for the school disco. He was fine with it, and even hinted on expressed surprise yesterday when I came to class with him, without stopping off at the office, staff room or tuckshop to take care of P&C things.

Well. Today, he informed me that he was walking to class alone. That I was *Not* to come with him. That he'd see me later.

Of course, my first instinct was to laugh and tell him how ridiculous that was. That of course Mummy would walk him to class, and stay with him until he went inside, just like I always had.

Except, he was adamant. Those big brown eyes looked up at me, and seemed to plead. I can do this, Mummy. I'm a bit boy. I'm ready. He smiled, that smile of his, the one where he is trying to win me over, convince me of some scheme of his. I sighed, and felt a nervous feeling in my stomach.

This was one of those moments where I learn to let go a little. Try not to hold him back. So I agreed. I drove to the drop off spot in the carpark. I got out of the car (to his disgust) and kissed him. I reminded him to get his drink bottle, adjusted his hat, and my voice trembling, just a little, told him to have a great day.

He smiled and waved. He said Goodbye to Sam. He smiled again, turned and walked in the school gates. I stared at him til I couldn't see him. I got into the car and I cried.

I cried all of the way home. He didn't look back. Not.Once.


He's too small. I'm not ready. I feel so sad, like a little piece of my boy has been taken from him. Did I just stop being his security blanket? When on earth did he stop needing me?

Wasn't this just last year?



And these? Couldnt' have been more than a few weeks ago?








Letting him take those steps on his own..



I just know this was only last week. How could he be 8 weeks away from finishing prep? After our fears about him being ready to start?






If you don't think I called one of the other Mum's on her mobile the second I got home, just to check he was at his classroom, safe and happy, you're out of your freaking minds. ;)

A breakthrough.

I've sat down a few times to make an entry, but this week has been a bit crazy, so I never actually get to type much of anything out.

Doing another disco at the school tomorrow night. Then I'll have a quick break (by quick, I mean a week) before the Fun Run organising, then the Trivia Night and then the end of year Concert.

Remind me again why I'm on the P&C????


But. We've had a breakthrough at home. Samuel, for the first time since he was 4 months old, fell asleep in his cot, the past 2 nights. At around the 4 month mark, his reflux was so bad he was vomiting blood. We found the only way we could get him to sleep was slightly inclined in his pram, with me pushing it.

We hesitated, because we were worried about starting a habit that was hard to break. I remember saying to Joel, after a week of this, "I don't know what we're worried about. It's not like he'll be 6 months old and he'll be sleeping in his pram still", with a little chuckle.

A few weeks later, even though his reflux was responding to medication (it was still terrible, but he was sleeping flat again), he simply would not fall asleep anywhere but his pram. We tried everything. We tried transferring the lambswool etc to the cot. Sam teddy. Same blanket. Same everything. He screamed. Every single time. Screamed til he threw up. Screamed til we couldn't bear it.

So we let it go, thinking every day "Tomorrow. We'll try again tomorrow". He was still waking 6 times a night and we were dead on our feet.

He started sleeping through about 4 weeks ago, but still, could not bear to be put in his cot while awake. We'd have to let him fall asleep in his pram (fairly easy, he used to sigh with relief) and then, when he was very, very asleep, transfer him gently. And turn aroudn three times and spit. While keeping our left arm in the air and our tongues slightly to the left. Wearing only white underwear and bathing in goats milk.

Too much?

Anyway. The other day, we put him in and he cried for a minute or two, then played quietly. Xander was asleep and Joel and I literally walked around on our tiptoes, not even game to pee, as flushing the toilet would wake him. Eventually, after half an hour and a few protests, he was asleep.

Then again the next night.

Then even easier last night.

Not getting my hopes up. Except they're waaaaaaaaaay up.

Maybe, maybe we'll have a sleeping (in a COT!) baby after all! Only took a year.

Anticipation

Joel's sister, Tam is in the early stages of labour. This will be the first child for Josh and Tam, who got married last year. They are beyond excited.

Come on, little Princess. Mummy has waited her whole life for you. Daddy's desperate for a cuddle. Aunty Lissa has butterflies. Be safe, sweet girl, but come to us quickly.

I know you won't read this, Tam, until she's here. But I'm thinking of nothing but you today.I've never known anyone who has wanted to be a mother more than you. I know you've waited such a long time, and I can't begin to articulate just how happy it makes me, to know it's almost here. You were born to be a mother, and this baby girl will be blessed by such love.

This will be the most incredible experience of your life, and as your sister and your best friend, I'm with you in spirit. My heart is just bursting with excitement and nerves, with joy and anticipation. I'm going to love this baby girl almost as much as you will.

You're about to finally meet your daughter.

I Heart Tina Fey.

But hey. Who doesn't?

For G.

Someone I really like (not a blogger, and not even sure she reads this) has just found out that after two delicious boys, she is going to have a girl! A pink baby! With hair and braids and ribbons and Mary Janes!!!!!

And this is all I can think about:



Congratulations, my friend. I can't tell you how thrilled I am for you.

Remembering to Remember

The things that have made me smile this week.




I'm doing ok. Fortunately, days as bad as that one aren't all that common. It was terrible, no denying. But we all survived, and yesterday was even a nice day! We took the boys to Caloundra for the morning. Sam is most definately *not* a water baby (unlike his big brother) so he spent more time crawling furiously to the sunbaking woman near us, clearly intending to bite her overtanned, overexposed body.

For a second, thought about letting him, but my conscience kicked in. JUST in time. :)She didn't seem to think him cute at all, squeals and all.


BTW - Look at the mosaic. Can you see what big event took place in our home this week????

Can't breathe.

There are days, I feel so out of control, so unable to cope with my emotions, that I'm simply terrified. I hear and see everthing through a tunnel of grey and I can barely hold on to my facade.

Days where I can't even remember why I bother trying. I feel like I'm getting sucked into a hole so dark and oppressive, I don't know I'll ever remember how to get out.