IN THIS HOUSE

As I glance around my house I know that we have in it:

-A big wooden cot
-A portacot
-A highchair
-A bassinet
-A pram
-5 BIG boxes of baby clothes and blankets
-Nappies/bottles/formula.

-And One Baby.

It is so funny!  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would still have all this stuff in our house.  
But ... I wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh hold on... I would change one thing.  I think I would rather the BIG WOODEN COT was in a bedroom instead of in the middle of me lounge!  lol
I'm sure Steve will dismantle it and put it in a better place sometime this weekend.

ABOVE:  Keera at 6 weeks and 2 days old.  She is just gorgeous.  She's still rocking the Mohawk hairstyle!

Yesterday Teddy and Coco were so funny, they kept trying to get in the cot... but of course they couldn't... so they just sat and whimpered a few times before giving up.
I told Steve when he got home ... so he did this:

ABOVE: off came one side, on went the blanket... and up they jumped.  Happy little dogs.  SPOILT ROTTEN little dogs too.
But, they are family too, and we love them.

Looking after Keera is just lovely, and I thought, why not let the kids help too?  So... first up for today, Griffin got to change his baby sister's nappy! ...

ABOVE:  heck, where do I start???  This baby wriggles!

ABOVE:  Eeewwww, really?  I've got to WIPE that bum???  Yes Griffin, you do!  And you did a good job too...

ABOVE:  Yaaa... that little bum is finally covered up again... I was getting a bit embarrassed looking at me sister's bum!  (but at least NOW I know the difference between girls and boys!)

ABOVE:  Yes!  The ordeal is almost over... and Keera didn't come to any harm and I can now go and clean me hands!  Baby bums....*shudder*.   

Today:  off to Manurewa to pick up my prescription... NEED more happy pills.  
After that?  Dunno yet.  We have to work around a newborn after all.

ONWARD...

What can I say about last night?  It went REALLY WELL.  Keera slept from 8pm until 3am... and at the 3am feed she skulled the lot and went straight back to sleep!  Awesome.
Then she woke at 7am and has been a bit unsettled since that feed... but we don't mind.  

Stew rather liked it that she was awake cos he shot over to her bassinet and picked her up!  Keera liked that.

Keera sleeps best when she is 'swaddled', but the light baby wraps we are using are annoying as she can get her hands/arms free and then she doesn't settle as good.  So after lunch we are going out to get a baby wrap I saw in The Baby Factory the other night ... it keeps the baby wrapped in such a way that it's arms cannot get out.  

Lunch today:  apple pies... cos I've got pastry left over from last night.  Don't intend to waste it!

NOT having pies afterall...we are off to Sylvia Park instead.

Back.  Stew cleaned my car!  First time in months.  I tried to have a nap. IMPOSSIBLE.  PEOPLE keep texting me, phoning me, jumping over me, well... you get the drift.

Stew is cooking dinner.  I can smell something weird.. kinda like plastic burning.  NOT going to investigate.  Will just hope it's edible.

Keera is having a really good sleep this afternoon.  Which means she will be a little shit this evening for her Mummy!  ha ha ha.
Babies... such fun.

ANNA: thank you so much for that lovely comment.  It is much appreciated.  
CHRISTY:  yes he did blush!!!

End of Day: another nice day in the 'H' house.
Took baby back to her Mummy... Mummy ran up the drive as I was driving in, she was so keen to get her baby back!  Very cute.
nite nite.

BABY BOY QUILT AND COT

Righty ho... here's Baby SJ's quilt so far:

 ABOVE:  it wasn't until I was almost finished applique'ing the lemur that I realised I should have used a smaller stitch!  And there was NO WAY in hell I was going to unpick it all.  So, there he is.  DONE.

 ABOVE: the quilt so far... I've got a few more bits 'n' bobs to go on it yet.
And outer sashings etc.

And now... we have Bex in her new 'maternity' clothes:

 ABOVE:  she got two tops like this, they have gathering on the sides so there is more fabric to allow for belly growth.

 ABOVE:  she's chuffed that she finally looks pregnant.  Funny girl!

ABOVE:  she got this maxi dress too... very brave wearing horizontal stripes, but she looks fine, don't ya think?

ABOVE:  pffffft!  She doesn't even look pregnant from the front in the dress!  She says it's lovely and light to wear too... and comfort is a biggie when you are pregnant.

She wrenched her back and was in lots of pain yeserday too... her back gives her lots of grief.  It's one of the disadvantages of her job, lifting patients etc.

Steve, Bex and I went to Sylvia Park last night. Steve was determined to buy a cot .... so he did!
Only problem was... we had gone is Stew's little Holden Viva... and fitting the cot in it was..... difficult.
But... Steve managed to fit it in... I had to drive home though, cos the back seats had to all be dropped down.  
See how we fitted the cot AND us three in the car:

 ABOVE:  he squeezed in UNDER the cot in it's box!!!  He was lying on the floor of the car!  

ABOVE:  doesn't he look like a dork?

ABOVE:  ha ha!  Climbing out when we got home.

And would you believe once we were home he HAD to put that cot together... in MY lounge... *sigh*

ABOVE:  one cot... in me lounge.  Luckily for them, we already had a cot mattress, so they don't need to buy one.

ABOVE:  Steve put the dogs in the cot... on MY new blankie... pfffft.  The dogs did not mind being in it on iota, in fact they snuggled down and went to sleep. 

RANT REMOVED.  Clearly I am easily offended, and I acknowledge that a certain post was NOT directed at ME... but it still bothered me.

Today:  I've got NOTHING on!  So I'm going to just sit and read blogs.  Yaaaa... time to do a big catch up again.  I'm always doing catch up's now!  

ONWARD...

Yaaaa, the day is gorgeous out there!  I will get heaps of washing done today.

So... I'm a nasty bitch sometimes.  And I got called on it.  *sigh*   I can't help myself sometimes!  I am too reactive.  I really must work on that... even my psychologist has said I need to work on that!  Derrrr.
It stems from hating myself.  Hating myself for getting OBESE again. HATE HATE HATE MYSELF. And only I can fix me.  

Why can't I do it???  What the fuck is wrong with me?  I know I am killing myself every time I eat rubbish. 

I told Felicity the other day the only way I was going to lose weight would be by being on a desert island with only water to drink... and that I could live off me fat for months!  

Her reply?
"No you would die of thirst real quick cos you don't drink water"!  BITCH ha ha ha!

LYNDA and I have been 'in talks' all morning.  Trying to sort out our obvious differences.  It has been GREAT to air things between us.  We both have strong feelings on certain issues.  We both respect each other's opinions.  And I am no longer going to take her posts PERSONALLY. 

She feels strongly about how she is living her life... and so she should.  
She has done amazingly well with her diet/lifestyle and should be proud of herself.
And I am going to leave it at that.

Right, I've gone from feeling a bit down to really happy!
I am picking Keera up this afternoon and she is staying with us until tomorrow night.  Lacy has a friend visiting from Tauranga and they would like to do a few things without having a tiny baby in tow.... so how neat!  I can cluck over baby for at least 24 hours.

Hmmm... I better tell Stew now!  lol
I wonder if he will be just as chuffed as me???

DANG!!!  It's been sunshine all day, and bang on 3pm when the kids are on their way home from school it starts to piss down bucketloads!  Grrrrr.  Oh well... at least it's FRIDDAY eh!  Their uniforms can go straight into the washing machine.

NOW... It's time to go and pick up Miss Muppet!

It's been a lovely evening.  I made pies for dinner, and then we just watched TV while caring for Miss Muppet. 
I've got the night shift, so am sleeping on the couch so Stew gets to sleep.  I don't mind, the couch is really comfy!

End of Day:  another up and down day... but I am used to it.  So happy to be looking after Keera, she's such a wee doll.
nite nite

DOCTOR/MEETING/LEMUR IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!

I got some work done on Steve and Bex's Baby quilt last night.... I got the last animal made... the Ring Tail Lemur:

ABOVE:  All I have to do now is do the stitching around the outlines...  he already looks good eh?
THEN I need to put some vines/leaves/a parrot?... well you get the drift... link it all together.

We stayed up last night and watched The Hunger Games ... it was really good!  I didn't expect to enjoy it at all, not really my sort of movie at all.  But I did!  I am looking forward to the next movie when it comes out on DVD.

First up for today:  I go and see me Depression Dr... I'm sure she has a 'correct' title, I just don't know it!

All I do know is that she has made me feel so much better, and has helped me find new ways to deal with stressful situations in my life, and how NOT to react like I have in the past.  I used to let things literally make me sick inside by stressing too much.

NOT ANY MORE... Long may it last.

After the Doctor's visit, I have to attend a meeting at the Hospice Shop.  It's been called by the 'Management'... seems they have a big change to announce.  Everyone is up in arms wondering just what it is.

Then I shall come home and do something constructive... or read blogs even!  I keep meaning to... then find myself side tracked by life.  Yeah, it happens.

OH and before I forget:  ANON from yesterday (hi there person in Tarneit).... I seriously doubt either Bex or Lacy want to have their own blogs.  And as for Bex's baby bump... well I might do some more photos in a few weeks.  Just hang in there and wait.... OK?  

ONWARD...

My visit to the Doctor went so well! She is really happy with how I'm doing, and how I'm learning to cope with difficult situations without becoming a blithering mess.   It's so EMPOWERING, and I love it.

Hospice Meeting:  they are closing two of their shops, NOT the one I work at.  It will mean 2 managers lose their jobs and about 40 odd volunteers lose their 'jobs' too.
Sad, but necessary.  Those two shops were losing money, not making it.

ABOVE:  a really funky dress? or jacket, depends how you want to wear it from the Hospice yesterday... cos me $2.50!  It's for Amanda, I kept looking at it on the rack thinking it was perfect for her... and I could not resist it.  

TRACY:  I have all three Hunger Games books on me Kindle!  I got them for Steve a while ago... now I will read them!

Dare I say it???   I've been to the mall... Bex and I had lunch then we went over to KMarket so Bex could find a couple of tops to wear that would accommodate her growing belly.  Luckily, even though the choice was fairly small, she did find some.
I'll post photos tomorrow.  

Yaaa..... I got the applique stitch around the Lemur done this afternoon... now it's on to the next stage.  I'll show you how it's looking ... tomorrow.

End of Day:  went shopping with Steve and Bex tonight.  Was an interesting evening.  More on that tomorrow.
nite nite.

NOT TOO SURE ABOUT GOING TO HOSPICE TODAY

Yesterday I woke up with a sore Right ankle.  I have no idea why?
If I sat for a while, when I got up it hurt like hell, but after a while it kinda hurt less.

It was like that all day yesterday.
So, I'm not too sure if I will go to Hospice today, standing at the counter serving customers might just be asking a bit much of me ankle.  I will see how it is later in the morning, as to whether I go or not.

It is so weird though, waking up with an ankle sore for no reason??

What else ...hmmmm... wonder how Keera was overnight?  I hope she didn't kick up a stink after her immunisations.  Wouldn't be surprised if she did.

Bex is here for a couple of days... her tummy is getting much more noticeable now.  It just seems like it's 'babies, babies, babies' in our lives right now!  Once Amanda has hers in February, we will have had 4 grand babies in 7 months... !  Not too shabby.

OH and let's not forget Coco!  She is going to give us a few babies too!

 ABOVE:  I have no photos for the day yet... so I give you a few funny's.

ABOVE:  I thought this was very clever!  

Right... I'm off to do the lunches... and think about whether I'm going to Hospice or not.

8.50am:  my ankle is feeling a bit better today, so I'm off to Hospice Shop.  

ABOVE: just pinched this photo of Sienna and Bodhi off my son's Facebook.  Sienna REALLY likes her infant brother!  So cute.

ONWARD...

Well... home again after a very busy morning at the shop!
Lots of customers.  Lots of sales.  All good!
There is a meeting at the shop tomorrow at lunchtime too... some big announcement from 'Management'... everyone is buzzing about what it could be about?

Lacy came over on the bus with Keera... so we are now all having lunch together.  It's a gorgeous sunny mid-winter day here today... so nice.

Since lunch I've been working on baby quilts... trying to make a Ring Tail Lemur... tracing onto visofix is a shit job, making sure you don't do it the wrong way around and end up with the animal facing the wrong way at the end.  

Been EXCELLENT with me diet too...not one naughty thing has passed me lips in days!  IMPRESSIVE if I do say so myself! 

My back is killing me!  Bending over freakin fabric, ironing etc.  *sigh*  Taking a break now...
IF you can call making dinner having a break?

Steve got a pay rise... he's stoked.  They (Steve and Bex) have a 'Plan A' and now a 'Plan B' for where they live once baby arrives.   I'm glad they are covering all the possibilities.
More on that another day... on PEPSI I think.

End of Day:  the dinner tonight was Beef/Bacon/Tomatoe and Mushroom stew and it was delicious! We had it with spuds and veges.
nite nite.

NAMES AND NEEDLES

Well you guys didn't give me many ideas for puppy names yesterday did ya?

So... I decided to go with either Walt Disney character names or herb/spice names.
I've compiled a long list of girl and boy names... and as a puppy is born, I will draw a name out of the appropriate 'hat' for that girl or boy puppy.

I think that will be fun!

Of course, a bit closer to the due date, I will have a little competition on how many girls/boys Coco will have.  I'm looking forward to that.  *smiles*

Needles:  Keera has her 6 week old immunisations this morning.  Lacy is bound to be a wreck!  I'm tempted to ban her from the room while Keera has her injections!
Lacy faints at the sight of a needle!  I can't imagine her holding it together when they stick Keera with three!
So... that should be FUN.

Before that, I've got a hair appointment for a deep conditioning treatment, courtesy of the salon for being loyal to their salon.  SCORE.   You can get 'Loyalty Cards' for most anything now days!

RIGHT, that's me for now....  or not!
Did I mention I have been doing really well with a renewed effort to lose weight?  Well... I am.  I'm doing it with one of my very best friends in the whole wide world.  We are each other's 'Diet Buddy', and report to each other on the weekend.   NO STRESS... it's great.

ONWARD...

Firstly  MARGARET:  like hell !  Earl Grey does not rock!!!   I like the ordinary Bell tea way more than freaking Earl Grey.  As if!

Doctor visit... went well.  Keera had a needle in both thighs and SCREAMED holy blue murder.  I was impressed... Lacy did not cry or faint!

After the Dr's appointment we went down to the mall so Lacy could fill out some forms for IRD stuff.  Then we got home with 20 minutes to spare before Brylee and Griffin came home.

While I was at the hair salon I got them to do some light layers around me face... it's quite nice... just a bit of interest instead of it all being the one length.  Might show ya later, if I get a chance to muck around in front of the camera! 

 ABOVE:  Keera getting weighed, she is now 5 kilos, just 120 grms above Steve's birth weight!  She did not like being weighed at all.

ABOVE:  this morning Lacy noticed a very small blueish lump under Keera's skin on her lower chest.  This is the nurse measuring it... (4mm X 2mm, tiny).   

The nurse thinks is a subcutaneous hemangioma, which is similar to a raised red birthmark, only Keera has hers under the skin.  As it is tiny, we really don't need to worry about it, as they usually self resolve in a few years.
But just to be on the safe side, she has been referred to the Paediatric Surgeon for an ultra sound.  

That will probably take months to eventuate, knowing the waiting lists at the hospital!  IF it grows alarmingly, or we are really worried we can take her back to an urgent referral, but I don't think that will happen.  (fingers crossed)
They are not dangerous to the child at all.

 ABOVE:  crap 'n' arseholes it's hard to get a decent photo of one's self!  And don't say where's the freakin smile?  Just don't.  *sigh*

ANON:  you be a smart arse then!  lol

End of Day: A good day.  Keera was fairly unsettled tonight, so hopefully Lacy gets some sleep tonight!
nite nite.

PRONUNCIATION, AND PINTEREST

Felicity asked me yesterday how do we pronounce Bodhi's name?

Well it's kinda like Bo dee.  Or:  Bode with a long 'e'.

Maybe I will try to do a short video at some point so you can hear me saying it?

PINTEREST:  I spent a bit of time last night making another Board for my Pinterest.  I don't have many Boards or Pins (yet)... cos I don't get a lot of time to just browse pictures!
My new Board is called 'Coco's 1st Litter'.  Now I have a quick reference of our first litter of puppies.  (My pinterest name:  Chris Dietcokerocks)

It was really lovely looking back over the HUNDREDS of photos I took of Bruiser, Rhino, Kiba, Tulip, Bee Bee and Pinky!  I know they all have new names now, but I will always think of them by their 'home' names.

I am starting to think of names for our next litter!  Any ideas people?  I was thinking of naming girl puppies after flowers, but I have no idea for boy puppy names.  So if you can think of some... let me know.

When I got home yesterday after dropping Felicity at her Motel I walked up the stairs and saw this:

 ABOVE:  I was like... "why do you have outside pot plants sitting on the kitchen bench?"

ABOVE:  Ha!  Stew had looked at the 'TO DO' list on the board and had fixed the kitchen cupboard door that was coming apart!  THAT explained it then, really???

Oh... then I got it... the pots were to hold the bits together while the glue set.   DOH!

TODAY:  well I have NOTHING on!  So I'm going to read blogs.  And once I've caught up I might do some sewing.
Stuff the housework.  It ain't going anywhere in a hurry.

ONWARD...

I'm not blogging... YET.
See in the photo above how the boys have pulled a couch around into the middle of the room so they can play X Box?  Well... I'm now re-arranging the family room a bit.... *sigh* ... to see how it will look with a big couch in the 'middle' of the room.

I still need to keep an area clear for the puppy pen too... we are going to need that in there in about 33 days or so!  Coco is not 'showing' yet, I can't wait until she is!

ABOVE:  well...that doesn't look too bad does it?  Not sure now where I will fit the puppy pen ... but I'll come up with something... *sigh*

Now wish me luck, cos I'm about to make myself a cup of tea!  I must find SOMETHING else to drink apart from Diet Coke!  I am NOT enjoying my Diet Coke as much as I used to, it's too sweet!  

ABOVE:  I had this blue net tablecloth... and it was too big for the table... so I've hung it in this window.  It helps block out all the washing hanging out there!  Not sure if I like it necessarily, but it will do for now.

Tea:  I had a cup of Earl Grey.  It leaves your mouth feeling quite dry doesn't it?  But, it wasn't REVOLTING like I kinda expected it to be!

NOW... finally I'm happy with the room... off to read a few blogs!

My house smells divine!  I've got a roast of lamb in the oven, cooking in thick mint sauce... I'm starting to drool!

End of Day:  well I got heaps done around the house today, when I didn't even intend to !
Dinner was really scrummy too.  Everyone loves lamb done in mint sauce in this house.
nite nite.

BABIES, FEET AND MEETING A FRIEND

The following are lots of photos of Tess, Sienna and wee Bodhi that I snapped off Skype last night:

ABOVE: Little Miss Sienna, she's such a wee dot...  I got waves from her last night... and she tried to type too!  My computer's sound is knackered, so I could not hear them, they had to type their side of the conversation.  Such a drag.

 ABOVE:  Tess is looking great, she's lost about 10 kilos since Bodhi was born!  That is an amazing loss in only a month.

ABOVE: Little Bodhi, photo is a bit blurry, but it is only a Skype photo after all.

 ABOVE:  he looks a lot like Russell... except Russell had dark hair like Keera.

ABOVE: he's just a toy as far as Sienna is concerned!

ABOVE:  Sienna just wants to poke him, and hog all Mum's attention.  Perfectly normal for a 15 month old who's had her Mum away in hospital for a while.  And she has an ear infection too... poor bubba.

ABOVE: last one.... hopefully we can Skype again and actually see Bodhi with his eyes open! 

ABOVE:  I got spoilt last night... Griffin wanted to give me a foot massage!  And of course as soon as I take me socks off Teddy gets in on the act too!  He's a weird dog!

TODAY:  I'm going out to the airport to pick up Felicity (blog friend) who is coming up for just one day and night to see a friend in town.  I'm going to take her to Sylvia Park for lunch, then we can kill a couple of hours looking around town/shops before she has to be at the Motel to meet her friend.

So... should be a nice day!

ONWARD...

Run down of today:

- Felicity's plane arrived an hour early, but as we are only 15 minutes from the airport, I got there pretty quick.

- Once I picked her up we popped into Lacy's so Felicity could see Keera.

- Then on to Sylvia Park for lunch and a natter... well actually we nattered non stop pretty much for 4 hours!  lol

- After lunch I took her up to One Tree Hill in Greenlane so she could take in the view of Auckland.  But there was no parking at the top so she had to make do with looking out the car's window!

- Then we went down to the waterfront and stopped at Mission Bay for one of the famous Movenpick Ice Creams!

- After that I was going to head off and go over the Harbour Bridge so she could at least say she had been over it... BUT me bladder had other ideas!

So I got off the motorway at Greenland with the intention of using the bathroom at McDonald's in Greenlane.

The lights went from Green to Red just as we got up to the major intersection, and as I SIMPLY COULD NOT HOLD ON ANY LONGER... I jumped out of the car and ran for it!  Felicity had to run around the car and jump in the driver's seat and get the car through the intersection once the lights turned green again!  

I was a little bit embarrassed about ditching her in the car... but it was that or piddle on the  seat!  Seriously, I felt I took the best option!  lol

I can laugh about it now, but at the time is was really embarrassing!!!

- After that fiasco, we did indeed go over the Harbour Bridge.

- Then we got off the motorway in the city, as she is staying in an inner city motel.  ONLY. ... I got a wee bit lost!  So we had to get back on the motorway and backtrack a bit until I could get off at the right point.  After that is was easy to find her motel.

- I hope it is not another 5 years before I see her again!  She's a lovely Chick, and looks AMAZING after her weight loss!   I would never have recognised her on the street, that's for sure!

I have a couple of photos:

ABOVE:  Keera was just fed, and pretty much asleep...

 ABOVE:  Felicity laughing, it was lovely to see her so very happy!

ABOVE:  getting our ice creams!  Doesn't she look a million dollars!  I wish she lived closer, she's an inspiration!  I think she has lost close to 100 kilos?  Something like that anyway!  AMAZING.  

Last night/early this morning... Stew has been snoring something ROTTEN!  I see why he got kicked out of the camp bedroom!  OMG he's really loud at the moment.
Hope like hell he isn't that bad tonight!  Or I might have to thump him.... lots!

End of Day:  it's been a really lovely day.  And best of all, the really bad weather held off until tonight ... so it didn't stuff up our day!  yaaaa.
nite nite.

BABY LOVES HER BATH NOW

When Lacy and Keera were here this week I got to see baby having a bath... and she now loves it!

ABOVE:  I just love how Lacy looks at her baby with such love, and ya know what?  Keera looks at her Mummy so intently and gives Lacy masses of smiles, it's so darling.

ABOVE:  See?  Keera loves her Mummy... She's got a cute wee smile for her Mum.

ABOVE: I'm sure Keera was trying to laugh!

 ABOVE:  I know... how many bath photos do I need to put up???  Trouble is, there are just so many GORGEOUS ONES, it's hard to choose only one or two!

But OK... I'll stop with the bath shots!  
Here is Bex looking a bit tired the other night....

ABOVE:  I don't know why, but the dogs just love lying on her!  I can be in the chair right next to her, but do they sit on me??? *sigh*

TODAY:  Get all the washing done, always a bigger job on the weekend.
Stew wants to get the lawns mown, our's and Lacy's.  That will take him a while.
Doubt we will go out, we are all a bit tired after a long week.

ONWARD...

What can I say about today?  Long.  I've got another freakin headache... and it sure wasn't helped by us doing the damn grocery shopping I can tell ya!

Thank god we only do it once a fortnight.  Saturday, what a SHIT day to do it too.. every man and his dog was in the supermarket ... I came close to screaming a few times.

I'm now going to lie down and hopefully get rid of the headache.
Poor Stew feels as knackered as me, but he's got to do the lawns now, just in case it rains tomorrow and he can't do them again.

I didn't lie down.  *sigh*   Stew is using the weedeater and it's making a hooah of a noise, so I did an update on PEPSI instead.

*** PEPSI UPDATED *** PEPSI UPDATED *** PEPSI UPDATED ***

KAREN:  I got the Giraffe from Farmers.

Stew didn't get around to Lacy's lawns afterall.... once he had done our's he didn't feel like doing more. 
And I did get a lie down after he finished the lawns, and now feel much better.

End of day: I just had a lovely, but quick Skype session with Tess.  Because Sienna is so clingy it's a bit difficult when Russ or Haylea are not there to help with her.  But I did manage to see her and Bodhi... which was neat.
nite nite.