LAUGHING COMES EASY

Some babies are hard to get to smile... but not our darling little Keera!
I swear, every time I see her she laughs at me... she is just delightful.
I got a gorgeous little video of her the other day and so now I will share it:


ABOVE: Isn't she just a little doll? She is such a happy wee bubba, Lacy is certainly doing something right!

Now, how about seeing what we did yesterday in the garage?  Shit, can you even remember how many times I've 'rearranged' our garage?
You poor buggers must be sick to death of photos of my stuff moved here and there... but TOO BAD, I've got nothing else to show ya today (YET)....

ABOVE: my sewing 'space' is still in the same place. The only real change is I have two new shelving units to put all me fabrics and stuff in.  

The big arrow is pointing at that large plastic box, it's full to the brim with little scraps and left over fabrics.  I had to get Stew to take it down late last night cos it was ready to topple off.  
I think I will spend a day sorting the scraps into separate little boxes of similar colours etc.  I find it very hard to throw them away!

ABOVE:  As you can see, I've still got to finish the job. 

DAY 5!  Still feeling very, very positive and motivated.  I don't think I've lasted this long without caving in and having a treat or two, which then lead to falling off the 'wagon'.  NOT this time.  I think I had sunk so low in self esteem I couldn't go any lower, the only way was UP.  

Or down, depending on how ya look at it!  *smiles*
Still feeling so damn HAPPY!  Not used to this.  I like it a lot.

ONWARD...

No weighing.  No measuring.
My clothes will tell the story as I lose weight. 
I don't feel the need to take my measurements at all.  I am not starting out being defined by numbers.
This is not a 'number' focused change, this is all about how I FEEL.

I am being kind to myself, I am not going to put pressure on myself to lose 'X' amount of weight, or wear 'X' size clothes.  This whole household is working on eating healthier meals, getting more exercise and ENJOYING being HAPPY.

Lacy has started feeling stir crazy and lonely in her little house, so Bex and I picked her up and we had a girly couple of hours at the mall.  The girls looked in baby shops (of course) and I tagged along for the exercise.  We all had sushi for lunch, an excellent choice.

 ABOVE:  shoppin' with the girls.

We got home just in time to be here when Brylee and Griffin get home from school.

ABOVE:  I got this darling set of photos of wee MOLLY who lives in the 'Naki' (Taranaki).  Tracy said she is doing really well, and she loves visiting friends ... here she is playing with her 'boyfriend' Ably.  Too cute.

Dinner tonight:  I am making salmon quiche.  It's a firm favourite in this house and I've not made it for quite a while.  I'm sure everyone will enjoy it.

SALMON QUICHE:

SERVES 6

1/2 cup standard flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups milk

75 grms butter, melted

1 X 440grm can pink salmon, drained

1 cup grated tasty cheese

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in the combined eggs, milk and butter.

Add the salmon, onion, cheese and chives, mix well. Pour mixture into a greased ovenproof dish.

Cook in a moderate oven at 180oC (350F) for about 45 minutes, or until quiche is set. Add garnish at end.

This recipe is amazingly quick and easy, and I usually double or triple  it so we can have a 'spare' quiche for another day cold. It's lovely cold as well.

End of Day:  knackered,  just spent 2 hours bent over a huge container of all my fabric 'scraps.  Sorted them out, and got VERY ruthless in the last half hour and threw MASSES of tiny bits and strips away!  I know it sounds nuts if you are a sewer/quilter, but I had teeny, tiny bits that in reality were good for nothing!  So out it's going.
So tired now though, and my tummy is not happy with me.  Bending over that long really made me feel ill.
Time to relax before bed in another hour or so.
nite nite.

SORRY, BUT THIS POST IS GOING TO BE A BIT HEAVY?

I WROTE A LETTER.  BUT... I don't think I will ever send it.
It was just so I could get so much ANGER out of my system.  Purge the BAD FEELINGS from inside myself.

My Psychologist told me it was a good way to 'VENT' without doing any damage.

She was right.  I do feel much better.  
Seeing it all down on paper made me feel like I could let it go... and start enjoying my life and family again.

And I mean ENJOYING all the family that choose to be in my life.  I LOVE all of them so, so much.

No more dwelling on the past.  No more letting bad feelings nibble away at my soul.

I am whole again.  I am BLOODY HAPPY again.

AND today is Day 4!!!   Three FULL days already gone and I'm feeling damn fantastic that my motivation and resolve is as strong as it was a few days ago!

Stew suggested we go out for an ice cream yesterday afternoon... and I thought about it... and almost said YES right off the bat.  Then I paused, and decided I needed more time for my new resolve to SETTLE IN before allowing a treat to slip in.

I DO intend to allow myself ONE treat a week... it might be an ice cream, or a kebab or butter chicken.  But ONLY ONE a week.  Not even one whole day, just ONE treat.

I can't begin to describe how bloody euphoric I am feeling.  If I was fitter I would be dancing around my house, that's how good I feel.

DANCING will happen.  Just not right now!  *smiles*


CHRISTY:  re your question last night... I have a goal in mind.  But it is not necessarily based on a NUMBER.  It's more about how I feel about myself.  Sure most 'dieters' have a goal weight in mind when they set out on a weight loss journey... but I have done that over and over again, and it really  has not worked for me.
Setting specific goals is not how I am looking at this now.

I just want to be happy with myself.  Happy with my choices. Happier and healthier.
And also, if I'm being completely honest, I want to fit some of my 'slimmer' clothes again!
I hate mirrors... and being a GIRL, that is a real problem!
Show me anyone who doesn't want to look in the mirror and think 'Yep, I look OK'.

I DON'T see 'OK' in the mirror.

As my adored Nana Brown used to say to me before she passed away ... "Darling, at least you have a pretty face".   

That didn't really do much for my self confidence.

Sometimes it is just those little comments peppered throughout your life that affect you MORE than anything else eh?

I have been the same weight (within a couple of Kilos) for about a year now.  I will weigh myself on DAY 30, 60, 90, etc.  THAT IS ALL.  No manic jumping on the bloody scales every day, up to 6 times a day.  There will be NO insane mood swings when I don't see a loss each day.  That is NOT going to happen.  NO BLOODY WAY.  No pressure.  No unhappiness.  I will take whatever I lose each weigh in and be happy.

 ABOVE:  Stew and I around 2008.  This is how I'd like to see BOTH of us looking again.  Not too slim, not too heavy.  JUST RIGHT.

Right.. I'm off to do some happy stuff... make lunches, do housework, go buy some herbs, tidy up the garage... cos everything we got out of storage is just sitting there waiting to be sorted out.... bla bla bla.

ONWARD...

2 PM... OMG where has the time gone?  

I went and picked up Lacy and Keera, so Lacy could give me and Bex a hand with the garage. 
I'm happy to say we have sorted out 75% of it already... it's shaping up well.  

I am really sad that I have not found my King Size Quilt, the ONE thing I really wanted to work on and finish this year.  I am positive it is still in the Storage Box, right at the front where the guys didn't unload.  
So, I will just have to work on all the other UFO's, and churn out a few baby quilts, cot sheets etc.  I can do heaps now that I've got my fabric back.

I was talking to MYSELF yesterday as I drooled over my fabric... and Bex laughed and told the guys I was talking sweet nothings to my fabric! AS IF I WOULD DO THAT!  Ummmm... well maybe I was coo'ing a little?  lol

Relaxing.  Stinkin' hot now... I feel so sorry for Brylee and Griffin having to walk home in this heat.
Salad sandwich for lunch, Bex made it.  Afternoon tea will be a One Square Meal Snack.
Dinner: Roast Pork and veges.  I will RESIST the crackling.  

I just heard from the Building Company contracted to fix our flooring etc.  He is working on co-ordinating his builders with the sub-contractor who will do the flooring.  So hopefully in a couple of days we will FINALLY know when it will all happen?

I told him my concerns about how do we live in the house while the work is being done and he assures me we don't have to 'leave home' while it's being done.  I am so, so happy about that.

End of Day:  another fantastically happy day... still totally in control of my food choices.  Feels damn good.
nite nite.

HMMMM... DOES CORNFLOUR GO 'OFF'?

I was looking in my pantry yesterday, trying to find some 'One Square Meal' thingees I'd bought a week or so ago. 

I hauled heaps out onto the floor... and found these:

ABOVE:  Whoops!  Seems I keep buying more when I really don't need to.  Oh well... we ain't gunna run out in a hurry are we?

So, after delving into cupboards head first to find the One Square Meals, and NOT finding them, I gave up.

I even thought Steve might have taken them to work for his lunch, but no.

So, I'm sitting at my computer desk, and Bex says "Did you put them in your desk?"

ABOVE:  Why!  Yes I did.  So now I have found them they are going in my bag, so when we are out and I feel faint with hunger (It does happen)... I can grab one of the small ones outta me bag.  EXCELLENT thinking.

They are rather nice too.  I find the big ones just too much to eat in one go, but the cute little bite size ones are perfect.

Yes, they are a bit on the high side re: carbohydrates, but I do believe they are still a very good alternative to a whole block of chocolate... correct?

3RD DAY being a good girl... feeling so confident I CAN do the damn weight loss thing again... I'm buzzing with ...... ???  CAN'T say JOY but it's close. 

I keep thinking of how good I will feel once I've lost even half what I NEED to lose.  Climbing stairs, bending down, getting up off the floor, not hating my own reflection.  It's going to be so good ... and I feel sure I will get there and THIS TIME freakin' well stay there.

God loves a trier, and my god I'm that if nothing else.  I will never give up trying.  Actually, SCRAP THAT.  I AM DOING IT. Full stop. End of Story.

ABOVE:  Bex painted her toe nails... so I wanted mine done too.. only not green like her's.  I got dark blue.  My feet look withered and dried up next to Bex's! Oh well, I will admire them cos they are the only part of me that's got bones showing right now!
I can't wait to see me collar bones again!
THAT is going to be a blog post all on it's own.  lol

Next tidbit for the day:


ABOVE: A little video of Steve and Dante.  Dante is starting to babble, it's so damn cute. *The weird noise towards the end is my 'cuckoo clock', only mine is a 'Hee haw clock' cos we can hear donkeys braying across the valley.

Someone asked me yesterday for photos of Liam and Emily, Amanda's two youngest children. 

Unfortunately, some things are out of our hands, and us seeing Amanda's children is in HER hands.  We did the right thing and went down to see her new baby boy.  Now it's up to them.

Until the rift in the family is healed, nothing will change.  That is in THEIR hands too. 

ONWARD...

We had a laugh last night... we decided to see how Rena would look in the cupboard under the strairs... for a LAUGH people, she didn't sleep there:

HARRY POTTER SLEPT UNDER THE STAIRS TOO

ABOVE:  she thought she was the bee's knees.

ABOVE:  "Look Grandma, NO HANDS!!!" .

ABOVE: no shortage of adorable babies here.

ABOVE:  Keera checkin out Uncle Steve last night.  At one point she tried biting his nose while pulling on his ears!

Everyone is taking it easy right now, saving energy for when the storage box gets here.  Then we will all be sorting it out... 

BLONDIE: That cupboard is empty because everything that was in it went into storage when we had the flood.. it was full of water.

Well the box is sorted out... and it didn't even take very long!  I was wanting to find my fabrics (done), and my big king size quilt that I have not finished... but we couldn't find it.  Dammit. Now I have NO IDEA where the hell it is.  It's the ONE project I really wanted to get finished this year.  *sigh*

ABOVE:  for a certain Auzzy Tart.  She's issued me with a challenge.  To look after MYSELF ... and it would appear now she has to come up with another challenge for next month.  ha ha!

ABOVE:  It was all hand to the pumps (so to speak) unpacking and repacking the box.  Well, except for me.

 ABOVE:  I got to walk up and down the street with Dante until he went to sleep, then I watched over him.  And took photos.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  Dinner tonight was proudly presented by Steve.  We had a very nice pork stir fry accompanied by baked mini wedges and sour cream.  It was delicious.  

End of Day:  another darn good day, another day on track and loving it.
nite nite.

SATURDAY, AND DAY 2

No one has to go to work today, this is great.

Top of the 'to do' list today is to get hold of Smartbox and arrange a time so we can go and re-arrange what is in the box, take some stuff out (like my fabric), and put some of the bigger things in (like Bex's washing machine/freezer etc).  

We want to keep all Bex's 'stuff' in storage for an indefinite time now.  After some discussion, suggested by us, they will be continuing to live with us.  There will be no pressure for them to move out or for Bex to return to work.  This will give them time to save some money towards their next step in life.

The benefits for US?  We get live in babysitters, I get live in help with the housework, I have company and a gorgeous wee grandson to cluck over whenever I want. WIN WIN.

Last night Bex had a little fright:

ABOVE:  she got a really hot rash over her face and neck!  No idea why, and it went within half an hour.  Weird.

ABOVE:  clearly NOT her best profile.  It will be interesting if it happens again.  At least she didn't swell up, which I was worried might happen.

ABOVE:  Master Dante was a right rat bag yesterday.   He simply did not want to sleep much.  This photo was taken around 9 pm, and he was finally looking like he might go to sleep. Stew, clearly the 'favourite' person in this house... both dogs AND the baby on his lap!   Dante didn't last long before he cried again ... I think he got overtired.  

Right, enough yakkity yak, I'm off to sort out ingredients for sushi....   everyone in this house loves it which is very helpful... I won't have to make separate lunches for me and 'them'.

ONWARD...

After ringing the Storage Company numerous times yesterday, and three times this morning... I finally got to speak to a human instead of an answering machine.  What a pain in the arse.

A N Y W A Y... it's all sorted and our box will be delivered back to our house tomorrow afternoon, and we can re-pack it before they come and get it again on Monday.  
I can't wait to get my fabrics back!
YES... I am weird... in a fabric lover way.  lol

I woke up starving.  I'm thinking of having some breakfast.  But I can't think what to have that's not 'evil'.  Maybe some muesli and fruit?
Day 2 ...  bring it on.

Ya... all sorted for the storage box to be delivered tomorrow, I can't wait!
Grocery shopping done too... now it's time for lunch.  Lunch will be fresh corn on the cob.  NO BUTTER. NO SALT (for me anyway).

And dinner will be sushi. It was gunna be for lunch, but I won't have time to make it for lunch  now.  Steve in NOT impressed.

Stew and Steve are going to the cricket, 20/20 match:  Black Caps Vs. England.  So they won't be here for dinner.  SUCH A SHAME.  ha ha ha

ANON: this is for you.  The Smartbox company is one of the best economically for LONG TERM storage, and the added advantage is they bring the empty box to you and take it back full.  

ABOVE: you can 'visit' your box on site to get stuff out or put more in, they only require 24 hrs notice.  We have chosen to have our box brought back to our house so we can unload it and reload it here.  Then they will take it back again.  There is a fee for that, but we are happy to pay for the convenience of having it here to sort out.

Kelly, Rena and Keera have turned up for a visit.  Kelly is babysitting Keera so Lacy can have the weekend 'off'.  Oh to be so lucky.

Lacy is talking of moving over to West Auckland.  This will mean I no longer have to take Keera to visit with her Father.  AWESOME.  Lacy can do it.  Or he can pick her up.  Either way, I won't be.

ABOVE:  here is Keera wearing one of the headbands Sandra B sent her... 

ABOVE:  another gorgeous one!  



ABOVE:  Rena enjoying the baby doll and clothes that my Mum sent over.


ABOVE:  the little 'car seat' is rather cute too.

It just got really noisy, Stew is doing the lawns... he's got the line trimmer out doing the edges, thank goodness our section isn't too big, cos my head is banging.

I'm over today already.  Tension is in the air and it does my head in.  

ANNE:  I miss you Palmy girls SO MUCH, you have no idea.  I wish sometimes that we had never moved.  But we did, and we are finally happy here.  Having the kids here helps so much for me.  Company during the day is so nice.

MARGIE:  no I've not heard of that diet.  Let me know how you guys go please!

Kelly didn't fancy spending the night at Lacy's all alone apart from Keera and Rena, so she has come back here for the night.

I think Bex, Kelly and I are going to play cards...   when Stew and Steve get home from the cricket they will get to have their sushi.  Bex tells me it is delicious.  I had some, but didn't like the salmon one at all.  I don't like much fish now... well not to eat anyway.

I do enjoy catching fish *smiles*, particularly the ones that fight... like Kingfish.

JUDITH:  I think Bex's rash was possibly heat or something she ate or touched.  It went fairly quickly, so all good.

End of Day:  well the guys got home from the cricket happy ... even though our guys lost the game.... dicks.  They have not been playing well at all.  Oh well... like I give a rat's arse about cricket!  ha ha ha
nite nite

FRIDAY ... IT CAME AROUND FAST THIS WEEK!

But only because Wednesday was a holiday I'm sure.

 ABOVE:  I got a lovely little parcel in the mail yesterday from a lovely blog friend.  She made these hairbands for Keera!  I can't wait to pop them on her.  Thank you Sandra B, you are a darling.

 ABOVE:  I saw this photo on Facebook.  It made me think of Mr Owen and his orange crocks!  I wonder if his feet look like this?  Trish?

ABOVE:  this picture was on Facebook too.  I'm like... REALLY?  OMG, who would go out like this  (apart from this woman of course!).  

Now that I've finished assaulting your eyeballs... I will go and find something else to do!

Not sure what... but I feel the need to go out! Maybe I can drag Bex out to the little fabric shop I re-found yesterday!  

ONWARD...

Right.  Today I am going to take a small step in the right direction.  I am going to eat well.  I will get some exercise.  For TODAY.  Just today. One day at a time.

IF I succeed for TODAY, I hope I will feel good about myself... so that tomorrow I can try to do it again.

I say TRY... because I really don't know if I can do this again. But I am finally ready to TRY. 

My health is abysmal at the moment.  AND I am 100% sure it is totally down to my weight.
WEIGHT.
It has been my nemesis since I was a teenager.

And it is killing me.  

For so long I have not given a shit about myself.  I have been living for my family, my life is not my own.  Hasn't been for 34 years.

Maybe it is time I really DID try living for MYSELF (and my man).  On a full time basis.

OK... I know I will still have to take care of the kids... but surely I can do that AND take care of myself?

I have heard my doctors say it over and over again.  I WILL BE NO USE TO ANYONE IF I'M DEAD.

Apparently I am a ticking time bomb.  Diabetes. High Blood Pressure.  High Cholesterol. Stress. All the 'ingredients' of a heart attack waiting to happen.

I DO BELIEVE THE MESSAGE IS FINALLY SINKING IN.

Just took a few photos of Dante... so will share:

 ABOVE:  I'm having problems with my camera.  Can you tell?  The photos are not crisp and clear.  Driving me bonkers.

On a happier note:  Bex, Dante and I are off shopping.  I am going to have sushi for lunch.  That's healthy right?

Bex and I had a delightful time out and about today.  We both bought some fabric and cute buttons:

ABOVE:  Bex bought this little panel... well actually, it's not that little.  She isn't sure what she will do with it yet, it can be a book, or a quilt, or even a wall hanging.

ABOVE:  we both got buttons.  How can you resist when they are that cute?

ABOVE:  I got this panel, and some matching fabric too.  I also am not sure what I will be doing with it, but it screams out 'QUILT'... so maybe it will become a quilt!  Clearly I am still LOVING bright fabrics.  

The place we got this fabric from is called 'The Crafty Needle' and it is situated at: Unit 6a, 5 Jack Conway Ave, Manukau. (it's off Cavendish Drive).
They also have classes there, and service Bernina Sewing Machines.   YES, their fabrics are a bit more expensive than say, Spotlight, but you have to pay a bit extra to get fabrics you don't see in Spotlight eh?

TODAY'S LUNCH.
Sushi.  And only 4 pieces.
Tomorrow I will make my own.

Bex is down in the garage making more nursing pads ... and I'm gunna lie on the couch and relax until I have to make dinner.

Dinner tonight will be Lemon Chicken Stir Fry... with a few noodles.  Not many.

CROSS EVERYTHING

I want you all to cross everything...for excellent news this morning from our Insurance Company.  The lady handling our 'case' said she would be ringing me this morning with news on when our flooring etc will be fixed.

As I'm not a very patient person, I am hoping like hell she says it's going to be SOON... like this month would be awesome.

It's not a problem right now of course, we can use the rooms/garage just fine.  What is a problem is KNOWING that it all has to be ripped up, and the disruption to our household will no doubt be immense while the repairs are done.
I am dreading that.

It's hard enough keeping everything ticking along nicely without having your floors ripped up... not to mention the back wall of the garage!     I am hoping they don't uncover more damage once the wall is down.  They will be able to see into the back of the kitchen cupboards once the wall is down... hmmmm.

I am going to be taking Miss Muppet to Sylvia Park for her access visit of 1 hour with her father today too.  
Keera has established a bond with her father now, and enjoys her visits with him.  So, hopefully in a while he can be the one who comes here to get her. 

I'm a little 'over' being the one who does all the running around to be honest.
There was an 'understanding' that the father would contribute a small sum towards MY running costs,  incurred getting Keera to and from her access visits.  If there is nothing forthcoming today then I will have to re-think our 'agreement'. 

Gone are the days when I would just go 'Oh well, nevermind'... I've been used once too often to let it happen again.

ABOVE:  see that guy?  I was sitting in me car yesterday while Stew and the kids were in KMart looking for a new school bag for Brylee when I got a nasty fright from him.  

He came right up to my open window and asked me for money for the bus!   I was freaked out cos he just appeared right beside me. 

I was ruffling around in my bag at the time trying to find something and he could have easily just grabbed my bag and run!
But he didn't of course, but still.  I got a fright.

I don't get how anyone can just roam around a car park asking for money!   Anyway *sigh*, he was weird.

Right... off to start the day.  Lunches, washing, pick up Keera bla bla bla.... oh and wait for that important phone call.

ONWARD...

Today's access visit got cancelled.  Seems he's been sick and doesn't want to pass it on to Keera.  Awesome.  Now I can stay home and look at my phone!  lol

Well .... I am also going to be looking at the loo... cos my tummy is NOT HAPPY.  I think the increased dose of Metformin is making me sick.
I woke up a dozen times during the night feeling like I was gunna throw up.  Ghastly feeling.  I hope it doesn't continue all day too.

So... me tummy is still doing nasty things.  And I keep feeling like I'm gunna throw up any second.  Ikkkk.   My Mother had this happen when she went on Metformin.  She was so bad she had to stop taking them.  
I think the fact that I havn't been taking the Metformin every day has saved me from being ill.   Yesterday I took all me pills. And maybe this is the result?

ABOVE:   who else is bombarded with ANONYMOUS SPAM comments all day?  I am.  And I'm over it.
So... I have activated the comment option where all comments on posts older than 1 week get put in the SPAM box, and everything else is automatically published.
I will check all the SPAM comments once a day, and if you have left an ANONYMOUS comment and it's not published, just hang in there, it will be as soon as I can go through them all.

I get between 50 - 250 SPAM comments a DAY. Anyone else got this problem???
This morning between 8.56 am and 9.01 am,  I got 79 ANONYMOUS comments... grrrrrr.

Sitting here looking at the phone, willing it to ring.  But it hasn't yet, so Bex and I are going down to Spotlight to get some fabric so she can make absorbent pads for inside her bra.  She's been going through the disposable ones so fast it's really starting to cost too much.
I bet the phone rings just as we drive down the road!

JACKIE: I'm sorry you are having some problems with Chico.  As far as I know none of our other puppies have had any problems at all. In fact they are all doing very well indeed.

Bex and I have been out... 

 ABOVE:  Dante in his pram.  He loves being in it... almost always sleeps the whole time he's in it... which is great.

ABOVE:  Our new Spotlight store in Manukau.  We love it.  The arrow points to yet another poor old bloke sitting in his car waiting for the wife to finish shopping in Spotlight!   Stew does not have this 'problem' as he enjoys shopping as much as me!  YES, I'm blessed.   lol

ABOVE:  two fabrics that were on the sale table... $6 a metre.  SCORE.

I had seen a really nifty needle threader a couple of years ago, and I really wanted to get one, but none of my usual haunts had them.  

Then last night I suddenly remembered where I'd seen it.  A fairly new fabric shop in Manukau, it's tucked down a little driveway out of sight.  So, we dropped in there and to my delight, she had two left!  

ABOVE:  the colour choices were Purple, or Purple.  So I got a purple one!   I can't wait to use it. 

Lunchtime here.... off to make a sandwich ...

Lunch done.  Long yak with me Mother done.
Now it's time to do a wee bit of sewng.... Bex wants to make some washable breast pads.

I got the phone call I was waiting on after lunch... the insurance company have assigned our 'job' to a building company.  But they couldn't tell me when they will start.

So I rang the building company myself.  And the bloke who has our 'job' is away until Monday.  So I have to wait to hear from him now. Bugger it all.

ABOVE:  Bex is sewing!  I think she's scared of my big machine... apparently she has not sewn in many, many years.
She's making the nursing pads.  V..E..R..Y  S..L..O..W..L..Y.   HA HA HA!

End of Day:  thank god I felt better after about 10 am this morning... no more nausea. A quiet evening has been spent watching tv and cuddling our baby boy Dante.
nite nite.

WAITANGI DAY HOLIDAY

It's a National Holiday today.

I'm going to sleep in. (this post has been scheduled to post while I'm still in bed)

And that's about all for now.

Steve, Bex and baby are meeting friends at Botany today.

Stew, the kids and I are going to sleep in, then think about what we shall do.  I really don't feel like doing much at all.  

And I don't have any photos for the start of the day either.  Boring old blog today.

I can't wait until tomorrow.  I want to know when the floor etc is going to be fixed.  I'm living in a kind of limbo right now... just waiting for the upheaval to start, then be over with.

I am going to explore flooring options... I don't know if I'm that keen on getting wood laminate again... it is the only flooring I know that can be utterly RUINED by water!  I mean hell, water on the floor is a rather common event if ya ask me! (this is our 3rd flood in 6 years)

I am going to talk to the building company about it and see what can be used.... it will all come down to $$$'s of course.

ONWARD...

Yaaa, a sleep in was had.  I got up at 9.15 am, but sadly I'm in a grump.  Just not sleeping well at the moment.  I may have to concede defeat soon and see a Physiotherapist for my left arm, the one I damaged back in November!  It's still a right pain.

 ABOVE:  Dante .. in clothes!  Doesn't happen often, it's been too hot to dress him. He got weighed yesterday, he's now 6.1 kilos = 13.4 pounds.  He's doing really well.

ABOVE:  their bedroom.  I am working on getting them more room... just have to wait until all the repair work is done in the house.  THEN it will be move around time!

It's a stunning day today... the cicada's are chirping like mad.  Stew and the kids have gone to the supermarket for some supplies.  Then who knows what we will do for the day.

I just got a lovely email from THE OWENS, and some darling photos of Poppy:

 ABOVE:  How cute is this? !

 ABOVE:  this is more 'sedate'... 

ABOVE:  NO IDEA what's with the orange 'beard'.... maybe she was trying to match Mr Owens crocks?   Hysterical.   I'm left wondering just WHAT made her orange?

Well apparently wee Poppy was given Spag Bog and that's whats on her chin!  lol

End of Day:  crashed this afternoon, ended up in bed for a couple of hours.  Felt much better for a power nap that's for sure.
Spent the evening watching the telly and just relaxing.
nite nite.

P.S.  Kate in Welly, Poppy is a wee girl, and she is adorable eh?  *smiles*