26 COUSINS

My Mum is the eldest of 10 siblings.
I have 26 cousins on my mother's side... and I could probably walk past 20 of them on the street and not recognise them.

That's pretty sad.  But, as we were the first grandkids and most of our cousins are quite a few years younger, we didn't really have much to do with them as we grew up.  Only saw them at BIG family gatherings.

So.... I've got about 6 cousins here in Auckland.  And I don't have anything to do with them.  I've probably not made enough of an effort to get in touch.  But that's because I just don't know them.

Anyway.... I'm leading up to why I'm talking about this.   One of the cousins who lives here got in touch, and is coming to visit today.
I'm sure it will be a lovely visit... she's got a dog similar to mine.  *smiles*

I bet she's going to love our puppies!

Griffin's friend JJ is coming for the day, so that's Griffin entertained for the day.  Mostly they play Play Station in the bedroom and I hardly see them!

Also today, I think Steve, Bex and the little boys are coming over?  Steve said for a spa, but maybe the weather will ruin those plans.

Keera's off to Daycare... this is her last week.   After this week I'm hoping to get her into Kindergarten.  I must ring up and find out if they are open yet.

The only other thing on me agenda is to bath Tallulah.  She is as smelly as the puppies were yesterday, but I didn't get the time to wash her after their baths.  So today sometime... I will bath her too.

ONWARD...

DAMN!  Some bastard has stolen one of my potted palms from the front of my house!  I'm really upset, it was looking so good and had just had a growth spurt.  Now I'm left wondering if I should have anything out the front that is nice and pinch-able!

Grrrrrr... never thought that would happen around here.

I visited the local Kindergarten this morning and they are working on getting Keera in soon.  I should hear back from them some time today if they have a space for her.  Fingers crossed.

2.35 pm:

- my cousin was just LOVELY.   We talked non stop for 3 hours... we have SO MUCH in common when it comes to kids and family issues!!!
We must get together again soon.  I really loved talking with her.

- Got a phone call from Daycare.  Keera has a low temperature and a snotty nose, so I had to go and get her.  She has a cold FFS.  So, I doubt she will be going back there as her cold will probably last till next week, and this is her last week there anyway.  So, I will be paying for three days childcare ($145)  this week for NOTHING.  That does wonders for my mood.

ABOVE:  This is the sort of palm that was stolen.  It wasn't a huge plant, so easy to nick.
Lesson learnt.  Try not to have easily stolen potted plants out the front!  

Now... I'm going to bath Tallulah and get her smelling pretty again.

End of Day:  OMG another stinking hot, humid day!  You literally cannot move without breaking out in a sweat.  Thank goodness for fans!
nite nite

FIRST IMMUNISATION

Today the puppies go to the Vets for their first immunisation.
I will take them down after dropping Keera at Daycare.
Hopefully no one screams and cries (that would be ME !) lol

It's a big step towards them leaving home, and the last big expense involved in raising puppies.  I don't think I will be breeding with Tallulah again, not after she got eclampsia and was so unwell.  That really frightened me!

My job once the puppies are gone will be to fatten Tallulah up again, and get her and Coco fit.

Once we move to Hamilton, IF we get a property with a bigger section, I plan on getting another dog to breed from.  It won't be a Shih Tzu.  But that's all I will say on that for now, as it may not happen.  Time will tell.

After the Vet's visit, I will come home and put the puppies back in their 'room', then I have to go grocery shopping.  I will leave the big kids at home to keep an eye on the pups for me.

I know the puppues DON'T need to be watched all the time, but I like to know they are not home alone.  I'm a mega protective puppy raiser obviously.

So, I have a fairly full morning planned. 

ABOVE:  I'm starting to use the puppy blankets... getting puppy smells on them so they smell like 'home' when puppy goes to the forever home.

ONWARD... 

10.27 am:  And the first big job of the day is done!   All the puppies are immunised, Vet Checked thoroughly, and all have passed with flying colours.
No one has any issues whatsoever.  Big relief.    There is always a little niggle that someone might have a dicky heart or something wrong, but nope.  All 100% healthy.

Now they just have to grow for another 11 or so days and they can leave home.

Next thing on the list.... grocery shopping.  Ikkk.  

6.37 pm:  Oh my it's been a busy day!
After I did the grocery shopping and got it all put away with Brylee's help, I took a break for an hour or so.

Then I decided to bath the puppies.

They took it well...NOT!   Lots of shaking and shivering, so the heater went back on, and they sat in front of it for an hour or so.

ABOVE:  getting dry in the lounge.

 ABOVE:  And spending time with their Mum.  Only, she's dressed in Keera's clothes! That way the puppies can't feed off her.  I think Tallulah was a bit indignant about the pants!  Hee heee.  I cut a hole for her tail, so that's one pair of shorts Keera won't be wearing again in a hurry!  *smiles*

End of Day: this evening has been lovely.  We had fresh sweet corn for dinner, so yum!
Off to bed shortly... it's been raining and blowing a gale today, so now it's all STICKY. Probably have the fan on all night again so we can sleep.
nite nite

WATER BABIES

It was so hot yesterday, some of the family decided to jump in the spa pool.  As we have it on a cool temperature, it was perfect for cooling off in.

ABOVE:  as you can see, we have two happy water babies.  For some reason Archer didn't end up in it too.

I would have jumped in, but I was cooking dinner.
Maybe another day.

TODAY:  Open Home.  So all of the usual rigmarole.  Cleaning, tidying, getting puppies out of the garage so I can spring clean it and get rid of the puppy poop smell.  Ikkkk.... it's very strong in the mornings I can tell you!

Two more weeks and they will be leaving home.  I will miss the little darlings, but not the poop, nope, never the poop 6 puppies can produce!

So right... time to get moving AGAIN... to get this house presentable.  

ONWARD...

4.09 pm:  well it's been a very long day.  And stinkin' hot.  There has been a lot of cloud, so the humidity has been diabolical.
Getting the house ready for the open home was harder than usual today due to the heat.
And the fact that I'm so tired.

I was feeling like packing it in and just taking the house off the market, and have Stew commute to work forever.  But that would open another can of worms...cos we would have to get everything out of storage in Hamilton and bring it back here.

I'm not prepared to do that yet.  So we will keep trying to sell I suppose.

I just wish it wasn't so hard to bear right now.  It's been 6 months now, and I am just so over it all.  I'm hoping it will be easier once we don't have the puppies to look after?  Probably.

We had 4 groups through the house today.  Probably won't hear anything from them knowing our luck.

End of Day:  glad today is over.   Now looking forward to a new week, and some positivity in my outlook.  I can dream can't I?
nite nite

BEAN BAG...

ABOVE:  Bex has been busy ... Archer loves soft cuddly fabrics, so she has made him his own bean bag.  Obviously by the look on his precious face, he LOVES his bean bag.

Of course, now she has to make one for Dante too.  *smiles*

Today I'm going to take advantage of Stew, and get him to watch Keera while I do some pottery.
I hope I can get a couple of small houses made and ready for glazing before the next term starts.

I'm going to try and get into the day class this coming term ... I was often late arriving to the evening class last year, due to Stew not getting home in time.

So, that's me for the morning at least.
I hope everyone else is planning on having a lovely day.

ONWARD...

10.48 am:  I dreamed about our filthy family room ceiling... so...

ABOVE:  Poor Stewie got the job... cos I simply cannot do it.  It's too much!  And I get dizzy looking up for that long.
It's the only ceiling that desperately needed cleaning thankfully.

Every time I looked up I cringed, it was that bad.  Now I can relax about it.

I've been organising the puppies leaving home.  Hopefully we will only have two more Open Homes with the puppies in the house.  
Hopefully everyone can get their puppy by Saturday 30th of January.

Then there will be one less BIG JOB to do every sunday.  

I think I'm feeling a bit more upbeat today... Steve, Bex and the little boys are coming for dinner today.  I'm looking forward to that.
Baby cuddles, and watching them with the puppies will be lovely.

Puppies are getting their front teeth now, so shoes on will be required from now on, unless ya like your toes being bitten by little needle-like teeth. 

ABOVE:  Dante getting monstered by puppies, and loving every minute of it.  Very cute.

End of Day:  well having the family here was wonderful.  Nothing like little bubba's and puppies to cheer you up.
I cooked a chicken and bacon pasta dish, it was yummo.
Looking forward to getting to bed tonight, I'm bloody tired.
nite nite

DIFFERENT BAG

So the latest bag I made was NOT a cartoon character for a change.

Here it is:

ABOVE:  I ♥LOVE♥ it!  Blue.  Anchor. Totally nautical.  
I'm thinking of making a lot more and then trying to sell them.  Maybe make little pottery houses for sale too.
That way I can make my hobbies pay for themselves.

So that's the plan.  Make enough, then perhaps go to a market again.

Because I've been feeling dreadful the past few days, I'm going to try and get on the treadmill and/or the exercycle for a while today.  Maybe some exercise will make me feel a bit better?  It might help?

Kick in the endorphins and all that crap.

 Seriously, every morning when I get up I:

a. get a massive hot flush
b. Feel like throwing up
c. Have NO ENERGY what so ever.

That ain't 'NORMAL' is it?

I don't know why it's so bad at the moment, it can't all be due to having an extra child, puppies to look after etc?  I'm thinking of going to the Dr to talk about it, cos it's getting worse, not better.

So, that's where I am at the moment, not exactly a bundle of fun!
Shit happens.   

Today?  Dunno.  Make a roof for that little outhouse?  Should do that.  Might even make another couple ... we will see.

OH and I must make an appointment at the vet's for the puppies first immunisations... they are due on Sunday, so I shall try to book them in for Monday.  

 ABOVE:  some happy snaps of Griffin and the puppies taken last night.

ONWARD...

2.00 pm:  After dropping Keera at Daycare, I came home, tended to the puppies then...went to bed.
And slept till 1 pm!  Must have needed a bit of a nap me thinks.  *smiles*

Then I had a late lunch and now... I'm going to make that outhouse roof.  

Puppies are booked in to have their first shots on Monday morning at 9.30 am.  I am sure that will go well... pups seem to hardly even notice having a shot.  Unlike Coco!  But then, she's just a whimpy chicken, McChicken... like ME!

Does ANYONE like the bag?  *sad face*

I'm cheating with dinner tonight ... we are having lasagna toppers heated up in the oven.
Stew should be home in the next half hour or so, then I can relax for a little while.
Having him home to help ... or just BEING HERE makes me feel better.

It's stinking hot right now, so I have two fans on full blast in the lounge.  All they are doing is pushing hot air around.

If it didn't cost so much I'd close all the doors and windows and put on the heat pump... on COLD of course.  But I dread to think what that would cost!

MARLENE: You are right, I will keep the Anchor Bag.  I love it.  Now just to find a use for it... maybe my hair dryer/straightener and curler can live in it.  

End of Day:  a quiet day.  Did nothing to speak of.  Just spent my time thinking...
nite nite

PUPPIES, PUPPIES AND MORE PUPPIES

Right, today I'm going to start with some adorable photos of the puppies that I took yesterday.

Cos I can...

See how fluffy they are getting!   And so adorable.  They loved being out on the lawn yesterday in the late afternoon.  It was cooler for them, and they ran around like... well, frisky little puppies do!  lol

Some news.  Keera is going to be spending part of each week with her Mum Lacy, starting next week.  It will be good for all of us, I get a much needed break, and Lacy gets to spend more time with her daughter.

I am feeling very relieved, as caring for a 3 year old 24/7 was slowly wearing me down.  I was starting to feel really over tired and stressed out.  So, all good.  Lacy will have her part time now too.  Shared care until Lacy gets a permanent home again.

At the moment she is boarding with a friend who doesn't mind Keera coming to stay on the weekends.  So I'm very happy with the new arrangement.

Keera will finish at Daycare next week, and once Kindy starts again she can go there in the mornings.  And thanks Lynda, I will certainly use that Creche you mentioned now and then so I can shop without said pre-schooler under foot!

It's been a rather stressful couple of days trying to work out a better arrangement for Keera, one that works better for my sanity. I have learnt a lot about some people in the process.  Not to worry, I shall not put myself through that EVER again.  

Today... well Keera's off to Daycare, then I'm going to get my nails done again.  Griffin is staying home to care for the puppies for me, and Brylee is coming with me for a 'girly' morning at the mall.

Yaaaa.... time out of the house.  My nails are dreadfully sore as I took all the acrylics off a few days ago, exposing my poor natural nails.  Splits everywhere.  So sore.  They must get used to having the protection of false nails on top I think.
I can't wait to get them done again.

TRACY:  re: Your comment last night on Pepsi,  TIME. WILL. TELL.  I hope you are wrong... *sad face*

Right, I'm off ... 

ONWARD...

1.59 pm:  and finally home after a busy morning.
Stew took his car to the garage in Botany this morning, so we picked him up from there and dropped him at the Manukau office.  He is going to work out of there today and possibly tomorrow, depending on when his car is fixed.

After that the kids and I (Griffin tagged along after all), went to Sylvia Park.  I got my nails done, then we had lunch.

After lunch we visited Steve, Bex and the little boys, then came home to do a little housework and relax for the afternoon.

I am going to finish the bag I'm working on at some point today, then I can show you.

 ABOVE:  while I was getting my nails done, the nail technicians encouraged B & G to sit in the massage chairs... they really LOVED the massage.  *sigh*  I've never had one, or a pedicure.  
I must do that sometime.

ABOVE:  Today's nails. I got the same colours on my right hand too.  I love the brightness... they look cheerful.  The 'yellow' nail is actually a psychedelic green colour, not yellow.

Stew got an interesting phone call today from a lady in Tauranga.  Wow, the things you find out.  But not surprised.  Never surprised.  Just disappointed again.

I finished the bag.  BUT ... I will show you tomorrow... it will give me something to put on the blog first thing in the morning!

*** PEPSI POST EDITED *** PEPSI POST EDITED ***


End of Day:  today I have felt like I'm wearing lead shoes.  Every step has been a struggle.  I'm just so exhausted.  There is no real reason why, I'm not doing that much more PHYSICALLY, so it must be psychological. I wish I could just buck out of it and feel happy again.  
nite nite

WISH I COULD STAY IN BED

I haven't had a sleep in in 8 weeks.
I wish I could!

Feeling MEGA PISSED OFF about that.

Actually, feeling MEGA PISSED OFF about a lot right now... and the worst thing is there is nothing I can do about it.

Well... nothing that would be a better option.

Explored the options.  Shot them all down in flames now.

I don't have much to be cheerful about right now so I might just bugger off and feed the small person, the 6 little fluff balls, the 2 bigger fluff balls, then get the small person to daycare.

When I get home maybe I will just go back to bed?

Nah.  Griffin's friend is coming over for the day.  So, no rest for the wicked.  F*#k I must be wicked as.

At some point today I must take progress photos of the puppies for their owners.  I took Jonah's a couple of days ago, so he's done already.  (Jonah WAS Holden)

ONWARD...

10.50 am:  and maybe things are going to work out after all?
Fingers crossed I can appease everyone.

*sigh*  Sometimes I just feel like I live in a Soap Opera!

With no control over MY LIFE.  I'm trying to take back control.

JJ is here for the day.  That will keep Griffin amused.  *smiles*

The puppies are eating puppy food so well now!
I am only putting Tallulah in with them to nurse them 3 times a day now... and in a week I will stop her feeding them completely, that way they are weaned and ready to go to their forever homes by the end of the month.

Things will settle down again at month's end, there will be some changes here.  We will still be on the market, but some of the other stress will be gone.

Kids start school early February, I am looking forward to THAT too.  *smiles*

SLOWLY making headway on a few things that NEED SORTING.

Lots of emails to'ing and fro'ing.  

Some sewing is getting done too!

But not photos of puppies... that would involve me getting down on the floor, and my back is too sore to do that right now!  Well actually, it's getting back UP off the floor that's the problem!  I'm too tired to even contemplate it right now.
Maybe later.

7.23 pm:  and it finally cooled down enough to get the puppies out on the lawn late this afternoon.  I got photos.
Will post a few tomorrow of individual puppies, but for now here's a couple of them with kids...

 ABOVE:  Keera thought the puppies were DELIGHTFUL.  Then she sat on one... it gave a bit of a squeak, but was OK thankfully!  lol

ABOVE:  See  how little they still are?  Darling wee things.  Coco LOVED LOVED LOVED getting to play with the puppies!  Tallulah didn't mind her being around them at all.  

Stew broke down in Hamilton, so he got home quite late tonight.  *sigh*... probably have to get it looked at tomorrow by the Holden dealership in Hamilton.  

End of Day:  hopes were up, and now they are down. Going to bed frustrated as.  
But later, not right now.  I have to do something for dinner first!
nite nite

HAIRCUT

Today I'm taking Coco over to Mt Wellington for a groom.  She's looking very wooly.
As I'm just going to be dropping her off and picking her up again a few hours later, the big kids can stay home.

Keera will be going to Daycare as per usual.  That kid just loves it there! She gets to paint, play with playdough, sand and all sorts of shit we simply don't have here... AND play with other little kids.  I'm so happy she can go there.

Now, yesterday I took heaps of photos of the boys and puppies, here's a couple that I didn't post yesterday...

ABOVE:  I wonder what that little puppy is thinking?  lol   Most likely wishing the papparazzi would bugger off!

ABOVE:  Tallulah is UNDER that huge pile of puppies!!!   No wonder she's starting to wean them, she is swamped.
It's hard to believe how much they have grown in just 5 weeks!  They were so tiny, now... not so much!

While Keera is at Daycare, I am going to sew.  This next bag has a different pocket picture ...  not a cartoon character for a change.

Right, I better get Miss Muppet ready for Daycare, and get some washing on too.

ONWARD...

Well Coco looks lovely, the day is flying by and I've got bugger all done!
Started doing the bag, got distracted by puppies.

I'm working on a big change here.  Some things need to change or I'm gunna go nuts.

4.11 pm:  just found out I have to cope on me own after all.  Not happy, but oh well... it is what it is.  Sucker here left to do it all.

WELL, Steve and Bex would help in the situation I'm in ... but I can't/won't ask them as they have their hands full already.  

And the other choice is a:  'LIKE FUCK' I will go there.

Cryptic? Yeah, can't put too much on here or it will blow up in me face.  

On to something else.
Puppies.  Food.  Been giving them crushed up, watered Pro Plan Puppy pellets.
They just don't seem to be that keen on it. 
So, I added some Chef Puppy food from a tin, mashed it up with the pro plan pellets and ....

ABOVE:  BOOM!  They all tucked in with GUSTO!!!
Did I mention Holden has been given his forever name?  He is now Jonah.

The only puppy without a forever name is Mini, and her new owner is thinking of keeping her name as Mini.  Time will tell.

Talking of time, I better go and pick Keera up, then get on with making dinner.

DIDN'T TAKE LONG DID IT?

End of Day:  a shitty day really. Let my emotions get the better of me.  Another day tomorrow.... here's hoping it's better.

nite nite

OUR NEIGHBOUR

So the neighbour who approached us yesterday about MAYBE buying our house privately can't.

Stew spoke to Steve, our Estate Agent about him, and Steve said he (the neighbour) had come through one of the Open Homes, and therefore he was 'on their books', and is NOT allowed to do that.

So, all good.  If he wants to make an offer, he must go through the Real Estate Agent.  No skin off our nose really.  The neighbour was just trying to get our price down.

If he seriously wants the house, he will pay the price ... or NOT.

ABOVE:  Puppies at 5 weeks old... and their little tails are finally totally flipped over like little Shih Tzu's!
Tallulah is now starting to wean them I think, because they are suddenly quite keen to try the puppy food!
So today I am going to really push for them to have some every few hours... at the moment they are only just giving it a go.

Last night a couple of them had a really good go at eating some though.

First thing this morning I have a Doctor's appointment.  Quarterly diabetes checkup, and renewal of me prescriptions.  I ran out of one rather crucial medication about a week ago... WHOOPS!

After that I shall drop Keera off at Daycare and come home and do the housework (not much to do luckily) and tend to the puppies.

ONWARD...

Phew!  A busy morning!  Dr's visit went OK... my blood sugar level went up by 1 point, so have to pull finger there.  Cholesterol is excellent though!
Keera was skipping going into Daycare today, asking where "her Mel" is?   Melanie is her principal carer, and Keera loves her.  Isn't that neat!

Steve, Bex and the kids arrived around lunchtime, returning Griffin.  And Steve is building me a foot rest for under the sewing table as my new chair is really high and me feet only just reach the floor!  

Dante and Archer had a play with the puppies just now, it was so bloody cute!
Dante is really careful, whereas Archer just wants to scrag them... so we have to be careful he doesn't.

Time out now for me, time to relax for a little while.  It's been go, go, go since 6.30 am.

RIGHT:  some photos of the boys with the puppies....

ABOVE:  I love them all!

While they were visiting, Steve did something lovely for me, he made me a foot rest for under my sewing desk:

ABOVE:  It was the first time he had his tool belt on since he broke his ankle weeks ago.  
His ankle is not 100% healed yet, but he can hobble around out of his moonboot for a while during the day now.

His next appointment for a review is next month, so he's still got a few weeks to go before he can get back to work full time.

End of Day: well I think the puppies are getting more interested in the puppy food.
It's been a real slog getting them to even lap at it though.  Obviously they ain't quite hungry enough yet!
Oh well... it will happen.
A lovely day, I got quite a bit done, and even got another bag started, even though I hadn't planned to.
nite nite