Cheating at Pavlova but boy it was yum!

Well, Michael and I had the opportunity for cooking dinner together at home last night, just the two of us as the children went to Grandma and Grandad's for their second only sleepover. Well the night didn't quite go as planned but nevermind... Maybe next time. Anyway, the way the night went meant we had dessert in the morning which was (bought) pavlova nests, whipped cream with blueberries in the middle and strawberries on top, drizzled with passionfruit juice and a side of fruit salad of all imaginable kinds of fruit, lychees, grapes, fresh cherries included. Anyway, here's dessert... ah... I mean breakfast. Very nice. Not your usual breakfast but apart from the sugar aspect, really quite healthy when you consider how much and varied fruit was in the fruit salad...

The kitchen is back together now, having had the floor put in we've moved the fridge and the free-standing cupboards back in. The floor has been partly mopped. Both boys have sore throats and Zeke a slight temp, although it doesn't seem to be bothering him too much which is good. Plans this week... oh endless lol but we'll see how much of that comes to be. Lots of sewing to be done. And plenty more other thins besides including hopefully kickboards in the kitchen. Got some red and curly lettuce seedlings today - my 'anti-bug' pak choy have about seen the end of their days (the bugs were eating the pak choy and leaving the lettuces alone, great co planter!) and the bugs are considering beginning their second course on the lettuce. I've noticed though they don't seem to touch the red curly lettuce at all, and barely touch the frizzmo green lettuce, so more of that to go in.
The kids were each given a beautiful quilt by a friend of their Grandparents, so I'll post photos of those shortly. Also in the works is Christmas - redoing my Holiday CJ (since my other was stolen with my bags) and we should be just about set. By this time last year I had all my Christmas prep done, so I'm thinking by the end of the first week of Dec I should be right for this year since I am beginning later this time. Starting the Christmas prep at the beginning of November works well. 'til next time!

Jake's Cake... 7th Birthday

Pics as promised - click on any picture to make it larger. I was very pleased with the little gnome at the front - he's my favourite! Cake went down okay so that's good. Not entirely pleased with certain aspects of it, but let's just call it the 'rustic look' haha which should just about 'cover' any flaws. This one was a mix of cakes from the Debbie Brown book - the castle, combined with the gnomes/elves from another cake. Other Birthday cakes I've done are here. Each of the stones for the castle is individually made and 'laid' lol. Had to keep an eye on someone starting with 'Z' who was very keen on tasting the door... 'Mum... I think it's time for cake now... can I have some of the door?'
We won't be doing pinata any more (Jake wanted to make one for his Birthday so he did) as it turns into a vulturous bashing fest especially when the string comes off and it ends up getting beaten and kicked around the park. Think we'll go with the treasure hunt next time - each child finds x number of things - that way everyone gets a chance and no one gets dented in the process! So apart from two boys who got a little rough with each other and wouldn't back down, either of them, both going in hard, I think the kids had a good time!
The lolly bags were simple calico ones with Maxilock Swirls overlocked round the top and a big thick dark blue glittery ribbon to tie it. The kids can put marbles or shells or whatever in their bags later. Table was fruit kebabs (on paddlepop sticks), popcorn, oranges in eights, potato chips, corn chips and dip, proper juices (Apple and Mango, Apple and Pineapple, non-reconstitued and NAS, no pres, no additives etc) plus the big 20L water container. All the kids attending LOVE fruit so this was just the thing! Of course, we then had cake and the lolly bags, the latter containing a notebook with coloured cover, box of sultanas, Freddo and a few wrapped lollies. Apart from egg in the cake, everything else was vegetarian stuiable, no gelatin in the lollies etc.
For those keen on making the Debbie Brown cakes, even though I use the DB book for the designs, I don't use her cake mix or buttercream instead preferring a dense chocolate/vanilla cake (which will support the 3d weight of the cake) either home made or the Betty Crocker bought mix both of which I find nice and moist as well as tasty, and then I use the Betty Crocker vanilla frosing instead of the buttercream (this goes on the cake, between the cake and the ready-roll icing to give a smooth surface to lay the icing on) - since I switched to this every last piece of cake has disappeared - the cake has to taste nice as well! The little flowers are done using a special cutter with a spring and I use the gel colours from the Cake craft shop, to colour the icing, as well as edible glitter - other tools I use are from the kitchen; skewars, tips of birthday candle holders, knives etc. The books also ask for 'sugar sticks' for structural support but drinking strawes or skewars do the job here - the metal skewars you can reuse. For smaller supports, toothpics are hte go. Anyway, I enjoy doing these cakes - as I say to those who ask, it's like Play-dough for adults and I have a ball - just as much as seeing the kids faces when they see their cakes! Only have a Birthday once a year so what the heck eh!

Sneak Peek.. Jake's 7th Birthday Cake

Here's a sneak peak of Jake's 7th Birthday Cake. Will tell you how it went later on this morning (it's currently after 2am). I'm not entirely pleased with it but there are bits I like including this cute little guy who I had fun making!

There are still lolly bags to sew and a few other things to do - plus swimming tomorrow as well, and fresh fruit to collect from the shop... anyway... here's one of the little Gnomes on the cake... a sneak peak - more and better pics tomorrow... :)

Also today Zeke and I made the trek via two buses and two trains to the Birth Centre as the last of the gas conversion was being done on the vehicle. We left at 9.30am and got home at 1.30pm... a good day though and Zeke couldn't have done better while we were out. All that and more... tomorrow... or maybe Sunday when I catch up on some sleep! So if I have missed answering emails from you today/yesterday that's why! Have a great one all! Kristy

All in one week!

Well, Monday began the floor. By Wed morning the patching was dry enough to lay the floor yippee!!! By mid morning Wed the new floor was IN - couldn't put the fridge or furniture back tho until after 10am Thur... which really means Thur night since Michael doesn't get home until then and I can't move the fridge on my own! lol Before and after pics coming, just have to load them up... we did the kitchen reno ourselves (apart from the legal tradies stuff) in Dec 2006 and finally the floor is in! Here's the 'before' pic on the right and two 'after' pics on the right - same floor as in the lounge so it now 'flows through' a little more and wow the difference it makes when you walk in... of course... once the kickboards are done and we paint then it might look a little more complete (that and things will stop rolling under the cupboards!) but hey... slowly and surely we will get there and will be very pleased with the result no doubt! oh and yep... we'll be replacing the sheets of gyprock on the 'bench' above the sink with proper benchtop soon too... it just takes time and that other stuff! The drawing Brooke did for Brenna (that you can see on the benchtop in the first pic in the white frame) also now has a new home on the wall in the hallway...

Today, despite some early morning rain (which has me wishing for water tanks) the grid-solar went in - we went through Renewable Logic (which was initially on the 1500 for 1500 plan) and I have to say despite some hiccups along the way, their customer service is excellent and really, that's just as important as the product. A couple of little hmmmms? (existing meter, so not the solar people's fault at all) and it's all IN! We can see it when coming coming down the road on the way home from school and it's SUCH a good feeling! Both of those have been in the planning for many months (the solar) and years (the floor) lol and it's just sheer fortune of circumstance that meant we could do each, and both ended up happening in the same week! I'd take a pic but I am too blunt to see the solar from the ground lol and definately not ladder climbing... can see it from up the road so might try taking one from there... (will add it in when I do).

My Nanna is on the plane home tonight, looking forward to being home out the station tomorrow. We had a good time and the kids didn't want her to go home. Jake wrote a letter that went something like 'please NanNan can you stay at our house for 12 days pleeeeeeeeease' (12 days is a long time when you're seven remember!).
My bamboo prefolds from Donna at Bits for Bots came, as well as the bamboo flats. I had a couple of other parcels too and Mum sent down some Mango... mmmm one for breakfast each morning and the kids taking some to school - love the smell through the house!

Then tomorrow, Birth Centre - Zeke and I are catching the bus and train as the last of the gas conversion is being done for the vehicle. This also has been a LONG time in the making - with thanks to Bids on Gas who have been awesome to deal with. Then there's several big things happening over the weekend, and the kids are having their second-ever sleepover at Grandma and Grandads.

Whew! Then it will be Monday again!
Oh and not this week but last week - here's pics of the cake that Brooke made and Jake decorated for his Birthday (pic 1 on the left), and then the one I did for him for school (minimal sugar, no nuts, minimal egg) on the right - the fresh cherries and strawberries are 'toothpicked' into the cake as it was a warm day and otherwise they slide off, and there's the cake that he had at Grandma and Grandads, second on the left. Still to come is his cake for his Birthday party - and yes another one from the Debbie Brown books... which one will it be this time I wonder? *wink*

Mish mash

So what's been happenin'? Well, first zucchini and at 17cm+ not a bad effort I reckon! I think the 'close proximity' planting has kept them hidden from the flying pickers so there's a bonus. There's still many flowers coming on and little zucchinis on the way. Planning a zuc/egg swap with A - thanks A! Have to go and freshen up the strawbale garden, leaving some things to seed but want to put more lettuce in as summer gets closer (well it should be here but you'd never know it!).

M has organised a bottle coop so we can bottle our vanilla essence that we made (from the Vanilla Essence coop) should we want to give that as Christmas Gifts. It's funny because I do look forward to Christmas but at the moment I'm looking beyond/through Christmas rather than at it, if that makes sense... only 10 weeks (or so) now until we meet our new Bub!

My Nanna has been here which the kids have loved - Jake just said to me he wished she didn't have to go home/stay at other people's places/could stay for 12 days... Brooke is enjoying having a fellow crossword/word search doer (I like them but don't often do them) and Zeke likes having someone hear his stories and chatter.

Oh and could I forget lol we (Nanna and I) went to the Andre Rieu concert on the weekend - it was Nanna's present from her kids (my Uncles and Aunties) and I was lucky enough to be chaperone. It was better than I anticipated it would be and I'll post one just on that later on. Worth going to if you get the chance, and definately not for just those into classical - rather those who like to be entertained and see some amazing talent. So thanks Mum for my ticket!

Floor - the floor was meant to go down today however the guy turned up took one look and said that aint gonna be done by today, tomorrow if you're lucky and it's looking like Wed now because the patched areas of the concrete won't be dry enough to glue the vinyl boards to... not to worry... eventually. Wed night Nanna is back here from my Aunty and Uncle's place and Nanna wants to see 'Australia' the movie so I'm taking her to that. Grid solar goes in on Thursday and Birth Centre appt on Friday. Then Sat is Jake's Party! This week will no doubt fly by and then I'll be 31 weeks! Here's what the Little One is up to this week...

Jemma is home!!!

Well Jemma is home. She's on the last of her pain meds and on antibiotics. Still has a little bandage on her leg from the drip and is back on boiled skin-free chicken and rice for a week or so (which she will just LOVE not!)... apart from that just watching her, keeping an eye on her and taking her back if she gets worse again... so yay for a Jemma who wags her tail now, and is home!

Jemma update - last night 8pm

Well, bloods are back and it's better than we thought. Liver and kidney function is fine, amalaze is fine it's the other one that's 'up' slightly (normal is max 500 hers is 591) so they suspect a small low grade infection somewhere... she went on IV last night for fluids and pain relief and to get her temp down and we'll see how she goes this morning. Michael went in to see her last night and said she looked not as bad as last time but definately not herself... so we'll see what the 10am call this morning reveals.

Best Wishes to those in the Brisbane Storms & Jemma Update

Sending best wishes to the Cherub Family (so glad you're okay relatively speaking) and everyone else involved in the big Brisbane Storms. I hadn't seen tv/heard radio for a while so had no idea... will try and catch the news tonight for an update... Those we know are physically okay, thankfully... sending best wishes guys for the cleanup and getting things sorted again... xo

following on from my previous Jemma post, bloods aren't back at the vet yet but she's been very quiet and her temp is up slightly... which is not good and not at ALL like her. She's had some pain relief but that didn't make so much difference. Her tummy isn't overly tender to touch... So she's staying in overnight tonight, ring back later to get the verdict on the bloods. I have been trying to think what could have been so fatty that she ate... anyway I asked the vet and she said that since her pancreas was so compromised last time, that it may not be fat as such but maybe something else going on, that has stopped her pancreas from working, which therefore means no fat is metabolised... so we just wait and see... both on how long she has to stay and the resulting cost.

An overall update

Jake's Birthday today - Happy Birthday mate! We're making a cake now to have for dessert and have some M&Ms to go on top - truly indulging and a special treat. Can't believe he's seven... born at 2.52am that many years ago today... he has been counting down since August haha ... so tomorrow night to Grandma and Grandad's for Birthday dinner, a class celebration sometime this week, something special already from Nan and Pop, and his Party in a couple of weeks time (with his 'proper' cake from me) - Birthdays always last in this house!

There's a few other general things going on, planning and hard work and luck of circumstance finally coming together. Solar goes in at the end of the month. Finally the floor in the kitchen goes in (we DIY reno'd it in Dec 2006), hopefully the 2500litre water tank is going in soon (plumbed to loo and laundry). As those of you who have DIY reno'd would know, it can be a slow process depending on the time and finances factor... and it's definately been slow here lol as we've been here over 10 years now and are still a LONG way from finished... even though yes we have achieved a fair bit.

I've finished sewing my PP pads (pics coming soon) so can tick that off the list in prep for Baby. I will be 30 weeks this coming Saturday yay!

on the Jemma-dog front - after last year getting very sick with pancreatitis and spending a long time (and several thousand - which we were lucky to be able to pay off per week for quite some time PLUS some very generous auction donations which helped immensely) at the vets, I went outside this morning and Jemma was NOT her usual self... not as sick as last time but still not right. She was fine and loopy as always yesterday... this morning though she knocked back toast (that's not good), barely got up (not good) kept stretching and doing the 'shiver' thing, and did not even get excited and go loony at the sight of the lead... mmm... rang the vet - they said up to me I could watch her or bring her in... we (Brooke, Jake, Zeke and I and belly) took her in. (the pic to the left is her in a post a few months ago).

Perhaps just a sore tummy but they gave me the option of her staying there and having bloods done, which I decided to do. Lucky I did because when they went to do the bloods and they put the blood in the spinner to get the serum, she said it was so full of fat the couldn't even do the tests in-house... shnot! I am trying to think where she got hold of something that could have done that - we are really careful with what she gets to eat... even the kids know she can't have certain things as it will make her sick...she's banned from any meats that have fat, on a low fat dry biscuit mix, not allowed big marrow bones and so on etc etc always careful to keep the bbq covered... *sigh* so unless she (a) got into the compost which wouldn't have much fatty stuff in it anyway (b) caught a fat bird - possible as there were feathers out the back the other day (c) ate too much manure when we did the vege garden (?) I have no idea how she got that level of fat in her system because we're so careful about what she gets to eat...

She was still far more alert than last time but not at all her nutty self and didn't go all licky and silly when we got in the car to go to the vet either... so definately not right... hopefully we caught it much earlier this time (last time she OD on fat as she licked the bbq plate clean since the lid was left up - gross I know)...

so we wait now for out-of-house bloods to see if she goes on IV... ah Jemma-dog... hopefully for her and us it's not as serious as last time... fingers crossed.

Jake's Birthday Invitations

Jake's 7th Birthday... well that didn't take too long to come around!

& after looking for ages for a way to make 'West Coast Eagles' invitations, without buying them premade (it's a habit of mine these days to make them LOL) I rang home and asked Michael to ask Jake what other colours he liked. To which he replied 'tell Mum she doesn't have to do West Coast colours... I like green and blue and purple and...[listed heaps of other colours]' so here they are. Jake's Birthday invitations.

Just simple ones this year (location/time details removed on this pic) - plain white card, vellum from Collins Craft and some star split pins. On the back, I've JAC (slim double sided tape the same thickness as paper) papered a magnet to the back of each invite, which also strategically covers the split pin backing. With thanks to M&D for the use of their printer since ours decided to not behave! Jake and I sat down at the table and put them together now, he wrote his name and the recipient's name on the envelopes, and helped with the magnet sticking on the back... Happy Birthday Matey!

Success on the sewing front...

For more info on Cloth Pads/Menstrual cups, patterns to make your own pads and so on, check out Obsidian's page.

After making my first few post partum pads without tooo much hassle in the stitch and turn method, I tried making some with overlock finish and ah... well... to say they turned out snot would be an understatement - aint gonna be a mamapad seller here that's for sure! I've gone back to stitch and turn and am much more pleased with the results! It's nice to be not cursing while you're sewing LOL. Just don't look too close at the stitching - I was going fast coz I was so excited it was working haha!

I didn't use a pattern as such, rather chose the pads I have that I like and combined the best features - the length, the width, the wings and so on and have been playing with the length and thickness to adjust it how I think will work best for me. I've also shortened and 'slimmified' one for a pre-teen style or liner. For some reason greens don't seem to photograph well when I'm behind the camera, so here's the print itself (pic used with permission from Jodie) from Nappies Covered where I ordered it and the black suedecloth from. Just need to sew up a batch of these and I can tick 'sew post-partum pads' off the list... mostly! This PUL would also make a very cute nappy cover for a little girl - or wetbag or really anything you can use PUL for. Very pleased with the print and it's actually nice to work with, and it's quite... pliable (?)... it's not stiff anyway which is the way I like my PUL when I'm sewing! And like I said today... if you gotta use the darn things you may as well make 'em funky! That'll be a point of interest at the Birth Centre LOL as well as the nappies and covers for this Little Boy - speaking of whom, here's where he is up to this coming week...

How Many Children do you Have?

How many children do you have/is this your first/how many boys or girls do you have?'

I am determined never to leave Brenna out. The very few times I have, I've felt so blergh for doing so... So I decided when we conceived this Little Boy, that in answer to the above question, I was always going to answer 'five' - it just took me a while to work out how to answer that this Bub will be our fifth, but at the same time to say it so people don't think there are four living children at home... because I don't want it to seem... a misrepresentation I guess - people spin out if you say this is your fifth and in that sense, the way most people assume it, well, she's not at home, I don't have to do all those things for her although I wish I did need to... and the few times (I think all three of them) that I've said oh we have three at home and just not mentioned that we lost Brenna, I have not felt good about it. The times I haven't mentioned it have been for their benefit and I think after, well why should she miss out on being acknowledged just so someone doesn't 'not know what to say'..?

NB I love this picture - 'peekaboo!'... I see pictures or drawings or anythings of little angel girls with dark hair and wonder. I know I've seen her once and that was so precious and so amazing...

Anyway, to 'what to say'... I did say for a while 'this is my fifth, we have three at home and lost our daughter/fourth last year' and then I found a better way to say it... how many people lay awake at night thinking of this exact thing?... something along the lines of
Them: 'is this your first?'
Me: 'no, we have one daughter who we lost last year, and 2 sons and a daughter at home'... the more I say it the better I get at saying it.
it helps having it in my mind in advance. And yes maybe I don't get to do things for her like I do the others, washing clothes, baking and so on, but I am a Mum to her every single day, every single hour in the best way I possibly can be - remembering her and not letting the world forget her.

As well as that, Brooke Jake and Zeke don't let anyone forget her either and for that I am very proud of them - they are as protective of her as they are of each other. Brooke misses her still so much... I hope at least they get to 'see' each other when she dreams. Jake is still quite practical and asks the 'matter-of-fact' type questions, but she's still very much in his mind as well. Zeke, well I think even though he knows her name, and knows the plants that are hers in the garden, he doesn't really understand it of his own accord and will learn it as he grows I guess. He does ask often about this Baby Boy though. And every time I go to the Birth Centre or need anything done relating to the Baby, one of the kids is sure to ask 'is the Baby okay?'... unfortunately these guys know all too well the realities of life and that it isn't all smooth sailing.

Every now and then I still set one extra plate before I've even realised, or get out one extra cup... I still wonder why she couldn't stay... what happened... why she was fine and heart beating at ten weeks and then nothing later... why she was born at sixteen weeks and not later on, when even if she was early she could still be here with us... I guess I'll always wonder.

Another thing is how people feel it's their place to decide whether she is worth being counted or not. From the medical world to just people in general. The latter maybe not to your face, but definately otherwise. And I think, well you know what - what does it matter to you? It changes nothing in your life and means everything to us. I birthed her, we marvelled at her tiny fingers and tiny toes, her Brothers and Sister and Nanna got to meet her, even though her heart had stopped - WE love her... So you don't get to make that decision. I am so pleased when people we know include Brenna, either by numbers count of children, or by name. It really is true for me that

The mention of our child's name may bring tears to our eyes
but if never fails to bring music to our ears
Friends please don't keep us from hearing the beautifuil music
It soothes our broken hearts and fills our souls with love

As I said to someone else before, I look back now, this path I'm on and can't believe how far we've come since losing Brenna. How I never thought I'd ever see the day that wasn't filled with tears from wake until sleep... I wondered how on earth I'd function in everyone else's world again... and how anything could ever make me smile... and here I am. Still an endless path in front of me but so far that we've come already, if that makes sense - and we've come that far without even realising it. When people talk about grief they talk about 'time' as in it being a healer... and I find that very hard to hear, I'm not sure why exactly - time doesn't fix things. But, going gradually down the path you find yourself on, means that at times you will have come further in your 'journey'... things will change as you walk that path, things will evolve - your grief will evolve and grow with you as you move down the path... I can't think of a better way to explain it. And even though people tell you this will happen, and you know it's happened for other people - you can't ever ever imagine it for yourself...
until one day... you look back and realise how far you've come...

Gardening and Baking for today...

OK so update on the garden. Here's the strawbale bed when it went in. Now growing in there and mostly doing well are 3 kinds of lettuce - about 20 odd plants in all, a couple I'll let go to seed, one or two I'll put as mature fully grown lettuce and the rest are for daily picking of leaves. Then there's capsi, chilli (pest repel and to eat), chives, cucumber, feral spuds, parsely, pak choy, African marigold (for pest repel) English spinach and the straw that sprouted but that's ok. Once we prune the big old tree, they will get more sun and hopefully take off even more - they're doing just fine now though. I am finding the pak choy a good ... decoy lol because the caterpillars are devouring that and leaving my lettuce alone to look lovely and non-holey! I've done close proximity planting mostly because they're 'pick every other day' plants rather than waiting for full maturity, but also to keep the weeds and so on out.

The plums are getting bigger, between 20 and 50c piece size now - I only left a few on when we planted them, out of curiousity and I suppose impatience lol. The rest I dutifully removed. The mulberry tree is running a muck as always and the kids picked the equiv to half an icecream containerful the other morning - we had fresh mulberries and vanilla icecream after lunch today (a treat in itself!). In dinner the other night we used our own pak choy (the non-hole-er bits lol) and English spinach... And while we're 'in the kitchen', some biscuits that Brooke made today - Cherry Nut biscuits from the WW Beautiful Biscuits book.

The planted zuccini, rockmelon and tomato are doing well... somewhat... 'loved' by the feral ones that have popped up everywhere because it seems that all the seeds I have given the kids at dinner prep time to 'scatter' all got scattered in the one spot lol. Bonus is so far, you can't see the zuc flowers from the air so maybe this will keep the birds away - such close proximity planting. there's plenty of poo etc in the bed so we'll see how it goes. The bed is about... 2.5m x 2.5m in a triangle shape and it's CHOC-a-BLOC! I think we will have zuccini (sp?) coming out of our EARS (and everywhere else) so plenty to trade if anyone is keen.

And here's my anti-rat/mice device to stop them climbing the tree and pulling down and wasting (half eating) barely ripe fruit. Someone (well meaning) bought around plastic disposable plates for a bbq once. I just can't bring myself to use them to eat off only to end up in the bin... so they have been sitting in the back of the cupboard for how long I don't know, so I fished one out, made a slit and a hole to form a collar for the tree, then sticky taped the slit. The plate is too slippery and flimsy for them to get a grip and so far so good! I need to be careful though to adjust the hole as the tree grows. This one is on the mandarine tree... I suppose I should get some sorted for the apricot, 2 plums and the lime... although they haven't bothered the mulberry... maybe that cat at R&K's down the road DID get the last rat lol

The whole garden hasn't actually been in for that long and it's doing well and really, not that much work once it's in. So long as I replace whatever I pick straight away, we should get a reasonably continuous picking garden... for now at least... until we can make it bigger! Hopefully the water tanks can go in soon as well.

28 Weeks 1 Day pics

Here's the accomodation where the Little Guy is growing... he's decided that there is no particular position he likes the best at the moment and every other day almost, finds him in a new spot. Hiccups inside one hip, then the other, then up near my belly button! So I won't be worrying too much about his position until closer, except of course to still encourage him as much as I can, by laying on my left side as usual when sleeping, by hands and knees work (plenty of that - weeding, finding things under the lounge etc)...

Still getting things done, wanting to get them done faster but oh well! Hopefully the co-sleeping cot will arrive soon and I can wash that and get that set up - let it air out and de-gas well before he arrives. Hoping to finish the laundry this month as well, since that's where his clothes, nappies, towels, rugs etc will go - all in the one spot as the change mat sits on top of the front loader, and the nappy bucket and trough are right there. Easy!

I've updated the Before Birth List - it's nearly all done! well... still a few bits left to do. All in all I think this pregnancy so far has gone well - I know so many people endure heaps through their pregnancies and I am lucky. Previously I've never had any problems, and the only niggling thing this time round is a pelvic bone threatening to separate (sounds fun huh!) and the usual tiring out quick. I am just looking forward to Jan/Feb - knowing and anticipating labour at any time... waiting for those first contractions, or waters trickling... meeting this little guy, full term, alive, healthy, warm and beautiful - seeing his eyes for the first time, feeling his baby-new skin and just soaking it all up. Of course not far from the back of my mind wondering why Brenna didn't get that same chance. Which will make enjoying him all the more precious. xo

I'm getting there... slowly...

Well I am making progress via the KA thread and FLYing... I can see my desk now (woohoo) have a proper address book again (woohoo) that will live by the phone. The new bookshelves are getting filled slowly and neatly and things are being labelled as they go in. The boxes for the Prado are gradually coming out of our room *yay* which will mean room to put the co-sleeper cot in for Bub. I so want to share the name we have chosen for him - guess we'll have to wait until his Birthday!

Using a spiral photo thingo I have my morning/afternoon and before bed routines up and will do the weekly ones and add them in as I go. I did have these all done in my Control Journal until it (along with everything else) got stolen when my bags did. So, I'm doing it again but doing it this way (taking the daily/weekly bits out and putting them in the sprial thingy) is a neat and presentable way of having my routines where I can see them, without my entire file being on the kitchen bench. I am wary of THAT hotspot! I am also doing regular de-clutter missions.

Monday is quote day - plasterer, electrician, plumber, watertanks etc. Looking forward to it in a way but you know the deal, half a day on the phone. So bit by bit I'm getting there. I now have a lovely stacked fabric cupboard, and for fun we made blueberry muffins yesterday using this recipe - they're nice but quite unsweet - so more sugar next time methinks - keen to try this one though as recommend on Nappycino (thanks Nicky and Belindah). 'til next time!

One Mischievious Munchkin...

That would be this little Boy growing... well not mischievious on purpose no doubt! Anyway today his movements, while still more than the 10 per day, were... 'different'... today. Lighter, softer... not the usual rocking and rolling he does in there! His favourite moves being 'push Mummy's belly button inside out with my toes', 'pull on the 'string' behind Mummy's belly button and make her gasp' and 'kick Mummy right in the cervix and see her jump AND hear her gasp!'...

Anyway, so I paged the midwife, she said come in and we'll check him out. Thankfully Grandma and Grandad were able to come round as I didn't know (a) how long I'd be - which is fine at the Birth Centre but (b) if I needed to go up to the main hospital, it would be a long wait which is not compatable with Zeke most days, it's getting late, close to dinner time etc.

Anyway long story short, got in there, did the usuals pee, BP, etc and then got up to hear the Little Guy's heartbeat. Loud and strong and regular - awesome! So why the change in his movements? Well because the little guy decided a change of scenery was in order and is now breech, with his feet and hands facing 'in' towards my back - so all his kicks are muffled, pretty much. So that explained that - yay! Also explains the change in his hiccups haha. I could feel his back yesterday and today all along my right side and could feel a round thing (belly or bum) just above my belly button, but it didn't occur to me that it was his head not his bum (it's a hard round thing so yes it is his head).

Not worried about him being breech at this stage, there is plenty of room for him to move and change positions many times before he is born. My next checkup is toward the end of this month and if he is still breech then we'll work on some positioning and exercises I can do to encourage him to turn. I'm not worried, not about that. People birth breech babies often enough and with the right preparation and midwife, I'm sure I can too. So that's his update for today! xo

Doll Making

Well I'm still undecided. Do I purchase the materials to make the dolls each for the children... or do I purchase a made doll body and make the head... or ... ? I've been looking at the lovely handiwork that Donna from Bits for Bots does on her OzeBaby store, I've also been looking at kits on the net... where you get the correct fabrics and pattern...

Decisions decisions! I figure when it's hot I won't want to be doing much that's active before Bub is born, so maybe it would be good to have something to 'do' in the sittin sense. But then I wonder whether it will become yet another unfinished project on the list... you know?... Guess we'll see!

Another little Angel joins the sky...

Another Family loses a much-wanted Bub to Angel Wings, far far too early. There isn't ever a 'good' time to lose a child, there just isn't. To lose them while their life and your hope is growing inside you... It rips your heart apart. To L, R, C & J & Family we send our love, heartfelt best wishes, warm hugs and offer of anything at any time... as this Baby has joined her Angel Siblings... xo

On the Eco Front...

Where we're at on the Eco trail? Well getting there I guess is the answer. Having many interesting and thought provoking conversations with people along the way. Which is good because we really do have to think outside of our current mind-set, to make things work. So thought I'd share where we are at in case it helps anyone else on the same trail.

Halogen Replacement Globes - we bought three of the best there is. Turns out that they work better with a particular transformer (which ours aren't) - so because of this we get some flickering, and disco-style, and one that just doesn't work. The local Earth store (can't remember the name, will find out) no longer sells globes only for this very reason. They will only sell the globe as a kit complete with compatable transformer. It's about $60 odd per kit so it's not cheap to change them over, plus the electrician fee. Speaking of which if you're in the same state as us and can recommend a GOOD electrician please send me an email - after the last one we're not using them again.

Grid Connect Solar - yippee we have a date for our solar installation! End of November and it will be IN! the system as a maximum output of 4.5 units and our setup will achieve 4.2 units, which is pretty good for a 1kw system (I hope I got those figures and 'thingies' right!). Since we use about 11 units per bill currently, this will be quite an input, and as we modify things around the house to be more energy conscious (changing over the halogens eventually), the fridge and washing machine now doing well on the eco level, my aim is is to get our use to 10 units or under for the next few bills. See how we go.

Water Tanks - just starting new on this but so far have decided on outdoor use for the water (to plumb it to the house for laundry/loo which is all health regs will allow, requires a lot more outlay and something we don't have atm) for the veges mostly, probably from two collection points and then gravity feed on a slow hose to do the watering. I looked at a round one and the more 'modern' streamline ones, and for example for 2500litre capacity, the round one was $800 and the 'modern' one $1200... the rabte is $600... so guess which size we're going for!

Have just read the backyard book by Jackie French... will have to check the title because it escapes my mind every time but wow it's awesome - any wonder people rave about it! I got my copy from the Good Life Bookclub in case you're finding it hard to get hold of. It's brilliant. All her trial and error and planting experiments, knowledge and 15odd years of 'work' in one book to save us having to do it all over like she did. Which is not to say you'll have it easy but a LOT of the hard work has been done for you, in terms of the theory and planning. Brilliant. Answers a lot of 'how on earth can I grow what we need on an average block?' - and 'how can we have fruit all year round'... those kind ones. Highly recommended.

Chooks - jury is now out on whether we have chooks after reading a backyard poultry book, I am undecided. I do know if/when we do chooks, there will be waist high or above access to the nesting boxes WITHOUT having to enter the chook yard. A guaranteed walk in chook poo every day is perhaps something that comes with having chooks but not an idea I relish and one I plan to avoid by this design AND I don't plan on bending every day to check for eggs either - slack I know but hey, the whole idea is to make your design work for you, not against you... I've got a few ideas where they can fit.

The veges are taking off - I think we're about to be overtaken by the various vines (pumpkin/rockmelon/zuccini etc if they manage to get over the (anti-Jemma) fence... it's a serious possibility! Almost able to pick lettuce for dinner every second night and won't be long before the pak choy and spinach are ready to rock! Fruit trees are doing well too, and the mulberries reliable as always.

That'll do from me for now I suppose. Have a positive and productive week! Well, I hope the week is kind to you anyway...