400g Gain Over Christmas :(

Had a glorious beach day while we were away. I love the beach. Very rarely have holidays away from the water.

Steve's mum and dad bought the kids their table tennis table and Jarryd got a Ben 10 bike from Santa.

The only photo I have from Ashleigh's dancing concert. This outfit was for the Grease Lightning finale.

Well I bit the bullet and weighed in this morning. I gained 400g which is what I lost last week so back to pre christmas weight.

I'm not even disappointed. I enjoyed christmas and I haven't gone out of control. There were a couple of days where I couldn't stop eating the chocolate that was lying around but it's outa sight now and I don't even think about it.

It just goes to show I truly don't have any willpower. If tempting foods aren't around, I don't really think that much about them but have them where I can see them and they wear me down - LOL!!!

So New Years eve tomorrow night!! How did that happen??

I'm not making a new years resolution this year because I never stick to them. We have nothing planned which is fine. Last year it was 40 deg and we had so many people over it was crazy. This year it's going to be 24 ish. Our local beach has fireworks so that's where we will go. I think I partied too much over christmas so I really don't mind staying home this year. But you never know, it's still 36 hours away. Anything could happen.

We all got very spoilt on xmas day. Nikki got a ripstick and Ashleigh and Jarryd got bikes.

Steve was in charge of my present this year. I had no idea. I got a sandwich press and some outdoor solar hanging lights. I would have preferred jewellary - LOL!!!!!

So it's all over for another year. Back into healthy eating and exercise. Thanks to everyone for your motivation and support through this blog and the ww forums. I am feeling more positive about my weight loss than I have in years.

Have a fantastic new year's eve whatever you decide to do. See you in 2009

Merry Christmas

Just popped in to let you know I lost 400g today taking the total to 9.9 kgs!!

Bugger just missed the 10 kg mark but I will do that next week.

I am very happy with 400g gone. I have had a few days drinking this week and although I didn't go over my points, I haven't eaten enough food because I've counted a lot of alcohol points. Never mind, all the parties are finished until new years eve. I'm not drinking tomorrow because I might have to drive to Stansbury which is 2 hours from Adelaide.

We are going away until Sunday. Steve has to go back to work on Monday. It will be a wonderful, relaxing break with Steve's family. They live in a beautiful country coastal town and I love going over there. We just don't seem to get over there often enough.

I wish everyone a very special christmas with family and friends. Enjoy the holiday whatever you do.

Another Good Week

I'm happy to report I lost 1.6 kgs this week taking the total to 9.5 kgs in 7 weeks.

Again I was shocked by the loss especially since I had a huge night last Saturday and drank far too much. I had been very careful during the day and didn't use too many points and I think I drank more than I ate on Saturday point wise - LOL!!!

The exercise has dwindled a little this week. When the kids were at school, I was in a very good routine that I would walk and pick them up at least 3 times a week. Now they are on holidays that routine has gone so I need to make sure I am still walking. The kids are getting bikes from Father Christmas and Steve bought a bike recently so I will definitely be investing in one early next year. I haven't been on a bike for about 30 years so that will be a laugh!!

I am ready for christmas. I just need to get one more present for my next door neighbour who always spoils the kids rotton. What do you get a 26 year old kid??? And she is still a kid at heart. Last year she bought all 3 of my kids a nintendo ds game each. She's very naughty. So I really need to put my thinking cap on and think of something special for her.

Ashleigh's budgie has had another 2 babies. They are still in the nest so that makes 5 babies altogether. The 1st 2 died, but the 3rd one survived and he is fully grown now. There's lots of chirping going on in the nesting box so we'll see how these 2 go. After they come out we are going to take the nesting box away. Sky (the mummy bird) needs a rest - LOL!!

I work a 4 hour shift tomorrow, 5-1/2 hours on Monday and then we breakup at lunch time on Tuesday. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait. Even though I only have about 10 days off, it's a break and I need a break.

If I don't get back here before next Thursday, I wish everyone a very special christmas. I hope you all have a lovely day with family and friends.

2 Weeks to Go

First things first.

I lost 1.2 kgs this week taking the total to 7.9 kgs in 6 weeks.

I am so happy with tonight's loss. My scales are really playing up at home and I totally thought I hadn't lost anything this week. I am going to try very hard not to use my home scales. It does my head in.

I have finished all my christmas shopping and all the presents are wrapped and under the tree. I have not written one card though. Just can't be bothered. How bad is that? And the funny thing is that we have only received 1 card so far. I think everyone is in denial!!

I bought something off of ebay for my sister to give the kids and after 2 weeks it seems it has gone missing in the post. Luckily I insured it so I will get my money back but what a pain in the bum. It's a buzz game and buzzers for the PS2 and the bundle is around $100 new in the shops. I got this one for $40 so I doubt I will get another one so cheap.

School finishes here tomorrow and I have mixed feelings. I am happy the routine will stop for 6 weeks but it means when they go back next year my first born will be in grade 7 and I'm not ready to accept that yet - LOL!! They all got their reports yesterday and because the teachers have been involved in industrial action for a lot of this year they decided not to write any report summarys of the year in their reports. How bad is that?? A report card with ticks and nothing else. It's so impersonal and I think it's very bad on the teachers parts. I agree with what they are asking for but not writing end of year reports is absurd. They didn't have an end of year concert either for the 1st time in 8 years for us if you include kindy events. It doesn't feel right.

They also got their class placements and I was floored when Ashleigh came home and told me she is in the same class as the kid that has been bullying her all year. After discussing it with the principal today, we have decided to keep her there for the time being. There were 2 bullys and they have been seperated so hopefully that will make a difference. But I do agree that Ashleigh needs to learn how to stand up for herself so I am going to make this problem known to the new teacher and the school counsellor as soon as they go back to school next year.

She is actually feeling very positive about next year which is a good thing.

I'm counting the days until work finishes. 7.5 working days to go and then I am off until 5th January. It's not much but I am so looking forward to having a break from work and doing nothing.

Have a great weekend everyone.

A Little Loss

I lost 600g this week taking the total to 6.7 kgs in 5 weeks.

I was a little surprised I only lost 600g this week because I have been very focussed and have not gone over my points in the 5 weeks I've been on this journey.

The only thing I noticed over the last couple of days is feeling very bloated and because TTOM is next Tuesday, I should be grateful that I had a loss this week. In fact this time last month I only lost 300g so I think that's going to be the pattern every 4 weeks.

I have my work christmas show this Saturday night and traditionally it has been a huge night of eating and drinking. We are going to a dinner and show package so there is 5 hours of drinking. I really think I will try and pace myself but I'm going to save lots of points so I can enjoy without feeling guilty.

I am planning on finishing my christmas shopping on Saturday morning. I'll get over to the shops when they open and shop til I finish. There is no way I want to go anywhere near the shops in the last couple of weeks before christmas apart from doing food shopping. I don't have too much else to do so hopefully it won't take me too long.

Ashleigh had her dancing end of year break up last night and came home with a lovely trophy. She did say towards the end of the dancing year that she didn't want to do it again next year which was fine by me. But after 4 weeks off, she is already missing it and she's saying she might do it again next year. Bugger!!!!! I was really looking forward to having a break.

We've had a traumatic couple of weeks with Ashleigh. She has had a couple of girls bullying her all year. Nothing too serious, niggling her and putting her down. I have tried to get her to stand up to them but she's just not that sort of kid. If it was Nikki there wouldn't be a problem but Ashleigh doesn't want to rock the boat.

Well on Tuesday night she came home and told me one of these girls had threatened to bash her up if she told me about them harassing her. Well, I did something I should have done months ago. I was on the phone to the school that quick, Ashleigh didn't have time to think about it. It was addressed very quickly and the girls were all brought together. Of course they denied it. But they have left Ashleigh alone for the last 2 days. Thank goodness there is only 1 week left of school. I have been assured they will not be in the same class next year.

We as a family have never had to address bullying. I can't believe how bitchy some girls are. From telling Ashleigh what she should and shouldn't be wearing to telling her how slow and crap she is at sports. She is picked on because she is too nice and wouldn't hurt a fly. I really do worry about the future for her because she just won't stand up for herself and she certainly would never tell a teacher what's been going on for fear of upsetting the girls who have been bullying her.

I feel very sad when she tells me what they do to her. I just want to wrap her in cotton wool!!!

Sunny (for now) Saturday

These are the photos that I took of our duck pond visit. The earlier photos are from Ashleigh's camera.

Jarryd in Steve's bike leathers!!

The girls are holding another blogger Tania's baby girl Mikayla.

How old is she now Tania? It goes to quick. And you can fill me in on how old she was in these photos.

Our afternoon in Stirling in the Adelaide Hills. Such a pretty town.

Jarryd and Ashleigh are having afternoon tea at a bakery.

It took me a while to download these photos. We are saving all our photos, so I will post some more archive photos later. It's so much fun to look back on the kid's early years.

I have 2 extra kids here today so I'm about to take them to the beach for a walk. I wonder how many will come home wet again??

Ashleigh played her last cricket game of the year this morning. Can't say I will miss the early mornings.

I had coffee with a blogger I met through the weight watchers boards. Joanne has lost over 30 kgs and is 1/2 way through her journey. I feel like I had a free counselling session because she was so inspirational. Thanks so much Jo, I had a great afternoon. We'll do it again.

We did take a photo but you'll have to visit her blog to see it. I hate it of course but I'll have another one taken next time we are together and see how far I have come.

And if anyone know how to link to another blog (so I could have linked Jo's and Tania's) please let me know.

I am definitely feeling fitter. I have gone from the couch potato stage to the starting to enjoy walking in the sunshine stage. Still slow compared to others but it will build up slowly.

Having said that, I am off for that walk.

Look What I Found in the Archives..................

I found some of these old photos of the kids

I can't believe Nikki is now 12, Ashleigh is now 10 and Jarryd is now 7.

Where did that time go?????

Nikki's 1st netball game. She was 5 or 6.

This is a better photo of my hibiscus. It is just stunning but the flowers only last on the plant about 3 days.

I am very happy to report I lost 900g tonight taking the total to 6.1 kgs in 4 weeks. I'm very happy with that.

I've been doing some christmas shopping on ebay and picking up some bargains. I got Nikki's christmas present that was in the Target catalogue last week for $100 on special for $60. Can't say what it is in case she gets to read this - LOL!!

Ashleigh's budgie has finally come out of the nesting box but we have discovered that it has a problem with one of it's legs. Instead of going under the bird, it is out to the side and after doing some investigation on the internet, it's called splayed legs. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it now so it is going to be a special needs budgie. If we had caught it while it was still in the nesting box, we could have tried tying it's little legs together and it could have corrected it. But because the bird is now nearly fully grown, it won't fix itself now. Ashleigh was so upset but she has realised that the baby will adapt and is already climbing the sides of the cage. It probably won't be able to sit on the perches like other budgies but she has already held it lots of times and it is becoming quite tame.

Can you believe the naughty mummy and daddy have been at it again and the mummy is sitting on 3 eggs again!!! We might have to seperate them if this keeps happening - LOL!!

Photo Post

Yesterday was interesting. Choices of meat at the bbq were sausages, patties and marinated chicken thigh. The salads were all swimming in thick, creamy dressings so I just had a small amount of pasta salad and a piece of chicken and a pattie. When I came home and tracked I was amazed to find the pattie had 10 points for 1 serve. It didn't say what a serve was but they were small patties so I counted 5 points. Needless to say I will not have a pattie again.

I went over my points for the first time today. Not concerned at all. I'm maybe 4 points over and I made that up by walking home from the waterslide which was about 40 minutes walk along the beach. Very nice. No-one wanted to come with me because they were so tired and I really enjoyed being alone. Of course I found a house I would love to buy on the Esplanade. Probably would go for $1.2 million!!!!!



I forgot to take the camera to the waterslide party yesterday. I am hopeless. It was a great day even though it was a cold start. Nikki and Ashleigh went on the waterslide but there were lots of little kids who came down with their dads and definitely didn't want to go back on again.

Father Christmas came and some of the presents were amazing. Jarryd got disc shooters that shoot out foam discs. There are 2 of them and Nikki and Jarryd spent ages when they got home rigging up a battlezone with chairs and blankets. Ashleigh got an electronic diary and Nikki got a lava lamp which she was disappointed with because she got one at the same party 2 years ago - LOL. There was a clown that entertained the kids. I wish my kids were little again. Nikki was so synical about this clown that had all the little kids in fits of laughter. Jarryd sat with the little kids.






This is at the magic cave when we went to see Santa. Sorry about the red eyes but I couldn't find my camera software.


























My sister made this pumpkin for Nikki's halloween party she had nearly a month ago now. She had about 12 friends and they spent most of the time in the pool. Absolutely no sense of feeling cold. It was 20 deg. We did have the spa on though to warm up.

















This is the most amazing hibiscus plant. When it flowers it has the hugest flowers. So hard to see in a photo but they are massive. Easily bigger than your hand outstretched.

As you can see, some of the girls were still in the pool including my crazy daughter Ashleigh in the middle of the pool.

These photos are all off of Ashleigh's camera. I finally got around to downloading the photos and then my camera went totally flat.

We live 10 minutes away from West Lakes and there is a lovely park and duck pond with walking trails and bridges. I wish I lived closer to walk around there every night. We went to feed the ducks and Ashleigh spotted this cute little baby duck. It was funny watching it dart around trying to get the bread. Entertained the kids for ages.

Great Week

Just a quick update to tell you about my weigh in tonight.

I was hoping for a loss but when they told me I lost 2.2 kgs I was in shock. I have now lost 5.2 kgs in total in 3 weeks.

So I'm very happy tonight.

Plodding Along

Things are no better and no worse here. We are still waiting for the phone call about the counselling but I am not holding my breath. If it was me, I would have tried someone else instead of just accepting that we are on a waiting list for god knows how long!!! But I am not doing it this time. It's time he took some responsibility. We are keeping it together for the kids but things are very tense between us. He still has made no effort to sit down and talk and I am not going to initiate it AGAIN!!!

Ashleigh still won't spend time alone with Steve. She has come to me for the 3 weight watchers meetings I have gone to and I just can't convince her to stay with her father. The other 2 are fine and things have improved there, but Ashleigh is such a different child. So sensitive and easy going but when things bother her, she is very clingy to me. I really need to look into some counselling for her.

Sorry again for the lack of photos. I still haven't got around to loading the software for the camera onto this new computer. In fact I still haven't got around to finding the software!!

We took the kids to the magic cave yesterday to see Father Christmas. Mainly because Jarryd keeps changing his mind and I need to know - LOL!! I was so pissed off with David Jones. They have banned you taking your own photos so I was quite prepared to buy some photos but after waiting in line for over an hour, we were told their photographs weren't working. When I asked 2 people if I could take my own photo, they told me I couldn't because it was against store policy. I spat it. Fair enough if their equipment is working but I don't think they can ban you if they can't take photos either. I was nearly tempted to ask Father Christmas but I didn't want to get into an argument with him!! I am definitely going to send a letter to David Jones management. And in the end Jarryd asked for a surprise because he couldn't decide. Nikki asked for a rip stick which is like a skateboard and Ashleigh asked for a bike.

In my second week of weight watchers I lost 300g which brings the total to 3 kgs. I always have a tiny loss in week 2 and it was also TTOM so I was ok with that. Bigger one this week.

Nikki had a birthday party to go to yesterday afternoon and when we dropped her off, the parents asked us to stay for a drink. They are good friends and have a heated pool so Nikki and Ashleigh both had a swim. Well a quiet drink ended up with us staying until around 11pm. And I did have a bit too much to drink. I don't think I would have gone over points for the day because I had only had fruit for breakfast and then hadn't had time to eat until we had a BBQ tea at the party. Needless to say, the wine went straight to my head because of the lack of food and now I feel like crap today!!

Ashleigh had her end of year dancing concert last Sunday and I was so proud of her. She is going through such a tough time at the moment and one of Nikki's friends who is in the same dance group told Nikki that Ashleigh was embarrassing because she kept forgetting the steps. I was furious when I heard that. Girls can be such bitches. Well she didn't make even 1 mistake and I was the proudest mum there!! I wish I could have gotten some photos in her costumes but they won't allow cameras in the theatre and I was too slack to get backstage photos. She has decided to have a year off of dancing because she has been doing it for 5 years and wants a break. Can't say I'm unhappy about that. It was becoming a chore to get her to practice every week and I can put the money into my weight watchers meetings now. Something for me at last!!!!!

I have done very little Christmas shopping. I have a few things on layby but I need to do a lot more. K-Mart had 20% off toys this week but I am just not going to get the chance to get over there. We had a huge day yesterday and today we are going up into the Adelaide Hills for a BBQ with Steve's golf club. I really could stay home. Might get over there one night this week.

Like most people at this time of the year, we have something on most weekends now until christmas. Steve's work are putting on a christmas party for the kids next Saturday at a waterslide which is very close to our place so I'm hoping for some warm weather next weekend. Then we have a surprise 40th and my work show and then Steve's work show for the next 3 weekends after that. Crazy time of the year.

I'll be back next week to let you know how week 3 weigh in goes.

Thanks again for all your support for the dramas in my life. It really means so much to have such caring friends.

Quick Update

Firstly I really want to thank everyone for their comment to my last post. I can totally relate to each and every one of you.

I know this is not an acceptable way of living for myself and the children. It has been going on for far too long and I can't do it anymore.

We sat the children down and had a good talk to them. They all told Steve how they are feeling and that they had been too scared to tell him the truth in the past. It broke my heart. Anyway it prompted Steve into making a phonecall and putting the wheels in place for counselling. I think we are on a waiting list which is typical!!

Things are still very strained between us because he still hasn't sat me down and tried talking. Like I said I'm sick of trying and things being ok for a couple of months and then it all happens again. He just can't communicate!!

Anyway I will wait until we can see the counsellor. I just can't face thinking about moving out or packing a house up before christmas.

He is going away on a bike rally this weekend and I think it is perfect timing. I just hope he can have a good think about things while he's away.

I really appreciate everything you have said. It's nothing I haven't thought a million times and I know this treatment is totally unacceptable but I just don't know how things are going to change.
Can people really change???

Anyway onto some good news. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I LOST 2.7 KGS THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!

Finally something to put a smile on my face.

Lazy Blogger!!

Yep, that's me - a very lazy blogger!!

One of the reasons I haven't updated is because we have had a few computer issues and apart from losing all my photos from the last 6 months, I haven't downloaded our camera software as yet.

I hate posting without photos.

Big news for me is that I have finally stopped procrastinating (sp??) and started weight watchers again. As I have said many times, I have absolutely no support in this family when it comes to weight loss efforts and I have finally realized that I do love the support you get from going to meetings. I have joined unlimited which only works out to $13.50 ish per week which is quite good. With that you get etools for free which is great for online tracking.

I know there are lots of bloggers out there that don't agree with weight watchers but I know it works for me if I stick to it. And after all, it is just sensible eating. Nothing more, nothing less.

I have changed my hours at work which now gives me time to walk to school and pick the kids up 3 times a week. Hey it's a start. I am soooo unfit!! I'll build it up very slowly.

The other big thing in my life at the moment is my marriage. Things aren't great - AGAIN!!

I honestly don't know what to do. I have tried so many times that I just don't know where to go from here. We had counselling 12 months ago which I instigated but got that thrown back in my face because the counsellor was on my side!!!! So we didn't go back. I have asked him to organize his own counselling and it hasn't happened.

We have honestly just grown apart. His children are scared of him and that scares me.

He wants love and affection yet I get no love or affection. And I am so sick of trying!!!

He doesn't talk!! He won't sit down and start a conversation. It always ends up with him yelling at me because his life is so tough. For example - picking up the dog poo, cleaning the pool and taking the bins out are his pet hates. I have so many chores I hate too but I don't complain about them. It's part and parcel of bringing up a family and running a household.

I know I'm not perfect but how do you live with someone who is so grumpy ALL the time??

I really don't know where that leaves us!! I still love him but it's not enough anymore!!

I have one request. I need so much support right now. If you are still reading and I know there are lots that are, please leave me a comment to let me know you are there. I love reading blogs and have made so many friends online. I have lots of people reading from overseas, but hardly anyone comments.

Please say hi!!!

And give me some advice if you have ever been in this situation.

Random Photos

It was Nikki's 12th birthday on Wednesday.

How did that happen?????

We gave her a bike that she is very excited about. It took her a little while to get used to the gears but now she's riding it with confidence. Can't wait for daylight saving to start this weekend so we have more time to walk and ride after I finish work. We had a family lunch on Sunday and I whipped up the big cake - lol!! No, not really, I cheated and bought it.


I am loving this time of the year. Spring is here and our plum tree is full of blossom. Actually I took this photo a few days too late because the blossom has started to blow off, but it looked spectacular when it was in full bloom.

Had to laugh at Jarryd. We were walking out the door for school last week and he lined up his pokemon toys on the lounge, put the pillow under their heads and told them they could watch TV while he was at school. So funny!!

Update on the budgies. Sky has laid another 3 eggs. We're not getting our hopes up, but hopefully she will do better this time and maybe, just maybe we might get a baby budgie that survives this time.

Ashleigh is away on a camping trip with her girl guides group. She left 3 days ago and we pick her up on Sunday, so 5 days in total. I can't believe how much I am missing her. I keep wondering if she is warm enough, if she is getting enough to eat, if she is sleeping ok and many other things a mummy thinks about when her baby is away. It's been raining here quite a lot today so I hope she didn't get too wet. I can't wait to go and pick her up on Sunday.

I'm sure a lot of you have been reading Beckie's blog over the years. Well her last post this week had a huge effect on me. Not just because she has decided not to blog anymore, but because of the reasons why. She wants to devote all her time to her beautiful family and I don't blame her for one second. My baby just turned 12 and I just can't get over how quickly that time has gone. It just seems like yesterday that she was a tiny baby. I am guilty of spending far too much time online. I don't regret that because I have made so many friends through blogging but I realize that I need to spend every moment I can with my family before they are living their own lives.

So now the weather is getting better, I sure have no excuses to get out in it. I am really looking forward to starting to walk again. There is something about winter that just makes me want to hibernate. I turn into a grizzly bear!!

Have a great long weekend.

Beach Photos

It was such a perfect day yesterday so a friend and I met at a local beach kiosk for a coffee. It is a beautiful setting and you can watch the kids easily from the verandah of the kiosk.

It wasn't long before they wanted to go to the beach and of course we didn't have any towels.

When we left I had 3 children with wet and sandy pants so they had to go home in their undies.

Hahaha maybe we'll remember the towels next time.

We do have some sad news to report this week. Ashleigh's 2 baby budgies died. Not sure why but I don't think Sky was feeding them. They were the 1st eggs she hatched so hopefully she will be a better mummy budgie next time. And yes, they are already trying again!!!

I'm Still Here!!

We went to the Royal Adelaide show yesterday and it was an unreal day. It was a beautiful, warm September day and we all were exhausted by the time we got home.

If you look at the photo of the swing ride, you can just see the girls to the right of the photo. They were screaming the whole ride.

We stayed for the fireworks and saw some shows like the motorbike stunt riders. Unbelievable!!!

Ashleigh and her 2 best friends all in different teams. These 3 have been best friends since reception.

We've also had the kids sports day last week. You can just see Jarryd at the end of the tunnelball waiting for the ball.



So, I can't believe it's been a month since I have updated. So much has happened.

In my last update, I showed a picture of Ashleigh's budgie's egg. Well since then, she laid 3 more and in the last week 2 baby budgies have hatched. We were amazed. Here I was telling Ashleigh that they might not hatch because it's the 1st eggs she has laid and trying to prepare here for the disappointment and now we have 2 babies. I haven't been able to take a photo yet. Mummy bird is very protective. They are tiny and have no feathers so very ugly really.

Ashleigh had a dancing competition about 3 weeks ago and they came 3rd. A bit disappointing but they really weren't up to standard and probably shouldn't have entered but it was all good practice. Just a pain all the preparation beforehand. Like sequinning!!!!

Jarryd was invited to 3 parties that weekend so it was a crazy time.

We went to the best party the weekend after that. Friends of ours turned 40 within a couple of weeks of each other so they booked out the balcony of a local pub and put drinks on the bar. I decided to drive but my darling husband got so drunk, I don't know how he was still standing at the end of the night which was around 5am!! We ended up back at a mates house who had a very well stocked bar. It was fun staying sober and watching all the crazy drunks around me. There were about 100 helium balloons and we were taking some home for the kids. Steve had so many wrapt around his hand while he was dancing they got tangled up and he couldn't get them off. I am waiting for a friend to email me a photo of him walking down the street with so many balloons attatched. It was hillarious. And then of course, the inevitable happened.

Sucking the helium balloons!!

Probably why he was so sick the next day. Hahaha - Suffer baby!!!

The next day, I left him at home and took the girls to meet a blogger friend Tania for coffee and cake. Tania was then 38 weeks pregnant and has since given birth to her little girl Mikayla.
Congratulations Tania, Michael and Lachlan. I can't wait to see you all and have a cuddle of your precious bundle.

The following week which was the beginning of last week, I got a call from the school to say Nikki was in the sick room. She had been having a couple of dizzy spells and headaches for about a week so it was time to see the local GP. She examined her for quite a while and was listening to her heart for ages and then told us she was concerned about an irregular heartbeat. OMG did that freak me out thinking all the worse things like I always do. She started writing a letter for the Childrens Hospital and told us to go straight up there which freaked me out even more. Steve was away for the whole week working in Mildura so I dropped the other 2 at mums and headed up to the hospital. Well after a 4 hour wait and lots of prodding and probing and testing like an ECG, reflex testing and neurological testing, the doctor ruled out anything nasty
THANK GOD!!

So they have put it down to a virus and pre teenage hormones. We have put her on some multi vitamins and watched her diet and she has been fine. No dizzy spells in over a week now.

Last weekend Steve and I went to Melbourne and left the kids with Steve's parents in Stansbury. It was a lovely, relaxing few days although Jetstar were absolutely terrible. Firstly we had a 2 hour delay in Adelaide and we didn't get to our hotel until 8pm Saturday night. Then our 9pm flight home got changed to 6am!! Huge difference. So we had to stay in a hotel near the airport the night before because the 6am flight is the only one that goes from Melbourne to Adelaide each day now. We were up at 4.30am. Then we had to drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back to get the kids from Steve's parents. An exhausting day!!

But we did get to have some quality time together in Melbourne. We went to see 'In Bruge' at the Crown Casino cinemas at gold class which was unreal. Then spent a couple of days with my bestest friend Lee. Always goes too quick. I had last week off work and it has flown. I am hating that I have to go back to work tomorrow.

This is the last week for school netball and soccer so that will free up our Saturday mornings and a couple of nights during the week. I can't believe that we are nearly at the end of Term 3. Where has this year gone??

Have a great week bloggers.

Winter Is Making Me Sick and Miserable!!

When I went out to get the paper this morning, I found that it had been hailing. So I decided to play a trick on the children.

I took some photos and told them it had snowed!!

They were so excited. I am so evil.


We have had so much rain over the last week which is unreal but I am over it now. It is cold and wet and today it only got to 11 deg. If we get much more, Steve will have to drain some out of the pool. It is full to the brim.

I have developed a chesty cough and very clogged head. I have felt like crap today but I am going to tough it out for a couple more days and hopefully I won't need to go to the doctor. Being asthmatic I usually get a couple of chest infections during winter but can mostly fight them off without having to get antibiotics.

Jarryd had to play soccer in the rain again yesterday and I felt so sorry for him. He was in the backline and because his team is so good, the ball hardly ever came down to him. I felt like taking a towel out to him to dry him off. He was standing on the field all by himself - dripping and looking so miserable!!
The blogger in me was so pissed off that I didn't have the camera - LOL.

We had a few friends over last night for a meal and a card night. This is something we used to do every couple of months but lately it has been more like every 6 months. It had been ages. Everyone bought a dish. I made laab - a spicy thai chicken dish served with rice and tuna mornay. Someone else bought lasagna and the other couple got a cheesecake from the Cheesecake shop. It was a great night and I think we won a little bit of money.

Speaking of money, my ebay auctions are doing really well. I have sold over $200 so far. Pity ebay have taken $50 of that in fees. And I still have a lot of interest in the things still going.

I bought myself a treadmill on ebay. I have been watching one that was pickup near us and it started at $300. A hardly used York brand. It had no bids for days and then there were a couple yesterday. I went in at the last minute and got it for $406. Considering I had $500 to spend, I was very happy with that.

Not that I feel well enough to be exercising right now, but as soon as we get it I am going to start with 20 minutes a day and build it up from there.

Not much else to report this week. I have finished sequinning Ashleigh's dance costume for her competition next Sunday. They have a full dress rehearsal tomorrow night so hopefully it is right and I don't have to do any more to it.

Jarryd has 3 birthday parties next weekend so he is going to be very busy. Steve is playing golf on Sunday so next weekend is shaping up to be very busy for me.

Have a great week bloggers and stay warm.

Long Overdue Update

This may sound very boring to some but on Friday we went for a walk over our new Port River Bridge. It was a huge day for people in our area because they have been building this bridge for over 3 years and it is finally open. It was a freezing cold day as you can see by how we are all rugged up.

This Bridge cuts about 10 minutes off my trip to work every day so it is very exciting to finally be open. Ashleigh was involved in the opening ceremony. She made this flag and along with lots of other local school kids, they displayed the flags.

In other exciting news, Ashleigh's budgie has laid her first egg. She is going to be a mummy. Sky (pictured with Ashleigh) and Barney, her new bird have been going for it for weeks. The kids have been fascinated - LOL!!
So we went out and got a nesting box and she has been sitting on the egg. So hopefully, we will have a baby budgie very soon.


What else has been happening???

Everyone in our house has coughs and sniffles. It is so cold here and thankfully we have had lots of rain with it so that's good. God knows, we need the rain so desperately.

After reading about a few bloggers decluttering, namely Chris H and Kate, I got into the decluttering mode as well. I have so many piles of clothes that the kids have grown out of, I sorted and photgraphed them and listed them on ebay. Very time consuming, but I have listed some good things so hopefully I will get good money for them. I have 2 pairs of tap shoes and 2 pairs of jazz shoes that are listed and so far there is a lot of interest, so it will be good to get rid of them.

And then spend again. In the last week, Nikki and Ashleigh have needed new sandshoes. Everything Ashleigh has put on so far in this cold weather has been far too short so she has grown the most in the last 12 months. I wish I could put a brick on their heads. I am so enjoying this stage of being a mummy.

I got a letter today from Medicare Dental Care for teens!!! What the???? How did Nikki get to be nearly a teenager? I am entering the next phase of my life with trepidation. I know all you mums of teens and even my mum will say 'It only get's worse!!' I have been thinking so much about my eldest daughter becoming independent and living her life - not mine. I don't think I like it :(

Please any mother of teenagers - I need advice. Don't be shy - jump right in and leave a comment. Come on I know I have a lot of lurkers. Please stop by and say hi.

I need to get creative with this blog. I need colour in my life!!

And for all you Collingwood people, thankyou, thankyou for taking the spotlight off my team - Port Adelaide. I'm looking to next year now with the talent in our team. Some of those young boys are good eye candy. Isn't that why us women go to the football!!

Anyway I better go and get tea ready. Home made pizza tonight. My eating went off the rails this weekend. Ashleigh bought home the fundraising chocolate. Bad idea Ashleigh!! Evil stuff.

Enjoy the rest of your week.