Thursday Thirteen #4

Today I thought I would tell you my favourite 13 flowers

1. African Tulip Tree

2 Frangipani

3. Freesias

4. Gardenia

5. Gerbera

6. Pansies

7. Roses

8. Snowbells

9. Hibiscus

10. Tulips

11. Camellia

12. Wisteria

13. Cosmos

Thursday Thirteen #3

My 13 Favourite Movies - in no particular order

Hot Chocolate

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, glass, crystal; some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.' While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then, you began eyeing each others cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate--your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life.The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly... and enjoy your hot chocolate.

Happy Birthday Matthew

Today was Matthews birthday and he turned the 4. He is officially no longer a toddler. But in so many ways he still is.

The girls each gave him a set to play with his cars, he is really into "tunnels" at the moment so this was perfect.

Then out came Darian with a brand new bike, Matthew still can't peddle yet but with practice and the pedals hitting his shins he should get it in no time.

In the afternoon we organised a afternoon tea party and Aunty Jacquie and the kids came and Grandma and Grandpa came up from Mandurah.

Aunty Jacquie and the kids gave him a fantastic green mountain thingy with tunnels...happy boy

Grandma and Grandpa gave him a cricket set (which the girls took out side and started to play) and a new quilt cover and forklift.

After some chatting and eating we sang happy birthday and cut the cake. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera out but grandma got some shots and we took video.

So once everyone said goodbye and went home I then drove Talia and Eloise to their dads house where they are staying for the holidays, came home and put a very tired but happy boy to bed.

Project 50 by 50

I was catching up with reading my blog roll and came across a brilliant idea from Pam. I asked her very nicely if I could copy her idea, she said sure so here goes.

50 things I would like to do before I am 50. In no particular order.

1. Go to the top of Table Mountain, Cape Town South Africa.       I really wanted to go when we were over there in August but didn't  have the time or money to go.

2. Go for a horse back trek through the snowy Mountains. You can go for a week, camp out, visit all the places from the movie. Have to wait till the kids grow up.

3. Learn to ride a horse properly. I would love to be able go eventing. But I would need to be a better rider than I am now . Better do this before I  try number 2.

4. Own my own home. Not even own it outright but just be able to have a mortgage and pay it off. being able to paint a wall the colour I want or put up a picture. But the way the property market is going this is getting further and further out of our reach.

5.Go white water rafting. The real deal, down rapids and that.

6.Drive the Great Ocean Road. I kick my self now that when I was living in Victoria I didn't do this.

7. Visit the Cadbury Factory in Tasmania. only problem with this is having to over the water to get there

8. Go to the Mataranka hot springs. Yet again I was so close and didn't go....

9. Motor home tour of New Zealand. Both Darian and I want to do this, might have to do this for our 15 year anniversary.

10. Go to the Great Barrier Reef.  Yes I know I don't like water but part of me still wants to see it.

11. Go to the Daintree.  Hopefully it will be still there by the time I get around to visiting it

12. Learn Karate. I don't want to be a black belt or anything. Just looks like fun.

13. Show Darian all my favourite spots in Australia. This is going  to be hard as I have so many. We might have to become gray nomads.

14. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I remember seeing it from a distance when I was 8, we were passing through Sydney on the way to Port Moresby and thinking that it would be awesome to climb. Need to be a lot fitter.

15. Drive across the Nullabour. Might be able to do this on our gray nomad trek

16. See the Rocky mountains in Spring time. I blame John Denver for this....might have to play the song while I am there

17. Grow my own veggies successfully Every time I grow veggies they either die or we have to move. I can't even grow tomatoes.

18. Helicopter flight over the bungle bungles I was going to do this for my 30th birthday present but didn't get around to it...wish I had of now

19. Visit the Mindil Beach Markets I have been to Darwin a number if times and always miss out on going to the markets

20. Celebrate my 15 year wedding anniversary  New Zealand here we come :)

21. Go visit my online friend in Texas  just to say "surprise"

22. Learn how to cook mashed potatoes properly.This may seem bizarre but it doesn't matter what I do my mash is terrible so one day I hope not to torture my family any more.

23. Have a weekly pamper night in place. Be firm and put aside on night a week that is just for me, to either scrap or have a hot bath....and NOT to be annoyed by husband or kids

24. Have a full body massage. I have had a shoulder massage before and that felt amazing so would love to have a full body one.

25. Build up my pot plant collection. Every time I get a nice collection going I move, usually interstate and I cant take them with me.

26. Keep up to date with scrapping my photos A few years ago I was only 6 months behind, now I am 4 years behind. I would like to keep up to date but need a scrapping space.

27. Learn how to touch type properly. I mean proper touch type, not looking at any keys and not making many mistakes

28. Eat more fish. I am not keen on fish but I am sure there is a type of fish that is not too "fishy" and an easy way to cook it. its supposed to be good for you

29. Learn to let go. This is going to be huge for me as I am such a control freak. I need to let of of the reins....

30. Take my kids roller skating I loved roller skating as a kid and I said I would take them one day.

31. Go for a trail ride with Elosie  Just her  and me.

32. Leave a tip at a restaurant larger than the bill.

33. Pay for someone else's fuel anonymously at the petrol station.

34. See Niagara Falls at night.

35. Have a white Christmas in Canada

36. See Stone Henge

37. Learn to dance

38. Witness a tornado. Not too close though

39. Grow my hair to my waist

40. Drink beer at Oktoberfest in Munich. To also try as many different types of beer possible

41. Drive across America from coast to coast. A good ol' fashioned road trip.

42. Learn how to fix my own computer and not rely on others

43. Ride an elephant

44. Totally de-clutter my house

45. Get fit. Not just loose 10kg or diet but to get generally healthier, so I can climb Sydney harbour bridge :)

46.  Own a green tree frog as a pet. I almost bought 2 the other day but didn't....one day. They are just so cute and remind me of the tropics

47.  Take the kids to see Cirque du Soleil.

48. Play more board games with the kids. The kids love playing board games and I try and play as much as possible but would like to do it more

49. Learn to take better photographs.

50. Have a family dinner night. Especially as the kids get older, to have one night a week that everyone is home and sits down to dinner. This includes boyfriends, girlfriends and friends.

Thursday Thirteen #2

This week I am going to do my 13 most favourite U2 songs in no particular order

1. One

2. Stuck in a Moment

3. I Still haven't found what I am looking for

4. where the streets have no name

5. with or without you

6. All I want is you

7. Stay

8. I've got you under my skin

9. Bad

10. When love comes to town

11. Unforgettable Fire

12. Sweetest thing

13. Even better than the real thing

Basal Cell Carcinoma....

Today I went to the doctor to get my stitches out and to get the test results from the lesions I got cut out last Tuesday.

Well the good news is that I got both sets of stitches out so no going back in 3 days but there is some bad news.

The lesions that they cut out were Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Please check the web site and read up on some of the symptom and different types of lesions you can get.

Please be aware of your skin and not think that you can get cancer just from moles. Mine were just red patches like the picture below on my skin. The only reason I knew to get mine checked that a doctor spotted and cut one out a few years ago and now I know what to look for.

I have had 4 cut out already and I am sure there will be more in the coming years.

At least it wasn’t the really bad type.

So while I was there Joel got his 2 month immunisations as well, and yes I cried too....

Thursaday Thirteen #1

Thirteen Things about Me
My first Thursday Thirteen post so just some mind numbing facts about me




1.I love girly films.
I am a sucker for happily ever after.

2. I am a cat person
and don't like dogs.

3. I am scared of the dark.
I still think things go bump in the night.

4. I don't like monkeys.
I have never found them cute or interesting. I always walk straight past the monkey exhibits at the zoo.

5. I love mint slice biscuits.
I could and have sat down and eaten a whole packet in one sitting

6. I cannot sing.
I sound terrible, even my kids cant stand me singing to them

7. I love the colour green

8.I have 3 tattoos.
A mouse on my ankle, a gecko on my hip and a dragonfly on my shoulder.

9. I don't like deep water, or swimming.
I don't swim at the beach and wont go on a cruise ship.

10. I don't like talking to people on the phone that I don't know.

11. I am not a touchy feely person.
I don't like people invading my personal space.

12. I love to travel and to see new places.

13. I have always wanted to learn a foreign language.
Have tried but don't seem to have a ear for it.








Walking Wounded

Today I am a sooky la la. BIG TIME

Yesterday wasn't a good day, Darian was off work sick with the flu and I had a doctors appoint to get some lesions cut off my shoulder and neck.

I though it would work out OK, it would only be a few stitches and not be too much bother also Darian would be home and would be abele to help with Joel.

As it turns out I was wrong again.

I am in agony. The minor surgery went well. The one in the front of my shoulder didn't hurt that much, but the one on the side of my neck.....holy cow. I nearly went through the roof when the anaesthetic went in.

So yesterday afternoon I was very sore and sorry for myself. The cut on the side of my neck is in  really awkward spot so I cant turn my head, put my arm forward. This means that I am unable to pick up Joel or even hold him to feed him.

So Darian had to do all the feeds, nappies and night duty....with the flu.

Apart from being sick I think has really enjoyed the time that he has spent with Joel.

Today the pain is less but I am still unable to do ANYTHING, which is really starting to P me off.

tomorrow will be better!

Im Doing A Happy Dance....

I am no longer a kitchen bitch......well only a part one now.
Yesterday Mum and George arrived in Perth to say goodbye before heading off to Queensland for a holiday and they always by the Quokka (buy, sell and swap classifies) so I had a quick look to see if they had any portable dishwashers in....and they did.

So I rang to enquire and spoke to a man who said all the things I wanted to hear...
- yes we still have it
-yes it has wheels so you can wheel it around
- yes it connects to the kitchen tap.....

and all for $150

So I said could I come have a look tomorrow.

This morning bright and early we left ALL the kids with Mum and went and had a look at this dishwasher. I didn't want to get my hopes up....

Well it was in excellent condition and better than either Darian or I expected....we bought it and put it in the back of the Ute. But still I hadn't seen it working...if it worked.

Bought it inside, connected it up and hoped for the best...and....

IT WORKS...no leaks, nothing...

insert happy dance here

A Not So Wicked Step Mother....

I am not talking about ME, I am wicked and nasty...

I am talking about Talia's and Eloise's step mother who I am so glateful that she is part of their lives. Every second weekend the girls go to their dads and they spend most of the time with her. Their dad works ALL the time so it is Sue that takes Eloise to her riding lesson, its Sue that takes them to the park and its Sue that took Eloise to her appoint the other day...and of course it will be Sue that will be with them 24/7 over the school holidays.

I think it is every seperated parents nightmare when the other person gets reamarried, the first thing that springs to mind is "what is she going to be like with my kids"is she going to be nice, nasty, jealous. You hear all sorts of horror stories and I am so grateful that we are not part of one.

I can honestly say that i feel comfortable to leave the girls with her, even more so than their dad.

Dyslexic or not...that is the question!

Eloise is turning 8 in about 26 sleeps (not that she is counting or anything) and is in year 2.

She stated her schooling in Victoria which is slightly different to here in W.A. She started prep (pre primary in W.A) in 2006 and started to learn to read and write. She struggled like some kids do....

We moved over here to Western Australia at the end of 2006 and then in 2007 she started year 1, which here in W.A is the start of structured learning. I thought that this would be good for her as it would reiterate all the work she did in prep...so she was basically repeating grade 1. Yet again she struggled with her reading, spelling and comprehension and start to do revision and extra work.

We didn't worry as some kids take longer for reading to "click". However by the end of grade 1 she was still reading at the same level as she was at the start...I was starting to worry.

This year she started grade 2, and at a new school as we moved. At the end of term one I was called in to see the teacher and straight away I knew it was about her reading. We discussed Eloise's problem and the teacher suggested some intensive one on one work at school and extra work at home.

Over the last term she has been improving but still only reads at a beginning grade 1 level. She has problems sounding out words and forgets words that she has only just read and needs to sound them out again.

So her father organised Eloise to be tested for dyslexia as it runs in his family. He step mother took her yesterday for a series of tests at the Irlen Clinic and came home with clear blue plastic sheets to put over her work to see if it helps. We should see an improvement and if so she will be fitted with the same tinted lenses. Though it seems as they were not able to say if she was actually dyslexic or not. Just try this and see if it works.

For Eloise's sake I hope it does as they further along in her schooling she goes the further behind she will fall. Even if this is not the physical solution I am hoping that it may act as a placebo, if she believes it will help her, it will.

So I will update with how she goes with it.

Looking Back.....

I am feeling a little nostalgic today. Due to the new computer and loosing ALL of our bookmarks which include all of the blogs that I regularly read. I have been going back through my blog trying to find them again.

(so if you read this please pop in and post a comment so I can add you back to my bookmarks)

So anyway as I have been going back through my blog which has been going for 3 years I have been having a trip down memory lane.

My life has changed so much in that time, it truly has been a journey inside and out. I first started this blog as a weight loss blog but it has ended up more of a time capsule come public diary. I read back on some of the older posts and hardly recognise that person. I guess this is a good thing as I guess everyone hopes to grow as a person.

So the weight has crept back on, not as much as I thought (big sigh of relief here) and I am lighter now than I was back in 2005. I can't do much about that now as the doctor has not cleared me for exercise yet. But the plan is to get back down to a size 12, so need to loose about 10kg or so....

I moved to Perth and relatively happy about where I live, I love Perth and the house is OK. Not ours, just a rental but hey we have a roof over our heads and come November when we WILL be moving we will find something better suited to our needs and growing family.

I am no longer alone or lonely. I came across this post and since then found a wonderful man, married him and we have added to the family. I never thought it would happen but it did.

Oh and I got to go and will go again to South Africa

So I can honestly say that I am happy and look forward to the next 3 years and what they will bring.

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Doug Firebaugh

Happy Birthday to my Big Sister!

Its my big sister Jenni's birthday today....so huge hugs and kisses to her and I hope she has a wonderful day.

Today I went for my ultrasound but before going i had a bit of a problem to work out....I had a 3 year old and a baby to take with me and only one pusher....what to do....

Take Talia out of school so she could hold Joel for me... I know, more bad parenting on my behalf... and of course my appoint was right in the middle of swimming lessons so she ended up spending the day with us again...

OK so the results of the ultrasound were fine, the radiologist couldn't find any reason for the infection......$175 for nothing.....grrrr

on a good note, The medicine seems to be working for Joel...fingers crossed it keeps up as he seems to be a much happier baby.

And happy baby means happy mummy!

Bad, Bad Mummy......

Not only did I miss Joel rolling over for the first time but I let Talia take the day off school for no REAL reason....

Well there is a reason, she had her 6 week orthodontic appoint late this morning. Now normally I would pull her out of school for the appoint and then she would go back straight after. However this week (and next) the school is having swimming lessons and of course Talia's class go when he appoint is, so as no one could tell me when the class would leave and come back, it was just easier to keep her home for the morning....

So I have been giving Joel is reflux meds and waiting to see if it works, fingers crossed. So being optimistic I put Joel on his tummy on the floor for some tummy time. Now normally he would scream the whole time.....not this time. I was in my room making the bed when Talia came in saying that Joel had rolled over!!!!!!......yeah right so I put him back on his tummy much to his disgust and over he went again!....clever little man.

So off to the Orthodontist we go, and the news is good. She has been doing so well with wearing her plate that she only needs to wear it at night now. The tooth has been pushed back as far as it can (for now) and we will have to wait a few years for Braces.....which i was hoping we wouldn't have to do...we will see how her mouth looks when a few more teeth grow. So she will be wearing the plate nightly for the next 3 months and then its back for another check up....
I need to take another photo to show how much of a difference the plate has made.

So then it was time for Matthews speech appoint, so being a slack mum I took Talia with me instead of taking her back to school....which her class still had not returned back from swimming.
The therapist is pleased with amount that Matthew is speaking now...before he wouldn't say a word to her. This week we are to work on the word "put" and emphasise the "t" at the end as he tends to drop it....

So after speech it was only half hour until school finished (wed is early finish) and there was no point her going back so she stayed with me.....I think she really enjoyed spending the time with me.

6 weeks and ......

Joel is 6 weeks old already....so we went and had our 6 weekly check with the doctor. No stress just the normal....how are you feeling, any probs and the normal yearly girl check up.......

Oh no you have been a naughty girl, you didn't go for your follow up ultrasound and you still have the infection in your uterus.

To bring the point home my doctor even showed me the swab of green pus!.....

So I am back on the mega strong antibiotics and Joel is back off the boob.....we were just getting somewhere with that too....

So I am off Thursday to get that ultrasound done.....promise :)

And to top off the visit I have another melanoma that needs to be cut off my shoulder.

Ok so then it was Joel's turn and as he had been screaming the whole time while I was being seen to the doctor asked if this was normal for him, so I said yes, he hates lying down and wants to be up right and with people.

Well it seems that Joel has reflux and the doctor would like to try medication to see if this helps him......hmmmm never thought of reflux, I mean Eloise had a touch and I just had her bassinet on an angle and that helped.... Joel never vomits, he doesn't smell sicky - the normal tells .......we will try and see what happens...

So on we go with the exam, everything is going good until the Doc notices Joel hairy bum.....and I expain that all my kids including Megs had this as babies......
Well a large tuft of hair at the base of the spine can be a sign of spina bifeda and the doc would like the have him checked.....blood test and ultrasound.
Everything else is fine and we only need to have him checked if we are concerned (hello I already have a child with disabilities) and as the Doc explained even if something was there it would only be mild. Anyway I know nothing about spina bifeda so I guess some research is in order.

So it was just a weight and length to be measured and we were out of there....

Well my porky little lad now weighs 5.5kg and is 57cm long.....not bad considering the feeding dramas we have had over the last 6 weeks....so he had put on 1.2kg and grown 4cm since birth.

But then I look at the above porky little lad and realize that he is only 200gm heavier and 1 cm longer than Matthew was at BIRTH !!!!!......

So off we go to pathology to get Joel a blood test (just a heel prick thankfully).....only to find out that the only place that does babies is in Subiaco!!!.......well that's not going to happen for a while.

So that was our eventful six week check up.....

We almost need a bigger couch....

I took some photos of the kids the other day, I thought I better since all 5 were together, awake, almost happy and sort of willing.

So I quickly took some happy snaps.

The novelty quickly wore off and I managed to get some sort of nice ones with most of the kids looking forward....

Murphy strikes the Taylors

Well the nice rolling thunder turned into crashes that shook the foundations of our house and at 11ish Matthew woke screaming....says she who wrote yesterday that he sleeps through them.

This would have been fine except that Joel had a tummy ache and was a miserable little git....

i put Matthew back to bed, got Joel back dozing and started to close my eyes only to have another big crack hit....the now terrified 3 year old was screaming, down the hall came Talia and Eloise running. I sent them back to bed and sat with Matthew, Joel was grizzling but not screaming the house down yet...

Joel started to arc up and Matthew didn't want me to leave...so I did what any capable mother would do and woke the 10 year old to sleep with the still frightened 3 year old. Poor Talia, all she wanted was a good night sleep as she had a late one the night before.

Ok so I had Matthew now calm and starting to drift off to sleep and now to settle Joel. Ah Murphy you mean man...

well I think Darian took him at 2am for an hour....I think I got about 45 min sleep before being handed back a still grumpy baby....

I eventually got him sleep, not just dozing in my arms at about 5am only to be woken for a feed at 6am....poor little man was so tired that he fed and went straight to sleep...ahhhh I get to lay down only to hear the kids start to bicker.....tired kids and a thundery morning....time to get up.

Ahh the joys of motherhood...here's hoping for a better night tonight

I Love Thunder

Today we were forecast thunderstorms, the very thought of this makes me both happy and sad...because....

....I grew up in the Kimberly which has a wet and dry season. In the wet its hot, humid and it rains. But the best of all is the thunderstorms that develop. During the day its so hot and sticky and as the afternoon wears on you can see the thunder heads develop and eventually the distant sound of rolling thunder slowly getting closer and closer. By about 4pm the storm is above and the rain starts. Not the drizzle that happens here in Perth but true torrential rain, so cool and sweet and once it stops it leaves everything fresh and the smell is indescribable.

So I am sitting here listening to the thunder rolling through the sky loving every moment of it...but then

.....Eloise HATES thunder, she spent the first few years of her life in Kununurra so you would think she would be used to it but no, she hears the word thunder and her eyes become as large as saucers and she starts to shake....she is getting a bit better as she is getting older, at least she is not hanging off my leg anymore.
If there is thunder at night I am sure i can here it sooner than the local dogs as I know I will have a little visitor beside my bed terrified. I am a very light sleeper if they have forecast storms at night. The first distant rumble I am up checking on the kids making sure that they are sleeping through it.

Matthew doesn't like them either, at least he sleeps through them. During the day he just runs to his room and hides on his bed.


So do you like or loathe thunder?