Do we really have to eat ????

Woke up this morning feeling OK, a bit queezy but I think its getting better....yay.
Matthew was still asleep at 7 am so I managed to duck off for a quick shower. Little man didn't wake until 7.30 and I was greeted with a big smile and "hallo mummeee" lets hope he is feeling better. He didn't eat breakfast so I guess his tummy is still feeling a bit off...

Unfortunately we have to go out today, we have become house bound, between me feeling like death and Matthew being ill we have stayed at home .... we need food. We have to leave the house...I cant put off for another day.....

a small catch up.

Well this weekend was quiet and normal. I am still feeling yuk and whats worse is the emotional roller coaster I am currently on.
Matthew is sick at the moment, he has gastro ....poor little soul. It also looks like he has conjunctivitis to add to his misery.

See my life is boring....nothing happening..

What happened this week...

A very quiet week, we had Megan stay with us this week. It made the house less quiet and Matthew enjoyed having someone to play with. Mum came up on Wednesday as they had a hospital appoint to go to so they stayed Wed night. They went to the Perth Royal Show on Thursday and went home yesterday.

I have been feeling a little better, Wednesday I didn't feel sick at all but it came back on Thursday. However there is light at the end of the tunnel...

My tummy is growing already, I am having to dig out the maternity clothes already...I guess it is to be expected with number 4...

The tiredness is easing, though come night time I am stuffed and am in bed asleep by 8.30ish.

Last night Darian, Matthew and myself went to the local pub Whale+ale for dinner. I couldn't be stuffed cooking and didn't want take away. It was very nice....very busy.

This morning Darian had to work 9-12....now that it is summer its getting busy so everyone in the office takes turns for Sat morns...means extra money too....not complaining

So that's it...

The girls rang the other day, they are having a great time, though Eloise is a little home sick. 2 weeks today and they are home....

9 Weeks....what is happening

The baby now measures around 2.5 cm from crown to rump and the webbing between it's fingers and toes has disappeared, creating separate digits. The baby's nail beds are starting to form, but actual nails are not present until they are about 20 weeks gestation.

The baby's heart has developed valves within their aorta and pulmonary blood vessels. These direct blood flow to and from their body and lungs, via their umbilical cord to my body. It's liver is now producing blood cells. This task will eventually be taken over by the baby's bone marrow, once their bones fully mature.

The baby's lungs are growing bronchi tunnels, which will eventually transport air after they are born. The baby's elbows, knees, wrists and ankles are developing. Their bones are initially soft and flexible (made of cartilage) and muscle tissue has begun forming between their skin and bones.
Their neck is more developed, allowing them to slightly lift and turn their head! They may even be able to touch their own face with their hands - the beginnings of thumb sucking!
The baby's ovaries or testes are now well developed. However, both sexes look the same at this early stage because their external sex organs are just beginning to form.

Only 10 more weeks to wait until we can see if baby is a boy or girl....yes we are going to find out.

Something to Share

Well as some of you know Darian and I are expecting baby number 5......well my 4th and his 2nd...doesn't make it any less daunting.

It was planned but we didn't think it would happen this quick.

I am 9 weeks today and the baby is due on the 6th May 2008

We told all the kids together before the girls flew to Kununurra and all seem to be pleased.

I forgot how tiring the first trimester is, I am having to have a rest in the afternoon and am in bed a t 7.30 pm....It doesn't help that I have been having really bad morning sickness. I am talking morning, noon and night...I cant wait for it to go away.

We had out first scan a few weeks ago to make sure I had my dates right....I was spot on and the heart beat was strong and there was only one in there.....

My next scan is at 12 weeks to check for the chance of Downes.....

I better do a catch up.

Well the weeks have flown since we arrived home.

The two girls flew out on Saturday to spend a month in the N.T with their grandparents and Aunty. They were very excited but nervous as it was their first time unaccompanied. Eloise cried before getting led away, she didn't want to go. But she did and watching them walk across the tar mack was hard. I only had a few tears, I would have been fine if Eloise wasn't upset.
They rang from Kununurra when they landed and they were both very happy. They got totally spoilt on the flight.

Sunday I had booked 2 tickets to Cirque du Solei Varekai for Darian and myself. Mum drove up from down south to look after Matthew for us.
The show was awesome, we loved every minute of it. We definatly want to go to the next one.

The last 2 weeks or so...

Well since getting home from South Africa we have settled into the ho hum of every day life again.

The girls were dropped off on the Saturday after we arrived, they were very happy to be home. I think Matthew was happy to have his sisters back too. No sign of Darian's suitcase so he rang the airport and they said it wasn't on that days plane and please be patient they nearly always turn up.

Sunday we spent showing the kids and mum and George photos and the wedding DVD. There was a knock on the door Sunday night and there was Darian's suitcase, intact and safe and sound.

Monday mum and George went home and My life went back to normal.

Wednesday Took Matthew to the doctor as he had developed a sore on his lip...turned out to be school sore, so antibiotics and quarantine...

Thursday I went into the city to Births, Deaths and Marriages to get a change of name certificate.
Our marriage is recognised by Australian law however our South African wedding certificate is not a legal document so I cant use it to change my name. So $150 later my name has legally changed

Just the fun of changing it everywhere now.

So there, I am up to date....

Welcome home to Australia

Our plane arrived half hour early, and gee it was good to be back on Aussie soil.

We went on to passport control where again Darian and I were separated and I got to the front of the line first. The guy behind the desk asked if I was traveling alone and I said no I was with my husband but he is in the other line as he is South African. The guy said call him over, his your family. So I called Darian out from the middle of the line and we went through passport control quick.

We then went to baggage claim to collect our bags before going through customs. My bag come through quick and going past us were bags with 30kg weight stickers on, what the????
So we waited for Darians suitcase...and waited and waited. it was a no show.

We went to baggage claim and made a report. They said it would probably be on the next flight and they would courier it out to us when it turned up... So Darian had no clothes...

So onto customs, at least with the bag being lost and all the customs line was short. We only had a few things to declare and Darian went off with the suitcase to be xrayed. We were then asked to open the suitcase ( lucky us) and when the lady opened it she was surprised to see it empty...the lid even sagged. we explained the whole story and even she was amazed...so everything was OK and we cleared customs.

Out we go into the airport and waited for mum and Mattew....

Yes I cried when I saw him

We went home and Darian had to go pick up Megan.

Time to say goodbye...

Our plane was to leave PE at 6.15pm and we had to be at the airport 1.5 hours before hand. Thankfully we were as we had major problems when we got there. The lady who checked us in first of all could not find our return flights home from Jo'burg to Perth and then when she weighed our suitcases she said they were 14 kg over weight and we had to take the extra weight out....Now we bought 25 kg each over with us and now we were only allowed to take 20kg each home....what the?

So we had the hard time of trying to get rid of the excess 14 kg...this woman was not going to budge on a kilo. I had to leave my wedding dress behind and some beer glasses but the rest we managed to shove into our hand luggage...including our toiletry bag....

So we were now checked in (the surely cow found our flights) and we then had to say a very quick, teary and stressful goodbye.

Our Flight from PE to Jo'burg was non eventful and we were hoping that our bags were check straight through to Perth like they were meant to.

At Jo'burg we were stopped at security just after our hand luggage went through, a aerosol can showed up on the xray (oh no the toiletries) here is me thinking razor, tweezers etc...anything over 100ml can't go through and all make up needs to be bagged....we were in trouble. The girl was nice though and asked why we had not checked it in, we explained that our luggage was going straight through.

The poor girl felt so bad for us as everything over 100ml had to be thrown (including my expensive body lotion from Shamwari) she did however snuck my perfume back in for me and said quick go!

We then went and waited at the departure lounge, we bought the kids a few things at the souvenir shops.

We boarded the plane late and I got a window seat so I was able to see the lights of Jo'burg as we took off....that is one big city and we were heading home...

The rest of the week

We spent a lot of time with the family or shopping. We also spent time with Wayne and Miriam.

I am going to miss Port Elizabeth, its a very friendly town which is very similar to Perth (just a lot smaller). I am going to miss Darians family and the friends that are here.

My first Potjie

Tonight we went to Darians best friend Wayne's house to watch the springboks beat Scotland int the rugby and to have my first Potjie. (to us Aussies its a camp oven) and instead of cooking in the coals underground, the SA's cook it on a braai.

Wayne had cooked a lamb roast and veggies.

We didn't end up eating until midnight but it was yummy

Home to Port Elizabeth

Said a very sad goodbye to Craig as we don't think we will be able to see him again before going back to Perth. Packed the car and trailer and headed back to Port Elizabeth.

We stopped at Port Alfred for lunch.

Every now again as you are driving you see monkeys on the side of the road, or they run on the road as your driving.

Its going to be very nice sleeping in a real bed again.

The Lion Park

Woke up early this morning, not used to sleeping on the floor (I'm getting OLD). Walked down to the beach front to a local flea market. I bought a little wire and bead lizard for R10 or $1.60 and then I bartered a local for a soap stone statue of a family of Giraffes. He wanted R150 but I managed to get him down to R120....we also bought 2 small canvas paintings....I fell in love with a big one but are not sure if they would go through customs...we bought the 2 small ones for R70. If we get these cleared next time we will get the bigger one to match.

Craig and Ingrid then took us the The Lion Park. They not only had Lion cubs that you could get in and play with but they also have a cheetah cub.

They also have a number of grown cheetahs, white lion and lionesses, tigers, African hunting dogs and a giraffe that you can pat.

We stayed for feeding and then left.

Married 1 Week

This morning we packed up the cars and left for East London where we will be staying at Craig and Ingrid's for the weekend.

We left Kai Sands at 10am and were back in East London at 11am ish.

Spent a lazy day at Craig's...thought Ingrid and I went down to the SPAR (like an I.G.A) and stocked up on Biltong....I'm addicted :)

Last day at Kai Sands

Today is our last full day at Kai Sands. Very relaxing day. Went down and watched Craig fish (didn't catch anything) and I took some photos.
Had a braai for dinner...the meat over here is the best...

Thursday

Woke up this morn and the weather had cleared so we decided to go for a nice walk along the beach before the tide came in...

A lazy few days

The weather has been a bit miserable the last few days, so we havent been doing much.
We did get to see some dolphins playing in the waves and a whale out in the bay today...

The tides here are pretty varied, when the tide is out you can see all the rocks exposed however when its in, it crashed against the retaining wall at the base of the grassed area...

Very Relaxing...

Had a very relaxing day, was going to go for a walk on the beach but the weather came in so then had a small braai on the Weber this evening..

Thought I would show some more photos

Kai Sands

We left Shamwari and headed off to East London where Darians parents would be waiting for us at Craig's flat. On the way we passed so many game reserves, with lots of buck and even some more springbok.

we arrived a East London about 1 ish. Packed some more stuff in the car and headed north towards Kai Mouth were we would be staying until Friday.

East London is a pretty little town which seems more tropical than P.E...

We got there about 4, showed our villa and unpacked the car. the view from our villa is spectacular.
It will be nice to sit and relax for a while after the busy week we have had

The morning game drive....

Woke up early, even before our 6.30 wake up call from Headman. went out side to find a small bush buck feeding right next to our tent. Went and had a light breakfast before heading out for our morning game drive.

we were expecting it to be cold but instead it was beautiful, the sir was fresh and the sun was warm.
The first thing headman took us to see were Buffalo, they are much bigger than the Australian buffalo and I now understand why they are part of the big 5.

We drove for a bit longer when I got to see my first Springbok...I was very excited..

Headman then said he would go find some lion for us.....He had just heard that a lioness and her 2 cubs were near by. we were slowly driving when out from the bush spung two 8 month old cubs (size of a med dog) they then went running up the road...our immediate thought was :wheres mum?) She was up ahead and was turning every now and then just to make sure here babies were following and that we weren't getting to close...I couldn't get the smile off my face, to actually see lion in the wild was amazing.

We left them be and went off in search of Hippo....we found about 8 wallowing in a water hole. We were lucky as some were in the water and some out...Headman said it was OK to get out of the truck to take photos...

We then got back in the Jeep and not even 100m up the road was walking another lioness. She was the daughter of the one we saw earlier.

We then took a leisurely drive back to the lodge where we were greeted again with fresh juice. Once we had freshed up we could go have brunch and our bags would be bought up for us.

Small bunch turned out to be a full English brekkie for Darian and pancakes for me :)

Craig and Ingrid turned up to pick us up and after buying a T-shirt and a few candles we headed off to East London.