A nice surprise

yesterday morning while we were having brekkie there was a knock on the door and in walked Aunty Jenni and Uncle Dave....there was a high pitched scream from the girls.

They were on a quick trip over for a wedding and came for a flying visit.

They stayed for lunch and after a teary goodbye from the girls they were off, but not before some photos....

An Easter Getaway

I know its a bit late, being a week since easter weekend started but you know how it gets...
I dropped the girls off at their dads Thursday night, they were very excited as it was going to be the first time they saw their new baby brother...he was sooooo tiny...6lb.... I said good bye and went home and packed the car so we could be ready to leave as soon as Darian got to my house from work...

We left about 6ish and I knew Donnelly River is about 3 1/2 hours from Perth so 4 from us if you don't count peak hour. We got down there about 10 ish which wasn't bad...we set the cot up and put Matthew to bed as he didn't sleep much on the way down..

The next morning Matthew was up bright and early feeding the kangaroos with Kendall, Kim and Elisha. We then went out and fed all the 28 parrots that came to be fed sunflower seeds. We all went for a walk and lounged around. The weather was perfect.

We booked the flying fox and all had a turn on that, which was great fun. Matthew went down with Darian.

Saturday we drove to Pemberton for a look as Eric, Dianne and the kids hadn't been before and I was going to show them the Gloucester Tree....$10 per car to look at a big tree, no one was game to climb it. Eric and Dianne decided to look around Pemberton I thought since we were so close we would drop in on Mum.

It was only 30km away and we found her house with no trouble, she was surprised to see us but as we had the key to the house we couldn't stay long.

Sunday Morning we woke up and the easter bunny had been, no only that it was freezing cold and raining..brrr...Luke and Matthew had a egg hunt inside and we all spent a lazy day lounging around. That night we had a BBQ and the kids had some fun with sparklers.

Monday morning came too fast as we had to pack up and hit the road before the traffic got too bad. I think we went through about 10 speed traps on the way home, but we got home safe and sound.

I then went and picked up the girls who I missed like crazy....

What the padeatrician said

This morning Matthew had his appoint with the pead...an hour and a half later we have some answers and some more questions..

Firstly he definaltly does not have any form of autism, thats the only definate...
Matthews problem solving skills and comprehension are at age level which rules out most of the nasty stuff and that is a relief, he can problem solve, listen and follows instructions and has a willingness to try at most activities.

If asked he can point to most items but is unable to verbalize which is probably due to his poor muscle tone. Which is another reason for his delay in fine and gross motor skills. The mind is willing and more than able, just the poor little body cant keep up.

So the paed wants a blood test to check the levels of muscle enzyme and iron levels (so we went and did that....poor little mite struggled a bit and now has a nasty bruise...) and he will be seen for OT, physio and speech.

The paed wants a review in 6 months to see if all the swimming lessons, gym and play group are making a difference...we will have to go on wait lists for the therapy.

He is also signing the forms for carers allowance for me, to help pay for all the swimming, gym and extra stuff that will help...

So thats where we are

A visit from the tooth fairy....

Eloise is very excited after weeks and weeks of a wobbly tooth it finally came out...yipeee.....she looks sooo cute and even sounds funny...Talia never sounded funny due to her always missing a front tooth and she learnt to talk with it out...so weezie sounds great..the tooth fairy gave her $1..

Well this morning I drove Darian to work as he is bringing his new work ute home...its only a 2 door a step down from the 4 door 4WD...but it will save us a heap in fuel...this fortnight has cost a heap running 2 cars... he is really enjoying his new job so that is good

I finally sent off all the documents to renew his passport/ duel citizenship yesterday as well as a request for an emergency passport, which if accepted will come back in 14 days. Darian received some very worrying news about his brother back in SA, he may have cerebral meningitis....they are waiting on tests...hopefully things can be confirmed soon and they can get the right treatment started for him...I cant even imaging how Darian is feeling with all this going on with his brother and father and being so far away from them...

The only other news is that the girls have a new brother, Marcus Scott was born on Tues....they are very excited and cant wait to see him, which I am not sure when will be as their dad canceled this weekends visit.

Matthew's Assessment

Well we have just returned from Matthews assessment with the Joondalup Childhood Development Team. Today we were seen by his case manager, physio, O.T, and speech therapist. The Paediatrician was off sick so will be seeing him on Wednesday...

So after Matthew got to play lots of games and running, jumping and all those fab things. I recieved some initial feedback from the group...

Well basically Matthew needs help, he is at the level of a 18 month old with his speech, gross and fine motor skills and his social skills....he has a vocab of about 25 words. The speech therapist wants him to do speech therapy.

The physio is concerned about his lack of muscle tone and his balance, she couldn't tell me more until after the pead has seen him, but suggested that we get him into swimming lessons to strengthen his core muscles and agreed that some kind of kindy gym would be good for his gross motor skills.

The OT want him to be seen as well as his comprehension and social skills are delayed ...

There was so much information was thrown around the room that my head is still reeling. But now that he has been assessed he can now go on the appropriate wait lists and he will get some help..

So starting tomorrow Matthew is starting swimming lessons (yes I have to get in the pool with him) and next term he is starting gymbaroo, I went and spoke to both and booked him in explaining that he will need to go into groups developmentally not by his age...so we are going into the 18 month old swim group and the 16 -24 month old gymbaroo group...but we always have the option of moving him...

So now its just up to the pead and then it will be a waiting game....

Happy Birthday Talia and A wedding Update

Today is Talia's 9th Birthday....happy birthday love....cant believe my baby is 9.... we are having a party on Sunday. This is my first effort with planning a party at home....I am stressed...I don't know how people do this every year....

My passport arrived the other day.....very exciting....not only can I leave the country but they will let me back in!!!!
We are still waiting for the 20th March for Darian to get his fingerprints done by the federal police so that he can re-new his South African passport. So until then we are on hold for the wedding date...we are pretty certain it will be in August sometime...

Also some very exciting news, Darian has a new job, he started this morning. So my thoughts are with him. Hopefully he will be much happier and he still gets a company car. So this will also affect when we go overseas, though his new boss knows we are planning for Aug and he is OK with it.

So things are on a roll.

A white dress.....

Well I went and put a deposit on my wedding dress today.....YES a wedding dress....Ironic really that this has gone from a little no fuss ceremony to a church wedding with a white dress...

I still have to pinch myself sometimes that it is all real, if someone had said to me this time last year that March 2007 I would be in love, engaged to be married I would of laughed out loud....I was still in Vic saving madly to move, hating ALL men..

So anyway back to the white dress, I went into the shop to look for a elegant cocktail dress that could pass as a wedding dress. As it is a second wedding for both of us we didn't need all the fuss and ho hum of a large wedding...and any way we are getting married in South Africa.....

Yes another shock to the system. Darian is extremely close to his family (and all of them are over there). He wanted his parents to be at the wedding and since all of my family cant be in the same room as it each other most of the time I don't need the stress of it all....so eloping to South Africa sounds perfect to me....

So since we made the decision to get married over in Port Elizabeth, Darian would really like to be married by his family pastor, so a few inquiries by his parents and its all OK for the church.... So in all reality a cocktail dress isn't really appropriate (yes I could get away with it..but) I saw this dress while trying on certain cocktail dresses and thought why not....so I did...I fell in love with it... its nothing fancy as we have a 20kg weight restriction on the plane...

So the only sad thing is that the kids cant come and be part of it...but we have spoken and they are fine...we are going to do something really special when Darian and I get back.

All journeys start with a single step.....

Well I thought I better take a photo of my ring and blog it...

So here it is....and gee my hands are looking OLD......

This morning I went and had my interview for my passport which went really well....so in about 10 days I will be able not only leave the country but they will let me back in....

If only renewing Darian's was that easy....talk about forms, forms and more forms, and thats not including getting certified photo copies of pass port, ID book, photos and finger prints which we now find out that the federal police can only do and they are fully booked until the end of March....

Then it gets sent to Canberra, South Africa and back to Canberra....and then finally back to us...taking approx 6 - 8months...

I also received a letter with an appointment for Matthew with the early intervention team...so the ball is rolling on that account ..

Some very exciting news

On Sunday Morning my very special man proposed and of course I said yes.....

I new a long time ago that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with, It feels as though we have known each other forever.

He is one of the most kindest and gentlest men I know. We can make each other laugh, he washes the dishes, vacuums and does all the ironing. He is a fantastic father to his own daughter and has taken to my 3 with out a blink...some would say that this is too good to be true...I say soul mate...

I finally found him...It has taken many years of heart ache, loneliness and finding out who I am. And as corny as that line sounds in "Jerry Maguire" it is sooooo true...he completes me...

I know the next question will be "when is the wedding?"...well some time this year, no set plans yet.....

School has started at last

well what can I say, after a few minor hick-ups...the girls are at school and are happy. Talia is in a split 4/5 grade and Eloise a split 1/2 grade, they both have female teachers and seem nice...

The girls were so excited this morning and we actually got to school early and I managed to settle both girls into their classes...

So I am now a free woman again...hmmm what to do????

Ok I will tell....

I have been questioned by a number of people about the significance of the 17th Dec.....

some thought I was pregnant and others engaged....

well the truth is on that date Darian and I decided that we were going to live together once both of our leases were up...well mine is up before his so we are going to find a house together...we would love to buy but the housing prices in Perth are beyond a joke....so we will be renting...

We told the kids and they are quite pleased...

We are still hoping and planning on going to South Africa later this year...we will see.

Today we went to the school and picked up the kids book and stationary for this year....yippee this means that school is just around the corner. Now I get the fun job of covering books and labeling everything....I just love it...

Tomorrow is Australia day and here is Perth they have a huge fireworks display called the Skyworks ( everyone calls it the skyshow as thats what it was called) on the Perth foreshore however as much as i would love to go, it wont be happening with 3 kids....so we are going to go to a smaller fireworks display in Mindarie keys.

Tomorrow is meant to be hot and 37....yukkkkk

A very expensive oversite

isn't it funny how life is...everything was going along smoothly and life was just getting back on track from the move...we are getting ready for school and the only thing I have to get in the next few months is a chest of draws each for the kids and Talia needs a new mattress for her bed. Which I was going to purchase this fortnight....

Well that all went out the window this morning when I received my phone bill.

Can you believe it was $600.......

I only use my phone to log on to dial up, every other call is made on my mobile

And all due to BL**DY TPG internet...

They have been getting me to dial down to Rockingham every time I log onto dial up.....

I should have made sure that It was a local call, but I didn't think....so i rang TPG and asked for a number that is a local call...they have none...she then gave me a number for Broome (can you imagine my phone bill then)

So I have canceled my tpg internet service...told them to politely stick it and we are now using Darian's service...which i know for a fact is a local call as i rang telstra...

Do you ever have one of those days????

Today I woke up feeling yuk, and I don't know why.
The kids went to bed night before last as planned. i actually had all 4 asleep before 8pm so they were much nicer to each other yesterday but again it was after 10pm last night that the girls went down...but on the greater scheme of things thats no biggie..

I feel drained emotionally and physically. there is no rhyme or reason for it.

So this morning I took all the kids to the park down the road for a play...before it got too hot (it is supposed to reach 36 today) I had realised that we had been housed bound for 4 days....and that getting the kids out in the fresh air running and playing would be good for them.

the girls also had their weekend visit with their dad postponed as his wifes pregnancy isn't going to well. Shes now 27 weeks, needs bed rest and a quiet house. The girls are upset as they are worried for the baby ( their first baby was born prem and didn't make it).

So that is my whine for the day...hopefully what ever is making me feel this way can bugger off...i hate feeling like this...

4 kids, 2 cats and a tired mummy

Well a new year, a new look for my blog. But I have lost all the extras I had on my old blog so If any of you in blog land could help me jazz it up again it would be much appreciated...

well this week Megan came back from South Africa and has been spending the week with us, so I have had 4 kids at home....and boy has it been interesting... I am grateful that they all get along quite well, but we have had our moments...At the present they are all very tired as the little tykes have been staying up until 10 ish....SA is 7 hours behind us..so poor Megan is jet lagged and everyones routine is messed up....tonight I hope to have everyone in bed at 7.00 and asleep by 8....haha

So wish me luck as i am as tired as the kids....

2006.....A year in review

I was reading Rach's post and decided to do the same...so here goes

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Went onto an internet dating site....now that was an eye opener
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tend not to make new year resolutions as i set myself up for failure, however I am still loosing weight (not as much as I like) but I am getting there
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No but I found out that I am going to be a great aunt in 2007
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
No not this year..but there are plans for 2007
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A lot happened in 06....I mean alot so I think a slower pace in 07...time to sit back, relax and settle back into Perth
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 27...Darian first contacted me, 1st nov when we flew into perth, 4th Nov Darian and my first date, 30th nov...the robbie concert OMG....and a very special date of sunday 17th dec...cant tell you why yet....
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think letting my fears go and trusting again...
9. What was your biggest failure?
I dont think i had one this year...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nah not really
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new mobile phone...i love it
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one really
14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving to perth...it cost about $7000 all together
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting tickets and going to the Robbie concert and finally landing in the west again...I am here to stay
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Make me pure - Robbie Williams...its my ring tone
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier...and in love
b) thinner or fatter? The same.....
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Nothing really I am pretty happy with what has been this year..
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
wasting time
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my Fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
YES and I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would ever happen to me again
22. How many one-night stands?
NONE
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Greys Anatomy
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't think I actually Hate anyone ... dislike what some people do .. yes ... but don't hate anyone
25. What was the best book you read?
OHhh my sister introduced me to a great series...Laurell K Hamilton....Anita Blake(Vampire Exicutioner) BLOODY FANTASTIC
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing off the top of my head...
27. What did you want and get?
Move back to Perth
28. What did you want and not get?
nope i am pretty happy with 2006...one of the best years for a while
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
the lake house
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33 and went to dinner with Darian....
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
nope cant think of anything...
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
EKKKK horrible....
33. What kept you sane?
coffee....lots of coffee
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
OMG seeing Robbie Williams in the flesh would do it for anyone....
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing really don't pay any attention to all that stuff
36. Who did you miss?
I missed my friends in Perth sooo much
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Met... Darian for sure...he has been the best thing to happen to me
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
I am Learning to trust and go with what I feel on the inside...
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
umm cant think of any at the moment...will work on it though

So there is me for 2006 .. If U choose to do this aswell ... Link me so can come C

Merry Christmas, little Jellyfish and all that....

Well another Christmas over and done with for another year. We had a very unusual and quiet Christmas. Still very stressful leading up to it as my 520L 2 year old fridge decided to stop working properly so we had to try and work around that.

Christmas eve Darian , the kids and I went to Tanya and Brads for a visit. Tanya is my oldest friend, we met when we were 8 and she is the kind of friend that it doesn't matter how much time has past we can still sit down and have a chat.

We took the kids to see the Christmas lights, there is a street in Connolly that every single house is done up. We had to park a block away and walk as there were so many people. It was amazing. We got home put the kids to bed and the power went out....and it was hot, so here is us trying to get presents out in the dark and because it was so still and quiet all the musical toys were SO loud...

Christmas morning the kids woke us up at a decent hour...7.30am they were busy showing us what Santa had given them in their stockings and such. The Precious clan and Miss arrived at about 10.30 for brekkie (very basic, croissants, pancakes and fruit kebabs) and then we opened all the presents . this year the adults had a secret Santa and I got a dusk candle and Darian got some Boerewors (South African sausage).

We passed on Christmas lunch and tried to have a nana nap in the arvo...yeah right.

The girls dad came and picked them up at 3.30pm and then Jen, Darian, Matthew and I went to the Precious house for a swim/BBQ...where we ate Boerewors and lots of other yummy stuff.

Well I had a fantastic weekend.
Darian was away at Kalgoorlie for the week for work and I missed him terribly. Friday night we had his work Christmas party so I dropped the girls off at their dads and came home to get ready. Aunty Jenni spent the day at the WACA watching the Ashes and came home early so that she could baby sit Matthew for me.
The Christmas party was at a little restaurant in Fremantle (cant remember the name) so in semi peak hour traffic it took us an hour to get down there. We were on time and had a nice meal and night.

Saturday we had a lazy day at home in the air con (36 outside) watching Australia whip England's butt in the cricket.

Sunday we went and collected Darian's daughter Megan so he could spend some time with her before she heads off to South Africa for Christmas. The girls came home and Darian and I put up the Christmas lights outside.
We all went to Heathridge park for carols by candlelight and fireworks...all the kids were great, Matthew was a little scared of the noise but wanted to watch anyway.. we took Megan home and the kids saw some houses done up with Christmas lights on the way...very happy children.

So today I braved the shops and picked up a few layby's for Christmas, I have never been this disorganized before but you get that and all I need to do is pick up a few more things for the kids and I am done...another year out of the way...

Wednesday.....another day.....

Another day.....We are settling into the ho hum of school holidays nicely. Which means I am counting down the days till school starts again...the girls are driving me crazy!!!! But to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way...they are with me and they are happy and safe...

Apart from listening to the girls bicker I haven't been doing much.

I need a trestle table to set up my scrapping stuff so i can start to scrap...it has been soooooo long and I miss it soooo much. I haven't even been into a scrapping shop since I have been back to Perth!!!!!

But sitting in my rocking chair today reading another Anita Blake novel (vampire executioner) I realised that I am happy and content with my life and that thing that I have been roaming the country for, I have found it. I no longer have itchy feet or feel the need to move again (though I am going to have to as this is a rental)

For the first time that I can remember I have stopped searching....

I just thought I would share as those who really know me would realise that this a big thing....

Back to real life

We have moved into our new house, the furniture arrived safe and I am almost unpacked.
The only major glitch is that I am unable to get broadband. We are in a broadband area but it seems that the phone line is shared or something and that it will cost me to free it to use it for broadband and since this is only a rental...They can forget it...So it is back to dial up. I am borrowing Darian's modem and account for the time being as he is in Kalgoolie for work this week...
The girls have finished school and are happy to be here.
They are settling into the routine of seeing their father every second weekend.
I have been seeing a lot of Darian and things are fantastic.
Life is good, things are great

The Robbie concert

I know I said that I would post the day after Robbie but things got hectic as usual....

All I can say is that Robbie was fan-bloody-tastic....
I got the kids to the respective babysitters and was on the train heading to Robbie at about 6pm, the train was full of Robbie goers and the ride when smooth. I found Jen and Miss very easily. I ate some dinner and we sat waiting. We were so far away....I would have loved to been able to get into the mosh pit but these were the only seats available and hey we were there so there is no way to complain...

The concert was unbelievable...He played all the best songs (apart from better man :(.....And yes he is as hot in real life....

I sang and screamed my self hoarse (we were surrounded by dead people who just sat there) but we danced, screamed and sang and had the best time

We got home at about midnight .......Great night....

Tonight is Robbie

I am sooooo excited, tonight is the night we go see Robbie..... A bit more about that later.

Tuesday night Darian took me for coffee to meet some of his friends (the closest thing to family he has in Australia) they are from South Africa as well. They are really nice people but I had to really try and contain myself and not laugh because most of the time I had no idea what they were saying due to their accents and that once they all started talking together they seemed to get faster and faster....A you had to be there kind of moment. But it was good.

Last night we took the kids to Sizzler for dinner as a combined birthday thing for Jacquie and myself, we all ate our selves silly but the kids had a great time.

Today I am stressed...We have an award ceremony to go to at the school and then Jen and Miss are heading on down to Subi to line up for the concert. I am dropping Matthew off at his grandma's at 4 but cant drop the girls off until 5.30 at their dads. I then have to get the train down to subi and then TRY and get in the gates before Robbie starts...I might not get in (even though we have reserved seats) I don't mind going down alone but I am worried about not meeting up with them....Going home alone bothers me....I am hoping there will be a huge police presence around.
But I am going to think positive and we are going to have a fantastic time......

Will write tomorrow and tell you how bloody fantastic it was

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my birthday and I am happy to say that it was one of the best birthdays I have had in years. I had lunch with my 2 sisters and Darian took me to dinner last night, not before Jenni nearly slicing off her finger while chopping onions for dinner (trip to emergency, glue, steri strips and a tetanus shot)

My lounge suite was delivered this morning, it seems to take up the whole lounge.....LOL...

Tonight Talia is going bowling with the girl guides tonight and then I am off to meet Darians adopted family here is Aus. He has no real family here so they are as good as.

Tomorrow night the family are all going out to dinner to celebrate both mine and Jacquies birthdays as we are going to Robbie on hers....

And then finally the night is here.....Robbie.......

Will catch up when i can...

Life is beautiful

Things have been sooo busy here. The days seem to go too fast. The kids have settled into school beautifully so I have decided not to move them next year. Its not a huge drive and there don't seem to be many good quality schools in the area I will be renting.
The girls spent the past weekend with their dad and they seem to be settling in with the routine.
They are looking forward to moving into our house, I sign for the keys this Friday but the furniture wont be here until the 4th December.

However my new lounge will be delivered next week, a Christmas present from a very special person. Things are going very well on that front. He is such a special person and I feel very lucky to have met him.

Well I better go and clean up a bit, 10 people in a house can make some mess let me tell you

We have a sick house

Well it seems everyone in the house has either had or coming down with gastro. I have 5 kids home today and I myself not feeling the best.
My car arrived yesterday and I received a phone call from the realestate agent saying that I have the rental house I applied for...4 bed 2 bath in Quinns Rocks....

Heaps more has happened but at the moment things are a bit fuzzy

I went and picked up Miss from the airport on Sat and Miss, Darian and I took all 6 kids down to Hillarys for the afternoon to play...I met his daughter, she is sweet and all the kids get on really well

I forgot to mention that we took the kids to the world festival of magic on Friday night...It was a late one but everyone had a good time.

So I am going to go lie down while there is calm in the house

A week past already....

We have been here a week already, the girls are settling into school which is a huge relief. I knew that Talia was very apprehensive about a new school as she has been prone to bullying but she is coming home a happy girl which makes me a happy mummy. Eloise is out of bed and dressed straight into her uniform which speaks for it self...So on the school front all is good. I would love to keep them in this school next year but it all depends on where we manage to get a rental.

I have been looking at a few houses and have applied for one...I will know if I have been successful within 48 hours...I hope so. It s not a big house, 4 x 2 but it has a good feel about it. Rentals are as scarce as hens teeth and its only going to get worse.

VIP car removals rang yesterday to let me know that our cars have arrived in Perth early and will be delivered later this week. I am borrowing a friends car at the moment.

Speaking of that person I know some of you stickybeaks are dying to know about our date Friday night... I am happy to say that it went really well and that we are spending more time together. The girls spent the weekend with their dad so Darian took Matthew and I out for the day on Sat we went and had a look at a few rentals and to see how far north the urban sprawl went and then drove down to Freo. We ended up at Kings park lookout ( wow Perth has changed)
He has a very kind soul and I feel lucky to have met him...Things are only early days but it feels right. He has a 4 year old daughter that he sees every second weekend and I will be meeting her on Friday as we are all going to the magic show in Perth.

So I am happy and my life is good...Hope everyone else is good too

I have been badgered to update

Well where shall I start....hmm I might update over a few days as so much has happened.
Well at the end of the time in Vic came around very quick, the girls had their last day of school on Tuesday and they were a little sad to go. Which is understandable but were very excited about the plane flight and all. I managed to get them all into bed at a reasonable time.
Wed morn was an early start, I got up at 3.45 am so that I could get Molly in the cat carrier before she had the chance to escape outside. Miss found her asleep in Matthews room so she was put in the carrier before she knew what hit her. The rest of the kids awoke and we were packed and ready to go .....The trip down to Melb was interesting. Molly didn't cope to well with the car trip and i had to sedate her a half way.
We got to the airport with time to spare and we got all the bags etc checked in and by the time we walked up to the the departure lounge it was time to go....I had given Matthew some medicine to help with the plane trip as I wasn't sure how he would go with the noise and sitting still for 4 hours...

Well I needn't have worried as per usual he was a little angel, we managed to get onto a 747 and there were lots of seats spare so we could spread out a bit. The girls were happy as they had movies to watch. The trip went quick and easy I even managed to watch most of The lake house.
we landed and we met Avril ( my BIL mother) as she kindly offered to pick us up. We grabbed our bags and collected a very upset but drugged cat and headed off to the vet to drop her off.
It was so good to be back in WA, the air smells better and feels different. Perth has changed soo much since the 6 years that I left.
We dropped Molly off at the vet and drove to Jacquies house, Jac was at work so the kids and I had some quiet time. After lunch jac come home and we walked up to the school so that the kids could finally see each other and My girls could see the school and met the teachers before going the next day.
We have 6 very excited and happy kids in the house...All is well....

Time is flying

I expected the days to drag but they seem to be flying....A lot has been happening. Jen is spending most of her time down in Geelong looking for a house for Dave, Miss is at work and I am just busy tying up loose ends. I have finally finished packing and got a final quote of $3030....
The cars leave this coming Monday or Tuesday and then the kids and I leave Wed morn....

The kids have there last day of School on Tuesday and start at their new school on Thursday...

Sat we are seeing Bec to say goodbye and then some friends on Sunday.

I took Oscar the cat back to the vet yesterday so that his stitches could be removed and I was a little concerned as the stitches were broken again, I was exciting more surgery and if that was the case I was going to have him put to sleep...He doesn't have much more tail to remove. But the vet is optimistic, he said there was no point in doing another surgery but he is confident with time it will heal (it doesn't help that the dogs and himself keep licking it)...So he is on more antibiotics and time....

only have 8 days till we fly.....

A very happy mummy

Today has been a very busy, Talia had her excursion to Bendigo and Jen and I drove to Echuca to buy some packing boxes for Jen to start packing...
we also went to Rochy as a friend was holding a kids clothing party...I bought matthew some bathers and Eloise a dress for Xmas...

I also re booked the girls plane tickets so the kids and I will be flying to perht on the 1st Nov...i am so happy.

So a good end to a very hot and windy day....welcome summer....

The FINAL countdown

Can you believe plans have changed again.....
Well Matthew and I are flying out to Perth on the 1st of Nov...The girls were going to stay however situation has changed and I will be changing their flight details on Friday so we all fly together...
So the new countdown is 21 days...... 3 WEEKS

I feel as though I have a constant stress headache

I also took Talia to the dentist today and she needs to go back next week for some work and an OPG....( full mouth xray).....

Fun and games again

The house is back to a war zone again....Fun...Miss is not talking to Jen and she is storming around the house saying that she wants to leave now....
And I am stuck in the middle again...
But before the house became a war zone I was thinking things through and came up with an idea..
Matthew and I are going to leave 2 weeks early (approx 12 Nov) the girls will stay with Jen and finish school. This would mean that we would not have to get a hire car at both ends of the plane trip and I can find and apply for houses so that when everyone else gets there we wont be too much of a burden for Jac and Steve...5 adults and 6 kids in one house is asking to much of anyone, especially the way this one feels at the moment. If I waited until the 26 I am not sure how long all of us would have to stay....

It also gets me out of here 2 weeks early...

So I just have to check with Jac to make sure that this would be ok and re book the flights...

A good day

Well Oscar is now back home and looking very silly. The vet said that when she shaved around the tail she could see the bruising from the trauma…which should heal over time and I walked away with only having to pay $157…I was pleased about that…

I went home and received the quote for the car transport, I was dreading it as I was sure it was going to go up and we should have taken the quote we got in August. Well the quote came in at $1236.90 per car…I am very happy with that…It’s almost $100 cheaper than the last quote. So I rang them back up and booked the cars in…They will be leaving at the end of Oct as we need the cars for when we get to Perth on the 26th. So that’s only 4 weeks away, and then we are down to one car for 3 weeks…. Talk about tactical nightmare…It will all sort it self out….

So yesterday was good…things are getting there, now I just need the countdown to go quicker….

Update....

Well what a few days it has been,
Kids are back at school and they are mighty happy, so is Mummy.
Got the final quote for the removals and nearly fell over!....My stuff alone is $3000 and all I am taking is My bed, the bunks, Matthews cot, fridge, washing machine, dryer, air conditioner, rocking chair and boxes….They have worked on 22 m3…I am hoping it wont go over that with the last few boxes I have to pack. Thankfully I budgeted on $3000 and not my original quote of $2000. We just happen to moving at the most expensive time of year to the most expensive place…..

So today I need to get a quote for the cars and book that as well…I just hope that quote hasn’t gone up as well!

These are just some small glitches before we go. I am sure that there will be many more before we finally get the plane.
The other thing is that Oscar the cat come in a few days ago looking like he had been in another cat fight, all his face was scratched he was walking very stiffly. I kept an eye on him over the next few days as he is prone to abscesses. He slowly got better but noticed that he would growl if you touched him or if he had to jump up or down…I was a bit worried but thought I would watch him as he was getting better and no sign of any abscesses.
Yesterday I rang the vet as even though he is much better he is still in pain around the hips and he has lost all feeling and function of his tail…it just hangs limp and drags on the ground. I thought that he may have been hit by a car instead and has a spinal injury (not severe as he was still able to walk) so off to the vet and she checked him over.
He has severed his spinal column at the base of his tail and has no feeling what so ever, so the plan is to amputate the tail so that it won’t get caught in the future as he is now unaware that it is there. She also thinks that he has a slight fracture in the pelvis and that time will heal that. So he spent the night at the vet last night and will be coming home today as a bob cat….
The kids are upset but I am sure that once he his home and back to his normal self they will be happy.

Ok now I know some of you are dying to know a bit more about my “friend” , I will call him D on here…Even if nothing happens between us once I get to Perth he has been an amazing pillar of strength. I don’t want to get my hopes up as then I am just settling myself up for disappointment but so far he seems like a very caring, sensible, understanding guy (can you tell he is not Australian born)…
So we are planning to have coffee when I get to Perth and then he is taking me to his work Christmas Party…

So that’s what’s been happening here for the last few days. Jen just told me that she wants to have a garage sale in the first week of Nov….more stress…….

A reason, A season or A lifetime?

Life is an amazing thing.....

I thought I was happy single and that I didnt need anyone is my life to complete me....Well part of me is right, I dont need anyone but it is mighty nice when you do...

I am not making much sense....Ok I will fess up....

A few months ago I joined yahoo singles so that Miss wouldnt mind that I joined her up so that she can meet a few people before she moved to Perth.....I really didnt expect anything of it.

I have met someone nice, well not in person as he lives in Perth, but we have been in phone contact.

And thats all I am going to say.....

School Horrordays are here!!!!

Wow can you believe that 3rd term is over and the holdiays are here....Well we only have 10 more weeks till we fly...This means that the kids only have 8 weeks of school left.
Last school holidays we took the kids to Sovereign Hill and we missed out on the carriage rides, Eloise was devastated and I promised her to return the following holidays and the first thing we would do was a carriage ride...

The girls have been looking forward to these school holidays for this reason. Unfortunately I received a phone call from Talia's teacher last week. She has been telling lies again at school, this time it was about her homework. I told him that I would talk to her again, so I have been thinking of a way to teacher her how serious lying is and that it breaks peoples trust and that is one of the hardest things to get back..
We sat down again and had a big talk and because I wanted her to realize the seriousness of lying I told her that she has to stay home when we go to Sovereign hill.

It was one of the hardest things I have done in a while, driving down the road away from my daughter who is in her room sobbing because we left her behind, but I knew that if I gave in that would be worse...She ended up having a nice day with aunty jenni anyway..

So Melissa, Eloise, Matthew and myself went to sovereign Hill, we all went on the carriage ride and we also went to the underground mine tour that we missed out on last time...

We all had a great time and when we got home Talia came out and gave me a huge huge and said that she missed us and that she was sorry..

A big surprise

Well for the last few weeks I have been hitching up my size 14 stretch jeans and boy has it been annoying, then the final straw came the other day when I went to put them on and one of my buttons had come off.....Off to the shop I go in search of some new button fly jeans....NONE......Well none that are not hipsters....Hello I have hips, I know I have hips so I don't need to show the rest of the world my muffin tops....

So I came home in my old and broken faithfuls.....

Today I had to go back to town to take back a size 14 top that is way to big...I thought what the hell, Matthew and I have all day I might as well try on some jeans...Not buttonfly but for $20 I can complain...

SIZE 12 fit like a glove......I am one happy little camper!!!

The scales show me as a porker...72 kg (bit of a slump at the moment) but my clothes tell me that the weight is coming off. I know who I believe more!...Everyone knows that scales lie....

P.S.....Our Robbbie T-shirts came today...we have tickets and now shirts for the concert......yipee

A budding photographer.....

Ok just a quick post as Im off this morning to take Matthew to play group, I really dont like playgroups as a general rule but the only way he is going to learn social skills is to be around kids his own age and socialise....

Any way yesterday afternoon I gave Talia the digital camera and told her to take as many photos of me that she wanted... she was having a hoot and after about 25 shots this is what she came with....

The kids in August

Here are some photos of the kids this month

Gee has it been that long????

Well i had written a nice long post but blooger lost it..

so now all i am going to do is post some photos and I will fill in the blanks later

Hello again

weigh in this morning and I lost a total of 1.6kg, which is my biggest loss to date which brings my total loss to 11.8kg
the weather is beautiful and sunny today (almost feels like spring is in the air) which is good to get the washing done but we badly need rain!

Matthew and I are finally off to his hearing test tomorrow, after the last appointment was cancelled due to his cold.

Other than that things are quiet.....

Just for some fun

I did Miss's make up yesterday as she wanted a nice photo of herself so I thought I would do my self at the same time (plus all the kids had some on as well) I took some nice photos of her and she took some of me....the poor girl has no idea how to focus a automatic digital camera and nearly every single photo came out of focus, bless her heart.

But one did come out .....

So this is me at 32......

The kids at the doctor

Eloise had to go see our doctor yesterday just to make sure that her ear was responding to the antibiotics. Matthews chest was sounding yukky so I asked that Matthew could be seen as well (saves a 120km round trip) and he was seen too.

Eloise's ear was still infected so she is on 7 more days of antibiotics, if this still does not clear the infection the doctor was talking possible grommets......

Matthew has a chest infection so he is also on antibiotics for 7 days.....

There was a 20 min wait at the chemist so the kids and I walked around to the local lions park in Rochester to let them have a play, letting Matthew out of his pusher he walked over to the play equipment and stopped. Then I realized that this was his first time on play equipment.....I felt like such a bad mother....He is 2 and this was his first real taste of swings and slides and climbing.
He climbed up on his own and played with the driving wheel and then slid down the slide....He was having a hoot.

Even though we live 50km away from the nearest good park I am going to start taking him more often. Of course it depends on the weather and the price of fuel...
Things like this will be so much easier when we get to Perth....122 days till we fly

Its the flu season...

Another week has gone so quick,
Wed - came out to find that the puter had a hissy and I couldn't even get into safe mode...ahhhhh
Thursday - the computer tech came out and tried to fix the puter but alas no go and I had to reinstall XP so that meant that Jenni lost all her photos...Everything..The school nurse rang and I had to go pick up Eloise early as she had an ear ache
Friday I had Eloise at the doctor with an ear ache, this ending up being and infection/borderline abscess, antibiotics and a return trip next Wednesday
Sat - Miss and I went and did the food shopping without kids, both Eloise and Matthew were full of the flu
Sun -a quiet day at home

My week wrapped up, one good thing is that we have bought the plane tickets, it is now official, we are leaving at the end of Nov.....Its going to come around quick!

Matthew had his assessment

Yesterday was the day that Matthew had his assessment with the SIRT (specialist information referral team) and everything went well. It took about 1 and half hours but Matthew had fun playing some games and now it is a bit of a wait for the results .

How ever just observing and talking to the assessor, he is not that delayed. His fine motor skills and gross motor skills are average for his age. But he is only slightly delayed in his social and communication. He was able to recognize and name at least 2 body parts and name 3 familiar things on flash cards ( car, cat and bird) His words are not as clear as most 2 year olds but he definatly recognized the objects and the words that he used started with the correct letter.
He was also able to follow simple instructions
So this is good news, he will be going on the wait list for the speech pathologist and an education advisor to help with social skills. There has been a new speech therapist start there so hopefully the wait wont be to long.

I also bought a new DVD player as mine blew up.....This means this house has destroyed 3 DVD players in the last 12 months.

We have also made the decision, and I feel so mush better inside with it, that we are all flying to Perth and are putting the cars on a truck....It will cost about the same and instead of a 5 days trip it will only be a 4 hour plan trip. I think the kids will cope better with this and I wont have to worry about my car (which has been a bit temperamental this year) breaking down in the middle of the Nullabour.

Happy 6th Birthday Eloise

Eloise has been counting down until the 15th for ever and yesterday morning she was so excited. It was nice to have some happiness in the house as we found out that on Friday afternoon that Dave's father had died.

Eloise patiently waited all day for her birthday dinner and cake. We decided that the kids would have party food and us adults would have something kinder on the waist.

I made her cake in the afternoon and most of the family from interstate rang, Eloise was a bit disappointed that no presents had arrived for her yet .

Just before dinner she opened up her presents, She received the High school Musical CD and saddle Club sunglasses from Miss and the game Frogs in the Bog from Aunty Jenni and Uncle Dave. Then she received a Horse round up game from Gran and finally monopoly Junior from Talia, Matthew and I. She was pretty happy.

The kids had the usually yummy things for dinner and then came cake. I made a plain cake and put a My Little Pony cake topper on....

we sang happy birthday and Eloise was one happy 6 year old

Happy Birthday

A bit about me....

Now that I have caught up with all the happenings of the last 2 weeks I can catch my breath.
After my little hissy the other week things have settled down and basically gone back to the way things were, this time though Jenni is helping a bit more and I am making a huge effort not to be so obsessive and martyr- ish (is that a word? , well it is now). I am a huge list maker and I like to know what is happening. So I have been leaving everything and just going on my merry way...OMG it has been so hard. I finally had enough the other day and cleaned the puter table when everything fell on top of me.
Dinner times have been interesting as no one knows who is cooking and who is doing the dishes when, but I'm trying my hardest not to make a schedule as I was before. Don't get me wrong things are working out but it is still the case that Jen and I are doing all of the house work. Gee my strike didn't last but I am feeling a lot less stressed.

Other than that I feel good at the moment, all us girls are on WW until we leave to go to Perth and I am doing at least 45 min exercise every day...Alternate days of walking on the treadmill and low impact aerobics. This is making me feel better as well.

The only thing that is bothering me is the housing situation in Perth. There seems to be a huge shortage of rentals due to the 18 month wait for a house to be built (something about a brick shortage) so this has me a little worried. What if I cant get a house, what then....
I am going to start and apply for rentals as of the begining of Oct and if I have to pay double rent for a while I wont mind...But if I have been applying for 6 weeks or so I may just have to re think my plans....

Can you tell I'm a planner? . I like to know what is happening, going to happen and everything in between.

So all in all things are good....

Happy 2nd Birthday Matthew

I know this is a bit late but we have had computer troubles over the last 12 days. It has been in the shop being fixed. During this time I bought out my computer to use and hunted through my packed boxes to find my dial up modem so we could still talk to the world. I found the modem in the last box that I looked in but alas no software disk, I keep them all together for those reason but the only one that wasn't there was the one that I needed...So no modem...No internet.

A kind friend lent us one which came with no cable (I went out and bought a new one) installed the hardware but when I went to install; the software it was not compatible with XP, so that didn't work either, we were destined to be without internet......

Meanwhile the starter motor in my car died.......Surprise, surprise. Luckily my BIL managed to find a recon one and fitted it for me. I managed to come away only $156 out of pocket this time.

The SIRT ( specialist information referral team) finally rang back about getting Matthew assessed for his speech and we had an appointment for Monday the 10th but come Monday morning they rang up and cancelled and we have been rescheduled for this coming Monday, so fingers crossed.

This appointment is only to assess him, once they know where he is they will decide what skills he is delayed in and he will be put on the appropriate waiting list.

Back to Matthews birthday, which was Thursday 6th. I managed to make a cake for him on the spur off the moment and we sang happy birthday and Talia helped him open his presents. Matthew was a bit bewildered with it all.

the girls and I bought him the Play School Everybody sing DVD and a Baby Einstein DVD and a new book. Aunty Jenni bought him a new book and Miss bought him a tonka tow truck which he just loves...

So that has been our 2 weeks, Eloise's 6th birthday is on Sat and she is hanging out for it.

Photos from Sovereign Hill

As blogger wont let me add photos to my post I will have to add them in a new one...just hope this works

Guess what

WE GOT ROBBIE TICKETS!!!!!!!


30 th Nov in Perth........cant wait


I'm excited

A day at sovereign Hill

I had been using star charts with the girls as a reward, also to coerce Eloise to eat her dinner. At the end of the week if they had a certain amount of stars I would take them to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. A reconstructed gold mining town from the 1850's. During the school holidays they were going to have snow making machines in the main street so it all depended on the weather being fine. Ballarat is know for being cold and wet.

Well Sunday morning came and the girls had earned their required stars and were very excited so I thought what the heck. Bundled the kids up warm and headed off for the 3 plus hour drive (also being a test run for the Nullabour) Half way there I realized that I had forgotten the pusher and there was no way I was going back! Miss and I would just have to carry Matthew.

We got there in 2 hours with the kids fighting the whole way. Then I realized that the whole place was built on the side of a hill and we were going to have to lug a 12kg toddler up and down those hills. There was quite a line up out the door and it was cold but sunny.

Thankfully for our arms there were hire pushers and the cost of our tickets included a return visit. The first thing Eloise saw were the horses pulling the carriages so I told her the last thing we would do is have a carriage ride. I knew otherwise she would be side tracked by horses if we went on one now and thought it would be a loverly finish to the day.

We had a terrific time. The girls got to dip candles, watch lolly making, we watched a $50 000 gold pour, went down a mine (we are saving the large mine tour for next time) visited all the old shops and we waited in the main street and 1pm for the snow.......Well technically it did look like snow however it was just fine bubbles (it was cold enough for real snow) but the kids loved it.

We went down to the little stream and panned for some gold. I managed to find a speck so I secretly put it in Eloise's pan so that she could find some but it got away...So much for luck.

I was getting close to home time so we walked up to where the carriage rides left only to find out that we had missed the last one of the day by 5 minutes....Well poor Eloises face, the poor kid was devastated and I was the worst mother on the face of the earth. The whole day she had been waiting patiently (well as much as a 5yo that is horse mad can) and I had let her down.

So I have promised and crossed my heart that next school holidays when we return that the fist thing we will do is go on a carriage ride.

We left and had McDonald's for dinner then drove home in silence as all 3 kids were asleep.

Just when I thought things could not get worse!

It has been a long time between posts but I have been a bit under the weather emotionally. This week started good I have had my car fixed, the timing chain has been replaced and it was running like a dream and then the starter motor started to play up.....Great I have just finished up paying for the last lot of repairs ($600....Cheap) So I am again I am without a car and I truly believe yet again I have bought a lemon. I am seriously thinking of putting it on a car carrier and flying over to Perth just in case it doesn't make it across the Nullabour. I will just have to wait and see.
So it is still at the start of the week.....Then the phone goes and according to Telstra it wont be back on until for a few days.....No biggie just a pain in the ass.
Tuesday the power started surging in and out and then we ran out of water. For those of you lucky people who live in civilization who turn on a tap and have a constant supply of water please count your lucky stars. We are on tank water....And it hasn't been raining.....So no washing, no showers .....Nothing but drinking water for 3 days. Easily fixed we just called a water tanker (the phone was back on) and for $180 our tanks are now 3/4 full. The next morning it started to rain and we have received 20ml of rain.
But that's not the end of it. We now have water and as we all went to have a shower...Gee wizz no hot water!!!!!
We are now out of gas. So another $88 and a phone call to the local general store and a gas bottle was delivered. So crossed fingers we have phone, electricity, water and gas....Life is now sweet.

So putting it midly this week has been a bit stressful and as I ususally do I bottle it all up. Since getting out of hospital Jen has only been able to do basic tasks (if that some days) but good ol me has taken up the slack. Miss and I have been taking in turns with cooking and dishes (Talia has been drying them most nights) but as for everything else it has been left to me. It has been like looking after 3 extra children. Ok if I wasn't living here I would be doing it all anyway but there is 3 other adults living in this house.
So when Jen, the kids and I got home from shopping yesterday and yet again I was left to put away the shopping (with help from Jen) that I shopped for with the list that I had to make. I snapped and said apart from cooking and dishes when it is my turn I am going on strike. Well that didn't go down well with Miss and it ended in a screaming match....Yes very childish I know but I have been ready to fall apart for some time now and something had to give. So I am sitting here this morning and all I have to do is cook dinner tonight and do some washing.... No feeding animals, no getting firewood, no cleaning out the fire place, no floors or cleaning bathroom, laundry, bathroom, toilet, kitchen, the list goes on.....Simple you may say but you have no idea how much clutter and mess 3 kids and 4 adults make.

So I admit I have been extremely childish and I could of handled it better but I am going to TRY and stick to my guns and have a month of , I am just a bit worried that Jen will try and do too much. I am worried about the extra stress I have now caused her.

So If you have gotten this far you need a medal but some good news is that there have been more Robbie tickets released so maybe we are in for a chance this time. The last lot sold out in 8 min....Wish us luck....Something has to go right.

Robbie goes on sale today!!!!!!

Just a quick catch up, I will do a longer one when I get a chance. The big news today is that Robbie Williams goes on sale today for his Perth concert. Melbourne sold out in 4 hours so we are hoping that we might have a small chance.....Just a slight one.

I am having to go to Bendigo to get some tires for Miss's car, she made the appointment at the same time as the ticket sales start so Jenni will have to stay home and man the phones for us....

I took Matthew back to the child health nurse and she is really pleased with his progress, however he still has social delays which she believes is due to his speech delays. So I am in the process of playing answering machine tag team with the speech therapist.

Anyway better go, will write more soon