I am a big believer in fate. I believe everything happens for a reason, whether it be good or bad but there is a lesson always to be learned. I also believe that we meet people in our lives, again, good or bad, and that these people will add something, teach us something and leave their mark. I believe that meeting my Hubby was caused by fate.
No don’t worry I am not about to talk about an ex-boyfriend, although I certainly learnt PLENTY of lessons about what I don’t want from many of them!!
But a funny thing happened today that got me thinking about this whole fate thing and people you are meant to meet for whatever reason.
When I was near the end of my pregnancy with Bugalugs I was in my Ob/Gyn office waiting for an appointment. As usual she was running behind to an emergency or birth but as was the case with all of us there we didn’t mind. We knew that it could be our emergency/birth at any time!
So being the socialable lass that I am, I started chatting the woman next to me. She was due earlier than me and we made small talk until we each had our appointments. I thought nothing more of it. I often talk to people in line or in waiting rooms (it’s the only child “have to make friends” thing I think!)
Then my little Bugalugs came along (5 weeks early!!) and 2 days later I was wandering into the hospital nursery to get Bugs weighed and who should be there but the woman I saw in the waiting room in my Ob/Gyn’s Office bathing her new little baby boy. We cooed over each other’s babies, hers was born the day after Bugs and we said our good lucks and goodbyes.
However, after that I then saw her again when I took Bugs (2 months old) to be immunized at the local clinic. Not unusual in itself as they were born a day apart so their immunisations would be needed at the same time but slightly unusual as not everyone uses the clinic, some use their own family Doctors. My memory gets a bit fuzzy but we did bump into each other at another one and then when the boys were 12 months and we bumped into each other yet again at the clinic, we realized we really needed to catch up properly for a coffee to chat. I believe we both thought there was a reason for bumping into each other all the time. We swapped number and became Facebook friends (as you do!) and vowed to catch up.
But as usual, life got in the way. We had each made attempts at a catch up and then had to cancel for one reason or another. You could tell by our Facebook pages (sign of the times!) we were both busy with our families and busy socially with our friends. And at our age your friendship groups are pretty well formed. It’s hard to catch up with people you have known for years let alone someone you just keep bumping into. So I think we both just kind of gave up but amazingly neither of us ‘culled’ each other on Facebook so the channel was always open.
So today I took Bugs for his 18 month Chickenpox Vaccination. And who should I bump into…yes you guessed it. Again not unusual because we both attend the same Immunisation Clinic BUT Bugs was supposed to have his LAST week but he caught a virus so I had to cancel. This was the only time I could reschedule.
Spooky huh!
But also, this time something amazing happened.
When her little boy and bugs saw each other, their eyes lit up, they babbled loudly to each other (If I could speak toddler it sounded like “Hi, how are you great to see you!!) and then they gave each other a MASSIVE hug!
It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
It was amazing.
It was like they had known each other socially FOREVER. Him Mum and I just looked at each other bewildered. Wow, we both said at the same time, this is surreal! Her little boy then had some food and started sharing it with Bugs like they had done it a million times before.
Again we looked at each other and said that obviously the boys need to have a playdate and picked a day we would both be free. I believe THIS could be the reason we keep bumping into each other. I think that our boys are supposed to meet and become friends. Either that or his Mum and I are supposed to meet for that long awaited catch up the boys are making that apparent and easy for us.
Think about it, Bugs could have easily gone up to him and bopped him on the head or ignored him and played with the toys. And her Son could have done the same thing. I have never seen him do that to anyone else he hasn’t known for a while, he is usually more cautious. It really was amazing! And the fact that had Bugs not been unwell last week, I never would have bumped into her yet again.
So it has made me more determined now to make sure that they have a little play date and his Mum and I get to have a proper chat (longer than 5 minutes!) and see where this new friendship goes.
Do you believe in FATE?
Have you had anything like this happen to you?
Has the universe kept throwing you into situations until you did something about it?
Let me know in the comments I would love to hear your stories!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Three Birthdays and an Anniversary!!!
I'm very excited as when I looked at my Calendar today I realised that:
1. It's my Birthday soon (bleaughhhhh!)
2. But before that - its my BLOGIVERSARY!!!! My blog is turning 1!!!
Who'd of thought it??? Apart from my short intro post, DISCO FEVER was my first proper post and is still one of my favourites. Grotbag has got his school disco coming up again in a couple of weeks and it was really great to read back about the night! One of the reasons I love blogging!
Anyhoo...I realised that I took my blogiday (or blogcation for those over the pond) just after I had written my four part IVF story, just before Bugalugs had his first birthday.
SO YOU NEVER SAW HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!
So I am showing it off now. Oh and those who read, who actually know me, stifle a yawn (as you already saw it on Facebook) and instead gape in awe at my awesomeness...or the cake!
Yes I did the Hungry Caterpillar. I was pretty impressed with it myself and it literally went like hot cakes or cupcakes . Would love to say that it was my wonderful imagination that produced it but I was inspired by one of my favourite blogs Coco Cake Cupcakes. Her version is HERE and a million times better....but she is a professional after all!! And seriously you should take a look at her cakes OMG!!! If I only lived in Vancouver!!!
1. It's my Birthday soon (bleaughhhhh!)
2. But before that - its my BLOGIVERSARY!!!! My blog is turning 1!!!
Who'd of thought it??? Apart from my short intro post, DISCO FEVER was my first proper post and is still one of my favourites. Grotbag has got his school disco coming up again in a couple of weeks and it was really great to read back about the night! One of the reasons I love blogging!
Anyhoo...I realised that I took my blogiday (or blogcation for those over the pond) just after I had written my four part IVF story, just before Bugalugs had his first birthday.
SO YOU NEVER SAW HIS FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE!
So I am showing it off now. Oh and those who read, who actually know me, stifle a yawn (as you already saw it on Facebook) and instead gape in awe at my awesomeness...or the cake!
Yes I did the Hungry Caterpillar. I was pretty impressed with it myself and it literally went like hot cakes or cupcakes . Would love to say that it was my wonderful imagination that produced it but I was inspired by one of my favourite blogs Coco Cake Cupcakes. Her version is HERE and a million times better....but she is a professional after all!! And seriously you should take a look at her cakes OMG!!! If I only lived in Vancouver!!!
But also while you were missing me, Grotbag turned the big 5! He wanted an Omnitrix cake! As in Ben 10 Omnitrix watch thingy that turns him into an alien! WHAT? Who did he think I was?
He also only wanted a boys only party where they all had to dress in their favourite costumes and I had a face painter come too! And this is what the cake turned out like...
I had no cake to copy for this one, I tried looking for something but they all looked like they had been made by master craftsmen so I winged it and just used one of Grotbags Omnitrix watches to go off. Yes the black is all licorice as I couldn't find black icing but I think it does the trick. All the kids loved it and it went VERY quickly! I'm awesome (according to Grotbag and really that's all that matters!!!)
So, wonder what cake Hubby will make for me.....HA! No seriously........
So for my Blogiversary I thought I would do a post on YOUR favourite posts that I have written. Let me know in the comments or on my Facebook page! I have my favourites but it's YOUR favourites that you have loved reading of mine that I want to hear about so please let me know! I will compile them in my Blogiversary post and if your a blog writer yourself give you a free plug too! So what you waiting for - get reading!!!!
Monday, June 7, 2010
What Day Is It Again? Meatball Monday?
It's been a public holiday today and so my week is already screwed!
I was going to start doing my Meatless Monday meals again but forgot and then when I finally remembered I realised to make the pumpkin & ricotta cannelloni I would need pumpkin and ricotta.
Did you know that I am blonde?
Anyhoo....we had meatballs and spaghetti instead and I shall do the cannelloni later in the week.
Stay with me...there is a story in this!!
I don't make my own meatballs. I used to in the past but it costs the same to buy them already rolled and ready to cook if not less because I like the pork and veal ones that Woolworths make. AND they are half the fat of the beef Italian or their normal beef ones (they do 3 varieties) so I feel better when buying them.
ANYHOO....about a year ago Woolworths had a special buy two packs of meatballs for $8 (they are normally $4.99 a pack with 12 meatballs) which was only a saving of $2 but hey, save where you can. I picked up my regular P&V ones and went through the checkout. After checking my docket I realised they hadn't taken the discount off. So off to the service counter I go...$2 I know but it's the principle.
Upon waiting 15mins and them checking with the meat department I was correct and so thought I would just get my $2 back.
But no.
Their policy is that if something is scanned incorrectly it's free! So I got one pack for free and the other cost me $4 because of them being on special for $8!
Woo hoo.... bargain and I skipped away knowing that I beat the big guys.
I know...please stay with me there is a point!!
So about a month or two later I see the same special... "coolio" I say to myself and pick up the two P&V ones. Again go through the checkout, check my docket, no discount! Off to the service counter again, get one pack for free and only $4 for the next one.
What a fluke...imagine it happening twice!
Well imagine it happening FOR A WHOLE YEAR!!
Yep, for some reason the P&V ones were never scanned to be on special but were always included (believe me I asked the butcher and always checked).
Every time I they were on special (every month maybe?) I grabbed them, waited till I went through the checkout and then went and got one for free. About 6 months in they went up to $9 for the two but I still bought them. I shop at a couple of different Woolies depending on what shopping centre I am at and it was always the same at all of them. Every time I bought them I sooo expected they would be scanned correctly and each time I was surprised!
Well finally in last weeks shopping it came to an end. They scanned with the discount. I was a bit disappointed but was still stoked that It would take a while for me to catch up with all the ones I got for free and I will still buy them because I like them and that was the beauty of it!
So there was my meatball story...riveting wasn't it! LOL!
Be sure to tune in later in the week when I discuss cuts of lamb!! (joking...no really I am!)
So what little bargains have you picked up while doing your food shopping?
I was going to start doing my Meatless Monday meals again but forgot and then when I finally remembered I realised to make the pumpkin & ricotta cannelloni I would need pumpkin and ricotta.
Did you know that I am blonde?
Anyhoo....we had meatballs and spaghetti instead and I shall do the cannelloni later in the week.
Stay with me...there is a story in this!!
I don't make my own meatballs. I used to in the past but it costs the same to buy them already rolled and ready to cook if not less because I like the pork and veal ones that Woolworths make. AND they are half the fat of the beef Italian or their normal beef ones (they do 3 varieties) so I feel better when buying them.
ANYHOO....about a year ago Woolworths had a special buy two packs of meatballs for $8 (they are normally $4.99 a pack with 12 meatballs) which was only a saving of $2 but hey, save where you can. I picked up my regular P&V ones and went through the checkout. After checking my docket I realised they hadn't taken the discount off. So off to the service counter I go...$2 I know but it's the principle.
Upon waiting 15mins and them checking with the meat department I was correct and so thought I would just get my $2 back.
But no.
Their policy is that if something is scanned incorrectly it's free! So I got one pack for free and the other cost me $4 because of them being on special for $8!
Woo hoo.... bargain and I skipped away knowing that I beat the big guys.
I know...please stay with me there is a point!!
So about a month or two later I see the same special... "coolio" I say to myself and pick up the two P&V ones. Again go through the checkout, check my docket, no discount! Off to the service counter again, get one pack for free and only $4 for the next one.
What a fluke...imagine it happening twice!
Well imagine it happening FOR A WHOLE YEAR!!
Yep, for some reason the P&V ones were never scanned to be on special but were always included (believe me I asked the butcher and always checked).
Every time I they were on special (every month maybe?) I grabbed them, waited till I went through the checkout and then went and got one for free. About 6 months in they went up to $9 for the two but I still bought them. I shop at a couple of different Woolies depending on what shopping centre I am at and it was always the same at all of them. Every time I bought them I sooo expected they would be scanned correctly and each time I was surprised!
Well finally in last weeks shopping it came to an end. They scanned with the discount. I was a bit disappointed but was still stoked that It would take a while for me to catch up with all the ones I got for free and I will still buy them because I like them and that was the beauty of it!
So there was my meatball story...riveting wasn't it! LOL!
Be sure to tune in later in the week when I discuss cuts of lamb!! (joking...no really I am!)
So what little bargains have you picked up while doing your food shopping?
Friday, June 4, 2010
Dog Vomit at 6am is never a good way to start the day!
6am - Wake up to Sye (40kg Chocolate Brown Labrador) coughing...no sorry...wake up a bit more and realise he is trying to vomit.
6.01am - Realise Sye HAS vomited. Yay - dog vomit!!
6.02am - Put both Sye and Jasper (cute little barky Cocker Spaniel) in garden.
6.03am - Turn Kettle on
6.04am - Clean up dog vomit.
6.05am - Turn on most electrical appliances in family room burning my carbon footprint securely in the earth and make a cup of tea.
6.10am - Grotbag comes in - tell him it's early and go back to bed...he snuggles with me on the couch. It's the nicest he will be to me all day. Love it before he realises he has an attitude.
6.30am - Have a shower, dress and put a load of washing on.
6.50am - Wake up Bugalugs, give him his bottle.
6.55am - Shout at Grotbag for not listening or similar, threaten something scary like DS confiscation.
7.10am - Get breakfast for Grotbag, put it on table and realise Sye has vomited behind the table.
7.11am - Clean up more dog vomit. Yay dog vomit!!
7.15am - 8pm - Kids dressed, lunch made, bags packed, out the door.
8.35am - Say good by to Grotbag at his classroom, gossip to other Mums for a while, leg it out of there!!
8.50am - Bribe Bugalugs with a biscuit to be quite while waiting for Charity Shop to open.
9am - Drop two bags of clothes into Charity Shop bin and try and find 'outfit' for Grotbags "Olden Days" Day at school next week. Think that the shop will be full of flat caps, braces and waist coats. Not so. Shop is full of 80's & 90's high street non-fashion. Find a flannelet shirt for $2 and leave.
9.30am - Go to Post Office and post pressie to UK!
9.45am - Arrive at another Charity Shop and find a cap (it's a girls one but he won't know) and a navy waist coat. Nearly fall over at the prices. If I had time could have got them cheaper on Ebay!!! Feel a bit selfish for having to only pay marginal amount and realise it's a "Charity". At the last minute find a pair of groovy crocs for $9! Yay!
10.15am - Get home put Bugalugs to bed for morning sleep and hang washing out.
10.30am - Hungry! Heat homemade Leek & Potato soup in microwave.
10.33am - Spill soup taking it out of microwave. Swear. Clean it up. Badly.
10.36am - Eat soup then go and pull everything down off the top of my walk in wardrobe.
10.37am - Realise I have to clean it. Realise not only am I allergic to cleaning I am also crap at it too. Probably takes me twice as long as the average person.
10.50am - Think about sorting what I have just pulled down from the top of my wardrobe but want to assemble storage boxes bought from IKEA yesterday. Seems like more fun.
10.51am - NOT more fun. Boxes have 12 screws for each box. I have 8 boxes!
11.30am - I have completed 2 boxes and am now bored. Stuff from TOW (top of wardrobe) still strewn across my bed and floor.
11.31am - Bugalugs wakes (early!) and saves me from having to assemble another box or sort stuff from TOW!
12.30am - 2.15pm - Go food shopping.
2.25pm - Throw Bugalugs in freezer. Realise should have been frozen peas. Throw all perishables in fridge and freezer, leave the rest of the shopping on the counter and put Bugalugs back in the car.
3pm - Pick Grotbag up from School.
3.15pm - Grotbag tries on his "olden days" clothes. Loves them. He looks cute. Me done good.
3.16pm - Put Bugalugs down for a sleep.
3.17pm - Make another cuppa and assemble two more boxes. Yes... I know I haven't got the washing in. It is doomed to stay out over night. Yes...TOW still strewn all over the floor.
4pm - The 4 O'Clock Train Begins. Yes that is Dinner prep, dinner cooked, dinner eaten, baths run, kids cleaned, bottle given, dishwasher packed, Bugalugs put to bed all by 6.30pm.
6.31pm - Put more washing on.
7pm - Grotbag goes to bed. Put washing in Tumble Dryer.
7.01pm - Make a cuppa and eat snickers bar sneakily bought when shopping hee hee!
7.30pm - Watch MasterChef Australia (Fav show).
9pm - Hubby Rings YAY!!!! He was waiting for MasterChef to finish.
9.10pm - Start blog reading.....Yes... washing is still in Tumble Dryer but is OK because it is on "Crease Mode" meaning it will keep tumbling every so often till I go get it. Yes...other washing still on line....Yes...TOW still all over floor with 4 more boxes to assemble.
9.4pm - Start writing this blog! All of the above still apply....
There is always tomorrow!!
Sye & Jasper
6.01am - Realise Sye HAS vomited. Yay - dog vomit!!
6.02am - Put both Sye and Jasper (cute little barky Cocker Spaniel) in garden.
6.03am - Turn Kettle on
6.04am - Clean up dog vomit.
6.05am - Turn on most electrical appliances in family room burning my carbon footprint securely in the earth and make a cup of tea.
6.10am - Grotbag comes in - tell him it's early and go back to bed...he snuggles with me on the couch. It's the nicest he will be to me all day. Love it before he realises he has an attitude.
6.30am - Have a shower, dress and put a load of washing on.
6.50am - Wake up Bugalugs, give him his bottle.
6.55am - Shout at Grotbag for not listening or similar, threaten something scary like DS confiscation.
7.10am - Get breakfast for Grotbag, put it on table and realise Sye has vomited behind the table.
7.11am - Clean up more dog vomit. Yay dog vomit!!
7.15am - 8pm - Kids dressed, lunch made, bags packed, out the door.
8.35am - Say good by to Grotbag at his classroom, gossip to other Mums for a while, leg it out of there!!
8.50am - Bribe Bugalugs with a biscuit to be quite while waiting for Charity Shop to open.
9am - Drop two bags of clothes into Charity Shop bin and try and find 'outfit' for Grotbags "Olden Days" Day at school next week. Think that the shop will be full of flat caps, braces and waist coats. Not so. Shop is full of 80's & 90's high street non-fashion. Find a flannelet shirt for $2 and leave.
9.30am - Go to Post Office and post pressie to UK!
9.45am - Arrive at another Charity Shop and find a cap (it's a girls one but he won't know) and a navy waist coat. Nearly fall over at the prices. If I had time could have got them cheaper on Ebay!!! Feel a bit selfish for having to only pay marginal amount and realise it's a "Charity". At the last minute find a pair of groovy crocs for $9! Yay!
10.15am - Get home put Bugalugs to bed for morning sleep and hang washing out.
10.30am - Hungry! Heat homemade Leek & Potato soup in microwave.
10.33am - Spill soup taking it out of microwave. Swear. Clean it up. Badly.
10.36am - Eat soup then go and pull everything down off the top of my walk in wardrobe.
10.37am - Realise I have to clean it. Realise not only am I allergic to cleaning I am also crap at it too. Probably takes me twice as long as the average person.
10.50am - Think about sorting what I have just pulled down from the top of my wardrobe but want to assemble storage boxes bought from IKEA yesterday. Seems like more fun.
10.51am - NOT more fun. Boxes have 12 screws for each box. I have 8 boxes!
11.30am - I have completed 2 boxes and am now bored. Stuff from TOW (top of wardrobe) still strewn across my bed and floor.
11.31am - Bugalugs wakes (early!) and saves me from having to assemble another box or sort stuff from TOW!
12.30am - 2.15pm - Go food shopping.
2.25pm - Throw Bugalugs in freezer. Realise should have been frozen peas. Throw all perishables in fridge and freezer, leave the rest of the shopping on the counter and put Bugalugs back in the car.
3pm - Pick Grotbag up from School.
3.15pm - Grotbag tries on his "olden days" clothes. Loves them. He looks cute. Me done good.
3.16pm - Put Bugalugs down for a sleep.
3.17pm - Make another cuppa and assemble two more boxes. Yes... I know I haven't got the washing in. It is doomed to stay out over night. Yes...TOW still strewn all over the floor.
4pm - The 4 O'Clock Train Begins. Yes that is Dinner prep, dinner cooked, dinner eaten, baths run, kids cleaned, bottle given, dishwasher packed, Bugalugs put to bed all by 6.30pm.
6.31pm - Put more washing on.
7pm - Grotbag goes to bed. Put washing in Tumble Dryer.
7.01pm - Make a cuppa and eat snickers bar sneakily bought when shopping hee hee!
7.30pm - Watch MasterChef Australia (Fav show).
9pm - Hubby Rings YAY!!!! He was waiting for MasterChef to finish.
9.10pm - Start blog reading.....Yes... washing is still in Tumble Dryer but is OK because it is on "Crease Mode" meaning it will keep tumbling every so often till I go get it. Yes...other washing still on line....Yes...TOW still all over floor with 4 more boxes to assemble.
9.4pm - Start writing this blog! All of the above still apply....
There is always tomorrow!!
Sye & Jasper
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Tradition - Family Dinner Night
We have a "Family Dinner" every Wednesday night. That is, my Mum and Step-Dad (SD aka Grandad to my kids) have dinner (predominantly at our house) every Wednesday night. Either Mum or I will cook and it could be a staple meal like Shepherds Pie or Spaghetti Bolognaise or it's a new recipe we have found and want to try out (family make the best guinea pigs!!)
It began as a regular night when Mum started looking after Grotbag on a Wednesday when I went back to work when he was 10 months old. And has been a permanent night on the calendar ever since.
Apart from Bugalugs (we eat after he goes to bed) we all sit at the table and have a meal together. We talk about our day, what is going on in the family, important family dates coming up etc. Grotbag will tell us about his day at school or critic the meal alla Masterchef style!
Although in our house we don't have desert every night, there is always desert at Family Dinner as my SD has a sweet tooth and Hubby tries to pretend he doesn't but always has two helpings!! Again it can be as simple and ice-cream in a cone or a new desert recipe Mum or I have found. Below is a Bakewell Tart - a family favourite desert!
It began as a regular night when Mum started looking after Grotbag on a Wednesday when I went back to work when he was 10 months old. And has been a permanent night on the calendar ever since.
Apart from Bugalugs (we eat after he goes to bed) we all sit at the table and have a meal together. We talk about our day, what is going on in the family, important family dates coming up etc. Grotbag will tell us about his day at school or critic the meal alla Masterchef style!
Although in our house we don't have desert every night, there is always desert at Family Dinner as my SD has a sweet tooth and Hubby tries to pretend he doesn't but always has two helpings!! Again it can be as simple and ice-cream in a cone or a new desert recipe Mum or I have found. Below is a Bakewell Tart - a family favourite desert!
SD is pounced on as soon as he walks in the door by Grotbag with a "can you play with me Grandad???" to which SD will grab a quick drink and disappears into the playroom to become a a Jedi Knight and fight with the light sabres or play cars, Lego whatever Grotbag can convince him to play.
We don't see them till dinner time!!
Meanwhile dinner is bubbling away and I will bath and get Bugalugs ready for bed and Mum and I will try and squeeze in a quick cooking show on Lifestyle Food!
After dinner we all chill out on the sofa and let our meals go down and watch a bit of TV (usually Masterchef...can you see a theme here?.)
Grotbag gives kisses all round and then one of us will put him to bed. Shortly after Mum & SD will go home and another Family Dinner will be over.
I love Family Dinner night.
The weeks that Hubby is home it gives him a chance to catch up with his in-laws. Sometimes we are all so busy it is the only night he will see them while he is home.
It gives me and Mum a good excuse to try out new recipes, bounce food ideas off each other and actually have the time to cook something new.
The biggest benefit though is for my boys. Grotbag LOVES family dinner night. Passionately. He hates it if for some reason we don't get together. He often mentions sitting at the table with "The Family" and will often remark at the table "let's all have a little chat". He loves going out to restaurants with all the extended family of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins etc. So much so that he drew a picture of all of us going out for a Chinese meal at school for his "What I did at the weekend" picture. Even though he has also gone to two birthday parties and one that was a bowling party!!
Bugalugs is a bit young to fully appreciate Family Dinner, especially as it is the one night he doesn't eat with anyone. He has his meal at 5pm and usually Grotbag and I will all sit at the table and we all eat together. But Family Dinner will be ingrained in his routine as he gets older and he will look forward to it just as Grotbag does.
Some people look horrified when I tell them that we have Family Dinner night. Some people remark that they couldn't do it as regular night as their family drive them crazy or their schedules are out of sync. But the thing is that every ones family makes them crazy and if everyone makes it a permanent night on the calendar then it is in every ones schedule.
So I look forward to Family Dinner, a time to catch up, cook up and share. It's the best family tradition I have and I cherish it every week!
So do you have a regular family dinner? Do you eat at the table with your kids most nights? Do you think families eating together can be beneficial?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
There's Nothing Like Australia.....
This is top news in Australia today...our new Tourism Commercial!
The media would have you believe that the whole country is up in arms about the commercial but I think it's just to get us talking about it...and blogging about it!!!
The only thing I have a problem with (and only because it was brought to my attention as I didn't notice it) was that the girls are driving in a left hand drive car....Australian's drive on the right side in right hand drive cars....hmmm!
So, let me know what you think especially my readers across the pond! Does it make you want to visit us?
The media would have you believe that the whole country is up in arms about the commercial but I think it's just to get us talking about it...and blogging about it!!!
The only thing I have a problem with (and only because it was brought to my attention as I didn't notice it) was that the girls are driving in a left hand drive car....Australian's drive on the right side in right hand drive cars....hmmm!
So, let me know what you think especially my readers across the pond! Does it make you want to visit us?
Sunday, May 23, 2010
My Therapy, My Outlet, ME!
This is my 101st post.
My 100 post was on Feb 26th. That was quite a while ago.
I was going to write this post about a topic quite unrelated to what I am actually going to write. But I couldn't form anything in my head or on paper without coming back to the same thing.
In April I suffered a miscarriage.
Just after my 100th post I found out that I was pregnant. We were very surprised and overwhelmed and surprised and very happy and surprised.
Yes the word "unplanned" comes to mind so surprised is a very good word to describe how we felt.
For those who are new to this blog you might want to read My IVF Story to realise how surprised we were.
But as I have already given away the ending of this story, at my nine week scan it the baby had only grown to show I was 6 weeks and a few days. A week later when the baby had not grown at all and there was no heart beat we knew this dream of 3 children was not going to come true.
I won't go into the details of my miscarriage (my third!) - it was awful and those who have unfortunately experienced it know how I feel and those who haven't cannot even imagine.
But it is over now. Our household is 'back to normal' and although we hadn't planned on 3 we want to try again.
Some people think I am crazy - "how will you cope?" "doesn't your Hubby work away?" etc etc.
Not many positive comments or encouragements I can tell you!!
But the heart wants what the heart wants. And it's OUR family and it's what WE WANT.
So there you have it.
When I found out I was pregnant I was thinking of all the great blog fodder I could post and bore everyone with my pregnancy. But I wanted to wait until the 12 week mark that we never made it to and I kind of fell out of love with writing.
It had once been an outlet and almost therapy for me, but with the miscarriage it would mean showing the world the sadness in my heart and I wasn't ready to share that - until now.
So now that this blog block has been laid out and enables me to move on I look forward to getting back in touch with my old flame and rekindling my love for writing.
My therapy, my outlet, ME!
My 100 post was on Feb 26th. That was quite a while ago.
I was going to write this post about a topic quite unrelated to what I am actually going to write. But I couldn't form anything in my head or on paper without coming back to the same thing.
In April I suffered a miscarriage.
Just after my 100th post I found out that I was pregnant. We were very surprised and overwhelmed and surprised and very happy and surprised.
Yes the word "unplanned" comes to mind so surprised is a very good word to describe how we felt.
For those who are new to this blog you might want to read My IVF Story to realise how surprised we were.
But as I have already given away the ending of this story, at my nine week scan it the baby had only grown to show I was 6 weeks and a few days. A week later when the baby had not grown at all and there was no heart beat we knew this dream of 3 children was not going to come true.
I won't go into the details of my miscarriage (my third!) - it was awful and those who have unfortunately experienced it know how I feel and those who haven't cannot even imagine.
But it is over now. Our household is 'back to normal' and although we hadn't planned on 3 we want to try again.
Some people think I am crazy - "how will you cope?" "doesn't your Hubby work away?" etc etc.
Not many positive comments or encouragements I can tell you!!
But the heart wants what the heart wants. And it's OUR family and it's what WE WANT.
So there you have it.
When I found out I was pregnant I was thinking of all the great blog fodder I could post and bore everyone with my pregnancy. But I wanted to wait until the 12 week mark that we never made it to and I kind of fell out of love with writing.
It had once been an outlet and almost therapy for me, but with the miscarriage it would mean showing the world the sadness in my heart and I wasn't ready to share that - until now.
So now that this blog block has been laid out and enables me to move on I look forward to getting back in touch with my old flame and rekindling my love for writing.
My therapy, my outlet, ME!
Friday, February 26, 2010
My 100th Post!!!
Wow! 100 Posts!
I didn't realise till I went to write this post.
Sorry its not more exciting - I feel I should have provided some party food and punch for you all!
Thanks to all who read, follow, lurk, support, comment and spread good bloogy love!
Kisses Mmmwwwaaahhh!!
Anyhoo...haven't been around much as I have been really sorting my house out, listing most of what I own on Ebay, and focusing on a bit of a family plan for the next year.
Not much time left for blogging or reading blogs which makes me sad but it won't be for long!
So I was flicking through my lastest copy of Australian OK Magazine when I saw this print ad which made me really giggle. It's hard these days to find something original and simple. So of course I thought I would share with all my bloggy friends
I didn't realise till I went to write this post.
Sorry its not more exciting - I feel I should have provided some party food and punch for you all!
Thanks to all who read, follow, lurk, support, comment and spread good bloogy love!
Kisses Mmmwwwaaahhh!!
Anyhoo...haven't been around much as I have been really sorting my house out, listing most of what I own on Ebay, and focusing on a bit of a family plan for the next year.
Not much time left for blogging or reading blogs which makes me sad but it won't be for long!
So I was flicking through my lastest copy of Australian OK Magazine when I saw this print ad which made me really giggle. It's hard these days to find something original and simple. So of course I thought I would share with all my bloggy friends
I would love to have been in the meeting where they came up with it!!
BTW - I get nothing for showing you this, I thought it was funny which is why I am sharing, however if someone from Palmolive wants to send me a box let me know!!!
Toodles until the 101!
Monday, February 8, 2010
My IVF Story - Part Four
You can read:
Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here
I just sat staring a the blood. I nearly fainted and just burst into tears. I couldn't believe that this could be happening to me again after all we had been through. I quickly went back to my desk and called Dr N and she told me to come straight in for a scan. I called my Mum as Hubby was working away and she met me at the hospital. Mum held my hand anxiously with reassuring words and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
The lady doing my scan turned on all the equipment and started the scan. And there was a little heartbeat pounding away everything was fine.
The bleeding was being cause by a small hemorrhage that would heal itself as I got bigger and further into my pregnancy. However I was unable to do anything that raised my heartbeat as this would cause it to start bleeding. This meant that I could not walk to work from the train station as I had been doing. So I needed to drive to work. Only trouble was that I worked in the City where parking was at a premium. We had spaces under our building but they were all occupied.
I called my Boss and told him the situation. That because I couldn’t park near work that I would have to quit as I wasn’t going to risk this pregnancy. He spoke to the Managing Director who didn’t want me to just quit and he offered me his space! I couldn’t believe it. It was so kind and I realized how lucky I was.
Because only my team knew that I was pregnant I was getting funny looks parking in the MD’s spot. People wanted to ask me but didn’t dare which was really funny and I quite liked the gossip. Of course when they found out I was pregnant it all clicked into place!
After that my pregnancy continued as normal. I still bleed from time to time and I had quite a lot of morning sickness and of course I tired easier having a 3 year old to run around after as well. But all in all it was fine. I was having a planned C Section this time on the advice of Dr N which was scheduled for the beginning of March. We needed to have some work done in the house so we booked for all our floors to be relaid, new blinds and other bits and pieces to be done. Nesting at it's worst!
I went for my glucose test at week 24 and that is when I found out I had gestational diabetes. This was just before Christmas 2008. I was devastated. Not just because of the food but because it was another hurdle. I managed to control my GD with diet and didn’t have to take any drugs or inject insulin and amazingly I actually lost weight. Who loses weight when they are pregnant??
Bling’s pregnancy wasn’t as smooth. She suffered terribly with Migraines and sickness. I felt really sorry for her. But she put a brave face on and closer to the end of our pregnancies we decided we would throw ourselves a Baby Shower. We were both having boys and so we scheduled it for the 8th February 2009.
One day a week before the Baby Shower while Hubby was home I called Hubby to the bathroom to fetch me some toilet roll. At the last minute I shouted that my waters had broke as a joke. You should have seen his face it was a classic! He berated me and said I shouldn’t joke about such things and then hid the toilet roll! He also kept telling me to pack my bag “just in case” but I had yet to get round to it.
The Baby Shower rolled around and it was such a great day. We swam in the pool, all our girlfriends were there and we chilled out surrounded by people we loved. When I got home I couldn’t sleep and sat looking at all the beautiful gifts my baby had been given. I was on the way to the nursery to hang up some clothes when I felt a little trickle down my leg.
I thought I had inadvertently wet myself so ran to the toilet. Well the trickle didn’t stop and I suddenly realized that this was it. My waters had broken. 3 weeks before my scheduled C section and 5 weeks before my due date. I sat there dazed. What do I do now? I called Hubby.
He thought I was joking.
I told him I wasn’t.
He swore.
Then he laughed because I hadn’t packed my bag and said “I told you so”
Then he swore again because it was a Sunday night and no planes flew on a weekend on his site. He wouldn’t be making it to the birth. We were both silent.
“Well not many blokes can say that they weren’t there for the conception or the birth but their Mother In Law was” and we both laughed. It was always a risk that he couldn’t make it but again the company he worked for were brilliant and pulled all his planned holidays forward and got him out on the first plane on the Monday.
I then had to call mum and tell her to get here quick smart. Only trouble was she had had a few wines at the Shower and didn’t feel she could drive so I rang Bling and so her and Pirate came over too.
It was like a Benny Hill sketch watching Mum and Bling run around packing my bag trying to find things. My Step-Dad and Pirate just sat on the couch watching sport. My waters were still flowing and so there wasn’t much I could do. Plus I didn’t want to get any ‘water’ on my new floors.
Bling drove me and Mum to the Hospital and My SD and Pirate stayed and looked after Grotbag. I got to the Hospital around midnight and they called Dr N to come in. At 1.59am on Monday 9th February my little baby boy was born by C section. He was 6lb 15oz and he was beautiful.
My little miracle.
Hubby didn’t get to the hospital till 9pm that night but was thrilled to see his new little man. We laughed and cried and hugged and cooed. Even though he was classed as premature he didn’t look prem at all and has been a growing bundle ever since!
And now he is turning 1 and I can’t believe that it was a year ago that it all happened.
I feel eternally blessed that we were so lucky that our very first try with IVF was a success. I could be writing a very different story now if that wasn’t the case.
I must admit I was apprehensive about writing this story. I know people who have been through much more than I have and I carry a lot of guilt over the success of our IVF if that makes any sense. Especially because it worked first time. But I figure everyone has a different story but that sharing our stories, good and bad we can help each other through unbelievable hardships and successes. They can give us hope and even a kin ship that maybe sorely needed at the time.
So that’s my story.
Happy Birthday Little Man you will always be the best birthday present I ever had!
Part One Here
Part Two Here
Part Three Here
I just sat staring a the blood. I nearly fainted and just burst into tears. I couldn't believe that this could be happening to me again after all we had been through. I quickly went back to my desk and called Dr N and she told me to come straight in for a scan. I called my Mum as Hubby was working away and she met me at the hospital. Mum held my hand anxiously with reassuring words and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
The lady doing my scan turned on all the equipment and started the scan. And there was a little heartbeat pounding away everything was fine.
The bleeding was being cause by a small hemorrhage that would heal itself as I got bigger and further into my pregnancy. However I was unable to do anything that raised my heartbeat as this would cause it to start bleeding. This meant that I could not walk to work from the train station as I had been doing. So I needed to drive to work. Only trouble was that I worked in the City where parking was at a premium. We had spaces under our building but they were all occupied.
I called my Boss and told him the situation. That because I couldn’t park near work that I would have to quit as I wasn’t going to risk this pregnancy. He spoke to the Managing Director who didn’t want me to just quit and he offered me his space! I couldn’t believe it. It was so kind and I realized how lucky I was.
Because only my team knew that I was pregnant I was getting funny looks parking in the MD’s spot. People wanted to ask me but didn’t dare which was really funny and I quite liked the gossip. Of course when they found out I was pregnant it all clicked into place!
After that my pregnancy continued as normal. I still bleed from time to time and I had quite a lot of morning sickness and of course I tired easier having a 3 year old to run around after as well. But all in all it was fine. I was having a planned C Section this time on the advice of Dr N which was scheduled for the beginning of March. We needed to have some work done in the house so we booked for all our floors to be relaid, new blinds and other bits and pieces to be done. Nesting at it's worst!
I went for my glucose test at week 24 and that is when I found out I had gestational diabetes. This was just before Christmas 2008. I was devastated. Not just because of the food but because it was another hurdle. I managed to control my GD with diet and didn’t have to take any drugs or inject insulin and amazingly I actually lost weight. Who loses weight when they are pregnant??
Bling’s pregnancy wasn’t as smooth. She suffered terribly with Migraines and sickness. I felt really sorry for her. But she put a brave face on and closer to the end of our pregnancies we decided we would throw ourselves a Baby Shower. We were both having boys and so we scheduled it for the 8th February 2009.
One day a week before the Baby Shower while Hubby was home I called Hubby to the bathroom to fetch me some toilet roll. At the last minute I shouted that my waters had broke as a joke. You should have seen his face it was a classic! He berated me and said I shouldn’t joke about such things and then hid the toilet roll! He also kept telling me to pack my bag “just in case” but I had yet to get round to it.
The Baby Shower rolled around and it was such a great day. We swam in the pool, all our girlfriends were there and we chilled out surrounded by people we loved. When I got home I couldn’t sleep and sat looking at all the beautiful gifts my baby had been given. I was on the way to the nursery to hang up some clothes when I felt a little trickle down my leg.
I thought I had inadvertently wet myself so ran to the toilet. Well the trickle didn’t stop and I suddenly realized that this was it. My waters had broken. 3 weeks before my scheduled C section and 5 weeks before my due date. I sat there dazed. What do I do now? I called Hubby.
He thought I was joking.
I told him I wasn’t.
He swore.
Then he laughed because I hadn’t packed my bag and said “I told you so”
Then he swore again because it was a Sunday night and no planes flew on a weekend on his site. He wouldn’t be making it to the birth. We were both silent.
“Well not many blokes can say that they weren’t there for the conception or the birth but their Mother In Law was” and we both laughed. It was always a risk that he couldn’t make it but again the company he worked for were brilliant and pulled all his planned holidays forward and got him out on the first plane on the Monday.
I then had to call mum and tell her to get here quick smart. Only trouble was she had had a few wines at the Shower and didn’t feel she could drive so I rang Bling and so her and Pirate came over too.
It was like a Benny Hill sketch watching Mum and Bling run around packing my bag trying to find things. My Step-Dad and Pirate just sat on the couch watching sport. My waters were still flowing and so there wasn’t much I could do. Plus I didn’t want to get any ‘water’ on my new floors.
Bling drove me and Mum to the Hospital and My SD and Pirate stayed and looked after Grotbag. I got to the Hospital around midnight and they called Dr N to come in. At 1.59am on Monday 9th February my little baby boy was born by C section. He was 6lb 15oz and he was beautiful.
My little miracle.
Hubby didn’t get to the hospital till 9pm that night but was thrilled to see his new little man. We laughed and cried and hugged and cooed. Even though he was classed as premature he didn’t look prem at all and has been a growing bundle ever since!
And now he is turning 1 and I can’t believe that it was a year ago that it all happened.
I feel eternally blessed that we were so lucky that our very first try with IVF was a success. I could be writing a very different story now if that wasn’t the case.
I must admit I was apprehensive about writing this story. I know people who have been through much more than I have and I carry a lot of guilt over the success of our IVF if that makes any sense. Especially because it worked first time. But I figure everyone has a different story but that sharing our stories, good and bad we can help each other through unbelievable hardships and successes. They can give us hope and even a kin ship that maybe sorely needed at the time.
So that’s my story.
Happy Birthday Little Man you will always be the best birthday present I ever had!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
My IVF Story - Part Three
You can read Part 1 Here and Part 2 Here
Mum and I were just about to head out the door when the phone rang. Naturally I thought it was someone calling to wish me a Happy Birthday so answered the call.
It was the clinic. Both eggs they had were fertilized and they wanted me to go in and have them replanted. Yes that’s right – BOTH of them!
We had said in all our paperwork that we only wanted one egg implanted so we were not ready for the possibility of having both eggs put back.
Dr N said that since this was all they had it was worth trying with both being put back in.
I called Hubby, he was shocked but we both realized the opportunity and so agreed.
It was panic stations at my house. Bling took Grotbag for the morning and Mum agreed to come with me. Well she didn’t really agree I told her she was coming with me!! Neil loves to tell people how he wasn’t even there for the conception but his Mother-In-Law was!
So off to the hospital we go and I couldn’t believe that I was having BOTH eggs implanted and on my birthday no less. I was hopeful that this was a sign. That surely because it was my birthday this was the present I was supposed to have. Surely you sometimes get what you wish for right?
I was told to take it easy for the next few days and then basically I was to wait two weeks, have a blood test and wait for a pregnancy result.
The wait was excruciating. I went back to work and took things easy. I had no symptoms of being pregnant and as each day passed I got more and more despondent. On the Wednesday, two days before my pregnancy blood test, I caved and secretly took a pregnancy test at home.
Negative.
I did another one just in case.
Negative.
I couldn’t believe it. I was so sure that with the eggs being put back on my Birthday it was a good sign.
I spent the next two days in a completed fog and dreading going back for my blood test. I completely downplayed it to anyone who knew I was waiting for my results. Bling was on to me. “you did a test didn’t you?” when I was downplaying the hype to her on the Thursday walking to work. I lied and said I hadn’t but she knew and I later told her the truth.
I knew I had been expecting a lot for the procedure to work the first time. But I reasoned that it was better to find out that I wasn’t pregnant than losing it at 9 or 10 weeks. I didn’t think I could bear that. So I started thinking about “the next time” knowing I would probably produce more eggs and I would have a bit of a higher chance that it would work and we would finally get our second little bundle of joy.
Friday was my day off work and I was so nervous. I went in for my blood test in the morning and then had to wait until 2pm when I could call and ask for my result. Hubby was home and I can honestly say I can’t remember what we did that day. I think we just busied ourselves around the house and played with Grotbag. I knew that the answer would be a negative but I hadn’t told Hubby. I thought that I would try and be strong and upbeat for him seeing as I had had a few days to digest the information.
At 2pm with my heart in my mouth I called and asked for my results. Of course I was put on hold and was just waiting for them to tell me the bad news.
“Hi Amanda, well Congratulations it’s a positive result with really good numbers. Come in on Monday and we will keep doing the blood tests and keep watching making sure the number keep climbing”
I burst into tears. I couldn’t believe it.
I looked at Hubby who was also in tears. I got off the phone and Hubby, Grotbag and I just hugged and cried with each other. Grotbag obviously didn’t know why we were crying but he knew it was a good thing! We stayed like that for at least 20 minutes. The relief of the news was amazing and I couldn’t believe I was pregnant.
Each blood test up until week 8 kept climbing in numbers and I was thrilled. My boobs began to get sore and I started to feel a bit ill in the mornings all which were great signs. Because obviously two eggs had implanted we had to wait and see if I was carrying twins. My first scan confirmed that there was just one little healthy heartbeat which was all the news I had wanted to hear! Twins would have been great but I was happy enough to be carrying the one.
Everyone at work was pleased for me and then I got another surprise. Bling was also pregnant and we were only 11 days apart on our due dates. WOW I couldn’t believe it we were going to share our journey together it was so fantastic.
One day at work when I was about 8.5 weeks pregnant I rushed out to buy some lunch came back and went to the toilet for about the 100th time that day.
And that’s when I saw the blood.
Mum and I were just about to head out the door when the phone rang. Naturally I thought it was someone calling to wish me a Happy Birthday so answered the call.
It was the clinic. Both eggs they had were fertilized and they wanted me to go in and have them replanted. Yes that’s right – BOTH of them!
We had said in all our paperwork that we only wanted one egg implanted so we were not ready for the possibility of having both eggs put back.
Dr N said that since this was all they had it was worth trying with both being put back in.
I called Hubby, he was shocked but we both realized the opportunity and so agreed.
It was panic stations at my house. Bling took Grotbag for the morning and Mum agreed to come with me. Well she didn’t really agree I told her she was coming with me!! Neil loves to tell people how he wasn’t even there for the conception but his Mother-In-Law was!
So off to the hospital we go and I couldn’t believe that I was having BOTH eggs implanted and on my birthday no less. I was hopeful that this was a sign. That surely because it was my birthday this was the present I was supposed to have. Surely you sometimes get what you wish for right?
I was told to take it easy for the next few days and then basically I was to wait two weeks, have a blood test and wait for a pregnancy result.
The wait was excruciating. I went back to work and took things easy. I had no symptoms of being pregnant and as each day passed I got more and more despondent. On the Wednesday, two days before my pregnancy blood test, I caved and secretly took a pregnancy test at home.
Negative.
I did another one just in case.
Negative.
I couldn’t believe it. I was so sure that with the eggs being put back on my Birthday it was a good sign.
I spent the next two days in a completed fog and dreading going back for my blood test. I completely downplayed it to anyone who knew I was waiting for my results. Bling was on to me. “you did a test didn’t you?” when I was downplaying the hype to her on the Thursday walking to work. I lied and said I hadn’t but she knew and I later told her the truth.
I knew I had been expecting a lot for the procedure to work the first time. But I reasoned that it was better to find out that I wasn’t pregnant than losing it at 9 or 10 weeks. I didn’t think I could bear that. So I started thinking about “the next time” knowing I would probably produce more eggs and I would have a bit of a higher chance that it would work and we would finally get our second little bundle of joy.
Friday was my day off work and I was so nervous. I went in for my blood test in the morning and then had to wait until 2pm when I could call and ask for my result. Hubby was home and I can honestly say I can’t remember what we did that day. I think we just busied ourselves around the house and played with Grotbag. I knew that the answer would be a negative but I hadn’t told Hubby. I thought that I would try and be strong and upbeat for him seeing as I had had a few days to digest the information.
At 2pm with my heart in my mouth I called and asked for my results. Of course I was put on hold and was just waiting for them to tell me the bad news.
“Hi Amanda, well Congratulations it’s a positive result with really good numbers. Come in on Monday and we will keep doing the blood tests and keep watching making sure the number keep climbing”
I burst into tears. I couldn’t believe it.
I looked at Hubby who was also in tears. I got off the phone and Hubby, Grotbag and I just hugged and cried with each other. Grotbag obviously didn’t know why we were crying but he knew it was a good thing! We stayed like that for at least 20 minutes. The relief of the news was amazing and I couldn’t believe I was pregnant.
Each blood test up until week 8 kept climbing in numbers and I was thrilled. My boobs began to get sore and I started to feel a bit ill in the mornings all which were great signs. Because obviously two eggs had implanted we had to wait and see if I was carrying twins. My first scan confirmed that there was just one little healthy heartbeat which was all the news I had wanted to hear! Twins would have been great but I was happy enough to be carrying the one.
Everyone at work was pleased for me and then I got another surprise. Bling was also pregnant and we were only 11 days apart on our due dates. WOW I couldn’t believe it we were going to share our journey together it was so fantastic.
One day at work when I was about 8.5 weeks pregnant I rushed out to buy some lunch came back and went to the toilet for about the 100th time that day.
And that’s when I saw the blood.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
My IVF Story - Part Two
You can read Part One HERE
So after a few months of deliberation Hubby and I decided that we would indeed take the path to pregnancy via IVF. The IVF we had to do is called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection of eggs) which is basically where you take one egg and one sperm and put them together.
We set ourselves a monetary budget and also a time and mental budget. I didn’t want to get to 5 years in the future with no brother or sister for Grotbag, in debt, depressed at not being able to have another child and being mentally absent from Grotbags life. They were brave budgets but we needed to set some goal posts.
And so started the rounds of blood tests. Because I had Grotbag he had to come with me! That kid now does not shy away from needles when he has to have his jabs. He is awesome. At work I let my Boss and the team I was working in know my intentions and that some mornings when I had to have some blood tests I would be a little late for work. They were incredibly understanding and I know that I was very lucky to have such wonderful people around me.
Neil had done his bit, his sperm sample which was frozen. Men! Always the ones with the easy job!!
Two months leading up to “harvest” I had to sniff this stuff to stop my pertuarty glad from getting my body ready for my next menstrual cycle. I had to take it at the same time everyday and could not miss it by a minute or it would throw the whole cycle out. Apparently there was a small leeway that could be used but the nurse refused to tell me what it was – for my own good she said!! I remember being at a work function which was in a movie theatre and having to sniff this stuff in the middle of film. I giggle now but I was scared at what my fellow colleagues would think I was up to. Luckily no one saw!
Then came the bit I was dreading! The needles and self injecting! I have never been squeamish about needles but the thought of having to do it myself gave me chills! I remember turning up to the session where they tell you all the ‘how to’. Naturally I was on my own as Hubby was as usual working away. But in a way I was glad, some of those other Husbands that were there looked very white when talking about injecting. I actually found it very easy and my Boss at the time was a diabetic and he showed me how to do it without bruising myself as badly!
So then came the date when I was to be harvested for my eggs. The drugs I had been taking had been quite a low dose so as not to over stimulate my ovaries too much. This had resulted in my ovaries only producing a few eggs but I knew this was only my first ‘go at it’ so Dr N and I agreed to up the drugs next time round. I remember getting the call to say that I was to go in on Friday 20th June 08 for the Harvest and realizing that Hubby actually flew back to work on the Thursday. We would have to use the frozen sperm instead of fresh. I was a bit crest fallen as Hubby had booked some time off but couldn’t get any more – not even one more day! But the Nurses said that if he came in on the Thursday night the sperm would still be OK for the morning so a fresh batch could be used.
You have probably realized like I did that this meant that Hubby would not be there as support during harvesting of the eggs and also he wouldn’t be there for if the eggs were fertilized and able to be put back. I was used to doing a lot of things on my own but this was one that I thought I needed support for. Call in Super Mum! My Mum came with me to the hospital for harvesting and stayed with me.
They managed to only get two eggs that were viable but I was again trying to think positive. I only needed one!!
I came out of hospital and was told that if there were any fertilized eggs that I would be called in on Monday to have them put back. I put it out of my head and concentrating on doing something nice the next day – as this was going to be my 35th Birthday.
My birthday came around and a bit of retail therapy was definitely in order. Mum came round and so did Bling, my cousin, and we were going to shop up a storm.
That was, until I got the phone call….
So after a few months of deliberation Hubby and I decided that we would indeed take the path to pregnancy via IVF. The IVF we had to do is called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection of eggs) which is basically where you take one egg and one sperm and put them together.
We set ourselves a monetary budget and also a time and mental budget. I didn’t want to get to 5 years in the future with no brother or sister for Grotbag, in debt, depressed at not being able to have another child and being mentally absent from Grotbags life. They were brave budgets but we needed to set some goal posts.
And so started the rounds of blood tests. Because I had Grotbag he had to come with me! That kid now does not shy away from needles when he has to have his jabs. He is awesome. At work I let my Boss and the team I was working in know my intentions and that some mornings when I had to have some blood tests I would be a little late for work. They were incredibly understanding and I know that I was very lucky to have such wonderful people around me.
Neil had done his bit, his sperm sample which was frozen. Men! Always the ones with the easy job!!
Two months leading up to “harvest” I had to sniff this stuff to stop my pertuarty glad from getting my body ready for my next menstrual cycle. I had to take it at the same time everyday and could not miss it by a minute or it would throw the whole cycle out. Apparently there was a small leeway that could be used but the nurse refused to tell me what it was – for my own good she said!! I remember being at a work function which was in a movie theatre and having to sniff this stuff in the middle of film. I giggle now but I was scared at what my fellow colleagues would think I was up to. Luckily no one saw!
Then came the bit I was dreading! The needles and self injecting! I have never been squeamish about needles but the thought of having to do it myself gave me chills! I remember turning up to the session where they tell you all the ‘how to’. Naturally I was on my own as Hubby was as usual working away. But in a way I was glad, some of those other Husbands that were there looked very white when talking about injecting. I actually found it very easy and my Boss at the time was a diabetic and he showed me how to do it without bruising myself as badly!
So then came the date when I was to be harvested for my eggs. The drugs I had been taking had been quite a low dose so as not to over stimulate my ovaries too much. This had resulted in my ovaries only producing a few eggs but I knew this was only my first ‘go at it’ so Dr N and I agreed to up the drugs next time round. I remember getting the call to say that I was to go in on Friday 20th June 08 for the Harvest and realizing that Hubby actually flew back to work on the Thursday. We would have to use the frozen sperm instead of fresh. I was a bit crest fallen as Hubby had booked some time off but couldn’t get any more – not even one more day! But the Nurses said that if he came in on the Thursday night the sperm would still be OK for the morning so a fresh batch could be used.
You have probably realized like I did that this meant that Hubby would not be there as support during harvesting of the eggs and also he wouldn’t be there for if the eggs were fertilized and able to be put back. I was used to doing a lot of things on my own but this was one that I thought I needed support for. Call in Super Mum! My Mum came with me to the hospital for harvesting and stayed with me.
They managed to only get two eggs that were viable but I was again trying to think positive. I only needed one!!
I came out of hospital and was told that if there were any fertilized eggs that I would be called in on Monday to have them put back. I put it out of my head and concentrating on doing something nice the next day – as this was going to be my 35th Birthday.
My birthday came around and a bit of retail therapy was definitely in order. Mum came round and so did Bling, my cousin, and we were going to shop up a storm.
That was, until I got the phone call….
Friday, February 5, 2010
My IVF Story - Part One
My little baby is turning 1 on Tuesday. I can’t believe that a year has gone already from that fateful day when my waters broke 5 weeks earlier than they should have, and Bugalugs came into the world.
With Bugs turning 1 it was no surprise that I started thinking about the IVF we had to have him with us. And I realized that I had been meaning to share my story with all my readers. But once I started writing it just kept going and going and was way too long for just one post. So our story is actually in four parts. Starting today and ending Bugalugs Birthday on Tuesday!
So here is the first part to our story.
Hubby and I had been married a month when we decided we would start trying for a baby of our own. Hubby has two boys from his previous marriage who are in their late teens and live in the UK. We literally said “Let’s have a baby” and a couple of months later the pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions. We were pregnant with Grotbag.
I had a very good pregnancy with Grotbag, textbook in fact. I was 5 days late and ended up having an emergency C Section as Grotbag was later diagnosed with Sagittal Synostosis which is the premature closing of the sagittal suture in babies. This is the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head, between the left and right sides of the skull. When this closes, growth of the baby’s head from the sides is made impossible and the head can only grow from front to back, which means the head grows into an oblong shape. Grotbag had to have surgery on his skull when he was 4 months old but that story is for a whole different post.
Grotbag was about 18 months old when we decided we were ready to try again for a brother or sister for Grotbag. And sure enough in November 2006 we were pregnant again. I was sooo excited. Unfortunately in the January 2007 at 10 weeks I miscarried. I was devastated as anyone who has had a miscarriage would know. I also had to have a D & C (Dilation and Curettage) which meant a day in hospital and a definite finalization of the pregnancy. I was OK for a few days but then as my hormones were trying to right themselves I was a mess. I would say it took a week for me to function normally. It was hell.
But I like to think that I am a positive person with a cup half full attitude so I brushed myself off, told myself that it happened for a reason and set about trying again. Because my Hubby works away our window of opportunity is fairly small to fall pregnant so when we fell pregnant again in September 07 I was amazed it hadn’t taken that long.
But I was scared of losing this baby too so I couldn’t relax. I can’t believe how I took my pregnancy with Grotbag for granted. And then again at my 9 week scan, my worst fears were realized - there was no heartbeat.
Hubby wasn’t with me this time and I just ran out of the consulting rooms in floods of tears. I couldn’t believe that it had happened again. I again needed a D&C which again was awful. Why me?
I had always seen myself with at least two children but was beginning to think that maybe I was destined to have an only child. At my follow up appointment with Dr N, my OB/GYN, she mentioned to us that we might want to take a look at doing IVF. I couldn’t believe it. We had already had one child naturally and Hubby had two boys from a previous marriage why would we need IVF? She asked us to take some tests to see if there was anything going on, which we did. We found out that although Hubby had millions of sperm there was only 11% that were any good. I also had quite low progesterone which is a very important hormone in the first weeks of growth.
We couldn’t believe it. We had a lot to think about. Did we really want to go down this path? Could we be content with just one child between us? How much money were we willing to spend? Where would we get the money from?
One of my main concerns was how this was going to affect Grotbag. I had been a bit AWOL of late. Since my first miscarriage I had let myself go a bit. I was putting on weight, feeding the void, and could tell you what day of my cycle I was in without even thinking about it. This obviously got worse after the second miscarriage and I felt that I was spinning a bit out of control.
By this time it was October 07 and Hubby and I decided that we would wait until the New Year to make our decision. To give ourselves time to think about whether we wanted to go ahead and that that meant. What we were going to put ourselves and our family through?
In the meantime I decided I wanted to concentrate on anything apart from ‘Getting Pregnant”! So I decided I had better start thinking about ME! I joined weight watchers and by Christmas I had lost 9kg. It was a great feeling and I felt healthy and alive again. The weight that had been lifted of not having to think about pregnancy was amazing and so I was starting to think that IVF might not be for us. Did I want all that stress again?
I myself am an only child and have no horror tales to tell so I was sure that Grotbag would be fine. I was also working and enjoying what I was doing so was in a frame of mind that I didn’t want to upset the apple cart so to speak.
But, there was this gnawing feeling that I hadn’t “finished” yet and I knew that really if I didn’t try to have another baby that this feeling could turn into resentment or worse, bitterness. So really the decision had been made for us. Hubby agreed and said he had the same feeling too and so we decided that we would make the appointment and start the ball rolling on our IVF journey.
Little did we know what lay ahead for us over the next few months!
With Bugs turning 1 it was no surprise that I started thinking about the IVF we had to have him with us. And I realized that I had been meaning to share my story with all my readers. But once I started writing it just kept going and going and was way too long for just one post. So our story is actually in four parts. Starting today and ending Bugalugs Birthday on Tuesday!
So here is the first part to our story.
Hubby and I had been married a month when we decided we would start trying for a baby of our own. Hubby has two boys from his previous marriage who are in their late teens and live in the UK. We literally said “Let’s have a baby” and a couple of months later the pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions. We were pregnant with Grotbag.
I had a very good pregnancy with Grotbag, textbook in fact. I was 5 days late and ended up having an emergency C Section as Grotbag was later diagnosed with Sagittal Synostosis which is the premature closing of the sagittal suture in babies. This is the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head, between the left and right sides of the skull. When this closes, growth of the baby’s head from the sides is made impossible and the head can only grow from front to back, which means the head grows into an oblong shape. Grotbag had to have surgery on his skull when he was 4 months old but that story is for a whole different post.
Grotbag was about 18 months old when we decided we were ready to try again for a brother or sister for Grotbag. And sure enough in November 2006 we were pregnant again. I was sooo excited. Unfortunately in the January 2007 at 10 weeks I miscarried. I was devastated as anyone who has had a miscarriage would know. I also had to have a D & C (Dilation and Curettage) which meant a day in hospital and a definite finalization of the pregnancy. I was OK for a few days but then as my hormones were trying to right themselves I was a mess. I would say it took a week for me to function normally. It was hell.
But I like to think that I am a positive person with a cup half full attitude so I brushed myself off, told myself that it happened for a reason and set about trying again. Because my Hubby works away our window of opportunity is fairly small to fall pregnant so when we fell pregnant again in September 07 I was amazed it hadn’t taken that long.
But I was scared of losing this baby too so I couldn’t relax. I can’t believe how I took my pregnancy with Grotbag for granted. And then again at my 9 week scan, my worst fears were realized - there was no heartbeat.
Hubby wasn’t with me this time and I just ran out of the consulting rooms in floods of tears. I couldn’t believe that it had happened again. I again needed a D&C which again was awful. Why me?
I had always seen myself with at least two children but was beginning to think that maybe I was destined to have an only child. At my follow up appointment with Dr N, my OB/GYN, she mentioned to us that we might want to take a look at doing IVF. I couldn’t believe it. We had already had one child naturally and Hubby had two boys from a previous marriage why would we need IVF? She asked us to take some tests to see if there was anything going on, which we did. We found out that although Hubby had millions of sperm there was only 11% that were any good. I also had quite low progesterone which is a very important hormone in the first weeks of growth.
We couldn’t believe it. We had a lot to think about. Did we really want to go down this path? Could we be content with just one child between us? How much money were we willing to spend? Where would we get the money from?
One of my main concerns was how this was going to affect Grotbag. I had been a bit AWOL of late. Since my first miscarriage I had let myself go a bit. I was putting on weight, feeding the void, and could tell you what day of my cycle I was in without even thinking about it. This obviously got worse after the second miscarriage and I felt that I was spinning a bit out of control.
By this time it was October 07 and Hubby and I decided that we would wait until the New Year to make our decision. To give ourselves time to think about whether we wanted to go ahead and that that meant. What we were going to put ourselves and our family through?
In the meantime I decided I wanted to concentrate on anything apart from ‘Getting Pregnant”! So I decided I had better start thinking about ME! I joined weight watchers and by Christmas I had lost 9kg. It was a great feeling and I felt healthy and alive again. The weight that had been lifted of not having to think about pregnancy was amazing and so I was starting to think that IVF might not be for us. Did I want all that stress again?
I myself am an only child and have no horror tales to tell so I was sure that Grotbag would be fine. I was also working and enjoying what I was doing so was in a frame of mind that I didn’t want to upset the apple cart so to speak.
But, there was this gnawing feeling that I hadn’t “finished” yet and I knew that really if I didn’t try to have another baby that this feeling could turn into resentment or worse, bitterness. So really the decision had been made for us. Hubby agreed and said he had the same feeling too and so we decided that we would make the appointment and start the ball rolling on our IVF journey.
Little did we know what lay ahead for us over the next few months!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Winner Takes It All!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
To Paige from Some Days You Gotta Dance
Who is the winner of my first Giveaway!
Paige wins a AU$50 voucher from Mirror Mirror Accessories!
Enjoy Paige!
I look forward to visiting all my new followers!!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
I'M DREAMING OF VAMPIRES! OBSESSED MUCH?
So, last night I dreamt of Vampires.
Nothing specific, just them doing walk on parts in my dreams.
I’m not surprised really.
I am currently reading these:
And have recently watched the first two seasons of this:
Last night I also finished watching the first 10 episodes of this:
And have done this to death (pardon the pun):
Why am I so obsessed with Vampire stuff?
And I can understand the True Blood stuff because it makes Twilight look like a children’s book. Oh wait. It is a children’s book.
Anywhoo I can’t get enough of it. I mean I am not obsessed in a I want Edward to bite me kind of way but I am absorbing like a sponge.
Mind you I wouldn’t mind being bitten by Mr Kwanten here:
So what is a 36 year old woman doing reading and watching teenagers run around biting each other?
The more I think about it the more I realize that I think it is about the passion and the romance of it all and the fact that they are set in the modern age.
Twilight for me could be placed in any moment in time. There is hardly any references to pop culture so it will last the distance for many years to come and will probably become a classic piece of literature. I also see a lot of Jane Austen in Twilight. The fact that there is no PDA but they fall in deeply in love anyway, all very romantic.
True Blood is a different bottle of blood though. The books are more Mills and Boons, but the R rated show is more like soft porn! True Blood has the more danger side of the romance and passion just oooozzzzeeesss from every pore and so much more for adults. It would be Twilight in their 20’s…oh wait they don’t grow old to they…well you know what I mean!
The Vampire Diaries I am new at. I watch the first 10 episodes in a row over a couple of nights. I like that it is a cross between the two and I have to say I am hooked! I love the characters especially Damon as he is just evil but you kind of love him anyway and hope that he has a shred of humanity left in him. I also love the periphery characters they make the show more rounded. I imagine there are books that this is based on the show too so I will no doubt hunt them down too!
So for now I will keep up the obsession until a new one comes along. Revel in the lives (and deaths) of these characters that are the modern day heroes and heroines of our time and still fight the teenagers to get to the front of the movie line to watch the next installment of Twilight.
Nothing specific, just them doing walk on parts in my dreams.
I’m not surprised really.
I am currently reading these:
And have recently watched the first two seasons of this:
Last night I also finished watching the first 10 episodes of this:
And have done this to death (pardon the pun):
Why am I so obsessed with Vampire stuff?And I can understand the True Blood stuff because it makes Twilight look like a children’s book. Oh wait. It is a children’s book.
Anywhoo I can’t get enough of it. I mean I am not obsessed in a I want Edward to bite me kind of way but I am absorbing like a sponge.
Mind you I wouldn’t mind being bitten by Mr Kwanten here:
So what is a 36 year old woman doing reading and watching teenagers run around biting each other?
The more I think about it the more I realize that I think it is about the passion and the romance of it all and the fact that they are set in the modern age.
Twilight for me could be placed in any moment in time. There is hardly any references to pop culture so it will last the distance for many years to come and will probably become a classic piece of literature. I also see a lot of Jane Austen in Twilight. The fact that there is no PDA but they fall in deeply in love anyway, all very romantic.
True Blood is a different bottle of blood though. The books are more Mills and Boons, but the R rated show is more like soft porn! True Blood has the more danger side of the romance and passion just oooozzzzeeesss from every pore and so much more for adults. It would be Twilight in their 20’s…oh wait they don’t grow old to they…well you know what I mean!
The Vampire Diaries I am new at. I watch the first 10 episodes in a row over a couple of nights. I like that it is a cross between the two and I have to say I am hooked! I love the characters especially Damon as he is just evil but you kind of love him anyway and hope that he has a shred of humanity left in him. I also love the periphery characters they make the show more rounded. I imagine there are books that this is based on the show too so I will no doubt hunt them down too!
So for now I will keep up the obsession until a new one comes along. Revel in the lives (and deaths) of these characters that are the modern day heroes and heroines of our time and still fight the teenagers to get to the front of the movie line to watch the next installment of Twilight.
So Bite Me!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
THE POST WHERE I CONTRADICT MYSELF or LOOK AT MY PRETTY FLOWERS!
Many long time readers will know my opinion on receiving flowers after my He Don't Bring Me Flowers post last June.
It's a good post...you should read it! It was quite controversial.
So now here is the post where I contradict myself! There are some flowers that I do like...or love in fact and they are Frangipanis!
There are two reasons for this.
The first one being that I decided to have Frangipanis for as my wedding flowers. This was before everything that possibly could have a Frangipani on it did. For the record I don't have any of that stuff!
I searched high and low for stationery and ended up buying greeting cards from the Internet and turning them into my wedding invites and had real Frangipanis for the rest.
Below are pictures of my wedding bouquet, my bridesmaids bouquets and the flower girls wire bags that they carried...soo cute!
I also had real Frangipanis adorn my wedding cake!
I still gasp when I see the photo of that cake!
But the second and main reason I love Frangipanis is that as a wedding gift my Hubby bought me my very own Frangipani tree. Which is planted directly out the front of my house at the front door!
It's a good post...you should read it! It was quite controversial.
So now here is the post where I contradict myself! There are some flowers that I do like...or love in fact and they are Frangipanis!
There are two reasons for this.
The first one being that I decided to have Frangipanis for as my wedding flowers. This was before everything that possibly could have a Frangipani on it did. For the record I don't have any of that stuff!
I searched high and low for stationery and ended up buying greeting cards from the Internet and turning them into my wedding invites and had real Frangipanis for the rest.
Below are pictures of my wedding bouquet, my bridesmaids bouquets and the flower girls wire bags that they carried...soo cute!
I also had real Frangipanis adorn my wedding cake!
I still gasp when I see the photo of that cake!
But the second and main reason I love Frangipanis is that as a wedding gift my Hubby bought me my very own Frangipani tree. Which is planted directly out the front of my house at the front door!
And every year about this time they bloom and it brings back all the memories of my wedding day. It really is the gift that keeps on giving! The flowers are so pretty and the smell is awesome!
These are the ones in bloom on my tree that I took pictures of this morning.
Pretty, Pink & all mine!!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Grown Up Party Food or What Some Foodies Call Canapes!
We thought about many different things to do for Hubby's 40th Birthday. We tossed up whether to have just an afternoon BBQ with all our friends and their kids or go out to dinner but in the end we decided to have a party at our place. One of the main reasons for that is because (get your violins ready) Hubby had never before had a birthday party. Like. Never.
So me being the big sap and having only child guilt over having lots of birthday parties from my childhood, it made up my mind that we would have a party for him at home. But that it would be a grown up party sans children. Including our own, who would be put to bed before the guests arrived.
Well that was the plan, I had to drag Grotbag to bed before he started to ask the guests to join him in break dancing! He was actually very good and went to bed and didn't get up again!
But I digress. Because this was essentially a grown up party I wanted grown up food. But I also didn't want it to be catered, to be slaving over a hot stove or stuck in the kitchen all night. So I set about finding some good canape recipes. My first stop is always Taste.com.au
I wanted canapes that could be prepared during the day and then quickly put together just before serving. I ended up doing 8 different canapes, 4 I made myself and 4 prepared by family & friends with spring rolls in the freezer as back-up food, which I didn't end up needing.
However, I have no photos of MY canapes as I was too busy making and serving them so I had to go back to Taste.com.au to find photos of the ones I took from their recipes. If you click on the photo's below it will take you to the recipe if you were so inclined.
The first one is Mini Prawn Cocktails which were lovely and went down a treat with the guests. Very easy to prepare (I made the sauce, cut the chives and peeled the prawns earlier in the day) and serve. I took the tails off my prawns for less mess for my guests but they looked pretty much the same as the picture.
Mini Prawn Cocktails
Smoked Salmon Blini with Mascapone
Arancini
Cheese, Apple & Walnut Stacks
So me being the big sap and having only child guilt over having lots of birthday parties from my childhood, it made up my mind that we would have a party for him at home. But that it would be a grown up party sans children. Including our own, who would be put to bed before the guests arrived.
Well that was the plan, I had to drag Grotbag to bed before he started to ask the guests to join him in break dancing! He was actually very good and went to bed and didn't get up again!
But I digress. Because this was essentially a grown up party I wanted grown up food. But I also didn't want it to be catered, to be slaving over a hot stove or stuck in the kitchen all night. So I set about finding some good canape recipes. My first stop is always Taste.com.au
I wanted canapes that could be prepared during the day and then quickly put together just before serving. I ended up doing 8 different canapes, 4 I made myself and 4 prepared by family & friends with spring rolls in the freezer as back-up food, which I didn't end up needing.
However, I have no photos of MY canapes as I was too busy making and serving them so I had to go back to Taste.com.au to find photos of the ones I took from their recipes. If you click on the photo's below it will take you to the recipe if you were so inclined.
The first one is Mini Prawn Cocktails which were lovely and went down a treat with the guests. Very easy to prepare (I made the sauce, cut the chives and peeled the prawns earlier in the day) and serve. I took the tails off my prawns for less mess for my guests but they looked pretty much the same as the picture.
Mini Prawn Cocktails
OK so the next ones the Smoked Salmon Blinis I cheated a bit. I bought the little Blinis but made the mascapone spread earlier in the day and then just put them together again just before serving. There was not one left at the end of the night!
Smoked Salmon Blini with Mascapone
My mum made a couple of dishes for me. One was some Lamb Kofta Meatballs with a tomato curry dip. Yum. And she also came to the rescue with these Arancini balls (photo below)which were one of the guests favourites from the night. They are a bit of a kerfuffle to make but re-heat really well in the oven. They only took 10 mins to re-heat and stay nice and crunchy on the outside with risotto and oozing cheese in the middle. Mmmmmm
AranciniThese Cheese, Apple & Walnut stacks were the easiest to make just before serving and were really different. It is basically a slice of apple with a slice of blue brie topped with some chopped walnuts. I ended up making two batches of these as they were so popular! I would definitely do these again or even add some salad leaves and appropriate dressing and serve as an entree. Divine!
Cheese, Apple & Walnut Stacks
A friend of my Mum's also made me some mini Satay Chicken Pies which were heaven and again only needed 10 mins in the oven to re-heat and also my Auntie Barb made me some home made sausage rolls which again were sooooo nice.
I also did a couple of cheese plates and placed some nuts, olives, salami's and sundried tomatoes for the guests to nibble on as they came in.
All in all the food was a great success and I was pleased (and so were my guest's it seems) with all of the dishes I had chosen to serve! It was also nice to do some grown up food rather than the normal 'chip & dip' for more casual affairs.
Now I wonder what Hubby will do in 3 years time for my 40th birthday.......
Sunday, January 24, 2010
MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL - MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!
If you read my last post you would know that my Hubby turned 40 this month and so last night we had a party for him! It was awesome and Hubby & I had a great time! I did some "grown up food" which I will feature in another post and decided to wear my strapless black top regardless of my tiny bit of sunburn!!
One of my gorgeous friends B who owns Mirror Mirror Accessories popped over a couple of weeks before the party for a catch up and bought me some lovely pieces to try and wear for the party. These are them below:
Did you gasp?
Because I certainly did when I saw them! I can honestly say that as good as they look in the picture - they look 10 times better in the real world.
The Hollywood Dahling Earrings (the blingy ones and my absolute favourites) are a touch of glamour that every girl needs without the Hollywood price tag!
And because I am cheeky I had worn all the pieces BEFORE Hubby's party (don't tell B!) including the Crystal Pony Tie which I have in pink and really just gives your pony tail a bit more juz!
For Hubby's party I decided to wear the Aztec Earrings (the black & gold ones, you can see me wearing them in the pic above) and the Snow Crystal Bracelet which I get comments on EVERY time I wear it - it is that cute!
So because I am even cheekier I asked B if she could provide me with a giveaway from Mirror Mirror Accessories for all my loyal readers for my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY!
And YAY for B - Mirror Mirror Accessories is letting me giveaway a $50 Voucher to one of you wonderful readers! That's $50 Aussie Dollars for you to spend at the Mirror Mirror online store and it is open to ALL my followers!! Even those in other counties because Mirror Mirror ships internationally!
How. Cool. Is. That.
So how do you enter I hear you ask?
Well you can gain up to 4 entries per person just by:
1. Becoming a follower of mine! And not just a lurker a proper Follower by using Google Friend Connect on my side bar. If you are already a Follower then let me know you are entering in the comments.
2. Signing up for the Mirror Mirror Accessories Newsletter so you can be kept up to date with everything that will keep you on trend.
3. Become a fan of the Mirror Mirror Accessories Fan Page on Facebook.
4. Doing all 3 of the above will get you an extra bonus entry!
Let me know in the comments which ones you have signed up for or if it's all three for your chance to have 4 entries!
Rules - The giveaway will run from Sunday 24th January till Midday (WST - Australia) Monday 1st February. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on Tuesday 2nd February by email and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
So what are you waiting for....
One of my gorgeous friends B who owns Mirror Mirror Accessories popped over a couple of weeks before the party for a catch up and bought me some lovely pieces to try and wear for the party. These are them below:
Did you gasp?Because I certainly did when I saw them! I can honestly say that as good as they look in the picture - they look 10 times better in the real world.
The Hollywood Dahling Earrings (the blingy ones and my absolute favourites) are a touch of glamour that every girl needs without the Hollywood price tag!
And because I am cheeky I had worn all the pieces BEFORE Hubby's party (don't tell B!) including the Crystal Pony Tie which I have in pink and really just gives your pony tail a bit more juz!
For Hubby's party I decided to wear the Aztec Earrings (the black & gold ones, you can see me wearing them in the pic above) and the Snow Crystal Bracelet which I get comments on EVERY time I wear it - it is that cute!
So because I am even cheekier I asked B if she could provide me with a giveaway from Mirror Mirror Accessories for all my loyal readers for my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY!
And YAY for B - Mirror Mirror Accessories is letting me giveaway a $50 Voucher to one of you wonderful readers! That's $50 Aussie Dollars for you to spend at the Mirror Mirror online store and it is open to ALL my followers!! Even those in other counties because Mirror Mirror ships internationally!
How. Cool. Is. That.
So how do you enter I hear you ask?
Well you can gain up to 4 entries per person just by:
1. Becoming a follower of mine! And not just a lurker a proper Follower by using Google Friend Connect on my side bar. If you are already a Follower then let me know you are entering in the comments.
2. Signing up for the Mirror Mirror Accessories Newsletter so you can be kept up to date with everything that will keep you on trend.
3. Become a fan of the Mirror Mirror Accessories Fan Page on Facebook.
4. Doing all 3 of the above will get you an extra bonus entry!
Let me know in the comments which ones you have signed up for or if it's all three for your chance to have 4 entries!
Rules - The giveaway will run from Sunday 24th January till Midday (WST - Australia) Monday 1st February. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on Tuesday 2nd February by email and has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
So what are you waiting for....
Friday, January 22, 2010
I DO LOVE A MAN IN A DRIVING SUIT...
At the beginning of January my Hubby turned 40!
It was just another day for him.
I am getting palpitations already and I have another 3 1/2 years to go!
He LOVES the V8 Supercars and so for his birthday I bought him a morning at a local track which is on the national tour. Basically he had 8 laps driving a V8 around the track with a coach and then as a bonus he had a couple of "Hot Laps" where he is a passenger and the drivers show him how its really done!
He was like a pig in poo!! He loved it!
I also loved him in a driving suit! Looks like he was born to be a Racing Car Driver!!
On another note, we are having a small belated birthday party for him tomorrow night! I was going to wear a strapless top after weeks of agonising over what to wear. But today I went and got myself a little suntan (read "sunburn" even though I applied sunscreen) while watching him do his boy thing in a fast car so now I have to re-evaluate what I am wearing.Still I have a ton of food to make including his cake so I think if I actually have time to get dressed it will be a miracle!! So better go start that cake.....
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Weight Watchers Recipe Cards From The 70's - Really you HAVE to check these out!!!
AB just sent me this link to a site called Candyboots.com which has a hilarious link to some 70's Weight Watchers recipe cards. Brilliant!! Thanks AB (and Ren who I think they originated from)!
They are seriously disturbing - not so much the food which is disturbing in it's self but food stylist must have been on some kind of trip!!! Really, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!
So for a slimmers culinary trip from the 70's click HERE!
Thanks CandyBoots
They are seriously disturbing - not so much the food which is disturbing in it's self but food stylist must have been on some kind of trip!!! Really, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!
So for a slimmers culinary trip from the 70's click HERE!
Thanks CandyBoots
Friday, January 15, 2010
I HEART JAMIE OLIVER
For those who read this and actually know me this post is not going to be much of a surprise.
It is well known among my nearest and dearest that I indeed heart Jamie Oliver. So much so I named my first born son after him (Oliver AKA Grotbag)!
Not in the I-want-to-marry-him-and-have-his-babies type of way but more in the your-kind-of-cool-and-your-food-rocks-my-world kind of way.
I have all Jamie's cookbooks and I recieved Jamie's first book The Naked Chef for a birthday present in 2000 and so this my 10th Anniversary cooking with Jamie.
I think I like him for many reasons but one of the main ones is that I feel a kind of affinity with him. I haven't talked about my Dad on this blog (again for many reasons) but my Dad runs a pub in Essex in the UK. Like Jamie's Dad. They are not actually too far from each other and I spent the early part of my twenties working for my Dad in the pub and restaurant kitchen. So when Jamie tells a story about working in his Dad's pub - I get it. I relate.
I also think Jamie is one of the "good guys". He is uses his skills for good not evil and trys to educate with his food not just preach. He is a family man and has good morals.
OK Jamie just don't go and do a Gordon Ramsay on me now OK!!
But, back to the food.....
I have cooked many a Jamie Oliver dish from my library of books. But my two favourites are Jamies Ministry of Food and The Naked Chef. I cooked the most dishes from these books and they never fail to impress. Well impress me anyway. Even Hubby has cooked a few recipes from both these books with great success so he is completely OK with my adoration of another man.
I attribute Jamie for starting the whole "Celebrity Chef" phenomenon and proudly proclaim him the King of Celebrity Chefs. He also brought everyday cooking back to the kitchen. I also blame him for making the price of some foods sky rocket.
One of the first recipes I attempted from The Naked Chef was Lamb Shanks. Now you can get lamb shanks everywhere but back then before he made them fashionable again you couldn't find the bloody things anywhere. In the end I asked a butcher to cut some for me and they cost me $1.50 for 4 shanks - he was practically giving them away.
But I still heart JO. He is always my Go To Guy when I want some inspiration and I love actually reading his cook books. He has such passion.
And so I will passionately keep buying and reading his books and trying recipes that he has written. My loyalty will never be waivered and my foodie heart will always belong to Jamie!
My newest book I have just realised is not here....Jamie's America... it is on my bedside table!
It is well known among my nearest and dearest that I indeed heart Jamie Oliver. So much so I named my first born son after him (Oliver AKA Grotbag)!
Not in the I-want-to-marry-him-and-have-his-babies type of way but more in the your-kind-of-cool-and-your-food-rocks-my-world kind of way.
I have all Jamie's cookbooks and I recieved Jamie's first book The Naked Chef for a birthday present in 2000 and so this my 10th Anniversary cooking with Jamie.
I think I like him for many reasons but one of the main ones is that I feel a kind of affinity with him. I haven't talked about my Dad on this blog (again for many reasons) but my Dad runs a pub in Essex in the UK. Like Jamie's Dad. They are not actually too far from each other and I spent the early part of my twenties working for my Dad in the pub and restaurant kitchen. So when Jamie tells a story about working in his Dad's pub - I get it. I relate.
I also think Jamie is one of the "good guys". He is uses his skills for good not evil and trys to educate with his food not just preach. He is a family man and has good morals.
OK Jamie just don't go and do a Gordon Ramsay on me now OK!!
But, back to the food.....
I have cooked many a Jamie Oliver dish from my library of books. But my two favourites are Jamies Ministry of Food and The Naked Chef. I cooked the most dishes from these books and they never fail to impress. Well impress me anyway. Even Hubby has cooked a few recipes from both these books with great success so he is completely OK with my adoration of another man.
I attribute Jamie for starting the whole "Celebrity Chef" phenomenon and proudly proclaim him the King of Celebrity Chefs. He also brought everyday cooking back to the kitchen. I also blame him for making the price of some foods sky rocket.
One of the first recipes I attempted from The Naked Chef was Lamb Shanks. Now you can get lamb shanks everywhere but back then before he made them fashionable again you couldn't find the bloody things anywhere. In the end I asked a butcher to cut some for me and they cost me $1.50 for 4 shanks - he was practically giving them away.
But I still heart JO. He is always my Go To Guy when I want some inspiration and I love actually reading his cook books. He has such passion.
And so I will passionately keep buying and reading his books and trying recipes that he has written. My loyalty will never be waivered and my foodie heart will always belong to Jamie!
My newest book I have just realised is not here....Jamie's America... it is on my bedside table!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
THERE IS SOMETHING I FORGOT TO TELL YOU or HOW TO BE GIVEN EVILS IN THE ER!
I have started compiling photos of the past year, kind of like the "Best Of Our Family" for 2009 that I will then get made into a photo book.
While looking through the year that was, it brought back some memories that I thought I had blogged about but somehow had managed to miss. I think I confuse myself with my blogs and my status updates on Facebook!
One of those sweet little memories is how I gave myself a chemical burn. Yeah I know how could I have not blogged about that little doozie!!
It was just before we went on holiday to Busselton and just after my Pink Ribbon Breakfast it probably wasn't up there with the top blog fodder.
Anyway I thought I would share it with you now because although I may seem refined and demur *cough splutter* I do tend to do the oddest things at times and they always backfire! Plus I think it is slightly funny...
Because we were going on holiday I decided a few nights before we would leave that I would defuzz myself before possibly having to put on bathers. I didn't want to be doing any impersonations of Miranda from the Sex In The City Movie.
"Honey, there is always time for THAT"!
Usually I shave or wax but time was of the essence and I thought I would give the old depilatory cream a try. I look back now and think "What were you thinking???" but hey just call me spontaneous!!
I did a little test patch something I wouldn't normally bother with (because I am too lazy) but because it was in a 'sensitive' area thought I had better.
Test area fine! So took myself off to the bathroom and set about ridding myself the unwanted hair. Everything was going well but I was a bit messy and managed to get some cream just above my bikini line just above my lovely C-Section scar. No problem I thought, I will just wipe it off at the end with the rest.
After 5 minutes I checked how the cream was working. It's then that I saw a very angry line and where I had managed to get the cream above my bikini it had gone VERY red and looked VERY sore. Thing was, I couldn't feel anything. This area was still numb (because of the nerve endings) from my C-Section with Bugalugs and not much feeling had returned anyway from my C-section with Grotbag.
But even I could see that if I could have felt it I would be screaming right about now!
So I quickly jumped in the shower and washed it all off as I was freaking out a bit by now. I dried the red area thoroughly and put some antiseptic cream on it but an hour later it looked weepy and blistered. I showed Hubby and he suggested a trip to the ER just to be sure.
This was a Saturday night buy the way. So knowing I would probably be there for a while I packed a book and a drink and set off. Hey it was a trip without the kids!!
Remember I couldn't feel anything so it was all a little bit surreal by this point.
The ER was PACKED with people and not just the usual rowdy Saturday night crowd. There were people that looked REALLY sick!
I was triage'd pretty quickly. I explained to the nurse what had happened and she seemed quite taken aback that I wasn't in any pain. Apparently I should be in a lot of pain as we ascertained that it was some kind of chemical burn.
So then I take a seat and settle in for the next 20 minutes with my book. Yes that's all folks just 20 minutes - I wait longer to see my GP for a referral!
Apparently burns are fast tracked in the ER. But remember I had NO signs of actually being sick. Imagine you were there, really really ill and you saw me just waltz into the ER, have seat and pull my book out and then get seen before ANYONE that was there before you.
The evil stares could have stripped wallpaper. Plus all the looks of "what the hell is wrong with her, she looks fine and I am REALLY sick!"
I was in and out with the Doctor in 5 minutes. He treated the burn, gave me some dressing as I had to keep it dry for the next 5 days and I was out of there.
Literally, I ran in case of a mob attack!!
So after all that I couldn't swim on my holiday anyway!! The burn cleared up in a few days and I have vowed never to use the cream again.
Waxing is a lot less painful....in many ways!!!
So any of you got a silly story you have forgotten to blog about? Or is it just me...
While looking through the year that was, it brought back some memories that I thought I had blogged about but somehow had managed to miss. I think I confuse myself with my blogs and my status updates on Facebook!
One of those sweet little memories is how I gave myself a chemical burn. Yeah I know how could I have not blogged about that little doozie!!
It was just before we went on holiday to Busselton and just after my Pink Ribbon Breakfast it probably wasn't up there with the top blog fodder.
Anyway I thought I would share it with you now because although I may seem refined and demur *cough splutter* I do tend to do the oddest things at times and they always backfire! Plus I think it is slightly funny...
Because we were going on holiday I decided a few nights before we would leave that I would defuzz myself before possibly having to put on bathers. I didn't want to be doing any impersonations of Miranda from the Sex In The City Movie.
"Honey, there is always time for THAT"!
Usually I shave or wax but time was of the essence and I thought I would give the old depilatory cream a try. I look back now and think "What were you thinking???" but hey just call me spontaneous!!
I did a little test patch something I wouldn't normally bother with (because I am too lazy) but because it was in a 'sensitive' area thought I had better.
Test area fine! So took myself off to the bathroom and set about ridding myself the unwanted hair. Everything was going well but I was a bit messy and managed to get some cream just above my bikini line just above my lovely C-Section scar. No problem I thought, I will just wipe it off at the end with the rest.
After 5 minutes I checked how the cream was working. It's then that I saw a very angry line and where I had managed to get the cream above my bikini it had gone VERY red and looked VERY sore. Thing was, I couldn't feel anything. This area was still numb (because of the nerve endings) from my C-Section with Bugalugs and not much feeling had returned anyway from my C-section with Grotbag.
But even I could see that if I could have felt it I would be screaming right about now!
So I quickly jumped in the shower and washed it all off as I was freaking out a bit by now. I dried the red area thoroughly and put some antiseptic cream on it but an hour later it looked weepy and blistered. I showed Hubby and he suggested a trip to the ER just to be sure.
This was a Saturday night buy the way. So knowing I would probably be there for a while I packed a book and a drink and set off. Hey it was a trip without the kids!!
Remember I couldn't feel anything so it was all a little bit surreal by this point.
The ER was PACKED with people and not just the usual rowdy Saturday night crowd. There were people that looked REALLY sick!
I was triage'd pretty quickly. I explained to the nurse what had happened and she seemed quite taken aback that I wasn't in any pain. Apparently I should be in a lot of pain as we ascertained that it was some kind of chemical burn.
So then I take a seat and settle in for the next 20 minutes with my book. Yes that's all folks just 20 minutes - I wait longer to see my GP for a referral!
Apparently burns are fast tracked in the ER. But remember I had NO signs of actually being sick. Imagine you were there, really really ill and you saw me just waltz into the ER, have seat and pull my book out and then get seen before ANYONE that was there before you.
The evil stares could have stripped wallpaper. Plus all the looks of "what the hell is wrong with her, she looks fine and I am REALLY sick!"
I was in and out with the Doctor in 5 minutes. He treated the burn, gave me some dressing as I had to keep it dry for the next 5 days and I was out of there.
Literally, I ran in case of a mob attack!!
So after all that I couldn't swim on my holiday anyway!! The burn cleared up in a few days and I have vowed never to use the cream again.
Waxing is a lot less painful....in many ways!!!
So any of you got a silly story you have forgotten to blog about? Or is it just me...
Monday, January 11, 2010
INTERPRETING WHAT A 11 MONTH OLD WANTS VIA SCREAMING - IF ONLY I KNEW HOW I WOULD EARN MILLIONS!
So Bugalugs has decided after 11 months he has had enough of being a placid, giggly, cute as a button baby and turned into Rosemary's Baby!
If I leave the room = screaming
If he thinks I might leave the room = screaming
If I put the dogs in the garden because he is watching them = screaming
Pick him up = screaming
Put him down = screaming
Put him in the swing outside = giggles - but only for about 15 mins then = screaming
Seriously the child has become a nightmare and for the life of me I cannot decipher what the hell he wants!!
Usually he is like this:
Then it dissolves into this:
Typical man sending me mixed signals!
There is only so much you can blame teething on right?
He has also become seriously offended by me putting him in his playpen. OK so the Mummy police I don't want to hear what you think of playpens or prisons as some of you might think - just a warning - not the blog to comment!!
He loved it and I knew he was safe and on the only rug in the house and he couldn't put Grotbags Lego or Hot Wheels cars in his mouth.
Oh no..now he wants to roam around...and despite having the entire catalogue of toys made by Fisher Price he thinks that the DVR and Wii are much better toys to touch and hear mummy say a firm "NO!". THE ONLY things he can reach that I can't move anywhere else. Either that or the hard drive on the computer which now has some elaborate cage system around it made up from other toys from the playroom!
So I am happy to have him roam, I think it's kind of cute if he follows me around and really there is not much to touch. If he wants to put a handful of dust bunnies in his mouth then hey, I'm cool with that too. BUT he will be roaming around having a wander then all of a sudden sit up, scream and cry like a proper tantrum! So I will pick him up.
Still screaming.
Drink. Food. Nappy. Put down again. All result in the screaming and then just as sudden as it started. Stops!
I really am scratching my head on this one and just hoping it passes. And soon!
Mummy just can't take this for much longer!!!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
WOW - TWO WEEKS IS LIKE A YEAR IN BLOG TIME!!!
Well I wanted to start 2010 with some posts I had going round in my brain all over the Christmas period and then life came and put a stop to it!
My Hubby turned 40, Bugalugs is 1 in 4 weeks and Grotbag starts school full time in a month too. Hubby was home the whole of December which was fantastic but threw me off course from my routine. Bugalugs, now 11 months old and the past week has had a viral infection causing him to be the most irritable baby ever, therefore keeping me up most nights. This of course equals grumpy mummy, dusty house and the pause button on the blogging. Plus it is school holidays here and quite frankly I am going slightly insane keeping Grotbag occupied.
Not only that but I haven't visited any blogs and have lost a follower!
I am also at a quandry as to where my blog is heading. Should it head anywhere or just follow it's own course?
But the longer I think about it the longer it takes me to write a post and then another day goes by and I don't write anything.
I have really enjoyed writing these past 6 months. I have loved the freedom of being about to put words on the page and send them out into the world. It is a joy I had forgotten about since High School. And I want to do more, so I am just going to write and write (and then probably edit) and keep sending it out into the world.
So I guess it is going to follow it's own course...hope you will come along for the ride!
My Hubby turned 40, Bugalugs is 1 in 4 weeks and Grotbag starts school full time in a month too. Hubby was home the whole of December which was fantastic but threw me off course from my routine. Bugalugs, now 11 months old and the past week has had a viral infection causing him to be the most irritable baby ever, therefore keeping me up most nights. This of course equals grumpy mummy, dusty house and the pause button on the blogging. Plus it is school holidays here and quite frankly I am going slightly insane keeping Grotbag occupied.
Not only that but I haven't visited any blogs and have lost a follower!
I am also at a quandry as to where my blog is heading. Should it head anywhere or just follow it's own course?
But the longer I think about it the longer it takes me to write a post and then another day goes by and I don't write anything.
I have really enjoyed writing these past 6 months. I have loved the freedom of being about to put words on the page and send them out into the world. It is a joy I had forgotten about since High School. And I want to do more, so I am just going to write and write (and then probably edit) and keep sending it out into the world.
So I guess it is going to follow it's own course...hope you will come along for the ride!
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