WIWT edition 4

This is what I wore yesterday - I really felt good in it. I just love Big Blue - a lot of their stuff turns into conversation pieces, as did this skirt yesterday. I have been looking at these short skirts ever since the season started and they had them in different colour combinations. Only last week did I actually take the step and bought this one that had, what I felt was just the right colours for me.

Necklace: Miglio (many years back), Turquise long sleeve T shirt - Mr Price, Black T shirt Cardi (Pick 'n Pay last season), Skirt - Big Blue, Black Tights- Woolworths, Long black boots - Solomons. For outside I had my trusty black leather jacket form Woolworths on (forgot to take a pic with it on).

So what are you wearing today? Putting it out there as a "dare" - show us as Gina did yesterday.

So it all went well

yesterday. Or shall we say, the operation itself went very well, but the anaesthetic, not so much.

After checking into the paediatric ward and getting her little theatre gown on, she was in full on colouring in mode right into the theatre waiting area. She was really so funny  - high as a kite on the pre-meds, giggling about everything and thank goodness, went down calmly and smiling. The anaesthesiologist was really so good with her, talking calmly and making little jokes. It is always tough, that moment when they go down. So much easier if they do not go down fighting. I gave her a kiss, left her and her trusty Snoopy dog with the doctors and waited the time away with Hunter.

Colouring away - happy as can be.

After about and hour and 45 minutes the doctor came to tell us that all went well and after another 10 minutes she was out and on her way to the ward - sleeping tightly. She came to calmly and Hunter said goodbye to her and she slept for about an hour. She woke up wanting water and sore, and saying she was hungry. The sister and I were both delighted and she was given some drops for the pain and told to drink a bit more water before we proceed to food. The next moment it was all out! And she continued vomiting and sleeping on and off until the anaesthesiologist was called to prescribe more for the vomiting as she was by now really not doing well. So after more meds and a nap, she got some pain medicine first and managed to eat a little bit before we were eventually discharged at 4:30 - we should have been out there by 12:00 if all went to plan.

Due to the fact that she was so sick, she got a wheelchair ride to the car.

I will admit that there were moments yesterday afternoon where I actually very briefly regretted doing this - it was so tough to see her so sick, knowing that she was 100% fine the morning we brought her in. But after she stopped vomiting, and when we got home, I was just relieved it was done and over with, and once again rested in our decision. It was the right thing to do. It was her very first operation, so now we know that she is one of the low percentage of people that have a violent reaction to it and will know to warn ahead of time in future. Apparently there is something they can give them in theatre to relieve this.

Thanks again for all your support my friends in the computer.

Tomorrow

A while ago I said to a friend that it feels really weird to say that " I am taking my 6 year old daughter to see a plastic surgeon tomorrow." Well tomorrow, she is scheduled for plastic surgery - more precisely Otoplasty - correction and re-shaping of the ears.

Although I have no doubt that we are doing the right thing for the right reasons, I have the usual mom's stress of a fluttering tummy, anxiety at my child's safety and worry for her comfort after. I know that it is a rather long procedure (one and a half hours) and rather painful after, but I also know that we will be saving her a heap om emotional pain later in life. We are also spending a small fortune on it (in cash - no medical aid will pay for it) but know that we will possibly save a small fortune is psychologists fees later.

The simple truth is that kids are cruel - and will find something to single a child out and tease her. With girls, this very often is ears. I am no Botox mom, I just want my child to grow up being as "normal" looking as possible. We are not doing this so that she can participate in beauty pageants or anything like that - it is not what our family is about.

So please, if I can ask your prayers for us all tomorrow. I am not a lover of anaesthetic at all, so my first stress is always about that. I know we will be fine, but support is always welcome. Most of all because we seem to have lost my mom's support over the issue. But that is a story for another day. At least my MIL is flying up from PE on Thursday to visit and support our little Princess.

More about day 2 in the Berg.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Due to that super slow 2G connection, I did not show you much about our little holiday in the Drakensberg's second day apart from this bit, although day 1 was well covered here. So for today's Photo Story Fiday, I offer you day 2 in the Drakensberg.

Picture from day 1 late evening that the Princess took - loves being behind the camera just like mom.

I woke up quite early (first in the house) and took this picture through the window of the  lounge of the mountains bathed in the rising sun.

After a bask in the morning sun, we stocked up on supplies at the resort shop. The girls did a little skip down the road.

 Then we took a drive to the Central Berg - around Cathkin Peak and stopped at the Monk's Cowl hiking area for a milkshake.

The little Sunbird was having his fill of sweetness in the alloe flowers.

 On our way back I saw this composition - two very graphic winter trees, a quite attractive gate and the mountains, and took a few composition pictures. My favorite is the third one with the tree and the gate leading outside th epicture frame.

Back at out cottage we saw that the little chapel was open- so we went to have a look. Really stunning setting for a wedding.

 

Then we went for a swim in the indoor heated pool.

And while I (and my cousin-friend) napped, there was lots of Candyland games happening.

We ended the day with a trip to the trampolines and playground before dinner and a relaxing evening chatting.

It was such a perfect day.

Eish, sjoe!

Thank goodness.

Little man L had his follow up appointment with the eye specialist today. If you do not have the background about his eye problems, go have a look here. 

At our last appointment we were warned that an operation is more possible than not and that his eye, due to the blind spot, is turning inwards which will effect the spectrum of his vision. Therefore we had to go back today, after 3 months, and not after 6 months as per usual. Although there was a slight change in his lens prescription I was very anxious and almost sure that we would get the go ahead for the operation today. It turns out that from a 20 degree fall out has corrected to 12 degrees - a huge improvement, but not quite enough. It has to be 10 and below to be in the "no operation needed" spectrum. So we have drops to add now to the "good eye" once again - rending it useless for 48 hours, in order to stimulate the "bad" eye to work harder in order to correct the angle.

So we are seeing him again in 2 months time to assess the progress. Here's praying for that extra 2%. We have come so far, from not using this eye at all to making the most of it.

The glue that binds.

All families have this - something that just keeps the family together. That makes it all work. In our family it is homour - laughing and having fun. When the times get tough, the tough goes laughing. Mostly instigated by Hunter who is brilliant at relieving the most tense situation with tickles and teasing.

This is just one of the things that makes him the father he is - I can name so many. But through the many sleep deprived, survival reduced times of our lives, he has been the rock that I rely on. A father every child would like to have.  Fun, fair and dedicated to us as a family.

A late, but heartfelt "Happy Fathers day" to my sweet Hunter. We all love you to  the moon and back.

I love how the kid's schools, although they were all sick and could never complete their little projects in time, completed it for them so that they had something special for dad.

From the Princess - with a poem and drawing

From the Boys.

Feeling on top of the world....

Playing along with Cheryl.

 ...really makes my Monday. I am so happy today, not even a rather frustrating project can dampen the mood. As you all know, I had a truly wonderful weekend thanks mainly to Hunter who organized the accommodation and initiated the whole trip. But who also did the really tough part - looking after the 2 sick boys back home. What added to my enjoyment is that they had a good weekend too, after all the sickness of the past weekends. The boys are better, they slept better than in ages and Hunter thus got some good sleep too. We did manage to give him his Fathersday goodies, but we need to make another day to properly honour him.

I really need to do a good run of every day as really there were so many great moments. What we thought would be a cold mostly indoor holiday turned into a warm and mostly outdoor one. And making the holiday great was:

 

Quality time with my Princess

Fun and adrenaline with a favorite cousin and friend

Seeing my mom having laughs with one of her best friends and showing her the Berg for the first time ever.

And two little girls enjoying each other for the full period - not a moment of unhappiness.

The real magic was in the perfect combination - 3 generations of fun.

and the mountains, not to forget the 270 degree view of mountains (fromt he road just outside the resort)

Another beautiful day in the Berg...

was mostly spent getting the adrenaline pumping,as well as a a great swim and much ,much more. At the moment we are busy with a great game or 2 of Rummikub (and that is how long uploading these pictures took)

Day 2 in the Berg....

was warm and beautiful. But due to a super slow 2G connection and the idea to get into bed with a book before 9, I am leaving you with one image for the day.

The hills are alive with the sound of music...

but not exactly me singing and helicopetering on a pretty mountain like Julie Andrews as I have no voice whatsoever at the moment. All this whispering is rather exhausting.

At the moment I am in the Drakensberg - or just known as "The Berg" in South Africa. It is beautiful and our little slice of Switzerland in Africa. I am on a rather unique girls weekend - me, my friend (and cousin) Ananda,the Princess, my mom, her friend Antoinette with her granddaughter, the same age as the Princess.

It is off course, being the middle of the winter, rather nippy and the wind was hectic along the pass today- and as you can see, if you look closely, yes, a sprinkling of snow on the mountains.
We are planning on some rest and relaxation, and just general, well, resting. Bo also doing a few outings etc.

Today, we took quite a while to get here - let's just say that a problem on the usual route's pass caused a rather longer route than envisaged. At Harrismit after a nice meal at the Spur, we spotted a pack of Harleys which the girls (and a big girl) loved.





















After arrival at the resort we went for a quick walk and in just a few minutes, as the sun disappeared behind the mountains the temperature plummeted from a comfy but cold, to a rather cold. So tonight, we are cosy and warm in the house - just had soup as a starter and the lasagna is warming nicely in the oven.

A treat from the other granny. Serious bling.

 I am bargaining on a great night's sleep and holding thumbs Hunter has a better night with the Boys than the previous few - and that they are a lot healthier.

Eish, it's been a week for us....

I am waiting for an email to come in to respond on and then to go home, do a bit of shopping and pack to leave on a rather unique girls trip tomorrow. After the past week I need a bit of rest - my poor hubby too, but this has been long in planning for me for a weekend away.

We have managed to pay our GP's kid's study loans in the last week, or Dis.covery actually .In  the past 8 days we have been at our GP practice 4 times - of which 1 was to see both A and C and this morning to see both me and L. She also checked on C again. So we have 2 that had German measles and bronchitis as a complication (A and C) and it would just not be our normal if C did not get a nice little asthma trigger from all this. The one kid that managed to escape this and I have now succumbed to the dreaded strep throat - he in his tonsils and me in the vocal cords and throat. Hence I sound super sexy but inaudible at the moment.

I am so looking forward to the rest and relaxation this weekend and while I may not be able to go on  the hike I was hoping to (anti boiotics you see), I am planning to sleep a lot, read and just relax. I am sure a gentle ride might be ok. And there's my mail now - so hope you have a great long weekend. If I get the time and inclination I might tease you with some pretty pictures during the weekend. If not, enjoy yours! Cheers!

The lovely Julia thinks this blog is lovely

The lovely Julia gave me a blog award over the weekend. Now Julia, I really get. When she thinks she rambles, I follow the whole reasoning well. I love her honest posts. She straight forward and one of the girls I would love to meet one day. Thanks girl.


And the rules are..
1. Choose five (or more) other people who deserve this award and pass it on.
2. Tell 7 facts about yourself.
3. Let the people you gave the award to know.
4. Thank the person who gave you the award.

1. So here goes with the task at hand: Chosen as they came to me purely randomly:
1. Shayne at TimeOut - and yes, her blog is private, but I love her. I love her gorgeous pictures, I love her fashion posts, I love her very beautiful life on the farm - but most of all I love her honesty.
2. Pam at An Ordinary life - I love blogs about, well, just life. And the lives we live.
3. Hayley at Everything in between - some more just life, and the most beautiful pictures.
4. Margot at Jou ma se blerrie blog - She tells it like it is and is stuggling through Motherhood with more than a few challenges.
5. Mel- at Super mom - I love her honesty too and her blogpost today just spoke to me.

2. 7 facts - gosh, and you do know quite a lot about me already:
1. My favorite snack with tea in the evenings is a marshmallow easter egg melted between two marie biscuits.
2. I often take my lunch break from the office on my own, with a book for just a coffee somewhere. Or sometimes I just sit under the tree in our garden. I love my own company now and again. The people at the office think this is weird - I can not think why it is.
3. I love classical music - it is my favorite. My car radio is mostly on  Classic FM.
4. My big toe is shorter than my second toe - with a lot! None of the kids seem to have inherited this weirdness.
5. I am really good with remembering faces - I might have seen you once, years ago and I will remember your face. Names, not so much. Really uncomfortable to always admit that someone looks familiar, but you have not idea who they are.

3. Will leave you all comments now.
4. Done in the intro.

Lucy is back!

Playing along with Cheryl.

This is a total Makes my Monday post because, after 8 weeks of sick leave, Lucy is back! Oh my word, life will return to what we know as normal. This morning, the 2 sick kids could stay at home and there was no stress involved as to who will look after them, and if I will get to my 9 o clock meeting in time.(Both Little man C and the Princess had German Measles - she now has bronchitis as a secondary infection and, no surprises, his asthma has flared up). Little man L is still standing strong - I wonder how long? Although Lucy is clearly not 100% life will continue to the usual.

But I have learned a lot in the time that we were without her:

• We can actually make it on our own without a full time domestic/nanny.
• The biggest challenge is to deal with sick kids and who will look after them.
• The second biggest challenge is the mountains and mountains of washing. And the ironing thereof.
• Even to just iron your most essential washing at the laundromat does become rather expensive
• Our kids will wreck a perfectly clean home in about 3,5 minutes
• If you try hard enough you can get them to do little tasks at home - even at 3 and a half years old.
• Cooking meals ahead over the weekends is a total winner.
• We have a lot of free time in the evenings - I never realized this, but with the household chores to be done in the evenings it ate all that time.
• The kids missed her terribly, and she us. This morning she and the Princess was in tears of happiness.

So what makes your Monday?

Book reviews

No post here today, but I have added two book reviews, one yesterday and one today, with another scheduled for tomorrow. So if you are looking for a new read, head over to Cat's Bookclub

A day (or two) on the farm

It's Friday and time to catch up on some unblogged holiday moments - this time once again from our December holiday. While driving down to Port Elizabeth we stayed over on a farm on the other side of Bethulie than our usual haunt and it turned out to be the time of our lives. We arrived the afternoon and spent some time walking around the homestead . I met the couple who owns the farm (Hunter has been there before with friends) and their little girl and had a nice braai together.

What's a farm without a windpump.

The boys loved playing on the bulldozer - they have been promised a ride on it next time we are there.

Moya making a spash in the farm dam.

Snake skin the Princess found.Luckily we did not see the actual snake.

The two little girls "mothered" the two Jack Russel puppies. They (the puppies) were exhausted and kept crawling into the sleeping boy's bed to get away from the still awake girls.



The next morning the family came over just after breakfast with the little girl's pony and a quad bike. I can not try to explain the fun that followed.

At first she led the Princess on Spirit

The next moment the two of them were off - Pochahontas 2 x in the field.

And before we even knew it she was riding on her own. Later the pony was on her back feet and she stayed on top and did

The boys both got a ride or two - C's first ever on a pony.

 The puppies chaced bugs, went for a run and another swim and just relaxed.

 I think the boys had at least 20 trips up and down the farm road and into the veld.

 They had the best time ever.

We only left the farm at 3pm to complete our journey to PE with 3 (make that 5 and include the pups) very tired kids that slept a very very long time into the last bit of our journey.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli