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?

Spoiled rotten.

You see, we have Lucy in the house - always cleaning, tidying, doing the washing etc. Occasionally she cooks which is a great help. A lot of the time she does food prep for me - like making mash, peeling veggies etc. And she is available for baby sitting and to look after sick kids at home. Without her I would certainly not be able to work the hours I do. She is my right hand and a part of the family. Now, dear Lucy is in hospital - she had a hysterectomy yesterday and is doing well.

It was preventative surgery, the doctor told me before hand as all the blood tests etc came out clear. Until now, I am pleasantly surprised with the state health system - we expect the worst, I guess that's why. In her yearly check-up at the clinic they found pre-cancer cells and asked her to come 6 months later. With the next pap smear there were more and she was referred to the new hospital here in Pretoria The operation was scheduled and performed yesterday and now we are praying for her speedy recovery.

The thing is that for at the very least, 3 weeks, we will be without her. Up to 6 weeks! At the moment we are still doing well, I think, with keeping things under control, but the weekend was certainly different than what we are used to. Washing and tumble drying (the rainy weather certainly did not help) Luckily Rebecca that used to iron for us is helping out with 2 days this week, and after our holiday once a week. I will take whatever needs to be ironed to the laundromat and she can concentrate on cleaning.

So for the next few weeks, pardon the dust bunnies and our un ironed underwear (Rebecca irons EVERYTHING - kid you not).A note to my kids - please do not get sick right now or for the next 6 weeks.

You know you're in Africa when.... part 2

A little herd of My Little Ponies.

Anything looks out of the ordinary?

Check out the middle two ponies...

Styling your hair into tiny little plats is African tradition. You will see little girls with hair in plats, old ladies with hair in plats and also hair extension in little plats.

And My Little Ponies in tiny plats, courtesy of our nanny Lucy.