Makes my Monday

Playing along with Cheryl as per usual - alhough through a sleep deprived haze

What makes my Monday:

My mom (with her housekeeper Rosie) went for a walk down the street in her retirement village with her new knee. Up until 2 weeks ago she was hardly walking to her neighbour's door.

And joining Granny on her walk - The Little Miss took her bicycle. Little man l his beloved push car and Little man C Granny's doggy - one of the toys she keeps for them at her home.

Barely hanging in there...

Hunter fell asleep behind the wheel driving to work this morning. And he is sleeping more than I am at present. He studies until 1am or so and then sleep to 6. Last night was particularly hairy - 4 hours from ( pm to1, nothing after. Even taking him into be with me, nothing! We have prayed, we have medicated, we have used all the natural remedies I can think off - I am going to look for Debi's melatonin.... And I am taking him to the paediatrician, just to make sure the nurse didn't miss anything. Although he seems very healthy. Thanks you all for your encouragement and love.

I just have to report on last night...

Mom: went to bed at 10:00 - slept until dad came home from study group at 11:15. Said hallo to dad. Total sleep time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Mom: Went back to sleep. Woken up by Little man L at 12:30. Total sleep time: 1 hour

Little man L: Went to sleep at 7:00 woke up at 12:30. Total sleep time: 5hours 30 minutes.

Mom: tries to sleep but gets woken up 9 times until 4:30

Little man C: Went to sleep at 7:00 woke up at 4:30 due to Little man L's crying. Total sleep time: 9 hour 30 minutes.

Mom puts both boys in bed with her - chaos ensues. Put both back into cribs - miracle they sleep.

Mom goes back to sleep at 4:45 and alarm clock goes at 6:00 - Total sleep time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Nap time today: Both boys sleep 1 and a half hours - mommy 's working! Mom's total sleep time (very interrupted) 3 hours 30 minutes.

Something is just not fair. (I have to come up in Hunter's defence - as my contribution to his studies I am taking night duties for the next 3 weeks - so I am probably going to be a zombie after these 6 weeks.) I am starting to forget work things....

What about calling all the prayer warrior please?

Friday photo finish fiesta

Time once again to head over to Carrie's. This is one of my favorite weekly dates as you see so many great (and often short bits to read) posts and pictures. Do hop over there and join in the fun.

The Little Miss in full Winter ballet gear.

She and friend Danielle before class.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Oh my, I really have so much to be thankful of today! (Playing along with Nicole at What a trip!)

1. Most importantly, 8 hours of interrupted sleep - I feel like a new person. Maybe last night was just a lucky fluke, maybe we have broken the bad cycle, but it was bliss. No, I don't have a secret but maybe the shorter naps (1 and a half hours versus 2 and a half), homeopathic suppositories, our local homeopaths sleep drops, maybe the iron supplement, maybe the humidifier I added to their room are all starting to take effect after a few days? I really do not know. Probably the pain medication the pharmacist suggested to break the cycle for 5 days, who knows? All I know is that I have spent a fortune but that it was all worth it for a night's sleep. We also made it a matter of prayer - never underestimate the value of praying.

2. My mom is home, walking short trips and in such a positive mood. I am in awe of her quick recovery. And so thankful for it.

3. For my new red shoes and old red beads - they are going to be a winning team to brighten up my winter wardrobe.

4. The little Miss is now forced (due to my mom being unable to help me with transporting her) to spent Wednesday afternoons after ballet with me in the office. She is such a good girl, she plays on her own, is friendly to all - I am so thankful for that. Doing some "model building" below.

5. It looks as if one of our bigger jobs might get the go ahead at the office. This might just help to keep us afloat in the recession.

6. I am so thankful that we have had a much healthier winter this year - so far at least. Last year was a nightmare.

7. Our friend Ilse had a really tough time after Tessa's birth - she bled, almost had to have an emergency hysterectomy (at 36) and received 5 units of blood. But she is recovering well.

8. Little Tessa - if you are a regular reader you might know the story, if you want to know - go check here. When the 1:50 Downs syndrome chance was given to them they decided not to do an amnio due to the 1:100 risk of losing the baby, as they decided that abortion is not an option. Their trust in God was confirmed and she was born 100% normal. We have not seen her yet as both families have had a rough two weeks.

9. Her dad is now walking! Stefaan is walking with crutches, basically dragging his "bad leg", but progressing. He still spends most of his time in the wheelchair, but he is walking!

10. That The Little Miss is such a great sister. She is loving her brothers to bits.

11. And I have to add an extra one today: that Hunter is almost done with his first course. I am really admiring that he is pushing through - travelling to work each day, the kids, house and studies must be really tough. He is probably going to continue, which I think is great news.

Way back and wordful Whensday

Timeline: 1973
My age: 5

We used to live on a smallholding where we had a few cows, a sheep or 3, chickens, ducks and geese, turkeys and bunnies. This was our first calf, which I named "Blommetjie" or little flower translated. She was mine and when she was sold after my dad passed away, the money was deposited in my bank account and was eventually used for my university fund.

I loved to play on the smallholding and I had 4 dogs, two house cats and about 30 yard cats to play with.

My dad farmed with flowers but was a full time Personnel manager, part time artist and lover of tiny German model trains.

For some more blasts form the past go over to Cheryl's and play along and if like me, and Angie at 7 Clown circus's Wordful Wednesday you have to "talk" about your photographs, head over there to have a look as well.

4 is so the best age ever!

I am really enjoying my little girl at the moment. 4 is such a great age! There are so many things I am loving about her right now.

Her imagination runs wild at the best of times. She keeps herself busy for hours with literally nothing. Just yesterday she was busy baking a cake in the sandbox with a pail, some spades, leaves, flowers etc. This followed on watching Nigella with mommy and declaring that she wants to be a chef just like Nigella. Yeah, I'd also love to be Nigella. Just tonight her career choice changed in the bath to being a pharmacist - someone that can mix medicine with bathwater and shampoo. These are off course following Wonder woman and a "police girl" after the theme for school last week was "people that help us". We have also been through phases of being a veterinarian (after visiting the vet with one of the pups), a hairdresser after her visit to mine and off course, the now famous Dr Barbie. I love how sometimes we are a family of crocodiles (from baby broter crocs, to little girl crocs and mommy and daddy crocs) and sometimes a family of panda bears, or whatever catches the imagination at the time.

I just love it that she is trying so hard to help mommy sometimes, even if she gives up soon. I love it how she knows when mommy is sad and daddy is tired - as long as she is not tired, she is the perfect little helper. Sometimes her insight is way above what we believe a child of her age should be - she understands when things are tough, on a instinct level she tries to help.

I can not get enough of the little girl hugs and kisses. I can not get enough of the dressing up and princess stuff and I certainly can not get enough of her hiding and surprising me around the house every day and the hugs that follows. I also wishes that she would come and cuddle more often in our bed in the mornings.

She loves her room and her bed and play on her own. She is surprisingly neat in her own way - she packs things away in containers, maybe not how I would group them, but in some sort of way she has some order installed. And she keeps it mostly intact. She gets hugely upset if a visiting friend or her brothers makes her room untidy. And I love how she is all interested in make-up and hair and all sorts of feminine finery.

Her independence and her clear ideas on choice really thrills me (although sometimes is a more negative than positive way). This little girl really knows what she wants. She amazed me yesterday about how clear and precise she chose when I took her clothes shopping. How she reasoned what top to wear with what bottom and choosing and not complaining when she had to decide which to leave and which to buy. And a poncho works just as well as a skirt.

Her "remember when" game is such a joy - she "remembers" things like - "do you remember when I was born you wanted a little girl just like me?" to yesterday's special lunch or Fridays ingredients of her lunch box. She definitely has her daddy's great memory.

I am so glad that God blessed us (and me particularly) with our little girl. She is such a joy. We are going to be great girlfriends one day, well maybe we are already.

And in other news, we have not been sleeping for 3 weeks - that's now me and Little man L. Any ideas? I am today cutting down on his nap, adding an iron supplement and hoping for the best. Failing which, cry out??? Anybody tried it, did it work?

Makes my Monday

So what makes my Monday today? (go to Cheryl's - click image, to see some other great Mondays)

I missed so much on the blog last week - everything was really hectic with my mom in hospital etc, so I have heaps that makes my day.

1. Off course my mom being so much better than a week ago. She walks, she is recovering so well. She is at a step-down facility until Wednesday. And she is so positive - that makes all the difference.

2. Our friends Stefaan and Ilse's little Tessa was born last Monday - a healthy 3kg baby. All seems normal and healthy at present.

3. My sweet hubby - oh I just love the man. Today my heart is just filled with love.

4. And winter soup - I really am not a fan of winter, but I adore soup. For lunch today I had butternut soup with ginger and orange. Hmmm..

5.
Our home team, the Bulls made the final for the Super 14 rugby competition and will host their first final ever. If you want to know how huge this is, imagine your favorite football or baseball team competing with other club teams from the two other nations that are the other strongest contenders in the game. (Ok maybe that is difficult to imagine) Let's try to explain it : South African, Nieu Zealand and Australian clubs battle it out by all playing each other in rugby union and the top 4 teams then play against each other in semi finals and finals. The games are broadcasted in 41 countries all over the world. It is some of the most exciting rugby played. Yeah Bulls!

So what makes your Monday?

Friday photo finish fiesta - my sweet girlies.

Hosted by Carrie.

My sweet girls, my first kids,

Tonight mommy's tired, they day's been long. The week's been long with gran in the hospital and daddy busy with studies. Work's been tough. But tonight finds me sitting at the laptop, Moya's head resting on my lap. Bongi, you are curled on my feet, keeping them nice and warm. I am peaceful and contend.


Although you are not getting all the attention you used to get, although your walks may be more limited and you may be reprimanded to be good to the 3 little human monsters, you stay eternally faithful and loving. You are such great big sisters.

Moya you were the very first one to know that mommy was pregnant every time. In fact the first time we thought you were sick, the second time around we knew you were just looking after mommy. Bongi, you are such a great babysitter - every time you looked after those babies in their first week. You just slept wherever they were, and stuck to it, no matter what.

Sometimes mommy wonders if she can clicker train the human kids. You guys did so well with it. If I say sit, you sit. If I say stay, you stay. Not so with the other 3. Maybe M&M's and your clickers will work?

In any event, mommy just want to tell you that you girls rock! I love you to bits.

Love
Forever your mommy.

Today is going to be a busy day over here.

Morning girls! Today is going to be the busiest day yet on this blog!

Firstly, I am delighted to have been chosen as the Thursday shout out at

If you are here for the first time, welcome fellow multiple mom! I really think Amanda and Lani are doing us all a great favour in introducing us to or fellow MOMS worldwide. Thanks girls. If you are a mom of multiples and you have not joined yet, what are you waiting for?

Secondly, I am doing my first guest post ever, over at Rachael's.

Please head over there to read what I have to say today.
A little extract as a teaser: "While paging through the employment section of our local newspaper today, a very funny advertisement for a copywriter caught my eye. Which had the creative juices flowing in my head as to what an advertisement will look like for a MOM (Mom of Multiples). So here's my best shot"

If you are not already reading her blog, be sure to head over and read it in future. She is one of my best blogging buddies and fellow multiple mom - she has an athletic 12 year old, Lydia and toddler triplets. Yeah, and sometimes I wished I had Lydia over at my house to help out.And if you are over visiting from Rachael's, welcome and stay a while.

If you want to read some highlights from my blog, see the list below. (If you are over from Multiples and more, some of these are featured over there.)

About our bodies after a multiple pregnancy:

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/04/incredible-case-of-vanishing-boobies.html

A very honest look at life with multiples (and a third)

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/04/sweet-sleep-and-dropping-balls.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/11/dear-mom-in-baby-shanging-room.html

About South Africa:

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-answers-to-your-questions-part-1_19.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/07/5-things-you-might-know-or-might-not.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/08/5-things-friday_22.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/12/5-things-thursday.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/09/5-things-friday_26.html

Some history on my twins, and my best friends twins (and other ramblings):

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/09/all-sorts-of-rambelings.html

About my daughter and my visit to the Kruger National park:

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-foto-finish-fiesta_13.html

Some cute kiddies moments:

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-valentines-day.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/02/basket-full-of-joy.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/02/showing-your-real-feelings.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2009/03/diggit-dancing-queen-oh-hoooo.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/06/conversation-on-our-way-to-school.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-am-not-her-friend-anymore.html

http://juggelingactoflife.blogspot.com/2008/07/dear-lord.html

Also, to add a bit of news, a South African baby became a Twitter newsmaker - read here. BTW, Tertia's blog is really great.