wow... so much going on.. I'm just gonna blurt it all out ok... no particular order..

where to start?

Jamie is the cutest, coolest kid on the planet.  It's true!  He loves Blues Clues.. comes up to you and takes you to the computer opening and closing his wee hands :-D  So cute.. I love him to bits!

I cannot believe my baby girl is going to be 15 on saturday.  FIFTEEN!  OMG.  15.  was watching a video of her from circa 2004 and my god she was little lol.. so young.. she has grown so much.  She is so pretty.. really pretty :-) and smart!  wow!  so smart.. I love her to bits! :-)



OMG Blair is starting to get dark hairs on the edges of his top lip.. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo  He is too little to need to start shaving! :-(  I have issues that he is 13.  but I love him to bits! :-)

The photography is going really well!  so well that Mike has dropped to only working one day a week in a 'real' job :-)  and that's without active advertising and networking!!  He is SO clever and I love HIM to bits too! :-)

the earthquakes.. mmmmmmmmmmmm  CHC has had over 1100 earthquakes no since the big 7.1 on sept 4.  I say earthquakes because although technically they are aftershocks.. in isolation they'd be considered quakes.  I feel so much for all my friends and famnily over there :-s  As does Mike although additionally he wishes he were there for the photographic ops! PMSL.. typical! ;-D



We went down to Tully a few weekends ago because Mike was the 'official' photographer of the Skydiving champs (Go Troppo '10).. was looking to be a fabulous weekend until tragedy struck :-(  One of Australias leading authorities, instructor and more experienced skydivers died after becoming entangled with another skydiver's chute.  Mike has to go into the police station tomorrow and give his statement as he photographed the whole thing which was instrumental in discovering the cause of the collision and the federation are extremely grateful for his quick thinking.  Was a very very tragic weekend :-(  RIP Fiona McEachern
http://www.apf.asn.au/Members/What-Members-are-up-to/Memorial-Page/default.aspx

 I am now an official employee of ABC Childcare http://www.childcare.com.au/ as well as Gecko's Indoor playcentre http://www.geckosplay.com.au/.  working at Gecko's saaturday, monday, tuesday, wednesday and on call with ABC thursday and friday... busy busy busy!

I need to go and go through all of my scrapping stuff now.. it's gotten out of hand and I really need to cull!

yes, I know it's been a while.. but SO much has been happening!

We've moved house (again) now in a brand spanking new townhouse in a great area.  Kids changed schools when we moved and they LOVE their new school... as do I :-)

The bubba is growing so fast!  physically and mentally.. says quite a few words now.  intelligible to us and some to others :-D

Mikes photography is going well.  My work is wonderful although I will be starting in childcare centres soon and studying my level 3 in Childcare.

Have to go see Jim Turnour (one of our local MPs) to get his help getting me into the nursing/midwifery programme.... having issues getting a student loan because I'm not a permanent citizen.. and can't become a permanent citizen until I'm a qualified professional :-D  warped.

Mike & I are going skydiving in the enxt few weeks and going on a sunset cruise!  can't wait :-)

Hope you're all well..

My new motto:  What's made you smile today?


So..... What's made YOU smile today?

WOW! Soooooooooooo much happening!

Well... Maternal Moments is getting underway... 2 clients already!  admittedly they count toward my 3 free clients for my training but hey.. gotta start somewhere eh and word of mouth is THE best advertising :-)

I'm having issues trying to know what to wrote for the fb page & the website.. SO not good with words... I'll get there though!

Mike's RE photography is going in leaps & bounds.. it's difficult finding time for everything lately :-s

Kids are doing well...  Vicki is still going out with Billy (LOVELY boy!) although she's grounded at the moment and has had everything electronic taken out of her room and is on dishes & recycling for a week because she bunked school!  BRAT!

Went to an Autism Qld event at the Esplanade on Saturday.. Turns out there IS Asperger support up here.. it's just not well known BUT they are setting up a fortnightly youth club ...  Can't believe he's nearly 13!!!

Jamie now says 'dog' instead of 'gog'.. pity coz it was quite cute but it's best he says it properly.. lol  He's a definite farm boy at heart I think.. LOVES animals!!  He really truly NEEDS a dog I think..

We're going to move again... too much to look after here and if we continue to get so busy.. I need to be closer to the hospital too for clients.  Lookinh much closer to town.  A friend may have her house coming available in October and the place would be PERFECT!!  Has a built in trampoline, pool & treehouse!  3 powered worksheds out the back which we can use for 1)photography studio 2)craft room & 3) timeout room for the kids :-D

The wee boyt I look after 3 days a week at the moment won't be coming after next week anymore :-(  He'll be spending a lot more time with his Mummy so it's good for them.. not so good for us or our wallet ;-p  BUT.. my boss @ Gecko's approached me today and I'll be looking after her wee boy for 10 weeks while her parents (who normally mind him) are in Europe :-)  Just two days a week but the pay is good and gives us an extra bit of time to get things up & rolling along even more!..

It's all working out well..

Wow! It really HAS been a while since I posted last...

So much has happened... 

The Real Estate Photography is rapidly increasing (yay!) ....
and I have become a Doula :-) My company name is 'Maternal Moments'.  There appears to be quite a market for Doulas here.  There is only one other Doula in Cairns but she will only attend homebirths whereas I am willing to support & attend any kind of birth choice including miscarriage or abortion because EVERY woman deserves support!

Vicki has a boyfriend.. Billy is nearly 17 *gulp* but is a very lovely boy.  Nice manners, well dressed & spoken and treats her wonderfully.  Even asked to meet us :-)  She's made a wonderful choice.  Hope it works out for her.

Blair was off his medicine for a few days and yep.. they DEF DO work! :-)   He's doing so well with recognising that he needs them now. 

Bubba is doing well.. has a pretty major temper on him but with parents like us.. who can blame him? ;-D

Gotta love you and leave you... upload of Official Photographer - Grand Weddings facebook page has finished better go deal with that then off to bed where I will most likely lay awake trying to draft what to say on the Maternal Moments facebook page!  This is actually not easy!

byyyyeeeee

PS  Can you believe it's been a WHOLE YEAR today that we moved to Cairns!  It's FLOWN by!  And I'm still loving it! :-)

well ok.. might NOT be going home now...

It's all up in the air.. Mike has weddings booked until late September so we will stay here for now and re-evaluate things then.

Mike's working hard out on the Gym and doing well on his diet so he can lose weight and look fab for his trip home in October (if not our move back to NZ) and to help improve his mood - look good, feel good so they say. Maybe I should get my a into g too :-D

Will be applying for a fulltime job soon - and if I don't get that one I'll apply for others.. it'd really help the wallet (well.... other peoples wallets!)... if we move back to NZ we'll be needing money and if we don't then we'll still be needing money ;-p  Mike will quit Camera House so he can concentrate fulltime on the photography, Jamie will go into daycare and then in Feb (again.. if we're still here) I'll hopefully be able to start my midwifery course!    We had THE most wonderful experience with our midwife with Jamie and I want to do the same for other women!  Options for pregnancy & birthing care suck here and I want be a part of changing that.

Ended up at the 24 hr clinic and then the ED (A&E for those back home)  because the extra fluid in my wrist was compressing the ulnar nerve making the pain unbearable :-(  Of course they couldn't DO anything other than give me panadol, ibuprofen and codeine lol they also had to give me losec so I don't get gastritis again being on ibuprofen daily..   a drug for one thing and a drug for the side effect! PMSL.  When I got upset because of that (reasonably so I thought!) all they could do further was offer me sleeping pills (I said no thanks), valium (again.. no thanks) & the ph # for the hospital psychologist to learn how to deal/live with the pain.  To see the specialist next week.. was meant to see him a week ago but the bastard was away (he's only here once every fortnight) and NO ONE called to tell me!  We were ultra pissed off because I'd been crook the night before so was sitting in the hospital waiting room still feeling decidedly seedy only to find out we COULD have stayed at home resting!!!  Could have the surgery privately but it'd cost about $3000 by the time I pay for the surgeon, anaethetist, nurse, operating room, hospital bed, pain meds, cast (yep!  If you go private you have to pay for the cast lol) & all the other stuff they need/can think up so it's out of the question :-(  Just have to wait up to another 9 months on the waiting list... and that's the URGENT but not emergency list!!!!  hmmm yay.  9 more months of numerous pills every four - 6 hours...every day.  yeah...  can you tell it's REALLY helping my depression!?!?!?

can't think of any words.. except to quote Rocky Horror

On the day I went away... goodbye...
Was all I had to say... now I...
I want to come again and stay... Oh my my...
Smile, and that will mean that I may

Cause I've seen blue skies, through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.

Everywhere it's been the same... feeling...
Like I'm outside in the rain... wheeling...
Free, to try and find a game... dealing...
Cards for sorrow, cards for pain

Cause I've seen blue skies through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.


I'm going home, I'm going home.

There are just some things I'd rather they DIDN'T share!

namely vomiting bugs.  Thanks kids.. although it was Mike that had a tummy bug first.. then Jamie.. Blair.. then Vicki was up most of last night being sick.. (It was kinda lovely the way she kept wanting her "Mummy" though :-D) and now I feel like I have morning sickness all over again.. you know.. that queasy icky feeling :-(  ta muchly!

Had an email from my Nana yesterday.. Her brother passed away earlier in the week.  He had been sick for a long time.. at first they didn't know why he kept getting chest infections and why antibiotics weren't clearing the infection up... turns out he had lung cancer from Asbestos exposure :-(  RIP Uncle Des.

speaking of death...   Jawabean is still not home...  Maybe he played with one too many cane toads and one actually got him :-(   It's the not knowing that's hardest.  I might go and buy a special plant to remember him by.  Although, as a friend pointed out today, it's not so much of a great idea when you tend to kill plants PMSL

want some more bad news?   My close friend, Rachel, & co may be moving to Melbourne :-(   Rachel has been there for us since the day we arrived.. Our wonderful neighbour.  There are times I wish we'd stayed at Boyce St simply because I miss them.
I remember how hard it was when I was planning leaving my friends.. I remember how guilty I felt when they said they didn't want me to go...  So I really must stop telling Rachel that she isn't allowed to go :-D  ah well... We'll have to go on holidays to Melbourne (woohoooo SHOPPING Rach??) .. stopping at the Gold Coast on the way :-D  ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bubba's second top tooth has finally emerged!   awww he won't be my little hillbilly anymore. lol

Just as well he's pretty darned cute anyway! :-)   Went into Allphones to get a new cellphone the other day and they gave Jamie an old display model so between that and the old remote control that Rachel gave him.. he's having a blast!  'talking' with the phone to his ear and pointing the remote at the telly PMSL  He's so gorgeous!!  Has us all in hysterics at least once a day :-D


right.. am off to bed.. maybe I can sleep the bug away!

My JawaBean is missing :-(

he's been missing for 6 days now..  come home Jawa!!  RSPCA have him listed on their LOST database and apparently all vets report lost animals to them so fingers crossed he's found.  Even if he's somehow died.. we'd just like to know.

On a more positive note we have a new member to the family... 'Socks' the blue budgie :-D

Coloured Vicki's hair violet today.. I'm happy to compromise on things like experimenting with hair colour, piercings etc.. so long as she comes to the table as well and stays away from smoking, and drugs & stays at school.   A lot of people wouldn't agree with that but I feel so strongly against drugs.  I have to give her a little slack on the rope sometime eh??  I'm trusting her :-)  She's growing up so fast... she's taller and has bigger feet than me already!  she's still got a couple of years more growing yet!!!

Blair got an 'A' in sewing for making his pencilcase!  I'm so proud :-)  Cooking is next.. he should do well - he loves cooking & baking at home.  He's going to make someone a fantastic husband one day!

Jamie is doing really well.. everything is 'gog' at the moment.  He's eating well.. having a growth spurt I think.  SO much fun because of course everything that goes in.. must come OUT again :-D  It's lovely waking up to that shitty smell!  Although his smells like roses ;-D  He's sleeping through the night & is in Blairs room now.  I think Mike's snoring was waking him up.. Mike doesn't agree but how else do you explain that he sleeps right through the night the very first night he's out of our room!? lol  He has been referred to the paediatric surgeon for his bent diddle... apparently his actual penis is fine.. it's just the foreskin that's bent (the skin is contracted on one side) making him pee sideways which is fun during nappyfree time.. although the doc had a great point!  at least we don't get pee'd in the face when changing his nappy & it'll be a neat party trick when he's older! :-D  So anyway.. the doc thinks the only option is to circumcise the bubba.. But we'll see what the surgeon says because that isn't what Mike and I want (Jamie either I'm sure!!).  If that's the only option then we'll leave it for Jamie to decide when he's older so long as there isn't any medical problem arising from it which there isn't at this stage...no infection or anything.

I am SO SO SO incredibly proud of Mike!!  Tomorrow he goes out selling the real estate website to LJHooker - www.officialphotographer.biz   
Ray White Redlynch are VERY happy with both his photography and customer service so are using his services a lot.. If it goes like this with other real estates it looks as though we may have to hire people!! :-s  SCARY!!  When/if Jarrod (the wee boy I care for on w,th & f) moves then I'm not sure if I'll increase my hours at Gecko's because it may just be that I'll be needed to do the paperwork etc for the business! :-D    I'm looking forward to it!


ps:  one more credit card paid off!!!  WOOOHOOOOO!! :-)

Finally! some good-ish news!

Vicki, Sharna & Mikayla had the mediation with Jessica and the two guidance counsellors.. V,S & M were very co-operative but unfortunately J was not.  I got a phone call from the senior guidance officer to say that we should be VERY proud of Vicki (and we ARE!) because she was very mature throughout the mediation and came up with a lot of really good solutions which would have been great had the 'other party' co-operated..  Vicki & Sharna were threatened again the next morning by Jessica and her cousin so Mike & I went and saw the deputy - Leigh Litten - .. Turns out something about Jessica has come to light - something very serious and not to do with V, S or M or even the situation!  Jessica is likely just taking it out on the girls.. SO.. The school now admits the girls are essentially good girls and have NOT been bullying Jessica  - however they do need to learn that verbal abuse shouldn't be tit for tat!  just smile and walk away!  (you know... like the ad on TV..(this is said with an asian accent) "just spray... and walk away"

GOOD GIRL Vicki!!  We are VERY proud of you!

Not a good week so far.... maybe a cyclone will make it better!

Had my handbag stolen the other day.. of course my entire life is in it :-(  Spent an hour at the Police station but they reckon I won't get anything back.. Man the thieves are quick!  We were in an enclosed carpark and were in the shop for about 10 minutes!  ARSEHOLES!

  Oh well.. The threat of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului has cheered me up :-)  She *may* come closer to Cairns but at the moment it looks as though Townsville will get her.  Good luck to them all although she has downgraded to a Category 3 so will be damage but hopefully no loss of life..

Will keep you updated!!!!

Vicki & Blair are going to Sharna's (Vicki's BFF & my honorary daughter!)  b-day party tomorrow night with a superhero theme..  It's very nice of Vic & Sharna to include Blair :-)  I hope they have a great time!  ps: Happy Birthday to Grandma! (Sharna's real grandma - Vicki, Blair & Jamie's honorary grandma :-D)

Mr Independent aka Jamie has decided that he is to no longer have anyone feed him because he can do it himself thank you very much :-D  He had his 12 month immunisations the other day... barely a cry and has been fine since.  69cms short, 8.2kg.  both measurements have him running along just under the 3rd centile but in proportion and following his own path.

I love how close Vicki & Jamie are...

from this

to this... in a year :-)

sooo tired...

I so very much want to go to bed and go to sleep but my brain is buzzing :-s Vicki has been being bullied at school right (along with her friends Sharna & Michaela) including having a knife held to them (that boy has been expelled) but now the boys cousin is bulling them.. punched Vicki the other day and I get a phone call from Sharnas grandma to say that we'll be receiving letters tomorrow from the school advising that Vicki, Sharna & Michaela are to attend a mediation with this girl on Monday because THEY are bullying HER!! WTF!?!?!?! The school have also called in education qld! ummm how did it go from Vicki & co being the victims to, less than 24 hrs later, THEY are the bullies? And how did it go from Me being TOTALLY clueless about this to a mediation inclusive of education qld??? Is there not a process they need to go through? ie: a warning, maybe a talking to and a behaviour contract, a phone call to the parents to say "Hey.. Your daughter is being a bully.. Help us deal with it?".. SURELY it doesn't go STRAIGHT to mediation?? and without me being told!! I had to hear it from another parent for crying out loud! So I called Education Qld to see what Vickis rights are.. spoke with the woman that will be there and she asked what I understood the situation to be.. ummmmmmmmmm It's VERY different to what SHE has been told and she cannot believe that the school haven't contacted me before now! especially given we have had a lot of contact with the school over the last few weeks because of the knife incident.. The school are also claiming that this is not related to that.. ummmm It was started BY the other incident so how are they not related???? ARGH! So wish I had the money, patience, ability and know-how to homeschool!

Inspiration from a few friends

will see me going out today to buy tomato, lettuce and bean seeds and pots to grow them in on the patio. Also going to go to Rusty's markets each week for other fruit and veg.. We NEED to start eating better. Mike & I both have gained so much weight since we've been here.. it's just so hot to be preparing and eating a 'meal'. Not so good either when it gets to a point at night that Vicki & Blair ask if they should just make themselves some toasties for tea because they're hungry and I STILL haven't made anything :-( BAD MUMMY! But we're inspired by Eden & Mel! thanks guys :-) We'll be self-sufficient for 2012 eh?

on another note.. SO proud of Jamie at the moment! This morning he was playing with the aircon remote and knew exactly which button makes the 'beep' lol. Then the neighbours dog barked and he looked up and said "GOG!".. a few minutes later Jawa meowed and he looked to the door and said "t,t,t,t!". So proud that he recognises what a dog and cat sound like and the words for them :-) He's also just started dancing! so cute! I love him!

Blair was bullied at school yesterday.. I've let him stay home today. He has a sore ear anyway so was already considering it. He doesn't want to go back to school... 3 girls and a boy from the year above him chased him and a friend of his around the school and then punched them and took photos on their cells while they were on the ground and then said they couldn't get up until they begged :-s

oooo day two!

well, technically I missed the actual day but I'm blogging for a second time ;-D    Went to a friends birthday gathering at the Chocolate Room (www.thechocolateroom.com.au) and then on to see Alice in Wonderland 3D..  Great movie and I'd tell you all about it if I hadn't slept for the last half! lol... so tired and have to get up at 6am to go to work tomorrow..  Onward and upward!

wooohoooo!! we're up and running!

let's see how long I can keep this blog going for ;-p  Never was very good at keeping a diary so I shall just pretend I am speaking to you all in person! ;-D  Wish me luck!