Pics from South Africa

King is a complete charmer. His sunny nature and wonky smile melted the most childfree of hearts, and his giggle had everyone queuing up to tickle him! Of course he is at the best age right now - very interactive but immobile and unable to argue.

The only pictures I have without King in them are from the seafront walk I did pushing him in the pram. This is Muizenberg Beach, where an old friend's company has a flat that he lent to me. The best view was from outside the door to the walkway! I grew up on Muizenberg Beach, as Dad was a surfing dude and we were always at the beach - I loved it.

Here are a couple of shots of Dad.

He actually looks brilliant, as he picked up a nasty skin complaint in hospital which caused his skin to peel off like cellophane, and now he has a baby's bum complexion! Of course he's extremely skinny and a bit gaunt, but if you didn't know him you'd probably not notice how very thin he is. When I left Dad was consuming at least 6 meals a day to build himself back up again, so hopefully he no longer weighs less than me!

Also a shot of King with StepGranny, and with Sis.

That's about it. I took very few photos - it just wasn't that kind of trip. I did take along a brand new video camera but hardly used it... which is just as well because I have somehow wiped all the videos before working out how to download them! Gah.

Home

Actually, I have been home for a week! Kids, jet lag, and a rotten Internet connection have stopped me emailing, never mind blogging! This is just a quick note to say I am alive, sent from Milord's iPad.

 My trip to South Africa was as good as a trip to see a terminally ill parent can be. All my friends and family rallied to organise me a car, accommodation, babyseat, cot, toys etc. Plus folk came visiting at very short notice once Dad was out of hospital and things calmed down a bit.

I can't upload pics right now, so let me just say that when I got to Cape Town Dad was finally being allowed unmasked and ungowned visitors, so he could meet King and have a hug from me. Over Easter Dad was released from hospital, and although extremely frail he was very happy to go home.

By the time I flew home a week ago Dad was much better, and he tells me he is now driving a little bit too, although still having to take things very easy.

Obviously the lung cancer isn't going anywhere. At the moment Dad is trying to decide on life quality vs quantity, a hell of a thing to have to contemplate, especially with a doting wife to consider.

 I will write a better post once my computer can connect again!

Saffa Chick in Saffa Land

I haven't dropped off the planet, just travelled half way around it! I am in Cape Town, South Africa, visiting my Dad who has been scarily ill. 

Dad has lung cancer, and in the hopes of improving the odds he started a course of chemo a few weeks back. Now, chemo disagrees with everyone, but as Dad was in a frail state to begin with it totally floored him. He has been in a hospice ward for a couple of weeks with no white cells, unable to get out of bed. On top of the normal chemo side effects he also caught a couple of nasty bugs.

Luckily all that is now under control and Dad was discharged a few days after I got here. He is awfully weak and still suffering from various complaints, but he looks better every time I see him. 

I didn't want to post anything about my trip because for a while there this trip was looking to have a sad ending. Instead, it is a mostly joyful time of watching Dad regain his strength! Obviously the cancer is still lurking in the wings, but for now I still have my lovely Dad to spend time with.

I brought King to South Africa with me, and left Princess at home with Milord and a nanny. I just couldn't face the trip with both of them, and Dad is in no state to cope with an easily bored toddler. Dad has met Princess before, but not King, so King came along. Honestly, it couldn't have turned out better, as King was brilliant on the flights, and poor Princess came down with a virus just before I flew and has only just got better! We checked in super early and got a bassinet which King loved sleeping in, and I had the best leg room since I was a child. The domestic connection was less comfy, but the crew were great and King slept in my arms while I rested my wineglass on my neighbour's tray!

I have been out of South Africa for so long that I have completely forgotten how friendly people are. Everyone greets you as you walk by, and if you are stuck in a queue or a lift they will chat or play with the baby. It's nice. I am, however, very tired of being told how FAT!!! King is by everyone from a passing stranger to a doting Auntie. Yes, he is a very big, plump boy. And so he should be. Princess at the same age was the same shape (go back and look) and now she is slender and so will he be. King has a bottle of milk every 4 hours, except for the feed he skips at night, and that's quite ok. He has rejected all solids so far and I am not going to force him before he is ready, no matter what the great-aunts say.... growl

My family in South Africa is big and close-knit and have been totally awesome. I am driving a cousin's car, with carseat hired by an aunt who is also handling my airport pickup and dropoff. Another cousin has found me a cot, pram, playmat, toys and bumbo seat. To top it off a couple of my inland cousins are flying in next weekend to visit me while I am here! I have no family in Oz, but boy do I have a great family here!

I also have a super circle of friends. While most have scattered to the 4 winds following their careers and wanderlust, the few left in town have been quick to offer their help and companionship. I am currently staying in the company beachfront flat of an old boss, typing on his spare iPad - all free! Other friends have all offered catch up time... I have been a bit distracted but now that my Dad is so much better I hope to touch base with them.

My sister came and crashed on the couch here over Easter. We had a nice time even though Sis is not very mobile and also is on a cocktail of antidepressants which help her through life but make her rather subdued. She loves her nephew and spent as much time as possible playing with him. Sis also brought along all the Twilight movies which we watched back to back and now I am dreaming vampires! I think the books suck (heh) but the movies do a good job of making a silk purse from a sow's ear.

In a couple of days Dad and Stepmom will travel home to Saldanha, just over an hour up the west coast, and we will go with them. Then a week with Dad in his seaview house before I fly home to Milord and Princess who I miss terribly.

King has been such a great kid on this trip. Some days he hardly gets a fraction of his naps (he has 3 a day) because of running around or unconducive sleeping arrangements, but he can always muster a smile and cuddle for everyone. Especially Mummy, who sometimes really needs a cuddle!

Mirena IUD Fail

Back in October I had the Mirena IUD inserted. It protects you from pregnancy for 5 years, and in many women your periods practically disappear. Awesome.

Well, it just wasn't working for me. I had heavy bleeding followed by constant spotting followed by bleeding and spotting and spotting and bleeding for 3 months. In January it started getting less and lighter, but I was still icky for 3 weeks out of 4. Plus Milord can feel the "string" and doesn't like it.

Today I had the Mirena removed and an Implanon (a rod of hormone) inserted under the skin of my arm. I've used Implanon before and loved it - the only reasons I went with Mirena this time is because Implanon only lasts 3 years vs Mirena's 5, and because removing it leaves slight scarring.

My GP says the Mirena seemed very low in my uterus and maybe it was being ineffective, causing spotting and probably not preventing pregnancy! Luckily (hah) what with all the ick, and us being so damn tired with 2 sick kids, there's not much danger of me being preggers...

I'm looking forward to the spotting going away for a few years soon. After all the time I spent on Depo, then Implanon, then pregnant twice, I find having to bleed every month most disconcerting!

I thought I'd write this TMI post for those women out there going through the same thing. These devices affect every one of us differently though - a friend went on Implanon after talking to me and gained 10kg! She's got her munchies under control now, but it was a struggle. I don't react to Implanon the same way, but I think it's because I have constant munchies anyway - I also didn't gain any unusual weight with Mirena except for a couple of Christmas kilos which are gone now.

King's Christening

A bit tired over here. Both kids and Milord have had colds forever and cough and grumble and snore through the night... *sigh*

King's Christening was on the day after my birthday. While I'm not religious, Milord sort of is, so we've had both kids baptised in the Presbyterian church.

Princess thinks any sort of music and singing is an invitation to sing and dance continuously from that moment on.







The godparents.

40 - Part 2

I can't sleep, so might as well continue...

A friend's girlfriend is a caterer and they have a 12-seater dining table, and they offered to host a dinner party for my birthday. It was interesting to have to narrow my friends down to 8 invitees (excluding ourselves and the hosts)! Apart from the guest list I had no input into the planning so there was an element of surprise.

I managed to squeeze into a glamorous gown, and had a fabulous evening.

Milord hired a waiter for the night, and we arrived to mingle with canapes and champagne. The starter was a Stilton souffle with fig salad, and then Milord played a PowerPoint presentation he'd put together from photos of me that he'd got from my parents and my old photo albums. My parents (and my aunties and uncle - hi!) sent through video greetings, and it was very funny and touching.



The main was a divine duck confit, and the dessert was an espresso creme brulee that people are still talking about! Our friend also made chocolate truffles to go with coffee but I was too full to do them justice.




What a great evening. I managed to talk to everyone, the food and wine were amazing, the service was super, and I think everyone had a good time. We were home by midnight to relieve the babysitter which is very civilised!



A wonderful start to my 5th decade!

Ok, 3am, I'll try to go back to bed. Next post - King's Christening on the day after my birthday.

40!

Ok, this is a week late. I have been busy. And tired. And my Dad is in a bad way...

Anyhoo, I turned 40 last Saturday and it was fabulous! My 2 oldest friends, who I met in South Africa at 17 while attending Art College, now live in Australia and flew in from Perth and Brisbane on the Friday.



We rented a flat down the road with a view of the Sydney skyline. In the evening a lady masseuse gave us each massages and we ate Turkish takeaway.



On Saturday, my birthday, I woke at 7am. For me this is a lie in! I had a coffee watching the sun come up over Sydney, and at 9:30 we met Milord and the kids at the train station. Princess loved being on a train! Until she got bored, anyway.



Then we took a ferry ride around the harbour. Princess loved being on a boat! Until she got bored, anyway.



Then we walked around to a restaurant with a view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge for brunch.



It was awesome. Princess went right past her naptime but was pretty good about it. Then train home for naptime...

To be Continued!

Fashion Show

It is a chilly wet day, Milord has the car (with the pram in the boot), and both kids have colds. How shall we amuse ourselves? How about playing dress-up?!

A few days ago we all went to a Christening and I put Princess in a dress for the first time since she began crawling (because she doesn't walk much and crawling gets her tangled in dresses). I put leggings on under her dress so that after the service when she wanted to play on the floor I could just tuck the skirt into it!

Princess was intrigued by her collection of unworn dresses (mostly hand-me-downs) and today asked to wear one, so I thought we could try on a few! I set up a mirror in the living room and brought out all the dresses.

I got her to stand up in front of the mirror. She's a bit wobbly but it's great that she can stand on her own now!

We started with a fairy dress on over her shirt and pants.



Then she tried on the dress and pretty new shoes I intend for her to wear to King's Christening on Sunday.



Then a Dora dress, which is rather short and can probably be worn as a long top over trousers.



And a red dress.



Then a long pink dress which she had a go at walking around in. This is Princess' walking style - all elbows! She has her eyes on the prize - a jellybean. The dress was too long for walking practice though - when she fell over she couldn't get up without standing on it, which made her fall again.



Then back into comfy top and pants for a turn in King's bouncer!



After a rest Princess did more walking with me. I set up waystations of low tables between the front and back of the house, and slowly got her to walk from furniture item (and jellybean) to furniture item (and jellybean) until she managed the whole length of the house. This is quite an achievement as most of the house has hard wooden floors and Princess dislikes walking on hard surfaces. She will usually only walk on the living room mat because it is soft to fall on. I think having tables to stop at along the way gave her confidence, plus the more she falls the more she will realise that it doesn't really hurt too much.

We really hope she'll get the hang of this walking thing by the time she turns 3!

PS. Princess had her first haircut last week. I want to keep her hair this length because any longer and it gets knots, plus this way it is more curly too!

Milestone

King is 6 months old yesterday! We celebrated by moving him into his sister's room.

King has been getting easier and easier to put to bed and to resettle lately. Partly because he's getting older maybe, but certainly a gentle application of control crying seems to have done the trick.

Yesterday I shuffled furniture around in Princess' room (now to be know as the Kid's room) and managed to squeeze in 2 cots, a double bed, change table, bookshelf, set of drawers and 2 portable wardrobes. You have to sidle around the double bed to get anywhere but it works!

When I put Princess to bed last night I warned her that King would be sleeping in her room that night ("Ooh yes please!") and that she'd have to be quiet when be brought him in (whispers: "Like this Mummy?!"). When I bought him in an hour after her bedtime she was still awake but did her best to be quiet as I put him down. He grumbled a little and then... they were both asleep! Wow.

Of course King then had the worst night in weeks. I think he has a cold - he was crying and snuffly. We resettled him until midnight when he drank a whole bottle, then resettled him until 5:30am when he drank another bottle and thankfully went back to sleep until 7am when Princess began singing.

Milord and I are a bit shattered, but Princess was really good about sleeping through most of it and going back to sleep when woken. Right now they are having a midday nap together... it's too good to be true!

Hmm, what else? We've tried solids and King hates them so far - I don't think he's ready. The look of horror and the shudder before he spits it out is extremely comical! He did do a serious nom on a teething rusk yesterday, but when it started flaking he spat the bits out. Fair enough - he's thriving on milk right now so there is no rush. I am happy to skip the gloopy stage and wait for him to pick up food.

Milord and I have our room back! We can access a whole new set of cupboards! It's awesome.

I've been slack with pics, but here are a couple:

Princess and King watching something on "her" laptop. King is too little to argue about what they're going to see. Yet.




And this is how we find King quite often. Poor little mite!

And on the bright side...

My life here is Oz is going rather splendidly, as if to underline the troubles happening to my Dad. I feel wrong talking about the good things when others are going through bad stuff... but that's sort of silly, right?

Princess' walking is coming along nicely. She can get up and stand for a good minute and a half and will happily walk across a room if you ask her to. She's pretty wobbly and falls over a fair bit, but no more than any other baby learning to walk I reckon. Holding my hand we can walk all the way to the shops, and that trip is getting faster all the time (it used to take 20 minutes to the top of my street - now it takes 5 minutes).

The potty training is going great. Today was her first puddle in a couple of weeks, and I've not had to deal with a toddler-poo nappy in ages!

King is getting the hang of falling asleep alone! He still needs a bit of help dropping off from time to time, but last night I made the executive decision that we would leave him to squawk for 5 minutes before picking him up - he resettled himself 3 times in the night before the 5 minutes was up, and we made it to 7am! Milord is a whole different person today (Milord usually does the nighttime resettling).

I'm turning 40 in a couple of weeks and my husband and friends are making a lovely fuss about it. I really don't mind turning 40 - I hated turning 30 because all the goals I had in my head were unreached, but I've certainly ticked all the boxes in the last decade!
Sunny country? Check.
Loving husband? Check.
2 perfect children? Check.
Own house? Check.

Our remortgage should pay out soon and as of next month Milord is getting a pay rise - hopefully we'll start breaking even now.

Life is fab. Now if only I could channel some of my luck to someone else... I love you Dad xxx.