Bliss...

Bliss= Hamish and M napping at once and an uninterrupted coffee and catch-up of last week's Grey's Anatomy.

Hamish and  I tried story-time at the library this morning and we will be going back next week.  I used to take Abbey and Gabe when they were younger and then we stopped because Hamish at 2 was a wild child.  Think running madly around the library, trying to escape out the door any chance he had and mostly just interrupting the story.  Plus it used to be in the afternoon, so messed up the nap time routine.  Thursday mornings suit us, as Mitchell was on a Mum visit, so it was just Hamish and I.  He didn't quite know what to do when they were singing, but he loved the stories.  Today the stories were about the beach.  Grocery shopping and story-time obviously wore him out, as HE decided he needed a nap!

Hamish got an acceptance into Valley Brook Kindergarten for next year in the mail yesterday.  We decided on a different kinder for him as I think he will really benefit from a structured program, and not many kinders in the city of Casey offer that.  He will also be there with a few kids that he will be in prep with.

A fresh start...inspired

This week I have 're-found' an old friend (work colleague) on facebook, and through her blog been inspired to come back here.  She has 6 kids and still finds time to blog- so if she can do it- then so can I.  It may be hard to find the time, but it's definitely worth it to read back on little memories of the kids which otherwise would have been lost forever.

This time I want to include little bits about me and what is important to me as a Mum and as a person.  So lets see how I go.

Right now I'm a 37 year old mostly-SAHM.  Still usually work 1 shift per week in a small rehab hospital.  I work with some great people, the work is mostly low-stress and sometimes it's just nice to get out of the house, have some adult conversation and also feel like I am contributing financially a little bit.  I work mostly afternoon shifts and so miss bedtimes on those days.  I miss that time with my babies and I know they miss me.  Especially hard when my big 2 (although Hamish keeps telling me he is big too) get dropped off at school in the morning and then they don't see me until the next morning.  Love working casually though- so that I work when it suits ME and I don't miss out on anything important in my kids lives.  Love my husband of 12 (yes 12!) years and love that he is an involved father.  Also love that our different approaches to parenting (usually) compliment each other so well.  Just had parent-teacher interviews this week and we must be doing something right, because we got told by both teachers that our kids are pretty special!  And what parent wouldn't love to hear that?

Abbey is 7 (how did that happen)?  Seems a life-time ago before she existed and we both worked full-time.  We thought we were busy back then.  We are busy now- but our lives are so much more fullfilled.  Abbey is in Grade 1, loves school, loves her friends and tries so hard at everything she does.  Her and Gabe are still super-close, just like twins (which is what lots of people think- as they are the same height).  Abbey and Gabe have sleep-overs in each others rooms every weekend.  Most importantly Abbey is growing into a beautiful girl inside and out.  She has a heart of gold, is very thoughtful towards others feeling, shy and non-confrontational (actually quite like her Mum!), and much to my delight has just developed a love of shopping!  Abbey and I enjoyed a 'girls day' last Sunday (organised at the last minute) and she loved helping me choose some new clothes and also a few small things for herself.  Her other passion is her dancing.  Twice a week we go to ballet & tap dancing classes. 

Gabe is 5.  Enjoying Prep.  In fact didn't want 2 weeks off for the holidays as "that's boring and I won't learn anything".  Although he tells us he doesn't like play-time at school- "only learning time"- he has made some great friends this year.  Diagnosed with epilepsy last year- which took a lot of getting our heads around and changing our way of thinking.  We are now happy that he has been seizure-free for 6  months on Epilim.  He even made it through the flu with 24 hrs of 38 degree  plus temps (on regular Panadol) with no seizures.  So quietly we have done a little happy dance around here!  We just have to get through another 18 months seizure-free- then can think about weaning off the Epilim.  BUT this past year has taught us to live a little more in the moment.  I try not to think too much about what Gabe's future will be like if is involves Epilepsy.  Right now he is happy and learning and that is what matters.  Doesn't help that I worked in neuroscience for 7 years, and don't think I ever met anyone with Epilepsy who didn't also have developmental delays or serious health issues.  Gabe is very lucky to be so well controlled on 1 drug, and although it was hard to find the right dose- I will be forever grateful that we did.  Gabe hasn't found an extra-curricular activity that he wants to try yet.  He very patiently (well sometimes not so patiently) sits and waits for Abbey at dancing each Wednesday and Saturday BUT he loves watching the concert each December and he is ok with that!

Oh and just to give an example of Gabe's love of learning and fact-gathering, he woke me up at 6.40 this morning (on a Saturday) to tell me all the facts about the planets and the universe that he learnt yesterday.  He had probably been thinking about it all night!

Hamish turned 4 in May.  He is still our funny little guy.  Goes to 3 year old kinder this year 2 days a week at a local community centre.  Monday's I stay as the class volunteer, which he loves.  Wednesdays he goes into occasional care after kinder, so I have Wednesdays 9.30 -2.30 to myself.  Wednesdays they have a Afghan playgroup in the same area of the centre and Hamish has made friends with a little girl, who follows him around and pretty much the only English word she knows is 'Hamish'.  Her Mum brings Afghan treats each week which Hamish enjoys.  The way to Hamish's heart is definitely food- loves pretty much anything except meat (has to be in the mood).  Which is very refreshing after 2 extremely fussy eaters!   He is very sociable and a little bit crazy (like his
Dad).  Makes my life interesting, not shy at all, and we have already warned the school that they will have fun when he starts!  Hamish also decided to do dancing this year, so he does tiny-tots dancing on a Saturday morning with a friends little girl.  So cute and definitely can't wait for the concert!

Oh and yes we are accredited foster carers.  Currently we have M living with us.  2 years old and looks like he will stay at least until November.  Visits Mum 3 times a week with the plan to go back to her hopefully by the end of the year.  M is our 5th foster child.  Abbey, Gabe and Hamish love having an 'extra' here; and honestly we all have to be on board for it to work.  We all just survived school holidays with the flu- which was very miserable!  So it is actually nice to be back into normal routines this week.

These photos are from a recent winter adventure to the park near my sister Donna's house in St Kilda.  It was cold and miserable, and the easy thing would have been to stay home.  We ventured out though, and Abbey and Gabe got to try their 1st donut ever at Glick's Bakery (Kosher) and loved it.  Anaphylaxis to cows milk means that most treats like donuts are off-limits.