Smile!

Yay I got one on camera!

Im a little slow....

But I love this song. I know I know its pretty old, but like I said, Im a little slow LOL

Welcome to the World Iain Jasper.

Well our 4th child has now joined the family. He was 1 week over his EDD. The older children have accepted him nicely in to the family and things are just great.

Here is the story of his birth.

The birth of Iain Jasper – 10/11/2008.

This labour & birth was a little different to my previous children. I went into it expecting I knew what woul dhappen & how it would all pan out. After all, my 3 older children all followed a simlar pattern. I thought I knew what to expect to some degree with this one also.

I was overdue once more & not really feeling as though anything was going to happen anytime soon. On Thursday the 6^th I had a ultrasound & midwife appointment.

The ultrasound showed a happy & healthy baby. All baby, not a lot of fluid but he was fine. The Sonographer commented on the blood flow through his cord & that it was exceptioally good. He also predicted he would be at least 8 & half pounds.

Later at the midwife appointment, I found the midwife to be alittle pushy in wanting to get things going. Asked me to return on Monday for monitoring and also a vaginal exam and to book an induction. I refused and let her know I would come in for monitoring but that would be all. I was not booking or agreeing to an induction this early into being “overdue”. She seem to think the more she said that I would agree. Instead I just laughed & said I will just go into labour on the weekend.

Well, Saturday I was getting the odd niggle here & there. We decided to go down to the shops & have a little wander around for christmas present idea’s for the kids.

By the time we came home I was having tightenings every 10 minutes. Nothing painful but there.

I went for a walk to the end of our road & back. We live in the mountains and the road we live on has a fairly big hill just at the start. Walking up that nearly killed me.

Once I got home there had been no real improvement on things.

Come midnight I thought I would head to bed & try to sleep.

Lying down made the tightenings more painful so by 1am, I got up again thinking things where starting to happen.

I had a show earlier in the evening so thought (from previous labours) that things are going to happen in the next 12 hours max.

But nope, getting up seems to slow things down once more. By 3 am I took some panadol & got back in bed. I did sleep, not heaps but I remember dreaming so I must have slept at some point.

Sunday I was tired and still getting tightenings every 10 minutes. Everynow then they would be 6 minutes. Just not lasting very long.

I went for another walk up my street to try & speed things along. Again it did nothing but give me sore legs.

I went on like this all day, getting more & more frustrated and tired. By late afternoon I had a cry to Simon. I don’t do well emotionally when I am tired & was getting scaredt aht being so tired would make the labour & birth more difficult as I would not be able to cope emotionally.

I called my Doula, Tracey & had a talk about were things where at and what I thought I might like to do. I decided I would call the hospital and see what they thought.

So I did this and was told it sounded like braxton hicks. But to come in when I am ready & have a check of whats happening.

So I called my Mum to come up around 9pm to stay with the kids while Simon & I went to get some postive news to help keep us sane!. When Mum arrived we decided it was better for her to take me down & Simon to stay home with the kids and sleep if he could.

We arrived at the hospital around 11pm. The midwife (Julie) checked me out & said I was 4cm but not thinning. She did a stretch & sweep and suggested going for a walk. If things had not picked up with in the hour then I should try & sleep as things wont be happenings if they didn’t pick up after the S&S.

So Mum & I walked the hospital for an hour & things did seem to pick up. But I was buggered from walking up my street earlier & really couldn’t keep walking around all night.
As soon as I sat things slowed down again. By 2 I decided that I would send mum home & try & sleep seems things are not progressing anyway.

So we went to go get my bag from her car & things picked up again. So in the end Mum stayed, slept best she could on the chair while I took some panadine & tried to sleep also.

Earlier in the evening when we first arrived Julie had said she wanted me to birth at 12 and the other lady coming could birth at 4am.

Well come 3 am I was still pregnant obviously,but I heard the other lady arrive. I listened as she laboured and went on to birth her son at 3 minutes past 4am! I later joked with Julie how spot on she got it for her. She laughed and said well you can go on have your baby at 6am.

By 5 am things seemed to be picking up so I got in the shower. While in there I felt the baby move down and actually felt like he gave me a good punch in the bum!

I sat towards the end of my shower and then took another 5 minutes once I turned it off to actually get up. I could feel the pressure and was worried if I got up I would need to push.

I got up and sat on the edge of the bed. I sat like this for about an hour I think untill I called Simon to come in. I also sent tracey a SMS to come to the hospital when she was ready too.

During the time I was waiting for Simon to arrive mum was encouarnging me to get up from the bed. But I kept saying No. I didn’t want to move. I just knew if I did I would soon be pushing and Simon had not arrived yet.

Things were getting more intense and I sent Simon a message asking how far away he was. He was in the car park.

Once he got up to delivery I felt better. Things actually easied off a little at this point I think. The kids pottered about touching things for about 10 minutes when Mum took them to go watch cartoons in the waiting room. Once they had left I was ready to stand up. I went to the toilet to pee & could feel the pressure there.

I returned to the bed, but asked to try sitting on the birth stool but it was too low for me to be comfortable so I stood leaning over the bed.

I had pressure but no real urge to push. But when I did go with the flow of the contraction I think I was putting more effort in standing then pushing. My legs were like jelly (that bloody hill!!).

Simon was massaging my back & tracey would place a calming hand between my shoulders and tell me how well I was doing. My midwife Leanne asked if it was ok if she she broke my waters as she could feel (even see) them bulging. I agreed.

After a few more contractions I was helped up onto the bed & leant over the back of it on my knees.

Again I could feel the pressure and the need to push but just no urge to push.

I even remember saying how weird it was that with the others by this point there was no stopping in between contactions and having a chat, they were on top of each other.

Leanee checked once again & im sure she was surprised I had no urge to push as he was right there. She nicked the membrains once more as she thought it was just the hind waters earlier.

Once she did this THEN I felt the need to push.

Iain Jasper came into the world with both hand up around his head. Once across his face & the other up around his ear. I felt his head born & he even had a little cry before I birthed his body.

I felt his body just as I did his head. With the others the body just followed. But Iain felt the same as his head.

So at 9.04 am Iain Finally made his entry to the world.

Simon cut the cord and went and got the kids & my Mum. Iain had his first breastfeed while the kids watched as I birthed the placenta.

Iain was weighed, coming in as my biggest at 9lb 9oz, 52 cm long and HC of 37cm (equal first in HC with my 2^nd child Glenn).

He is doing really well, slotting into the family perfectly.

I honestly feel that Iain would have been born at least an hour earlier had Simon been there. I just knew If I stood I would need to push. But I just had to wait till Simon had arrived. I couldn’t have birthed our son knowing he was only moments away.

We had to wait for Daddy!

Iain Jasper came into the world with both hand up around his head. Once across his face & the other up around his ear. I felt his head born & he even had a little cry before I birthed his body.

I felt his body just as I did his head. With the others the body just followed. But Iain felt the same as his head.

So at 9.04 am Iain Finally made his entry to the world.

Simon cut the cord and went and got the kids & my Mum. Iain had his first breastfeed while the kids watched as I birthed the placenta.

Iain was weighed, coming in as my biggest at 9lb 9oz, 52 cm long and HC of 37cm (equal first in HC with my 2^nd child Glenn).

He is doing really well, slotting into the family perfectly.

I honestly feel that Iain would have been born at least an hour earlier had Simon been there. I just knew If I stood I would need to push. But I just had to wait till Simon had arrived. I couldn’t have birthed our son knowing he was only moments away.

We had to wait for Daddy!

I have 2 boys and A GIRL (soon to be 3 boys)

I am forever getting comments off people in the shops etc how lovely it is that I have THREE boys.
Mostly old ladies.
Now Isla has to be one of the most girly girls around. She loves her pink dresses, hats, shoes, handbags & bubba's.
She is usually dressed in at least item of pink.
She has the most girly features, how can she be mistaken as a boy? I know why.. She hasn't the longest of hair. But seriously people do you think I would dress my boy in a pink dress with butterflies on it?
Ok, first glance you see a child with short hair, you think boy. BUT before you open your mouth & make a fool of yourself, stop & take a moment to absorb the rest of what you see. A pretty little GIRL.

Plus, she has hair... I can prove it, see...





I dare say she will have very very thick hair like me. Its just taking its time to get some length but its thickening up nicely.

From 1 to 4

Here are some belly shots of each of my pregnancies. I think this one will be my biggest belly.

Evan the day before he was born.



Glenn, this is obvioulsy not a photo of my belly. Sadly all the short of his birth, including the last belly shot got ruined at the hands of a incompetent photo lab.
But I did this belly cast about 4 days before he was born. Kinda shows how big I got.


Then we have Isla, this was taken a day or before she was born 12 days overdue.


Here I am at 33 weeks with my current little man.



I went shopping to day & was asked if this was my first. I think that's a great compliment given its my 4th!

Our weekend away.

Friday the 12th we drove down to Canberra. Our first big family drive.
We left about 7.30 Friday morning & made our way down via the M7.
It was an ok drive. I HATE long distance drives so it was nice that this was reasonably pleasant.
We stopped twice along the way. Simon was keen to do the tourist drives etc but I really wanted to get to Canberra by lunch time. So insisted we stick to the main roads & save the detours for the way home.
We stopped at one rest stop for a toilet stop & stretch our legs & all that.

I took these photos of the kids. I really like this one of Glenn, He was looking at the little flowers in the grass.





We also made another small stop as Isla had gotten rather upset over her show coming off! Well at least thats all I could figure out was wrong with her.

Once we arrived in Canberra we checked into the motel & then made our way to Questacon. That was fun, chasing the kids around was not so fun, but The boys really enjoyed it. They got to see & touch alot of things. It was a great place for the kids as they got to touch pretty much everything in there.
There was a kiddy spot that they all enjoyed. It had a building area, a little science area with magnets which is always a hit with my kids, a little climbing thing, a water play thing. It was fun.
Then They also got to experience an earth quake & see lightening, be blasted with wind, see how fast they could throw a ball. It really was a fun afternoon.

Evan in the building Pit.



Isla in her Lab coat


Glenn doing some construction.


Evan & Glenn being Blasted with tornado wind


After visiting questacon we did a very brief visit in the national library. Basically walked in, stood there & walked out. But Simon wanted to go in & have a look. But was happy with just being able to say he has been in the national library.
We then headed back to the Motel. The boys thought it was fun, we all had big long hot showers which was a real treat living on tank water & limited hot water. So we all took advantage of that!
Friday night I had a crap night sleep. I am sure I was awake for a part of every single hour of the night. I tossed & turned and woke at 6am with sore shoulders.

Saturday we made our way to the Selwyn Snowfields. I had been told by at least 3 people that it was the place to take kids. We drove to Cooma & had lunch at Macca's & then drove onto the snow. So about 3 hours once we actually got to the snowfields.
I was very disappointed. Yes there was snow but it was patchy. But kids (Evan especially) was excited to see the snow. We got out of the car & the boys needed to pee, so Simon took them over to the side of the road to pee before getting all geared up for playing. I spent a good 20 minutes getting the kids ready in snow suits a friend had lent us, Simon got ready in his bike gear, I got ready in my jeans & gum boots. I thought I would be fine like that. After all I had no intention of rolling around in the snow. I wasn't cold.
So we make our way over to the snow & Glenn tells me he needs to wee! So Simon takes Evan & Isla while Glenn & I hunt down the toilets.
Now you know those holes int he ground with a toilet seat attached you see at rural picnic area's or road side rest stops. They are gross as. They stink. After all that are just a hole filled with shit & urine!
Well picture 10 of those in a row, in a small room with big glass windows with the sun blaring in.
It was the most disgusting public toilet facilities I had ever been in. Seriously It was gross.
So I tell Glenn not to touch a thing. We struggle to get him positioned over the toilet while not touching anything. This was done by be holding him up as he was too short & holding his bits out to wee. He then tells me there isn't any!

So once again I get him geared back up & head back to Simon. Only to pass a kid (say about 3) peeing in the snow, after I had just finished telling them all (Simon mostly) that NO you can not wee in the snow & that the last thing I would want to do is play in snow some kid had pee'd in! but anyway I guess we all have different levels of parenting standards.

So we find Simon & Evan is zooming off down the hill on the toboggan (also lent to us). Poor Isla was just sitting there on Simon's lap with no expression on her face. After a little while we made our way to the bottom of the very big steep hill were Simon & the boys dug in the pile of snow & I held Isla. Isla eventually wanted to be down. So I stood there & watched. Dragged her around a little on the toboggan. Helped Glenn have a few goes down the hill.
Then the fun started....
Glenn's pants kept riding up & as a result his boots kept getting snow in them. Eventually his socks where wet though & his feet sore. So I took them off, set him up so his feet where inside his pants & said not to move. I went back to the car & got him new socks. But remember I am 33 weeks pregnant & it was a blood big hill I had to go back up.
By the time I got back to him he had his now wet inside boots back on, crying that his feet here sore.
Evan had also started. He had hit his head on a sign, got snow accidentally down the back of his jacket & well things just got worse.
Glenn's boots were wet on the inside so the new (2 layers) of socks lasted about 15 minutes before he was complaining again.
Evan kept on & on about being cold.
I was tired & uncomfortable. Remember I said I thought I would be fine in just jeans. Well as I said I wasn't cold. BUT I couldn't sit down at all. I was standing on uneven ground, walking up big hills & dragging kids around on the toboggan.
So when I got back to 2 kids crying & whinging & lost it. Said I was going back & sitting in the car blah blah blah.
But I stopped & just pretty much stood there for another 20 minutes or so until Glenn could no longer handle his wet boots & Simon said he would take Evan up & suss out the tyres that people where sliding down the hill on.
We get back to the top of the hill to find that they stop selling tickets for this tyre thing 8 minutes ago. Evan once again looses it, throws his gloves off & sulks in the snow for a few minutes while we stand there & wait for him to get up.
finally we all storm off to the car & leave.
Evan has now started that he wants to see REAL snow. That's not snow its just ice. There was no convincing this kid that that was snow, that is what snow is.

We spent about 6 hours driving that day to go to the long awaited trip to the snow. Only to spend TWO, yes 2 hours at the snow.
Im sorry but for all those who said Selwyn was great for kids. I have to disagree. It was crap. Never again will I go there or recommend it to anyone with kids.
The area for people on Ski's was fairly big & lots of snow. BUT You couldn't take the toboggan in that area.
The area off limits to Skiing was about the size of a small oval. On a steep hill. Packed with kids & adults on toboggans.
Now Im not saying people can't have their fun. But seriously, do you really thing its a fantastic idea to join 6 toboggan & all slide down a hill packed with people sideways? Sure you can jump out of the way of ONE oncoming toboggan BUT SIX sideways? You have no hope in hell.
Also to "Mr cool" who was Oh so impressive standing on his & zooming down at the speed of light. I wonder just how cool it would have felt had you collected one of the many children on your way down. I seriously believe had he, that child would have came away with nothing less then a broken limb at the very least.

So yes, my take on Selwyn Snowfields is its NOT very child/family friendly at all. Not in the slightest!

But on the plus side I did manage some nice shots. Isla is my fav for that day.






On the way back to Canberra Simon hit a kangaroo. That was exciting. The roo was ok, Simon managed to only side swap it. You can see the scuff mark on the car & the roo was sitting in a field on the side of the road & jumped away when Simon walked towards it. But obviously a stunned Roo as it then proceeded to go back across the HWY that just moments before almost claimed its life.

Simon suggested we go out for dinner when we got back. Actually go out to a restaurant not just macca's. Now in the 12 years we have been together I think that is the first time HE suggested that. So of course I snapped up the chance to eat out for real.
On recommendation of a child friendly place we head to an RSL style of place.
Get there, its packed, we have to pay to go in as we are not members. I asked to see a menus first. Nothing looks appealing to me, there is 1 vegetarian option & well the kids would get chips & nuggets for $7.50 each.

We end up at Macca's across the road.

BUT not before Isla hurts her arm being silly. She was trying to run from Simon who was holding her hand & pulls her arm. She cried & continues to cry & not use her arm while at Macca's. We decide we need to get her seen too.
We find a lovely couple who offer to drive & we follow to a chemist they know will be open, my plan was to get some kids panadol & see what happens.
The chemist tells me of a medical center open till 10 pm (its now 9pm) just a few minutes up the road. So we take her there seems we are close anyway.
She is seen too straight away but I am told to give her panadol & bring her back on Monday if its still bothering her.
She was too upset to be able to tell if she reacted when the Dr touched her arm so I guess thats the best he could do at the time.

We get back to the motel & she falls asleep at the breast (thank goodnes for boobies!) & sleeps through the night. But at one stage I rolled over & had my arm resting her sore arm & she whimpers & cries a little in her sleep. Come morning she is still guarding her arm & crying when its touched so we head for the emergency room.

She starts using her arm while we wait to be seen. Typical but we still wait. She is seen by the Nurse who pokes & prodes with no reaction from Isla. She informs me I should still see the Dr but there is at least a 2 hour wait.
I decide that we will continue on with our plans & see how she goes. Seems we are heading home today.

We leave & head for our last stop for the trip which was the National Dino Museum. That was much smaller then I was expecting so while planed to be on the road back by 2, we head home around 11.30.
The Dino place was good & the kids liked it, it was just small & all done in an hour.

Simon drove most of the way back, taking in his side roads yet still making pretty good time.
We bi pass the M7 this time & head towards Penrith via Campbell town.
we stop in Penrith for a zip around toy R us to pick up a microscope Evan had been saving his weekly pocket money to get. I then drive the rest of the way home.

Overall the weekend was a nice trip. the Snow sucked & we spent money we don't have to the sum of an amount Simon refuses to be told.


But I got some nice photos & weekend away.

Oh, Isla & her arm. All of Sunday driving home she wouldn't use it. It was her right arm & she is right handed but struggled with everything to use her left hand. If you handed her something she would take it with her left.
I thought for sure we would be back at the GP's on Monday.

Sunday night she forgot all about it & has been using it as if nothing ever happened since.
We figure yes it was very sore when she did it & after but then she was just remembering how much it hurt so wouldn't move it incase.

Just a sneak peak

Had my 32 week ultrasound to check on the growth of the little man. He is coming along nicely.

As all my babies do, he was only willing to show us a little sneak peak of his beautiful looks.
Here he is with his arm up over part of his face.

Seven years strong.

Today is our 7th wedding anniversary.
Each wedding anniversary we have stuck with the "traditional" gift according to the years we have been married.

When we married we had Lily's on our cake & my flowers where Lily's & Iris's.
So each year I have either made or bought something sticking to the theme of the traditional gift but kept it as something to do with or is a Lily. I have set myself quite a task that's proving to be harder to maintain as the years go on. People who I have told about my little tradition think I'm nuts. I thought I would share with you the items I have made.

1st year was paper. I made paper lily's the same (well similar) to those that cascaded down our cake. When we moved from QLD to NSW the originals got crushed. So I thought it was the perfect idea of getting those flowers back.



2nd was cotton. That year I bought fake Lily's & iris's that were made up in a medievil style of ern/vase thing.

3rd year was Leather. I made leather lily's made from white leather & yellow beads. I made up 3 sets of 3, Only 2 in the photo though.



4th year was flowers. That year we went on a family holiday to cairns, so agreed that would be our gift to each other. Its the only year I haven't bought or made something "lily" But we visited the gardens we married in while in Cairns.
5th year was Wood. This year left me a little stumped so I thought out side the "lily" square a little & bought Simon a tree (wood) which is called a "lily of the valley tree" .

6th year was Iron. Again proved to be a head scratcher. I bought an Iron hanging planter basket with lily bulbs to plant inside it.

7th year is Wool or Copper. This year I have made more lily's. I found some wool felt (actual wool, not synthetic) and a copper chain & using copper clasps & copper wire I made a hanging chain of 7 lily's. The only part of this thats not wool or cooper is the little bit of cotton used to secure each bottom of the lily, under the copper clasp.




Next year is Bronze or pottery. Time to get my thinking cap on.

I love Simon as much if not more then the day we married & even more then when we met which will be 12 years in October. I truly did find my soul mate.

Evan is learner to ride a bike!

Pinni's

From the material posted earlier I made some Pinni dresses as part of a swap on nappycino.

First we have my stuff up, can you pick whats wrong?.......... Yep, the butterfly's are all standing on their head DOH!



Then we have some bumble bee's. I thought I ordered yellow snaps but mustn't have so used black.



Then we have the butterfly dress revisited. I did this pinni a little different as the material really does need to be ruffled a little. So instead of overlocking all the way round I overlocked as normal but left the front open. Then overlocked the two layers separately so that the front was free flowing. Added a bit of gathering at the top & I thin kit looks great! I really will need to hunt down more of the material. It really sews up nice.



I'm thinking I may make up some pinni dresses for spring, so keep an eye on my store at WahmNaps.

Dress Materials.

Just a few photos of Materials I can will use to make some dresses.



Both of these would work well with Shirring, Only have enough of the white with red flowers with green & navy blue. The other is what I used with the butterfly dress. I could possibly try a pinni with what I have left.



Then I have white with Bumble bee's, Blue with bright butterflies, yellow with butterflies and blue with white poka dots & yellow with coloured poka dots. All of these would work well for a Pinni Dress.





Then I have Blue with butterflies, Pink with stars & white with stars. Again all these would work well as Pinni dresses.



I have a few solid colours I would use as the backing material or I could use two of the above & make the dress reversible.

Here is Isla in a Pinni I made for her.

Evan turns Six!

Evan had his 6th Birthday on the 1st of August. It was a school day & they had their athletics carnival on. It was a crappy day & I was pretty peeved that the kids had to sit out in the cold & drizzly rain for the morning. I mean we live in the mountains, it get to 5 maybe 7 degrees max most days & these kids had to sit out in the cold, wet & wind! Needless to say, half the school is off sick this week. Gee I wonder why?
Anyway, Here a few of Evan. he isn't the most athletic of kids. But he has a go at least.

On your Mark! ( one of the only moments the sun broke out)



Now you have to go ZOOM like that!



Trying is best


We held a party for Evan on Sunday at the local hall, all his class was invited (which is about 12 kids, but some didn't make it due to being sick from Friday!) . It was a fun day & I think enjoyed by all.








Here is Isla & her little friend from Playgroup, who's big sister is in Evans Class. He is about 2 weeks older then her, they are a funny pair to watch.



Then we have my stomach, 27 weeks & counting. COming along nicely I think.




HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVAN!

there's a boy in there!

So I had my 18 week ultrasound yesterday. We have a healthy big BOY growing inside!
All is well, so well he is a week ahead of his dates. But we'll be sticking to the 4th of November for his EDD. Remembering that this is just a estimate & he will come when he is ready!