Ooooops didn't realise it had been another week since my last update.... where oh where is the year going?? Can't believe that it is December the 1st on Saturday!!!

Things going ok here - just plodding on day by day. I had my first full week at work (in 4 weeks) last week and I was totally shattered by Friday! But am feeling a lot better - or should that be I WAS feeling a lot better until today that is. Despite being quite well in the last few days - for some reason today my cough has decided to return!!! So have spent the day coughing and coughing and annoying my work colleagues! But when one is so busy, there isn't a lot one can do... so will at least go in tomorrow to ensure we get the pay run - and then might play it by ear for rest of the week!

Am supposed to hear this week re the job that I was interviewed for - but a few people who either work for this company themselves or know someone who does have told me not to hold my breath on getting an answer so quickly as they have reputation of taking their time in getting back to people... so will wait and see - not a lot more I can do really!

We had a "Welcome Summer" party at Steph's parents place yesterday which his sisters organised... ended up being a great day out and Rachel did really well with all the attention and survived being up for 5hrs during the day which is totally unlike her! The weather was fantastic and there were a few sunburnt people by the end of the day.

We have at least one thing on each weekend up to Christmas... and then we are off to Christchurch on Boxing Day for 7 days so we are counting down to that... and of course catching up and staying with Paula and Chris *waves* hi guys!!! LOL

We are having a working bee at our place with Stephs family later this month to help us get the outside ready for painting so that should be lots of fun... well I will be busy keeping Rachel out of the way while the others are sanding, etc...

Anyway, I am off to bed... had a few late nights lately... but before I go - here is a photo of Rachel taken the afternoon of her godparents wedding (2 weeks ago)- you just have to excuse the bruises on her forehead:

Hi ya

Just thought I would pop in before going to bed to say that the job interview went well on Friday - with only the occasional cough. Was in there for 45 mins and found out that they had 26 applicants for the role and only interviewing 4 so even if I miss out on the role I feel good that I made it that far! :) Have also decided that if I miss out on this new role - I will go back to working full time rather than 6.75hrs that I am currently doing as we really do need the extra dosh!

Can't believe that it is only 5 weeks till Christmas and we haven't done ANY christmas shopping at all! That is most unlike me but we just don't have the spare money right now so not sure what we are going to end up doing but am sure we will get there in the end.

Have had a great weekend and am feeling a lot better - not 100% as yet but definitely a lot better! We went into Te Papa yesterday and had a lovely family day out and did a bit of walk around the waterfront before heading home and popping in to see our friends Lynaire and Kev on the way home. When we got home, Rachel was quite grizzly and wouldn't settle for a powernap - so I threw on my sneakers, and Rachel and I went for a 40 min walk - she was asleep within about 8 mins! Felt really good doing that.

Then today, we have had a fairly quiet day at home doing housework and chilling out... though this morning we went and visited Rachel and her boys! They were amazing with Rachel and brought out all of their soft toys for her to play with! :) Reece was very kind and got a packet of Tiny Teddy biscuits out of the pantry for her without asking either his mum or me... so couldn't really take them off her after he had already given them to her - or should I say - it was a big fight to get the bag off her to open it! :) Then after a few hours at home including a sleep for Rachel - we then popped out to another friends place to see Sheri and her girls as I had bought a sunhat for Rachel off her on Trademe. In between all of this - I had managed to get 4 loads of washing on the line and dried! :) God I love nothing more than seeing washing outside on a line on a sun shiny day!!!

It's been a quiet evening though we did have to call the police when we saw two guys trying to break into our local primary school! First time I have used 111 to call the police so quite exciting! LOL Yeah small things amuse small minds! LOL Cops got there just as the guys were walking away from the window after they had given up trying to get them open!

Anyway, better get moving - its now 9.40pm so time I hit the sack since I had better show my face at work tomorrow! Bugger! LOL

Hope you all have a great week :)

Hi ya

Thought I would just do a quick post before Steph gets home and has his turn on the laptop :)

Yeap I am at home again... had another rough weekend with coughing etc... worked on Monday but all I got from everyone was "when are you going home", "haven't you gone home yet", "do you have to cough all the time" and "shhhhhhhhh" so managed to see the day out but was exhausted when I got home. Called in sick on Tuesday and then went back to the Dr (refused to see the locum I saw last week) and after this one listened to my coughing and checked out my chest I was diagnosed with a mild case of Bronchitis so am on AB's for that! He also gave me two days off work... Tuesday and Wednesday. Nice to be able to rest but got restless as my brain was still working! LOL Then even though I had a rough night last night, I went to work today but by lunch time I had enough subtle hints to head home again... and at this stage won't go in tomorrow either! I just want to shake this damn thing but this is the 3rd week of it now and it is really starting to piss me off big time! I seem to be spending more and more time in the loo coughing up phlegm! Am thinking that surely the AB's should have started working by now so if I am still no better tomorrow I will call the nurse and have a chat with her and perhaps need to go back yet again!

I also have a job interview tomorrow - so hopefully I won't be coughing too much though it is usually when I am talking that I get the coughing fits... though they do know I am sick as I could hardly talk when they rung me on Tuesday to say I had been short listed and to arrange the interview. This job is located in the Hutt Valley so would be a LOT closer to home and save me so much travelling time every day. I would be able to do a full days work and still be home earlier than I am now (and I am working 6.75hrs day)! Money is a bit less but when you look at the 2K that I spend on train passes each year and the time I spend commuting each way each day... (about an hr each way each day). There are also some great benefits for working for this company (which will be revealed IF I get the job) so that helps out weigh the lower salary.

Rachel is getting more and more adventurous and stubborn! Boy she sure knows what she wants and can throw a right paddy when she can't have it! She loves her swing outside and every morning when she gets home and we come out to the lounge - all she does is point to the door leading to the swing and bangs on the windows etc! She is now loving her ride on/walk along toy and spends ages walking around the place - she just has to learn to change direction without walking into everything and getting stuck! LOL She is very accident prone and must have at least 2/3 accidents a week at daycare when she looses her balance and hits her head etc... we have got a good collection of accident forms already which I plan to keep and make into a scrapbook for her!

Speaking of scrapbooking, I have been checking out some of the digital scrap booking sites but still get totally confused! Might have to ask for some help from some of the great scrap booking bloggers on here! :)

Anyway, Steph and Rachel are due home shortly... might go back to my Sudoku book. Oh god the coughing is starting again now! BUGGER!

Hi all

Well what a week it has been in this household! I have only been at work twice this week... Monday was sick leave (both for myself and Rachel), Tuesday I worked, Wednesday was Annual Leave (prebooked) for Rachel's 12 mth Plunket check and to spend the day with her, Thursday I worked (but went down hill quite rapidly) and then today was sick leave (just me)!

I just can't seem to shake this damn cough and it is really becoming a pain in the flaming arse now! And trust Mum to tell me of a friend of hers who got a cough who couldn't shake a cough for 7 weeks!!! God I hope I am still not coughing in 6 weeks time!

I was at the Drs for a review of my PND medication on Wednesday so got him (a silly locum) to do a check on me but according to him my chest is clear, as is my throat and ear (had a major ear ache)! So according to him, if I am still coughing etc next week or I get worse then I just go back to him!

Today, after dropping Rachel off at Daycare, I came home, went back to bed and slept until midday!!! And felt so much better for doing that but it did feel really strange having a shower at that time of the day. So while home today, I took the opportunity to do the groceries this afternoon since we have such a busy weekend ahead of us.

Tomorrow, we have Rachel's godparents wedding at 3pm and I can't wait to put Rachel in to the dress we have bought for her to wear (and yes Photos will be taken) and then we will come back home, and "big" (and the ever shrinking) Rachel will come around at 4.30pm to look after "little" Rachel for the evening. Am getting quite nervous as no one has done the evening routine with Rachel before (not without us around that is) so hopefully all will be ok but am sure the two Rachel's will have a ball. We probably won't be too late due to me feeling yucky but will see how things go.

Then on Sunday morning, we have our Antenatal Combined Birthday Party at a local park/playground. Weather forecast is looking good for that and am hoping that we all manage to be there at the same time about 11ish for a group photo of the kids!

So thats whats been happening in our place... have downloaded some photos too so will share some with you all... but before I do here, I will share an email I got from my mum this week which I thought you would all like :)


POSITION :
> Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
> Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
>
> JOB DESCRIPTION :
>
> Long term, team players needed, for challenging
> permanent work in an
> often chaotic environment..
> Candidates must possess excellent communication
> and organizational skills and be willing to work
> variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
> and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
> Some overnight travel required, including trips to
> primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
> Travel expenses not reimbursed.
> Extensive courier duties also required.
>
> RESPONSIBILITIES :
>
> The rest of your life.
> Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
> until someone needs $5.
> Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
> Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
> pack mule
> and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
> in case, this time, the screams from
> the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
> Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
> such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
> and stuck zippers.
> Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
> coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
> Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
> for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
> Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,
> an embarrassment the next.
> Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
> half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
> Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
> Must assume final, complete accountability for
> the quality of the end product.
> Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
> janitorial work throughout the facility.
>
> POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
>
> None.
> Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
> so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
>
> PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
>
> None required unfortunately.
> On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
>
> WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
>
> Get this! You pay them!
> Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
> A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
> of the assumption that college will help them
> become financially independent.
> When you die, you give them whatever is left.
> The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
> you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
>
> BENEFITS :
>
> While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
> no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
> no stock options are offered;
> this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
> and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
>
>
> Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
> letting them know they are appreciated
> for the fabulous job they do....
> or forward with love
> to anyone thinking of applying for the job.
> ** AND A FOOTNOTE ?
> THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **
> If you are fortunate enough you will become grandparents!


Butter wouldn't melt in my mouth...


The morning of my birthday with presents from Mum and Dad...


The day care birthday cake


Party at Daycare


With Nana as we are singing Happy Birthday


Yeap not as many taken at her party as I would have liked - and no family one either! But that's life and we learn from our mistakes for future parties.

Right, time to hang out the next load of washing... then off to bed for me. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

It's official my wee princess is 1 year (and 2 days) old!

Can't believe that this time last year, we were settling in at home and adjusting at the lifestyle of becoming parents! And now we almost have a toddler... not quite confident on her feet as yet but loves walking around furniture, walking while holding our fingers... and she has discovered the rest of the house - especially the bathroom!

I haven't downloaded the party photos as yet but on saying that we didn't get as many as I would have liked and no family one either! Bugger! Rachel got very spoilt and got lots of clothes and books! The weather held off for us so it meant that the kids could play outside when they wanted - I bought some bubble mixture so had fun blowing bubbles for the kids. Unfortunately, I was not feeling the best so I did struggle at times to keep my energy levels up.

I seem to have caught Rachel's (and Steph's) cough/head cold that they have both had (and I thought I had escaped) but it has knocked me for a six! I have been coughing so much that I have had to spend a bit of time with my head down that white porcelain bowl! I woke this morning with no voice at all and still coughing so headed to the chemist wanting something stronger than I had been taking so got some Roubutassin but it seems I have had an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients as not long after taking my first dose I started coming in spots all over my body! Though it take a wee while to put those two things together... so when we were at the Drs for Rachel (story to follow) this afternoon I asked him and he said it was possible that it could have been a reaction so I have to stop taking it and just rely on strong lozenges for now.

Unfortunately, Rachel has not been at all well today - in fact she has been the worst that I have ever seen her! She was quite grumpy and off her breakfast and was back in bed in less than 2hrs after waking but I put that down to her having a restless night (due to me coughing and being sick as the bathroom is next to her room) however by midday she had already had 2 sleeps and was quite hot! She hardly touched her lunch and we took her temp and it was at 38.3 so rung the Drs and within the 25 mins it took for us to get there her temp was then 39 degrees! Turns out she has a bad ear infection and her breathing was quite rapid too! So is now ABs for that but has spent the whole afternoon laying/sleeping on me and ONLY me! Now normally I would cherish all those extra cuddles etc but when I am not well either it was pretty damn exhausting! The two times I attempted to give her to Steph (so I could go to the loo) she just cried and cried until I came back...

So looks like its gonna be a day at home tomorrow for the both of us... I must admit and I know this is going to sound selfish but I was so hoping for a day for me so I could just rest and do nothing but will now have Rachel to look after as well but thems the breaks I guess! I have left a message for Mum to call me... ooops her ears must have been burning as she just rung - she is going to come down for the day and help me out as I just don't think I could cope all day with me feeling so yuck!

Anyway, this has taken me about an hour to write due to Rachel waking, mum calling and me watching CSI... so time I was in bed myself and perhaps do a suduko puzzle or two (my new hobby lol).

Catch ya all later