Anouk

Anouk is 26 months and o my word.  I thought I had my hands full the last time I blogged but now...

Well the good thing is that she is eating a bit better.  Doesn't eat much at breakfast, or really lunch, but is starting to like her dinner.  She asks for dinner at breakfast time.  Or an icy pole.  Or an ice cream.  She wants everything she can't have and always rejects any choices offered to her.  At the moment she loves croissants!  I used to be able to get her to sit still in her pram for 20 minutes by feeding her croissants.  Unfortunately the novelty has worn off so that doesn't work anymore!  She loves 'vleisie' (meat) and eats cucumber, grapes and watermelon.  She always asks for apples which we peel for her and of course then she won't touch it.  Same with bananas.  But yes we are getting there with eating although her all time favourite is still Mama milky!  Always asks me to 'Come and sit on the bank' (couch) with her so she can have some.

She also talks.  A lot!  But having two big sisters who argue all the time her the things she is learning won't go down well when making friends I think.  Like 'shut up' and 'what's wrong with you?' and of course 'leave me alone!'  She also likes pushing other children and then telling us all about it, it's a little bit funny but starting to worry me.  Maybe at pre-school this will be sorted!

She is also into everything.  It is virtually impossible to get anything done with her around except when she is watching tv.  We try to be patient and include her in things.  But usually she just grabs whatever anyone has and a) runs away with it; b) breaks it; c) throws it.  So now playing games or lego or tidying rooms when she's around.  Well the last one is what the girls tell me, who am I to say it's not true.

She is physically very active and her favourite activity is running away from me in public places.  As fast as she can and then throwing tantrums if I dare try and restrain her in any way.  Or try to be mean and hold her hand.  Let's just say I haven't ever gone grocery shopping with her.

At home she loves jumping on the 'trampolina' as she named our trampoline or riding on her scooter.  But she can't turn yet.  So we don't venture out yet with her scooter because a ten minute trip to the park takes an hour.  At home she also likes to run around the car when I try to get her in and sometimes just for fun dashes into the road.  Once we were all inside the house and I heard the front door slamming and the little madam came running to me saying she went into the road.  She was very proud of her misadventure.  Me not so much.

But yes even though she drives us all nuts she is the most adorable little thing.  Her cuteness totally overrides her naughtiness but sometimes I do have to remind myself, so here are all the cute things she does and says:

• 'Mummy I lub you to moon a back!'
• One day when I had just woken up she said my hair looked beautiful.  It really didn't!
• When she was smaller she used to call her blankie fleewie.  Now she calls it wankie. LOL!
• She is always nagging for 'dum'.  We later realized it was gum!
• She always wants to wear a 'beautiful dress' and loves putting on her sisters' clothes over her own.  So usually she can be found wandering around with an oversized t-shirt or skirt on!
• She can count to 10!  She learnt this by playing hide and seek with her sisters.
• She sings twinkle twinkle little star and Itsy wipsy spider.  And 'Tiger, Tiger, you're gonna hear me roar!' In her cute way.  She also sings and loves 'Skinni Marinki' which coincidentally was the only song which calmed her down when she cried in the car when she was a baby.  But now she throws such massive tantrums if we don't keep playing it over and over we try to avoid playing it!
• She loves books and tries to read them by herself sometimes.  Her favourites are 'Walking in the Jungle', 'The very Hungry Caterpillar', 'Babalela', and 'Room on the broom' (the last one is my favourite too!

This is our little spunky Anouk.  Who keeps us on our toes and humble.  Every day.

"Oh Mum!!"

Anouk's favourite saying at the moment. I wonder where she gets that from!

 

Others are "No", "I want" and "self" so my days are challenging!

 

But she is very, very cute. When I pick Mieke up she asks "Mieke, what did you do todaayyy?" We'll that's what it sounds like and she says it over and over again!

 

When she throws a tantrum she always says "Sorryyyy!" And she loves playing "tickle tickle" with Daddy and "bully bully" with Mummy!

She doesn't sleep and she is naughty and climbs on stuff and makes a mess and likes to bite my leg when I don't give her immediate attention. But her smile lights up the room!

 

 

 

 

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I miss my husband

So Mr Nel is in Singapore again for three weeks and it's only day 5 and it feels like weeks.  I really miss him.

I miss that he puts my Anzac biscuits in a jar so they stay crispy.  I miss my coffee and biscuits in bed.  I miss that he takes the girls to school so I can take my time getting ready with Anouk.  I miss that he cleans up after me and empties the bins and cleans the car.  I miss that he baths Anouk every second night and that he plays tickle karate with the older ones.

These things shouldn't really be the things I miss.  Of course I miss having him around and spending time with him and I'm pretty lonely in the evenings without his company - even though that meant sitting next to him while he watches the latest war movie!

He doesn't get this but for me the things you do for someone is the way you show love.  So I feel I give love when I prepare a nice meal for him.  And I receive love when he does all the things he does.  And I realize this when he's not here to do them...

Happy 7th Birthday my sweet Silke

My dear Silke, I can't believe you are seven already. Who would have thought my baby would be so big and also a great big sister!
You are very brave and I am amazed at how well you settled at your new school this year, like you did last year... And the year before! Hopefully this is it my child and you'll stay put at this school because even though you smile and chatter I know it can't be easy to start over again and again. But we are having so much fun here in Melbourne as a family, like the hot springs today!

I feel I have lost you a bit recently, with Mieke in her last year of primary school and Anouk keeping me on my toes. I am sorry because the less attention you get the more you do stuff to attract attention and it's a vicious circle I really need to stop. You and Mieke fight a lot but you are such a wonderful big sister to Anouk - you two play so nicely together and I appreciate it very much. I hope we can reconnect because you are my baby, you look like me and we even have a birthmark on the same spot.

You are an ace at karate and regularly practise your karate kicks on Mieke and Daddy! You recently started dance classes and once you gain confidence I'm sure you'll love it.

You have an incredible imagination and your talented drawings depict that. You still love your littlest pet shops and use them in your imaginary games. You love movies and watching television a bit too much though! Your asthma is so much better since we moved to Australia which is great.

You make friends within minutes with your outgoing nature although you have a small heart and can get hurt just as quickly.
I love you so much and will make sure to spend time with you on your own this year and hopefully we'll be able to get a dog for you soon!

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How did we get to Easter so quick!

Where has the time gone? My Anoukie Poekie is 17 months already and Silke is turning 7 in a few weeks time!

Mieke started Year 6 and was chosen to be vice house captain!We've had an exciting time so far this year:
Silke started at her new school which she enjoys but they work really hard! She just had her Easter themed 7th birthday party and it was great and at least It was really easy to organise as the shops are filled with Easter stuff.

Here is the bunny butt cake I made for Silke - looks impressive but really easy especially as I used per bought flowers and eggs and a wooden bunny for her to keep. We had lots of fun creating this party!

Hubby spent a lot of time in Singapore but is home at last, for a while.
And my baby is walking, running and talking! She says about 50 words and animal sounds and is starting to say short sentences, for example: 'Anouk what are you doing?', then she'd say: 'I doing.'
Okay it's not really a sentence but clever that she knows to use 'I'!
She still wakes at night and prefers to sleep in my bed. Oh well...

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Three months later and I need some SLEEP!

I really need to go to bed now, but I know I won't get any sleep so why waste time trying?

Because since Anouk learnt to crawl at nearly 8 months, she's forgotten how to sleep.  Where she had a three hour continuous daytime nap and even though it took her ages to fall asleep she slept  all night, it has unfortunately changed for the worse...

She wakes three times before I go to bed and then often during the night.  Sometimes Werner can soothe her, most of the time she just screams until I breastfeed her. The worst is that she used to wake up with me about 8am.  But now starts being really wakeful from about 5am - I am not a morning person.

But she is such a cute baby, I forgive her every morning when I see her smile with her two bottom teeth and her spit drewling over my face!!

We are truly blessed.  We had our first little holiday with Anouk near Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road and even though it was winter we had a wonderful time.  Australian nature at it's best - deserted.

The girls swam in the sea, found beautiful shells, saw koalas and a wallaby and just chilled.  Anouk kept us on our toes though as she is pulling herself up on everything and puts everything she sees into her mouth, but it was still beautiful and relaxing.

Mothers Guilt and feeling blue...

Anouk is six months old and she is such a cutie.  Always smiling at her mum and dad and laughing at Mieke and Silke.  She has been sitting since 4 months but unfortunately refuses to roll.  She does it when I'm not looking so I know she can, but won't.  When I put her on her tummy she straightens her arms and gets into a crawling position but howls so loadly while doing it everyone rushes to pick her up.  Which is probably why she won't roll...

So since she was born I struggled to get her to sleep at night.  It took me hours and hours and hours.  I always knew my milk supply was low at night but because she slept through until four months I presumed that she did get enough milk.  And eventually I got really annoyed every night as I fed for hours but as soon as I put her down her eyes would open wide and I'd have to start again.  Then on Friday night I made her a little bottle of formula, only 125ml and sat down with her, expecting her to reject it the way she rejected the dummy.

Well she first chewed it a bit, but when she realized that the lovely warm milk comes out easily (and immediately) she caught on quickly and finished most of the bottle before having a little breastfeed for about 5 minutes and then went straight to sleep!

Same thing Saturday night, except this time she slept through until 6:00 am Sunday morning, had a breastfeed and then slept until 9:00am!

So either the formula contains sleeping potion or my poor little girl has been going to bed hungry since birth.  And she didn't wake up to annoy me but because she was hungry.  At least I don't believe in controlled crying and this is another reason why it's a daft idea.  Babies cry when something is wrong and if you don't respond to them they might stop crying because you're not coming.  But the cause of their crying is still there... how sad is that.  Imagine I left her to cry herself to sleep instead of just feeding her over and over again.

Otherwise I'm also feeling unexplicably sad for the past few weeks.  It defnitely has to do with the weather which is decidedly autumnly - rainy, cold and dark early.  Also I'm turning 40 next week and I don't have any friends or family here to celebrate it with.  Well I have 2 friends but not really a crowd.  And 40 is so ugh.  And I still feel (and sometimes act) like I'm about 11.  And we're not in a happy place financially.  And Mieke has been giving us a a hard time and I cannot face the fact that she's growing up and becoming a teenager.  And Silke's ashtma is flaring up.  And my baby took a bottle...

Of course we are very lucky to have what we do, and I am eternally thankful, but at the moment life sucks a little bit.  Where does the time go.  And where has my sweet little Mieke Muis gone...

Fun in Lilydale

This Easter holiday our days are packed with random things to do.  Yesterday it was the optometrist (Silke's eyes are fine but Mieke needs glasses).  Today it was my paid for exercise class at Yarra Health in Lilydale.  As it's an hour and a half and it takes about 20 mins to get there I had to take all my girls with me but it was a surprisingly fun day.

First we did some aerobic exercise, then yoga and then a talk about baby toys / activities.  Anouk was her usual angel self she presents when with other people, sweetly watching as we exercised.  Mieke and Silke read and did some drawing and Silke eventually joined me in doing some yoga and looking after all the babies.

The were really very well behaved and I was proud of them.  Afterwards we strolled across the road to the park where some ibis birds were also strolling about and lots of cockatooes flying overhead.  There are also ducks swimming in the public swimming pool so Lilydale seems to be a birdwatchers haven!  The girls enjoyed a play in the park, the weather was lovely - not too hot but still nice and warm.  Then we walked to the museum and had something to drink and biscuits.  Anouk slept so I could have my coffee in peace which was nice.  Then we visited the museum and had a look at some embroidery while the girls tried it out as well on a huge wall hanging.  Overall a surprisingly nice day!

We then popped into Target at Chirnside Park to get Silke some last minute birthday pressies, I got her a Moxie Girl prince and princess, her favourite Littlest pet shops and a baby doll.  I'm going to stop buying her stuff now as I already bought a dolls house, two dinosaurs and a blackboard.

Anouk is getting really cute now, screeching at the top of her lungs which I prefer as it's better than crying!  She also sits really well now and can pick stuff up and sometimes pass it from one hand to the other.  Still not that much interested in rolling but I'm not too worried, she's a strong, big girl!

Happy average 40th Birthday Werner & why things aren't getting done

On Tuesday it was Werner's 40th birthday and it is at times like these that we feel the pain of being away from friends and family.  Because instead of a Big Bash somewhere it was a quiet dinner at home with his 4 girls.  We did have champagne though!

Was also tricky with Anouk but I managed to make risotto, salmon and apple pie and Mieke made a chocolate cake all by herself.

He was impressed with his Nespresso coffee machine (although I'm enjoying it even more than him, especially with the milk frother thingy) and the fact that I had the pen he chose engraved with his name.

I also got him some helium balloons which was a feat in itself with Anouk and the pram and the balloons nearly flying away!

We will be spending Easter weekend at the Marriot but really how much fun can it be with three kids and one of them attached to my boob half the time?  Anyway we will try and celebrate and be cheerful.  But I must admit this baby lark seems really very hard this time around.

Of course I'm not working this time, which means I never get a break because I haven't introduced Anouk to a bottle as I'm dreadfully lazy at expressing and would like to avoid formula this time.  So it's all my own doing but bugger it's really hard!!  I'm sure my other babies were easier, or maybe one forgets.  What really gets to me is the hours and hours I spend upstairs every evening trying to get her to sleep.  Last night I sat there for an hour when suddenly she lifted her head up and SMILED!  Wide awake. So I took her downstairs and had my soup with her in the bumbo next to me and tried again at 10pm which is really far too late.

Today I'm feeling very frustrated as I cannot go out of her sight before she starts crying.  Werner tried to get her to sleep tonight but she just cried until I came. She is really very cute and we all adore her but WOW she's hard work!!  Which is why the dishwasher is half unpacked, laundry is not folded, half a basket is still wet and the filing haven't been done since, well since we moved here...

But they are only babies for such a short time, I must remind myself to enjoy the cuddles, her soft hair, the way she gums my face and pulls my hair when feeding and that smile... that gorgeous smile makes it all worthwhile.

Baby Baby Baby Baby

I'm obsessed... with everything baby.  And it really isn't my fault because as babies do Anouk just took over my whole life.  So 95% of my time I'm feeding, carrying, changing, dressing, bathing, singing to, playing with my baby.  In the morning I love it, in the evening dare I say it,  I hate it as it's exhausting.  But then we start all over again and it's love at first sight.

Luckily my two big girls absolutely adore their new baby sister.  Mieke likes teaching her new tricks like standing at 2 months.



Anouk is also smiling lots and laughed the first time last week.  Here she is chuckling at Mieke doing Michael Jackson moves on the Wii.



She's also keen on learning how to play the Wii.


Look at those fat little legs!  When I last weighed her at 2 months she was at the 90 percentile and weighed 5.8 kilos which is nearly double her birth weight.  Isn't it amazing that I did that, I'm feeding her fat!  I struggle a bit in the heat as it was 35 degrees in Melbourne today and I hate water and have to remind myself to drink a lot.  So sometimes there isn't enough milk and she moans a bit and sometimes it's just too hot and sticky and she doesn't want to drink.  But I don't worry too much as I know she's doing well and enjoys her melkie a lot!

I also moved her into her cot this week because she was getting a bit big for her bassinette - she seems to like it as she can see out of it.  Also when she wakes she looks at her mobile for a bit or spend some time sucking her hand before she yells for me which is nice.

She loves her bath, but really hates to get out and get dressed which makes life a bit difficult.

 But even though she's a sensitive little soul who burst into tears at the sight of bubbles or when she has to have her nappy changed or when she poos or ... or ... she is just adorable when she smiles at me in the morning and kick her little legs in the bath and cuddles up to me and I feel her soft hair against my face.  There is nothing as absolutely yummy as a baby!

My Birth Story - Anouk 27 October 2011 16:17

Well it's all done and dusted.  My beautiful little girl Anouk is here and she is such a good baby that I actually have time to write this!

To say I was petrified before the birth is putting it mildly.  I was scared stiff.  We just arrived in Australia, we couldn't get medical insurance as there is a 12 month waiting period, which meant I had to go to a public hospital and have a c-section done by whichever registrar is on duty which is basically a trainee doctor.

My antenatal care was fine but basic - waited a long time to see a doctor who took my blood pressure, listened for the baby's heart beat with a doppler and measured my bump with a measuring tape.  I got so nervous that I thought about having a natural birth, but all the obstetricians I spoke to were negative about this, saying it's safer to have another c-section as it's my third and I'm quite small.  I realized without the proper support it would probably not be the right thing to do.  Although I wished I would go into labour before my scheduled c-section date which was booked for the 27th October, a day after Mieke's birthday!

Just before Mieke's pamper birthday party on the 15th, I had quite a lot of contractions and it felt like the baby was pushing down - it was so sore that I struggled to walk when it happened.

This continued for a few days but the week before my c-section all went calm and I had no pain or contractions at all (even though I was desperately hoping for some!).

So at 10am on the 27th Werner and I checked in at the Birralee Maternity Unit at Boxhill Hospital.  I was taken to a room in a ward which was just off the antenatal waiting room so at first it didn't seem very private, but later on I forgot about it as the curtain was up most of the time.  I was very nervous but the midwife answered all my questions and concerns and I started to relax.  I was last on the list so had to wait until 3:30pm for my turn to go to theatre.  A doctor came and put a drip in my hand - she struggled quite a bit and then called a midwife to come and see if it was okay, so I was a bit worried at this point.  The registrar and assistant anaesthetist also came to see me.

When I got to the theatre there were loads of people - all of them trying their best to make the experience as comfortable as possible.  Werner was sent out while the spinal was put into place but as soon as it was done he was back.  In the meantime the theatre nurse held my hand and the anaesthetist kept on asking how I felt and adding meds to my drip if I didn't feel well.  They kept on chatting to me and asking me questions to keep my mind of things, I wasn't told when the operation started, so it felt like only a few moments when I saw my baby being held up, dripping blood and stuff all over my face!!  The anaesthetist took loads of lovely photos while they quickly checked her and dried her off a little.  Then they immediately placed her under my hospital gown on my chest, and got her to latch - still covered in vernix and smelling so sweet!!

She cried a bit at first but quickly snuggled cosily into me - it was such an amazing experience and one I only dreamt of having with my other children.  I was enjoying it so much that I didn't pay much attention to the sewing up bit and she stayed there in recovery all the way up to my room.

Finally, and very unexpectedly, I had the birth experience I always dreamed of.  Ok it was still a c-section, but it was still magical.

My recovery was also great.  On the second day I asked when I could go home and the midwife said 'Tomorrow!'.  I wasn't really ready and would've liked to stay another night, but they sent a midwife to my house twice after I was sent home to check on me.  And I didn't really get much sleep in hospital anyway so maybe it was for the best.

My most tender sweetish, saddish moment was on the second night after she was born.  It was about 3am, she'd been up most of the night wanting to breastfeed all the time.  Every time I put her down she would start fussing again, I didn't know what to do... eventually I lay her down on the bed next to me and fed her lying down - we both fell asleep and only woke up the next morning!  Sweet...  I wish I had a picture of that moment, of the crumpled bed and the exhaustion and the blissful sleep and the tenderness I felt while holding her.  But it will always be in my mind and my heart.

At home she is such a good baby, I'm actually a bit worried as she sleeps an awful lot.  Last night she slept from 10pm to 4am!  She does cluster feed at night so no more late nights for me, but overall she is a dream baby.  And I'm enjoying her so much - can't believe I've been given another chance...

The honeymoon has started....

We moved into our rental mid September and even though we've had all sorts of hassles (broken beds, etc.) we are just enjoying it here soooo much.

Mieke went to school, made a best friend called Piper and has loved it ever since.  The school seems great - she's learning Japanese, is in the top groups for most subjects but still gets challenged by things - she's had to do a Powerpoint Presentation for the first time.  She is going on a school camp to Beechworth next month, after her birthday Pamper Party on the 15th October - she had no problems finding friends to invite which is great.

Silke my baby is still struggling a bit making friends at her kindy, but she still loves going and I'm very glad I kept her back as next her they will all be new kids at school.

They spend all their free time in the park next to our house, or at their new friends' houses - we've got two sets of neighbours both with two girls - how cool is that!

Otherwise we are very busy weekends still sorting out the house (so far we've bought 2 cars, tv cabinet, tv, 3 bar stools, washing machine, fridge / freezer, sandwich maker and storage shelving!!) but we've also been to Brighton beach, Healesville Animal Sanctuary, Melbourne Museum, Victoria Market, Warrandyte, the Dandenong Ranges incl. Olinda and afternoon tea at Skyhigh, as well as twice to the drive in and a few times to the cinema.  I think we better slow down as we've only been here for 3 months!!

So we're having a great time and enjoying Melbourne, discovering more each day.

But for now I've got to go as this baby seems to want to stretch herself out of my tummy, so I think I better go lie down so she'll have a bit more space!!

Good days and bad days...

Today was a good day!  We went to visit our new valley again where we will be living next month and had a look at two schools and one kinder.

At the one school Silke told the headteacher: 'I have nits, my mummy is trying to get the nits out of my hair.'  Hence why yesterday was a bad day as any nit combing day would be...

So far we liked most of the schools we visited.  Which makes it a bit tricky to choose.  Do we just go for the closest school, we can walk to school and it's nice and small - in Prep only about 15 children per class?  Or do we go for the bigger, higher achieving school which is a 10 but probably closer 20 min drive away in the morning traffic?

But I have decided to keep Mieke in a public primary school and then apply for 2 private high schools, that way we save loads of money until then!

The schools are different here than the UK in the following ways:

The class sizes are smaller (can vary between 15 and 25).
They don't have school dinners but normally have a canteen open a few times a week.
Uniforms can only be bought at school and seem really expensive.
Although the kids are in their own home groups they work across 2 year groups, for instance Year 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 work together.  This gives opportunity for children who find the work easier to go ahead as well as give time for the slower ones to catch up.
They are not as rigid with going to school at a definite age like the UK - for instance children can go to school if they turn 5 by the end of April in the year that they go to school, but you are free to keep them back as well.  Most of the schools I spoke to suggested I keep Silke back until next year, so she'll be going back to Kindy as they call pre-school here.
In the area where I am looking for schools (East / North East of Melbourne) there aren't catchment areas, so I am free to send my children to any public school I like!  This makes it good for me but quite tricky for schools as it is difficult to plan from the one year to the next.

The schools seem well equipped with interactive white boards / televisions, computers and basket ball courts!  Most of them have an art room, music room and language room where they learn LOTE (language other than English).  The schools I've looked at offered Indonesion, Italian, Chinese or Japanese.

The classes are mostly open plan though so I think this will be something for Mieke to get used to.

Things I like so far in Australia:

Watermelon and Avos - delicious just like in SA
Chocolate Milk and Strawberry milk come in 2 litre bottles!!
U turns are encouraged.
Parking is free at most shopping centers and the parking bays are big enough for our wagon.
They pack your bags for you when grocery shopping.  Hooray!!  I know I'm sorry but I'm lazy...

Sunday afternoon...

I'm lying on my side in bed looking out the window through a flyscreen.  The bedroom is at the front of the house, overlooking a quiet close.  There is a big gumtree right outside with brightly coloured birds cackling away.  My belly is heavy but busy.

I am in Australia...

What happened since February...

1.  I started a 4 month TESOL course to learn how to teach English to speakers of a foreign language. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done, BUT I MADE IT!!!

2.  Werner received 2 job offers for Australia, accepted the best one and guess what, WE'RE LEAVING FOR MELBOURNE IN 12 DAYS TIME!!

3.  I though I was going through early menopause as my cycle was really short and I googled it.  So when we had a little accident straight after my period I didn't think anything of it, as that time of the month you can't fall pregnant anyway can you?  WRONG!!  TOMORROW I'M 20 WEEKS PREGNANT!!  Oooops.

Which is why I haven't blogged in four months.  I was in shock, I was busy trying to do this crazy course while fighting ALL DAY morning sickness, and trying to organise our move to Australia.

Anyway my little Silke is coughing her lungs out so I need to go rub Vicks on her chest and rub her back and pray she gets better and not worse....

Silke willie skool toe nie...

Dis nou elke dag se storie, sy staan vrolik op, eet haar ontbyt, trek aan en huppel kar toe.  In die kar raak sy stiller en stiller en nadat ons vir Mieke afgelaai het en by haar skool stop is sy tjoepstil.

As ons in die klas inkom dan begin sy aan my klou - eers was dit aan my hande en arms en bene maar vandag het sy haar arms om my lyf gegooi en geklou asof haar lewe daarvan afhang.

'I want to come with you, Mummy' is al antwoord wat ek kry en maak nie saak wat ek se of doen nie sy wil nie laat los nie.

Dan moet haar arme juffrou kom mooi praat en help trek en die se geduld is ook nie nimmereindigend nie.

As ek vir haar vra hoekom hou sy nie van skool nie dan se sy sy want sy moet reading en numbers doen en sy hou nie daarvan nie en almal anders kan dit doen behalwe sy.  Ek probeer verduidelik maar ek dink nie sy luister nie...

So vandag toe skryf ek 'n tragiese email vir die juffrou oor hoe erg dit is vir my en wat kan ons doen om haar te help en oor hoe my arme bloedjie nagmerries kry in die aande en in die middae omvalmoeg is.

Halftwee toe moet ek skool toe om saam met Reception na Mieke se junior skool toe te loop.  Ek kom in die klas en madam sien my nie dadelik nie  - sit te heerlik op die mat en speel 'n handjiesklap speletjie met haar beste maatjie Amira.  Laggies en giggels en geselsies.  'Silke your mummy is here!' roep haar ander maatjies 'n paar keer voor sy hoor en toe sy my sien is haar ogies groot en sy wil net weer haar Mamma he en by haar wees.

Ja so ek weet nie.  Sy mis my en ek mis haar en ek voel dis vreeslik om 'n vierjarige so lank elke dag skool toe te stuur.  En dan moet ons nog in die aande sit en lees en letters leer so ek weet nie wanneer daar tyd is vir speel nie.  Maar sekerlik geniet sy haar maatjies en hulle speel tog heeltyd by die skool?

So nou het ek Donderdag 'n afspraak met haar juffrou wat seker dink ek is nuts want volgens haar is Silke heel gelukkig by die skool.  Net jammer haar Mamma is so eensaam alleen by die huis!!

Aussie Aussie Oi Oi (cringe cringe)

We got our Australian Visas!!!  On the 14th January 2011 - precisely 1 year and 1 day after application.

We got it thanks to me.  Thank you Claudine.  For firing your migation agent and deciding you can do a better job on your own.  For getting all the unabridged documents.  For organising the skills assesment and IELTS tests.  For writing the IELTS tests.  For applying for South African and UK PCCs and ringing Pretoria on a daily basis to find out how much longer its going to take.  For filling in millions of forms.  For keeping up to date with all the changes happening with immigration.  For making appointments for medicals and getting us all there on time in the snow.  For keeping contact with our case office and scanning and emailing the documents the moment we got them.  Thank you Claudine, without me we would not have gotten this far.  I don't think anyone else in the family really gets what a job this was which is why I take it upon myself to thank.. myself.

BUT  we are all on board now.  Silke want a big house with a pool and a DOG.  And she hates school with a passion and enquires about spring every day.  I want the same.  Mieke wants to live near the beach and learn to boogy board.  Werner is fed up with his job and wants a change.  For the first time we ALL want the same thing - AUSTRALIA.  And the UK media is bombarding us with Phil Downunder and Wanted Downunder and cute little adverts of a landrover driving as fast as the kangaroos around it can hop is not doing us any favours.  We want it NOW!

So bring it on Australia - we are ready!!!

PS:  If anyone can find my hubbie a top management consultant job in Australia which pays... A LOT... please feel free to contact me!!

My most booooring Christmas holiday ever...

Well firstly Silke got ill with flu on the last week of school.  I took her to school, watched her coughing through her school play (luckily she was a sheep!), went home, school rang just before 12:00, went back, Silke insists on have her Christmas lunch, patient mummy hangs around for an hour waiting, take her home, go back to fetch Mieke, take Mieke to Kumon, drop her off at neighbour, took Silke to GP, GP says to go to hospital, drive to hospital in an hour due to snow blizzard, paed says she's okay - get home after 8:00pm.

On Friday I leave Silke with my neighbour, take Mieke to school and present her teacher with his leaving present.  Ask a friend to pick Mieke up from school as it starts to snow heavily.  She finds a feverish Mieke sleeping under the table.

So far it doesn't sound that boring though this was just the start.  Over the weekend I also start getting ill, so all three of us end up with shivering with really high fevers.  So the next three weeks of the Christmas holiday we spend either in bed or laying about lazily reading or watching TV.  We only went out shopping for Christmas lunch and to watch Despicable Me (fabulous!).  And to travel to Maidenhead by train to do our visa medicals.  Luckily the girls seemed to enjoy their presents and its still keeping them busy.

Its the first of January and nothing much has changed - we are better but still coughing daily and lounging about.  At least we are getting plenty of rest.  Though not really as its 01:36 and I'm still awake - aaaarrrggghh!!

Happy 2011 - things can only get better...

I've had my first good luck of 2011 - I did not end up in the loo at 12:00 am.  I nearly did - at 11:55 I had the urge to go and nearly nearly missed the countdown, but luckily I made it back to the lounge in time to watch the countdown on BBC1 with Werner and Mieke.  And have a glass of Prosecco (the English are very specific about the name of these things - I dare not call it champagne, though we did have real champagne at Christmas).

So its a good start.

But let me reflect on 2010 - to be honest it was not what I call a good year, not too terrible but not good either, rather mediocre:

My worst for 2010:
1. Snow when we got back from Cape Town in January, snow in February (I don't like snow.)

2. Silke ending up in hospital with pneumonia in March and diagnosed with ashtma which still causes me huge anxiety.

3. My friend's husband dying in October.

4. My other friends' partner left her.

5. My other friend left her husband.

6. Due to the economy we cannot sell our house for what we paid for it 3 years ago.

7. Australian exchange rate went from £1,60 to 60 pence - NOT GOOD.

8. Silke started school and I miss her.

9. I'm still in limbo and I'm starting to feel... old.

10. Snow and the coldest December on record.

The GOOD:

1. We had a great holiday in South Africa and loved spending time with friends and family (well that was actually last year but it ended this year).

2. Mieke did really well in school and is in the 'gifted and talented' group for reading and writing.

3. We had a fantastic holiday in Le Marche, Italy and another amazing one in Amsterdam and Efteling, Holland - we are so lucky.

4. Our Australian visa application starting moving again at the end of the year and we are holding thumbs for a visa soon.

5. We had some great weekends away in the UK - on a farm on the Isle of Wight, London for Werner's birthday.

6.  Werner and I had our first night away for years on our own in London at the fabulous Chancery Court Hotel - it really was amazing (thanks to my mum in law Antoinette for babysitting).  We saw Colin Firth & Helen Boham Carter, saw a movie, had dinner at the most romantic restaurant and had fun shopping - on OUR OWN!

7.  My neighbour and friend is pregnant with her second baby.

8.  Even though its sad that my girls are growing up so quickly, we are having such fun as a family and growing closer together.

9.  Even though we don't have any family close by we are blessed with a network of friends who are always there to help out if I need them.

10.  Although the economy is down in the dumps it has not really affected us in our day to day life - touch wood...

So we have a lot to be thankful for.
Thank You.

Snowed In ... Again!!!

It feels like yesterday when we were last snowed in, but it was January so a while ago.  Although it started 30th November this year so way too early.

So this is a description of my slightly dismal but pleasantly peaceful week.

Monday - freezing cold, have coffee with friend in town.  Decide to do some shopping in Guildford and not to go to Woking to collect sledge which I ordered in anticipation of snow. 

Monday night at 11:30pm Mieke wakes me quietly and asks me to come to her room.  Shock and Horror!!  When my eyes adjust to the bright light I am faced with a nightmarish scene - the whole bed and child is covered in vomit!  I try to clean it up but the smell overwhelmes me and I run downstairs to the downstairs loo where I do the same thing!!  I realize that this will not do so I stuff some sweets in my mouth and cover it with a cloth.  I go for a second attempt... I pull of bedding and put child into bath, wash her hair and body and get her into clean pajamas.  She starts again!!!  Luckily we were still in the bathroom.

I change her bed and put a bucket next to it.  I wash dirty bedding and crawl back into bed again unable to sleep.  Half an hour later she has a go at the bucket a few times.  I get up and rinse bucket with Domestos.

Seemingly five minutes later she wakes me again with the happy news that she was sick in her bed again!!  I do the unthinkable and cover it with a towel and placing a pillow on the other side of the bed for her to sleep on...

Tuesday:  Wake up and happy news (for the kids not for me) - its SNOWING.  Shit why oh why didn't I go pick up the sledge yesterday.  Mieke is weak and sleepy but is still clean.  I leave her home with strick instructions to phone 999 if she feels really bad and drive Silke to school.  The road by the school is already icy so I park and walk to school arriving about half an hour late.  Silke tells everyone her sister is sick.

Get home and doctor Mieke with sips of water, rooibos tea, slices of banana and plain rice for lunch which seems to do the trick.  Snow starts to come down really heavy so I decide at around 14:15 to set off to get Silke.  Being paranoid I pack a few packets of biscuits.  Make it up to the start of Harvey Road but cars already bumping and sliding on hill - one poor girls sat crying in her car cause as soon as she moves it starts slipping.  Leave car where it is and walk to school with Mieke in blizzard.  Collect Silke and slide back down the hill in blizzard.  Turn car around carefully and slide down hill to join a queue of cars.  Wait for 20 minutes in unmoving queue while snow comes down heavily.  We all pray to God that we don't get stuck there forever and have the emergency biscuits.  It starts moving!!!  We get home 1,5 hours after we set off.

Thank goodness I went early because other mums who went later had a 2,5 hour journey.

Wednesday:  Snowed In - School closed, Werner stays home.  Mieke better but has a high fever and weird rash. 

I take a taxi to Reception class Christmas getogether at a pub in town.  I have some Prosecco and wine and enjoyed myself so much that I ignore the heavy snowfall outside.  Eventually phone taxi.  Taxi driver grumpy and drops me off on main road so I walk the rest of the way home.  Eery but unexpectantly lovely to walk in the middle of a snowy road with only my own footsteps and snow falling all around me.  And the wine helped me forget about the cold...

Thursday:  Snowed In - School closed.  Snows keeps coming the whole day. Venture outside with the kids for the first time.  Mieke's school friend and Mum joins us.  Silke meets a friend from pre-school.  Snow is too powdery for a snow man but apparently good for skiing and sledging (wish I fetched the thing on Monday!)  Ten minutes out and my feet are numb and Silke starts crying because its so cold and even though she desperately wanted to play with her friend she just couldn't stand it anymore.  We go indoors and have some hot chocolate...

Mieke walks off with friend for a sleepover.  I miss her dreadfully the rest of that and the next day...

Friday:  Snowed In - School closed.  School Christmas Fair postponed.  Decide to go to Sainsburys and Silke (after being housebound for a while) insists on coming along.  It takes me ages to sweep thick layer of snow off my car.  I rush back to the house nearly crying of the cold and summoning Werner to help.  He clears the car and we're off.

We spend most of the day and lots of money in Sainsburys.  Buying 12 bottles of wine, welly socks and slippers for the girls and long johns for me.  Buy some food.  Go home hours later....

Saturday:  Its Capgemini Consulting's Christmas Party at Somerset House in London!!  We were a bit worried that we might not be able to go and last year we missed it as we were in Cape Town.  But no more snow so off we went.  Main roads were okay and although some trains were cancelled we managed to get there on time.  Quite beautiful to watch the snow white landscape along the way.  We had a lot of fun skating and they had mini candyfloss and sweets on tap for the kids and mulled wine for us.  The kids saw Santa and Silke chose Sylvanian family kitty mum and baby and Mieke 'How to train your dragon' dvd. 

So both a busy and peaceful week.  We enjoyed not having to rush to school and activities and to do homework and Kumon (although we don't do a lot of that) and staying in our pajamas until the afternoon.

It was great!!!  Oh and the best news of all - on Tuesday morning we got a CASE OFFICER!!