I have started another blog elsewhere. (Sorry about that blogger, but I prefer the other one) So the story continues there.
http://laura75.wordpress.com/
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The life of a teenage girl!!!
Weekend was mostly uneventful. We were looking after a teenaged girl who lives in the same complex as us. Her Mom has gone away for a few days on a course. She is 17 and DH had to lift and carry her from a school fashion show they were having.
On Friday night she got dropped off home by a friend and sent a text to us letting us know she is home safe. So on Saturday morning DH sees her boyfriend leaving her house. Her Mom had said that no friends were allowed. So DH flipped and had it out with her. So we had a taste of what it is like to have a teenager girl......
DH and our teenage girl were watching a horror dvd last night which they hired. I was on the internet and tried to not watch too much!!! It is winter school hols here at the moment and 'our teenager' went with DH to work. His work are letting her do some stuff there for the hols. Works out nicely as then we dont need to worry about her during the day. Her mom gets back on Friday.
The horror movie was bad - I caught a few glimpses and it was not pretty. There was a loud noise from the bedroom and DH froze and I went running to see what happened. Just something that fell off a door handle but DH sat frozen on the couch!!! I got him good earlier in the evening during the movie - we have this plastic spider which he is always trying to frighten me with. Well he was trying to get 'our teenager' to be scared with the movie and so I throw the spider at him without him seeing and he jumped to the other side of the room.. Very funny!!!
"Our teenager' is going to a party on Wednesday night.......so I may have some more teenage stories by then!!! tee hee hee.
On Friday night she got dropped off home by a friend and sent a text to us letting us know she is home safe. So on Saturday morning DH sees her boyfriend leaving her house. Her Mom had said that no friends were allowed. So DH flipped and had it out with her. So we had a taste of what it is like to have a teenager girl......
DH and our teenage girl were watching a horror dvd last night which they hired. I was on the internet and tried to not watch too much!!! It is winter school hols here at the moment and 'our teenager' went with DH to work. His work are letting her do some stuff there for the hols. Works out nicely as then we dont need to worry about her during the day. Her mom gets back on Friday.
The horror movie was bad - I caught a few glimpses and it was not pretty. There was a loud noise from the bedroom and DH froze and I went running to see what happened. Just something that fell off a door handle but DH sat frozen on the couch!!! I got him good earlier in the evening during the movie - we have this plastic spider which he is always trying to frighten me with. Well he was trying to get 'our teenager' to be scared with the movie and so I throw the spider at him without him seeing and he jumped to the other side of the room.. Very funny!!!
"Our teenager' is going to a party on Wednesday night.......so I may have some more teenage stories by then!!! tee hee hee.
Monday, June 30, 2008
The events of 25 June 2008
Last week was an eventful week for us. The early hours of Wednesday morning someone attempted to enter our unit. DH had been unable to sleep that night and was in the lounge watching TV. At about 2am he saw someone looking into the main bedroom window where the children were sleeping. He went outside to see and shouted at the person who then started to flee. DH chased him but he in the process threw something at DH hitting him above the eye.
DH woke me up as I had slept through the whole event. At first I had no idea what he was saying until I got up and saw blood streaming down his face.
DH called the complex security patrol and informed them of the event. I phoned Cecile to wake her up and she took DH had to go to the A&E where he had 3 stitches to his eyebrow.
Somehow this person got through either the electrified fencing (though we found out this weekend that the fence is not working again) or through that main gate. I wonder how they go out of the property or if someone else was broken into. Perhaps this person was just looking in order to see if there was anything to steal to return later? This seems to be the way criminals are doing it lately.
DH woke me up as I had slept through the whole event. At first I had no idea what he was saying until I got up and saw blood streaming down his face.
DH called the complex security patrol and informed them of the event. I phoned Cecile to wake her up and she took DH had to go to the A&E where he had 3 stitches to his eyebrow.
Somehow this person got through either the electrified fencing (though we found out this weekend that the fence is not working again) or through that main gate. I wonder how they go out of the property or if someone else was broken into. Perhaps this person was just looking in order to see if there was anything to steal to return later? This seems to be the way criminals are doing it lately.
I found out this weekend that they found a whole in the fence where this person possibly got in and out of the property. The Trustees have assured us all that they are tightening up on the security and fixing the fence. Lets hope they do it soon.
DH seems fine now - though he said that he forget a pack of cigarettes outside our unit and they were missing the next day. HMmmmmmm - not sure what to think.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Teething and Bad dreams
Joshua is teething again. We had a long weekend this past weekend which was great except that Josh was rather miserable. He moaned and cried at just about anything. Poor little guy must have been in some pain. He is off his food and has these little red spots around his mouth and cheeks plus disturbed sleep during the night. All of these were the same symptoms of the last teething time. I can see two white mounds forming on his bottom jaw on either side of his two existing teeth. So far he has 6 teeth and it will be 8 when these 2 cut - though that may be only in a couple of weeks time.
But other than this he is happy. We went to Canal Walk shopping centre on Saturday for most of the day. The kids were brilliant (even teething Josh). Mr Price has a designated Kids shop where they have a mini jungle gym and the kids can play with toys etc. So my 2 love this as it gives them a break from shopping boredom. Josh is adventurous and wants to climb everything in sight. No fear what so ever, so despite the break he did have a few tears from a fall or two. But they don't last long. Of course once we decided that we had had enough Josh was having none of it. We called him and he just says 'No' and pretends to not hear anything more. I picked him up much to his disgust and he gave me a big tantrum and did not want to go in his pram again. He made his body ridged which made it difficult to strap him in. Little guy is clever already!!!! He moaned for sometime after. Later he performed a very similar tantrum.........hopefully when he turns 2 they wont be worse.
I had a bad night with Josh due to his new teeth. He woke crying at about 10pm, though I was not yet in bed. He cried for sometime till he settled again and then I just sat on the couch with him till I went to bed. He woke a few more times during the night but he went back down again once I gave him his dummy again. Though by 5am he was having no more sleep and once he had his (early) morning bottle I let him lie with me in bed. He spent the next hour singing. Really sweet though not really when trying to get some sleep. Josh seems to love music and picks up a tune very easily. Anything that makes a noise is attractive to him. He found the music keyboard and knows which button to press for the tunes. He will dance and hum along to the music.
Stefi is funny - she has an imaginary Grandma (as well as a vivid imagination) who she talks to all the time. Wherever we go or whatever we do with her she will tells us that he Grandma does so and so. Anyways we were in another shop and there was a woman shopping and she had already taken notice of us and smiled at Josh. So Stef pipes up loudly and tells me 'When I was at my Grandma's house, she chopped off her fingers' Both Jay and I say 'Oh' with very little expression. (She makes up so many stories and some of them rather outrageous.) Well the woman looks none too pleased with us and Stefi. She must have thought us awful parents for taking little interest in this hideous story.
Before Josh woke and was singing, I woke from a nightmare. I dreamt that we were home (though not the house we are living now - looked like the Newlands house I grew up in) Some men broke into the house, and Jay was sitting at the kitchen table with a man. (I think he was the leader of the gang). I shouted at the men to go away and leave us alone. Jay then shushed me to be quiet. They ransacked the place and during this time I wanted to know where Stefi was but I had to remain quiet. When they left Stefi came running to me and I realised that these people had been keeping her as a hostage. Though she seemed fine and happy to see me. Well I woke with a big fright and really battled to sleep again. Very scary dream. I even lay there thinking that I am being selfish wanting to live in SA and that my kids are not safe and that we should leave again. Perhaps we need to be more vigilant as it is easy to forget how things are here especially living in a security complex, one gets a false sense of secuirty.
But other than this he is happy. We went to Canal Walk shopping centre on Saturday for most of the day. The kids were brilliant (even teething Josh). Mr Price has a designated Kids shop where they have a mini jungle gym and the kids can play with toys etc. So my 2 love this as it gives them a break from shopping boredom. Josh is adventurous and wants to climb everything in sight. No fear what so ever, so despite the break he did have a few tears from a fall or two. But they don't last long. Of course once we decided that we had had enough Josh was having none of it. We called him and he just says 'No' and pretends to not hear anything more. I picked him up much to his disgust and he gave me a big tantrum and did not want to go in his pram again. He made his body ridged which made it difficult to strap him in. Little guy is clever already!!!! He moaned for sometime after. Later he performed a very similar tantrum.........hopefully when he turns 2 they wont be worse.
I had a bad night with Josh due to his new teeth. He woke crying at about 10pm, though I was not yet in bed. He cried for sometime till he settled again and then I just sat on the couch with him till I went to bed. He woke a few more times during the night but he went back down again once I gave him his dummy again. Though by 5am he was having no more sleep and once he had his (early) morning bottle I let him lie with me in bed. He spent the next hour singing. Really sweet though not really when trying to get some sleep. Josh seems to love music and picks up a tune very easily. Anything that makes a noise is attractive to him. He found the music keyboard and knows which button to press for the tunes. He will dance and hum along to the music.
Stefi is funny - she has an imaginary Grandma (as well as a vivid imagination) who she talks to all the time. Wherever we go or whatever we do with her she will tells us that he Grandma does so and so. Anyways we were in another shop and there was a woman shopping and she had already taken notice of us and smiled at Josh. So Stef pipes up loudly and tells me 'When I was at my Grandma's house, she chopped off her fingers' Both Jay and I say 'Oh' with very little expression. (She makes up so many stories and some of them rather outrageous.) Well the woman looks none too pleased with us and Stefi. She must have thought us awful parents for taking little interest in this hideous story.
Before Josh woke and was singing, I woke from a nightmare. I dreamt that we were home (though not the house we are living now - looked like the Newlands house I grew up in) Some men broke into the house, and Jay was sitting at the kitchen table with a man. (I think he was the leader of the gang). I shouted at the men to go away and leave us alone. Jay then shushed me to be quiet. They ransacked the place and during this time I wanted to know where Stefi was but I had to remain quiet. When they left Stefi came running to me and I realised that these people had been keeping her as a hostage. Though she seemed fine and happy to see me. Well I woke with a big fright and really battled to sleep again. Very scary dream. I even lay there thinking that I am being selfish wanting to live in SA and that my kids are not safe and that we should leave again. Perhaps we need to be more vigilant as it is easy to forget how things are here especially living in a security complex, one gets a false sense of secuirty.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Fast forward 10 years!!!
Hmmmm 10 years time!!!!
Well if I think all of what has happened in the last 10 years....... it is hard to try to predict what the next 10 may contain.
I will be turning 43.....DH will be 48 .... Kids 13 and 11. I am trying to imagine what they may be like. Hopefully still the same happy and contect kids that they are now. With the same fondness and love for each other too.
Well if I think all of what has happened in the last 10 years....... it is hard to try to predict what the next 10 may contain.
I will be turning 43.....DH will be 48 .... Kids 13 and 11. I am trying to imagine what they may be like. Hopefully still the same happy and contect kids that they are now. With the same fondness and love for each other too.
- No plans for any more kids.
- I would love to have my own successful business which running it from home. I have always wanted to do this but there always seems to be stuff preventing me. Hopefully in the next couple of years the kids will be less demanding therby allowing me time to start up this dream. I also think that if I am my own boss it will allow my time to be flexible thereby allowing me to do stuff with the kids as they need it.
- DH and I will be going on 16 years of marriage!!! And as happy as ever if not more so.
- I would love to own our own house. Something big enough for the 4 of us but not too small that we are crowded.
- South Africa will have sorted out its crime problems etc which will make it a safe place to live for our retirement and for the kids to want to stay.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
May 2008
Joshua now has a total of 5 teeth with the 6th one threatening everyday to make an appearence. He looks really cool with teeth except I have not been able to get a photo of them yet. He is also walking and doing only a little crawling. So the baby in him is almost gone, in some ways I am sad as he is my last baby but on the other hand I am happy as it gets some much with a toddler. He will be graduating out of the nursery at school only in July after the school holidays. Then I is when I can mourn the loss of Josh as a baby.
We have Mike staying with us this weekend and he has brought Jay's half sister Angela with him. Last night was the first time Jay met Angela. She seems to be sweet and easy to talk to. She lives in Swaziland with her husband and 2 kids. A boy who is 11 and a girl who is 5. They have Swazi names which I have no idea how to pronounce let alone spell.
Helen arrives this evening and she has not seen Mike in about 33 years. She is getting nervous about the meeting and what follows afterwards. We are going to go to the house in Onrus on Friday for the weekend. At least then we will have a bit more space and it is a lovely setting. All in all it should be an interesting weekend.
We have Mike staying with us this weekend and he has brought Jay's half sister Angela with him. Last night was the first time Jay met Angela. She seems to be sweet and easy to talk to. She lives in Swaziland with her husband and 2 kids. A boy who is 11 and a girl who is 5. They have Swazi names which I have no idea how to pronounce let alone spell.
Helen arrives this evening and she has not seen Mike in about 33 years. She is getting nervous about the meeting and what follows afterwards. We are going to go to the house in Onrus on Friday for the weekend. At least then we will have a bit more space and it is a lovely setting. All in all it should be an interesting weekend.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
At last Josh's teeth have arrived
Well after what is many months of waiting, Joshua can now brag that he has 2 little teeth. They have only just cut through his gums BUT they do count as teeth. I will take a photos as soon as they are more visible. I am keen to see what they really look like. Funny though that I would get so excited about something that is so small. The top 2 are not too far away - perhaps another few weeks.
Since I last posted Joshua also celebrated his 1st birthday. I cant believe that the little guy is 1 years old. He still seems like a baby to me but perhaps that is because he is still crawling and not really walking besides the few little daring steps on his own. He will be flying in the next few weeks and the baby will be gone forever. In some ways I am sad but not like some women who wish for another child to replace the baby. I am sad cos it is the end to Baby Joshua but also I am overjoyed that he will becoming more independent. I am looking forward to having a bit more independence myself.
Here are a few pictures from Joshua's birthday. I made him a Ginger Cat cake as he loves cats at the moment. He got very excited to see the cake and wanted to get hold of it. We bought him a wooden trolley with blocks which he loves. He plays with it everyday, what a great buy it was. Stefanie chose some wooden Mega blocks as her present to Josh - he loves to play with these too. We had a party for him on his birthday and he received some great presents.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Not so sure about the "New Me"
It is great that I have had my hair cut but I am not entirely happy (will I ever be satisfied). I am finding that my hair is still too long and starting to annoy me. GRRRRRRR!!! I can see myself going back to the hairdresser next month and getting it cut shorter.
I also cant get used to this wavy frizzy hair that I now have since 2 pregnancies. I always loved my dead straight hair (so I was satisfied at some point). So I miss it but not much I can do about it.
I also cant get used to this wavy frizzy hair that I now have since 2 pregnancies. I always loved my dead straight hair (so I was satisfied at some point). So I miss it but not much I can do about it.
Zimbabwe's elections
This appeared in yesterday's newspaper. I thought that it is rather good. We are still waiting for the results of the recent Zimbabwe elections. Crazy really and a bit nerve racking for those living there.
Monday, April 7, 2008
"New Me"
I had a good weekend. Despite lack of sleep and a VERY grumpy baby most of it.
I had my hair done. It looked/looks great, perhaps not as short as I orignally wanted. The hairdresser was great. He gave me some good advice, looked at what I wanted and then said what would look good for me and the kind of hair I have. He cut off loads of hair - it feel so much better and lighter. I can still tie it up if needed. The hairdresser was not your stero type male hairdresser. He was not gay, had tatoos and rides a motorbike. Really cool guy. I will def. be going back to him.
Here I am before:
Here I am afterwards:
Seems that my hair has changed since being pregnant and having the kids. I have always had dead straight hair. I could never get it to curl but now the hairdreser told me I have wavy hair. I told him that it was only cos I always have it tied up, but he said it was wavy. This is the reason he did not cut it too short cos he was not sure how my hair would bounce up after the weight of the hair was cut off. Well I cannot believe how wavy my hair it now that I have washed it. I dont recognise myself.
On Sat we went to the birthday party of Lia, Gavin and Amanda's daughter. We stayed till late. It was great. Lia turned 9 and she wanted a stage in her bed room. So Gav made a stage for her with lights etc. Looked great. They gave her a PSP with the singstar game. So the kids spent the party on the stage singing. Stefi loved the party but she played in the girl's play house outside. (They live on the farm next to where we used to live and she is a only child).
Sun we went to a Hout Bay craft market - though it had rained in the morning so the market was half full of stalls and so a bit dissapointing. But we went for a scenic drive instead and had some lunch out. Josh was really grumpy so I did not really enjoy most of the day. Nothing seemed to keep him happy.
I asked DH is he would handle Josh if he woke last night, cos I am really finished from the sleepless nights. I had to ask DH cos his solution during the night was to go and share Stefi's bed so that Josh can sleep with me. But thing is he moves all over the place and can fall off the bed. GRRRR. So I kindly requested that he help me, thing is when I was a SAHM I did it all cos he was working. So now he is used to it. So DH agreed, though Josh only stirred a few times during the night. (just typical) I got up till DH came to bed and then he took over. Wow - I feel so much better for some sleep.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Will those teeth come already.....I need sleep!!
It has been a week of sleepless nights with Joshua. Monday night was fine and during Tuesday Josh had a temperature while he was at the creche. By the time I fetched him in the afternoon he was okay. But during the night his temp came up again. Nothing drastic but it was 38 degrees celcius - hot enough to upset him. So I stayed home from work with him and Stefi on Wednesday. He was miserable and hardly slept!!! Grrrrr.
Wednesday night he had a better night but last night I had a really bad time with Josh. He went to bed no problem and at 1am he started mooching and crying. He would fall asleep and wake 15 - 20 mins later. This continued for the rest of the night. Evenutally I landed up in the lounge watching SkyNews with him sleeping in my arms. DH tried to help out a bit during the night but each time Josh just cried which DH cant handle and so I landed up with the baby.
I have no idea how I am still awake, I have another hour and a half till I can go home.
DH cleaned the house last night which helped when we 'got up' this morning. He is good like that, always has been. Even when I was a SAHM!!!! DH reckoned he also got no sleep yet I could hear him snoring.......
I think the problem with Josh is a combination of teething and a cold. (Stefi seems to be getting a cold too). Poor little guy, I have not heard from the creche today so I guess all is fine with him.
I am looking forward to the weekend and getting my hair done.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Buzy weekend news
We had a busy weekend.
We had dinner with one of our neighbour, Cecile, on Friday. She made a delicious french chicken dish which was very much like Chicken a la King. Saturday evening we had a braai with Cecile and her kids Alex and Pauline. After the braai Cecile and Alex went home as they were travelling to PE the next day and wanted to get to bed early. The weather was so pleasant and windless that Jay put some more wood in the braai and we sat around the fire looking at the stars. The 3 of us sat chatting and laughing till the wee hours.
Sunday I had to collect my niece, Megan, from the airport and she spent a few hours playing with Stef before we dropped her off at UCT. We went to visit some Gavin and Amanda for tea which landed up to be so late that we all went out for dinner to the Spur together. Hence another late night for us and the kids.
Josh has been waking in the wee hours of the night and of course this morning at 3am he woke crying. So I felt wrecked on waking this morning but I feel okay now. I think that Josh is finally teething. I am hoping that his first tooth comes through by his birthday - it can be his present to me!!!
Another beautiful windless weather day but now I am at work and hoping that the weather holds out till this evening after work.
On Sunday while we were taking Megan back to res we stopped at a robot behind a white Opel Astra. On close look we realised that this was our old car. The number plate was the same with the name of the place we bought the car from. The front bumper was even still slightly broken from when a traffic cop had ridden into the car. The woman driving then pulled over to the side of the road to take a call on her cell so we got a good look at our old car. We were so amazed at the likelyhood that we would see our dear old car again. That was a great car, it is nice to see that it is still around.
We had dinner with one of our neighbour, Cecile, on Friday. She made a delicious french chicken dish which was very much like Chicken a la King. Saturday evening we had a braai with Cecile and her kids Alex and Pauline. After the braai Cecile and Alex went home as they were travelling to PE the next day and wanted to get to bed early. The weather was so pleasant and windless that Jay put some more wood in the braai and we sat around the fire looking at the stars. The 3 of us sat chatting and laughing till the wee hours.
Sunday I had to collect my niece, Megan, from the airport and she spent a few hours playing with Stef before we dropped her off at UCT. We went to visit some Gavin and Amanda for tea which landed up to be so late that we all went out for dinner to the Spur together. Hence another late night for us and the kids.
Josh has been waking in the wee hours of the night and of course this morning at 3am he woke crying. So I felt wrecked on waking this morning but I feel okay now. I think that Josh is finally teething. I am hoping that his first tooth comes through by his birthday - it can be his present to me!!!
Another beautiful windless weather day but now I am at work and hoping that the weather holds out till this evening after work.
On Sunday while we were taking Megan back to res we stopped at a robot behind a white Opel Astra. On close look we realised that this was our old car. The number plate was the same with the name of the place we bought the car from. The front bumper was even still slightly broken from when a traffic cop had ridden into the car. The woman driving then pulled over to the side of the road to take a call on her cell so we got a good look at our old car. We were so amazed at the likelyhood that we would see our dear old car again. That was a great car, it is nice to see that it is still around.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tis the season of Public Holidays
I love all the Public Holidays we have in South Africa. I think that SA is a country with one of the highest number of public holidays in the world. Not good for business in a developing country but certainly good for the 'werkers'.
Today is like a Friday for me. I am looking forward to the long weekend. This weekend is Easter. Good Friday is a holiday as well as Easter Monday. There is another 2 long weekends coming up soon. The 27th April (Freedom Day - I think) is a holiday and as it falls on a Sunday the Monday is automatically a holiday. The 1st May (Thrusday) is Workers Day and so the SA goverment has announced that they are making the 2nd May (a Friday) a holiday too. They has been done simply because Good Friday falls on the 21 March which is normally a Public Holiday (cant remember the reason) so because we are 'missing' out on a holiday they have given us a extra day off. So this means that, that week will equal a total of 2 working days. Problem is that most people will then take advantage and take those 2 days off as well. It does not make sense really - they should rather 'give us' the extra day sometime later in the year when there are no holidays.
People overseas in Ireland/UK used to find it really strange when I told them how the South Africans do it with regards to public holidays. In Ireland we would get a Bank Holiday Monday and that was considered a long weekend these were also evenly spread over the year. Bank Holidays are always on a Monday with the exceptions of St Patrick's Day (17 March) and Christmas Day. You would think a Catholic country like RO Ireland would have Good Friday as a holiday too but this is not so.
So I will enjoy my long weekend and all the rest. I look at it as extra quality time with the kids.
Today is like a Friday for me. I am looking forward to the long weekend. This weekend is Easter. Good Friday is a holiday as well as Easter Monday. There is another 2 long weekends coming up soon. The 27th April (Freedom Day - I think) is a holiday and as it falls on a Sunday the Monday is automatically a holiday. The 1st May (Thrusday) is Workers Day and so the SA goverment has announced that they are making the 2nd May (a Friday) a holiday too. They has been done simply because Good Friday falls on the 21 March which is normally a Public Holiday (cant remember the reason) so because we are 'missing' out on a holiday they have given us a extra day off. So this means that, that week will equal a total of 2 working days. Problem is that most people will then take advantage and take those 2 days off as well. It does not make sense really - they should rather 'give us' the extra day sometime later in the year when there are no holidays.
People overseas in Ireland/UK used to find it really strange when I told them how the South Africans do it with regards to public holidays. In Ireland we would get a Bank Holiday Monday and that was considered a long weekend these were also evenly spread over the year. Bank Holidays are always on a Monday with the exceptions of St Patrick's Day (17 March) and Christmas Day. You would think a Catholic country like RO Ireland would have Good Friday as a holiday too but this is not so.
So I will enjoy my long weekend and all the rest. I look at it as extra quality time with the kids.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Almost 11 months and still no teeth!!!
I think that Josh is finally teething. I can see the teeth in his gums both top and bottom. They are almost there just need to cut through the gums. He woke at about 11pm last night (just as we were trying to fall asleep) after being very restless and lay chatting in his bed. It was at first rather funny listening to him but he got louder and louder and eventually started to cry. Which woke Stefi who climbed into our bed. Jay went to Stefi's bed and tried to rock Josh to sleep. But he was wide awake. So I gave him Stopayne and then walked around the house rocking him, but still he was awake. . After awhile I just lay him in his bed and he started chatting again and eventually he must have fallen asleep. This is the first night in months that he has woken during the night - so all I can think and hope is that this it is teeth. (He was VERY grumpy yesterday - except when Jay took him swimming).
After work and school Jay took Stef swimming. I did not feel like it, so I just stayed in the house with Josh. He started moaning so I walked down to the pool and when he saw the water he just wanted to get in. So Jay took him. Stefi is getting really confident and was on the second step of the pool. Next thing I knew that she was going to fall in where it is too deep for her and she did - I jumped in clothes and all to save her. It was in a matter of seconds - Jay said he would have gotten her but in that split second I did not even think and just went in after her. She was crying but luckily she had not had chance to swallow any water so was not coughing. Jay wrapped her in her towel and then she told him that she still wanted to swim. So got back in the water and carried on swimming - which is great cos I was scared that all the confidence she had gained would have been ruined.
Other than that - no news from me.
After work and school Jay took Stef swimming. I did not feel like it, so I just stayed in the house with Josh. He started moaning so I walked down to the pool and when he saw the water he just wanted to get in. So Jay took him. Stefi is getting really confident and was on the second step of the pool. Next thing I knew that she was going to fall in where it is too deep for her and she did - I jumped in clothes and all to save her. It was in a matter of seconds - Jay said he would have gotten her but in that split second I did not even think and just went in after her. She was crying but luckily she had not had chance to swallow any water so was not coughing. Jay wrapped her in her towel and then she told him that she still wanted to swim. So got back in the water and carried on swimming - which is great cos I was scared that all the confidence she had gained would have been ruined.
Other than that - no news from me.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Toddler Tears
I had to take Stefanie for her last Hepatitis injection yesterday morning. I left it till the very last to tell her that we were going to the clinic and told her in the car when we got to the school as I sitll had to drop Joshua off. Crocodile tears followed and she told me that her arm is better and she no longer needs 'to have a prick'. I had been preparing myself for her big tears which she is so good at turning on.
We got to the clinic and thankfully the wait was not too long. I kept her mind off what was about to happen and had her colouring and playing with her wooden magnet set. She even happily stood on the scale, normally she would not let my hand go and therefore not get an accurate weight. Once her name was called to see the nurse she turned on those toddler tears. The nurse chatted to her and I promised her that this was the last injection. I held her while the nurse prepared the injection and she just kept on saying 'I want my Daddy'. I think the injection hurt my heart more than her but she did cry and the nurse put the plaster on.
In the car she told me in the meekest little voice that she does not think she can go to school as she has a sore arm. Poor little dear, I wish I could have taken her home and cuddled her all day but I needed to get to work. She was a bit tearful when I dropped her at school and it did not help that her teacher was off ill.
But when I collected her in the afternoon she was all smiles and happy and almost forgotten the mornings beginning. Except last night she told me that I must not just drop Josh off at school and take her to the clinic. She told me 'I do not like that place'. She told me that same thing again this morning, I suppose just to make sure.
Thankfully this brings Stefi up to date with the immunisations and she will not need one again till she is 6 years old.
We got to the clinic and thankfully the wait was not too long. I kept her mind off what was about to happen and had her colouring and playing with her wooden magnet set. She even happily stood on the scale, normally she would not let my hand go and therefore not get an accurate weight. Once her name was called to see the nurse she turned on those toddler tears. The nurse chatted to her and I promised her that this was the last injection. I held her while the nurse prepared the injection and she just kept on saying 'I want my Daddy'. I think the injection hurt my heart more than her but she did cry and the nurse put the plaster on.
In the car she told me in the meekest little voice that she does not think she can go to school as she has a sore arm. Poor little dear, I wish I could have taken her home and cuddled her all day but I needed to get to work. She was a bit tearful when I dropped her at school and it did not help that her teacher was off ill.
But when I collected her in the afternoon she was all smiles and happy and almost forgotten the mornings beginning. Except last night she told me that I must not just drop Josh off at school and take her to the clinic. She told me 'I do not like that place'. She told me that same thing again this morning, I suppose just to make sure.
Thankfully this brings Stefi up to date with the immunisations and she will not need one again till she is 6 years old.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Starting off
Not sure where to start off with a blog. I guess this is really just my ramblings of my little life in the big wide world.
I will begin with how I came to the name LASJACAJO. I have taken the first 2 letters of each of our names and then put it together. I used to use LAST (made of my first and maiden names) before I got married and I then needed to include Jason into it. So it became LASTJACA. When Stefanie was born her name fitted perfectly in the ST, but the problem arose once Joshua was born and so the addition of the JO on the end. Thankfully it still sounds good, I better not have anymore children as I will then have to discard the name altogether and think of something new.
So then for those who dont know me. I am 32 years old, married to Jason and I have 2 kids Stefanie (3 yrs) and Joshua (10½ months old) This kids were both born in Dublin, Ireland where we have just recently moved from to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of 2007. We were living in Dublin for 3½ years but after being very homesick we decided to return to SA.
Some days I am not sure if it was a good move back or not. But this week it feels like a good move as the weather is 31 degrees today and Jason started his new job this week.
I returned to Cape Town on my own with the 2 kids. I started by staying with my brother Chris and his wife and 4 daughters. I had already secured work prior to leaving Dublin with my previous employer in SA. They heard I was returning and offered me my old job back. Timing was simply amazing. I arrived and I needed to find a school/creche for the kids as well as start searching for a rental house.
In the meantime Jay stayed behind in Dublin to work for a few months in order to save some money to set up life in Cape Town again. He planned to stay for 3 months. This was the hardest part of the whole move and the separation certainly took its toll on our relationship but we have come through it all despite many obstructions along the way.
I began with the search for childcare and during this time I had a fallout with my sister-in-law and found myself and the kids virtually homeless. Jay's aunt Jenny then helped us out and made space in her home for the 3 of us. It was not easy as Hayley was in the process of writing her final Matric exams and here I was with 2 noisey kids in tow. My boss/friend came up with a solution for all - she opened her home to us as well. So we stayed during the week at 'work' and then weekend with Jenny & family.
I searched many childcare creches/play schools and many left me feeling depressed and desparate. Finally I walked into a school and got a good feel about the place and the staff. It is located very close to my work. On my first visit I notice a sign on the gate of the school whichsaid that the gate was sponsered by the company that I am working for. So I took this as a good sign and I have not looked back yet.
So I started working and the same day the kids started at school/creche. It was a big step for me as I had not worked since the birth of Stefanie. It took a good few weeks for Stefanie to settle into life at school and life without Mom. Joshua was fine as he was only 5 months old when he started there. Stefanie still loves going to school but she still takes strain some days and wants to stay home with me. But this is normal and I know that once I leave she is happy and loving it.
So for the next couple of months this is how ife was. Monday to Friday we lived in Kenilworth and then Friday afternoon I would pack our bags and we would go to Kommetjie for the weekend. Sunday afternoon was once again the big move back to Kenilworth. I have lost count of how many move I did with the kids in those few short months. Stefi got so used to sleeping in a different bed each week/weekend. I got used to sharing a bed with Stefanie - something I could never do before as she is a restless sleeper. I became an expert at packing bags and getting a huge amount of stuff like toys, food, nappies, travel cot, pram etc plus kids into our Nissan Sentra. Once I was in the swing of this routine I began to look forward to my 'weekend away' at the end of a week.
The next big thing which I had to do was to find a house for us to stay. Jay was adamant that he wanted to arrive in Cape Town and move into a house as he did not want to stay with anyone. At time I began to feel that this was a huge unobtainable task but I carried on looking. I saw many grotty unsuitable places as well as a few places I fell in love with only to be dissappointed when my application fell through. I am amazed at how the price of rental properties have soared since leaving SA 4 years ago but salaries have remained the same. Eventually when I was just about to admit defeit, I visited a property and was accepted as a prospective tenant. I did not even get excited and signed the lease without one excited heart pulpitation. I only believed the place was ours once the agent handed me the keys and left me alone in the house. We are living in a 2 bedroomed townhouse in a security complex in Tokai. Out of all the places seen and that I had 'fallen for', this place is definately the best by far. Even though it is small the setting makes up for it. We look over onto the Contantiaberg mountain range and the kids have a large communal garden in which to play as well as access to the complex swimming pool. When finances allow it would be great to move to a 3 bedroomed house in the same complex.
Jason stepped off the plane on the 24th November 2007 and the same day we all moved into the house in Tokai. Jay decided that he wanted a holiday (much to my quietly endured frustration as I had not enjoyed a holiday since arriving in Cape Town). December brought Christmas and then the News Year and the worst time of the year to be looking for work and to be unemployed as most companies close for the holidays. So Jason's job hunting only really took off in January once firms opened their doors for 2008.
And so began yet another frustrating and dissappointing journey. After numerous interviews with recruitment agents and no follow ups with jobs Jason was starting to get dispondant and very bored with being at home all day. He met with an agent who once again promised him the world and a job but this time he was given the name of the place and a little of what was required in the job specs. One very long week past of waiting to be called for an interview. Finally the following week the agent told him that a mix up had happened and somehow he almost lost the job but that they had now seen his CV and wanted to see him. First interview went very well followed by a second interview the following day. Then a few days wait before they offered him the job. I can't describe the absolute relief that this little accpetance will make to our lives. Jay starting work this Monday and he seems to be enjoying it so far. The setting is brilliant as it is on a wine farm and 10-15 mins away from where we are living.
Jay had been considering going to the UK to look for work if he did not find work here. It would mean another separation and perhaps a move back to the Northern Hemisphere again. So at present we are happy to remain in South Africa but what may happen in the future only remains to be seen. I will try to keep it all posted here.
Better go as starting this off went on longer than I anticipated!!!!
I will begin with how I came to the name LASJACAJO. I have taken the first 2 letters of each of our names and then put it together. I used to use LAST (made of my first and maiden names) before I got married and I then needed to include Jason into it. So it became LASTJACA. When Stefanie was born her name fitted perfectly in the ST, but the problem arose once Joshua was born and so the addition of the JO on the end. Thankfully it still sounds good, I better not have anymore children as I will then have to discard the name altogether and think of something new.
So then for those who dont know me. I am 32 years old, married to Jason and I have 2 kids Stefanie (3 yrs) and Joshua (10½ months old) This kids were both born in Dublin, Ireland where we have just recently moved from to Cape Town, South Africa at the end of 2007. We were living in Dublin for 3½ years but after being very homesick we decided to return to SA.
Some days I am not sure if it was a good move back or not. But this week it feels like a good move as the weather is 31 degrees today and Jason started his new job this week.
I returned to Cape Town on my own with the 2 kids. I started by staying with my brother Chris and his wife and 4 daughters. I had already secured work prior to leaving Dublin with my previous employer in SA. They heard I was returning and offered me my old job back. Timing was simply amazing. I arrived and I needed to find a school/creche for the kids as well as start searching for a rental house.
In the meantime Jay stayed behind in Dublin to work for a few months in order to save some money to set up life in Cape Town again. He planned to stay for 3 months. This was the hardest part of the whole move and the separation certainly took its toll on our relationship but we have come through it all despite many obstructions along the way.
I began with the search for childcare and during this time I had a fallout with my sister-in-law and found myself and the kids virtually homeless. Jay's aunt Jenny then helped us out and made space in her home for the 3 of us. It was not easy as Hayley was in the process of writing her final Matric exams and here I was with 2 noisey kids in tow. My boss/friend came up with a solution for all - she opened her home to us as well. So we stayed during the week at 'work' and then weekend with Jenny & family.
I searched many childcare creches/play schools and many left me feeling depressed and desparate. Finally I walked into a school and got a good feel about the place and the staff. It is located very close to my work. On my first visit I notice a sign on the gate of the school whichsaid that the gate was sponsered by the company that I am working for. So I took this as a good sign and I have not looked back yet.
So I started working and the same day the kids started at school/creche. It was a big step for me as I had not worked since the birth of Stefanie. It took a good few weeks for Stefanie to settle into life at school and life without Mom. Joshua was fine as he was only 5 months old when he started there. Stefanie still loves going to school but she still takes strain some days and wants to stay home with me. But this is normal and I know that once I leave she is happy and loving it.
So for the next couple of months this is how ife was. Monday to Friday we lived in Kenilworth and then Friday afternoon I would pack our bags and we would go to Kommetjie for the weekend. Sunday afternoon was once again the big move back to Kenilworth. I have lost count of how many move I did with the kids in those few short months. Stefi got so used to sleeping in a different bed each week/weekend. I got used to sharing a bed with Stefanie - something I could never do before as she is a restless sleeper. I became an expert at packing bags and getting a huge amount of stuff like toys, food, nappies, travel cot, pram etc plus kids into our Nissan Sentra. Once I was in the swing of this routine I began to look forward to my 'weekend away' at the end of a week.
The next big thing which I had to do was to find a house for us to stay. Jay was adamant that he wanted to arrive in Cape Town and move into a house as he did not want to stay with anyone. At time I began to feel that this was a huge unobtainable task but I carried on looking. I saw many grotty unsuitable places as well as a few places I fell in love with only to be dissappointed when my application fell through. I am amazed at how the price of rental properties have soared since leaving SA 4 years ago but salaries have remained the same. Eventually when I was just about to admit defeit, I visited a property and was accepted as a prospective tenant. I did not even get excited and signed the lease without one excited heart pulpitation. I only believed the place was ours once the agent handed me the keys and left me alone in the house. We are living in a 2 bedroomed townhouse in a security complex in Tokai. Out of all the places seen and that I had 'fallen for', this place is definately the best by far. Even though it is small the setting makes up for it. We look over onto the Contantiaberg mountain range and the kids have a large communal garden in which to play as well as access to the complex swimming pool. When finances allow it would be great to move to a 3 bedroomed house in the same complex.
Jason stepped off the plane on the 24th November 2007 and the same day we all moved into the house in Tokai. Jay decided that he wanted a holiday (much to my quietly endured frustration as I had not enjoyed a holiday since arriving in Cape Town). December brought Christmas and then the News Year and the worst time of the year to be looking for work and to be unemployed as most companies close for the holidays. So Jason's job hunting only really took off in January once firms opened their doors for 2008.
And so began yet another frustrating and dissappointing journey. After numerous interviews with recruitment agents and no follow ups with jobs Jason was starting to get dispondant and very bored with being at home all day. He met with an agent who once again promised him the world and a job but this time he was given the name of the place and a little of what was required in the job specs. One very long week past of waiting to be called for an interview. Finally the following week the agent told him that a mix up had happened and somehow he almost lost the job but that they had now seen his CV and wanted to see him. First interview went very well followed by a second interview the following day. Then a few days wait before they offered him the job. I can't describe the absolute relief that this little accpetance will make to our lives. Jay starting work this Monday and he seems to be enjoying it so far. The setting is brilliant as it is on a wine farm and 10-15 mins away from where we are living.
Jay had been considering going to the UK to look for work if he did not find work here. It would mean another separation and perhaps a move back to the Northern Hemisphere again. So at present we are happy to remain in South Africa but what may happen in the future only remains to be seen. I will try to keep it all posted here.
Better go as starting this off went on longer than I anticipated!!!!
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