I've lived away from the parental home for over 11 years now, and have hardly had anything in the way of furniture or white goods that is new.  Not even since Les and I got together 7+ years ago.

After Acacia was born, the plan was to get a new fridge and chest freezer etc.  Well, Les and I ended up having a bit of a disagreement and I told him to do what he liked with my money.  He bought the worst fridge you can imagine.  It was second hand, had a  3 month warranty and, you guessed it, started playing up the day after the warranty ran out.

We have been struggling with this fridge ever since, and it is dying, a slow painful death.  The dryer he got isn't much better.  The belt inside keeps slipping, so that is another second hand appliance we can't use.

This time, the maternity allowance is going on brand new appliances!!!!!! OMG!  I am getting a brand new fridge and a brand new front load washing machine/dryer combo!!!!!  The rest of the money is going on getting my teeth fixed (that's another blog for another day) and new glasses (again, another blog for another day) oh, and Les' too.

Ok, so this is all coming to roughly $3000 but I have waited 11 years for this time to come, so I think it is well justified.

We are having to pay it over several days because there is a $1000 a day limit on atm widthdrawls (going to pay a fortune in bank fees this month!)  but by this time next week, my BRAND NEW WHITE GOODS WILL BE IN MY HOME!!!!!!

Yeah, I feel like it is christmas already!

Oh, and the old washing machine is going to be donated to the local youth services because it still has some life in it yet.  I just wanted a front load washing machine to be able to wash all our blankets.  They youth services will also get the dryer, once we put a new belt on it, and if they want it, the dying fridge too (apparently only needs a new heater???)

I was having trouble sending gifts.  Hey, I was under the impression there was something wrong my end because all the tikes when I went to send them were all shadowed out. 

Silly me, I should have read what it says better, because it says that person already has received that gift, not that I can't send more!!!!

Guess who's face is now just as red as their hair.

There is nothing like taking a break from the mundane housework and the demand of the girls just to chill out and have some minti  time.  Only problem is, this new gift giving promotion.  I can't seem to keep up with all the ones that are coming in.  That, and I can't send any.  Not sure why, but when I try to send one, it keeps telling me that it has already been received by the person.

Due to me furiously trying to catch up on the gifts, I have sadly been neglecting the other parts of minti, so sorry for that.  I'm doing my best, and while time is limited, I have to confess to spending much of my free time working on my own website. 

Well, Aralia will be 6 weeks old on Monday.  She has already put on nearly 1kg, which I don't remember happening with any of the others.  Must mean I've got the good stuff here for her, though the others were breastfed too.

She has also learnt how to blow her nose on me, how to give kisses (oh so funny! lol) like her big sisters do, how to manipulate the nipple to her liking (ouch!  beware the claws!) and is starting to goo at us now (ha!  more for me than Les!).

Ah, best keep going.  The school holidays started yesterday, and I'm still looking for a place to hibernate.

I am so sick of the coughing, sneezing and vomiting that has gone on in our house for the last 8 months.  I want a break from it all.

Ever since Ayla started school, our family has had bug after bug after bug, and I have had to put up with the constant coughing and sneezing.  It is driving me up the wall!!!!!

Oh, and they don't get it all at once, they take it in turns.  So, by the time everyone has had the bug, we are back to the start, and adding a new bug too.

I'm sick and tired of Laurel thinking it is a huge joke to just come up and sneeze or cough right in my face.  I have tried, until blue in the face, to get her to at least put her hand over her mouth, but no, she won't do it and then gives me a look that says 'there, cop that'.

The school is really irresponsible too.  They allow the kids of working parents who are sick, and not just with colds, to lay about on a mattress in the classroom where they are coughing their germs all over the rest of the class.  I mean, why should there be one set of rules for one lot of parents and another for the working parents?  It isn't fair that my family should suffer because parents can't or won't take time off work to look after their sick kids.

My health is really starting to suffer.  My immune system is still trying to find it's feet again and I have lost way more weight after having Aralia than I thought I would.  It seems that every thing I eat goes straight to her and my body is left with nothing to survive on.  Oh I eat, when I don't have my hands full, but it just doesn't seem to be enough.  Any ideas on how to increase my calorie intake without resorting to cakes etc?  I'm not kidding about the weight, the pants that have been tight in the upper leg (my thickest area) are all of a sudden baggy and actually fit better, not that I am complaining, but they are size 14 jeans and too big in the waist (only size of jeans that would fit my upper legs!!!).

Ayla is right at this moment barking away in her bedroom, and I've had enough already.  Laurel, Willow, Acacia and even Aralia are either sneezing or coughing practically every 5 mins, and I'm starting to feel as though I'm getting the flu again too.  That just leaves Les, who I'm sure will follow suit within hours.

Please tell me it will end, because I'm seriously considering taking Ayla out of school and home schooling her.

I'm still here, though sometimes wish I was on another planet.  Thought I had better let you know that this monster still lives! lol.

I'm having to take longer breaks at the moment, and not just because of Puggle either.  I've somehow hurt my neck, probably dozing during the nightfeeds, and am finding it very hard to get anything done.  That includes having computer time.

I think I am getting there, but sitting at the computer for too long makes it worse, so please know I am thinking of you all and I will be back just as soon as the kink is completely gone and I have found that box of match sticks (for keeping my eyes open for long enough).

Apparently, it is all to do with the way a baby's nose is.  You know, those nostrils that seem to be too big for the face?  Baby's noses are supposed to be pressed up against the breast during feeding, and even larger breasted women won't have problems with their baby suffocating while feeding.

Clearly, whomever came up with this theory has never met me or my breasts.  Let's just say, after 4 previous little suckers, my age and my breast size, the once perky, stretch mark free and completely mine boobs have changed.  They have turned into marshmallows.  That is, they are soft and squishy but seriously yummy! lol.  Well, at least Puggle and Les seem to think so, I just hope they don't try and toast them over an open fire.

With my marshmallows, I can tell you now, if I don't hold onto the one being munched upon, so that it is away from Puggle's nose, she kind of gets lost in it, and runs the risk of suffocating.

So much for the theories of the experts hey.  Clearly it was a man that came up with it!!!!! lol.

Oh, and if anyone wants to supplement their families daily milk to save on costs, put your orders in now, I have a bit of an oversupply problem today! lol.