A very busy Saturday! Jenna had gymnastics this morning, and we all went (usually only one of us and sometimes Rocco). Last week they were told they had to make a star for their Christmas demonstration - we worked hard on it and Jenna had it ready to go all morning. Halfway there, realised she forgot it, so I dropped her and her dad off and I went back to get it. When I get back, found out they didn't need it this week! Oh well. Had to up the dose of the laxative this morning because Jenna hadn't pooed since Tuesday, and she was supposed to be running by today - she spent the whole of gymnastics looking green and had trouble concentrating, poor thing.

Straight after gym, we were on our way to a Hi-5 concert, which both of the kids were looking forward to. We were going to catch a train into the city, but ended up driving in so we wouldn't have to rush. Got there with plenty of time for the kids to have a play and relax, which was good. The concert was fantastic - they both absolutely loved it, and Rocco looked like he was in a trance for most of it. When they ask the kids to shout as loud as they can, Jenna lets rip with this ear breaking scream - it always brings me to tears with laughter. I could just picture her as a teenage groupie fainting from squealing her lungs out!

On our way home we stopped for Mcdonalds - a very rare treat for the kids. Believe it or not, they still had energy to play. rocco didn't eat much before he wanted to play - usually they take 20-30 minutes, even at home. Found out 10 minutes later why - Jenna comes to tell us quietly that he needs a change - poo. He normally only does them at home, but after being out all day, he really couldn't wait anymore.

Thank goodness, Jenna finally got hers out right at bathtime - her favourite time to do it! Once they're naked and ready to go, she does it, so Rocco has to wait 20 minutes for her to finish. Just glad she did it, even though it wasn't the quality it was supposed to be, at least now she's not so bloated. After tomorrow, we will review the situation and ring the doctor on Monday.

After all that, Rocco still managed to muck around for half an hour at bedtime, but at least we have had two nights with the nappy staying on, and they are sleeping peacefully now.

Well, we have had a busy couple of weeks! Jenna has started her school transition program - she absolutely loves it and cannot wait until next year. She already wants me to just drop her off at the door and go, so that's a great sign. Even though it is only for an hour and half, Rocco misses her heaps and can't stop cuddling her when she comes home!

We've had an aunty of mine here for the last week and a half and it has been interesting to stay the least. This aunty used to live with us when I was a little girl and in all honesty, nothing has changed with her. My memory of her when I was little was Aunty Glenda and ouzo at 11.00 (she would have been all of 20 then). Sure enough, the latest she started drinking was 12.00, and yesterday start  time was 10.00am. One day when she was cracking open another beer, Jenna says quietly to me 'she drinks a lot of those doesn't she?' What can you say? Luckily we weren't home a lot during the day so the kids didn't see it much, but I know it is probably something Jenna will remember her whole life.

Jenna was at a gastroenterologist last week to try and sort out a problem she has had since she was 18 months old. She has a lot of pain when she poos, and went from doing it 2-3 times a day to 1-2 times a week. the specialist says it is chronic constipation (although she does totally normal types of poo), and that it will take at least half as long as she's had the problem to fix the problem. It means laxatives for at least the next 18 months on a daily basis. I am very dubious about this. We have to give her enough so she gets diarrhea to start with and then back off to a maintenance dose. Jenna refused to take the first stuff (movicol) so we are on something else - started Tuesday afternoon and she has still only done one poo. If she doesn't have diarrhea in 5 days I have to call the doctor back, if it works, we have an appointment in 6 weeks. I really just want Jenna to be pain free, and not have to suffer a life of dependancy on laxatives.

Rocco has been great except for the bedtime business, still. Now he has to take his nappy off all the time. On Friday night I had gone in their room and smelt poo, but just thought the rubbish bag needed changing, so did that and left. 5 minutes later, out he comes with no nappy on, telling me he had to take it off because he had 'a bad poo in my bed'. Sure enough, in I go and there's the poo IN HIS BED! I could have killed him, it was so revolting. Lucky it was pretty solid and not a sloppy jalopy!

Anyway, minor things in the greater scheme of things, aren't they? We're flat out again for the next few weeks, so I am so looking forward to a few days off over Christmas,as we all are, I suspect.

Cannot believe that the year is coming close to ending already! My little big girl had her first school transition day on Friday - she wishes it was the real start of school already!

We are so excited - she just wanted to get her uniform immediately - took a few times of asking to understand that we will leave it a bit in case she grows! rocco can't wait either - I kept telling him he would have to go to Nonna's if he didn't sleep, so as soon as I came home from work Friday morning all he would say to me was 'not me go to Nonna's, me go to school'. Very cute.

What's not cute is the fact that he is still a little bugger at bed time, and continues to take of his nappy before going to sleep! Sometimes he comes and tells me, but most of the time I only find out when I go to take Jenna to the toilet at 10.30. When he does come out, it's 'me no need nap, is dirt'. Thank goodness he is not wetting in the couple of hours without it - then I would be really pissed off!

The kids are still getting over whatever the hell it is they have had forever, and have been happy enough hanging at home in the afternoons. this has been great because I've been having filthy headaches all week, accompanied by a severe attack of sinusitis. It's times like that I realise how lucky I am to have such great kids - they understand and are fine to be left alone for a while so I can lie down.

This week will be a busy one, so it will make up for the lazy days of last week. Keep my mind off making work decisions for next year, too!

Anyway, off to sleep now, and hopefully wake up feeling better tomorrow - so over the headaches!

Gotta love Melbourne. Nice and warm one day, absolutely freezing the next! This is the city we know and love! As much as I don't like the cold, I was getting really scared that we were going the same way as last year - 4-5 30+ degree days in October, before Spring had really kicked in! Hopefully we are coming to the end of the drought, although it usually means another extreme. I remember as a little girl a huge drought, and then have flashing memories of city streets flooded up to the windows of cars, and hail the size of tennis balls. what to do but sit, wait and see what nature delivers next!

Hubby had the day off today - his work gives them a day off for their birthdays (what are they, schoolkids?!!!) He had to take his dad out this morning, then we went out bowling this afternoon. We had heaps of fun, but know next time to get Rocco a game for himself. We decided against it this time, because we thought he was probably that little bit too young, but we all ended up sharing our turns with him, which led to some 'fantastic' scores, I don't think. Jenna was a real sweetheart and shared with him almost every turn. They were so cute pushing the ball down the alley. One went so slow we didn't think it would make it!

Well, gotta get ready for my late night TV viewing - and for work tomorrow, I suppose!