Ok so the last time I blogged I had just had my dog put to sleep, very emotional and it just broke my heart. I had just started working, still working and enjoying it. Shift work certainly plays with your mind a little, sometimes forget things when I am tired and sleep patterns need adjusting. I'm glad I can sleep at anytime of the day without any problems, just need to get grub to let me recouperate for a couple of hours some mornings!

What else.....Dad and I had our "90th" birthday party in december. It was a 90's theme and it rocked! I dressed up as Mimi Bobeck from the Drew Carey show. There were school uniforms, a navy sailor (friend was in the gulf during the nineties), spice girls, ninja turtle, toy story characters and even the dude from Fight Club! Everything went without a hitch and the weather even held out for us. So glad we had it catered, it made things sooo much easier. Although, we were busy socialising and making sure no-one was left out, and that took a lot of energy considering we had over 70 guests!!

Xmas was good, nice a nd quiet. Grub got spoilt rotten as usual. I had to work xmas eve night, so that was a bit of a bumma, luckily it was when he was sleeping. He was a little peeved at Santa though! He was not happy with all of the messy "snow" santa left behind when he visited!!!

Then last monday, a friend of my dad who own kennels, called him and told him about a client who had a miniature poodle she had to give away as she had moved into a complex with a no pets policy. Now my parents were adament that there was not going to be another dog in the house after Mac died. But Grub has slowly been working on the weakest link ie my dad! about getting another dog. But Dad implicitly trusts the judgement of his friend as he has been involved in dog breeding and kennels all of his life and he said that this one was a lovely dog and great with kids. So on tuesday I took Grub down and met the lady and her dog. Well he was right and we brought home Rufus the 19mo mini poodle. Rufy as we call him has certainly fitted in well here and absolutely loves having a big yard as he was used to living in a unit. Everywhere Grub goes, Rufy follows him! It's so cute. Although we have had to put a bell on his collar! We are so used to a big dog (Mac was  std poodle...the big ones!) and Rufy is small and quiet that we keep nearly tripping over him if he is behind us, and it also helps us work out where he is in the dark (he's black). So we are back to being dog owners again!

Onto NYE.....had a great time. Friends of mine had a zombie party!!! I was a zombie cheerleader, and had to go to the bottlo in my outfit to by my drinks and then through macca's drive thru!! That was a blast as people were freaking out at the fake sore and boils and the whole outfit in general.

So life has been good and rather uneventful. No hiccups, and that's how I like it!

Enjoy!

OK from the last blog.....

The "bring everything" party....well it seems karma got the better of the host...it got rained out and cancelled! Aww shucks, I sure was disappointed! And it seems that everytime since she has tried to arrange something like lunch or movies etc either she has gotten sick or someone has been working etc and we can't make it work out. Hell she has some bad luck there. But really. I'm over it now. I decided to take a page out of her book and think about myself for a bit. It's only fair that I should!

So what's been happening.........

Finally got notification from the hospital about my ENT surgery. Oh I'm non-critical, so good luck with getting it done before I'm fifty and my whole head explodes from the pressure! Yeah had probably my worst sinus infection a couple weeks ago, it was so bad that I spent about three days just in bed with a wheat pack on face to try and releive the pressure pain. And that was as well as using antibiotics, antihistamines and ibuprofen. I was boogying in my dreams that's for sure!

Started my uni course. So have been trying my hardest not to be distracted. Got all my stuff in the mail. Yikes! Having a little trouble adjusting and getting motivated as I don't have any classes to go to as it is all through open universities and I do it at home. But motivation will kick very soon, as I have an assignment due in about 3 weeks time. I seem to work better under pressure!

Oh and to top it off.....some srtange part of my brain thought it might be a good idea to get a JOB! Like I don't have enough to do. Couldn't find any govt jobs with 20hrs or less, so am going to be doing a no brainer. Woolies night fill! So we'll see how that pans out and how I cope with it all. If it's not working out then I'd say that it will be first thing to go. But let's see what it brings.....

Mmmmmmmmm what else........

Grub is doing really well. Can't keep enough food to him! I've had to put more in his lunches now. When he goes to kindy I pack him 2 full sandwiches (4 slices of bread), tub of chopped friut, either a banana or an apple, tub of yoghurt or jelly, tub of savoury snacks like crackers, ham stick, dried fruit etc, his bottle of water and sometimes a juice!!! Then after kindy we go for our cino where he has his babycino and a slice of fruit toast or a scone. THEN he comes home and eats all of his dinner and about 1hr after that he's lining up for dessert!!! Breakfast is either 4 weetbix or porridge!!! He eats like it's his last meal!!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, he just blows me away!

The other baby of family is also eatin well too, which he has never done in his life. Happy 14th Birthday my fur-baby Mac! Yep my 16th birthday present, celebrated his 14th birthday with a visit to the vet where he had his temp taken (up the bum!), his prostate checked (again, up the bum) and then got a jab of some really good gear for his arthritis (not the bum this time!). Poor Bugger! My mother sure knows how to book these! My 16th birthday she booked me in for my tetanus shot and then I had to play netball that night! Thanks mum. She also sent my brother for vaccinations on one of his birthdays! Nice to know she doesn't have favourites! So to make it up I stopped on the way home and brought him some lovely diced veal, doggie bone biscuits and liver treats. I think he has forgiven us!!! But the downside of it all, is that this time next year we will most likely be without our beloved Mac. Basically if his condition deteriorates any furhter we know that it will be time to put him to sleep. Not looking forward to it, but quality of life and comfort is the main priority here. I love him to much to have him suffer. And I'm going to cry for at least a week when it happens. He's the only pet I'ver ever had, and he is just part of the family. He has such a wonderful temperament and character. There's just no words to describe how much I love him, and what an effect he has had on the whole family. He has such a placid personality, he has never ever bitten anyone or even looked like it. His bark is enough to frighten people, but he's a big baby....but we've never had a situation where he has had to defend any of us and I know for sure that he would if he ever had to. He  adjusted so well when I came home from hospital with Grub and the two of them are best mates. Even when Grub shoved his finger up Mac's nose when he was asleep! He could never be replaced. I love my dog.

And in between, been selling bits and pieces on ebay to try and clear out some wardrobes! Which only get filled again because this child won't stop growing! I had to go and buy him all new shorts for playing and kindy the other day because they were all too small. There goes $55 I hadn't intended to spend. Thank goodness for sales! Got him 3 pairs of good shorts and 7 for home/kindy. Far out is it any wonder I need to get a job. It seems like I am buying clothes at least every four months. Damn it. Can't a live somewhere that has the same temperature all year round so I don't have to buy clothes because the season changes!!! Ahhh my little dream utopia!!

Anyway, what I thought was going to be a short and sweet little blog has turned into this. OK so that must mean I really have been busy!!!!

So have a good weekend all!

OK here I am in the midst of arranging mine and dad's combine 30th and 60th birthday party AKA the 90th! Caterer is booked, getting quotes for hire equipment etc So all going well.

I get an email invitation (that's fine) from a friend on wednesday saying she is having her 30th party next saturday night ie the night before father's day. Nothing like a bit of last minute planning there missy. But this seems to be the usual with her, we should all drop everything because she has decided that she wants to do something now, on her terms, and that's how she has become.

So the email goes on about her birthday, where it is etc (at her house) then proceeds to say BYO drinks (I'm cool with that), BRING a bottle of white spirits or wine to put in the bowl AND bring something for the BBQ!!!!

OK I am little bit miffed here. It's her party and she's providing what for the whole 10 guests she has invited?

I am really annoyed. ATM I don;t have a job, but I am using what little spare $$$ I have to go towards xmas and putting this party together with my dad.

Yet she and her husband both have really great paying jobs and think nothing of going out and buying $800 necklaces or $300 shoes, yet is being really tight about a tiny little party.

I don't know if it's because I am still shitty with her about her behaviour at my night out I had with the girls for finishing my course.....short version...she kept pissing off because we weren't at a club that she wanted to go to, then when we did go there, she still pissed off and we waited 45mins for her and found her down the road coming out of another club. It was my night and she couldn't even stop thinking about herself for a few measly hours. After 2hrs she said "oh you don't mind if I leave do you" to which my reply was "Of course I don;t". Just annoyed.

So yeah, I am annoyed and puzzled by her behaviour of late and this just feels like the icing on the cake so to speak. I just keep shaking my head in disbelief.

I'll go, as I usually do, because I am a friend (one that is becoming very weary). But I am not taking anything for the bowl, as I don't drink those nasty concoctions. I am not taking anything for the BBQ as I will have eaten dinner already (doesn't start till 7.30pm) and I will only take one delicious can off CC and Dry as I will need to know what I have drunk as I have to drive home. I will not be staying late, as I already have family plans the next day for fathers day that involve breakfast and I want enjoy that time with my family.

So there. Whinge over.

Saturday wake up with the sweats/chills virus Grub had earlier in the week, biggest meanest period I have had in over 5 years AND due to the crappy pizza on friday night a relapse of my diverticulitis. So that means I am vomiting and pooping like there's no tomoorow.

Today, still my bum is still doing overtime and I've HAD ENOUGH. I hate my bowels.

There. Now I will stop the self pity and perhaps start looking at my uni texts instead. Now that's constructive, I can sit on the loo and study at the same time. BINGO!

So a few weeks ago I had to go to the doctor because I had another friggin infection, and I politely cracked it! I demanded that I get a referral to the imaging place so they could try and see if it is a physical/structural problem or an allergy problem. So yay...I get to have my 2nd ct scan experience, thankfully on a different region to  last time!!! The images are sent to my doctor with the analysis and I have really small sinus areas, a crooked septum and a lot of tissue in the back of my throat. So that means I can finally get a referral to the ENT. I chose to do the ENT privately because apparently there is a 3year waiting list to see one publicly!!!! So I gto to go the the ENT last week and had my first allergy test ever and a nasal breathing test. NOW that is an experience when you can't breath through one side and they want to measure the flow through it and block the good side!!! Oh yay I think I nearly passed out!

BUT at least I know what I am up for now...a adnoidectomy and some restructuring in my hooter!!! They gave me the prices for private hospital.....not going to happen without PHC...it was such and such thousand for this and such such thousand for that......lotsa numbers totally somewhere around the $5500! Errr yeah, not going to happen when a full time student on parenting pension!! So now I have to wait for notification from the public system as to when abouts they think I will get in.

Then little mr Grub, he's had his fair share of troubles with the asthma this year. He was on seretide and then was given nasonex junior to go with it, but after a month of nasonex, no change. SO then we had to trial a dose of claratine with it all for a fortnight, still no difference. He was still coughing heaps at night, and constantly clearing his throat. So the next trial was to take him off everything and give him a once daily tablet called singulair. WOW I noticed the difference in about 5 days. He's stopped clearing his throat and barely any night coughing. Except if I don't get him inside early enough and the cool air is coming in or there is a westerly wind blowing. Although he does have to go back to the doctor this week for a check on his progress, I am really relieve that this is working. Hail yee to the singulair and vaporiser!!!!

OK My Dad and I have birthdays 12 days apart. This year it is my 30th (OMFG!) and my Dad's 60th (HMFH!!), so therefore we have decided to have a big 90th bash!

We are very excited. OK maybe me little more than anyone, considering it's not till december. But since it is in december we thought we should get cracking and arrange it all, due to other peoples xmas functions.

So yesterday I booked the spit roast caterers. Yummo! We have found a local caterer who includes everything in their price. A lot of them wanted us to supply tables for them to put the food on and pay extra for staff to serve the food. These guys do it all!

And we have been checking out hire companies prices for tables, chairs and the ever needed portaloo! I can't believe that hire companies want $700 for a marquee! Friggin hell. But, we have found a place where we can buy marquees a bit smaller than the size we wanted to hire and it will only cost us $160 each, so we'll get two. Then just flog them back off on ebay after it's done! mmmmm very seriously considering hiring a daquiri machine too!!!! I don't know what everyone else is drinking, but if I have that machine I'll be right!!

So that's what is done so far....will just have to collect bits and pieces in the lead up like softdrinks on special and that sort of stuff.

So YAY! a real party is heading our way. Only ...... 4 months to go!!!

Here's a collection of recent quotes/conversations from my three year old son..........

The Scene: Son runs to the the toilet and reverses straight back out. When asked why, he states:

"I can't go in there, Grumpa (grandfather) has made it all stinky and dirty!"

The scene: Using the toilet in his cousins bathroom. Looks at the water mark in toilet bowl and says:

"That's filthy, you need to get Aunty Shell to clean this."

THEN...........  the same night goes into the cousins bathroom to have a shower. Aunty is a little embarrassed already that the boys haven't emptied the bath water for a few days, and my little person says:

"That's disgusting. Uncle Kieron needs to have words to you!"

OK so he caused a little embarrassment there...so here's a few that are just plain cute!

It took about 2 months to convince him that he was 3yo and not the 1yo he proclaimed to be. Yet now he is adament that he is either 7yo or 8yo on any given day.

He was having a haircut on the weekend when the barber asked him how old he was, and he decided that he was 8yo. The barber says to him " Wow you're awfully short for an 8yo!" to which he responded " I know! It because my legs got all broken and ruined"

Hell, I cacked myself laughing!

He has a love/hate relationship with a boy at kindy.

"Mummy, Mitchell tackled me and he cuddled me. Mitchell is my friend, he is my best friend. And the he tackled me again so he could cuddle me again." I asked him what happened after Mitchell tackled and hugged me and he said, "Sarah made him sit on the naughty spot". So I asked him what he did after that......"I tackled Mitchell."

Hell. I gotta get this kid into footy!

The other night he woke up and called out to me. I went to see him as he was a little unsettled and asked if he wanted something. He told me I had to sleep with him in his bed (it's a double bed, plenty of room!). So I laid down with him a cuddled into me, closed hi eyes  and said. "Mummy I love to snuggle with you. This is the best life!"

Kids are so cute!

The title says it all...I just wanna have a sleep, or at least sleep through one night solidly.

Poor little mr Grub has been having troubles with his asthma. It's just time of year that it plays up on. So for the past week he has inly slept through one night (because he refused to go to sleep till 9.30pm!! usually 6.30pm). And every night I have been giving him ventolin as with his preventer before he goes to bed, and then giving him the ventolin at least once more during the night because he gets coughing fits. Last night he woke up four times between wanting a drink of water and needing 2 doses of ventolin. It's so exhausting, because I'm sleeping so lightly or not being able to sleep anticipating him needing medication. Poor little guy, he's really good about it though. I am able to give him his puffer whilst he's still asleep. I just have to talk to him and tell him what to do and he does it, so at least I don't have to wake him too much and deal with a cranky kid to boot!

On the lighter side of life...we had a really lovely day wandering through maleny and montville yesterday with my mum. Haven't been there since Grub was a little bub and I pushed the pram around! Anyone who has been to Montville will know what a mighty effort that is! So he walked the whole time, and really enjoyed it. He got a bit tired towards the end, but we had saved the best two shops for last! The chocolate shop and the candy shop. You actually get to see them make the hard candies at candy addiction. It's really awesome to see a 13 kg lump of candy complete with a picture in it turn into a long tube about tas round as a 5c coin, and then you get to taste the candy they have just made while it is still warm! Oh heavenly. So basically we ate our way around the place, then stopped at the Maleny Cheese factory on the way home! Yummo! Mum brought about 3 different cheeses and I got a Tuscan cheddar (mmmm) and a jar of marinated fetta. I am currently exercising an extreme amount of self control by not eating the entire contents of the jar. I had about 6 pieces of it last night, and have banned myself from the frideg today, because otherwise I WILL eat it all. It is delicious!!

So yes, we had a really good day!

So what lies ahead for the next few months???

Well next month I have my tafe graduation. Not only am I recieving my diploma of Justice admin, but also a cert IV. Wasn't expecting that, but hey! So that has meant I have had a REAL reason to go shopping! SO have brought myself a lovely black dress from myer that was reduced from $149 to $50!!!! and a sexy pair of red shoes that were $110 down to $29.95!!!!! BOOYAH!! Bargain shopper alert!! or just a tight wad!

Then in september I start my uni degree! I am doing a bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice via Open Universities. So it will be sent to me, I won't have to go to classes and I can do as many or as few as I like, that allows me to look for a job too! I really miss having $$$$$. So yes I am a pig for punishment. I swear I have some freaky disease that makes my actually ENJOY doing study. I hated school, but now I am loving the challenge. I think I need to smack myself around the head a few times!!!

And then at the end of september/beginning of october I am going camping with some friends down to Girraween National Park (past Stanthorpe) BRRRRRRR it's gunna be cold!!!! I am hoping to by myself a dream pot before then. And no it's not some kinky toy! It's an awesome cooking device. Have a sqiz...dream pot.

So yeah I have some fun and busy times ahead....will be so much more enjoyed with proper sleep!!

Have a great day all!

 mmm yummy Karmichael!!!!

OMG OMG OMG! I am excited, extatic, overwhelmed, blown away and just jumping around like a lunatic!!!!

If you didn't know, for the last 12 months I have been studying full-time to get my Diploma of Justice Administration. There have been times where I thought I wasn't going to make it, or I wasn't enjoying it...BUT I perservered because I knew that I really wanted this, and wouldn't accept failure as an option.

So I thought I'd have a look online about 1/2hr ago to see if they had entered all of our results AND THEY HAD!

Here I was thinking yeah maybe one distinction and the rest credits...NO. TRY FOUR DISTINCTIONS AND ONE CREDIT!!!!

 AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!! I was so excited I couldn't even stand still to tell my mum, then I rang one of my classmates who could hardly understand what I was saying because I was soooo blown away and rambling on like a fool!!!

I just had to tell someone and now I'm telling the WORLD!!!!! Well the Minti World anyway!!!

So now I have my graduation in august, and we all know what that means...outfit shopping and PARTY!!!!

If there's anyone who's thinking of studying and thinks they can't or thinks it will be too hard....stop right now, YOU CAN DO IT!

I am a single mum, I have a great support network of family and friends and minti friends that helped me get through this. And most of all I chose something I was really interested in and could get me into a job or jobs that I know I want to do.

FRICKEN YEE_FRICKEN_HAAA WHOOPDEEDOO AAAARRRRGHHHHHH!!

i DID IT!

(can you tell I'm excited???)

I am an IDIOT.

Went out saturday night in the city for a friends 30th birthday dinner and drinkees! Very good time, very pissy as had Mimi and Grumpa looking after the grub. Had dinner at Jo-Jo's then HAD to have a Krispy Kreme, just cos I've never had one before. OMG they are great.

So then we migrate to Irish Murphy's opp the treasury casino. And I met this really nice guy there called Jay. Kept chatting to him and what not. Then one time I trotted off to get a drink of water (yep by this time I needed water) and came back (without the water) and he was gone!!!! My friends said one of his friends called him outside and they left. FRICK!!! I didn't even get his number!!!

SO I need help   ....If anyone knows of a really nice (REALLY TALL) guy called Jay who is really nice and islander/moari?? and was at Irish Murphy's on saturday with a friend called Blair and another lady (she was their friend)....please help me get in contact with him.

I am such a loser for letting him slip by.

I know must return to bahing my head against the wall!

Been really busy with all my study, heaps of assignemnts to do....only 6 weeks to go then I'm finished. But call me crazy, or a pig for punishment, but I'm thinking of to a mid year application for UNI! Find me a wall to smash my head into please. I don't know why I am considering putting myself through the torture of it all! That's right...I don't want to get stuck at a level and not be able to go any further. I want to be available to as many employment oppotunities as possible. So yeah, I'm insane, what can I say. I'm only going to do it part time externally, which is twoo subjects per semester and my current study will be taken as rpl's for the electives, so that will shorten the duration of the course a little.

But on a lighter note we went to the model train show at the rna grounds today. Me-don't really care for it, but Grub is just fanatical about trains. He had a ball! Admittedly it was ok, but they coulda had a better range of food!!! Yeah, that's what mattered to me! I had a burger and I am still paying for it! TMI!! And I didn't realise that the Hot Rod show was on there as well till we got there. AHHH F*#K! If I wasn't relying on dad picking us up on his way back from the gold coast, I would have had time to go to that too! Now that I was interested in!

Yes my dad went to the gold coast to look at a car today, and brought it. That means on wednesday I have to arrange a revs check, a permit and insurance for it as it is unreg'd, then go down the coast with him thursday night after tafe  and grub having a full day at kindy, to collect this car. Yep always dad's helper! Can't complain he does heaps for me ( always dad's little girl!!!). I'm going to be sooo tired friday! He's brought as something to clean up and turn around to sell. But he reckons I'm gunna want to keep it! We'll see when we pick it up....then I'll see how well my charm is working if I like it!!!!! hahahahhahahahahaha!!!

So as you can all tell I am busy and I am gettin a heap of work done on my assignments tonight! Hey I keep telling myself I've only got to fix 2 paragraphs and it's finished......started that LAst wednesday!!!

Toodlepips!

I'm in need of your worldly knowledge. I'm doing  a social justice/injustice assessment and my topic is Maternity services in regional Australia.

I was wondering if any of you ladies who reside in these areas could tell me your stories about the services or lack of services available to you during your pregnancy; information that was made available to you; how far you had to travel to access maternity services; the implications of the services available and the imposition this made on your life ie family, financial etc or any changes you had to make to your life to access suitable services. I'd also like to know why it is that you chose to live in the region be it a lifestyle choice, proximity to family, business reasons. It's not to judgemental or anything, but more to work into the demographical side of things.

Any assistance would be great. Please just minti mail me.

Thanks Fran

Haven't been around much lately. Just have a heap of assignements and study to do. I'm really not enjoying this semester that much, due to the fact that all of the subjects are really instense. Tuesdays are an absolute killer and I feel so exhausted at the end of it, then I have to come home a deal with the trials and tribulations of being "MUM".

But on a lighter note.....Grub and I had a wonderful easter. We went camping at Elanda Point on Lake Catharaba (Sunshine Coast QLD) with a big group of friends and kids. 5 nights away from normal life was what I really needed and it also gave Grub and I some really good mummy and son time. Especially since we shared a very flat and airless, air bed! My pre-camping repair didn't cut it! So I think it's time to invest in a new bed. Yeah I could probably fix it, but I couldn't be bothered and I've seen an oztrail bed I want to get for myself and a readybed for Grub!

So back to the trip...we had really nice weather. Not too hot and only a couple of light showers. There was one heavy shower one night, we were ok, but one of the other couples didn'r fare as well. They had barrowed a tent and it leaked like a sieve! For buggars were floating inside their tent and had to hang out all of thier clothes etc the next day to dry.

But it was really lovely.

We went walking on the national park trails, and found some intersting info about the local history.

The kids all had a ball. The adults all had fun doing NOTHING too! No tv, computers, books...nothing! So that just meant we had to have first round of drinks at 10am every morning..just one...till later when the kids were all asleep!

And yes the easter bunny came and spoiled the kids thouroughly.

Well, I am exhausted and really need some shut eye

Goodnoght!

Just a quickie to say I'm still alive and haven't dropped off the face of the earth!

Just been trying really hard to buckle down and study for exams and complete some assignments. I've got 3 due the week back after easter, and considering I am going to be away the entirety of the easter break, they must be done by wednesday night next week. Really fun stuff like ethics and accountability, deontology and consequentialism, professional and statutory duties, legislation, conflicts of interest...yadayadayada! I can you're all excited about it pfft! I'm just counting down the time till the end of June when I will be finished and have graduation.

But on the upside...7 more sleeps till camping! YAY! I love going camping with this crew. In total there is going to be about 20 of us incl kids! Nice times by the lake. Going to Bigw tomorrow and going to get Grub a fishing kit they have for about $10. It has a tackle box, tackle and a hand line, which I think would be sufficient for three yo!

Well much to do, sleep to get, must be off.

If I don't get on during the next few days...have a great weekend all!

So I went up and took the back seat out so I could take off the seat cover and found out that it had actually made it's way under the base of the back seat and had accumulated in a lovely pool there! YUMMO! So seat cover has been washed. Car has been atteacked with bicarb and then finished off nil odour and the hair dryer to dry it all out.

Only thing I'm scared about is the fact that I tend to over do t with things like nil odour.............considering I can't get the smell of nil odour off my hands, I am assuming that I will choke on it when I get in the car tomorrow!

So there fore I must say, If this is the last you ever hear from me.....it's was accidentally death caused by inhalation of excessive vapours of nil odour!

Cheers all

Have a great week

The days fly lately, since my return to tafe...well except tuesdays and thursdays. They are PAINFULLY slow and draining. Really long days and heavy, intense classes. Lovely subjects like Managing ethical responsibilities in Justice AND Conduct Prosecutions AND Research and Report on Social Justice Issues AND Analyse Justice Issues (yeah they are different!?!?!?) amd something else horrid I just don't even want to think about until I'm there tomorrow! I swear I'm just looking to that little feint glint of a light, peaking over the crest of the hill top that is the end of June! It's hard yakka, but worth it in the long run.

More good stuff though....I got me another new computer...yeah the one I got in nov packed it's dacks and they gave me refund cos the manufacturer has gone into recievership! woohoo! was just a little stressed about it all! So just spent $1400 on a beautiful new machine and it proving it's worth!

Grub's new mattress for his double bed finally arrived on thursday, only 1.5 weeks longer than they said. But it's all good, and comfy! I think I might have to buy one for myself! He slept on the mattress on the floor for the first 3 nights till we had time ( uhmm, could be bothered!) to do the conversion of the toddler bed to double bed and sofa (Boori 4ever 4-in-1 cot). He look so small in it! But he;s so far off being small! It's like when he first came home from hospital, he looked so tiny in the cot. Then he grew and grew! He's very impressed, especially since he has a thomas the tank quilt cover set. Unfortunatley couldn't get sheet set (grr another story there!) in thomas, so I just got some of the iron on appliques from spotlight and put them on the flat sheet top and he's thinks it's the bees knees!

So that's all cool. Grub had a stuffy nose friday night and woke up with red cheeks on saturday am. Quite normal when he gets sinus or things on his chest. SO give he dimetapp and his puffer. Groovy as! We went to watch planes at the airport for a while, and as it was going to be such a stinker of a day I was sure to cover him up. I tried a new suncream...BAD MISTAKE. Sunday he had a chin as well as cheeks. Thought it was a bit odd, but seeing as we spend so much time outside, I did the usual and applied the suncream throughout the day. We went to the coast in the arvo and when I got him changed to come home I noticed that his face was all red and all over his body had this pimply red rash. Everywhere I had put the suncream. I mean from head to ankles. The only part that wasn't rashy was his feet and under his undies! Since it was so late in the arvo, no doc's open so straight to the chemist my family has used for the last 30 years.So now the little guy is on phenergan twice a day, pinetarsol baths and cortisone cream twice a day! The poor kid, he's really good considering though. We went to the doctor this morning just for a check on it all. When we walked, my doctor said, "Geez he's only running on half throttle today!" and that was before I had told him what was up! Normally grub chews his ear off, but today he was much quieter and sang like a drunk....actually he sings like a drunk most of the time anyway! So he was Just Quieter! hehehehehe!

Well I suppose I should really be off to be, if I expect to concentrate tomorrow!!

Have  great week all and keep smiling!

Fran

Just aquick update on life for Grub and I.

Grub turns 3yo tomorrow. It's hard to believe that this time 3 years ago I was enduring (not very well I ay add!) a very horrible 44hr labour resulting in an emergency c-set which resulted in this wonderful, crazy, adorable, stubborn, loveable, frustrating and very individual happy little boy.

Yesterday we had his party at the aquatic centre near home. It was Thomas themed..of course. Therefore mummy got creative and made a 3d Thomas cake with alittle help from ye olde favourite ebay purchase of a cake kit . Grub was very impressed, so was I for that matter. That I made something that actually resembled what it was supposed too! The kids all had fun and exhausted themselves in the pools.

Today we have been having a home day. Not particuarly relaxing, but home the same. I've been cleaning our bedrooms and doing furniture shuffling between them. Grubs double ned mattress is supposed to arrive tomorrow so I have been making room in his room for the conversion of his toddler bed to the double bed. Then he tells me that he thinks that my tv should go in his bedroom.....not likely buster!!! He's very excited about the new huge bed. We had a special shopping trip last week to get the essentials like sheets sets, quilt, and mattress protector. Unbeknown to him, mummy has a Thomas double bed quilt cover set stashed away for him too. If you hadn't noticed the common theme here...yes he is THOMAS OBSESSED!

So on top of the bedroom shuffling, tonight when he goes to bed, I have a bike to assemble. A real boys bike. It has training wheels on it, so they'll come off when he's got the gist of it. He's not getting half spolit from mummy at all. I mean, a bed, a bike, wooden giggling troublesome trucks and turntable for his train collection, binoculars (he REALLY wants these), a screen printing kit and today his thomas torch turned up. It's sooo cool...ebay again!

So very busy atm, then there's tomorrow. Being his birthday, we do something special together. Last year we went to ALma Park Zoo, this year we're going to Underwater World. He loves animals and thinks fish and sharks and stuff are really cool. Hopefully the weather will be fine and we can have a swim at the beach as well.

That'll leave just two more cakes to make. One for tomorrow night, and one for kindy on thursday. I'll be over cake making by the end of this week!

And I have tafe to go to as well. Wow. Returned last week and I have really heavy subjects this semester. Hardest thing for me is to do group assignments. I hate having to rely on other people to pull thier weight. I am the co=ordinator for one group assessment, and I've already got one girl pissed off. She just keeps blaabing on about crap and socialising with others in the class, so I cracked it at her in front of the whole class. I don't care if she thinks I'm a bitch, I want the assignemnt done and done properly. I am yet to recieve a mark below a high credit, and I am not going to let her be the one that drags my marks down. I bet she's wishing she didn't nominate be to be co=ordinator now!!!

Well, must run, have just realised I haven't enough wrapping paper for grub's pressies. So must finish therse rooms, have shower (yeah been really slack today!) and toot off to the shop.

CHeerio, have a great week all.

HAAPY BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE MAN FOR TOMORROW!!!

I've been preparing for his party for weeks, and tonight packed all of the loot bags for the kids. I think I have really outdone myself this year! The little kids are getting a thomas and friends book, crayons, thomas chocoaltes, train whistle, mixed lollies and a cd of all of grubs fave songs on it! His older cousins who are quite over that sort of stuff are getting puzzles, whistle and a brain bender puzzle. And the two bubs coming are getting a little sesame streeet car and  the cd.

The thomas cake decorating kit arrived during the week and I am wondering if I have bitten off more than I can chew!! But if I get stuck, I have talented friends to rescue me!

On top of this, today I went and ordered Grubs new double mattress so I can convert his toddler bed into the big bed, then we went shopping for mattress protector, quilt and sheets. He was so stoked and the ladies at pillow talk thought he was just the cutest choosing the colour sheets he wanted and then taking them to the counter. He wanted sheets the colour as one my sets, but I thought it was wisest to convince him to choose otherwise! Throughout this shopping exp[edition he was only to willing to tell EVERYONE we passed that it was his birthday soon and he is getting a new BIG BED!! So cute! Gotta love him!

AND I start back at tafe on tuesday! Heavy, heavy semester this time. Lovely subjects like conducting prosecutions and managing ethical responsibilities!!  AAARARRRRGGGHH! Thankfully it is my final semester and here's to hoping I have a wonderful govt job come July!

Here's to a full on hectic week.

Hope you all have a great week.

I know I'll be so busy, that time will get away!

Cheers!