A quick visit to hospital - Happy Birthday Mum (28th June 07)

OMG - what a day!!

Firstly, it was my Mum's 60th. They'd been away for 11 days on a cruise and arriving back from Syd to Bris during the day. The 60th party had been planned, I'd taken RSVP's and was organising decorations, decorating and then going to pick them up.

After a busy morning of running around, Hayden and I set off to Bris, successfully collected them from the airport and drove home to being decorating. We had 100 helium balloons to inflate and other bits and pieces to hang.

Upon completion of the balloons I started to feel a bit out of it - pains in my upper abdomen. I lay down on the floor, trying to stretch out. Didn't help. I moved over the the couch and curled up. Still no relief. I went to the loo (you never know...!)... no help. Mum and Hayden had to go back to spotlight for more decorating supplies. I just lay there, trying not to moan. Eventually the pain got the better of me and I started to really feel it. Dad was now concerned and called my Obstetrician. He advised I be taken to the maternity ward asap.

We made it there, I hobbled into the ward, mostly in tears and doubled over in pain. I was assessed, the baby was monitored (and all signs were good) and the Dr arrived. Meanwhile Erin was being rushed back from a meeting in Brisbane to get to me. My OB said it could be one of two things (most likely) - severe reflux or a gall stone. He was going to order an ultrasound for the morning. I reminded him that the next evening (like in 27 hrs) our plane was LEAVING for 2 weeks overseas.

Oh.

Spanner.

He managed to convince a radiology staff member to return and do my scan that night. Phew. Erin arrived, Dad left, I had a pethadine shot, I had another severe attack of pain and was crying, screaming, writhing. May as well have been in labour!

Scan revealed a HUGE gall stone. OMG.

Blood tests done, Dr left and went to my Mum's party... me still in hosp. Erin with me, Hayden at party.

Lots of conversations backwards and forwards trying to work out if I was able to fly the next night. We didn't have travel insurance (yet), I'd been rushing around so much that morning, it was literally on my PC screen to click - 'accept quote' and pay and I just hadn't done it. So we would've lost everything had we canceled. Not a great thought but seemed to be the general consensus by the medical staff.

Pain died off and I eventually felt tired. Time to sleep. Erin left. I had a pretty good night's sleep considering I had an IV drip in and was in a hospital bed.

Next morning (day of flight). OB visited, said if we go on trip it's at a risk. Advised us to make the decision after speaking to the surgeon. Surgeon came - very relaxed, said he wasn't going to operate until at least bub born and weaned so he didn't see any urgency in it. I had no infection or inflammation. Good signs. He said it was a risk to go, however I would know what the pain was, would have adequate pain medication and would be in a countries with adequate medical care and good English speakers.

We were going!

Erin arrived - with Hayden - Yay!

I gave him the good news and we got the hell out of there! Time to pack, we had a plane to catch!!!

My boys on my hospital bed...

A visit with Flipper (21st June 07) and a bit of a trip....

What a lovely surprise! Flipper and Archie were out for a quick visit to Australia before returning to DC to pack up two houses and head of to Sarajevo... no mean feat!

Hayden and I drove down to Bris to visit for the morning. What a great time we had, Flip getting to know Hayden (and observe what it's like to parent a 3yo!!!) and I had lots of cuddles with Archie - awwwwww.

Me with Archie


Flipper with Hayden


Mum's with son's .... who would've thought?!?!


The trip home was much more eventful though, we stopped at McDonald's (Old McDonald's as far as Hayden is concerned!) for some lunch before the hour ride home, after lining up at the drive through only to discover I had no cash and they had no eftpos we went inside, waited in line for ages, were served by a very rude IDGARA style employee, then proceeded to head back downstairs to the car. Well... I was holding Hayden's hand and a bag of food and somehow lost my footing and fell down the stairs - pulling Hayden with me. He began shrieking - mostly due to the fact that his chips were now all over the stairs. I was stuck, shocked and sore, having fallen heavily on my ankle and twisted it. A gentleman saw us go down and went to get some help. In the mean time a young guy came and sat down next to Hayden, shared his fries with him (God bless him) and opened the Shrek toy to divert some attention from the disaster. I eventually felt okay enough to move. The rude waitress yelled down at me from the top of the stairs, asked if I needed ice - um... no thanks... and did I want new food... um.... of course.... I managed to keep it together and get us up the stairs to wait on our order (again!) and the stairs were cleaned, we then got our new food and left. It was quite the ordeal. B2 was fine though, the damage was to my backside and ankle and pride somewhat. When we got home it turned out the damage was also to my camera, the TFT screen was completely smashed... omg. We were due to fly out in one week for Paris, we couldn't go with NO camera.... my phone also sustained some impact damage. Less of a stress factor. In the end, I organised a replacement camera through insurance, they were fantastic and we had a new one in about 3 working days, plenty of time to spare!

Nana and Pop Pop from the USA (25 May - 11 June 07)

May/June was a busy time for us, the house had sold, uni semester was drawing to a close, my belly was growing, Hayden was turning three and Erin's Mum and Dad (Hayden's Nana and Pop Pop) came out for 2 1/2 weeks from the USA to visit.

Hayden was very spoilt and had some wonderful playtime with Nana and Pop Pop whilst they were here. Here is the visit - pictorially!

Yay - they came off the plane!!


Watching a movie (most likely Cars with Pop Pop


A walk with Nana and Pop Pop - first to the park for a swing...


And then to the beach - looking for crabs...


On my Birthday on the boat with Pop Pop


Another walk - different park, convincing Nana to slide after me!


Doing my "Eggcherzizes" at the park...


Awww... Kisses for Nana


Playing soccer with Nana in the back yard


At the zoo - watching the baby goats - how cute!


Feeding the hungry goats


Feeding the kangaroos - always our favourite part of the zoo visit


Riding on the 'Crocs Rule' boat with Nana


Riding on Steve's Land Cruiser


A sunset beach visit, being chased by Pop Pop


Getting darker - laughs in the sand with Pop Pop


A plane ride with Nana and Pop Pop - plane flown by B'Pa.


Time to go - goodbye kisses with Nana.

Hayden Turned Three! (27 & 31 May 07)

Now I realise it's been three months since my angel's Birthday - but none-the-less... I'm getting there!

We had a great party for him, the party was 4 days prior to his Birthday and we had it at home in the back yard - 22 kids - yikes! The saving grace was the jumping castle which was worth every penny and even though it rained practically the whole party, nobody cared and everyone had a great time.

He had to be a little bit persuaded to get on the jumping castle at first - but after Daddy showed him how much fun it could be, there were giggles and squeals all around







The cake was a huge hit - it took about 9 hours of work all up so I was pleased that it was so well received!



And considering Hayden's a non cake eater, he loved it.



He received some lovely gifts - including this awesome dragon's tail!



Soggy child! It absolutely poured down just before the castle was due to leave - oh well - kids dry!

We put the barbie on for the stragglers, parents and kids after 5ish and people hung around until 8ish which was lovely - we had a great day.

One of his gifts started something though - he had a Thomas train engine and Henry and his tender and he had other track that the trains didn't quite fit but he didn't mind - until he got a Thomas engine house, it didn't fit with the larger track so there were tears all'round! On Monday I had to (well... it was his Birthday!) go out and buy some compatible track - I think all in all I made 6 trips to toy stores that day, one of them with Gordon in tow. This is what we ended up with by the end of the day...



Then on Thursday was his actual Birthday. We started the day by showing him his new 'baby' Guinea Pig who remained nameless for a few days and then suddenly became 'Crystal'.



We then went out on the boat for lunch - and as usual, turn on a motor and Hayden is asleep!



And then there were more gifts and more cake after pizza dinner with both sets of Grandparents.



OMG - a whole stack of presents!




Obvious excitement at opening 'Mr The King' from the moviCARS



This cake was made by mum Mum.






So.... that was the Birthday! Hard to believe that he's three already - such an independent little person - it's been an amazing three years and I wouldn't change a thing!