Big Little Sister

Sorry I haven't been around for a while.  We had some news which gutted me and I thank those of you who emailed me hoping I was okay.  I thank one of you for dedicating a post to me.  You know who you are.   Some of you know my story, some of you do not.  

Here is my story.

I had been counting down to last week as I had plans on posting this for all of you;

Big Little Sister?

Sister Little Big?

Sister Big Little?

Big Sister Little?

Little Sister Big?

No...no....I've got it now...

Little Big Sister.

That's what Monet is  going to be, come March 2009.

I know, a big move AND a baby on its way.  We don't do things by halves around here.  We're rapt to bits.

*yay*

However, last week I received test results for this pregnancy which basically floored me. I was a mess.  After my 12 week scan mixed with my blood results and my maternal age, things are not good.  I have learnt a lot in terms of three conditions this baby could have.  Trisomy 21, Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.  21 is known as Down Syndrome.  I have a 1 in 8 chance this is the case.  13 and 18 are usually fatal, with the born baby not surviving, most dying within a week of being birthed, I have a 1 in 2 chance.  What odds hey?  Crap.

We have done lots of soul searching here and lots of why me?  why us? how come?  Yeah, we've been a barrel of laughs around here.  But I'm okay.  I have had time to digest what is going on.  I have had answers from people in the know and I am accepting of what may (or may not) happen.  I have a brilliant girlfriend up here who has been a life saver (of sorts).  I have a couple of close friends in Melbourne, who have been supportive and our families too.

I have further testing to undergo in the very near future.  

Don't feel sorry for me.  Do not judge our decision, what ever that may be.  Remember that many women travel along this road I am on.  Just keep us in your thoughts and send positive vibes my way!

If you know me but you choose not to post a comment (I know there are are a few of you), please don't go around telling everyone this.  This is our personal battle, our news, our business(can you tell we are originally from a small town?) and I'm choosing to tell the news here because my blog friends have expressed concern.  It also helps me by seeing it written down.  (Maybe I should've written this in a personal journal! *heehee*)

We've had some tough battles to fight in the past.  This is the toughest yet.

Funky Monkey

Because every little girl should own pink flip-flops and every mother should wear comfortable shoes.

Every little kid should have dress ups too...

You never know, you might find the character within. 

(It also makes the fact that the small fortune you spend at Disneyland was worth it for their memories. Cinderella has been huge around here since our visit, but the dress was purchased at the local Kmart.  We weren't stupid enough to pay through the nose for a similar dress there!!)

Answer

Well, those of you who were waiting patiently of where we are moving to, here is your answer...

(Sorry, not the clearest of maps)

The United Arab Emirates and no, not Dubai.  We are moving to the capital of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi, the richest city in the world (believe it or not!). 

We're excited.  I hope you are too!  

We are 99% certain we are going, we're just waiting for the promised 'offer' to arrive via email this coming week if all goes smoothly.  I'm so very proud of Lyndon and really of ourselves, for following a dream that is (finally) becoming a reality.  

It will be a move that we have mentally prepared ourselves for over the past nine months.  That was when we considered the job opportunities over there and applied for said job.  His interview was way back in the first week of April and yes, it has taken that long for him to get a definite answer.  It has been a long (long, long) road and story too (you honestly wouldn't read about what we've been through).  

Fingers crossed the offer comes through soon.  

You know I'll let you know.  

Watch Out...

I'm a great believer in the saying 'Life is Short'.  I have been made more aware of this since having Monet when you realise and witness how quickly one grows.  

I was brought up to grab hold of opportunities that pass you by, which goes hand in hand with my 'Life is Short' philosophy. 

So something has come up - we think Brisbane is not happening, but our apartment is still for rent.  We are still definitely moving, but not to where we thought we were a week ago.  Not wanting to 'leak' anything else here in case it all falls through, but we've been waiting since the beginning of the year for this moment and we think it finally is happening. *yay*

You better stay tuned...

25 Days To Go...

Monet is turning 4 in under a months time.  *waahhh*

Today she played at a friends around the corner for ages and ages.  I even left her there for an hour without me.  She returned over an hour ago holding her friend's 'Lace and Trace'.  She's been sitting quietly on the couch doing them ever since. 

Yesterday she made me a special bracelet.  Even though my name doesn't contain the letters in the bracelet, I know it was made with love, especially for me.

Yesterday she proudly did love heart after love heart on paper, blackboard, sand - anywhere she could draw, she was doing the heart shape.  What really melt my heart was when every time she'd say, after showing said heart, "I love you Mum".  Awww...*I know*

Monday saw Monet mix and ice her very first cake.  A 'Hummingbird Cake', which is very yummy.  Honestly, she basically did it all herself.  I measured the ingredients out and she basically did everything bar putting it in the oven to cook.  I did make the icing but she iced and decorated it very well indeed.  And of course she helped wolf it down. 

Monet being 3, has been wonderful.  But I so look forward to having a little 4 year old around the house...

Because It Is Funny

In the spirit of the Olympics, I present to you this, from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

This is taken from 'Roy and HG's The Dream', an evening show which was shown each night of the Olympics. It was always good for a giggle and this little segment is no exception... Maybe it is the Aussie humour kicking in, but we watched this the other night and were giggling away like no tomorrow.



Roy and HG aren't doing 'The Dream' this year on tv, but, they are doing a show called 'The Golden Ring' on Triple J each day of the Olympics which we must try to listen to. (You can listen to podcasts once it starts.)

Battered Sav anyone?

My Pretty Clips

It was a nice surprise this morning to find a little parcel in our mailbox addressed to me.  And inside...

I ordered the clips via Stacey at Sheep's Clothing and I fell in love with her vintage button clips.  The ones she sent me were made to order and I love them.  

I know.  I should be a hair model for Shear Genius.

Now all I have to do is dye my hair again.  Those greys are starting to look a little too obvious for my liking.  *urgh*

Sometimes It Can Be Such A Small World...

Yesterday, whilst over at the park, Monet and I met a couple and their five year old daughter, who hailed from Southend-On-Sea in the UK.  You may remember that Monet and I visited the beach side city back in May.  It was very strange to meet and chat to people, who you have a lot in common with, even though they hail from the other side of the world.  And how shocked they were to hear that we had visited their hometown. 

(Yeah, I asked if they were interested in renting our abode, but alas, they are only out on holidays! *heehee*)

Not only did they hail from a place we had recently visited, the parents only got married, after 14 years together, a week after Lyndon and I got hitched.  

She was 35, like me.  Her husband though, wasn't 29 like mine.  

Monet and their daughter got along like a house on fire and played (& played & played).  

They wanted to know if Cairns weather was like 'this' all the time.  I could have lied through my teeth and said 'oh yeah', but I'm an honest person and said 'ummm, no!  Not ALL the time'.   They didn't sound too keen about the rain (they get enough of that at home apparently), so maybe I can't sell ice to Eskimos.  (I always thought I could.)

We exchanged email addresses.  I want to keep in touch.  Never know when we might visit the home of the Longest Pleasure Pier in the world again.

For Rent

So, you interested?

Top storey, three bedroom apartment.  Spacious, with bathroom, en suite, internal laundry, two 'roomy' balconies. Front balcony includes built-in 'Beef-Eater' BBQ with stone benches for all your entertaining needs.  

Modern kitchen, including new lights...(bought yesterday!),

with stainless steel appliances, including double-dish drawer Fisher and Paykel dishwashers.  

Two car parks and storage shed.

Complex includes lovely big pool (bit cold this time of year to use though, this photo taken late last year...)

Apartment outlook over park and playground, short walk to one of Cairns best northern beaches.  Close to kindergartens, schools, local shopping center.  

Nice neighbours.  (Except for the people downstairs and over one.  They play their electric guitar too loud at ridiculous hours sometimes, but otherwise, who is complaining?)

Weather is lovely most of the year round. (Except the months where there is constant grey skies which get you down a little.  But the months of blue skies cheer you up.)

The local beach is rather stunning, (like yesterday - view from the local pub)...

(Except when the water doesn't look brown and stirred up and when it is 'stinger' season and you risk your life/health by entering the ocean's waters.)

No water restrictions (as such) are attached to the property and the water is probably some of the best you have ever tasted.  (However, it does not contain fluoride like 99% of the rest of the country and is a 'touchy' issue with locals so don't bring up that subject!  Sometimes you have to agree to disagree.)

Otherwise, a lovely abode for rent. 

Still interested?

Here We Go Again. (I don't think it will ever stop...)

Back in late June, I posted about things happening that I couldn't quite post about yet.  Well, I think I can now. 

We're moving. 

Lyndon has been given a work opportunity too good to pass up - it is a job that will hopefully go on to bigger and better things in the future for both him and us.  The job was offered to him a while back and it took a lot of umming and ahhing on our behalf to work out what is best for our little family.  This seems like the right thing to do at present.  

So, what?  where?  when?  Well, I can't tell all, but it seems as if we'll be gone sometime  in September.  So where?  where?  I hear you ask.  

Brisbane.  Or BrisVegas, which ever you prefer.

Cairns, you've been good to us, but it is time to move on.

The hardest part of the move will be those bloody water restrictions!!  *urgh*