Been busy as always, and not had an opportunity to sit and make notes!
I have a FLAT OUT week at work ahead of me, and am in the wake of another one last week!
I attended a forum on women's health and teenage pregnancy on Thursday, which I was involved in research for a couple of years ago. I had no idea what would come of it, just that I was making a speech about my involvement as an interviewer. So, when afterwards I was asked by two newspapers and the local news to give interviews, I was pretty nervous! Then yesterday, I had to do a live radio interview as well! Ive never done this before for TV or radio, so it was a scary new experience, and hopefully I won't have to do it again for quite awhile!

The boys are being seriously FERAL this weekend! I don't think I've ever seen them so ratty at the same time, and It's driving me batty! We've been going for walks (as much as you can when it's raining on and off) and playing uno and sitting in the spa with them, but they're still in terrible moods!

Today is my brothers 21st birthday, and poor mum is devastated that he didn't want a party, and is not even coming home till next weekend! She wanted me to go to Melb with her today, but I had to say no, as i'm going there for a conference tomorrow, so ten hours driving in two days is not appealing to me! Anyway, I have just realized that this is a pretty dodgy post, all over the place! I will aim to improve next time lol!

Take care,
Charli xoxox

A little tired tonight, and not very inspired to write a novel about my weekend! It was lovely and quiet, and we visited Gez's parents on the farm Sunday.
The boys had a ball! Jackson has a little mini four wheel motorbike, which Gez got him for his 5th Birthday. I cant stand watching cos I worry he's going too fast, but you should see him round up the sheep with Poppy, he's better than a sheepdog :) They are having the Auction to sell the farm on Friday, so Gez is a bit tense (not letting on though of course) and it will be a shadowy time for everyone. My boys are lucky to have two sets of grandparents who live on big farms, and at each they have very different experiences. Here are some of the things Jack and Ry will miss about Nan and Pop's farm;

• Riding the motorbike with Poppy (they can still do it at my parents, but it's not so readily offered, as dad is always the busy farmer)
• Collecting eggs
• riding the yellow tractor
• playing with all the dogs
• gardening with Fred (the ancient gardener who manicures Nan's garden for $10, smoko and the company of it)
• hammering nails in Pop's shed
• collecting the mail
• being showed off to all the neighbors by both Nan and Pop!
• Seeing Dave and Kim next door

They will miss all these things, but of course there will be some great new things too..

• Going to Nanny and Poppy's after school when they live in town near us
• Visiting more
  
• Trips to the park
• exploring the new house
• a new bedroom!

Here are some pics of my little farmer babies!

Hi, we're home, all in one piece and a lot more energetic than I had expected!
We stayed in Melbourne, just near the hospital so we would get a better night sleep, and be more relaxed for the day of Jack's procedure.
This was not to be :( We booked into the Mercure, and were just in bed when this awful screetching started. Turns out that we must have been right next to a hot water service, and everytime the people either side of us used the bathroom or shower, is made this horrid noise...11pm....4.45am.....5.15am......6am.....6.50am Grrrrrrr! We were so tired, and of course if we had much chance of Jack sleeping in before, we sure didn't have any hope when he was woken! Bit of a whinge to the motel in the morning!

So, off we go at 8.30am, and Jack didn't shut up for the next 2 hours. Poor baby he just had all this nervous energy, and instead of getting upset, bless him, he talked and talked and wouldn't sit still!
I thought it would be easier to see the whole anesthetic thing this time, having done it before, bu I was wrong, and it was very hard, I walked out teary, and just wished I could sit in the car and bawl :( Mum was good though, and we had something to eat and a hot choccie before going back up to him when he woke up.

He didn't come out of the anesthetic as well this time, maybe cos they gave him more, and he's older too, but he screamed the place down!! Poor baby, he just was so stressed out and out of it. I found that a little hard too cos even though I was sitting holding him, he seemed to not even realize I was there! Anyway, all the way home he was really perky, and we even stopped on the way to have lunch with my brother Geoff and his girlfriend Melissa in Preston on the way home.

This little taste of hospitals and operations really brings home to me the challenge that are faced by parents of children who are very sick. It is scary and unfamiliar and just simply scary for any parent, and I feel with all my heart for these brave parents and children and all that they must endure.

I truly thank God that I so far have very healthy children.

I'm at work now, so this can't be a long post, but tomorrow is the big day for jack's ears! I'm a little nervous, as any mama is when thier baby has surgery, but it helps that i've been thru all this before with him.

Mum is coming with me to Melbs, and we're staying the night in the city before checking into the hospital at 9am. We're going to catch a tram I think, so that will keep Jack's mind off the op, as he's never been on one before. In fact, it's a long time since he saw the city, so he will enjoy the sights i think!

Anyway, I'd better get back to my work! I'm not having any luck with my page format, i'm going to have to do some research on how to do it!

Wish us luck tomorrow!

*Hugs* Charli

Hmm. dont mine me while I try and make my page "more prettier, I have no idea what i'm doing so this may take awhile....Any suggestions feel free!

It's amazing how fast this year has gone so far, and when I think about all of the things that have happened, It kind of makes me take a step back and think wow!

I think I should start from the start. In January this year, we still had the gorgeous Miss Talia. We celebrated her 1st birthday and Jackson started school. I was working one day a week, and just getting along quietly.

Skip forward a couple of months, and Talia went home after 9 months with us, to her mother and siblings. It was a very hard thing for us to do, giving her back after so long, especially as she was just 6mths when she came to us. Knowing all she went through, and the pain of not knowing if we would ever see her again. It was, however, the most amazing experience we have had together as a family, and I wouldn't trade the things we have learned for anything in the world. I truly believe we have been blessed and I have made a pact with myself to always treasure the moments we have with these children, and never become complacent.

At the same time, my boss at work resigned. My manager called me at home, to let me knoe that she had received his resignation letter...the day after he left for three weeks holiday!
She asked me to work some more, and since then, I have been working 4days a week, and in May, was promoted into his position, as Youth Services Co-ordinator.
Meanwhile, a young man who I had worked with for a couple of years committed suicide. I floundered for a few weeks, and was lucky to have the wonderful support of my manager and the councillor she employed to help us through. At the time, I thought I didn't really need it, but as time goes by, I find myself noticing his absence more, which is making me a little unsettled.

My babies are growing sooo fast. They too, learned so much more that I ever could have imagined from sharing Talia, and whilst I worry sometimes that it was hard on them losing a baby "sister" after all that time, I know that the things they have learned will last a lifetime. They are so kind and tolerant, and both such amazing sharers, with each other and others. The have gained my utmost respect and pride for the strength, resilience, love and kindness beyond thier tiny years, that they have shown. I am more proud than ever I thought you could be of an almost six, and a three and a half year old :)

Jackson and Princess Talia

Gez and I have been through a lot too. We've had some doozies of tantrums with each other, but we've also been through so much together, and got through to the other side. Gez got a bit of a shock earlier in the year, when his dad suffered a minor heart attack, and was in melbourne hospital for several days. Gez is sooo close to his dad, so he was really shaken up by it all.

There have been so many more things happen in our lives since th beginning of the year, that this is only a snapshot, but it's nice to see it written down, and look at it all a little moe objectively...almost a weight off my mind!

Talk soon,

Charli xoxox

Oh my goodness haven't I been slack!
I cant excuse myself, except to say that I have been CRAZY busy!!!
Jackson's operation is on Thursday, so I am expecting big things from him after that lol.
No, I'm really looking forward to the results, as the last lot of grommets had such an amazing effect on his behavior, but not going to set my expectations too high, as I thing a lot of his behaviors have become habit now.
The poor little darling has been pretty stressed out about the whole thing, but he's so brave, and has been reading Riley the little book mum made him after the last op :)
to top it all off, he seems to have another ear infection!

Work has been hectic, I have soo much to get done by the end of the year, and not enough weeks left. I'm beginning to feel a little panicky, but mustn't let that get any worse, or I will find myself having anxiety attacks. They mess with my head, and even though I have been working more days over the past 5mths, I haven't had any in all that time...*touch wood*
I am starting my RPL's on Friday, which is exciting. I have been meant to start for a couple of months now, but haven't had a chance, so the Tafe tutor is coming to see me at work and get me started. Hopefully that will mean I have two cert. 4's under my belt by the end of the year.

We found out the other day that Riley needs to have his tonsils and adenoids removed, so he is booked in on the 3rd October. He has sleep apnoea, and very large tonsils, so it is best to remove them to save any ongoing problems later on.

I've been working on Photo Albums lately, as we have been very slack, and have done very little with all our photo's except store them on the computer. I found this wonderful website www.albumprinter.com.au where you can download a program, enter your photo's with borders and backgrounds, upload it to the website, and then they print it all off in a gorgeous hardcover book. I have finished one for our wedding photos, and over the next few months, will do one for each of the boys I think...or maybe a family one, I'm not sure yet!

I have added a photo of our little snow trip a couple of weeks ago!

Take care,

Charli oxoxoxox

I'm back! Feeling much better too I must add ;)
Had a fantastic night last night. Mum and Dad watched the boys overnight, while Gez worked and i went out with friends from high school. Was awesome, the girls and I went out for a gorgeous dinner and a few wines, then to the local bar for...more drinks, then back to my place for....more drinks lol! It is so nice to catch up with everyone, and I cant believe it's been six years since the end of school! :( feels sad to know that before too long everyone will have families and careers and we wont catch up like we do now! I gotta put the kids to bed, but will be back soon!

Charli xoxox

Oh boy, do I have a hangover or what!! :(
I'm just adding a quick post to let you know I'm still here, but I'll write properly later.....