Seven on Sunday

Gosh, I feel like it's been ages since we chatted.

And yet, I just had a busy weekend.

1. Yesterday morning, I had a date at the gym with my little man. He was nagging me from 8:10 and I was only ready 30 minutes later. Anyway, they told me he only cried a little bit (he admitted as much) because he missed me.  :)

I'm hoping this new habit will remain and that K will join us soon, dragging D with us on a Saturday. The family that gyms together stays together? :)

2. Afterwards, we went to "the shops for croissants". C thinks that's what happens at the shops. But actually we went to drop off my purple TO PRINT flash drive with the Ballito and my "friends" pics. All 189 of them....The friends wall is finally going up - I have the frames for at least 6 and am waiting for two more to arrive in the mail. Fun, fun, fun.

3. And then home for croissants (mine was a cinnamon raisin. yum!) and a shower for me. Oh, I went to Zumba and it was great. Although I got serious itchy bums and legs in the class and I just thought I would have to leave 25 minutes early when the next song was slower and more hand/ arm movements.

4. I also went to iPad training on Saturday. Do you know what? Looking around the class made me think, "oh my word, I can't believe I'm now representative of this type of person" so it was fairly scary to not be hip and cool. And right there I showed you how unhip and uncool I am. Nevertheless, I was one of the faster ones. So there is that.

Sadly, I will have to "message" the dude because I already forgot some things but on the whole the training was useful. Also, those of you on iPads, apparently we should message one another? I don't know what's wrong with good old email but maybe there I"m showing my age again.

5. Last night I had LOTS of fun creating. I worked on and finished my mini scrapbook of Ballito. When the light's good I'll take TONS of pics and show you but I am so proud of how this went. When I do the proper post I'll tell you what worked, what I would do differently, etc. Also, last night, I perfected my technique on the last 3 pics (out of about 20) in typical Marcia style.

6. Today we had such a fabulous church service I didn't want to leave. Signs, wonders and miracles and me teary-eyed at God's goodness. This is what it's all about - He is a good God and I need to remember that more often.

7. Afterwards we went to some friends for lunch. Their teenage daughter loves "the twins" as she calls them so D and I had lots of help. It was lovely.

The food was also very lovely but I'm trying not to think about that in case I drool over the keyboard.

I was supposed to get the sewing machine BUT when we tried to test it, it made this weird sound. So three of us - the two of them and me - rethreaded and did the bobbin, and still it made this weird noise. She's going to take it to school (she's a teacher) to ask the needlework teacher (of course these days they've given all the subjects really fancy names, like I learnt today what I called Biology is now Natural Science, and Maths is now called Maths Core. Yes...) what that's about. I told her I'd pay if it needs a service.

I have two entries in this book and Julia also has one. Happiness :)

I bought this frame because of the colour.

This is Heather's lovely gift

A close-up of gorgeous Heather and her gorgeous family :) Heather, they keep asking me, "where's Tommy? where's Phoebe?" like we saw them yesterday!

and the rest are all from Ballito

And a bonus one two

8. I just sorted out pics for the grannies, 129 pics for our albums (yes, I'm old school) and some other randoms for my "brag book in the handbag" and I am DONE!

Until I download the last week or so.

But that will only happen later this week.

9. I've taken a half day on Tuesday to work on my book. I decided I can't have things hanging over my head anymore. Please send good, productive, non-procrastinating thoughts this way. I've also decided WHEN I write the next book, I'm taking 3 days and just churning it out. I can't do this piecemeal thing. Drives impatient me batty. And I'll be outsourcing a lot more!

So I'm really, really, really looking forward to having my part of the work on the book Done with a capital D. I saw a nice quote last week - Gretchen Rubin (Happiness Project) interviewed Harlan Coben (another one of my favourite writers!) and he said something about how he likes having written. Yes, that's me.

How was your weekend?
What are you looking forward to this week?

PS Get your Jan goals wrap-up posts ready (mentally) for Wed's link-up. Can you believe it's nearly Feb?!

PPS I forgot to tell you - Kendra had a check-up on Wed and D took her. She didn't cry at all so I told him he's the new designated person to take her to all medical appts because clearly he has the magic touch. Oh btw, she's fine. That CRP was down to 11 but her iron's a bit low so she's on something for a month.

Five on Friday - life admin

Well, we were quoted R400 for the microwave. D wants to fix so the dude's coming back tomorrow morning to do that. He's scheduled at 8 am. If he's not here by 10, I'm off to buy a new microwave (which was my vote).

I booked a hair appointment this afternoon and I told her to trim a TINY bit off. Of course she didn't listen and I sincerely hope this hair looks okay even when I do my thing (wash and leave it).

I've booked iPad training for next Sat. Yes. I need training. Tomorrow I need to go buy something called a microsim and data bundles (what the heck?!). Why don't they tell you there's all this admin before selling you stuff???? Nevertheless. I'm holding out for that "you're going to LOVE it" feeling you all told me about... South Africans, where do I get the best value for money as far as data is concerned from the cellular providers? And iPad users, how many MB do you use per month? The girl told me it doesn't carry over so I don't want to waste money.

I've done something very clever (not yet cute) in my study. Let me cutify it and then I'll post pics. I was so inspired by the colour..... BTW, this is distracting me from my main goal which is to declutter and tidy. It keeps getting sorted (after Christmas) and then the party. And then the holiday. And now it just has to get sorted as I'm back to work on Monday.



D is sick. I'm the worst nurse in the world so I'm unsympathetic and horrible as in I leave him to his own devices. I hate myself like this because he's all kinds of fabulous when I'm sick but I can't seem to summon up any sympathy. Although I did buy him a creme brulee at Woolies this afternoon.

How was your Friday and what are you most looking forward to this weekend?

Me? Getting the study sorted and finishing my book!


PS blogger is not letting me comment on blogs. Lea, MandyE, Mandy, Deanna, I tried several times and have now given up. There's a Sophie Kinsella I'm 21% through waiting for me...

Well, it's Sunday night

and I'm only 23 emails down from 57!

Mandy, that's our play area (my sunroom). Connor running to the door because he heard D's car

why's Daddy taking so long?

Look at the eyelashes and the chubby baby hands

Where's Daddy? (this boy is as impatient as I am)

Love these hands

Finally sees D - Daddy!

Reunited! You'd swear they hadn't seen each other for days instead of 30 minutes!

On the bright side, we

• went to our first Christmas Carols evening (and the babies were good!)
• decorated for Christmas (do you want to see?)
• returned things, bought things, tidied the house (not enough though)
• went to church
• went to have lunch
• watched a bit of Happy Feet (well, the kids watched with D). I read my entire Home magazine "practical ideas to beautiful living" - I love it :) and half the Ideas magazine, Christmas edition. I almost believe I could make a wooden Christmas tree! These are the first two magazines I've bought the whole year - I do believe I might have bought one in Jan though...
• made my first batch of chex mix - more on this later
• bought a Kindle for D's Christmas present and was shocked at the exorbitant shipping!

So, the chex mix.

I've always seen these things around the internet but we don't have those cereals, at least not in my Pick and Pay :), so I was unsure.

I hate wasting money or food so I decided to google a bit and learnt that you can use any cereals so off I went to buy some.

I made a savoury batch and then that turned out so good I made a sweet batch.

OH MY WORD!

Delicious - both of them.

I will take pics and blog my versions during the week.

I may have mentioned it before but I can't seem to follow a recipe, any recipe, 100%. Also, I like using up things :)

The kitchen is a mess but at least I have four cans prettily packaged for gifts.

And then I felt like Martha Stewart because we still have TONS left for us so I made a healthy (no butter, no sugar) version for the babies.

Connor has sampled the savoury version and loved it.


Which are you more partial to - savoury or sweet? D likes savoury more and I like sweet :)


And what did you do this weekend?

PS Connor threw a tantrum walking from the parking lot at church to the building and, while thrashing,  broke my lovely necklace. The good thing is it looks like it can be quite easily fixed if you have jewellery-making tools so I'll get that seen to pronto.

Also, the minute we got to the building we put him in time-out where he screamed his head off for about 30 seconds. After that he was sweet as anything, sincere apologies, holding my hand nicely, etc. Time-outs = amazing.

PPS I can't figure out how to get the picture to show on the camera so I don't have to squeeze my face right up to the little viewfinder .. anybody know? remember the book is still shrink-wrapped :)

Sunday frustrations

I really think we underestimate just how comforting routine is for our children.

D's mother slept over on Saturday night and so got up with the kids at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning.

They told her they're "very very hungry" and "want to eat Weetbix" so she fed them at 7 am.

Which, of course threw out the whole thing. They were ready for their snack at 10 instead of 11 at church.

The kids have a new thing - I'm now wondering whether the photo shoot last week was just the start of it and it just happened to be coincidence that it happened last week.

They want nothing to do with me when D's there but are normal when he's not. Hmmm.

I'm used to Kendra spurning me for her father but not Connor. But now, from Connor, "no Mummy, Daddy do _______" 

Of course it's fine when I want to get other things done (cooking, cleaning, organising) but when we need to get them ready for church, they don't want me to change their nappies, dress them, etc.

Very frustrating and of course, sad!

Thank GOODNESS for Jess's post because her little Mellow also wants no-one but Daddy so that made me feel better about Connor.

Anyway, Kendra is still wetting herself regularly. I go in every night at 11 - 12 to change her nappy so all the bedding doesn't have to be laundered but in the mornings sometimes she still needs another bath.

isn't she gorgeous?!

And on Sunday, she was not having me do the bath!

There was a LOT of crying and me not budging and D stepping in and me screaming at him.

Just lovely.

Am I the only one or do Sundays before church go like this at your place too?

Church was fine, the kids were okay but D was not. Got sicker and sicker so I drove home and then he went to sleep for about 3 hours while the kids drove me nuts. On the bright side, we were able to have some reading time together on the couch.

I tried to cook (my usual Sunday afternoon thing) and it was a disaster.

It is impossible with children underfoot.

It also didn't help that the recipe didn't turn out great - I had to jazz it up with a nice creamy sauce. We are having it tonight so I'll let you know how that goes but it's not a keeper.

I have to remain in the kitchen while I cook otherwise the food burns :) so this is my opportunity to make shopping lists, menus, organise cupboards, etc.

And I about freaked!

It seems no-one in the house but me is able to:

1. put things away (my biggie!)
2. write things on the shopping list (like toilet paper - obvious things)
3. throw things away (I mean really, if a pen is broken, throw it in the bin - don't leave non-writing things lying around decorating my kitchen counters)
4. take out clean tea towels or hand towels

So tomorrow I am giving both V and Nester a good talking-to. It's not like I chop and change things in the house all the time so they can't remember. My systems have been in place forever.

Fixing all this in the house means I can't get on with things and do the things I really have to do, like cook!

Very frustrating.

Do you also have things in the house that seemingly only you can do?
Anybody else's kids "off" them?

PS Shame, my MIL did some dishes for us but she thinks she can see and she can't so I end up throwing all her "clean" dishes back in the sink (that's right, we don't have a dishwasher) to be re-washed.

Keeping it real

You know how I've been raving about how much I love this stage?

Well, let's keep it real.

This morning D says to me in that tone, "Marcia, please come see the kids" and when I went to their bedroom, they were COVERED in vaseline.

They'd got into the bag inside their nappy bag, Connor opened the container and they smeared the Vaseline on their hair, babygrows and Friday (Connor's teddy).

All I can say is that it's a good thing I wasn't properly awake because I would have flipped properly.

I tried to scrape some blobs back into the jar and then gave up.

I eventually took those cloth nappies and tried to get as much as I could out of their hair and off their hands and faces.

It was terrible.

Terrible.

All through this Connor keeps insisting that he's a good boy and I said, "no, you're a naughty boy".

Then he says, "Connor and Kenna very naughty" which is what D had been saying.

I know I'm going against the parenting books and whatnot (the lady from the course too) by calling them naughty but they are naughty!

Even my boss said, "no, Marsh, they did naughty things" and I said, "NO! they are naughty!" LOL

Do you call your kids naughty?

Oy! So when V arrived we bathed them and washed their hair about 3 times each and it's STILL oily.

Anyway, eventually I get dressed and leave for work.

I'm about a minute from home when I hear this sound to the left of my car.

I thought the passenger door wasn't closed properly so pulled over, opened and closed that door.

Set off again and still hear, "clunk clunk".

Stopped again and this time there were two policemen parked at the side of the road who said, "come look here" pointing to the front of my car.

I had a flat tyre.

Let me stop and say I have never in all my years of driving had ANYTHING go wrong (not even a traffic fine).

Of course I know ZIP about changing tyres so the one guy said they'd do it if I had a spare tyre.

I did and it was flat, so they changed it in 5 minutes and I drove straight to the nearest petrol station.

Can you believe it?!

First, I don't even want to think about what might have been if this had happened anywhere else but a quiet street in the suburbs. I was supposed to take my car to do my church talk last night but took D's because I was running a little late. If this had happened on the highway, I would have missed the talk and maybe even had an accident (we drive fast in Jhb and there's very little time to react to sudden stops). So I agree totally with the one policeman who said, "God blessed you today". Amen to that!

Second, two of this kind of nonsense in one day! Thankfully the rest of the day was good - I ran a meeting well (by accident because the real meeting organiser was late), and felt I added real value in two other meetings.

Oy!

And then...

I just ran my virtual organising workshop. Nearly half way through I suddenly thought to do a separate recording using my own software, not the fancy one I pay for! And I just clicked through and the proper recording's quality is not good. Thank goodness for the 1 hour 8 minutes I recorded but I'll have to record the first bit again to stay in integrity. Uggghhhhhhh - what a waste of time. I'll have to skip gym tomorrow to record it.

Overall score for the day - 6.

Largely due to these two. When I arrived home this evening, this is what I saw.

What was your score for the day?

PS I've been trying and trying and I can't seem to get into a sentence a day journal or even more. But what is working (only for 2 days now) is to rate the day and make a list of a few bullets to justify the rating. Do you journal?

Good thing I don't feel like this often

It's 5:11 pm and I'm at work in my gym clothes, stewing.

I'll be here for an hour and then go get dressed and meet our Fertility Babies group for supper.

I didn't drive all the way home as it's just a waste of time for such a short time.

Anyway.

I'm feeling very grumpy so hoping if I write about it, I'll feel better:

1. Today the kids broke my specs. I woke to find Kendra clutching the arm of my specs with the rest of it by her feet. It's not really Kendra so I suspect Connor may have helped. Thank goodness the lenses weren't broken as I order super expensive ones with a gazillion fancy things - it kills me to pay it every time but at least they don't break easily.
2. Stopped in at the optometrist on the way to work and it will only cost a couple of hundred rand ($30) to replace the arm. Thank goodness.
3. Because of all this drama in the morning, I didn't have enough time to do all the things I'd planned and so am running behind with my work. Yes, I'm blogging. It's free therapy.
4. The food we ordered for lunch in our team meeting was all wrong. They added mayonnaise to my sandwich which made it soggy (I always specify "no sauce") and I'm SUPER fussy about soggy food. I was starving (and we were in a meeting) so just had to eat.
5. Then in the meeting, my boss (not so wonderful at the moment because I'm cross) announces that another person is now the lead on a project I've been involved in (you know which one, Mash). I technically don't mind - she has TONS more time to give it the attention it deserves - but I do mind not being told prior to the meeting. Actually I do mind a bit because it's one of my passions.
6. So I'm seething the entire time - I'm not one to create drama in a meeting but I will give him a piece of my mind tomorrow. The pieces then fell into place because of a meeting we'd had earlier this week and I realised why she was so insistent about doing a particular piece of work on this project. I am still going to insist on doing it (I know you think I'm crazy) but I am even more super fussy about communication and I want to draft the internal communication on this thing.
7. And then as if all of that is not enough, it's the day for the personal trainer. The only thing that made me go up there is the thought that I need to get this tension out of my body. And so I said not a word except for asking one or two questions about some new exercises and she kept saying, "what's wrong?" Valid question as usually we talk the whole time. I said, "there is just way too much going on for me to even start explaining"
8. Feeling a bit nostalgic for what once was, and what I thought would still be. A friendship of mine has changed and I'm a bit very sad about that.

Now after all that, would you not feel grumpy?

I hope I cheer up soon (or can put on a smile) because otherwise I'm going to have a dreadful evening.

But how was YOUR day? Did you have a good one?

P.S. The one bright spot was I'm getting some free money from work :) Something about me being from a previously disadvantaged background. I don't care about all that but FREE MONEY. I need to take a trip and indulge myself a bit.

P.P.S Thanks for all your lovely comments on the manners post - there's some good stuff in the comments if you haven't subscribed. Dancing in the rain, I couldn't see the comment button when I tried to visit your blog but thanks so much for saying hello. I spent some time checking out all your crafty goodness :)

Monday night gumbo

Today was a write-off at work. Too many meetings (4). My comfort level is 3 so I have time to action things too. I also left early because V sent a text to say Kendra's temperature was back up to 38. Guess tomorrow I'll have to pull out all stops and get my stuff done.

Despite all this, I am proud because I forced myself to go to gym. Amazing what competition will do. There are 5 - 6 of us all on a quest to lose weight so every Monday morning we weigh in. So far I've lost nothing - I gained, stayed the same and then lost the 0.5 kg so am right back where I started. The front runner has already lost 2 kg in the 3 weeks!

Kendra's temperature was coming down so nicely today and then again, up to 38. She is a lot more herself though. Doing her little Kendra things (i.e. being cute and talking lots). We've now woken up 2 nights in a row at 2:30 to give her a suppository and tonight will be night 3. Funny how it's not a big deal to get up in the middle of the night...

Since I was basically housebound this weekend caring for Kendra, I decided to "make myself useful" and cooked up a storm on Sunday (7 meals for us {14 portions} and 4 meals for the babies {8 portions}. I also totally decluttered my bedroom and as I wear things that look horrible, I will be throwing some more out. Tomorrow my gardener will be sporting a genuine South African soccer shirt and cap as I've decided that the horrible mustard yellow is just not a good colour on me and why hang onto things just because they cost a lot of money?

I am thinking of starting yet another blog because I figure, surely these things happen to me for a reason? Let me give you a quick example. Logged a call with my ISP on 25 Aug at 11:31. No response despite then going onto their website about a week later to complain until today. Again, no one qualified called me. I am so tired of this rubbish and I am starting to believe that it is my 3rd mission in life to educate people about treating customers properly. I told another company last week, "if I treated my customers the way you've been treating me, I would have been fired." Enough said.

But how are YOU doing? Is it just around these parts or is everyone verrrrrry, verrrrry quiet?

Is it just us or were your kids also crabby today?

The yellow door has absolutely nothing to do with today's post - it is quite simply one of my favourite pictures ever as I have a crazy love of doors. This was a door in Cork, Ireland.

This morning I spoke to my friend with the twins, C, who phoned me while waiting for her girls to finish napping in the car.

She said they'd been super crabby and she was telling people who said they were so cute, "oh you can have them" LOL

Mine were okay until supper time and then a very fast meltdown happened.

Kendra kept pointing to her high chair tray telling me to keep putting carrots there (we do them one by one otherwise she tosses them on the floor and I'm too old for all that bending) and I think she got too excited by our "game" because she choked a bit on one carrot.

I held her while she coughed and then she was fine physically BUT she was also tired so the crying was 10 times worse than it actually needed to be.

Oy!

She was first to bath and cried in the bath, cried while dressing her (thank goodness not continually), cried because I was taking too long getting her milk to her.

Connor was fine but when she cries, it upsets him.

There was a cute moment though - while they were in their cots, he went to give her his dummy so she'd stop crying.

Too sweet!

And I had to crack - I've been trying to give them their bedtime bottles in sippy cups but because she was screaming, I had to put a proper teat (nipple) on the bottle.

Now I'm having a "proper" mug of tea in a quiet house.

I went to the hairdresser today and while there had a cup of tea. I asked for one sugar but either they got it wrong or it was a GIGANTIC spoon because it was sweet and horrible.

If that kind of thing happens, I really need to have a proper cup to make up for it. Hmmm.

Are you the same or am I weird?

P.S. We got V in to babysit so we could run a gazillion errands. Looked at car seats for the babies who are still rear-facing, will check one more place before deciding. Also, we decided we can't live with that horrible colour on our bedroom and study walls so I've chosen two new shades of paint in a different palette (whispering green and bay leaf) which hopefully will work. Please God, let it work.

When I phoned the painter to tell him we decided we can't live with that colour, he was incredulous, "you don't like the colour?" Um, no. Honestly I tried but my home is my sanctuary so I will have to endure mess and disorder for a few days over two weeks and get it sorted.

P.P.S. Go read Claudia's FABULOUS post about parenting toddlers

Hmmm, about a 7

they love that dangly thing on my bag

I promised I'd share what my week was like, so here goes.

Let's start with the ugly and then go to the bad and then the good.

Before I start, I heard this joke this week:

The good
Your wife's pregnant

The bad
It's triplets (not funny to an infertile)

The ugly
You had a vasectomy 5 years ago


Hmmmm...


The ugly

• Bad, bad period pains. Throbbing like crazy so you can't think about anything.I think it only happens this badly every second month.
  
• Fighting with (what seems like) every customer service rep imaginable. But really, I think I phoned about 6 different companies. Had to resort to going on http://hellopeter.com for two of them. I hate it when no one takes responsibility. And then the one tells me, "I see you've been on hellopeter again" to which I said, "yes, because it's the only way someone actually returns my calls". Silence on other end. *sigh*
  
• Situation at work - we've interviewed for a new PA and the person who didn't get the job got really "nothing" feedback from HR but then heard some really horrible things through the grapevine as to why she didn't get the job. Boss and I don't know how the gossip started as we both have zipped lips with staffing issues...but both of us were/ are LIVID!
• Got absolutely NO sign-ups for a teleseminar I had planned. ZIP! Horrified but taking the Zen approach as in "if it's meant to be, it'll be".
  

The bad

• Have made annual appt with gynae. It is a new gynae as my Dr C emigrated to New Zealand. He transferred his caseload to another guy but I don't want to go to him (a bit out of my way - I'm lazy, I like having my medical people literally 2 minutes away, not 15 minutes away). So sent about 5 emails back and forth just to get them to send my file to new guy. I have SUCH a lot of stuff going on (even before I knew I was infertile) that it will take about 30 mins just to go through all the operations.
• Being behind at work again due to going to a conference mid-week.
• I feel a little bit fragile emotionally when I get my period (not before, but during). The last time this happened I wrote it down and this week when I was feeling unloved and full of sass, I thought, "hey! it's because of my period" which is at least good to know. Still not nice to experience it as everything seems worse than it actually is. Can anyone relate?
  

The good

• Fantastic conference on innovation of all things. Learned such a lot and best of all, I felt like I belonged, networking and doing my people thing :)
• Also made two good connections for people who either might want to coach with me or get me in to speak. Yes, I've already followed up with them :)
• In meeting with the unsuccessful candidate, I was very glad to hear that they (she and her manager) didn't for a minute think I'd actually said those things as "my integrity is unquestionable", thank God for that.
• Got my performance appraisal done on our system. This is huge as I make copious notes so that I actually understand what the corporate speak means.
• Also got lots more responsibility and opportunity to "showcase my skillset" (!) - which means chances to present at meetings, etc. so the bigwigs see more of me LOL (this stuff makes me giggle, honestly). It is also now an official part of my job to say no :) Seriously, everyone hates telling the people no to doing business. I have no problems with this and do it nicely but very firmly so I've taken it over. Let's see how that goes although just this week alone I have already turned down two opportunities.
• On same day of the scheduled teleseminar, I got my BIGGEST coaching client yet. Biggest in terms of money. It actually is just a little bit scary to be getting such a lot of money from one client but HEY! it means she is serious and I can't wait to start working with her tomorrow.
  
• The babies are seriously cuter than I ever imagined, FULL of spunk (not so nice during feeding times when they don't want my food) and best of all, I feel I'm coming into my own. D asked me tonight how I feel about my mothering and I said, "I think I'm doing an awesome job" after which we both laughed like crazy. But I do... yes, I literally never sit still these days while they're awake BUT the independence is just amazing and I LOVE IT!

This week we have D's 40th birthday on Tuesday, the babies' 12-month injections on Wednesday (I couldn't mess up D's bday if the babies were niggly) and my fitness assessment on Thursday (I am my heaviest ever). I also need to get to gym at least twice and get caught up on my work.

What do you have planned for this week? Yes, I really want to know.

1.5 degrees Celsius

That's what my car's thermometer said on the way to work this morning.

And this wasn't even early because I was very, very late (9:00 am).

It is FREEZING in Johannesburg as we're smack bang in the midst of a cold spell.

Normally I love the cold weather but it's another matter altogether with babies.

Although we took them out yesterday because it's better to be in our warm car (with the sun streaming through the windows) than in our cold house!

South African houses are not made for the cold so that means we have a heater in each bedroom.

Last night we gave the babies hot baths and then dressed them in a gazillion layers of clothes:

• long-sleeved body vests
• normal long-sleeved vests over that
• plus leggings
• inside babygrows
• and then inside their sleepsacks

They're now sleeping under their quilts and have another 3 - 4 blankets on top.

And still they have these cold little hands.

Cute, but cold.

We had the heater on in the babies' room the whole night with a bowl of water to keep the air moist.

D and I slept with our electric blankets on...

We have a lovely, open plan living area that's COLD in winter normally and now is positively freezing.

We can't leave the heaters on when they're awake because of course, it's dangerous to little fingers and exploring, curious minds (as you know, Connor loves lights).

So it's going to be interesting...

What do your babies sleep in, in winter?

P.S. I didn't allow myself to post last night as I'd already exceeded my 2 hours because of some things I had to do for the business (will reveal new website soon!).

P.P.S. It's like a morgue today at work because South Africa lost 3 -0 to Uruguay last night :(

A new level of Zen

How far I've come!

Before babies, I'd freak out if there were just one other person in my house during the day if I wasn't home.

Yesterday, babies plus Nanny V plus new cleaning lady plus two painters.

A circus!

In a moment of clarity, after yet again cleaning up after the old maid, I decided, "that's it!" and fired her.

I did it nicely .... "S, I won't be needing you to come to work anymore" as I saw no reason to tell her the true reason (you don't clean properly, can't remember anything I say, etc.) and I paid her one extra day's salary.

I had a glorious sense of freedom plus PANIC.

After a few seconds I calmed myself down, handed my husband our free newspaper to look through for a couple of people who were looking for work and went to gym.

When I got back, he'd circled 7 names.

I phoned all 7, armed with my interview checklist, and prioritised my top 3.

Phoned her back and we arranged a start date, daily rate, etc.

She started last Tuesday.

And it's been okay so far.

Would be better if there weren't all these other things going on all the time.

Like the painting and the fact that our security system's sensors is not working properly so there are technicians all over the place.

I am ZEN with all this chaos.

To test my patience, I'd just arrived home when City Power decided to do some load shedding in my little part of our HUGE suburb. My friend, C, and her mom in two different directions both had power so I drove to C's house to warm the babies' frozen ice-blocks for supper :)

Gosh!

Two hours later I had electricity and all was well.

I cooked for us and two meals for the babies.

But..... my house was a mess as all the bedroom furniture plus clothes plus my handbags were all over the house and in my guest bedroom/ study since my bedroom walls were still wet.

I'm surprised I actually fell asleep in that madness last night.

Earlier today I phoned home to check if the painter had arrived and Nanny V tells me, "oh, we don't have power again".

It took lots of restraint not to swear as this was around their lunch time.

So my babies had ProVita with peanut butter and yoghurt for lunch.

And now V tells me, "they don't like the new food". The Carrot and Cheesy Tomato Risotto I so lovingly prepared for them.

I was THIS close to taking a jar of Purity off the shelves at the store but I was very strong and resisted.

I need to write about the food story another day (this is why I need to write as it happens as it got good and is bad again!).

I am rising to a new level of Zen...

But how's your day going?

P.S. Went to a friend's baby shower yesterday at work and oh! it brought back such memories of the crying and the overwhelm.

A small slice of heaven

Yesterday, I resolved not to get onto the computer until after the babies were asleep at night and guess what?

The world didn't crash.

I also FINISHED MY BOOK. Yes, in one week.

So I will be doing the same thing (more or less) this week as I really want to read more. And I still have those 3 half-read baby books to finish.

We put the babies down for their nap yesterday and I said to D, "let's also go rest" and I promptly jumped onto my bed with my book and a cup of tea.

A small slice of heaven.

After a few minutes, Kendra decided that "sleep is for babies" and she's not a baby so screamed for her daddy.

He brought her to me and we enjoyed some lovely quality time, me reading and Kendra playing with my coaster, hand lotion, anything I could find on my night stand.

She's getting very, very cute. Very easy with the smiles and laughs and there really is nothing sweeter.

Now that was more like what mother's day should have been like!

P.S. Eve (the one who bought my leftover GonalF) is now 38 weeks pregnant with twin boys. I think she's a rock star for making it so far! And for doing this whole deal solo (the babies were conceived with donor sperm)!

P.P.S.  I will do the draw later today........ and post the winner!