Christmas 2013

This year we spend Chrissy eve at home. Zack you were going to mass with Eel nan, Hannah, Nic and everyone else but you must have talked to Eel pop as he was bringing you home and he told you all you do is stand up and sit down alot and listen to people talk and sing. Once you got home you had decided you didn't want to go. So instead we got your santa sacks out, bathed and got snacks out for santa and the reindeers. Zack and Ash you where very excited. Mahli you kept eating Santa's cookies and you boys were getting so angry with her. You left santa a cookie and milk and the reindeers got some water and Zack you left them a carrot and Ashton you left them an apple.

Christmas morning Koen and I woke up at 6.30 and we came out and saw all the presents. I put Koen on his new lounge and took some photos of him. Then decided I couldn't wait any longer and went in to wake Zack up. As soon as Zack clicked Santa had been you were up like a flash and into Ashton's room to wake him. It didn't take him as long to register who had been since he had been waiting for a bloody long time for Santa to come LOL (it took forever). We went in and got Mahli up and ran to see all the presents. The look on your face was amazement and you didn't know what to do until I said are you going to open them. You had a great time opening them all. Mahli you kept sitting on Koen's new lounge and kinda walking around looking at the boys presents. Every now and then you would go to get one of your presents with me showing you.

After all your presents where opened we went to Manly nan's for breakfast. We had ham and eggs for breaky and some playing with your new guns etc we then opened presents from each other. After opening the wrapped presents we took Zack and AShton down to home and showed you the present from us. A big blow up water slide. You were so excited. You jumped right on it Zack. Ashton you just started undressing. We didn't even have the water on it yet, but we ended up putting it on so you could have a little fun before we went to lunch. Mahli I think all this present thing (all the whole day) was just all to much for you, you didn't even open half of your presents

After that we went back to Manly nan and pop's and had a yummy lunch. You kids all sat at the kids table. Zack and Ashton you LOVE popping the bon bon's I think you did them all with each of us. Nan, pop, dad, me, Kaylie, LIndsay and Brooklyn, as well as Mahli and both of yours. Zack all you wanted was Christmas pudding but I made you eat some turkey and veges first. Ashton you ate SOOOOO much all you kept saying was more bacon please over and over again. You were eating quicker then I could get  it to you and eat some of my lunch. The bacon was pork and turkey. Zack you gobbled up your pudding with spray on cream. Mahli like always you gobbled up your lunch. Koen you were a good boy and stayed in your bouncer until we were finnished lunch.

After lunch we packed up and went to Eel nan and pop's. As we got there Hannah, Nic and Thomas were on there new slip and slide so you had a little go on that. Mahli and Koen were asleep in the car. Then we went inside and had a little play as they were still eating desert. Finally you were aloud to open  your presents. After opening presents you had a little play while we packed the car with your new presents.

At home we played and explored your new presents and tried to organise the catastrophe that was our loungeroom.

Presents list-
                                      Zack                         Ashton                      Mahli                         Koen
Mum and dad-            Water slide              Water slide                 Stick horse                 flat out bear

Manly nan and pop-      Tablet,                  Balance bike              little people farm        chest of draws                                     electric tooth brush     electric tooth brush         hair brush                    giggle toy
                                  Hulk toy                    hulk toy                 growl, bark and walk puppy
        
Kaylie and Poo     Army men TMNT           helment                      Little people                interactive bus

Eel nan and pop       bath towel                    bath towel                   bath towel                    bath towel

Jac                          movie pack                 movie pack                  movie pack                   pillow pet

Robyn                      TMNT                       TMNT                       clothes and bag              water toy

Then there was ALL of santa presents as well as things from Newcastle nan and pop, Belinda, Kelly, Kim and Cathy.

      

2013

Dear my precious children,
What a year 2013 has been. I have enjoyed it nothing at all negative to say about it. It has had many great memories that we have shared.

Of course the most important one is bringing you into the world Koen. You have made our family complete. I love you so much. You are so gorgeous. Your smiles and giggles just melt my heart. I remember the day so vividly it so didn't go to plan. I was sore and upset. So upset that I may have not got to meet you that day. It all turned out in the end and you are here with me. I was awake to see  you come into the world even though I was very close to not being, that would have devastated me.

Another important event this year was celebrating Mahli's first birthday. You looked so pretty in your outfit I got from over seas for you. It had to have a horse on it of course. I do realise you are probably going to end up hating horses but right now its mum's pick and I love horses and would love you to love them too. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. We went to the park everyone was there to celebrate. You had a great time eating away.

In March we went to Sea World with nan and pop, dad didn't come. It was the best holiday ever! Its a holiday I know I will never forget. Seeing the joy in your eyes at every part of it was amazing!!! Zack and Ashton you still now talk about it. You are so desperate to get back there. We so want to take you back but raising the funds is always a problem. When we go again Mahli and Koen will be old enough to enjoy it too. We stayed at Paradise resort. Ashton your favourite park was Seaworld and Zack I think you just loved it all. You were all so well behaved the whole time and we had such big days you should have got tired and naughty but you didn't. Mahli you where such a good girl happy to stay in the pram most of the time, napping throughout the day. It was all of your first plane ride and Ashtons and Mahli's first train ride too. It was all just so unreal that holiday. Wish we could do it with nan and pop every year.

2013 really rocked and 2014 will have to be bloody UNREAL to beat it and I have my doubts it can. I love you my 4 precious children.
 
Love Mum

Amahlia May 18 months

Dear Mahli,
Mt precious girl, you have found the last 9 weeks hard. I do feel guilty. You are still a baby and you don't understand. You don't understand that the bubba needs mummy more than you at the moment because it was you that had so much of my attention not long ago. It was you who was the baby. I have shed many guilty tears about it all. I have tried so hard to give you as much attention as I can but its not all of my attention so its not good enough.

You just love to read and I think this is a big thing you miss. We use to read several books every night before bed but that is hard at the moment. Even when I do try to read to you. If Koen is on my lap you want him gone NOW!!!! You love to point to the animals while I make the noises they make. You think its great!

You are saying so many words. Such a clever chook.

You love giving kisses we were just playing a game where you where pretending to smack me I would pretend to cry so you would hug me moving closer making kissing noise then giving me a kiss to make me feel better. It was very sweet! You are FOREVER kissing Koen now that you have finally accepted him. Some times is so often it drives me mad LOL. Zack also gets many kisses and you sneak a few in to Ashton to when he is watching tv, its very cute and funny.

Lollies are your favourites. You ask for Loll lolls all the time. At Manly nan and pops you go up to nan or pop and look up at them and say loll loll and off you walk to the room where they are. If they don't come you come back and do the same thing over and over again. You are very patient yet persistent. Cheese sticks and the leSnack cheese and biscuits are also a fav.

Manly nan is your favourite person especially after you spent a week with her when I had Koen. She comes home from work when we are up there and you go running outside to her in her car yelling nan nan with your arms out to be picked up. Nan loves it. Pop is still very high up but you are a nannies girl.

You are a girl that knows what she wants and will get it. If someone takes something off you, says no or does something you don't like you let us all know. You will whing and whine until you are so annoying its easier to give in to shut you up. You are going to be such a spoilt thing having your 3 brothers watch over you and protect you. Zack just idolises you so much.

You are the master of the cheesy, I am not doing anything, butter wouldn't melt, face. I love the grin you give us and you do it so often. Its like you are saying its ok mummy just breath I won't do anything naughty. Look at how cute I am, see! Don't get mad but...... such a cheeky thing you are!

You and Ashton together is trouble. When Zack is at school you are off together getting up to no good. I love listening to you both  giggling away together. God help me.

Amahlia I still just love your name but I love you so much more. You are such a strong willed thing. Its not a negative thing I don't think so keep it up (just not with me ok). I love love love you so much you cheeky, beautiful, precious girl.
Love
        Mum xoxo

Koen Lachlan 6 weeks old

Dear Koen,
I love you! You are such a gorgeous, precious little man. I can tell already you have a firery temperament, but I can also see you are going to be cuddly, you love me to hold you and I love when you stretch out on my chest  with your head to the side, just chilling I could sit there with you like that forever. Pity your siblings don't like it especially Mahli.

You sure can let out a squeal/scream. Your brothers and sister couldn't cry/squeal like you can. I suppose being the fourth you need to be loud so we can hear you over your noisy siblings. You don't cry to much though really. There has only been a couple times you have had me stressed bc you wouldn't stop crying. You mainly cry when you have a pain, which makes me sad, bc I just want to fix it for you which I try my best to do.

You HATE to be put down. You won't be down for anymore then a few minutes till you let me know you don't like this, pick me up right now. Its just like you are showing me you love me just as much as I love you. At times you could be crying with your father, he passes you to me and you settle down right away. Melts my heart and I love that you love me as much as I love you and that I can tell that already at 6 weeks old. Although this makes it so hard to get photos of you. I don't want photos of you crying I want nice photos. I just can't get them when you want to be held by me.

You are Mr serious too. I am currently trying SOOOOO hard to get you to smile. I know you are only young but you have given me one smile and it was beautiful and you gave Manley pop one too. BUT you frown and look at me like I am an idiot most of the time. It will come soon. I can't wait.

I had to take you back to the hospital when you were 4.5 weeks old. You were still a little yellow and I wanted to make sure it was all ok. Even though I pretty much knew you were as you were so happy, healthy etc I thought it was better to be safe then sorry. They took your blood and OMG you screamed so much I have never heard you scream so much. It was breaking my heart. You were so red and sweating. There was blood everywhere all up your foot and leg :(. Then they told me I had to go back 3 days later to have another one I so wasn't looking forward to it. This time you hardly cried at all. It was all ok, made me feel better just knowing for sure.

You are such a good feeder, have been since the first time I held you properly. I can tell how much weight you have gained and how much you have grown already. It seems like you have grown so much. It actually makes me a little sad that you are growing so fast. You need to slow down precious little man.

You are another tummy sleeper. Gives me heart attacks. I am to scared to let you sleep of a night by yourself on your tummy. You will sleep for a little while in your basinett on your side but most of the time that is until I get into bed to sleep or an hour later. So most if not all of the night you sleep in my hands of a night, every night. It kills my back but its worth it. I do love the cuddles but laying in the same position for so long isn't the most comfortable. You are a good sleeper though, best I have had you sleep much longer then your brothers and sister at your age, which I am thankful for. Because it is hard work raising 4 kids.

Koen I love you so much. I am so happy you chose me to be your mummy. I will make mistakes, make you unhappy, yell and get frustrated at you. BUT ALWAYS, ALWAYS remember that I love you more than any words can express. I would do anything for you, you and your brothers and sister are my whole world and without you and them my life wouldn't be worth it. I love you precious little man.
Love Mum xoxo

The birth of Koen Lachlan 9/10/13

This pregnancy had been pretty easy compared to my other 3. I got through without getting gestational diabetes again which I was soooo thankful for. Not because I found it hard with Amahlia because I didn't, but, because I didn't want to go to Maitland Hospital again because it makes it so hard on everyone. The only problem we had was they changed my date for my c-section from 2nd October to the 9th October as the surgeon was going to be away on the 2nd so I was afraid of going into labour since I had an irritable uterus and that would mean I had to go to a different hospital which I didn't want to do, as the other hospital has a bad reputation.

8th October finally came and we spent the day at Scone visiting the hospital to get blood taken for c-section then anthesis appointment for my spinal the next day which I did inform him he had had trouble with my first two spinals. That night I had tea with the kids, bathed them, then took them up to mum and dad where they were staying the night as I had to be at the hospital early the next day. The kids were excited to be having a sleep over. I was shocked how calm I was and that I didn't break down crying when leaving them like I did when I went to have Amahlia. After getting home I had planned to finish changing everyone sheets and fold the last basket of clothing but James talked me into going to bed with him and watching a movie and relaxing which I gave in and did. Turns out it was a bad idea as I woke early in the night to go to the toilet like usual and then couldn't go back to sleep as I kept thinking about the one left unmade bed and the washing that wasn't folded. At 3am I ended up getting up and changed the sheets on Zack's bed (I did the rest the night before) and sat and watch tv (teen mom) while folding and putting away the last load of washing.

At 5am we left for the hospital, arrived at the hospital at 6am took my stuff in got shown to my room. I was the only one at the hospital in the maternity ward so it was very quiet. I got dressed into my gown, put my sexy stockings on, went on the monitor to check baby etc. and waited until they came got me.

At about 7.45am they came to get me to take me to theater. It was all very relaxed and I was feeling good about the spinal as they got it in right away with Amahlia. I was trying to think positive about it happening again. (The spinal has always been the thing I was scared most about my c-section). Thinking positive didn't work. I find "scrunching up like a cat" as the say the most uncomfortable thing ever when you are pregnant. Yes it is ok for a few minutes but longer it makes it bloody hard to breath. After 1.5-2 hours it is HORRIBLE. The 100 of times he put the needles in my back were not as bad as the "scrunching up like a cat".

He did think he got it in at one stage. They laid me down and the surgeon was scrubbing in. I knew right away it wasn't, apparently the spinal fluid came out like it was meant to but must have slipped out when he put the stuff in so it was floating around in my body somewhere. After many times checking if it worked, I kept saying no I can still feel everything. NO way where they cutting me when I could feel it. I had to wait 15 minutes before he would try again as he didn't know if the stuff would effect me in some way. It didn't though so he started trying again.

He did want to stop trying earlier but I was soooo desperate to have him I asked him to have a few more times. He did say to me what about my ego??( the poor guy felt so bad) when I asked him to try again. The other 2 anthesis where away so there was no one to call in like they did when he couldn't get it in with Ashton. He finally gave up though and talks started about me having to go to Maitland hospital to get it done. All I was worried about was having him that day. I didn't want to wait any longer. Mum and dad had a motel booked at Scone with the kids and that was going to be a pain. I stayed very calm though. I walked back to my room :( and waited to see if we would be going to Maitland that day to have it done. My back was now killing me too. Here is a pic of my back the next morning. I had bruises up my sides from them sticking there fingers into my fat to feel for my hips

It felt like ages waiting to know what was happening but finally Maitland got back to them and I was going to Maitland to get done that day. I was so relieved I was told to go right to labour ward when I get there. So off James and I go for another 1.5 hour drive to get there. It really hurt my back the drive down there and I was sooo tired. Gee I wished I didn't get up at 3am. I was so hungry and thirsty as I had been fasting since 8pm for food and midnight for water.

We got there and they put me into a labour room as they had no beds for me. The monitored me, but another canula in me which hurt like hell. Then informed me I wasn't on the list as they couldn't put me on the list until I got there. They then went on to tell me that they don't know if it would be that day or the next but I had to keep fasting in case. So there was ALOT of waiting, I was told that they closed theater at 10pm so could be waiting till then. I so wanted a drink.

At 6pm they finally came and said they were taking me up and I was taken. I drank the horrible tasting crap for the 2nd time and was positive the spinal was going to go in easy like it did when I had Mahli at the same hospital since they do them every day unlike Scone hospital. I wish! He had problems too. They were shocked with the state of my back already but at least this time I had James in with me while they were trying to put it in. He was the one standing in front of me which I liked. The anthesis told me I was a problem and he was going to give it one more try and if it didn't work I was going to have to go under general. I tried not to panic as that was the last thing I wanted. Thank god he got it in (He later told me he actually gave it two more tries) Talk about relief I was going to meet my little man finally and I was going to be awake to see it happen.

Finally at 6.52pm James was told to stand up and watch him be born, it was announced he was born at the time then I was told he had peed all over me already. He was shown to me then taken over to be checked over. Felt like ages that he was away getting checked over and James cutting his cord etc. The anthesis said to me what is taking them so long and called out hurry up mum wants a cuddle. He was brought to me and I got cuddles while they were sewing me up. He was sucking his fingers the whole time. James said to me he is going to give us trouble he has been born a few minutes and he has already peed on you and he just stuck his finger up at me LOL. James and the midwife then took him to be weighed etc. while they finished off my last layer of stitchers and took me to recovery.

At recovery they finally got me some ice to suck and it was great. James and bub came to me and he latched on right away and had a great feed. I was finally let out of recovery and we were wheeled back to my room, where James met me (he had gone to ring people while we were in recovery). We started discussing names but couldn't agree on anything. I was exhausted so decided we would wait. James had to go find somewhere to stay the night as it was 9pm. Poor thing had no clothes or anything, he hadn't ate all day as he was scared if he left to get something they would come get me to have him.

That night he screamed lots. The midwife couldn't settle him, the only way he would settle was on my chest so she put him there and we dosed that way, as I was right near the nurses station so it was noisy. As soon as they let me I got the catheter removed so I could get up and shower as I was desperate to get back to Scone where I would have my own room and finally get some sleep. They let me the next morning even though the midwife on night duty told me not till the afternoon I was up at 10am. At 12.30 I was aloud to go back to Scone so we packed up and James drove us back to Scone. On the way we discussed names again, my hormonal self cried as I wanted him named and James was fine with him not having a name for as long as it took. James wanted one name I wanted another. We both liked Koen so I suggested we compromised and went with Koen Lachlan. He still wouldn't commit. So I messaged my family and announced baby boy never to be named was born etc etc etc...... When James was leaving to go home from Scone he came in from getting my pillows out of the car and said lets call him Koen. So I announced it to everyone else. I am really happy with his name.

So details and pics
Koen Lachlan
born 9th October 2013
at 6.52pm
3800grams or 8pounds 6oz
35.5 HC and 48cm long