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Hubby did the Fan Walk yesterday and I was on duty.  It felt like I was the only person not there! 

We visited a dear friend and it was great to catch up.  Whilst they systematically destroyed her house.  But she has her own kids, so no worries there.  And we had wine.

When I collected Daniel from school on Friday the girls were playing on the jungle gym, check out their sweaters:

Yes, Little Miss Giggle and Little Miss Naughty.  They picked them!

Here is Isabel, barefoot as usual:

We went to a party on Saturday, here pics of them.  I always smile at parties, all the parents are taking pics of their little ones, even if it is another child’s party.  I am also guilty of this 🙂

  

May everyone have a great week!

I don’t normally post about negative stuff, but there are a few things in life that really annoy me. I am by no means innocent of these things myself, but they irritate me nonetheless.

Insincerity and falseness: People that aren’t honest about their true feelings about other people and would rather talk about people behind their backs than say something to their faces. Why can’t we just say: “Dude, this is the way the cookie crumbles”? I would rather be unpopular than the one that no-one trusts.

Dishonesty: People that lie. Why do they always think no-one will find out? It really is such a waste of energy to try and remember who you told what story to. And people see through it anyway.

False promises: I am often guilty of this, I think we all are, but when someone repeatedly makes promises and doesn’t deliver it really gets to me. Especially when it affects my family.

Double standards: The same set of rules applies to all of us. Just because you drive a fancy car or live in a big house, it doesn’t make you special.

And lastly, poo: Yes, actual poo. 3 kids later and Daniel had an accident in his pants last week and I was gagging up a storm. My friend, who we were visiting at the time, thought it was hilarious. I have mopped up much vomit, but I just don’t do the poo.

I’m sure I’m going to lie in bed and think of more things that irritate me, but for now this will do.

What annoys you?

I know, I know, I hardly ever do them and this is (gasp) my second post for the day.

Downs:

1.  We had friends over last night that are here from Ireland and another couple, but neither of them have kids yet.  I’m forever going on about how great my kids are and they read all my comments.  And of course they were complete and utter brats last night.  And I was a complete bitch to them.  Shudder to think what they thought..

2.  Money money money.  To tight to mention this month.  And SARS looms. 

Ups:

1.  Going to the Semi-Final in Cape Town on Tuesday.  In a box.  How lucky am I??

2.  Played hookey yesterday and took myself off to see Eclipse.  I haven’t seen a movie by myself in years and I had such a great time!

3.  Great things are happening on the work front, too soon to mention, but really amazing stuff!

4.  Have I mentioned I was invited to the semi on Tuesday?

Happy weekend everyone, I’m spending it with our family and special friends!

Cams did this post about naming your children and I have a long story, so here we go:

My requirements for childrens’ names were this:

1. They must be language neutral i.e. sound pretty much the same in Afrikaans and English
2. They must be virtually impossible to shorten to something stupid or rude like ‘Lala’ or ‘Tinkywinky’
3. They must be French-ish (French Hugenot In-Laws)
4. They mustn’t be naff like ‘Petal’ or ‘Stone’ or ‘Os’

DH declared that we would not under any circumstances find out the sex with our Firstborn. Which I very reluctantly agreed to.

Which of course meant that I immediately assumed we were having a girl. And meant that I had a list of at least 20 girl names and a single boy name. I think it was Nicholas or something. Our semi- final girl name was Daniela. After much head scratching and deliberation after our son was born we had the aha! Moment and decided to call him Daniel, which was also a family name on hubby’s side. Still love the name.

When we found out we were having twins we found out they were girls very early on and hence had an even longer list of girl names second time around. My pre-requisites here were the same as above and that the names should not sound alike or rhyme with each other.

We agreed on Isabel very early on, have just always loved the name and as it turns out, my Great Grand Mother had the same name! So, 2 family names and we were stuck for the 3rd one.

One of my friends from Bookclub was called Mignon and I just thought it was such a lovely French name and so feminine. We finally agreed on Mignon just as I was rolled into theatre to have my C-section. I even knew how they were lying and because of the way they were kicking inside my tummy (Mignon softly and Isabel like a cowboy), when they took them out they already had their names.

Which they all live up to!

My mind did a ‘swoosh’ tonight when I was looking at our children and I realised what a long way I have come as a person and as a Mom in the last few years.

I thought back over all the obstacles, mentally and physically, we all overcome. 

The breastfeeding

The sleepless nights (SO not over yet, but loads better!)

PND

The colic

The reflux and vomiting (and we had lots of that!) 

The many teeth we wished through and out.

Making decisions about childcare that suit our lifestyles and pockets if we don’t have the luxury to be home with them.

Getting them to eat the good food (or anything at all for that matter!)

Allergies

Putting on that happy face when you’ve had a really crappy day at work or a fight with someone.  And then to realise 5 minutes later that it is small compared to your child and the happy face is for real.

Potty training.

Tantrums.

The list is endless and I’m sure each of us has things that will stick in our minds, but probably the most important thing we have learnt in our house is that humour, affection, love and forgiveness will get you through most of the difficult times.

So, this is a virtual pat on the back for all us Moms and Dads, we rock! 

Our beloved 4 year old son has discovered ‘Why’.

D: Mom, are we going to Ouma for lunch? 

Me: Yes dear.

D:  Why?

Me:  Because we need to go and visit them for a change.

D:  Why?

Me: Because they always come here, so we are visiting them and eating there.

D: Why?

Me:  Because I said so.

D:  Where is K’s car? (his teacher, as we arrive at school this morning)

Me: She’s only coming this afternoon dear.

D: Why?

Me: Because she is only working half-day today.

D: Why?

Me: Because it’s school holidays and not all your friends are at school and so all the teachers don’t work every day.

D: Why?

Me:  Because I farking said so.

This evening DH quickly dashed out to pull his car into the garage (read: sat in the car listening to the soccer for 10 minutes).  In that short time Daniel managed to slip on the floor and bash his top lip quite badly, so I carted him off to the bathroom to sponge off the blood with cold water and see what the damage is.  With the girls in hot pursuit. 

Whilst I’m bathing his lip, with a girl posted on each side and him sobbing his little heart out I had Isabel pour out a whole container of Fuller’s Earth on the one side and Mignon the soap on the other side.  Aarrrggh.  And as soon as we were done he had to be picked up on the counter so he could look in the mirror.

We could barely contain our smiles at the way he was speaking as he was really battling to get his p’s and b’s out.  Very funny.  Does that make me a bad mother?

Danielism:

Just before bedtime he comes into the lounge:

D: Mamma, Mamma moet ‘n ander Daniel gaan koop.

Me: Why?

D: Daniel is broken! 

He was distraught, many hugs and kisses later he settled down after we promised that we wouldn’t get ‘another Daniel’.  My lovely, gentle, sweet boy.

 

Here I am a week before giving birth to the girls:

Then, this one was taken the morning they arrived, I was 38 weeks pregnant: (12 Marh 2008)

Did I mention they weighed in at 3.5 kgs each?  Scary.

I’m not posting pics of just after the birth, I was not a happy camper as they ended up pumping me full of Pethidine despite my pleas not to.  But this is not the place to tell scary birth stories, so we’ll just move right along

I was once again reminded this weekend that I should not judge people unless I have the facts. And that other peoples’ lives and finances are very much a private affair.

Recently an acquaintance didn’t have a birthday party for their 4yr old and I remember thinking that that is really bad, all 4year olds like to have a party! We found out today that they are really struggling financially and when I started thinking about it I realised that they probably couldn’t afford to have a party. I’m such a bitch.

Then, tonight, my Mom called. Her friend’s Son-In-Law was retrenched a while ago and was earning a very good salary (he is a CA) and has 3 children and the Mom doesn’t work. He still hasn’t found a job and now they have to sell their house.

Everyone was saying how the economy is getting better, but I’m just not seeing it. Businesses are still scaling down, there are a lot of people that didn’t get increases and all my friends (and myself!) that work for themselves are really struggling. My parents have even had their house on the market for a while now as they also want to downscale, but no buyers. The property pages are getting thinner and thinner. (Don’t ask, I’m obsessed with looking at houses for sale)

I understand that nothing much will happen during WC for normal business, and I’m certainly no financial expert or political analyst, but is it just me or are we all still battling?

On a lighter note, we went to watch the soccer at a friend’s house earlier and my children had a ball with their vuvu’s. I have refused to buy them until now, but think I might have to give in..

Here is Daniel blowing a vuvu:

On Friday afternoon I collected the kids and Mignon’s teacher said that she had been coughing in her sleep. They didn’t look great, so of course I tried the homeopath, but could only get an appointment for Saturday morning. But it was a really bad croup-like cough and I was really worried.

To cut a long story short, we had a night from hell on Friday night, I seriously contemplated taking her to the hospital at 4am. But we persevered with the humidifier and some left-over croup drops until we could take all 3 of them to see our favourite doctor. Daniel had the snots and Isabel was looking like her chest was also closing up.

I called our local hospital to check which paediatrician was on duty just for in case and the only one on duty this whole weekend is the one I have vowed never, ever to take my children to again as he has a nasty habit of over-medicating. Remember this story?

I think she needed a drink afterwards, all 3 of the kids were very un-sick-like and proceeded to systematically destroy her office, we were battling to have a conversation… Daniel was a star, climbed straight on and let her do her thing, Mignon refused to open her mouth and Isabel sat straight down and opened up her mouth. Funny bunch!

What I realised though is this: If I had taken Mignon to the hospital I can almost guarantee that she would have been admitted and pumped full of antibiotics and steroids. At about R1 000 for the appointment as it is weekend. Then I would still have had 2 other sick children that would have gone down the same road. Even if she would not have been admitted the medicine alone would have been about R500 just for her. You can do the math.

Even if the homeopath charges us double what she normally charges, we didn’t have to go and buy extra medicine and we skipped the antibiotics and steroids, a big plus for me. And they are much, much better today.

I understand that a homeopath cannot cure everything and my medical doctor friends sometime smirk at me, but after the events of the past 2 days I am more convinced than ever.

Phew.  What a week.

Planes, trains, soccer, almost got arrested.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I must say, the Gautrain really is world-class.  If ever you are in Jozi, do yourself a favour and take a ride on it, it is amazing! 

I made it through the station, down the 9 floors into the earth onto the platform and into the train and waiting to depart.  I was just getting comfortable with my snack bar when a security guard walks by and sees me take a bite and his eyes almost popped out of his head.  15 seconds later there are 2 large aggressive Nigerian gentlemen in the carriage having a frothy because I was eating and threatening to fine me.  At which point I had a choice: shut up or start walking to OR Tambo.  I kept quiet.  And when they left everyone in the carriage giggled nervously with me.  I felt like a naughty school child.

Why did no-one bother to tell me you aren’t allowed to eat on the Gautrain??  Apparently it’s on the website, but really, who has been on their website?  It’s a train FFS.  In London we used to eat on the Underground!  But I understand the logic. 

My flight arrived on time in Cape Town and off hubby and I went to the soccer.  I vacillated between feeling so elated and emotional.  It was a truly amazing experience, the Dutch are such a fun bunch!

On the way into town, here a pic of an aeroplane vapour trail and the wheel of excellence

The drive-through at McDonalds in Green Point:

Just a little orange

My favourite! This old couple looked fabulous!

Hope everyone has a lekker weekend, we are battling croup chests and snotty noses.  Why do kids always get sick when Mom goes away??