“If you want to have a better future, create it.”

I'm not one to moan on about things. But sometimes I need to let things out and I guess there is no better place then here. I am keeping a blog as a reflection of my life and to look back on both the good and the bad, will be of value in the future. 

I am the 1st to admit that life hasn't felt that great this year. It was hard being pregnant (I almost felt depressed and really unwell) and starting our homeschooling jounery.  We were struggling with renovations and being in debt. Mike was working really long hours as well, so it was usually me managing all the kidlets.

Then Danion came 4 weeks before his due date, I wasn't organised, thinking that he would come on his scheduled c/s date (silly me!).  The recovery this time around was horrible, I experienced alot of pain, and the recovery seemed to take longer.  The lack of sleep from getting up to Danion, Braith and Kaydence has been, well, more then draining!! Still is!

I had doubts about my ability to homeschool and have a happy family, I even rang the local schools to get enrolments for the kids!! And I SWORE that I would at least give it a year before even contemplating possible failure!

But I was lucky enough to have some of my wits and remember that another homeschooling family I knew were with a small distance ed school, so I met up with them, and thankfully they had a place for us! So we are still homeschooling but with a better foundation, clearer focus and happier kids. We still have 'those' days but they are fewer, and we can access more excursion days, and teachers on call as well :) 
 
We then had tonsillitis and a virus go through the family, so for the last month at least one or more of us have been sick!! We're only just starting to get out and about again!

The year has flown by, and I've only just started to overcome the 'rut' that we are/were in! I'm starting to realise that if I don't actively grasp each day in my hands then it will slip on by in a blur of sleeplessness, chores, school work and chasing after babies. I really want to be able to look back on these years and have them be the GOLDEN YEARS, I don't want to be 60 and retired to start 'finally' enjoying my life.

And you know what? I feel ashamed to be complaining about things!!! I have a good life. We have food in our bellies, a roof over our heads, we have our health and we have each other.

But I don't feel like we're 'living life to its fullest'.

So I'm making some changes. To make life feel easier. To get the most out of the time that I have. To have some fun with my family. To really seize the day and make it count.

Mid-life crisis? Perhaps....

I'll let you know how it turns out as I start implementing things, wish me luck!! :)

Danion and his Umbilical Hernia

A few weeks after Danion was born he started to develop an Umbilical Hernia, actually it just seemed to appear overnight!

I had never seen nor heard of it before so to good old google I went to search for answers! It is quite a common thing and I didn't feel too concerned but of course went to the doc to get it checked out. He had an ultrasound and it was revealed that the gap was 6cm (generally they are 1-5cm) and that most of his intestine was poking through! In rare cases the intestine can strangulate causing an emergency situation.  He was referred to the hospital and booked for an outpatient appointment.

But luckily, we won't be needing that appointment. While away on holidays is closed up itself in a week, it just got smaller and smaller and now there there is just lax skin where the belly button is!! I can't believe how lucky we are, some kids usually don't have theirs close up til the age of 5!  

Wordless Wednesday

The beautiful kid free lunch I enjoyed while on holidays with my sister in law Taren, who happens to be my best friend!

Awe photos like this make me clucky!!

Snuggling with my littlest guy at the park, enjoying the sun, watching the big kids play! Totally love the flexibility of homeschooling, taking advantage of the gorgeous weather, being able to make spur of the moment decisions and take off to the park!!

Baby #7 - 15 wks old

Its amazing how fast little ones grow!! My littlest man is now 15 weeks old!! Danion is a very sweet content baby, only wake a few times at night for a feed and settles well for his sleeps. I still don't have a routine for him, but generally he'll settle by 9.00pm at night and will be up about 7.00am. During the day he just feeds and sleeps whenever, but with him being so happy I don't mind - at the moment.  I'm sure it won't be long til a routine would suit us better.

Danion loves to smile and will laugh up a storm when tickled!! I'm still breastfeeding, which is going well, usually I've given up on breastfeeding by now but this time it seems to be working out really well, and having some real life mentors, successfully long term breastfeeding is inspiring as well.  I quite like the quiet time, where I have to put my feet up and sit, and with Danion giving me cheeky, milky grins makes it all worth while :)

I really wish there was a pause button, just to really be able to cherish these fleeting moments!!

Holiday Fun

The kids and I were lucky enough to go for 3 wks holiday visiting my brother and sister in law, it had been too long between visits!! (Poor Mike stayed at home to renovate and work).

So after spending a week packing far too much stuff, and driving 7 hours driving with 9 kids we were finally in good old Gladdy.

We while we were away we went to the beach, celebrated NAIDOC week, celebrated  Callum's 13th birthday, my 31st birthday and my niece Kaliyah's 8th birthday. We even got to catch up with my Mum and younger brother in Bundy on our way back :)

We did so many fun things and the best bit about our holiday was the weather!! While everyone at home was rugged up moaning about the cold, we were running around in togs swimming at the beach!! I call it our summer holiday in winter!!


Looking at these pictures makes me miss my family heaps!! They all live so far away but we sure do have fun when we are together!!

Time and the lack of it.....

I can't believe its been so long between posts. The last few months have been a mix of business with healing, babies, teen moods, home schooling, renovating, chores, holidays and recovering from illness. The burr of juggling everything on little sleep has made the days and nights pass quickly, and I often wonder what has been achieved, especially when there seems to be little time just 'being'.

I have missed blogging. My blog is my home page and I often flick back through enjoying glimpses of the past. I really feel, as though there have been some fun times in the last few months, I'm not 'capturing' them, and in my sleep deprived state I wonder if in years to come if I will even remember these days at all!

Ok, so its a bit melodramatic and over the top, or perhaps its not lol!

 But I will be making more effort to capture those oh so precious memoires,and of course mundane everyday stuff that really makes me appreciate those little things that make me realise how lucky in life I am :)

Pretty heavy for a 1st 'back at it' post hey??!! :)