Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Another Guest Design Team Position

I'm very very excited, I have just been offered another guest design team position. This one is for September for Scrapbooking4less. That now gives me September and October design team work, Whoo Hooo!!!! Scrap Pile is my October work. Looking so forward to doing these.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Health Update

Bailey needs another set of grommets. For him to hear us we have to be looking at him face on and practically yelling. He said to me "Mum, there is something in my ears." and with hands outstretched, palms up, shoulders shrugged and head tilted to one side, he said "I can't hear very well." So very cute!!!! His hospital date is set for Thursday, 29th July.

The drops that were made to relieve my allergy symptoms for polyurethane foam don't work, they just make me sicker. So it's back to the docs to get that sorted. After testing for an allergy to polyester, it turns out I'm not, Yey!!!!! Couldn't stand the thought of changing everything to cotton. Ironing pile would be massive. No thanks!!!!! I have also never seen a "nice" set of cotton underwear. I have now started on my testing for an allergy to cows milk. Will keep you posted on that one.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Night Trained

Bailey was toilet trained during the day since before he turned 2. I didn't expect him to do it so early, and was thinking he'd be at least 3 before I started to need to train him. But he just did it by himself. However we left the night nappy on him. We used pull ups.

Well now he is night trained. This happened by accident. We stayed at Scott and Tania's the night of our birthday party and I forgot to put a pull up on him and he woke up dry. Then when we went to Loch Sport, again I forgot to put a pull up on him on the Friday night, again he woke up dry. I remembered the pull up for the Saturday night, but he still woke up dry. I forgot again on Sunday night and remembered when I woke in the morning to a little voice saying "I need to do wees." So I decided that from now on he doesn't need a pull up. He is obviously just weeing in his pull up because he knows he has it on and was just being lazy. Well, now he has had 9 dry nights in a row. No more pull ups for Bailey anymore. Won't be going back. He's a big boy now.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Loch Sport

On Queens Birthday weekend, we went to Loch Sport again with Scott, Tania and the kids and Marty, Julie and their kids. We got there Friday night. Saturday we were just lazing around. No one could be bothered doing anything. It was cold and miserable outside and so warm and cozy in the house. However, we were going out to dinner at the Marina that night and all the kids had been couped up inside the house. Tania and I could see disaster at the pub if we didn't take them outside to burn up some petrol tickets. The boys still couldn't be bothered getting off their butts, so Tania, Julie and I loaded up the kids into 2 cars and took them all for a run around the park. I forgot to take my camera. How silly of me. Tania did though and she got some great shots. Julie and I decided to play on the see-saw and all the kids decided to surf the see-saw in the middle. The kids thought it hilarious that Julie and I were playing on the see-saw. The kids were very well behaved at the pub and spent the night drawing on the paper table clothes. Dinner was yummy too, as was the HUGE chocolate mud cake I devoured. Scott, Marty and I shared a bottle of red wine and we had 2 more waiting for us back at home along with a yummy array of cheese and bickies.

Sunday we decided we'd better take the kids out fishing and motorbike riding as we had promised them. We'd found out that salmon was biting really well down at the beach, so we changed our plans and went to the beach first. We were going to go motorbike riding first. I hate the beach, always blowing a gale at surf beaches, but the weather down there was absolutely beautiful. No wind and the sun was shining nice and warm on my back as I watched them fish and the kids play chicken with the waves. Speaking of playing chicken with the waves. I told the kids that I didn't bring their bathers and they were to stay out of the water. Last time they went swimming in their clothes they had nothing to change into and they cried all the way home. Well they didn't listen to me. Bailey was too slow for one of the waves and ended up wet up to his hips. We took off his pants and he ran around the beach in just his jocks and upper clothing, but didn't go anywhere near the water again. Of course he bawled his eyes out when he got all wet; shoes and socks also.



We ended up taking Micayla's pants and jumper off and she swam in her knickers and top so she had her pants and jumper to put on afterwards. I don't know how kids do it. It has to be nearly 40 degrees for me to go into the ocean. It's winter and the kids still want to swim.



Adrian caught a salmon first and the kids were thrilled to finally see someone catch a fish. We always go fishing in Loch Sport and always catch - NOTHING - Adrian also caught a crab. Micayla was saying she'd never seen a real live crab before. We let that one go back in the water. Scott then caught 2 salmons and Mitchell had a hissy fit when Scott cut the fish to bleed it. We had those fish for dinner on the BBQ. I tasted it and yes it's fish. I don't do fish!!!! Tania said it was beautiful.

If you're wondering why Mitchell has a bandage around his head. He ran into the door and split his ear open a little bit. It kept bleeding and he didn't want a bandaid cause it would hurt to take it off. So Scott wrapped up his whole head for just a little split; it would stop bleeding, but then get knocked and bleed again. He was worried about wearing his bike helmet, which is also why he wanted a bandage.



Micayla was having a go at reeling in the line.


Look closely, you can see the fish on the sand near Brandon's feet.

The kids were bored of fishing after a while and spent some time making a beautiful sandcastle.



I was bored of taking fish photos so started taking some of Monty. Surprisingly he was a good boy and posed well for me. Who said "you can't work with animals."



Later that afternoon we took the kids out motorbike riding. Bailey was riding with his daddy on his big bike. This is a photo of Bailey wearing daddy's helmet sitting on the big bike. The boys were mucking around racing each other and all trying to pop mono's at the same time. Mitchell said his dad just did his first mono LOL!!!



It was freezing cold and miserable on the Monday when we were going home, so we picked the perfect day for fishing and riding.

We had a great weekend as we always do at Loch Sport. Everyone is really relaxed and it's all very easy going and the kids have an absolute ball.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Glamour Photos

I recently had some glamour photos taken. This photo is the free digital image that was included in my package. I also ordered 3 other photos that will be going on my lounge room wall but I won't be posting them on here. Two of them are topless in my jeans, but everything is covered by a scarf or I am sitting down and everything is hidden by my legs. The other photo I'm lying down with my arms across my chest and I'm only wearing a 'g string'. This photo is taken from above, it's kind of an upside down shot. They look really classy and I am very happy with them. Those who are privileged to visit my home will get to see them on the wall. LOL. The photo in the top right is cropped from the standing topless shot with the scarf around my neck.
It was so much fun having these done. Having someone pamper you with getting your hair and make up done. Now I have something to look back on when I'm 80 and remember my youth. Also the kids will have something to show their kids and say this is what my Mum used to look like.

Design Team

I am so very excited. I got home from a weekend in Loch Sport with friends (more about this in a later post), jumped on my email and found this waiting for me.

Hi Andrea,
We have much pleasure in announcing that you have been selected as a guest design team member for the month of October.

Your Layouts are of a high standard and we look forward to seeing more of your work and getting to know you better.

I put in an application to join the Design Team at Scrap Pile. Being selected as a guest for the month of October is a big step for me to achieving my scrapping goals. It's my very first acceptance to a design team and I can't wait to get my kit and get stuck into the project. Although I have to wait until September to get that. I'll have to be patient now.

We were asked to complete a layout about ourselves and this is what I came up with.

This one is the front cover

And this one is the layout open. It's done in 8.5"x 11" format and opens out like a card to reveal the hidden journalling.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

OMG I think I should be living in a bubble!!!!

For many many years I have been battling with allergies causing hayfever and Rhinitis. In the beginning it was just seasonal and antihistamines was all that was needed. This was back when I was a teenager, that's the earliest I can remember. Then when Adrian and I were first married I was diagnosed with asthma, which was triggered by my allergies. From then on things have gone from bad to worse.

I have been using a number of different corticosteroid sprays, which have worked up until the last 3 years. Now my body is immune to these sprays and they give me nose bleeds. I think I've taken out shares in the Sudafed company. Without these I am in constant pain all over my face and I can't smell or taste my food. In the high allergy season, I go deaf because of the blockages in my ears from the allergies. Enough is enough, I can't go on like this any longer, so my doctor sent me to an Allergy Speciallist.

I went for skin prick testing and found I am allergic to pollens, dust mite, grass, cats and moulds. I was then sent for blood tests to find out the depth of my allergies to these and it turns out they all rate a 3 out of 4, which he says is very high. There is no way to eliminate these from my life except for cats, so the only option for me now is desensitising. This means I have to have 2 separate injections to cover all these allergies. Both injections are given once a week for nine weeks, then once a fortnight for a month and then monthly after that, over a period of 2-3 years to immune me from my allergies.

I was also sent for nasal swabs to rule out bacterial infections and a CT scan to check the damage that has been done to my sinuses over the years. He couldn't see up my nose because it was so blocked. He said he hasn't ruled out surgery to clear this up. My nasal passages are practically non existent they are so blocked. However, this wouldn't be for another couple of years. We are going to see if they clear up from eliminating allergies and desensitising.

I said before I can't eliminate these air borne allergies from my life, but it also seems I have other contributing allergies that can be eliminated. I went for chemical testing today. This is where they place drops under your tongue to see how it affects you. It turns out I am also allergic to Polyurethane Foam, which is in my pillows, mattress, furniture and carpet underlay. The biggest problem though, is in the bedding. The heat that is generated from your body while you are sleeping heats up the foam and lets off toxins. I now have to buy pure wool pillows and underlays, including Adrian's pillow. The toxin that will be given off from his heat will also affect me. I was also tested for outdoor moulds, which is found in soil, grass, pine bark, practically anything in the garden. This made me very sick and I am still feeling the affects now. It made me nauseous, headaches, asthma, muscle aches, dizzyness, more sinus pain. Hopefully this will be eased with the injections. It looks like I get out of gardening and Adrian can never expect me to mow the lawns now. Cut lawn is worse for setting off the moulds. I have been given drops that go under the tongue to ease the symptoms of the poly foam, a bit like taking a panadol but directly works on the allergy. This and elimination are the only treatment for this allergy.

I am also doing droplet testing at home to see if I have an allergy for polyester. God help me if I am. All those new clothes I've bought, underwear, everything would have to go. OMG, I hope this comes up negative. I also have to do an elimination test of dairy products from my diet. The doctor said it would be highly likely I'm also intolerant to cows milk products because these are a common cause of sinus problems. No more latte's or Chocolate!!!, Oh NOOOO!!!!! I'll keep you posted on these ones.

All I want is to feel better again. I'll do anything to take away my constant pain, and be able to taste my food. To not waste money at a restaurant ordering food or eating delicious desserts that only go to my hips, if I can't even taste them. Hopefully it will reduce the puffiness under my eyes and I might even lose that horrible nasal sound in my voice that I've had nearly all my life. Maybe I can stop hearing "have you got a cold" nearly every time I speak to people over the phone. Except those that I speak to regularly and know that is just me. I wonder what my voice actually sounds like, with clear nasal passage. I'm hoping to soon find out.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Saturday 2nd June was my ~ dare I say it ~ my 37th birthday. I woke up Saturday morning to the kids jumping on the bed with my presents in their hands. I really could've done with an extra hour or two of sleep. They gave me clothes and Micayla had drawn me pictures. Mum and Dad came over for lunch with a yummy Cinnamon sponge cake. Adrian's parents came over to visit the night before.

Then we went off to Scott and Tania's house. It was Tania's birthday on 3rd of June. Happy 35th Birthday Tania (sorry, just let the cat out of the bag). So we decided we'd celebrate together. From their house we walked over to The Eating House; a new restaurant in Lynbrook. It was a great restaurant, service was good and the food was yummo. I had an Eye Fillet Steak with Red Wine Jus and it was fabulous. Cooked to perfection. Darren, Mel, Marty, Julie, Erwin and Kerrie were there too. Laura came a bit later with a bottle of cab sav for me. Thanks Laura. Dave and Laura did a tag team, when Laura went home, Dave came over. Cause Kaytie was fast asleep in bed.


This is a photo of both the birthday girls and then one Adrian took of me. He did a great job of snapping away with the camera and I didn't have to ask him this time.

The kids all sat at another table, there were 9 of them and Jordan in the high chair, although he didn't really sit in it.



I shared a bottle of red wine with Scott and then went onto vodka. We had a very delicious Chocolate and Strawberry Torte birthday cake we'd got from The Cheesecake Shop. This is the photo of all of us singing happy birthday.



Shortly afterwards it was back to Scott and Tania's where we continued to party. Apparantly, Tania and I polished of 2, 750ml bottles of Vodka. OK, maybe not all of the 2 bottles. Mel had a couple of drinks and we did leave a little bit left in one bottle. We also had quite a few shots of CS Cowboys. I didn't wake up too well the next morning, however after all that I really thought I'd feel worse. I only had a really bad headache. I've felt a lot worse on less than that.

When my eyes get really tired I struggle to focus on people, my eyes get lazy. So I shut 1 eye so that I can focus better. Tania went and got me one of her kids pirate eye patches to wear, was quite funny. I don't have a photo of this so when I get a copy from Tania I'll post it on here to show you. I think anyway, haven't seen the photo yet, or any of the others that were taken. LOL.

We stayed the night at Scott and Tania's and got to bed somewhere around 2.30am. Scott then made us bacon and eggs for breaky. Thank you Scott for cooking breakfast, you did a great job. I would've helped if only I could've got my head off the pillow. Adrian packed up the kids clothes, our bedding etc and packed the car and all I could do was lie there.

The following day Steve and Mel came over with another bottle of red in hand for me. It wasn't really a sight I wanted to see at that point in time, but thank you very much guys. I will enjoy that next weekend. Just hope it's not as messy as this one.