Product Review - Olay Total Effects Sensitive

I've been saying for quite a while that I need to take better care of my skin.  Particularly my face.

One of the things I've been wanting to do is wear a daily moisturiser with sunscreen.  I don't want to look all old and wrinkled before my time, let alone melanoma etc!

So, product review #2 I get to try:

Olay Total Effects Sensitive

Product claims:
"an all in one product, designed for sensitive skin to help fight the 7 signs of ageing" as per their anti-ageing product Olay Total Effects.

It is designed to 'protect, calm and strengthen your skin'.

The things it does to fight the 7 signs of ageing are:

1. line minimisation
2. nourishing moisturisation
3. tone enhancement
4. gentle exfoliation
5. pore refinement
6. anti-oxidants
7. subtle lifting

It retails for around $33.  The first thing I thought when I pulled it out of the box was, "wow, that's not much for $33!!"  But comparatively with other similar products, it is around the same size and a similar price.

You don't need much for a full application, one squirt of the pump does your face & some of your neck.  So it would last a while.  It recommends twice a day on the box.  I'm not sold to that!  who applies a 'day cream' twice a day???  most people who are really into this stuff would use a 'night cream' at bedtime.

I washed my face and put it on.  My neck was a bit scratchy (which often happens with certain products) - is this meant to happen?  Afterall it is supposed to be a 'sensitive' skin product.  When I last had a facial I was all tingly and that was a good thing, so perhaps it is showing that it's working?

I have used it for a week - because I thought I can't very well review something like this after one try.

The cream smells quite 'sunblocky' - that is because it is SPF15+ and doesn't have any other fragrance added (which is good in my books).

It is thick, and my face looked positively good after first application.  Natural, but 'glowy' in a gentle, non-oily way.  Subsequent applications felt and looked good.  I felt quite assured that I was using something good on my face and it felt like a bit of a treat to put it on!

After one weeks use I notice:

• my skin is smoother.  It feels smooth to the touch.
• some of my pores appear smaller and 'cleaner' (maybe that's the more regular face washing?? hehe)
• my skin does look healthier
• I feel good - because I know I am using a good product on my skin and protecting my face from the sun!

I'm 25, I don't have a lot of wrinkles, nor bad skin tone etc.  I also feel very vain giving myself a good look over everyday and then publically reviewing my appearance on my blog!! haha

I suppose I would notice further benefits with more long term use.  I will continue to use it and might get hooked.  It is cheaper than some other creams I have tried, but I am not convinced enough to unquestionably add it to the budget.  If you regularly use qualtiy face care, it's well worth a try.  

I am convinced that I need to care for my face better, and I don't want to apply a regular sunblock everyday (way to greasy and yuck on the skin) - so I will definitely be working on it!

Product Review - Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light

So I get to try a few new great products....  on the condition I review them on my blog (sorry to my regular readers)

You may end up finding something that you'd like....

Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light

Firstly, I am a shampoo & conditioner snob.  I buy salon product, unless money is really tight.  I have ringlets and unruly frizz.  It's pretty hard to keep my hair in shape.

Anyway, I was happy to give this product a go.  The write up claimed that it is "targeted at women with fine hair who want hydration and that just washed feeling, without their hair feeling weighed down and looking flat or limp."  I don't really have fine hair, but the rest applies to me.

It apparently uses 'Clean Rinse Technology' which leaves no residue on your hair.

So, what did I think?


I was actually pleasantly surprised.  It does what is says - the shampoo lathers nicely (I didn't have to do it twice) and rinses out easily.  The conditioner glides on, and off - so my wet hair felt smooth and clean but not slimy like it still had conditioner on it.

I purposefully left no product in my hair, let it dry and went out that evening.  I got quite a lot of comments on how good my hair looked.

When my hair dried, it was ultra curly.  There was a lot of bounce and very little weight.  It wasn't hugely frizzy either which was quite nice - seeing as it was hot and raining - being perfect weather for 'boof head' me to turn up.

A few days later (I try not to wash my hair too often) and my hair actually still feels clean and looks quite good.  Impressive.  I like it better than the current salon shampoo I have (which is a new one I'm trying).

I also tried it on miss 2's hair - she has the tightest, thick little ringlets I've ever seen.  Being only 2 years old, it is still quite fine hair.  It looked beautiful and shiny and bouncy when I had washed it.  Usually I also use salon stuff in her hair because I sort of have to.

So, overall, although I don't necessarily think I am the type of person this product is targeted to - it does do what it claims.  I am fairly happy with the result, to the point where if I chose a shampoo at the supermarket, depending on price, this would be one of the first I chose.

It's a winner!  Go on, give it a go!

10 points to me!!

I'm winning at this mummy thing.

See, when it comes to new things, especially in parenting land - I often get a bit "highly strung" about them.

Before Princess Adelaide came along, I sort of thought I would have this parenting thing down pat.  Just another achievement in life - which would ride smoothly, as most of my 'achievements' do.  I had plenty of experience with babies and children so thought it would be ok.

My recommendation to most 'about to be' mothers would now be - read as little of the baby/parenting books as possible until you actually are a parent.  Cause they set you up with expectations of what it will be like, and it's much, much harder than that.

Anyway, you might remember from this, that we are on a toilet training journey at the moment.  Of course, being my eldest, this is my first time toilet training a kid.  So my approach - I expected too much of my girl, and myself - result = highly strung mother, frustration and meltdowns....

I've been here before - trying to get a baby Princess A to sleep more than 45 minutes in the day.  After a million cold cups of coffee, listening to her screaming for hours, trying every suggested method and weeks of being depressed and feeling a failure - my good friend - offered me a piece of advice.

Something like this -
instead of fighting it, just let it go.

Her number 2 was a similar baby to my girl.  He never did more than 45 minutes either.  Once she let it go, she felt better and coped better.  You know what - so did I.

I should follow that advice 95% of the time I'm doing something new with my kids.  It usually takes me a while to remember.  Anyway, the day after I decided to "let it go" on the toilet training business, Princess A decided she would actually get the hang of it.

Now, she is a bright wee cookie.  And a sensitive one.  So she's quite particular.  This has involved some wee's in the bath.  I can reassure you that now about 95% of the time, she goes on the potty.

The story goes, we were in the supermarket today and suddenly she announces, "mummy, I need to do wees" - in the voice that means, I can hold on for a minute or two, but no longer.  One problem, mummy forgot the potty.  Usually a meltdown would follow this, because the "toilet" is too "big for me".

Well, I announced in that mummy voice that we had no potty, and pak n save only had a big toilet.  To my delight, she said she wanted to go on the big toilet.  (She must of REALLY needed to go).

So I drop my trolley, load my screaming Mr John into his carseat, take him, my handbag, the toys she brought into the supermarket, and make a dash to the loo.  I was hoping like anything she wasn't going to have me sit there waiting for an hour (as she has on other days).

Well, very maturely, she did it!  Success to me!  She had to mind you, that, or the uncomfortable feeling of wet pants.  We had to make a second trip at the end of our shopping - success again!

So, since I've taken on the advice - just let it go, she is proving to me that she can do it!  And when there is a relaxed mother involved - she is even better at it!

What have we done well?  Well, we waited to train her until she was absolutely ready - I am pleased to say that she is so precise about going, that she has not had any accidents.  We have tried before - and there were accidents every time.  There is something about waiting until they are ready for things that makes it much less "work".

She initiates, I assist by bribing encouraging the right things.  (I don't bribe all the time - but you have to get your kid out of the bath to do wee's somehow!)  That should be how it is with most of their learning independence.

I'm the big person, so I should act big.  She is the little person, so it is quite ok for her to act little, make mistakes, inconvenience me with her requests for the bathroom, sitting on the potty for an hour at a time and all the rest - but I must take control.

Yep, I'm winning on this one. ;-)

Smile a little.... or laugh - a lot

As I sit here in my quiet household, enjoying a hot cup of coffee & a carrot muffin, in perfect peace (for an hour or so anyway) - I thought I'd just have a random ramble.... because today, for once, I have time.

Life has been fast paced lately.

A lot is about to change.

For the first time - I confessed to my hubby the other night - that I can't wait for Christmas to be over.

It's not Christmas' fault.  It's actually more like this - I can't wait for all the busy schedules, (you know them... playcentre, school concerts, parades, church concerts, work functions, church functions, family functions....) that run around this time of year to be over and for us to just have a break.  A relax. A full-stop - for the 2 weeks or so that the hubster gets off work.

Now its actually not going to be a full-stop.  Because in that time we will be moving house & farewelling my in-laws on a long anticipated OE slash a whole lot of other stuff.  Suddenly it has sunk in that they are leaving us.  For a good portion of the year.  That's quite a big deal.

In the mix, we are selling our house - in potentially the worst market that has existed here in a long time.  If we don't sell, we are tenant hunting.  I'm a bit anti-rentals, but with each passing week and empty open home, we're heading for landlord direction at full steam ahead.  I'm more open to the idea now.... I guess I have to be.

I'm quite aware that God is totally able to do this!!  It's just walking it out, step by step.... it's weird, knowing the next step - but not knowing how the previous step ends, or the one following.... I guess that's why they call it a walk of faith. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, Princess Adelaide is moving on too.  She's such a sensitive little poppet and every 'new' thing has to be done at snail pace.  Or perhaps, partly, HER pace., which is my SNAIL pace.  I'm not sure whether this is her daddy's determined streak coming out (which she has demonstrated since birth), or whether it is genuine need of 'slowness'.  Anyway, I finally forced convinced her, into her big bed.

How did I do this?  Well, I think God answered my prayers (Mr John is about 3cm from the top of his bassinet) - and gave me a creative idea.  I removed the up/down side of her cot, and put it against her prettied up big bed.  I secured it with string (Kiwi ingenuity).  When she came to get ready for bed that night, I gave her the choice - cot with no bar, or big bed with bar.... I was 95% sure she'd choose the bar.  She did.  Success to me!  She still cried for her cot for a few nights, but this was easily fixed by removing the sheets and being firm.  Now she climbs into big bed and settles no trouble at all.

Hopefully I have the same success when I take the bar down!

Actually, the first night in her big bed, she got out and was playing happily in her room for a while.  At about 9pm I hear a whimpering cry.  I went in, and here she was, in the dark, lost.  She'd got out to play and didn't climb back in before dark - so she was lost in her room. *cute*

While moving forward, she has also started potty training.  We were all sweet and making very few mistakes, until the 'potty' started to "hurt her bum".  So we bought a new one.  Then she chose the old one.  *grit teeth*

Suddenly though, she decided that she needed to "go wee's" all the time.  So she'd sit on the potty for an hour or more at a stretch, with no wee, but REFUSING to get off - because she needed to go.  We went to playcentre, and in the 3 hours we were there, she honestly spent about 20 minutes NOT on the potty.  I wiped my brow and breathed a great sigh of relief when her wee finally came out of hiding.

To add to this, my wee girl, when stressed, won't do number 2's.  Apparently this is quite a common occurance amongst children.  (she has been medically checked etc).  Anyway, she hadn't gone for a while, so when it came time for her to desperately need to go - she SCREAMED the neighbourhood down - trying not to go.  So you can imagine, her periodically screaming blue murder every 10 to 20 minutes ALL afternoon & night - because she didn't want to go.

Mr John was teething and cranky as.  In fact, the same day - he cried, non-stop for 3 hours.  I kept my cool ALL DAY.  What an achievement.  Grace from heaven I tell you.

So, I announced to hubster that night, that we were quitting the toilet training for a bit.  And there it ended.  A whole day passed (and once number 2's had come) my wee girl turned back into her usual, mostly happy self.

Then today arrived.  Suddenly she has decided that her pull-ups will LEAK if she wees in them (not that I mind so much), so instead, she wants to go wees.... wait for it, in the BATH.

She feels safe in the bath, and I don't mind so much.  Only that, not everyone has a bath - and some people may not like me saying "erm, excuse me, may I borrow your bath - for my kid to do a wee".  She has excellent control though, may I say, and even held on in the car for 5-10 minutes while we drove to my grandmother's house and erm, borrowed her bath.  Thankfully she is a great advocate in children being toilet trained (she did 6 of them) and so didn't mind one bit.

Miss Adelaide used her bath 3 times.

OK so I don't know how to move forward from here - but I just have to take a chill pill and deal with it, one wee at a time.

I hope you are laughing.  Cause honestly, I could have cried.

What is up with this child rearing thing anyway?  The rate that we parent's often want to pull our hair out, I'm surprised that not more of us are balding.  But for some reason (hopefully other than character development), God gave us these precious bundles, wrapped up in mooshy exteriors, to feed & clothe & somehow rear into individuals who are well rounded, great charactered adults who live their dreams and do amazing things.  *and hopefully raise some of their own 'precious bundles' - that way I can snicker at my kid's parenting woes, be a great support and help them out often.*

Last night I told my in-laws that I don't know how people have four kids.... I think I say something similar when in labour...

But, in the midst of this hilarious adventure (I'm an optimist), there is something truly beautiful happening.  The world is an ever-changing place, and though it may seem like at times, it's ever changing for worse, I have to confess - that I believe we are heading for things that people have only dreamed about in years gone by.  Amazing, good and breath-taking things.  The world as we know it, is changing.

Perhaps in all our difficulties of parenting and life in general, we forget that we are fighting for a generation who will live and do extraordinary things.  Hopefully we will do that, but our kids should only surpass the greatness we achieve.

Take a moment to put aside the challenges you have faced this year, and are facing right now - and dream a little.

Now, I'm looking forward to Christmas.

Well, until next time - by the way -

can I borrow your bath?

xx

Pecan slice - recipe

OK, so I HAVE to post this recipe - because, out of everything I made for thanksgiving - this was the MOST delicious!!

I didn't want to make a second pie, so I looked at the ingredients for Pecan Pie, and googled Pecan slice - and came up with this.....  expensive to make, naughty, but VERY VERY delicious.  This is why I say - hide it from the kids! hehe

Pecan Slice

Ingredients:
185g butter
1/2 c castor sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 t baking powder
2 T custard powder
1/2 c brown sugar
2 T golden syrup
395g sweetened condensed milk
125g pecans, halved lengthwise

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.  Grease a 3cm deep lamington pan/sponge roll tin (16cm x 25cm ish)


Using an electric mixer, cream 125g of the butter and castor sugar until pale.  Beat in the egg yolk.  Sift flour, baking powder & custard powder over butter mixture.  Mix to form a soft dough.


Press dough into tin and bake for 15 minutes or until golden.


While base is cooking, cook brown sugar, golden syrup, condensed milk and remaining butter in a saucepan over a low heat - for 12 minutes, or until golden.  Stir through pecans.


Pour pecan mixture over hot base and bake for a further 15 minutes.  Cut when cool.

Honestly, this tastes like some form of russian fudge, nutty slice - it is YUM!  Go on, make it - you know you want to!

x

Pumpkin Pie - Recipe

So when I made pumpkin pie for thanksgiving - I googled and read a stack of recipes and chose the one I liked the best and that sounded the most delicious.....  I then customised it a bit for us.

It has a lot of ingredients but it is really easy to make - which is cool!!

Alas, here is the recipe for Arna's pumpkin pie:

Base:

• 1.5 cups flour
• 2 T sugar
• 1/2 t salt
• 2 T + 2 t of COLD vegetable shortening (kremelta)
• 1/3 cup COLD butter
• 1/4 cup COLD water

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until it resembles breadcrumbs.  Add the cold water and process to a dough.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.

Remove from fridge and either roll out on a floured surface, then press into greased pie dish OR just press it straight into greased pie dish.  (I didn't roll it out but smooshed it in with my fingers - all good)

The size of the dish needs to be quite large - I used a 25cm quiche dish, you could use a round cake tin or something like that if you don't have something big enough.

Bake blind at 180 for 15 minutes or until golden.

Filling:

• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 t cinnamon
• 1 t ground cloves
• 1.5 t ground allspice
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• 1/2 t salt
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups pumpkin puree
• 500ml evaporated milk, or cream, or make up milk powder to twice the concentrate
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• zest of 1 lemon

Mix well with a hand blender of cake mixer.  Pour into cooked base.

Bake at 210 for 15 minutes, then turn down oven to 175 and bake for a futher 45-60 minutes.  A knife/skewer will come out clean from the centre when it is done.

Serve warm or cool - can be deep frozen.

I found that the filling makes more than you need so I gave some away.  You can freeze the uncooked filling.

How to describe the taste..... the filling comes out like a sweet, spicy, flavoursome custard.  It is moist, smooth and quite delicious.  The base is quite savoury and complements the filling.  It is quite rich & nice with vanilla icecream.... mmmm!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

So, you might remember from this post, that I've always wanted to celebrate thanksgiving.

In September I extended an invitation to two of our friends, to see if they wanted to join us in celebrating it together.  They were most obliging (I think it was knowing they would be partaking of a feast by my hands that won them over).

So we had either Monday 10th October - Canadian Thanksgiving, or Thurs 24 Nov - American Thanksgiving - to choose from.

I googled a traditional menu, and accustomed it a bit to suit us "Kiwi's" -

Menu:

• Stuffed, roasted chicken (instead of turkey)
• Roasted vegetables
• Green salad
• Green veges
• Pecan slice (instead of pie)
• Pumpkin pie
• Iced tea
• Wine

Let's just say, it was a load of cooking, but a most enjoyable evening!

The beautiful thing about it - was that none of us have had a fantastic year this year - but we all had plenty of deep things to be greatful for.  I mean, for each of us, the year has had many wonderful high points - but underlying these have been many difficulties and challenges.

Some of our thankful things.... life, our marriage partners, our children, our extended families, our church families, our friendship, our homes, where we have been taken this year - and so many other things.

I'm pretty sure we've settled that it's a tradition from now on.  Maybe next year I'll kiwi-fy it instead of going with the American feast!  You know, pavalova topped with fresh strawberries & chocolate - and all the rest!

And in the words of my friend as they left - there goes another 4 1/2 hours - just flying past.  Great company.

What things are you thankful for?

Happy Birthday to ME!!

my weekend was jam packed and left me pretty tired -

Saturday morning, one of my besties arrived (after travelling an hour) - with a carrot birthday cake - for "coffee".

The last birthday cake I had was when I was 21.  Before that, maybe when I was 10 or so - unless I made it myself.  This was a very sweet gesture to begin my 'birthday eve' (my actual birthday was Sunday).

We proceeded to eat large slabs of this delicious cake and enjoy each other's company.  I actually ate the cake for lunch too... two days in a row.

Shortly after, one of my other besties arrived - much to my surprise - and then I knew I was in for something!

eeek - I was totally having a bad hair day!

I said goodbye to the first one - expecting her to be going, and then she announced that she was coming with me!

So I got delivered to a local beauty salon, given a brochure and told that I could have "anything you want - it's already been paid for".  My sneaky husband had been plotting for a few weeks and organised all this without my knowledge.  I almost cried.  Then quickly forgot the tears as I proceeded to be spray tanned from head to toe and having a gorgeous facial!!

I got dropped home for an easy afternoon, later to discover that I was being taken out for dinner!  The kids were taken to my parents' place, we picked up our dinner dates - and off we went - to Ocean's Resort Restaurant!

he NEVER smiles nicely for photos!!  my face is still "glowing" from my facial! (and probably aided by the glass of wine - hehe)

The meal was YUM!  I ate WAY too much and felt a bit sick.  We had heaps of bread & spreads to start, then I had pork ribs, and we all got free dessert!!  A great night out.  I was blessed that my hubby and friends just wanted to celebrate me (they even toasted me!!).

our dinner dates ;-)

My actual birthday was a lot less 'busy' - but I was still blessed with lots of lovely messages/phone calls and time with my precious family....

Here are some of my funky pressies :D

new apron!! I've always wanted one!

me - staunching my apron out (HAHAHA)

the other apron - a cute half one -

mugs and cosies - from a certain moustache loving friend ;-)


YUM!

Some well thought out reads.....

Note, I am hiding the picture of the incredibly slim, toned, non-child bearing, great looking woman in a bikini! hehe.  I don't think any diet book could make me like that! ha.

cards that say "I love my mumma because, she loves me" and show off princess Adelaide's new cutting ability.  Equipped with pictures of me, her and giraffes.....

And some vouchers so I can go on a spending spree (because you can never have enough music or clothes)!!

lucky me. 25 and counting...

So, I'm about to turn 25.

This is something I have pondered over the last few months.

It is kind of a big deal to me.  The last few days I've been a wee bit emotional about this.  I guess I just realise that I may not of made this birthday.

25 seems, well, mature.  Like, I'm now all grown up - even though I am married with 2 kids and a mortgage.  It feels like I finally am "of age".  I turned 21 just after our wedding, so that wasn't a big deal.  The last four years have just kind of sailed past and here I am, my 25th eve.

I sure hope that I make the next 25 years count a lot more than the last have.

So, in light of this significant birthday - I have written some of my "bucket list" -
this was semi easy for me - I just thought, 'if I died this year, what would I regret not doing' - many of the things on the list are those things.  There are others that wouldn't be regrets, but just that I wished I gave them a better go.

I purposely tried to make the list "un-spiritual" if you like.  I am a Christain, it is easy for me to dream up ideas for the future for spiritual things - so I forced myself to dream of some other stuff.

So here we go:

• own my own home - freehold
• buy or build my dream home
• adventure travel to the exotic locations my hubby dreams of - as his travel partner, and do it his way (Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam etc)
• spend at least a week in a top resort
• travel to Rarotonga
• get a professional photography shoot - just us two - a re-shoot of our wedding pics
• have a full body makeover at an all day spa
• run my own business
• work in a job I love, not for the money
• sing to/with an audience of over 5000 people
• celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary in style
• get a really nice diamond ring
• be someone's birth coach
• experience a white Christmas
• learn to rollerblade
• learn to ski or snowboard
• visit one of our sponsor children, while they are young
• lavishly decorate our bedroom
• bungy jump in Queenstown
• do a wine trail
• celebrate thanksgiving and make it a tradition
• see my kids come to a relationship with Jesus
• take my children to Disneyland
• watch the sunrise on New Years Day
• sleep under the stars with my family

I'm sure the list will grow longer as time goes by, but these are the things that have really stuck.  I'm looking forward to slowly doing them!

Some loves....

Playmates, hopefully growing up to be besties....

My little beauty....

World cup fever... and aunties who spoil nephews with official regalia!

We WON!! YAY!

Gifts from the UK

My little tiger.... ;-)

This roof, built by an accountant turned handyman.... what a clever man I married!

This garden, built by him & I - to tidy a messy corner....

Plants gifted from my mumma!

My cat, enjoying her favourite spot...

And after weeks of intense hard work, these are up....

It's a bit of a shame to be moving after so much hard work, but on to bigger & better things!  We are moving in December/January to look after my in-laws place while they are away for most of 2012.

Looking forward to some dreams coming true.....

over at my place.....

I know you all wondered where I have been!! hehe

This is where/what I have been doing:.

Now, as you can probably see - this has kept me VERY, VERY busy in the last few weeks.  Let's hope that it sells quickly so that I am not kept so busy for the next few!

Once I find my camera (I got it back but have "misplaced" it) I will get something decent on here!

x
Arna

Hello again!

Hello!

It's been a LONG while - I've been super busy with a nearly 12 week old baby and juggling life - which has seemed all very hectic lately! 

just a quick (bit boring) update on what I have been doing.... no pics, my camera is in Auckland (shock horror) - I left it behind!

• I've lost 8kgs since my last post.  I am now 1.5kgs below what I stabled at before getting pregnant with Mr John.  I am aiming to lose about 2.5kgs more and then bring on the ongoing maintenance.
• I have officially come to the place where I have decided that I NEVER want to gain a lot of weight again.  I will work hard to maintain my weight, and lose weight after (cough) additional babies.  This is a very personal thing for me, and absolute hard work - but with God's strength & help, I know I can do it.
• I haven't been exercising much - found I wasn't losing weight (too much pressure on body) so will be resuming that as soon as goal weight arrives.  Looking forward to fit-ness.
• I bought skinny jeans.  I am fairly conscious of things being tight around that area of my body, but decided to give it a go - and the feedback so far is that they look awesome.
• Mr John is switching between 4 naps to 3 and this is all very time consuming as he is trying so hard to fight sleeping.  It does not help that he gets dragged along to playcentre etc with his big sister.
• I find having 2 kids about twice the stress (surprise surprise) but I find I have about 30-40% of the patience I had with 1.  Not the best mix.  I certainly realise my limitations and that I am not cut out for a multitude of children.  Perhaps that's the sleep deprivation....
• I am buying my hubby an amazing birthday present.  I have been saving my "weekly allowance" for months to have enough $$, then the shop wanted to charge me $200 more.  I had tears....  there has been huge sacrifice on my part so I was pretty upset.  However, I contacted the local store, who could do it - for exactly the money I have in my account today!!  I was blessed by this - that God knows & solves my dilemma (even though its miniscule and material!)
• I have picked back up my pen, and been using my gift or words to encourage some people - achieving one of my goals, blessing others - and feeling 'satisfied' all at the same time!
• our house is listed with an agent - kind of just by circumstances.  I hope it sells soon.  My feet are itching (not for travel, but relocation)
• I am working on a 'bucket list' of sorts, more to come...
• Dave and I wrote our wills.  It felt odd to specify who would have my children, and if I could be buried or cremated, and who would have my special posessions.  After this year, it was probably a bit more of a check on reality than it otherwise would of been.
• Looking forward to some fine dining - nearly our wedding anniversary, we got given (very generously) a voucher for Top Sail - which is one of the top restaurants in Whangarei.  We have only been once, but loved it.  We will be paying them a visit in the next 2-3 weeks, kidless.
• Mr John is having 1 bottle of formula a day.  I finally convinced the hubster that not only was this a good thing to do (for my mental health), it was necessary.  For whatever reason, I am totally out of milk by 6.30pm and was left with a starving & crying bubba.  I tried to express more/change eating etc and nothing worked.  So he gets his bottle- you should see his face when he hears me preparing it!
• I am working on finding my niche as a mum - what I like/don't like, and exactly where/how I fit in - in lots of different areas.  It's like baby no. 2 makes me do it for a second time...
• I am thinking about & considering options for resuming work when my kids are at school - still a long time away, but I have decided I officially do not wish to return to the absolute rat race, head strong, personality killing battle that it is to be a woman in the corporate world - or at least where I have come from.  Life is far too short to do a job you hate.  There is likely to be some study involved, and my feet are itching for a challenge, most of it is hands on so I still have to wait - though it'd be nice if I can find something to work on in the meantime.
• I am about to turn 25. This is a very big deal to me. Perhaps it is that aside from the miracle I received, I probably wouldn't of celebrated this birthday.  But I feel like I'm on the edge of a whole new season to life.  This is good.

That's about it for now.  It'd be way too wordy if I wrote much more.  What are you all up to out there?

I will try post a bit more frequent again now!

Have a great weekend!
x

Arna

Colour me Spring

Just a few things from my last couple of weeks.....

I love spring - and it's nearly that time again!  I love daffodils.  I need to plant some bulbs, but unfortunately this year, I'll have to buy a couple of bunches instead. 

My mum is a cancer survivor, as are many others I know.  And I've lost people to cancer.  So daffodils hold a special place in my heart.

Anyway, here's what I've been up to -

catching moments like this..... I was upstairs for a moment and left her to "look after" her brother....  I returned (and had a moment to grab my camera) to find....

and this...

there was cuter ones - with him mouth wide open and her kissing *bless*

Making these...

My dad doesn't celebrate his birthday, but I always sneak something his way on the day.  Princess Adelaide and I got busy in the kitchen.  They look a bit fancy, but are SO easy!

Delicious lunches like this...... (which I just ate today - who says healthy can't be delicious!!)

The only things I missed out on in my salad were tomato and cucumber.  But alas, I already spent a fortune buying half the ingredients for this sort of thing in this weeks shopping... looking forward to summer!

What else can I tell you?

I've lost 3kgs

I've exercised 5 days a week (for 2 weeks) alternating cardio and resistance

I feel real good

My abs are returning! (slowly)

I have a sewing machine on my table - working on a project for playcentre

I don't really sew

I'm craving warmer weather

Last night I ate a 4 course meal with Dave's colleagues

I really enjoyed myself

I tried roasted duck for the first time

I ordered tuna off a menu (I am not a tuna person)

The tuna was mild in flavour and actually quite nice

I skipped the glass of wine I was looking forward to - and traded it for my delicous dessert!

My Year in Progress....

So, I'm reviewing the last 8 months of my year...

This post here reminded me that I needed to do this.  See, it's kind of hanging over me a bit.

Well, so far, this year has been much of what 2010 brought.  Difficulty.  Thankfully, the difficulty has a ribbon of triumph weaved through it all.

God gave me this scripture for 2010 -

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!" - ps 65.11-13

I'm now claiming it for this season

Some of my "goals" I have not been able to physically achieve (ie exercise through pregnancy) - because of illness.  But I still have a few months left to try to get the others under my belt.

My wee boy is 6 weeks old now - and as a family we've decided we're in need of some healthy eating regime.  I love cooking, baking and entertaining.  Even more, I love eating.  So we've been loaded up on plenty of sugary goodness over the last few months and both hubby and I are a little worse off for it.

You may remember one of my goals was to lose weight while breastfeeding.  Last time, I couldn't knock about 7 of the pregnancy kgs until I stopped.  This time, I'm hoping to knock the last off.  And it is 7kgs! lol. fancy that!

I hear gasps from half of you - so just for the record, I'm not going to do be a diet freak.  I'm not going hard out low carb like I would if I wasn't breastfeeding - but I am making good choices.  I will aim for slow and steady loss & toning.  If I see bubba get affected by it, I will make alterations.

So instead of my weetbix or toast for brekky, I'm opting for whole-grain rolled oat porridge.  (OMGOSH).

The plan is also to do moderate exercise.  After all, I am supposed to be doing a triathlon in April with this lovely lady.  So I'm thinking if I start now and work up slowly, I'll be ready to do some more intense training in the new year (hahaha).

Perhaps I will add a weekly review of how this is going and some stats of my hoped-for weight loss.  The real aim for me is fitness, and toning up of my whole body my "fatty bits".

As for the other goals:

try to be a little bit tidier - I can say, I am definitely achieving this one!  I actually thought this was the least likely for me to achieve.  And I'm doing it naturally now!

be more encouraging - I would hope this to be true, but I haven't made as much effort as I would of liked.  Thankfully I still have a few months left.

look for God and gold in people - still working on this - and probably will be forever.

draw God and gold out of people - am doing this!

have even more of an open home - definitely improved, but want to be even better.

get to know more people - definitely achieved this one - ay bloggy babes ;-)

improve my guitar playing - the hubster has given me a few more tricks to use!

As for any additional goals - one of them (which I had not publically confessed) was to play keyboard at church at somepoint.  Well, fancy that - I have done it!

I even did it while worship leading a few times (which is not an easy feat) - and am a self confessed lover of this!  I'm looking forward to getting back into it in the not too far away future.

Well - that's me, are you seeing some of your goals achieved?

Some sweet loves.....

Celebrating a special ladies' (my mum-in-law) milestone birthday - filled with LOTS of very unexpected treats & surprises (and sneaky texts between me and my father in law!) ;-)

Wooly hats and fun times with my girl (after being apart for nearly a month!)

Getting my mop chopped (after about 9 months of no cuts) - and in quite a different style to what I normally would.  I love it!  Thanks mum for minding the TWO kiddies!

Very gorgeous and hand-crafted wee pressies coming in the post, from beautiful and clever friends - check her out here

I'm also loving.....

• YUMMO meals friends are cooking us while we're busy with bub
• Some VERY encouraging words in cards from some thoughtful friends who know my loves!
• being at HOME!  it's amazing how long ago everything seems now that I'm back
• That my once "only" child has taken becoming one of two AMAZINGLY well!
• Being a family again!

Ahhh, (insert giant sigh here) life is feeling pretty good again.

6 weeks too early, not a day late...

I know this post has been well awaited, and it's going to be well read.  Before I begin - I will add a disclaimer -

much of this is very difficult for me to show in a public arena, and to "talk" about.  This post will probably be long, but I'm keeping with who I am in being honest and real.  There are pictures - they are not all nice to look at.

Welcome - Aiden Harris.  Who arrived to our family - on 3 July 2011.  6 and a bit weeks before his due date.

What can I say - but I knew it.  I knew he was going to come early.  I just didn't quite expect the journey to follow.

Most of those who know me, know I LOATHE being pregnant.  I could honestly quite happily skip that stage and go from not pregnant to the day after delivery quite happily.  So when I woke up on that Sunday with some dull ache, and then contractions arrived - I was just a wee bit excited.

I shrugged it off - because over the 3 or so weeks prior, I had multiple false alarms.  I was hospitalised 2 weeks earlier with "labouring" contractions - that slowly eased off overnight.  So I knew that each day counted as one step closer to home.

The labour - well, it was amazing.  Very different from my first experience.  I was very relaxed and quite enjoyed just breathing through the process.  I left church a bit early because I was uncomfortable.  Thinking I was going to be in hospital for the night again - I grabbed pjs and a few other things.  I threw in a feeding bra "just in case".

I was not afraid, but was chewing back on steroids every 15 minutes and being jabbed all over.  You see, they were trying to stop my wee boy from coming quite so soon.  Things continued to progress and my midwife decided to bring me in some gas.  I quite enjoyed that experience too.  It was all a bit blase because I wasn't supposed to be having this baby, but I started to think "gee, if I don't have him today - this is going to suck - I'd have to do labour twice for ONE baby!!"

I was given the "last resort" pill, which either stops your labour or you are declared full blown.  It was a bit late - I was full blown.  A short time later I told my midwife that "I'd be ready to push soon".  She checked and I was nearly fully dialated.  After this, I don't remember much.  Apart from that I was begging them to break my waters.  Other than that after about 10 minutes the alarm was pressed, the paediatricians rushed in the room and my son was born.  He was promptly removed and given some oxygen to "pink" him up a bit.

I was given a 5 second glimpse at him wrapped in a towel, and then he was transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) because he was labouring a bit with his breathing.

My established labour was less than 2 hours.  I was happily breathing through it all and texting my friends at 12.50pm.  I gave birth at 2.30pm.

I was in shock for about 3 hours.  I couldn't believe I had just had him.  I hardly got to see him - it all felt a bit strange.  I finally showered and gathered my things, then went to see him.

He was the cutest wee thing ever.

Day one he was doing quite well.  We all were.

Then came Monday.  The Doctors then told me that he had developed a "condition".  Basically, the short is - Aiden's body was delayed in converting from using the placenta for oxygen to using his lungs for the circulation he needed.  No visitors, and I wasn't allowed to touch or talk to him for at least the next 24 hours.  I still hadn't even held him.


Some of our darkest moments...

The gadgets above are as follows:

• oxygen + air in his nose - keeping lungs inflated and providing extra oxygen to enable his body to get enough for circulation
• aspirate tube down throat into tummy - to enable them to suck out mucous and remove breast milk to check for digestion
• wires on chest/tummy - recording heart rate, oxygen levels and breathing rate
• IV line in his arm - for fluids and later, for fluids with "extra calories"
• 2 x wires in umbilical cord - 1 for monitoring blood pressure and taking blood. The other to "feed" him with (among other things).
• wire on foot - measuring oxgen saturation levels

They did consider transferring him to Auckland via helicopter.  They were seriously concerned about his health.  They didn't relay to me quite how bad it was until he was 'well' (about 10 days later).


Not only did he have a condition - but he couldn't tolerate any breast milk at all (so he lost a lot of weight).  On the Wednesday, he started having serious apnoeas (holding his breath for long periods).  He would do it several times in a short space.  They got even more concerned about him.  He hated any stimulation.

With his dummy ^^  the only comfort he had
He was lying on a table, vulnerable to all the elements.  Every time a doctor walked in the room, or there was a new voice, or someone got flustered - he would get distressed.  He would handle this by holding his breath again.  He would cry and grizzle and look like he was trying to leap from the table.  All the while I just had to sit there and watch him - because I wasn't allowed to hold him or hardly touch him.

To be honest, for the first week, I sat next to his bed - and cried. And silently prayed and desperately hoped and willed for him to keep fighting.

Having a break from some of the wires ^^ and loving it!


That night, finally - at midnight, the nurse decided to shift him to an incubator to try to help him handle all the noise etc.  She landed him in my arms for the first time.  I said to her through tears "am I really allowed to hold him???"

From that moment, he never held his breath again.

"Sunbathing" - being treated under the phototherapy lights for jaundice.  Wires slowly coming out.


Each day he progressed.  His tube down his mouth, turned into one down his nose.  This was to feed him.  He was far too little to know how to suck properly, so there was no hope of feeding him breast or bottle for a while yet.

He started to tolerate 1 ml of breast milk every 2 hours.  Yes, 1ml.  Slowly over a period of days that increased to 2mls, 3 mls until it was at his total of 59mls every 3 hours.

2 and a half weeks on, he started wanting to suck.  He was still very sleepy, so he'd have a short breast feed, then a tube top up, then sleep for the rest of the day and night.

I spent 3 weeks waiting for him and teaching him how to suck so he could feed.


After 12 days, I got sent home from the hospital without him.  I commuted each day to be at his side, feeding him through a tube and expressing my milk every 3 hours.  Coming home without him was absolutely heart wrenching - but my family needed me at home.

Finally, another week on, I was being called back in to the hospital to stay with him and get him ready to go home.

Then, after an episode in ED, I got readmitted onto the surgical ward for myself with severe mastitis.  I was in agony (I even thought I might of had meningitis again).  They were going to operate, but decided first to aspirate - the treatment involved needles in places no woman wants a needle.

IV antibiotics for another 5 days and apart from my baby all that time - he went back to tube feeds.

I was devastated.

Come the Monday, I was awaiting a further diagnosis from the surgeon and the "next step".

The prayers of many faithful people meant that the surgeon checked me - and it was decided I didn't need any further treatment.  I begged him not to continue the IV antibiotics but to let me go with oral ones so that I could go back to Aiden.  He agreed.

I spent the next 4 days re-teaching my sleepy boy how to breast-feed, and to wake for feeds.  Monday he had his last feed from his nasal gastric tube.  (He had been pulling it out every day for about a week).

Finally no NG tube in his nose ^^

Tuesday he was weighed. He lost 15g.  That's normal for a baby converting from tube feeds to sucking (using energy) for feeds.

The condition for our discharge was that he had to be all breast-fed and put on weight.  Thursday was the next opportunity for weigh in.  Thankfully, he succeeded in putting on weight and, after 3 and a half weeks in hospital, we came home!

My wee poppet, in his short life, has already battled death twice.

I am so greatful that God is my rock, and my keeper.  I have no other.  At one point in my labour, I was SO aware that God was there.  It was like Jesus had just literally walked in the room.  This kept me while I sat at Aiden's side - helpless, but knowing God was willing him to live more than I was.

Heading home ^^


Yes I've cried millions of tears, I've asked mega questions and I've come pretty close to the edge.  I've pleaded before God for "no more" and I've cried in my mum's arms telling her I can take no more.  It's been a rough 4 months for us.  But I can sit here and write that I know we are on the side of victory, because Victory Himself is on our side.

There is still ongoing things with him.  Aiden is well, but must be protected.  He is still little and vulerable.  So, for a while - I will be hibernating.

I am looking forward to watching his little life unfold - because I know he is destined to greatness.

For now, back to my crying baby ;-)

I absolutely LOVE this picture.

For the peace, and finding 'another world' of love - in the midst of a storm.....


Stolen from here.

Read the story and look at the pic for a bit - then tell me what you think....

Thankful Thinking.......

You know, life, even at the best of times - still has some sucky bits.

Lately, I've got a bit tired of listening to moaning.  I've got to confess, I've been a bit moany myself and the listening to moaning is only making it worse.

One thing I like to do, is think about someone elses difficulties/problems etc for a while.  Nothing like a bit of perspective to make one moan a bit less.

The other thing that often works - is being thankful.  Sure life is hard at times, and we all need people we can talk to about our difficulties - but our focus needs to be shifted if it's about us all the time.  We weren't put on this planet for ourselves.

So, just a random post on some things I am thankful for - might become a regular:

• health - even though this is an ongoing battle for me - 13 weeks on from being close to death, I am alive, and mostly well.  And I am greatful.  I even got told today that I am a miracle - for my "wellness".  Thank you God.
• my family - my princess A who is so delightful at the moment.  My hubby who is a real treasure.  The wider extensions who all just add that bit extra to our lives.  The little man who I am longing to meet.
• our vehicles - they are old and shabby in places, but we have two of them (which makes life WAY easier) and they both still pass their warrants with minimal work required.  I often think how I'd like a "better" car - but at the moment, they are doing us just fine.
• our home - we have worked hard to renovate it, get it nice and make it ours.  It is a stepping stone - but it is a blessing.  We are beginning to reap the rewards of our hard work.
• friendship - I like to think that there are many different "shapes" and "colours" of friends.  Some fit better together than others - but they each add their own bit of colour to life.

In all of the above things, I could very well find things to moan about.  But I'd rather live happy.

What things are you thankful for?

Things I'm Loving

Just a wee bit of home-made gourmet....

Seeing as getting the real thing from any store here is nearly impossible...

Felafels.  Pretty cheap to make too.  And tasty (maybe not for a 2 year old)...

Garlic hummus & youghurt piled onto lebanese bread in very generous proportions...

Toppings....

Ready to roll....

Yummo!

On that note - there are some other things:

• looking forward to some kind of middle eastern trip in the very distant future - so we can taste the trueness of these delish cuisines!
• in the nearer future - perhaps paying a visit to an amazing turkish cafe in greenlane - where we shared the most scrummy food during our honeymoon.  We haven't been for over a year now.
 
• Having only 9 and a bit weeks to go in this journey called pregnancy #2.  There have been a few times in the last week I've thought I might just end up with a premmie. 

And lastly -

These two.  They are some very LOVELY friends.  (excuse the quality of the pic - I stole it)

We get the privelege of being almost neighbours.  Princess Adelaide gets the privelege of having them as a very hands on adopted aunty and uncle.  Might I say, she absolutely adores them.

They have dedicated their Thursday nights - every week for seven weeks - to us.  So we can go to a marriage course and invest in our relationship.  They come to our house, and look after our 42" tv our precious wee girl.

We are so blessed to have them in our lives.

Have a glorious weekend everyone. x