More ups and downs….

Posted on May 31, 2006

Well - today has been another rollercoaster ride - all in one day.  Firstly - good news - our home has definitely been refinanced - so we will be able to pay off all the incidental bits and pieces that we owe, WIll can do his course, and we will be able to live more comfortably!

Secondly - Maceknzie had her weekly check-up with  her paediatrician today.  Whilst we were there Dr L phoned her cardiologist (Dr G) to get the low down.  I’m afraid it’s not good.  Dr G (the top cardiologist that we can have) has never seen a case like Mackenzie’s ever!  She has lot of thickening of the heart muscle in both the right and left ventricles.  The closest we can get to naming it (but it’s not what Mackenzie has!) is Hypertrophy Obstructive Cardio Myopathy.  Yes - sounds big.  Is big.  Major heart surgery required.  She will have an MRI first to explore.  Then a catheter procedure to explore some more.  Then open-heart surgery to scrape away the excess muscle. A very tricky operation - since the muscle will be ‘relaxed’ , and it will be difficult to judge the amount of tissue that needs to be removed.  Three-odd days in intensive care, then 10 days or so in hospital. 

You know what - I was feeling okay about it all until just now.  Now that it’s on paper - it seems more reas, and I have big crocodile tears emerging from my eyes.  My poor ;ott;e girl.  She is so strong, robust and ‘huge’ (Dr L’s term!)  We have no idea of a time frame at present - could be ages away - who knows.  What we do know is that she is a strong little thing, and is a fighter.  She can get through this.  To look at her - you would NEVER know that anything is wrong.

Look at those big blue eyes.  Please - all those people that pray - please think of my little Mackenzie.

Onto much happier things.  Look what I am now the proud owner of (well - when the order comes in!).

How happy am I.  A Canon EOS 350D.  we got  THE most amazing deal. Twin lens kit (18-55mm and 75-300mm), a 1GB Card, a tripod / camera bag pack, an RC remote control and 2 year extended warranty for well under $17000.  Very very happy.  I cannot wait to get started.  Unfortunately there are no silver bodies in stock - so I have the black body - all fine!  It’s all on order from Canon - hopefully next week it’ll come in!  thanks to the house refinance - otherwise there would be no digital SLR for me for a long long time!  Now I have to figure out how to use the thing!  Anyone got any photography books for me?!

Nearly forgot - I have a layout of sorts to share!  I LOVE Christy Lyles tagbook tresure’s kit - you MUST check it out.

Crediits - Christy Lyle’s TAGBOOK TREASURES Kit - tag book, staple, paper clip and twill ribbon.  My BIRTHDAY BASH kit - green tag paper and felt flower.  The peg and dirty notepaper are also mine!

We had a big day today - as I’m sure you can tell.  Amongst it all - Madison had a couple of little mates over this morning.  They played so well together.  No whining and groaning at all.  The little boys are twins - Charlie and Ed - and they a pretty cool!  It’s not too bad having 4 children in the house at once!  I took ‘em all to the park, and they had a great old time, until Ed fell off the play equipment - he now has a super-sized bruise on his head.  Poor fellah!

Righto - I think I have rambled on enough for now.  Enjoy your evening.  Oh OH OH - thanks to everyone who wished me Happy Birthday, and left comments regarding the Birthday Bash Kit!  I hope you all enjoy it!  Remember to let me see your layouts!

Hey hey - who is up for a weekly blog challenge?  I hvae a couple of ideas running through my head.  Of course there will be a prize in it for you!

Posted on May 29, 2006

Today is the day!

Yep - if I live to one hundred - I am through one-third of my life!

AND - would ya check out what happens when you pop a little freebie on your blog - I must admit I was having a big laugh when I saw this!!!!!  There is ANOTHER LINK down there to the freebie if you need it!!!!

What a classic!

Anyway - onto my little challenge for myself!

Since giving birth to Mackenzie 19 minths ago - I haven’t regained my super fit and healthy self.  I am not overly complaining about the way I look - but there is some ’stuff’ onme that really doesn’t need to be there AND - we would really like to have another baby, and my body isn’t ready for it yet!  Sooo - for the next two weeks - I am going to do my best to follow the "New York Body Plan’!  Now - being a personal trainer myself - (I am too busy sorting out other people to do myself!) - I know that fad diets etc etc are not the way to get in shape - which is why I am not going to so much adhere strictly to the whole diet thingummy, but the exercise routines are fantastic - I love the look of them - a great challenge for me!

I follow a fairly good diet - but I will be cutting out extra stuff , and eating all the wholesome UNREFINED foods (which I generally do - but I will make an extra special effort!).  Anyway - good luck to me.  Today - I need to do 45 mins strong cardio (running with running clucb tonight), and the 45 minute body sculpting routine (when the girls have their arvo nap!).  Hopefully all will go to plan!!!!

Would ya lookie here……

Posted on May 28, 2006

Twice in a matter of days!  Things must be going well!!!!
Just want to say a big thank-you to those of you who sent me some birthday wishes and have Mackenzie in their thoughts - much appreciated!  Love you all XO

We had a top day today!  Went to Pelican PArk - an indoor recreation Centre with a pool, and a great playground outside!  The girls had a blast - as did Will!

And isn’t this the spunkiest little photo of my baby girl………..

She looks so serious.  You would never tell that there is sooo much going on inside her tiny body -= the amount of work her little thumping heart is doing - just to keep that gorgeous look on her face.

This one of Madison - embodies the cheeky phase she is smack bang in the middle of right now.  Oooh - I could cheerfully pop her in the garbage bin at times - but apparently that is frowned upon by the authorities!!!!!   She is a real three year old - sjows streaks of independence and ‘grown-upness’, yet at the same time is still such a baby.

WELL - tomorrow is the beginning of a new year for me!  Another birthday will pass me by. oh - BTW - I already have my birthday pressies from Will and the M’s - a yummy warm pair of ugg boots - orangey/pink, and some new flannelette PJ’s - gotta love their choices!  In fact - it’s what I asked for.  Mum gave me some socks - always need socks - so now I am 9 pair better off!  they always seem to go missing - why can I not keep track of all the socks in this house?  Is there some sort of sock monster?  OK - off track a little!  yes - back to my new year.  Tomorrow I am embarking on a little two-week challenge. I will neeed to stay strong and focussed - but more on that tomorrow!  It’s a great challenge - it will certainly test my resolve - but I will do my best (is anyone curious???!!!)

Here I am……

Posted on May 27, 2006

Has anyone missed me?!

I have been super busy - and not really up to bloggin lately!    We are having a little bit of an upsy down time at present!
Let’s go with it shall we!!!!

Sweet Shop Designs…

The other day I received news that I am on my first Creative Team - YIPPEEE at Sweet Shoppe Designs.  GREAT.
I am honoured and REALLy excited!  The girls over there are fantastic, and I can’t wait to get started!

My hardworking husband…

Then Will was virtually guaranteed a commercial diving job offshore once
he gets his Commercial Ticket #3. This is great - finally we might
start to get on top of some living expenses, it will take the load and
stressese away from money! Downside - he is away for two weeks at a
time.

My daughter with the dicky ticker…

On Thursday, Mackenzie went for her heart checkup (she has a dodgy heart).
All has been fine - but it seems that things are going backwards again.
The cardiologist says she’s ‘coping’ - great code! It seems that the
hypertrophy of the heart muscle that occured before she had her little
aorta widened this time last year has started to thicken AGAIN (stopped
thickening after aorta widening - and stayed the same, although it
should have decreased in size).

The thickening is now causing the two valves that let the
oxygentated blood go out to the body and lungs, are starting to
‘narrow’. Not in the plan! She also has this super high blood pressure
which we have undercontrol with medication. Now she needs to go in for
another MRI - which means another general anaesthetic, and trip to the
Royal Children’s Hospital. The doctors are not sure what is causing all
this unwanted ‘action’ - coz it is definitely not a normal occurence.

Mackenzie is oblivious to the whole she-bang!  She’s as happy as LArry!

Next good thing - it seems that we will be able to refinance our
home - this will also ease the financial pressure, and give us the
money for Will to do his Diving Ticket #3!

AND amongst all this - Mackenzie has been waking up every morning
COVERED in poo, it’s my birthday on Monday, and in a week or so - it’ll
be exactly one year since my Grandma passed away (she brought me up -
so we were VERY close).

WOW - is that enough for you!

Polkadot Potato

Oh oh oh - and guess what!  Polkadot Potato has finally gone ‘live’ with it’s store!  This is a brand new digi-scrap site, and ages agp (even befroe I started designing for Clikchic Designs!), I ‘applied’ to sell there!  Anyway - they said YES - so I have a kit in there at present!  It’s one I did a while ago - here’s a preview!

It’s called ‘Kenzie’s Daks" and you can get it HERE !  I love it - the floral paper was hand-drawn, as are the stickers.  Mackenzie has a gorgeous pair of ‘daks’ with a similar pattern, and it was telling me to ‘do something with i’t'!!!!

My birthday…
Is on Monday 29th May.  Yep - real soon.  Sooo - to celebrate - here is a little gift for anyone who happens to drop by in the next couple of days!

You can get it HERE and HERE if that link runs out!!!!

Feel free to send me some chocolate cake and lots of sunshine!!!!!

Check out the glitter fibre……..

Loving it!!!!

Here’s MAckenzie waiting for food!!!!

Credits: "Birthday Bash’ mini kit - my very own - available up there for a short time only!, Nancie Rowe Jantz - Inked edge:: my circle brushes!

Oz-e-wahm

As far as web design goes - I have been a busy beaver there too!  Check out Oz-e-wahm .  basically it’s a site for Aussie work at home mums to learn about online business and marketing.  I did the graphics and template redesign - it’s a rework of a Word Press blog.  I’m pretty happy with it.  You should also check out Oz-e-wahm topsites  - a great directory of Aussie work at home mums’ websites! Yep - I also whipped up the design for that!

Win $50 to your favourite online store!

I’m also working on the ‘redo’ of She-essence  - it’s a great place to hang out, pop your feet up, and join in the challenges.  It’s not just about scrapbooking - it’s all about you as a woman.  They are holding a competition at present - you could win $50 to your favoutire online store.  All you have to do is come up with a funky tag-line!  Have a ’squiz’ at the details HERE. Go on - join in!!!

Oh Oh - here’s a couple of layouts!  I entered the Ultimate Digiscrapper contest - got as far as Round Two!

Hey - I think that’s about it for now!

Oh oh - I made a couple of digi-purchases - finally snagged a couple at Shabby Shoppe .  Gotta love Studio Chick, and Taran Conyers "Girlie Girl’!  I have the perfect little project for Girlie Girl!!!!

Okeydokey - that’s it from me!  Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

hmm

Posted on May 14, 2006

Gee - it’s been a while! Yesp - I am still here - just caught up with some stuff, and doing some reprioritising.  Oh, and DH is being NSDH (not so DH) right now - not a good thing especially on Mother’s Day - but hey - I won’t bother going into all the details - coz I’m sick of crying, I have a headahce, and my eyes are sore.

love story…..

Posted on May 2, 2006

I just read THE most beautiful book. It was super short - only 130 pages - so I read it in a jiffy.  BUT - I cried and cried and cried through the last few pages.  It’s a gorgeous love story (and apty titled), extre3mely moving, touching and witty.  It is an absolute must-read.

Not since Paullina Simmins "The Bronze Horseman" (my absolute favourite book) have I been so touched.  I tend to get right inside a book I am reading, and this one was no exception.  READ IT :), and make sure you have a box of tissues handy.

Next - a layout.

I was feeling a little down on myself yesterday- -for a few things - I think I was being a little hard on myself.  I have been struggling with a few web design things (I demand too much of my limited knowledge, want to be able to do things NOW - and get really disappointed when I struggle).  I want to ceate so much more, and have so many great plans - that it’s hard to take little step and achieve my goals slowly.  I want it done yesterday!

Back to the layout!  It’s titled {naturally me}, and well - it’s just me - in all my naturalness (no - not n*u*d*i*e*!).  It’s the phot I submitted for the Sugar Babe contest - and I really quite like the way it came together.

Credits can be found HERE.

Righto - here’s something new (and I snaffled it from Trish’s blog) - and a grand idea!

April events & information:

What books and/or magazines did I read this month? Umm - none - except for the odd scrapbooking mag, and lots of bits from a few Dreaweaver, Photoshop, php / mySql and Illustrator books.

What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month? Oh - ABC Kids, The Cat in the HAt, Thank God You are Here (super funny show on TV at present) and Dancing with the Stars.

What special days did I celebrate and how? Easter was a whole heap of fun - the girls got right into it, and Madsion loved leaving lettuce and milk out for the rabbit!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have in April? I was OK during April.  Mackenzie continues to fight her ongoing battle with super high blood pressure, and Madison has her ongoing ‘I can be an absolute terror’ illness!

What fun things did I do with my friends or family? Played in the park, celebrated Easter.  I caught up with some old buddies for luch - fantastic!

What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try in April?

No restaurants or anything snazzy.  I did make a couple of yummy chickeny things - but have no idea how I did it!!!

What special or unusual purchases did I make? I had a splurge, and bought myself some ’skinny’ jeans - only to discover to my dismay - that my legs are too skinny, and the jeans are actually baggy!  A size smaller would not help - coz my legs are too long.  Some people might think that this is a wonderful problem to have!  yes - true - but it is also frustrating!  I also bought a cuple of geeky computer techo books - I am getting a heap of use out of them though!!!

What were this month’s disappointments?

To be honest - nothing really.  I guess just struggling with family finances - it’s always disappointing when there seems to be more money going out than coming in!!

What were my accomplishments this month? Not sweating the small stuff so much! Making my first sales as a digi-scrap designer.  getting to the top 5 in the Sugar BAbe contest!

Any thing else noteworthy to record about April? I made a couple of new digi-scrap friens - which is always niice!

10 Things

10 Favorites
Favorite Color: blue
Favourie Food: chicken casserole thing that I make up!
Favorite Month: January
Favorite Song at the moment: Live - Shannon Noll (yeah - dodgy I know - but very uplifting!)
Favorite Movie: Loe Actually
Favorite Sport: Swimming
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Day of the week: Sunday – the day usually everyone is home
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: chocolate
Favorite Time of Day: evening (after kids are in bed)

9 CURRENTS
Current Mood: relaxed
Current Taste: breakfast
Current Clothes: PJ’s - still!.
Current Desktop: Will and I
Current Toenail Color: a la naturale
Current Time: 9:08am
Current Surroundings: office / lounge room
Current Thoughts: ‘bloody dishes - when will they learn to wash themselves!"

8 FIRSTS
First Best Friend: vanessa
First Kiss: James
First Screen Name: Scalllywag
First Pet: Lucy the cocker spaniel
First Piercing: earrings at 18
First Crush: Grade 6, Tobias
First CD: John Farnham - Full House

7 LASTS
Last Cigarette: never had one!
Last Drink: water
Last Car Ride: home last night from picking the gilrs up
Last Kiss: 8:30am from Madison
Last Movie Seen: Love Actually
Last Phone Call: Mum called me last night
Last CD Played: Rogue Traders - Here Come the Drums

6 HAVE YOU EVERS
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Guy/Girl Friends: yes - and married him!
Have You Ever Broken the Law: no
Have You Ever Been Arrested: no
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: yes
Have You Ever Been on TV: yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn’t Know: no

5 THINGS
Thing You’re Wearing: underpants
Thing You’ve Done Today: not much yet!
Thing You Can Hear Right Now: ABC Kids!
Thing You Can’t Live Without: my gorgeous husband and daughters (yeah - soppy soppy!)
Thing You Do When You’re Bored: I don’t get bored!

4 PLACES YOU’VE BEEN TODAY
1. bed
2. toilet
3. does the www count?
4. not too far - coz I’m still in my PJ’s answering these never-ending questions!!!

3 PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO
1. Will
2. Nat
3. Kylie

2 CHOICES
1. Black or White: white
2. Hot or Cold: Hot

1 THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: Go on a family holiday!

Phew - glad that’s over - now onto the daily grind!!!!

close - but no cigar…..

Posted on May 1, 2006

Okay - the Sugar Babe has been announced - and I am NOT it!  Lauren did a wonderful job - big congratulations to her!!!!

Here is the fourth layout I completed.  It is a scraplift of CD Muckosky’s gorgeous layout.

Credits can be found HERE.

I had a wonderful time competing - it was a great way to get some layouts done that I normally wouldn’t do.  Thanks to Sweet Shoppe Designs for holding such a great competiton.

I am having a girl-free day today, and working hard on a site I am designing.  Actually - Dreamweaver and I are having some ‘relationship issues’ so it had better start learning who is boss!