I'm Back

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I bought Erina this swing - so cute! Mummy, Daddy and Baby at the park. My beautiful girl - Alexandra Rose. Daddy, William and Manny.

Sorry I've been away so long - resting after a tooth extraction. Not a pretty time. Never mind back with pictures for you. Here are a couple of the Beautiful Erina Isabelle at home. She's growing fast and is up to a whopping 6.5 lbs!!! She's doing well and so is Christa and Stephen. She is now over a month old - almost 5 weeks to be precise.

A couple of pictures taken Sunday 25th November at the GAP (Greyhound Adoption Program) Christmas Party at Capalaba Race Club. Manny was in the finals of MR GAP 2007 but was pipped at the post by a taller bloke - he's too short to be a supermodel. The kids had fun showing him off in a few competitions - smiliest dog, best looking, waggiest tail (he doesn't wag his tail much but while William was leading him around Alexandra was moving his tail! And of course he made it to the top 3 out of about 20 dogs for Mr Gap 2007. I recon he should have won but I'm biased.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

ONLY 4 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!

I love christmas especially the decorations. I have started putting a few decos around the house and have finished one tree, the wire one with exquist glass and mercury decorations. It looks lovely even if I do say so myself. The HUGE picture of Santa Claus is actually a Hobbytex picture done by my lovely mum about 30 years ago - I always remember it hanging outside the front door on the veranda. I feel so special that mum decided to give it to me. She put binding around the edges and did the rope etc and presented it to me on Sunday. I was so happy I could have cried. Mum has passed down alot of christmas decos to me as they only put up a 4ft tree nowdays. My plan is to put our 7ft green tree up in the lounge with red and green decorations (no tinsel hate tinsel!!!) and so the front room also has red and green santas and decos in there. Moving through to the family room I am putting up our new pink christmas tree - and that room will be very "shabby" being cream, white, aqua, pink and pink!! We are putting up the trees on Sunday (if I can wait that long). I might have to do them Friday instead.

Kisses Trish xxx

WELCOME HOME ERINA!!!

Welcome to the world Baby Girl - this is Daddy's wedding ring on my fingers.
Help - I'm yellow!! Poor darling had 3 treatments to get rid on her jaundice. Poor little Girl.
Stop posing Dad and let me out of here - I want to get dressed.

Very proud Nanny.

Welcome home Erina. About time too. Erina Isabel McCarn came home on Saturday 3rd November with Mummy and Daddy. She is settling reasonably well as any newborn would. Erina is up to 2400g which is wonderful. Nanny loves seeing her baby granddaughter and makes her think of when my two were babies. Erina better get loads of cuddles and kisses as it's going to be 7 weeks before she sees Nanny again, this time with a very excited Granddad at Christmas time.

Kisses Trish x

Happy HallO'ween

Happy HallO'ween to all!!!!
Li'l Devil & Bart
Bart with his skateboard.
(L to R) Emma, Alexandra, Georgia and William.


Trick or treat anyone? My darling kiddlies have been soooooo excited about Halloween. They planned their own costumes - William (Bart Simpson) and Alexandra (Li'l Devil).Such a cute Little Devil!!!

We also had some friends with us, Emma and Georgia. Emma is the witch complete with black cat and Georgia is in the red polka dot dress.

Kisses Trish xxx

My Niece - Erina Isabel McCarn

Introducing my beautiful niece ERINA ISABEL isn't she gorgeous!!! So pretty - just like a dolly!

I'm so proud of Christa, Stephen and Erina, I just wish I could see them.

Christa says: "Here is our beautiful daughter 7 days old today. This photo was taken on Wednesday, before she turned bright yellow!

She decided she'd had enough of life on the inside, at 36 weeks and one day. After a vacuum extraction, and the cord around her neck, with a purple head and very silent for a while after, she entered the world. She went to the Neonatal unit and is still there, unfortunately she has not been with Mummy in mummy's hospital room like everyone else on my ward. I was discharged today, but will still almost live at the hospital until she is coming home, maybe by Saturday. (fingers crossed)

She is pre-term and low birth weight, and the obstetrician said my placenta just ran out of gas, which Erina sensed and created her own cortisol to mature her own lungs before she came out. Usually little early babies need a hydrocortisone injection before they come out, but she has healthy lungs thank god, so Dr said she must have made her own cortisol- she is clever already!

She could not suck when she first came out, so had a nasogastric tube inserted for feeds.

As she had a massive bruise on her head from the vacuum extraction, and this and the fact that she is little and premature, she got jaundiced, and required UV light for 48 hours.(thurs/fri) The jaundice and the uv lamp makes her really drowsy and she took a step backward in her feeds, too tired to suck- so them going half in a bottle and half down her tube, sometimes all down her tube. after 24 hours without the lamp, they took another blood sample, (her poor little heel) and her jaundice sprung back with a vengence and she is back under it again.- prob until wed, When she is under it she is just wearing a nappy, though less settled this time. Her feeding is increasing, and although she is not her birth weight yet, she gained weight the last 3 weighs (only 5 grams this morning!)

Anyway, gotta get back to the hospital. Finish the story later".

Kisses Trish xxx

How many storms can we having in a weekend? Depends if you are camping or not!

Alison (the Games Co-Ordinator) and (L to R) Jack H, Jack Lightbody, Connor, William, Connie, Mollie (right at the back), Alexandra, Tayla, Camille and Alison. They are preparing for the treasure hunt which the boys won by about 1 minute.

Our Home for the weekend!!!


Alison & Dave's new purchase!!!

Storms - huh did we have storms. I am so proud of everyone in tents because I sure wouldn't be sleeping in a tent with the wild weather we had on Thursday and Friday nights. After the pink ribbon morning tea the Klings and Lightbody's headed down to BroadwaterTouristPark for a long weekend. We were all set up before storms and rain and wind and tornados started so that was a blessing. On Friday at lunchtime the Harris' arrived along with Kev and Connie and early evening the Poupardin's and Julie arrived. 19 of us altogether that includes our 9 children. They all had a ball and were angels all weekend. The adults had a great time too - the kids were happy, we were relaxed and even played a few games which made my cheeks hurt from laughing and Ian hurt because he didn't know something about me!!!! We played a Mr & Mrs game which was fantastic - we had to remember things about each other.

On Saturday night we all went into Surfers to the Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise we had fantastic meals and Alison, Michelle and I had beautiful cocktails. Alison had yummy sweet one, Michelle had a to die for cosmopolitan and I had my favourite a Margarita!!! Yummo. Afterwards we went and had ice-cream.

Sunday at 11.00am we were all out and on our way home. Oh well, only a few more weeks until next trip. Ian and I were in holiday mode and could have gone on for another week or so but it wasn't to be.

Erina Update

Erina has responded really well to the light therapy for her jaundice. She is sleeping lots which is good for her development. She still has her nasal gastric tube so she is getting good size (60ml) feeds every three hours. Mum arrived over in Perth Friday afternoon and she will probably be there for 3 weeks or so. All is well!!!

Swap News

I want to say a big hello to Kathy my swap partner. She is from Las Vegas and we are doing a christmas garland swap through GaGa for Garlands. Hello Kathy - hope you don't think we are too made over here.

Have a good Monday everyone.

Kisses Trish x

Pink Ribbon Morning Tea

Party bags for everyone!! And what beautiful tables.

Marilyn and her lovely ladies.

This basket was one of the beautiful raffle gifts from Lilly Cottage.

My gorgeous group of girlfriends (the Besties Club) (L to R) Lisa, Claire, Juliette, me, Alison and Julie. (Michelle couldn't be there but she donated some money to us - thank you M).

Here are some pictures of the PINK RIBBON MORNING TEA held at the North Pine Country Park Rotunda. It was a HUGE success with the help and support of everyone we raised a total of $557.95. We had delicious cakes, muffins, slices and danishes as well as fresh juice, punch, tea and coffee. This was all thanks to the wonderful Ladies of Lilly Cottage and their helpers. We couldn't have done it without the support of everyone - THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you to the following people:

5th Avenue Jewellery, Alison Lightbody, Cynthia Spiteri, Deb McCullogh - Diva, Juliette Needs, Jan & Les Bennell Automotive Airconditioning & Electrical, Marilyn Farnfield, Nutrimetics, Culinary Creations by Peta & Linda, Laura, Jan, Maria, and all the lovely helpers from Lilly Cottage.

I look forward to organising the next one. Hope you will be able to join us!

Kisses Trish x

Update on Erina

Baby Erina - 2 days old now. She's doing really well considering she is so teeny weeny. I spoke to Mum and Christa and between them I have found out the following.

Erina will be staying in Special Care for around 2 weeks. Christa is expressing milk which is being fed to her through a nasal tube. And every second feed she is being woken for a bottle. They are letting her do loads of sleeping so that her pertuatory gland gets the rest it needs to make her strong. She has only lost 70grams which is really good considering. Normal expected weight loss would be up to 230grams.

Her lungs are fine and she has a good cry. Christa and Stephen gave her her first bath tonight and now her long dark hair is all fluffy and standing on end (just like Christa when she was a baby). Tomorrow Erina is having her heal prick and a blood test done. The doctors are suspecting that she has jaundice but that is a very common thing in all babies so she may be put under an infered light to help her along with that.

I really want to see her - I'm so jealous of Mum as she's flying over on Friday to see them all. Mum will be under strict instructions to give Erina loads and loads of cuddles and kisses from her Auntie Trishie.

Tomorrow is the Pink Ribbon Morning Tea. Linda and I are all prepared and we are looking forward to a fantastic day. After that we are heading off with the "besties" (Lightbody's, Harris', Poupardins and Prices) for a weekend down at Broadwater. Looking forward to it - it should be a big laugh!!

Kisses Trish xxx

Pink Ribbon Preparations

Wow after our wonderful newspaper article we have been inundated with bookings. I am so happy that we have our 40 guests. Linda and I are making the final arrangements and we both look forward to a fantastic fund raising event.












Thank you to the following sponsors for your generous support:

• 5th Avenue Jewellery
• Alison Lightbody
• Cynthia Spiteri
• Deb McCullogh
• Juliette Needs
• Les Bennell Automotive
• Marilyn Farnfield
• Nutrimetics
• Peta's Culinary Creations

and drum roll please - Linda, Laura and Jan from Lilly Cottage who without their help we would not be able to do this.

Will post loads of photos of the event soon.

Kisses Trish xxx

ERINA Update

Baby Erina Isabel is now 1 day old. She is still in special care however she is out of the humidity crib. They put in a nasal tube so that Erina can rest - she's soooo tired, so they are feeding her with expressed breast milk from Christa. Christa is really well, and I spoke to Stephen last night who was over the moon with his little girl. Also very proud of his big girl.

They expect that Erina should come home in a week or so which will be wonderful.

Kisses

Aunty Trish xxxxx

Our Maggie - Dusty!

Simply had to share our beautiful Magpie - Dusty.

William named him - how do I know it's a him? Well throughout nesting season the mummy magpies get big - they have to look after the babies don't you know. So the daddies stay relatively the same size. Dusty is very unique to us. He has a gumby toe on his left foot. He comes to visit all times during the day and he sits in the same spot every time. If I don't notice he is there he will warble for his dinner. Sometimes I make him wait just so I can hear their beautiful sound. Over the past couple of months Dusty has let me get closer and closer. Yesterday I put food just inside the front door and he came in and got it. I'm hoping over the next couple of weeks he will let me pat him.

This is onother maggie coming to see what's so good.

Magpies are my very favourite bird - most people dislike and even hate them. I know that they are beautiful and clever. Magpies are known for swooping but as has been proved the last couple of weeks - they only swoop if they fear for their babies. There is a relatively "highly strung" maggie around the corner from us and he is very protective. Some boys on bikes have been taunting him and he is known to swoop bikes. However he doesn't swoop people walking - he knows that they will do him and his family no harm.

I have two stories that I tell everyone and I seriously believe this to be true.

Magpies are very clever. Do you know that if a baby maggie falls from a nest and can't get back up, you can nail an icecream bucket to the same tree and put the baby in there and the mummies and daddies will still look after it as well as the babies in their nest.

If you are kind to a magpie and feed it, the magpie will tell all his friends and they will never swoop you.

Moral of the story - Be kind to magpies!

More information on Magpies

Kisses Trish xxx

HAPPY BIRTH-DAY!!

CONGRATULATIONS

BABY GIRL

Name: Erina Isabel McCarn

Born: 22nd October 2007

Time: 5.17pm (Bne time)

Weight: 5 lb - 2267g

Length: 18.3in - 46.5cm

Mother and baby doing well, father and grandmother still recovering. Mum is relieved, excited, disappointed (she's not there), overwhelmed, happy, blessed and every other emotion we can think of. Mum will be meeting Erina on Friday so that will be lovely. I have gifts here for her and must go to the shop tomorrow and get her a couple of cupcake singlets, and see if they will swap over the cushion for a more "girly" one.

This morning at 2.00pm Perth time Christa and Stephen went to hospital after her waters had broken. Her contractions were 5 min apart when she got there and then they slowed. They put her on a drip to speed up labour, which was slow (15 hours) and Erina was born naturally at 3.17pm Perth time (2 hours behind Queensland).

I've spoken to Christa and she is very emotional - Erina is beautiful with lots of dark hair, she is in special care just for the moment as she is so little. Erina Isabel wasn't due to enter the world for another 4 weeks yet - poor Christa was due to start maternity leave this Thursday. She's actually on call tonight!!

My darling family is not as computer literate as me so Erina might be 12 years old before we get a photo on email. But having said that Christa did promise to email me some photos asap.

Some pre-Erina photos taken a couple of weeks ago.

Kisses Aunty Trish xxx

Bon Appetito!

Our kitchen renovations are almost complete!!!! Here is our old kitchen - the vinyl doors had peeled and it was quite tired. Ian and I are planning on staying here for a long time (who can afford to move with house prices and fees the way they are!!) so we organised for a beautiful new kitchen and we updated all the appliances too. Bon Appetit Kitchens were absolutely fab. The designer Kris did a fantastic job of making the most of the existing shape of the kitchen and the cabinet fitters were wonderful. The planning and installation was like a well oiled machine - who'd have thought I just saw their sign one day whilst driving along and I had kitchen measurements on me and I just popped in on the off chance to see if anyone was free to give me a quote. And from there it was 6 weeks and absolutely wonderful service. I'm so happy with it. The tiler and plasterer are just to finish off and the unenviable task of repainting the interior of the house begins. We are in no rush so it shall be my project for the next few months.

This is the fellow dismantling the old kitchen.
By the end of the first day they had all the bottom cabinets in.

The second day they completed the rest which was: installing new pantry and doors, overhead cupboards and rangehood, fixing all the tops down, installing double bin and undersink organiser underneath the sink, cut and installed the sink and stovetop, installed oven and siliconed all gaps. They left at about 2.30 and the plumber came in after them and plumbed in our fridge water and did the sink and dishwasher connections. Water at last!!!

Day 3 was the electricians turn to do all plugs and new points, hook up the stove and oven and install a kill switch for the stove. It was also when I repacked the kitchen - I haven't had a pantry this neat ever.

And this is the "almost" finished result - simply beautiful isn't it. It seems so much bigger than the last kitchen but it is the same footprint....mmmmm don't know what it is yet might be lighter colour and more streamlined design. All in all I'm over the moon.

Kisses Trish x