First Official Ultrasound

We had our 12 week Ultrasound today, and got the Nuchal Scan results. Results were all fabulous, and the scan itself was awesome.

Baby was SO active, at first on it's front, then turning over, and bouncing around everywhere, it was spectacular to watch, and really brought it all home.

Too early to tell the sex, but probably at the 18 week scan.

And here is a belly comparison at 3 months from 2002 and now.

Mari

More Good News And An Update

So firstly we have some awesome news!

We have finally sold the investment unit in the north!

After 8 weeks being listed at 'Offers over $650k', the first weekend we changed it to '$650k or near offer' and we got an offer at $650k!! We are absolutely stoked and relieved.

We bought the unit in 2005 for $543k and it was never meant to be an investment property. We bought it because we fell in love with it. the layout was perfect. The three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and massive living room were perfect and the pool and spa were an added bonus.

The strata and the travel costs to the city and east were killing us though.

We tried to sell it at the beginning of 2007 but didn't get a nibble. Well we got a nibble but it was $40k under what we paid for it. So we decided to tenant it and we moved to the east.

In hindsight our parents were right. Yes, there I said it. They were right. We should have bought in the east that last time. But I guess it was a learning experience.

So now we are finally getting rid of this massive monkey off our backs. We plan to get a smaller investment unit soon.

In other news, we've had a great long weekend so far.

Last Thursday Josie's new loft bed got delivered and Tony and Mat spent Friday putting it together. It's a bit wider than we expected but Josie LOVES it. In fact she has spent almost all of the time since Friday that we have been at home in bed watching TV!

Meanwhile Vika and I went to Paddys on Friday for a bit of a shopping trip. And had a really nice Yum Cha lunch before clearing Chinatown of it's take away Yum Cha to take home for dinner with our cousin Anna. The evening went really well and we all had a great time.

On Saturday I took Josie to see Rio 3D and we both loved it. It has been a long time since I saw a cartoon that I really enjoyed and Rio was fabulous!

Sunday we went to the Powerhouse with our friends Roman and Helen and their daughter Stacey. It was... well... fun cause we were out and with them.. but honestly.. the Powerhouse just let us down. It's so big and disorganized. Questacon it is not.

Had Yum Cha at Marigold for lunch which was awesome and then went our separate ways till they came over for some Crust pizza.

That was the first time I had tried Crust and I have to say it was the best pizza I have ever had!

So today we are taking road trip with Roman and Helen down to Wollongong to see the Science Centre and Planetarium. Should be fun!!

On the pregnancy front, all is good. Feeling less tired. Having strange vivid dreams, like last night's whopper. I dreamt that I had an arm and a leg growing out of my stomach and they were seeping mucus out of the base and I had to keep them dry. And then they eventually grew flush with my stomach and kind of got absorbed. It was so gross!!

I am still losing weight, 50.2kg in total. It's very exciting and I feel like I am living a brand new life. One with a lot more energy, and hope, and happiness.

Next week we are off to the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks and I just can't wait! I know it's going to be cold but I am sure we will still have a fab time and we may even be able to catch a few storms from the 29th floor!

That's pretty much it for me. Off to get ready for the trip to QLD!

Mari

[]

1st Obstetrician Appointment!

Ok so firstly, New Zealand was a bust. Started feeling sick the night before and didn't want to risk anything so pulled out. Quite disappointing.. but not worth the risk.

Now today I had my first appt with the new OB. He was.. a character.

Mat and Wendy used him for both the girls, and every nurse I speak to raves about him.

He is.. a character..

Aside from him having a potty mouth.. and using the f-word twice (with Josie there!!), I really liked him. He was very relaxed, very confident and knew what he was talking about.

Not to mention he didnt charge $6000 for 'Pregnancy Management' !

He also accurately calculated my real due date, based on the fact that I actually ovulated a week late, so you cant just use the first day of the last cycle.

So now my official due date is.. wait for it... 12.11.11.

And I am 9w4d today ;-)

This is really gonna be the Longest. Pregnancy. Ever!

Flying Away

So I am off to New Zealand on Monday. Going for work for a week.. my first trip to NZ, and my first trip overseas in about 5 years..

I'm looking forward to it, and not looking forward to it. I've never been away from my family for this long before.. and especially now, its a bit nerve wracking! Gonna really miss Tony & Josie.

But I think it will be a good trip and good experience.. and I am back on Tony's Birthday!

Tony is being left with lots of instructions and reminders. Josie has been organised. And my fingers are crossed that she gets to school on time!! ;-)

Mari

And Now, For the Biggest News Yet

Hmm.. so a picture tells a thousand words..

... or in this case just 3...

We. Are. Pregnant.

And before getting this:

.. we were due on the coolest date!

11/11/11 !

But now we are due on 16/11/11, which is not to say that 11/11/11 isn't still a possibility.. it is! Just gotta book the Caesar NOW! lol!

So everyone is really excited! Josie is beside herself and has already volunteered for all nappy and feeding duties ;-)

We are measuring 6w2d, with a strong heartbeat.

And I am feeling kinda dazed.. I really cant remember how to do this anymore! Its been 8 years. Do they still do it the same way, or has there been advancements in techniques?? - lol ;-)

So here's to an uneventful 8 months ;-)

Mari

Anniversary XIII... or is it XVIII?

Today is our 13th Wedding Anniversary.

I never really feel very big emotion around this day. This day each year for me is really a reminder that, what to me is, the important day is approaching. And THAT day is the anniversary of the day Mari and I became a couple, five years before we were ultimately wed.

From the day we became a couple we lived as a married one. We immediately shared a bed and a room (and later a house) at Uni, we shared our finances, we shared our lives 24/7 from minute one. And for nearly 18 years so far.

We got really good at being a couple, at being a single unit with a common goal. And then we got good at driving each other batshit. And 17.5 years later we're still working on getting good at not driving each other batshit. So it's a work in progress, but what in life isn't? And who else would I choose to drive me batshit? I wouldn't choose anyone else to NOT drive me batshit. So I'm definitely not going to put up with the crap I do for anyone else. Except our daughter... who seems to have figured out exactly what it is about each of us that annoys the other and tries valiantly to emulate those qualities as often as inhumanly possible.

But I digress. The point is that my life with my lovely wife is one that, no matter the ups or the downs, I have never wished were with another. I have never wished for a change at bat. 'Cos who else could possibly be better to share it with than she? Even when she is the cause of the upheaval her companionship gets me through it.

She often used to ask me why I loved her. And all I could say was "I don't know, I just do.". Which as you know, is not what a woman wants to hear in response to that question. And she would ask "why? You're often angry with me, I'm not beautiful [she is -ed], etc etc etc". I never had a good answer. Until now. It's because I was born with my heart outside my body (not literally in case any medically knowledgeable people are reading). But I found it 18 years ago on a train to Wollongong. And I grabbed on tight and I'll never let it go.

When the anniversary of that day comes in April this year I will have spent half of my life with and half without the love of my life.

And the ONLY thing I regret, enough to want to go back and change it, in this life is that she wasn't there with me the whole time.

I love you because you are my heart. And I need my heart to go on living.

I love you Baby.

Tony

Grab The Goat By The What Now?!

So we're laying in bed on this fine Xmas morning 2010, awake after having to change the sheets and blankets after Zac pee'd on Mari while she slept, when for reasons I won't go into out of respect for my wife I had a sudden desire for a bullhorn.

And the following conversation ensued:
Tony: Man I wish I had a bullhorn!
Mari: A what now?!
Tony: The thing you talk into that amplifies the sound... you know when Bart put them all together and caused a big explosion?
Mari: Isn't that called a megaphone?
Tony: Bullhorn is an American term
Mari: Bart called it a megaphone...
Tony: A Southern American term then!
Mari: Why Bullhorn?
Tony: Because it looks like a bulls horn?!
Mari: I've never seen a bull with horns like that...
Tony: If you strap the cone to the side of the bull's head then the handle faces forward like a bull horn.
Mari: looks confused and makes twirling motions with both hands in the air above her.
Tony: you're thinking of a goat dear.
Mari: I'm thinking of a goat!

A HERO

I am a HERO.

What happened?!?! (you may ask...)

Well let me tell you.

On Sunday my Xmas lights were going up. I was We were all very excited! We hadn’t put up lights in over 3 years! And I rock Xmas. So it was especially hard for me.

Tony I happily pulled out the three massive Xmas Decoration boxes from the attic and sorted through it all. I ecstatically went and added to the collection and got it ready for Sunday.

On Sunday Becca and Mat came over to help put it all up. Becca first helped with putting up the internal decorations. The signs and pictures and hanging things. When we were done it looked like Santa had thrown up all over the living room. It was a picture of Xmassy goodness!

And then Mat came over to do the lights, and he and Tony were like machines! They put up heaps of lights on the balcony upstairs, but our step ladder almost ended the happiness of the day.

Mat was standing on the ladder when it decided that enough was enough and suddenly collapsed straight down! In a split moment decision, and knowing I was only wearing socks, I heroically stuck my foot out, imagining the Adamantium running through my veins would be enough to stop the ladder’s descent, but alas no! The ladder continued its journey into oblivion, and with it my beloved brother-in-law, who had the presence of mind to ride the horrible beast to the floor.

And so endeth the tale happily, with Mat still alive and kicking, and coming over next weekend to put the tree up.

And although this tale could have ended so tragically, it did not. Because I am a HERO. A HERO with a bruised foot.

A HERO I say!

Thank you.

The Awful Truth

Mari realised the awful truth of her advancing age tonight.

And in the most heinous of betrayals, this realisation was brought to her by her beloved Days Of Our Lives.

A recently returned character from days long past mentioned that "the last of his kids had gone off to college" and in the midst of chuckling over how fast and loose these daytime soaps play with time her hindbrain completed the calculation, she went deathly pale and a hoarse denial tore itself loose from the pit of her soul, bursting forth from out her mouth in horror and fury.

It had indeed been 20 years since Justin and Adrienne got hitched and started knocking out babies.

Sorry Baby.
Better luck next time?

And We Do

So I've turned the shirt over.

And she's turned to face away from
the shirt and gone to sleep.

And tomorrow she'll wonder why I don't want to do any if the fun jobs she has lined up for me.

'Cos there's nothing like job satisfaction.

At least, not in the Hill household.

And we close our eyes.....

[]

We Have To Close Our Eyes

It's 3am and I've just been ordered to bed because my (usually) lovely wife needs me to run to the chemist tomorrow morning and get her the magic anti-chicken-pox pills.

So we're laying in bed in the dark and she says "you know what's annoying?! turn your #%^*ing t-shirt off!"

I've just taken delivery of a tshirt from threadless.com with a lightsaber on the front where the blade is an energy saver fluro lightbulb. Awesome, I know. The best bit is the bulb glows in the dark! Right? Yeah baby!

So anyway she complains that the shirt is bright and I say "you can NOT see that with your eyes closed!". To which she replies "I can't keep my eyes closed all the time!!!".

Now I want to point out once again, it's 3am and we're laying in bed in the dark...except for the shirt...so in the almost complete darkness.

And I realize why she can't sleep.
It's not the pox. She's doing it wrong.

"Baby, you have to close your eyes!"

[]

Crazy 101 - The Teacher Is In!

So we're watching an ad for Duracel's new contact charge pad and the following conversation ensued:

Mari: Cooool *excited*
Tony: Yeah
Mari: A cheaper alternative *very earnestly*
Tony: Ye..wait what?
Mari: A cheaper alt...
Tony: yeah yeah yeah I uh... Why is it cheaper?
Mari: ...it's duracel... or energizer... It's gotta be cheaper than... like... a website...
Tony: Wow! That's some crazy sh*t you said right there
Mari: *completely cracked up* It sounded right in my head...

For bonus points see if you can guess at what point the crazy lady got distracted by the next ad during the conversation.

I Think Its Time For An Update.. No?

Lots to update.. lots and lots!!

Ok so I should start with our new addition!

Meet Zena.

Zena is about 9 weeks old, is a domestic short hair, and is absolutely nuts!

So a guy at working was giving her away last week and after a quick consultation with Tony, it was decided that we would expand to a 3 cat family ;-) She was delivered to us on Tuesday night, Josie was very surprised, and after a quick trip to the vet to get her checked out, she was pronounced in perfect health with no fleas! Hurrah!

At first Zak and Zoe were a bit freaked. Zoe more than Zak. Zak was more like 'Meh.." and only hissed at her twice on the first night.. once when she rolled off the couch onto him, and once when she attacked his tail. Both times, I reckon he had a point.

On the other hand.. Zoe was freaked out for a few days.. she would hiss at Zena quite often, jump 10 feet into the air every time Zena twitched and ran away from her. However, but the end of the weekend Zoe had stopped hissing, and was just run around after Zena going "Thats mine! Dont touch!".. "Thats mine as well..".. "And that too! Muuuuum! SHE'S TOUCHING MY STUFF!!"

So now we are a week in, and Zak and Zena are sleeping together and Zoe and Zena are chasing eachother round the house and playing. Its all good ;-)

So now you can officially call me the Crazy Cat Lady (tm).

Zena is so so so cute. She loves being held (which is so weird for us). She is mega playful, I dont remember Zelli or Zoe being so playful.. Zak yes though.. and she is SO tiny! Teeny next to Zak, and tiny next to Zoe. Until Zena arrived, I always thought Zoe was small.. but that was only next to Zak.. Zoe looks huge next to Zena!

So thats the story of our new arrival.

And now my other big news.. I have lost over 30Kg over the last 5 months or so.. and I have done this thanks to a kick start with Optifast, and then an operation called a Sleeve Gastrectomy, where 80% of my stomach was cut and removed. This procedure is permanent and irreversible.

So now I eat very little. And the weight has been dropping off.

I am so relieved, and so happy. I have more energy, more confidence and am generally all good. Ive dropped at least 3-4 sizes and fingers crossed in the next 12 months we might even add ANOTHER mouth to the household ;-)

I would like to lose another 30Kg or so.. but right now..

Life. Is. Good ;-)

So here are some comparison photos..

Aside from those two biggies, Josie is doing well at school and about to head into Year 3 next year. The school has a compulsory Instrumental program from year 3 so Josie has chosen Sax, Flute or Trumpet to learn, but ultimately it will depend on what the teachers deem appropriate for her.

And I think thats it for updates..

Dreams That Make You Cry

So the other night I am dreaming and, as you do, I suddenly realised that my Dumachka (which is a little square pillow that I use on top of my regular pillow, don't ask, all Kleytmans have always used them), was an onion. Yes, an onion. And you know, I didn't want to put my head on an onion, cause you know, they smell, so I moved the 'onion' up above and to the left of my head. But when I put my head down, there was no Dumachka, and I was uncomfortable, so then I realised that the onion, was in fact my Dumachka, I moved it back and all was right with the world.

The End.

So.. Dream Doctors.. what does it all MEAN ?!

Don't Strangle Granny!

On the car ride home from Baba's:

Josie: Daaad, the other day I was on the grass and I was booored so Granny said I could run across the road really fast.

Tony: What the hell?!

Josie: It's ok, I ran really fast!

Tony: *fails to find the power of speech through the red haze of rage*

Josie: *babbles incessantly about various things for a while*.....daddy?...DADDY?!

Tony: What?!

Josie: Are you Listening?!

Tony: No. I'm thinking about what I'm going to do about Granny.

Josie: What are you going to do?

Tony: I'm thinking about strangling her.

Josie: Daddy! What have I told you about strangling Granny?!

Tony: ....nothing, it hasn't ever come up as yet.

Josie: well...add that. Don't strangle Granny!

Tony: I'll try to restrain myself.

Turn your face away, ask me a question

Just a quick one today.

So we went to the movies tonight, my lovely wife and I, and saw Vampires Suck (note to parody-ists: you need to be better than the thing you are making fun of - score: C- occasionally funny) and Sorcerer's Apprentice (quite good).

Right in the middle of reading the cast credits Mari turns to me (away from the credits up on the big screen) and says "so who played Morgana?".

Realising her mistake (as I burst out laughing) she turns back in time to miss the name as it slides off-screen.

Priceless.

Those Crazy Cushion Eating People!

So Mari is telling me about Becka doing the 40-hour famine soon, and how she can give up two other things rather than food.

Mari: So she's giving up talking and furniture.

Tony (twirling a string with a weight around): Furniture. Where's she going to sleep?

Mari: On the floor.

Tony: On the floor.

Mari: Yeah.

Tony: How Amish of her.

Mari: More like Mediterranean.

Tony (still twirling): Uhhhh.

Mari: You know, those people that sleep on the floor.

Tony: They don't sleep on the floor in the Mediterranean.

Mari: The Japanese!

Tony (still twirling): They don't sleep on the floor either.

Mari: The, the, the....

Tony: You're thinking of homeless people!

Mari: No, like the people who eat on cushions!

Tony (the twirling gets wobbly): Theeee what now?

Mari: You know! They eat on cushions!

Tony: The food is on the cushions?

Mari: Noooo (like THAT is just noodle doodle!), THEY sit on the cushions!

Tony: Where is the food?

Mari: ....I dunno

Tony: But you sai..

Mari: Moroccans!!!!

Tony (the weight hits the floor): ......I have to blog this.

Josie is Officially off the Market

We have always said that Josie and Joshy were gonna eventually marry. Its totally on the cards.

Especially after this exchange between Josh and his mother:

Josh & Ines are at Ines' bed.

Joshy: I love your bed mummy, its so big! And you have two pillows! I wish I had two pillows!

Ines: Well no Josh, there's only one of you, you dont need two pillows.

Joshy: But I want two pillows ;-(

Ines: Well when you get married, you can have two pillows.

Joshy: Married? Like to Josie?

[Josh claps his hand to his mouth and giggles]

I think the deal is done now.

Ines, David, what kind of dowry are you guys expecting? We have no goats, but I can provide two cats, one slightly used, and the other well used ;-)

Mr Mom Epic Fail

This morning was one of those rare mornings when I am on child duty; get her up, dressed, teeth & hair brushed etc.

So I did all of the above, and even managed to brush and tie up her hair, and got her to school (only 20-odd minutes late - I can hear the gasps of disapproval from my maternal audience already) without any arguments or tantrums, from either of us.

45mins later I'm sitting at my desk at work feeling pleased with myself when I receive a call from my suspiciously chipper wife. I then have a couple of microseconds to think to myself "she sounds happy, she must be ringing to compliment me on doing such a great job that allowed her to get such a refreshing rest." before she asks (in an increasingly worrying sunny voice) "hello husband, so...what did you make Josie for her lunch today?".

Oh crap, "er..."

"Mmhmm. And recess?"

Double crap! "I-I-I... er... well..."

"Mmmmm. Aaaaaand nibble?"

Ahhhh frak me!!! "*whimper*"

In contrast to her hopelessly useless father my offspring managed to discover her lack of foodage, take herself off to the office and ring her mother to complain about the terrible staff & services offered at Shez Hill this morning, "definitely not up to snuff you must agree my good woman." and all such.

I'm sure you all agree.

Caution: Proliferate Use of the F Word Ahead

The other day Josie & Daddy were playing Mario Kart on the Wii when Josie is run off the road by Bowser.

Josie: Fuck!
Tony: Josie!
Josie: Naaaooooo I didnt say 'Fucken' I said "Fuck"
Tony: Fuck is rude!
Josie: Noooo "Fucken" is rude! Not "Fuck"!
Tony (now starting to hesitate to keep saying the word): ...F...Fuck is also rude.
Josie: No it's not! It's "Fucken" *pronounced very clearly as if daddy is retarded* is the rude one!
Tony: Sweetie you know the word "throw"?
Josie: yeah
Tony: and "throwing"?
Josie: yeaaah? *again like Daddy is retarded and is not making any kind of sensible point*
Tony: and you know the "ing" in "throwing" is just the word "throw" with "ing" added on the end?
Josie: yeeeesssss *becoming testy with daddy's mental limitations*
Tony: so if "throwing" was rude then it's not going to be the "ing" bit that is rude is it? "ing" doesn't mean anything by itself does it?
Josie: nooooooo *as if daddy is the most obtuse, obvious man in history*
Tony: So It would be the "throw" part that was rude right?
Josie: Yeah *of course you silly little man*
Tony: well some people say "en" instead "ing"
Josie [mouths "fucken" and "fucking" a couple of times, gasps and looks at Daddy, stricken]: I didn't know!
Tony: Really.
Josie [looking embarrassed and sad to have lost an argument with Daddy, mumbles]: someone told me
Tony: who?
Josie [rolling her eyes]: you don't want to hear it
Tony: Oh I really really do
Josie: Paris *as if this was eminently obvious*

Meanwhile Mummy is sitting at her computer, safely hidden, wetting herself laughing.