A BIT OF EVERYTHING

O wow, our leave was great. I really felt so refreshed when I returned. You can't believe what a wonderful time myself and hubby had and that we managed to have a very pleasant and relaxing time together.

and then....

we both had to return to work, and both of us are stressed out again.

but a number of things changed for me as well. I have been telling you all about this very exciting thing that I didn't want to jinx, well I might have. I was desperate to move on from where I currently work, I have tried to cope with what I had to go through, but I think mentally I just wasn't at the right place. So I went for a couple of interviews, but I don't think that my heart and mind wanted the same thing...

anyway, I just think that my brain told me that it was the right thing to do, but I realized that I'm happy where I am, I really love my job, I love all *some* of the people I work with and that I am wanting to leave because of decisions that I believe was wrongly made. Well I still think so but who cares what I think.

So just before I left, we received a notification advising us that we have been assigned a coach. I initially didn't feel so pleased with this, but realized what an amazing coach I got, and how I will be able to learn so much from my coach. So after I returned I spend a couple of sessions with my coach and WOW, I really think that I am at a much better space, I really value my coach so much. I managed to learn in a very small period that things *IS WHAT IT IS* You can't change it, but you can sure as hell change your attitude about things, and I am trying, and let me tell you IT'S WORKING. Stuff I really wanted to happen in my life, which I so desperately wanted for so long on a career level, suddenly doors are opening, don't know if everything will work out the way I hope, but yet again *IT WILL BE WHAT IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE*  but please hold thumbs, and hopefully I will be able to share a very exciting post one day telling you all about my Job or something great that happened.

So anyway - my birthday is one of these days, and my anniversary! I just can't believe that time has gone so fast. I will be married 13 Years this year on December 5, and turn 32. I'm very excited about it! I just can't wait for all my presents and all the love that is shared on birthdays and anniversaries, but then on the other hand I can't wait for the Festive season either. I am like a child during this time of the year, maybe because it starts so early for me with my birthday, and hey - i don't just want one gifts for all 3 the occasions I want plenty from hubby *smile*

Hope you all will have a break during the festive season, and that you will be spending time with family and friends... unfortunately I will be working...

• Will you be creating menus?
• Will you be cooking?
• What will you be preparing for the festive season?
• What's your plans for the festive season?

Hope to hear from you soon

Merry Christmas

To all you wonderful people out there. I hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends

From Stefanie

CAMPING TIME

So it's that time again. Me, hubby, my mom, my sister in law, brother in law and their little one will be going camping soon. I just can't wait.

Luckily this time round we actually know the place where we're going and will not land up in another muddy mess like the previous time, so JIPPY I just can't wait. We just have to wait and see how the whole trip will plan out!

On the fertility front, I'm sitting and awaiting AF in order for us to make an appointment for our 12 day scan! will keep you all posted

HAVE YOU EVER?

1. Have you ever regretted making a decision?
2. Have you ever felt that a decision has impacted your life negatively?
3. Have you ever felt alone?

Well that’s exactly how I feel

So here is my story… and I stick to it :-)

So here’s explaining the “making a bad decision part” about a year ago I was confronted with a opportunity to work permanently at my company, and I had to leave the contracting house I was working for permanently I really enjoyed working for the contracting house however being a contractor you really didn’t have a lot of stability and contracts and areas kept on changing and I was working away from home at times which impacted the family planning part of our lives. The interview was great okay the 3 interviews I had… It really sounded like a stable environment and an environment where I could grow it sounded like this was a well establish area and that there were lots of opportunities for me. It sounded like a place where I could be myself and enjoy my work as I love what I do and would never want to change my profession so I took the opportunity to come work permanently at my company. I resigned from the contracting house even though I was really enjoying the work there! My first couple of projects in the new company was great and especially the first one and I had a great opportunity to proof what I’m worth, but then it all started….

Now let me explain the “Regretting making a decision” part

My boss is the type of person who prefers to tell the entire team stuff as the team needs to understand where one is emotionally and personally. So I had to explain all the fertility treatment stuff with my boss and my colleagues in order for them to understand when I pop out the office for tests or for treatment and for them to understand when you go through anything emotionally (not that I think some people even care about all these things, and I still think that some people are uncomfortable with me sharing all this). I really didn’t want to share all the struggles with infertility because I feel that this is personal, it’s something I need to deal with and only our closes friends and family really know about our struggle but eventually I had to share this in order for me to get time off to go for appointments, test and all those things, it all worked out kind of okay.! The team knew where I went and they really didn’t ask a lot of questions and when I left they had no issues with me leaving earlier or coming in later. Now a year later I find it more and more difficult to make any type of appointment as work time always has to come first, you see there is no employment act that states that you are allowed time off for these type of treatments and it really depends on you boss and the company. So you’re not allowed to just take time for appointment at the clinic, and when I now have to go for any type of treatment I need to do this between the opening hours and 12PM as the appointment are only scheduled in the mornings till 12. So I’m kind off in a catch 22. I can’t get time off and when I do ask I have to answer a lot of questions which makes me uncomfortable, and in some cases when I try and put in leave my leave is rejected because of the projects that I work on and deliverables that is coming up. So this kind off make me regret making the decision to move when I had all the opportunity with my previous employer. (Please just note that I by no means say my employer is bad it’s a great company to work for it’s just that infertility and time off kind off suck at this present moment)

Now let me explain the “Have you ever felt that a decision has impacted your life negatively”

You see for some reason I always end up being hurt some time. It’s actually such a long story but I’ll try and explain this briefly. There are times that people actually don’t care when children are part of adult conversations, or there’s times that you actually don’t notice them, but when children is part of these conversations they actually do listen, whether they understand what is being discussed or not… believe me they listen, and when they hear I always thought that they will not discuss this or bring this up because they were not suppose to listen or that they didn’t understand what was said… but O boy was I so wrong! We have wonderful friends; friends we got to know and grew very close to over the last couple of years, almost 4 years to be exact. They have lovely children and I really love being with them and I really love their children. They have always been there for us and their children have spent a bit of time over by us as well. I would really not want to loose them as friends, but on Friday nigh I got a wake up call again, and to be honest it was hurtful, so much that I had to cry myself to sleep. On Friday night we quickly went over to our friends’ house as hubby felt like having a drink with our friend and I was spending some time between the children. It was really very relaxing to just sit there and watch TV with the kiddies, but then one of the children mentioned that I don’t have children and that I wouldn’t have (I don’t want to explain the whole conversation), but it HIT HOME… IT HIT DEEP. And I would have never expected it to touch me so much but it did, and me and hubby ended up (after we left) fighting over the fact that I hardly have any time or that I hardly make any time to sort myself out and to carry on planning for our future and for our child. So now I know that I have negatively impacted my live by the choice I made to move from the contracting house even hubby feels the brunt of my decision. I made the decision to move, I knew that I had fertility issues and I knew that we had to do treatments and my decision has officially impacted that and hubby is just getting more and more frustrated. It’s because of my choice to have more stability in my life and now I just regret this decision as this officially negatively impact my life and it’s terrible

Now lastly let me explain the “I feel alone part”

After we left our friends house, I felt very crappy, I really felt so emotional (and like I said I don’t really understand why but the comment hit home) and I was chatting to hubby about it to kind off vent. I really had to get this out of my system. I really felt hurt, but hubby just added to this whole thing and it turned out to be a big fight. I suppose it’s because he never really talk about the infertility. He carries on as if we have a normal life without any issues, and then at times he has his little explosions and Friday night was one. After his little explosion I kind of felt as if I keep him back in life, I feel that he could have had a full life with children which he always have wanted, but instead, he is stuck with me… - Okay here’s some self pity I know – he is stuck with someone who can’t seem to get it right to give him children, whose body has always let them down and I can see what that is doing to him and it hurts me. I have mentioned time and time again that if he feels that it is time for him to move on to be happy with children that he should. I’m sure I’ll manage on my own I’m sure I’ll survive and I’m very sure that God will someday bless me with a child. I keep hoping, I keep praying and I keep wishing.

With this I end off the post for today, and I thought I’ll leave you all with a small message to break the depressing mood of this post. Forgive me for venting on my blog today, but I really needed to vent and I knew that my blog will be a safe place for me to vent and be supported by my Blog friends!

Only You

A person can make you feel high,

A person can make you feel low.

But only you can decide,

Which way you want to go.

A person can hurt you mentally,

A person can hurt you physically.

But only you can place,

A limit on your abilities.

A person can cause drama,

A person can cause a situation.

But only you can create,

Your own reputation

A person can make you laugh,

A person can make you cry.

But only you can make,

Decisions for your life.

So

Don't live by what people do,

But live by what you know is true.

INTRO OF NEW FAMILY MEMBER

What a fantastic long weekend we had… it was so great that I only have time now to blog about it…

As most of you would know I really needed the time off to just relax a bit, and with the public holiday it was just fantastic… I tried for a couple of days more but unfortunately wasn’t that lucky to be able to get those days as well. Anyway it was still great.

So on Friday we got home and decided to braai with hubbies brother, his wife and their son, and we played a bit a pool, which was nice for a change. They didn’t really stay long as their son was playing club rugby the next morning and he obviously had to be rest out for that. Then Saturday we spend the day over at our friends, and as usual we played some dart and really had another really relaxing day. Then on Sunday hubby and I drove out for a while and were looking for an African grey, as hubby now again decided that he would really love to have a talking bird in the house. We really searched high and low, from the one bird farm to the next and we managed to find two different types, the red tail and the maroon tail, but hubby was still not satisfied so we had to continue looking. So Sunday eventually ended without a talking birdie at home. So on Monday (which was the public holiday) we drove out of town to a little store on the roadside that also have animals. It’s like a little pet shop… they have mice, birds, dogs, rabbits and all sorts of animals. So we stopped and looked at all the birdies they had.

Hubby then enquired about the Africa grey, but they only have little ones being taken from the parents next week, and then we would still have to feed them and honestly, nor me or hubby will be able to do that. It’s not going to be easy to try and feed the little ones at work, and I can’t really leave the birdie without food for the whole day. So we kept looking in the store. So they guy who works there (a real youngster) mentioned that they have another type of bird which can also talk and they are lovely as a pet. They are called Eclectus parrots, so we both went Huh… what? Anyway he then took us to a little glass room where he only had one little birdie sitting there. He explained that he has hand reared the little one and that the bird has just started to eat by himself. Both hubby and I just stood there, what a lovely bird. So as usual, we never carry money on us as it’s much safer and much easier to just buy with the debit card, but the store didn’t take cards. It at least gave hubby and me time to talk about the decision as the guy really didn’t give us any time to talk about our decision, and we prefer to make these types of decisions together.

Anyway so off we went to the nearest ATM which was about 10 min away from the store and 10 min back…. On our drive I “Google” and read as much about our little birdie and we decided that this birdie will definitely be a suitable pet for the both of us, and we returned to the store. On our arrival you could actually see that the guy was not expecting us back, but hey we returned with the money and ready to take our little pet home. He went into the room and clipped the wings for us, he then turned to one of the helpers and expressed how sad he was that the little one is leaving as he really loves the little one and he then handed our little pet over to us. Shame you could actually see how heartbroken this poor guy was to see the little bird go. So we quickly had to pack all the stuff, the cage and food, and we got in the car and started our trip back home. As we got home we went in the house, put our little new pet into his cage and introduced the two doggies to him, however Devonté didn’t want anything to do with this little new creature he was growling, licking the cage and sniffing, Uschcá really didn’t care at all, she walked in, sniffed and laid down close to where I was sitting… I suppose Devonté will still get use to him.

So people without further ado please meet our new member of our family – Whisky (hubby named him)

I thought I’ll ad a bit about this type of bird (information obtained from the web and books bought)

The Eclectus Parrot - They are stocky short-tailed parrots; it measures around 35 cm in length. The male is mostly bright green with a yellow-tinge on the head. It has blue primaries, and red flanks and under wing coverts. Its tail is edged with a narrow band of creamy yellow, and is dark grey edged with creamy yellow underneath, and the tail feathers are green centrally and more blue as they get towards the edges. The upper mandible of the adult male is orange at the base fading to a yellow towards the tip, and the lower mandible is black.

Unlike many other species of parrot they are relatively easy to breed yet difficult to hand feed. Eclectus in captivity require vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as lightly cooked sweet potato, fresh broccoli clumps, and fresh corn on the cob. Fresh greens such as endive or commercial dandelion are a very important in providing calcium and other nutrients. Spray millet is one of the seed items they enjoy, though the Eclectus diet should typically contain much less seed than other birds. A variety of soaked and cooked beans and legumes, along with brown rice, provided in limited amounts help provide protein. Nuts and seeds provide vitamin E, but should be limited in order to avoid too much fat in the diet, as Eclectus parrots can become obese.

The Eclectus are remarkable birds and ideally suited as a pet. When taught properly, they are capable of cognitive behavior from a very young age. The ability of the Eclectus to communicate with humans is a result of their extremely inquisitive nature, a feature strongly linked to their life in the rainforest canopy. This habitat is a rich environment requiring a heightened visual and audible intellect to master. When treated in a similarly caring and intelligent way they will quickly learn to communicate cognitively. Eclectus also prefer a calm environment and have a strong ability to notice changes within their normal surroundings. These highly intelligent birds are very animated and love to participate in daily activities and in doing so, will quickly become acquainted with a daily routine. Eclectus can be kept with other parrot species although it is extremely important that any new bird is introduced in the correct fashion. This involves providing one on one attention with the original bird and as much as possible, maintaining its normal daily routine.

OKAY HERE'S SOME FEEDBACK

I really didn’t know how to type up this message. I’m sooooooooooooooooo two minded about everything.

To start off with, we went to see the social worker, which was amazingly calm, almost to calm / relaxed. She took us through the whole adoption process, cost and everything else that goes with it. We had to register at one of the houses they currently work from etc. Then the house returned a mail with the cost estimations on their side and everything that goes with it, and now I feel a bit concerned.

You see, the thing is… even though I think we have made up our minds; there is still a part of us holding on to what we’re currently doing. Yes we could spend this small fortune and adopt, or we could try 2 more IVF’s or what ever is in store for us, we have also not yet considered a surrogate yet, and my sister in law so willingly offered the other day.

I feel a bit torn between all of these decisions, and need some guidance; so I booked an appointment with our IF Clinic and will discuss all our options with them on Friday 12 February 2010. I really hope that after this meeting I’ll be able to walk out and know what we need to do. I totally feel out of control, and I’m normally such an in control person. It just really isn’t making any sense right now. I just don’t know how to make the decision right now, and I hope Friday will give me some direction.

I know there are many of you that have gone through all of these emotions, and have decided the one or the other, and I’ll appreciate your views.

CAN'T WAIT

I am so excited, but still scared!

Why – Tomorrow is our BIG Day. We will be seeing the Social worker and look at our options. It’s still very early in the process and I have read everything I could, I went to my adoptive parents and got some information from them to, so I think we’re prepared, but we’ll know tomorrow. So here is my checks and balances for tomorrow

1. Excited – tick
   
2. got all the info needed for now – tick
   
3. Read all about the laws that was available – tick
   
4. prepare one emotionally – I think this is still not ticked
   
5. Starting our Journey – Priceless  

So hold thumbs and toes…. And enjoy your week!

THE ROAD AHEAD

Well it’s a new year, and with that I suppose all new things start. Looking back at everything we went through so far made me realize that after almost 11 years of marriage we are still alone. Our families have expanded and they have the most stunning boys my one sister in law has 3 and the other 1, and believe me when I tell you, their boys are adorable and truly stunning kids.

Then I look at myself and P, we have not accomplish any pregnancy and it makes me wonder if I will be dying one day and still be alone, and the thought is really unbearable. You know I sit and wonder why this is meant for me. It’s not as if I had the best life ever. My mother gave me, my sister and my 2 brothers up for adoption. They know nothing of me, and I off them. I grew up with lovely adoptive parents and lost my adoptive farther 9 years ago, I truly loved him so much and I think of him daily. Then I got married to the most wonderful guy. Yes we all have our problems but he is really supportive, and so our journey started as we wanted to expand our little family, but so far it’s a journey without luck. I know I will be a good mother, I know P will be the best father, but it now feels like that is one thing that will not become a reality for us, and it makes me sad.

P and I sat down the other night and really had a very good discussion. We were really looking at everything and all the possible ways that we will be able to have our little pink feet in our house. We spoke about Surrogacy, IVF’s and ICSI and so the list just grew. We were talking about everything we will be willing to do and what not, what we want in life, and what not, what we need, and what not, what we will cope with, and what not and… and… and… After this long discussion I think we finally decided, and I’m so glad we have decided together and we had exactly (well most of it) the same needs and thoughts about all of the processes. P and I have begun our process. The process of adopting our little pink feet…

We have made our first official appointment with an Adoption worker and we will be meeting with her on Tuesday 2 February 2010, I feel so many emotions at this stage that I don’t even know where to start. I am so scared, and all that it currently going through my mind is what if’s… yes I know it is still too early, but I am like that. I always try and see all the negatives and positives to every situation.

I don’t know all the laws and processes yet, and look we still have lots to learn, but I believe this is our first step again, and I will have to take it one day at a time whether it’s happy or sad, good or bad, we will get to the end of our journey one day!

If you know anything about the adoption laws and processes in SA, please send me some comments.

I would love to hear from you!

O WOW WHAT A WEEKEND

This weekend was the best weekend I had in a very long time.

My sister in laws boy turned 7 this weekend (23 January 2010) and we went out to Sun City Valley of waves for the day. We were all like youngsters again…

We got up at sparrows fart to get ready and leave home, as we are about 2.5 hours drive from Sun City. As we arrived there, we quickly had our picking breakfast at the car and off we went into the queue at the little station to wait for the train to take us out to the place. Eventually the train arrived and we got in to start of the adventurous day.

On arrival we walked through the casino bits and what a stunning place, anyway as we got to the other side we handed in our tickets and went down to the sea (man made sea). We quickly got our little beach chairs, tubes for the rides, umbrellas for shading and off cause something soothing to drink. The men left us to walk the place. On their return the did the drop slide which they found very interesting; however hubby said he will never try that one again for the day. As it was Armons’ birthday we were all dedicated to spend the time with him. So off we went into the sea and waited for the waves… riding wave after wave we decided to go ride the tubes in the tunnels, but on our way there my sis in law and I decided to do the drop slide thing, which left my top under my chin, and my bikini and shorts up my bum – ha but it was great fun… From riding the waterslide (Which almost gave me a heart attack at this age), to trying to run in a ball, which I said I’ll never do - I have giggled and battled so much, I’m still aching today. It was an amazing day.

At about 6, after the Valley of waves closed down, Armon had the time to play in the entertainment centre and for one or other reason he just wanted to play with hubby and now and again his dad, but at least he had fun. We then left at about 8 and off we went home, then off cause, the family felt a bit hungry and we had to stop off and eat something at spur before they closed down, and officially left the area at about 10, which left us with about 2 hours drive still, and at last we were home at about 12:00am.

When they left, Pieter and I just went straight to bed and only got up yesterday morning at 10:00am, which just come to show, we are getting old.

LOVE X 7

Yippy… yippy, I’ve got my first Blog award from Emma over at http://aksapphire.blogspot.com/ thank you very much The rules of accepting this award are simple: list seven things you love, and pass the award to seven bloggers you love. Well here it goes

• I love my Husband

Well I believe that I don’t even need to explain this, but I want to. Even though he isn’t always the most understanding, loving or emotional person he is my life. I can’t imagine my life without him. I would never have imagined that we would have gelled this well, we met when I was in Grade 8, and we’re still together today. I love him to bits…

• My family and friends

Every family does have their ups and downs, but hey have been so supportive in times that I really needed them; they also understood when I pushed them aside and never questioned me while I did that.

• I love my 2 Dogs

They are so sweet, they’re like children in our home, and now that it’s so cold and wet, they even spend time indoor… Shame even hubby feels sorry for them needing to be outside!

• My Job

I really love what I do, Project Management is truly the one thing I’ve ever done, which I have no regrets of. It gives me opportunity for growth and it gives me opportunity to be myself.

• Cell phone

I just can’t go without my cell; I’m always on the phone, talking, sms, mms or emailing someone. I get my mails on my phone and love it, and am always available…

• Entertaining

There is no greater time to entertain. I just love entertaining people. We always have something up our sleeves, always have family and friends over, and arrange something weird every now and then… well just like this… we had a “malete” dressed as hobos, and it turned out to be great fun

• Being me

I know that a lot of people have issues with themselves, and so do I, but I love being me. I love living the life I have, being able to be the positive, sparkling me! I love having the family and friends I have, the home I live in and just being able to stand up in the morning, hearing the birds chirp, being able to walk, and talk and at the end of the day, being able to go home, to a place that I adore (because I did the decorating) and it’s mine!

• and now for the 7 Blogs I love (in no particular order)

http://babymakingoneohone.blogspot.com/ http://everythinggiveneverythinggone.blogspot.com/ http://in-due-time.blogspot.com/ http://katery.wordpress.com/ http://infertilityrocks.wordpress.com/ http://thepitter-patter.blogspot.com/ http://flower1908.blogspot.com/
That's it from me, no you have a great day!

FUN IN THE SUN

They say that a break does one wonders, and I now believe it’s true. We officially took some time of from 24 April – 3 May 2009, to spend Fishing and camping trip with my hubby and his sister and brother with their families. Now the preparation didn’t really go as well as I planned for, seeing that I’m a firm believer in planning everything to the “T” but it all worked out wonderfully. My and SIL went through on Friday 24 April, and off cause as you know me, we got lost, but hey I did set the GPS to the coordinates we received, and by the time we reached our destination we were standing between rows and rows of corn farms. Eventually we had to turn around and head all the way back. So we reached the right destination this time, and with all the stuff we had to take through my poor little car was packed, and SIL had to keep the eggs on her lap to prevent them from crushing… look as this

Anyway we started unpacking and setting up our camp for the 9 days we will be spending there. So on Saturday our other SIL and BIL arrived with the kiddies, and they had to start setting up their camp, which turned out not to bad, but unfortunately because it was our first time at this spot, we got 2 stand opposite one another in stead of next to one another which resulted in a little space for everyone to catch and release their fish… So here is how the camps looked like Camp one (not close to the water)

Camp 2 (on the water)

So after everyone set up everything, the challenge started. Off cause the women had to be in a team against the men, to see who catches the most fish… and YA, we will not elaborate on the winnings but hey, even the children had their own competition going, and between the lot of us we caught and released 120 fish. Not bad hey… Here are some pictures of our catch

Then we also had some danger (A not so welcome visitor)

And lastly some pictures of the resort

And off cause, all good things come to and end…

COUNTING HOURS

Hi there and thank you for each and every comment. I went through for my blood test this morning and await the results. Can't wait but I'm also scared. No Af yet and I'm 4 days over, but everyone says its because of the Crinone 8% gel that I'm using. Will keep you posted later today

SCAN UPDATES!

I thought I’ll be able to blog today and tell you lots and lots of stuff, but unfortunately this is just another little snapshot of days of my life. So Tuesday 14 April 2009, was another day at the doctors offices for another scan to see how ovulation and my follies are progressing. Another huge disappointment as they are so small it just really sucks. Anyway, so there I had to swallow another lot of Estrofem and Clomid for a couple of days and I had to go back yesterday (Sunday 19 April). Hubby went with yesterday morning which was nice for a change, seeing that he can’t always make it. So we had to get up fairly early to travel to the doctors offices which is about 45min drive from our home. Got there and eventually saw doctor at 9am. Another scan was done, and we now managed to determine after all these years that my follies are only growing approximately 1mm in 2days, can you believe it… I just can’t believe my body is letting me down. So there is a little planning coming up, and we have an appointment on Wednesday morning which will determine how many active/life sperm is available in my mucus, depending on the testing and the results, we will be able to do inseminate on Thursday morning. In a way I feel exited and can’t wait for Thursday, but on the other hand I know I have to be optimistic but also sceptic. I suppose we will have to wait and see…. On the work front, my contract is ending at the company I currently work for, which means I will be moving very shortly. Scary, exciting and very stressful…! The wait to see where I’ll be going to is also killing me, I hate the long waits, I don’t like the interviews and I really don’t like the fact that I don’t have control over it, but at least before the interviews and stuff, hubby, me his brother and sister their children and spouses will be going to a campsite about an hours drive away from home. Hopefully this time will give me time to relax, and get focussed on all the tasks ahead. Get myself motivated again, and hopefully I’ll feel much, much, much more rest out than what I currently feel like. So ladies, I will hopefully be able to give you more details on Wednesday and Thursday…. And please, please, please keep me in your prayers and thoughts. Have a blessed week!

Show Time!

Hey there, long time no write… So here another month is at its end, and more exiting stuff awaits us. The Randfontein show started on Wednesday and the programme is very exiting. Well most of the time we only go on Saturday which normally is very entertaining, live shows and more. I have to be honest I love the show, and I think the added benefit is the fact that I am able to see old school buddies, some of them I only get to see once a year and that is at the show. Last year was great fun, so lets’ just see what is in store for us!

Birthday Planning

What a week I had last week…. Well the week started off being a very quiet week, and then a sudden turn on it on Tuesday when I received a call from my sister in law, asking that we need to plan her sons’ 6th birthday party for Saturday. Let me tell you, you have never seen a party unfold as quickly as this one. In 2 days we arranged everything and were able to send out the invitations and obtain the RSVP’s… Well the little one chose to have the new Ben 10 character as the main theme for his party, now let me tell you, never try to obtain anything for a new Character in SA within 3 days. Everywhere you shop you need to at least have 28 or 7 shipping days, now only having about 4 this is really not the way to go. On Thursday we were travelling all over the show, phoning, asking, and searching for Ben 10… I think in between all these searches I actually had nightmares of Ben 10 and his 10 little alien friends. Anyway, eventually after a whole day of search we managed to obtain some stuff with Ben 10, and were able to make a few party packs for his pre-school mates… seeing that his birthday was actually on Friday. We thought that it’ll actually be nice to send something over to the school. We managed to make him a few party packs, had cup cakes made with the Ben 10 character which came out lovely, and off we went on Friday morning to deliver this at school. Now all the planning had to go into Saturday, as he had a couple of mates over, well mostly cousins, and 2 other friends. We also made them a couple of party pack, had a bigger cake made with Ben 10 and his alien friends, had a slip and slide etc… Upon arriving at the venue on Saturday morning, we had to decorate the spot, and made sure we have the slip and slide at the most exiting spot. As we were still blowing up the balloons some of the guest already started to arrive, but hey we were fast. After we were done, we started to entertain the children, and I suppose there were no child who didn’t enjoy the event. After most of the children put on dry clothing and become all worn out, the adults hit the slip and slide, and what fun we had... of cause none of us thought about the consequences the next day…

Exciting News!

So the New Year has started and I can’t be more exited about this year. I got a funny mail form the genebase webpage, that someone has actually sent me a mail after I registered when last… couldn’t believe it, and so I signed onto the webpage because you’ll know that I’m a very curious person. So there was a message from a lady called Giorgette. Now who in life would this be as I know of no one called even close to this... Anyway the lady mentioned that she might know me and left a mail address at the bottom of this message. I took the mail address of the webpage yesterday and decided to mail Giorgette to see how or if we could possibly be related. I mailed her asking how she believes we are related, and had to sit and wait for the answer. As quick as which I sent the mail I contacted my uncle to find out whether he knows of this lady, he responded that he did have a cousin called Giorgette, but he doesn’t know where they are. Anyway now I just had to wait it out. Eventually yesterday at about 4:00 I received a mail back, a mail with copies of photos I didn’t even know anyone had out there. When I opened these photos I sat in my office while the tears ran down my face, it just reminded me of my childhood, and the people I so deeply loved. Well Giorgette is family; her farther is the brother of my grandmother. Her mom aunts Alet always use to visit my grandmother and I vaguely remember her I just wonder why no one ever mentioned them again…mmmm… Anyway, I sent a reply on the mail as she mentioned that I need to confirm some of the information which will indicate that I am family, and then she will be in the position to provide me with more information… no I have to be honest, I can’t wait to find out what more there is that she will be able to tell me… maybe….maybe she might know something about my brothers and sisters, maybe her mother told her… maybe my mother told her as apparently she and my mom were close… maybe…maybe…maybe!

A whole mouth full

Well I haven’t been able to write anything since September and I have to be honest, I really didn’t feel like it either. Since then so many things has changed in my life. Acupuncture is still underway, I still go weekly to be punctured all over, not sure when this will become enough in my life… seeing that all little things is starting to get the better of me. I really feel so moody these days, and the slightest little things will irritate the living daylights out of me. I suppose it’s just the time of the year when one starts to reflect on the past year, and realise that you still have not accomplished what you so hoped for. On the other hand, our two pups are great; there isn’t a day that they don’t fill my life with joy. Devonté had a knee operation last month, and he healed very well. He is up and going again, and it almost seems as if he had no problem. On the other hand, Uschcá is growing up so quickly, she is so sweet… sometimes I really think we should have named her licky tongue, cause every time she comes close to you she starts to lick you all over. She is rally gorgeous. On 15 December my cousins’ wife gave birth to their second child a healthy little boy, but on the other hand one of my friends also miscarried on the same day… so you find yourself in a whirl of emotions, glad for the one and heartbroken with the other one, especially because they have also been struggling to fall pregnant for a while, and all we can do is be there for them, listen and support where we are needed. Work wise… now this is a challenge, we are restructuring, O yes, be big “R” word: Restructuring. With this it really brings up a whole bunch of stuff, and even though I am not a permanent worker for this company and only contracting through my company at this one, it still influences you greatly. For once in my life I could say that I really enjoyed the team I’ve been working with, and now some of us are moving out, we will join new teams. I suppose change is the inevitable, and we would just have to settle in where ever we are moved to, however the uncertainty is killing me. They say that a change is as good as a holiday, but I doubt if this change will be as good as a holiday if we just come from holiday. Now it’s just the big wait to see what and where to from now. Really not a great place to be in prior to the festive season, and having to deal with this till January when these changes will effectively take place. Ag but I’ll have to quickly learn to place these thoughts on the sideline so that I can have a great festive and New Year. I’m greeting for now, but will make sure I add something more often. Thank you for all the mails received from you all so far. Enjoy the day

10th Anniversary

Today is officially our 10th Year of marriage! I just can’t believe how time fly, and with that being said, I can’t believe that I’m 10 years married. Today 10 years back, I woke up and spend a wonderful morning with all friends and family I so dearly loved, and the afternoon, more friends and family who has been there for the both of us since we were little, till the day we were joined as husband and wife. There have been so many days which were not the all moonlight and roses, but there were also the days where we were able to share the most wonderful memories and we cherish every single moment we had. Today, is the most wonderful day of our life, where we can look back on all those wonderful years together and be able to spend more wonderful years together as husband and wife…

Had to get up fairly early this morning to get the doggies to the vet… first of all we had to buy one of those mouth guards for Devonté, as he wouldn’t let anyone touch him… then we rushed back, got the 2 doggies ready and off we go to the Krugersdorp animal hospital… Devonté was first… on the table he got examined, due to the fact that he has a limp on his left leg… never knew why, but just suddenly he started limping. After the examination, Devonté got some Rompun to make him drowsy and asleep for them to do some X-rays on him… what a mission, Pieter had to walk up and down with him, as he didn’t want to go to sleep. After he fell asleep, the examined his body… The Dr called us to provide feedback, and it looks like Devonté has to go in for a operation on his left knee. We just now need to schedule the time for him to go… see like daddy like son… cause Pieter’s right knee got operated on not to long ago… ha-ha- ha-ha Uschcá tagged along as she had to be vaccinated and got her 6:1 and also a prazifen tablet… I suppose that is for worms… After this big session we took the 2 of them home, where Devonté slept for most of the day to sleep of the injection.., Uschcá on the other hand couldn’t really understand why he is so sleepy and snappy…

Ouma Wollie

Today is a very sad day in the whole family! My husbands’ grandmother passed away today, and as much as we all love her, we know she is at rest; she is in a better place, where there is no more suffering for her. Ouma Wollie you will always be remembered!