While mum is here I’m planning to get a lot done and so far so good. Yesterday, with the help of our neighbour, I moved the kids bunks upstairs, bought a mattress and bedding for Quinn, and set up their room. The 3 of them are now in the same room which means our room is child-free for the first time in almost a year.
So today’s one thing is putting all the clothes that are all over floors and beds and in baskets in their rightful places.
Just one thing. Simple, right?
Hi! Remember me? You put my groceries through your checkout yesterday at around 5pm. I was the slightly frazzled looking lady with an adorable baby boy sitting in my trolley. You greeted me with an apology for taking so long putting the previous customer’s groceries through. You said you just weren’t on your game that day. I assured you that I hadn’t noticed.
We exchanged a few pleasantries; you asked how my day was, I said it had been fine; you asked where I had purchased my shopping bags, I told you I bought them at DFO in Brisbane, and so forth.
I started watching you pack my bags, and I must agree you were not on your game at all.
I’m one of those very considerate shoppers who groups like-items together on the belt so that a) it’s quick and easy for you to pack and b) it’s quick and easy for me to unpack at home. You should be so lucky to have me as your customer. I then tended to my baby boy and took no notice of your packing.
Let me just say here that I thank you, and appreciate that you have obviously looked at me and thought to yourself “now here’s a woman who has it all together. Here’s a woman who will be unpacking the shopping as soon as she gets home.” No really – that was so sweet of you.
The reality is, if one lot of shopping gets unpacked before I head back to the shops a few days later, I’m doing well.
So it rather perplexed me when I was loading the bags into the back of my car, that you had loaded up one of the cooler bags to overflowing and ridiculously heavy, and had only put one item in the other cooler bag. It happened to be meat and I almost didn’t even notice it in there and almost left it in the car thinking it was empty.
And then this morning’s discovery. I had only managed to unpack the cold stuff when I got home last night, and again I appreciate that you would think I would make a mental note of everything I was putting away, but alas I didn’t. So when I opened up one of the bags to put the sweet potatoes, potatoes and pumpkin away, I discovered the fresh lasagne sheets and 3 stray kids yogurts.
What the hell.
Lucky for you I’m able to breathe deeply and roll my eyes and move on, but not before blogging about it.
So thanks for the blog fodder, but next time please use your noodle.
Sincerely
Wifey
Almost 18 months ago, someone posted a comment on this post that I wrote. Scroll down and have a read.
A few days ago, I referred to that post in this post that I wrote.
I was in fact talking about how I am an extrovert and what that actually means. I read over the comment, and my response to it, and realised that this is a post that I have been meaning to write for a long, long time.
Go and read the comment and my response. I’ll wait for you.
Done? Okay. So the thing is, Anonymous was right. I was absolutely, categorically suffering from depression. I don’t know if I just didn’t want to admit it, or I just wasn’t ready to, but a month later, I told Hubs that I think I needed help. Hubs agreed. He had noticed certain things that suggested to him that his Wifey was not quite feeling herself. And when it all came to a head one night, actually the night of this wedding, he said something to me that I’ve never forgotten:
“You’re allowed. Just because you’re depressed, it doesn’t mean you don’t like your life.”
If you know someone who has suffered from depression, or if you yourself have, then you know this to be true. I was loving my family life – my two beautiful children, baby #3 on the way, a wonderful, supportive husband, an amazing family etc etc etc. I was struggling with life in Mount Isa, but if you had asked me at any time of the day “do you like your life?” the answer would most likely have been a yes.
So why am I writing this post now? Well I got help. I went to my doctor and we both agreed that anti-depressants, as well as some counselling, would help in my circumstances. The first day I started the meds, I thought I’d made a huge mistake. The side effects were absolutely awful – dry mouth, nausea, racing heart; but after making sure everything was okay, I kept going. The first week was rough, but by the end of the second week, my body had adjusted. And a month later, I started feeling like myself again. My head was more clear, and joyful moments were more forthcoming.
It’s been a year and 2 months since I started medication. When we moved to Rocky, I wanted to come off them, but the doctor I saw here advised against it. I had just moved towns, just bought a house, just had a baby, Hubs had just started a new job. He said we should revisit it in six months.
Well, now it’s been six months, and I’m going to go and talk to him next week. I know the meds have helped me incredibly, and I’m a bit nervous about coming off them. What if I can’t “cope”? What if I backslide and don’t realise it?
There are so many “what ifs” about the situation, but I can tell you one thing; I’m in a much better place than I have been for a while. And it’s nice. So thank you, Anonymous, for bringing this to my attention. Even though it took me a little longer to realise what was going on, your observations and concern are very much appreciated.
I shall certainly let you know how I go.
Oh man talk about garage sale heaven. Our family of five spent the morning at the Rocky Swap yesterday. To be honest it was all a bit overwhelming – almost 1100 stalls, expected crowds of over 10,000 people, and a 4-year-old wishing to seek out the perfect toy.
We got plenty of comments on our awesome pram which is always fun 🙂 and Darby enjoyed lots of cuddles with Hubs in the baby carrier.
I may have accidentally dressed myself and Quinn in matchy-matchies. Hee hee!
Who wore it better? (Actually don’t answer that…)
I was actually pretty happy with our selection of goodies. We were very selective and thoughtful about our purchases, and bought some storage solutions for our Lego collection. As well as more Lego…
There were some pretty cool things there,as well as a whole bunch of crap. But you know, one person’s trash and all of that.
An exciting thing about having a baby is the goodie bag you get in hospital. It’s full of cool free stuff like a nappy, some wipes, an assortment of creams and bath products, and a bunch of information that you end up reading out of boredom in the hospital.
I was having a good look through the goods tonight and came across an item I hadn’t noticed during my initial rifle through:
I’m not sure if this blog is ready for the likes of this post, but I’ve just had a baby, my hormones are raging and I’m going there.
This is about as useful to a new mum, as a condom. I mean, look at this thing?!!
It is absolutely laughable. And laugh I did. And now here it is on my blog.
And now it’s time to go to bed. Well, I might wait for the Nutella crepes Hubs is making us for dessert 🙂
Please meet our son, Darby Jacob. He finally decided to grace us with his presence at 12.45am, today the 7th of December. He was born a very healthy weight – 4.32kg (9 pound 8 oz) and is already feeding nicely.
I know I’m completely biased but he is just so beautiful. I’m catching up on sleep today and will go home to start our life as a family of 5 tomorrow. Hubs has time off until Christmas day so we get to hang out a lot over the next few weeks.
Chanbe and Quindy met him this morning. Chance is quite besotted, asking for lots of cuddles and wanting to know when the baby can come home. Quinn was a little unsure about the whole thing but is already walking around saying his name.
For the last couple of weeks, Chanbe has been asking on a daily basis “is it the baby’s birthday today Mama?” It’s so nice to be able to answer him “yes”.
Dear Hubs,
I love you. Very few days, if any, go by where you don’t somehow make me smile.
We have been talking a bit lately about how much we have both changed in the last 8 years. Some changes have been intentional, some not so much. Some positive, some still need refining.
At the end of the day, I know we are in this together. We are a team and we have everything at our disposal to keep our marriage going the direction we want it to. Even though it won’t all be rainbows and unicorns all of the time, the hard stuff makes the good stuff even better, and there’s plenty of that to speak of.
On this day 7 years ago,
I made vows to love you and cherish you forever. It’s hard to imagine what “forever” means on your wedding day. Even 7 years isn’t actually that long, but it still excites me that I found you; that I found a man who I do want to share life’s special moments with, as well as the day-to-day mundane that fills the gaps. With you, there is always some new idea and adventure to talk about; always dreams to be dreamt and plans to be made.
Don’t stop dreaming with me; don’t stop getting excited about ideas; don’t stop sharing those ideas, no matter how crazy.
Don’t stop believing (hold on to that feeling) (I don’t love Journey)
Love, Wifey xx
Feel free to take a guess as to which one I’ll be needing! I have a feeling it’s going to be a girl, and a few other punters share that thought, but feel free to put your own 2 cents in!
I’m due in 2 weeks. Yes. That’s right. Not that that actually means anything – only 5% of babies are born on their due date. But I’m ready, in more ways than 1.
Except I hope the baby doesn’t come early. Let me explain.
The kids and I are in Brisbane. Hubs hopped on a plane to Canberra yesterday for a locum position starting tonight and finishing next Monday morning. Mount Isa is currently experiencing temps of 30 (min) to 40 (max) and I’m sure you can understand how much that excites me, and how much that makes me want to rush back up north. The baby is head down, but not engaged, and is quite happy to play bongos with my organs/pelvis/ribs/bladder.
So as much as I want an outside baby, what I really want is to be “home” (Mount Isa) with Hubs, instead of trying to decide when to fly back, having to consider all sorts of things.
I’m not particularly stressed about it, I just wish there was a way to know for certain what the best date to fly back would be. At this stage, my 3 “options” are this coming Satruday, next Monday afternoon, or the following Thursday which is Chanbe’s birthday. I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday, so I’m hoping to make my decision after that!
Gosh, where do I begin with this one? It started about 2 months ago, a couple of days after I returned from my last trip to Brisbane. Our friend in Mount Isa who works with Hubs, emailed through a position in Rockhampton, beginning 4 or so weeks later. It’s a job in Orthopeadics. which is where Hubs thinks he wants to specialise, so I said GO FOR IT! I was pretty excited by the idea or leaving Mount Isa early, and getting set up in a new house, in a new place before the baby was due.
Of course, it had its down sides too, in that we would have to pay back some of the “benefits” we had received, with Hubs ending his contract in Isa early, but we decided it was worth it for the right job.
Let me just say here, that if you had told me a few years ago that I’d be excited about moving to Rocky, I would have told you you were crazy. But, things change, and for the right opportunity at the right time, I was keen as mustard.
Hubs applied for the job which was to start “ASAP” and a week later, was told his interview was in a week’s time. Not exactly “ASAP” kind of action in our opinion, but we were excited. The interview was on a Thursday, it went well, and he was offered the position the following day, to commence 4 weeks later. To say we were excited is a complete understatement, and being the person I am, I told everyone. Texts were sent and phone calls were made. I even lined up a removalist. It was happening. The only thing I didn’t do was announce it on the blog. I knew that the contract had to be signed before I did that.
Unfortunately, the following Tuesday, things changed. The hospital informed us that, for various reasons, the contract was to begin on the 2nd of February next year, instead of ASAP. I was absolutely devastated. I had built my hopes up so much on an early departure, and then it all changed. Tears were shed and frustrations vented, but at the end of the day, it was still a great job that Hubs was excited about, and he accepted, with the revised commencement date. It took me a few days to get over the disappointment, and Hubs and I thought of some positives about staying; more time with good friends we had met; having the baby in Mount Isa, close to those friends; and a bit more time to plan the move.
So yes, it was certainly an emotional week or two around that time, but we are looking forward to the move and hoping that everything works out so that we can stay for 2-3 years. Oh, and I just found out that someone else I know is moving there next year as well, so there’s another positive!
In other news, I have just over 6 weeks to go until I’m due. It’s certainly nice to be in a cooler city for the time being!
Very original, I know, but it’s the only way I can remember that it’s Karumba and not Kuranda. Last week, Hubs had 5 days off and we decided we needed (needed) to get out of our wee townhouse or we would go crazy. So we decided to look into Karumba. Family friends of ours used to go up there every year for the fishing season, catch their fill, and travel back down to their home in Townsville. They loved it, and within minutes of arriving, I could see why.
We set off Tuesday morning around 10am to drive the almost 600km, and the kids were in good spirits and being rather cute and delightful!
I wish I could say these happy faces lasted the whole 8 hour trip, but all of you parents out there wouldn’t believe me. On the whole, they were really great, especially considering how boring the drive is!! We arrived just after 6pm, and this is one of the first things we saw:
This was our first look at Karumba – the sun setting over the water. What is it about water that energises and feeds the soul? I’ve never considered myself a particular lover of water, but this made my heart sing. And things just got better from there. We arrived at the caravan park and were shown to our on-site caravan, named Frank.
It was nothing fancy, but very comfortable and much more roomy than I was expecting, with the permanent annexes on either side.
We were going to throw some snags on the BBQ for dinner, but then we saw a sign saying “prawns $20/kilo”. Um, yes please! So we ate prawns for dinner instead. Big, fresh, tasty prawns. I was pretty happy about that choice.
The next day I sent Hubs and Chanbe out on a fishing charter in the afternoon while Quindy and I had a little nap. They didn’t catch any keepers, but had a good time out on the water. And one of the other guys on the charter who caught a few, gave us one of his blue salmon.
The kids weren’t overly excited, but Hubs smoked that fish beautifully on the BBQ, and there’s nothing quite like fresh fish! We had booked in for the Croc and Crab tour for the next day, which Hubs was a bit ho-hum about (too touristy) but I was SO excited! Mainly because they serve fresh cooked prawns and mud crab for lunch as part of it. The tour went from 9:30am til 1:30pm, and considering the kids were in a confined space, they did really well. I even got complimented towards the end on their behaviour, which is always nice.
The tour was run by a married couple and they were just lovely and full of interesting facts about the area. Some photos? Sure.
They took us to see a couple of resident crocs which the kids were pretty damn excited about!
And after catching a few mud crabs in the pots, they showed us how to tie them up and gave us all a “pat”. Chanbe was not interested at all, and asked very kindly “please put it back in the bucket Dadda.” This one didn’t even have any claws!
Quindy was much more interested in finishing her Cheetos first,
And then of course she was interested in “patting” the crab’s claw! Girl is fearless!
And then, the feast was brought out. Everyone was given half of a (cooked) mudcrab each, and there were 3 big bowls of prawns to help ourselves to. There are no photos of this, as I was in the zone. That seafood was some of the best I’ve had in SO LONG! The kids were given a can of softdrink each – Quindy’s first serious taste of some orange sugary drink – and that kept them occupied for the next hour. Just you try to take it off them though! I think I’d fancy my chances with the crab more!
I’ll leave it there for now as this is already a long post, and there’s a fair bit more to come!