Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Reading Nook (Hallway)

A few weeks ago we put a big bookcase in the hallway. I've found the girls there a few times reading and doing puzzles. This is how I found them yesterday.
Not exactly a reading nook, but a space nonetheless.





Initially it just had all the kids books on it, but I've since brought all our church books back in from the garage. Maybe now I'll find Daddy Joe set up like this reading his church literature one day :)

I'm glad to have the books in a shared space now so there's no more fights over 'that's my book from my room'. No matter how many times I say to them 'it's a family book, it's a family chair, it's a family blanket' they love to say 'it's mine!!!!!'
We established the other day that unless something is specifically given to the kids for their birthday or christmas, then everything else belongs to our family, not just one person! Got it?!?!?!



Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Seth's Operation

Today was D-day for my little man. He had his big op. I'm sure it was much scarier for me than him. Last night I couldn't settle thinking of packing his bag, trying not to forget the prior approval insurance form, his plunket book, the camera, change of clothes, food for after the op. I knew I'd forget something. I hoped I wouldn't sleep in. I hoped I wouldn't wake up to him crying and accidentally give him milk (he was supposed to be nil by mouth).

I was anticipating a grizzly drive in to the hospital as I'd woken him up at 6:15am and put him straight in the car. I should have known better. My boy looked at me and his Dad, smiled, and got into his carseat happy. He did the whole drive into the city happy and then the pre-op wait and chat with nurses, the anaesthatist and surgeon. Everything went perfectly. Such a blessing to be first on the surgeon's list. The nurse told me sometimes babies/toddlers are asked to get there are 8am and then have to wait until it's their turn on the list which can be up until 11am or even later. Talk about dumb, walking around the corridors of a little hospital with a hungry, tired baby. Not for my Seffy. He had a dream run.

I took him in to be put to sleep which was the scariest part but I knew I wanted to be with him and I'd regret it if I chickened out. They talked me through what was happening so I wasn't too concerned when he went all rigid and then immediately after flopped and felt completely lifeless. Sad but so gorgeous as I lay him up on the bed and gave him a big kiss before walking out.

Then time to kick back in his room and read magazines for 45 minutes. When they called me in to recovery he was doing a pathetic little cry so I snuggled him up and gave him some milkies. What a sleepy dog. He managed about 20mls of milk before needing another kip! Eventually we went back to his room and he slept on me for just over an hour. I loved every second of it!!!!! Everything had been so straight forward but I had one question before I left....why does he feel quite limp and like he can't hold his body, he felt like a big newborn with no body control. I wasn't too concerned because I was sure there was a good explanation for it, but they hadn't warned me about that so I had to ask. They said the bottom half of his body was numbed and his strength would come back during the day. He was so tired that he would just snuggle in and be sleepy for about 24 hours.


Day after op:


Boy did that turn out to be true. He slept for the drive home. Had yoghurt when he got in then slept for another 3 hours. Last night he slept from 5:45pm until 8:15am this morning.

He's got 2 little cuts that have dissolving stitches so all is well and he's on the mend. Very contented and his 'bubbliness' is returning.

Gosh I love you Seffy



Loving the wristband. And the little yellow hospital gown was covered in bright bugs. So cute!
Post Op snuggle



He finally woke up because the next child came out of theatre screaming like crazy. He never stopped for the whole next hour before we left.
Supposed to be getting dressed to leave but tired again! (Love those thigh rolls my Son!)
'Come on Mum, get me down to the carseat so I can have a good sleep'

Straight into bed next to Dad



A little bit disoriented but happy to be home.
 Everything went smoothly. Seth is all good, he's recovering well and our prayers were answered. Daddy Joe gave him a priesthood blessing the night before so we knew he was in safe hands and would be well cared for. Love having that 'super power' to get us through hard, tough, scary, bad times.
















Saturday, 23 March 2013

Hayden's 2nd Birthday


Parties are the best ever for the girls. Mention the word and you have their undivided attention. Today we went to Hayden's 2nd Birthday and they had a ball. I had a good chat with Hayley and Naomi (and family). It was a fun time out for the Heke Girls.

Big Bro Marcus

Princess Cuzzie Sophie (I think her Mummy called her a witch believe it or not!?!?!)

Ella loved wandering around the house with the helium balloons. Be brought 2 home with us and they've been walked around the house all afternoon


Group shot....tricky to say the least

Clever Aunty Hayley made this cake. Cute and Yum!!!!

The birthday boy with his Daddy







Cutey Conner

Sad Conner

The gorgeous birthday boy

Still not happy!


Didn't get a shot of cuzzie Ben looking at the camera. When I asked him to look, he went all shy cause he doesn't know me so I had to sneak this one.



Sweet cuzzie Ethan

In the driveway at home (followed by lots of tears of exhaustion)

I love to still have a couple of good friends from high school (literally 2!). Hopefully we'll stay in touch for years to come and our kiddies can keep seeing eachother as our families grow (older, not necessarily bigger!)




Friday, 22 March 2013

Parakai

A couple of months ago we bought grabone tickets for Parakai. As usual with coupons we buy like that, time passed and we talked about going but never got around to it.

One saturday a few weeks ago we decided that we'd do it that afternoon at around 3pm. Painting was still happening at that stage so I gave Daddy Joe that time in the morning so he knew he needed to start packing up at 2pm (he's a slow packer upper!).  Despite my best efforts of leaving at 3pm, we didn't drive out of our place until about 5:30pm!!!!

No worries though. We had a really cool evening together. We've occasionally gone to Parakai through our marriage and since having the kids as well and we always enjoy a few hours there.

Daddy Joe always says I should make sure I'm in our family photos but he never ever gets the camera and takes any. How am I supposed to be in the shots? Selfies?!?!?!
Seth's first time at Parakai. He loved it, thrashing around his arms and legs the whole time.

The outing was made even better by the fact that the tickets were a bargain price ($8 each) and that included a bottle of Parakai water, chips and fish for each person. Deal of the century!

The girls were quite taken by the tartare sauce thingy that came with their fish 'n' chips. Cheap thrills. Once again I got hot dog 'n' chips and it didn't disappoint


All snuggled up in his pjs for a sleepy ride home
 K, Leones now get your butts organised and get out there. Spence and Mac will LOVE it.
Next time we've got to go together!!!!!!!

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Learning ABCs


A few weeks ago I'd started thinking about how to help Faith learn how to recognize the alphabet. She's got her name on lock and she knows Ella's name, and Mum and Dad. Apart from that I felt a little lost about how to help her learn all the other letters. (yes I'm a teacher but I never taught 5 year olds learning to read)

Then Grandma and Grandad Heke left some Alphabet cards at our house last week and they're just what I didn't know I needed. We practise them every night as part of our bedtime ritual/rigmarole. Faith's doing really well and Ella's a star as well.

Ella just has to say what she sees in the picture. Faith has to say for example:

Umbrella U U Umbrella U is for Umbrella.

I'm so pleased with how she's getting better and better every night (and not getting sick of doing them)




Then we move onto scriptures. We're onto our 4th round of the Book of Mormon at the moment and they're getting quite good at re-telling the storyline



This week we've been playing this game in the lounge before prayers and the girls absolutely love it. I'm just so impressed that after having it for about 25 years this game is still in such good condition and has no pieces missing. I'm struggling to keep all pieces accounted for and we've only had it for about 4 days!!!