Is the universe still expanding? Yep, I think so!

Greetings everyone!
Well blow me down - I just remembered that I had this blog! Well , I had a few reminders from Dad to get it going again - so here it is - the reincarnation if you like!

I have been lost in a deep, thick, nappy scented fog attempting to get to grips with family life with the 3 monkeys who are all keeping us very, very busy!

Anyhow - how the hell are you all!? haha

So its been a while - the last blog entry was when Alex was 6 months old - he has just turned 3!
Wow, as I typed that sentence the reality of time acceleration hit home! Dad was right about that particular theory! Well there's a first! hehe

2 and a half years have seen 2 more additions to the family , as you all know! Abby's and Zoe's arrivals have now completed the 'Rapid Family - Rapid Reduction of Funds' experiment. That's it! No more! I have been 'fixed' ...or 'broken' ....whichever way you look at it - the nuclear warhead has been disarmed.

Now that was a surreal experience - not as scary or painful as I anticipated but just weird. Although the day didn't get off to an ideal start. As soon as I walked into the day surgery , the dude who went before me was sat in a chair , post op, shaking and complaining about the pain! Great!

So from then on I was a little apprehensive!
Once they got going and I was naked and horizontal , they talked me through what they were about to do. My mind instantly translated whatever they said into ' WE ARE GOING TO RIP YOUR BALLS OFF AND FEED THEM TO YOU'!!
Maybe my brain was over reacting a bit? haha . Anyway the sensation of a needle going in , down there, is obviously nasty but as soon as the drugs kick in its more like the feeling you get when you are kicked in the spuds, a kind of dull, nauseating ache.
When they cut the tubes that feeling was amplified somewhat and then the next thing I see is smoke coming off my sack as they fused the tube ends!! It was all over in about 20 minutes apparently - felt a lot longer to me! And then the nurse helped me by 'putting away' my 'gentleman's vegetables' as I couldn't bend down to lift my pants up! All a bit funny really! haha

Neil - you are next my friend! I hope that hasn't put you off too much - hehe.

Anyway , its still hard to believe what has happened really. I often wake up and pinch myself to make sure this shit is real! Of course - I am incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful wife and 3 healthy kids. But its still crazy to think less than 4 years ago I was living a completely different life albeit a rather dull one in comparison!

So, onto a quick run down on the kids.

Alex - Mr Turbo - self proclaimed 'know-it-all' - he's pretty sharp, remembers everything ( dangerous) and is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character - absolutely obsessed by anything that has wheels, has moving parts or farm\construction related machinery. Has a love\hate relationship with Abby but just loves Zoe - so far!

Abby -Little Miss Tantrum -  wow, well , where do I start! She's......different! Right off the bat we knew we were in for a roller coaster ride with Abby. Right from the first night the hospital nursery staff rejected her for being too noisy we knew we had produced something rather 'special'! haha
Roll on 2 years and Abby has become the undisputed Queen of Tantrums. The slightest actions can trigger a meltdown, such as closing a gate she just happened to be approaching or turning off the water hose , small things like that! . She may have early onset of 'Middle Child Syndrome'. Very different sense of humour to Alex - Abby is dry, calculated and mischievous with a touch of nasty about her! haha

Zoe - Zo Zo Cool - talk about saving the best until last! She has been the perfect baby - such a content happy bundle of joy! And she must have been wondering if the other 2 are really her siblings but has taken it all in her stride! A bit slow to get moving , maybe a bit too chilled. But she is always happy so nothing to worry about I don't think!

Annika has flourished into a bit of a super mum! I have no idea how she does it. I have recently been looking after the kids on my own for just half a day really - every fortnight - and its a challenge! haha

I reckon women in general are just tougher and can deal with many situations and scenarios better than us blokes. Annika has definitely taken that toughness to a new level! Shes awesome!





As far as jobs and the home situation goes - not too much has changed. I am still working up north on an Iron Ore minesite. I have recently changed my roster to 8 days on 6 days off so with my leave I only work 6 months a year. Its a good work\life balance but leaving home for work is getting harder and harder ( although I sleep very, very well at work! haha....shhh)  so will hopefully find something else in 2 or 3 years - or before the kids start school.


We still live in Scarborough. Such a good spot - 15 minute walk to the beach and close to everything you need , its great! I absolutely love the Perth climate - pretty much perfect. Similar to Malta but without the humidity.
Annika has gone back to work - part time. She works 1.5 days a week at a girls private school as a specialist teacher mainly doing one on one sessions with the kids that struggle a bit. She loves it and the school love her ( of course) so Annika is happy - and relieved to discover that her brain still worked after 3 pregnancies in quick succession! haha

Of course there is lots more I could write about but I will get to some of it in the next posts!

Until then amigos....take it easy!

Catch you soon!

Time flies!!!

Hi all - it's been a few months since I posted anything! Lazy sod you say!!?? Yeah , fair enough.

Guilty as charged!

It's been a nice summer though - flown past! My ready made family is blossoming into a pretty good one! Lucky me! Alex is 6 months now and thriving - his appetite is immense. Hehe - no funny comments please!

Annika is also great - slowly getting used to having a Spamhead for a husband ...I think!

In fact it was our 1st anniversary on the 5th March. We went down to Nannup for the weekend and had a day out in Margaret River - just the 2 of us- which was great! It's the kind of thing we used to take for granted so when we get the opportunity these days we are very grateful!

Nannup music festival was on as well. It's a bit of a hippie-fest but a nice and relaxing atmosphere. Once you get used to hordes of crusty traveller types its a nice place to be. Alex loved the whole experience and got lots of admirers , especially this one particular hippie. He must have been about 60 years old, long white hair and matching beard, slightly musty aroma and time machine clothes - you know the type! Anyway, during one of the gigs he was sat next to me and I had Alex on my lap. The hippie and Alex seemed to hit it off in some kind of spiritual way! Alex stared at the hippie, and the hippie gazed at Alex - for about 10 minutes! Which was enough to trip the old guy out a bit I think! As he left he tapped me on the shoulder and said " man, we just connected there. It was a beautiful thing." and walked off. haha

I am still working away up in the Pilbara on a 9/5 roster. Been here over 2 years already! Enjoying the job but its tough being away from home 9 days every 2 weeks. There may be an 8/6 roster available next year which will give me 7 nights a fortnight at home which would be nice.

Everything else is going well - Alex of course takes up all of our time - but that's not a bad thing! He's a great kid - we definitely got lucky! Number 2 may be the devil child ( like one , or both of the parents were rumoured to be!)

Alex has been going to swimming classes for the last month or so. He goes every Friday with Annika to the pool down the road and hooks up with his crew to shoot the shit ( not literally....yet!!) He went under for the first time last Friday, just a quick duck dive, and judging by the face he pulled I am not sure he was convinced with that move! Still, he seems to enjoy the experience. I think he will be a good swimmer as long as his legs evolve from resembling cauliflowers into something more human or baby like.

He got weighed and measured recently and is now in the 75th percentile for length and about 65th for weight. They did measure his head circumference but the results mysteriously disappeared. Weird. I'm sure its pretty normal - nothing to be concerned about. haha

We have some visitors arriving soon! Woo hoo!!!

First up the Ginger Wizard aka Big Dale! He arrives on the 5th April for 2 weeks.

Depending on how many packets of Twistees he will bring me I will decide on the level of accommodation we will offer him. Will it be the family wagon ( 0-5 packets) , the garage ( 6-48 packets) or a bed in the house ( 49-50 packets) - we shall see!!!

And then in April Mum and The G Man arrive for 3 weeks. I have warned Geoff about the 'experiments' mum will be carrying out on him but its hard to explain what will be in store!! I just hope Geoff is keen to try some magnets and beans strapped to his body parts and then some electricity passed through him whilst having lit candles stuck in his ears . Good luck Geoff! haha

Of course I don't think Gordon will be able to sit back and watch mum harm Geoff as they formed a special bond when holidaying together in Paris last summer. Ahhh, the romance!

The G men will have some fun together I think. haha

Looking forward to you all arriving!

Well that's about it folks - just a quickie!

I will try and keep you updated ( I think I said that last time!)

Speak soon amigos!

A New Life - A New Outlook.....

Hi all - so here we are! Alexander has been with us for a month now! Time is really flying - each day he gets fatter and seems to add a new facial expression to his already impressive repertoire. An amusing creature to say the least! :)

The hours leading up to the birth were 'interesting' to put in mildly! Annika went into labour at about 10pm on Sunday night - which was right in the middle of the football - great timing darling!

So ( once the match had finished - hehe - only joking) we got the bags packed into the car and headed in! Very excited/anxious! It was actually happening!

Once we got to the hospital and up into our room Annika tried to get comfortable, changed into a fetching gown and we waited!

I think it was a few hours into the labour when it started to get a bit intense. And everyone knows what the solution is right?? Yes , that's it , a giant inflatable ball like the old space-hoppers to sit on under the shower!

Rather enjoyable but I thought Annika would like a go instead as she was making some funny noises over there in her bed! haha

Actually this worked quite well for a while but after a few more hours the pain switch was cranked up and the call was made for some drugs.

Time was beginning to blur! We were in , what seemed to be, some kind of fatigue induced dream.

The epidural went in - Annika was much better now. For a while anyway!

The next episode was one of high stress and emotion - not something I would like to experience again let alone Annika! The problem was with the drugs. Every epidural 'top up' caused Alexanders heart rate to fluctuate wildly sometimes dropping from 160bpm to 40bpm! It would recover after a while with some adjustment of the drug dosage and a bit of poking, prodding and rolling!

It was all getting very messy! After the third time this cycle of drugs/heart rate drop the Dr decided to operate and perform a Cesarean. Music to our ears! Actually my only criticism of the whole experience was that they didn't make that call earlier as to Annika and I the pattern was very definite - epidural top up = heart rate drop - every time!

Anyhow - once that call was made things moved incredibly quickly! I was more awake now - the adrenalin coursing through my veins! Annika was high as a kite but in no pain and content - good!!

I was in 2 minds whether to take a peek over the 'curtain' they put up to see how they go about their business during a C Section! At first I was happy enough just sitting there holding Annikas hand but she was away with the fairies so I decided to have a look. My timing was pretty good - Alexanders head was sticking out of Annikas belly - they were twisting and pulling with quite some force to get him out! I was quite surprised how rough they seems to be! But a few seconds later there he was in our arms! A surreal and overwhelming experience! Amazing!

I got to 'trim' the umbilical cord and had a few minutes with Alexander as they put him under the heater to finish off the baking! haha

So , our new life had begun!

Luckily we had 5 nights at the hospital - which was a great place - the staff do an amazing job there. I suppose midwives all over the world are the same - a special breed of people!

They were all a fountain of knowledge - information that was really good to know!

Wrapping, feeding, nappies, comforting, various techniques and theories - very handy!

Actually the hospital won't let you leave until the feeding technique is effective - very thorough!

As good as it was being there for that time - the hospital food became a bit of an issue! haha

After a while it all looked and tasted the same - a generic grey mass on a plate!

It probably wasn't that bad but as we were both exhausted maybe our minds were playing tricks on us! Anyhow - we craved normal food! So i was deployed as a delivery boy.

Wagamamas, pizza, fresh crusty bread, cheese ( triple cream Brie - as requested by Annika!) and ham etc etc - much better! I would get some funny looks from the other partners, mums and staff as I carried a variety of take away boxes past reception to our room!

Geoff and Gail even treated us to a picnic in our hospital room one night - very nice! And I had a cheeky beer ( Coopers Pale Ale )and some wine ( Montacute Estate Cabernet Merlot - Geoff and Gails wine - mmmm) ! hehe

We had loads of visitors, got lots of flowers and gifts! The room was more like a shrine to some kind of floral God than a hospital room! Suppose it masked the aromas that were produced from our new arrival! haha

Annikas boobs are amazing!!

Sorry let me rephrase that! haha

Alexander has a massive appetite ( don't know where he gets that from) and loves the boob! ( I may know where he gets that from ). The magic milk is doing the business - amazing stuff! He is putting on weight very well - are tyres on the ankles and wrists normal?? haha

I think it must be empathy but my weight has also increased! I don't like to see Alexander eating alone! haha

We would like to thank everyone for all their support, best wishes, messages, gifts, flowers, help, advice etc etc. We couldn't have done it without you! :)

Ok - will stop now. haha

Speak soon!

Peanuts Room

Hi again - thought I would add some before and after shots of Peanuts room so you can admire our DIY skills ( hmmm)

Didn't turn out too bad actually - happy with that - just need to keep the pesky cats out now!!





Annika had a nappy change practice session using the 'Dinosaur' that her grandma made for Peanut. She almost nailed it - forgot to tuck something in though?? Oops - haha.





Belly shot!







We drove up North the other day to try and find out plot of land but just got lost so went for lunch at Mindarie Marina instead - nice spot - cracking day - not bad for winter! 20 degrees! Love it.









Speak soon amigos!