Meow...

 

No original photo today sorry, this is the best I could come up with.

It would be very very easy to go on and on about what a crappy day it's been and chuck a huge hissy fit, about how completely jacked off we are with the stupid dumb procedural crap that is currently stopping us from getting to Bendigo, about how much I reeeeally don't like Melbourne, the noise, the traffic etc etc and about how much all we want is to be somewhere, just the three of us, all happy and healthy, with no nurses, doctors, other patients or babies. It's only just occurred to me today that Lee, Taj and I have not been in a room by ourselves in the 6 weeks since he was born. There has always been nurses/doctors/other babies/other parents, the doctors/nurses I don't mind so much, they're vital at the moment. But today, I came very very close to having a slight grrrr at the family next to Taj who came to visit their bub. Normally all well and good until I saw that after they entered the room, so did their two young daughters, the grandfather and at least 3 other relatives...not bad considering there are only meant to be 3 visitors at a time including the parents. If I remember rightly I'm pretty sure the words 'You have to be kidding me' left my mouth at a fairly audible volume and many thanks to the nurse who heard me and quickly ushered them out the room again. Some people really are knobs. ;)

Instead I'll focus on the awesome fact that Taj is out of his plastic box and in an open cot and doing well - yay!! He's almost officially a big boy!

*thanks to whoever took/made this pic, I take no credit for it at all  :)*

Introducing...

Our pride and joy.

Not so teeny tiny, but still pint-sized and doing very well. :) It seems he's inherited my temper and stubbornness much to the delight of the doctors and nurses, but we honestly believe it's one of the things that's gotten him through the worst...it's almost like you could see him thinking 'you think I'm sick? Nuh-uh! I ain't sick darn it!!' He's also been nick-named Prince Charming by a couple of the nurses. Personally I think we're pretty bloody clever for making something so beautiful. :)

Anyhoo, that's it for today. No road trips either, looks like Monday at this stage...*please please please* :)

maybe today

Just a quick one as we're hopefully making a bit of a road-trip, providing there's a bed free at Bendigo Hospital. FINALLY!!! :) 

This lovely contraption has been part of every day life since Taj was born. Some days it's been a life saver (quite literally) other days it's been the thing we've stared at for hours on end, almost as entertaining as the infomercials on at 3am! I love and hate this monitor. I can't wait to see the end of it, yet the thought of that is a little bit scarey. Life as we knew it 8 weeks ago is long gone, but don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not complaining, it's just all part of parenthood. :) 

And while I'm still on the serious, deep and meaningful train, this is something we found a few weeks ago...I certainly won't say it necessarily describes me, it could be any parent really, but it's certainly a tear-jerker. And it helps on those 'woe is me'/angry at God and the whole world days.

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. "Beth Armstrong, son. Patron Saint, Matthew. Marjorie Forrest, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia. Carrie Rutledge, twins. Patron Saint ... give her Gerard. He's used to profanity." Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a premmie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."
"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of its own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness."
The angel gasps, "Selfishness?! Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says 'mama' for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see – ignorance, cruelty, prejudice – and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
"And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air. God smiles.
"A mirror will suffice."

 

the second one...

I had the idea to do this blog a couple of days ago but haven't been able to set it all up etc until now, so I'm gonna make up for it with a few photos. Ooooh yay. :)

I don't need to state the bleedin' obvious, but this is us. We look freakin tired, almost at the end of our tether emotionally, but despite that, still head over heels in love with each other (yep, soppy, I know :P) and our little man Taj, the reason why we're down here. He was born at 32 weeks, perfect but tiny, and being looked after currently by the amazingly amazing staff at the Childrens Hospital in Melbourne. This was taken a couple of days ago on St Kilda beach, near where we're staying with our wonderful friends, Kate and Lucas.

A few other pics as well. I don't ever ever want to live in Melbourne permanently, but while there are places around like this, it doesn't make it so bad. I'm definitely a country bumpkin through and through. :) The last 8 weeks has been rough, but while Taj is still down here, there is no place either of us would rather be. We've met some wonderful people while we've been down here, hopefully new friends that we will have for a very long time. Our families and friends back home (in multiple towns/states) are the ones who have gotten us through. There aren't enough words to say thankyou to every one of you, we are blessed.

the first one...

I've decided to re-enter the wonderful world of the blog while we're temporarily living down in Melbourne, mainly as a creative outlet to keep sane while I'm away from home and normality, I've seen a few blogs that have got the great idea of posting a different photo every day and thought I'd give that a shot too. I'm far from being an Annie Leibovitz or Angela Stewart (Ange definitely being my favourite of the two...) but I'll have a go and see what happens.

Enjoy! :)