Update

Here is the promised update!

Erin:
is fully outfitted for Summer now with a quick trip to Best and Less. I got some of the prettiest little dresses with shorts to go underneath - all throw in the washing machine, cram in the clothes box then put on and wear - and some t-shirts for $40. She already had a lovely dress for 'good' wear that we got out of a hand-me-down bag (she wore it for a trip to town last week and we got stopped and complemented by 5 different people - gotta love hand-me-downs!). All we need now is some summer PJ's and we are done! She looks pretty as a picture and all of her clothes are very comfortable and practical. She has had a bit of a relapse into car-sickness unfortunately but has learned to throw up very elegantly into a bowl - I think they teach that at the good finishing schools don't they? :P

Billy:
is the toughest little man ever. Last week we went into town and Daddy went to run errands while we hit the streets to do our errands. We had to leave the twin stroller at home so Billy and Erin were on foot. We walked the full length of Launceston CBD with many back tracks. We stopped at the park for a little while and he never stopped, jumping and climbing and running the whole time. As we walked into the last shop I asked Billy if his legs were tired. He looked at me wide eyed and shook his head. I fully believe he had another 5Km in him! He is turning more blond with the sun (summer has started early, I'm not real happy about that!) and often gets his bath before his afternoon nap because of the amount of dirt he picks up after being turned loose in the backyard.

Christopher:
still shows no inclination to walk or even stand unassisted - purely because crawling does the job and if it ain't broke why fix it! I have some brilliant photos of him jumping on the trampoline with Daddy and Billy yesterday. I will post them one day when I have MY computer! He is my delight and each 'spare' moment I get to spend with him I feel like soaking him up like a sponge because I know how quickly this time goes. He communicates very effectively with his own version of sign language (ask him if he wants more food and see his reaction, it's hilarious!) and various semi-words (Dadad, Mummmmummm etc.). He is the youngest of all of the kids to go "bbbbrrrmmm" with a toy car and has an obsession with wheels - a chip of Daddy's block??

The new baby:
is growing well and is very active. So long as I walk regularly and stay fairly active I feel pretty good, but I am reaching that stage where I need to wake up in order to roll over. I do think that if another person asks if I'm having twins I shall have to start breaking out some witty come backs. I know I'm huge, it isn't really polite to point it out! I have started planning cooking for the freezer so I can relax a bit in the later stages of pregnancy and after bubby is born. I am also throwing myself into some household organisation to try and get a handle on that. I want to be able to sit and soak up those newborn squeaks and breathe in that lovely smell.

The home:
has now got a SHOWER BASE! We are mere weeks from actually being able to have a SHOWER! No more hauling my beached-whale-esque figure in and out of the steep sided claw foot bath, being able to wash my hair PROPERLY and not having to spend forever running a bath before actually getting around to bathing. I have got some new lidded boxes for the clothes store and I am consolidating the outgrown clothes a bit. I am then going to tackle organising Beloved and my bedroom. I'd rather it be a haven than the dump it currently is. Summer weather means clothes rarely get a second wear (how to entertain three kids under 4.5: give them a bucket each of water and tell them to wash their bikes, the house, their wheelbarrow and wagon etc. - keeps them happy for hours!! Note: strict rules on water theft and exactly how many times you will refill the bucket need to be set out BEFORE you walk away) But the fact that I need to scrape a layer of mud off them is balanced by the fact that they are only wearing a dress and shorts or shorts and a t-shirt. Therefore, laundry is still mostly under control.

The garden:
has sort of ground to a halt until Jon can find time to cut down a few unwanted shrubs and get me a few trailer loads of mulch and organic matter. The soil is fairly impoverished or filled with cooch grass so it needs a fair bit of work. I am itching to do more but I don't think me using a chainsaw around the children is a good idea! In fact, without close supervision from someone who has a clue, me using a chain saw is just not a good idea! Unfortunately, the bathroom and front room take precedence.

Exercise:
I am still keeping active but since the bricks have all been dug up my activity levels have reduced somewhat. I am still walking regularly though. I am looking forward to when we can get a dog. I know I will get up and take a dog for a walk in the early hours of the morning, but getting up to do it myself - somehow I never hear the alarm! We only have to finish the bathroom, set up the front room, build the shed, fence the yard securely and save up some $$ THEN we can get a dog. So sometime in the next three years at this stage!!!

Jess

I will update soon!

We have been fairly busy lately and Beloved has been using his lap top a fair bit - lessening MY chances to pilfer it! I am typing this quickly while he is in the bath just to let everyone know I'm still alive! This is a poem (I think by Elizabeth Elliot?) that touched a nerve for me at the moment :)

Do The Next Thing

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,

there came in the twilight a message to me.

Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven

that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.

And all through the hours the quiet words ring,

like a low inspiration, ‘Do the next thing.’

Many a questioning, many a fear,

many a doubt hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from heaven,

time, opportunity, guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,

trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,

do it reliantly, casting all care.

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,

who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

working or suffering be thy demeanor,

in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing

Then, as he beckons, do the next thing.

Update

A quick blog before kitchen cleanup and a candle lit bubble bath. Not an indulgence, the shower still isn't functional and a possum has done something to our bathroom, kitchen and bedroom light so they don't work at the moment. I have also discovered that bubble bath stops the bath getting cold too quickly.

Erin:
still has her entomologist title, spending hours watching slaters and ants. She still has a big EWWW factor where slugs are concerned though. One got on her finger today and she screamed loud enough to wake the neighbours! Her devotion to her dolls, especially her newest 'son' who she named Waylon, is touching. She keeps telling them that maybe they will get a baby brother or sister for Christmas or next year for her birthday - she is hinting for another doll! The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree I guess.

Billy:
spent a large portion of the day "planting" potatoes. He also spent a fair part of the day harassing snails! He does love gardening, but he definately needed a bath before his afternoon nap. We went on a walk up at Alum Cliffs on Sabbath afternoon which he loved. He spent most of the walk holding Daddy's hand (partially to stop him running ahead!) and walked the whole way under his own steam with plenty of energy to jump off rocks when we stopped to read track markers etc. He certainly benefits heaps from having Beloved home more. He wanted to go on another family walk the next day.

Christopher:
spends a fair bit of time being pulled or pushed around the back yard in a wagon or wheel barrow. He thinks this is fantastic! The kids bundle him in and take off, sometimes leaving him up the other end of the yard which doesn't seem to phase him, he just crawls back! For an extreemly stubborn, opinionated, strong willed child, he is also a sunny delight. I thank God for the strong wills my children exhibit. Surely, if they can be so stubborn at home this stands them in good stead for resisting "peer pressure" in the future!

The new baby:
has a beautifully cleaned car seat ready to go into the car, we just have to test it in the new car now. My back is lots better with just the occassional twinge now. I credit a lot of walking and gardening with the 'cure'. I am finding myself slowing down a bit which is frustrating when my to-do list is so long and the weather so beautiful. It was easier to slow down when I was this pregnant mid-winter. Bub, however, shows no sign of slowing down. I am watching my belly move as I type! Erin is desperate for a sister and I keep trying to prepare her for the idea that this baby MAY be a boy.

The home:
has new wall areas in the bathroom now as well as a new floor. We have decided to get new laminex rather than re-use the horrible old stuff. It will save time and will not need replacing when we re-do the rest of the bathroom. We have ALMOST settled on a colour after debating over colour charts and samples. I have found myself neglecting some of the indoor stuff as I get wrapped up outside, but I am on top of the washing (even if it hasn't made it to the cupboards, it is clean and folded) and the house is REASONABLE, just not sparkling.

The garden:
however, is going great guns! I have dug up ALL the bricks out of the front yard and cleaned up the garden bed along the path at the back of the shop. I am planning to fill that with mints and chamomiles for herbal teas. Yum!

Exercise:
has been great lately. I have passed my goals for the week. The walk on Sabbath afternoon did make me realise how unfit I am though, I was puffing like an old steam train by the time I got to the top of the first hill!

Jess

Update

A stolen moment to Blog! I should be heading to bed now, but I just wanted to take a quick moment. The depression I have been struggling with for a while is all but gone. The major reasons for this are Prayer, My lovely Mum coming down and giving me some much needed rest by taking the kids for walks and doing my laundry and Beloved is finally HOME! Rid of other commitments that had been soaking up any 'spare' time he is now at home with us and I finally feel like we are making progress in making this house our home. The other major reason is Garden Therapy. I highly recommend shifting wheelbarrow loads of garbage, rocks etc. to help get the brain chemistry sorted out!

Erin:
has discovered a deep facination with Slaters - other wise known as pill beetles! We have been having lots of mini-science lessons as we find things under various rocks etc. in the yard and slaters have captured her interest. She collects them, puts them in her little wheel barrow and wheels them around the yard. She talks to them and 'feeds' them and calls them her "jumping snail bugs" - snail because of their shape when curled up, no idea where the jumping comes into it.

Billy:
rides his bike with nobody pushing all the way to the post office and back, almost 1.5Km. No mean feat for a 2 year old on a tricycle! His current obsession is counting things - most of the time he makes it up to five without getting too confused. He is in pig heaven at the moment because I have been letting him help me move bricks and chunks of concrete in his little wagon.

Christopher:
has narrowly avoided the nickname "Emperor Chins" because Daddy has suggested it may not be as cute in later life! I started calling him this because of his extra chins and when I tickle them and call him Emperor it makes us both laugh! When the other kids started calling him this also Beloved suggested it may be best to let that one go. Apparently what is adorable at 1 year isn't so much at 30!

The New Baby:
has started kicking back with a vengance when the older kids are too exuberant with their pokes and prods! Especially when Christopher digs in a knee or elbow. I have prepared clothes to be washed (I have enough boys clothes for triplets), set up the basinette and cleaned the carseat ready to go into the car. I've realised I need cotton basinette sheets as I only have Flannelette, all my other babies being cold weather babies! My back gets quite sore if I don't get out and moving (2 rainy days last week made things VERY uncomfortable) and first thing in the morning or last thing at night are not great times for me. I need to get to my osteopath and have it fixed.

The home:
now has a FULL bathroom floor! I am told that a SHOWER by the end of the month is a real possibility! This is a big step up from the gigantic hole that WAS in the bathroom floor. Progress is happening. Blue wrens have darted in where the floor has rotted away near the door twice in the last week. It will almost be a shame to get that fixed. The blue wrens don't panic, they just sit on the kitchen bench waiting for me to open the door to let them out looking a little peeved that I haven't got food for them! Home management for my part is still crawling its way back but has been majorly helped by Mum pitching in for a few days.

The Garden:
is starting to take shape. All the rubbish etc. is out of the back yard and I have started digging the bricks out of the front yard. I limit myself to three barrow loads a day so I don't get caught up and spend all day every day out there (easy to do!) and in deference to all those who get on the "don't over do it, you're pregnant you know" band wagon (interesting these people rarely get worried about me carrying both the boys around or cleaning the kitchen when I am dead on my feet, but the minute I pick up a shovel....). I have set ideas in my head and it would be easy just to throw myself into gardening to the detriment of the rest of my responsibilities. I have sat down and set myself goals and chunked the tasks into bite sized jobs. There are days when I have to force myself to stop because I have finished the allotted jobs for the day but I am always glad I do because if I take time to maintain everything else, it keeps my gardening time guilt free!

Exercise:
is a thousand times easier with the warmer weather. I have hit my goal of 3 barrow loads in the garden 4 times a week and 4 walks this week easily. Of course I am not loosing weight at the moment (really really not!) but I am feeling fitter and my back complains the minute I stop. I am hoping I won't be completely horrified by post-birth pictures of myself like I was when I had Christopher! I have found it much easier to control my diet now I am feeling more on top of things emotionally. When I am depressed, it is very hard not to pop over to the supermarket accross the road for a chocolate hit at every opportunity. I am actually feeling confident enough to commit to not buying 'treats' more than once a week. Yes, I know that is still a lot and far more than I need, but I know me. If I try and go cold turkey my inner rebel takes over and I gorge myself. I am not proud of it, but it's true! Now to stop Beloved from getting me yummy treats in the shopping (OK, it is possible that he got them for him, but I like to think of it as his generosity rather than my theft!)

Jess

Update

Christopher is one, my yard is getting cleared up and I finally feel like we are making progress!

Erin:
conversed with Nanny on the phone tonight (she is in Queensland at the moment) This is a sample of the conversation regarding the gift Nanny left for Christopher's birthday.

Nanny: Did you hear the music that the toy Christopher got makes? It makes music when you push it along doesn't it.

Erin: Well, Mummy doesn't like the music, she finds it VERY IRRITATING so she taped the switch off. I like the music, but Mummy finds it irritating and it gives her a headache so she taped the switch off.

I keep reminding myself that teaching her honesty is a good thing!! She spent a few hours clearing wheelbarrow loads of grass clippings with her little wheelbarrow on Sunday, she is a very hard working girl!

Billy:
is enjoying the yard clean up. He and Erin are both fascinated by snails, slaters and worms. He trundles around with his little wagon clearing up grass clippings, chunks of broken concrete and bricks with me. He still has an edge of surliness but I think now I am feeling a little more on top of things this will change. His biggest need at the moment is Mummy to be on task in the parenting arena.

Christopher:
is one! I am not ready for this! He is also eating like nothing else I have ever seen, he's a machine. We seem to have gone back to sleeping through which makes me happy. Last night I left him to be put to bed by Mum and went down the road with Jon to have dinner just us. I must admit I was a little concerned about how he'd behave but apparently he was very good, as were the older two.

The new baby:
is kicking visibly now! I love watching those little bumps roll around. The belly is huge. People give me funny looks when I tell them I am not due until January and I jump in with the defense that I have very big babies! My sacroiliac joint is playing up a bit, but I have found keeping active helps and I have started sleeping with a pillow between my knees again. I realised that I am approaching third trimester the other day when I noticed myself making involuntary noises as I got up off the floor!

The home:
is clawing itself back to normal thanks to routines and (mostly) a visit from my Mum! When Mum is here she takes over the laundry which is an amazing help. She also takes the kids for walks etc. which gives me a chance to get in and complete tasks from start to finish. A luxury I rarely experience! She also just pitches in. She is a natural tidy person (I didn't get that gene unfortunately!) and when she gets into my kitchen or grabs a broom and sweeps etc. it is simply what she naturally does. Having her here and having Jon home more now that we have finally gotten rid of some other commitments has done wonders for my mental and emotional state so rather than FORCING myself to do every little thing, I actually FEEL like doing things now.

Exercise:
has been adjusted with the seasonal change and the availability of my gardening equipment. I now have an aim of 3 wheel barrow loads of garden stuff removed from the yard and a walk down to the post office and back at least four times a week. If the weather fails, I will use the exercise bike again but so far it has been holding. This regime, together with squatting a lot when I am working in the garden and cleaning has helped my back a lot. Sitting for any length of time or having a sedentary day really gets quite painful. This is Divine intervention I think as I really FEEL like sitting down and sleeping a lot or doing as much as possible from the comfort of my chair! But I know this isn't good for me and I really feel it after just an hour or two of sitting down.

The Garden:
looks amazingly different after a week or so of care. I have filled the trailer with the various bits of rubbish left around by the previous owner. I am now in the process of collecting the bits of broken concrete, rocks and bricks that are scattered around and piling them up for future use as clean fill, pizza oven building materials and garden bed features. Jon has also done a lot of mowing and whipper snipping and Mum and the kids have done a lot of raking. I can't wait until we get a few months of work done!

Jess