Welcome to...FINN!!!

Well, yes I know it has been a week since our last post, but we have both been somewhat busy of late. BUT, we do have a new member to the family!

Name that fish

We are not sure of a name for him yet, L wants to call him 'Graceful' but I am not sold on this. We spent all of about 2 mins picking hm out of about a dozen or so fish... It was easy for me, he was one of three others that were blue, and a strong, vibrant blue at that.
So, please, may I hand it over to you, you and you, yes all three (maybe more) of you to suggest a name. We will take suggestions until Sunday night 9pm (of which Australian Idol should be finished) Australian Eastern Time. I will post the luck name, and winner of course, Monday morning Sydney time!

Thanks to all of the suggestions, but the winner is Bob-kat, amongst others...
I did like Shephard's suggestion of Azure as well!

A weekend of activity!

This last couple of days have been somewhat frantic, so we are sorry we have not been about that much...

Firstly, the Circus came to town, or at least the park that is just around the corner from us. Of course, we took the 'hound' with us as he does love a walk...

Circus is in town

Then, Thursday afternoon I was on the 'table (Doctor's of course) as I was having what's known as a Chordal Epidural. This is for my bad back and is used to, rather than target the nerve root directly to alleviate pain by the sciatic nerve being compromised, it 'floods' the entire lower spinal region with a cortisol treatment, OUCH!

Then, on Friday night, L had offered to her 'next sister down' to come over and sit with the baby, oh and B will cook! The cheek of it all... So cook up a storm I did. We had, Creamy Chicken and Pasta, with an Asian Green Bean salad. Quite simple really, brown off some onions and some chicken (125grm/person), a splash of soy (to taste) and add a small tin of Evaporated milk. For about 3-4 mins, stir through pre-cooked pasta that has been lightly drained, as the remaining starch from it will thicken the milk into a sauce. Then, for the Asian Bean Salad, top and tail some beans, and boil so as they can still, snap. Put into a wok (or frypan) with hot, 4:1 of Peanut oil and Sesame oil and toss quickly. Now here is the twist, toss through whilst cooking, a cut of fresh ginger, finely grated, and about 3-4 tablespoons of soy sauce. Serve and enjoy. Now, I think it is an appropriate time to say, I do NOT eat vegetables, but I am told that this is a great Bean Salad... Needless to say, that L was 'hogging' poor Riley, and he was sleeping like a ... well a baby!

Riley sleeping

Riley BW

Saturday, we were off to the Indian Bazaar, which is a school fete that raises (a lot of) money that goes to the missionaries within India. L's family have been going there for years, in fact, it is at the school that her 'favourite brother' went to! After this prestigious event, we had to duck off to an EVEN bigger event, my god-daughter's 2nd birthday! The day had started out so nice, sunny, but was going to change so the weather bureau told us. And change it did... It turned real bitter, windy and down right NASTY! Her dad made the cake, an Australian Wombat, which unfortunately for him, separated at the neck joint, but it still tasted great!

Breanna's Happy B'day Cake side

Breanna's Cake front

She had such a lovely morning, with lots and lots of presents, but on of the things she loved the most, was her sunnies!

Breanna's Shades

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREANNA!!!

Breanna 2nd B'day

And for all of those who sent well wish's and prayers, L did read them all, and she thanks you. Each and everyone of you, for our recent loss...

A sad, SAD day today...

Wordless Wednesday next post down...

As has been previously mentioned, we have been doing the whole IVF thing, and had an implantation done on the 16th July, which would make it now 9 weeks pregnant for L (7 weeks, + 2 weeks growing the Follicle makes 9 weeks).

After the initial blood test showed a positive for a pregnancy, a subsequent blood test (original Beta-hCG levels were lower than expected) showed it to be growing, all beit slow, so an ultrasound was ordered by the specialist to investigate as to what was going on.

Two weeks ago, the ultrasound showed everything that should be there, except a foetal heartbeat as it should have been there by this stage. His words were that he did not expect this to be a viable pregnancy, but I will re-scan you again in a week. The 'pregnancy sac' was underdeveloped at just 4 weeks...

A follow up scan show that there was some development, which surprised the specialist somewhat, and that the pregnancy sac had indeed grown to the size that it should. Heck, there was even a foetal heartbeat this time! But still he remained sceptical about the situation and wanted to do another scan in around 10 days. Problem was, he was leaving to go to France for the Rugby World Cup (I can now see how they can afford such luxury's with the way they charge and the return visits)!

So this morning, after staying over at L's parents place as it is close to the clinic, we headed off for hopefully the last scan not to mention some good news. L was now getting pretty sick of dropping her pants for men other than me. The procedure used is an internal ultrasound where a condom is placed over the scanning tool and inserted. Almost as soon as it was in, I could see what was about to come. All I could see, now remember that I am a mere Greenkeeper, was the uterus wall and a black 'hole' if you like in the middle. Last time, there was a flashing heartbeat in there, and this time, there was not...

Needless to say, that L is devastated. She was quite stoic whilst in the clinic with the specialist, and even to the point of driving to her car (it was parked elsewhere so as we did not have to find two car parks near the clinic which is very rare), but as I started to leave, I could see that she was upset, so I went back and caught the tears...

So, what next? She is booked in for a cruet, hopefully next Monday, and we will start the whole process over again. The time however will have to be calculated out, as we are in the process of booking a trip over to Auckland Botanic Gardens for the Ellerslie Flower Show. I know that this will cheer her up, we had a great time last year, and I know that it will be that way again. She needs to simple stop, rest and de-stress!

Sorry for the long post, and cheer up L. I love you...

Flowers to cheer you up...

After the 'sad news' that we had last Friday, and after the compulsive purchases made in Myer, we took off for the day to cheer ourselves up, so we went across town, in a circle via home, to the E.G. Waterhouse Camellia Garden. So, here is what we saw through my camera lense:

Waterhouse Camellia Garden

Camellia

Pink Camellia
And look at the size of THESE blooms... That's an arm!

Huge Pink Camellias
As we were walking around the Gardens, we came across this great looking creek

Camellia Creek
and Cherry blossom, oh how Spring must be close...

Cherry Blossom
Then on the Saturday, we decided to do some gardening around our own little house, it was feeling a little rejected. So we started with along the front fence to remove the purple fountain grass

Front Fence
and the Silk Bush is STILL flowering as well!

Silk Bush
I am glad the we had some 'cheap' hired help...

Garden Buddy
You might remember that we had Nan's 90 something birthday at Eden Gardens a couple of weeks ago, I liked this statue (or Garden Art, as it might be known...)

Eden

Eden Fly Away

The one 'weird' plant that I came across on the day was this one. It is called an 'Udder Plant', and I was not allowed to get it unless I could say where it was to be planted. I think that this is a new rule...

Udder Plant

just delivered mk II

Wordless Wednesday, next post down... Sorry, but again we have some breaking news...

Well, its happened again...

This time, it was the next sister downs turn. At 4.37am this morning they welcomed the safe arrival of Riley Joseph. He was 49cm long and just a tad under 3.5kg, 7lb 6 ounce!

For this arrival, it was far less traumatic in the delivery room, and in fact after a day of house cleaning and the cooking of a roast dinner, the trip to the hospital was delayed due to the fact that the soon to be dad HAD to watch Boston Legal! Not to mention that upon getting home mid afternoon, in the front screen door there was a 'calling card' from the local police following up a complaint of somebody reporting moaning from next door, and this could be a case of spousal abuse. Spousal abuse it was, as in the baby was trying to bash and kick his way out!!!

Riley Joseph

Riley Joseph

just delivered

TT #7 next post down as here is some breaking news...

the first neice; Rosie Florence born 12.10pm, 47cm, 3.595 kilos or 7 pound 14 ounces in the old scale.

A lovely baby, she behaved and slept whilst we nursed her and champagne was drunk from hospital teacups. Apart from a few scratches and a bruise on her head she didn't look any worse the wear for the drama of her delivery which was sped up due to a racing heartrate and blue colour. In fact by the time we visited she was remarkably pink.

Rosie Florence

Rosie Florence