Category Archives: Mom Life

Happy Birthday, Judah!

Five things you should know about this amazing five-year-old:

1. He wants to replace the letters in his name with T-O-N-Y S-T-A-R-K (or Ironman, whichever is available)…and because Judah (in the Bible) was a mean brother to Jospeh

2. He asks the name of every car guard and beggar because he understands that people matter to God, and learning their names is a way to show it.

3. Loves to sing Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons”

4. Sunday is his favorite day of the week! It means church! And church means a lekker play date with his cousins! “Super Heroes Unite!” (And occasionally a villain)

5. Takes excellent care of “Gen’sen Grace”. They are thoughtful playmates and love to sit and watch movies together–and if the movie gets too intense– he’ll even offer to hold her hand.

–Bonus–

6. He can totally SMASH a donut and he LOVES art!


Peaches!




Cure for My Frustration

Category : Mom Life

When being mum

Is rather glum

Read this below

Continue to sow, sow, sow




My philosophy…

Category : Mom Life , Upward Thoughts

Be a superhero to someone, and

 

Have your cake and eat it too (even if it’s for breakfast!)


Hiding From the Sun

Category : Mom Life

The way my two oldest kids woke up this morning is so telling of their own, unique personalities.

Judah walks in early this morning and snuggles in next to me and says, “my eyes are still tired.” He turned downed my suggestion to go back to sleep because “It’s morning.”

About an hour later, Genesis comes in with her blanket draped over her and simply says “I’m hiding from the sun.”




10 things to know about Genesis (age 2)

Category : Mom Life

1. Pink! Anything pink…she will only wear one out of the 6 pairs of panties–the ALL pink pair (and don’t even suggest she wear a non-pink dress that day!)
2. Loves to watch Mary Poppins and Wheels on the Bus (volume 3, naturally)
3. She loves Judah– they play everything together (she’s usually Super Girl, Optimus Prime, or Ironman II)
4. Very loving– freely gives hugs and “tisses”
5. Steak-and-Potatoes kinda girl
6. VERY independent–don’t even think about helping her into the car (especially when you’re in a hurry!)
7. LOVES music and dance– Pinkle, Pinkle, Little Star; Dynamite; and One Way are frequent songs at our house. However, the only rendition of Pinkle, Pinkle, Little Star that is acceptable is her own
8. “Hostess with the mostest” Everyone WILL HAVE a cup of coffee (water) by the time you sit down
9. Speaking of coffee…she loves to start the day with a good ‘ol cup of (decaf) joe and a rusk. (For anyone concerned, it’s only a sip of coffee and a lot of milk)
10. EVERYTIME is PLAYTIME. Doesn’t matter if it’s bath-time, bedtime, time-out, car rides, getting dressed, or nap time– she will make it a game! …and you’ll end up playing (because, let face it, she so stinkin’ fun!)

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Jett’s arrival (birth story)

At my 38 week checkup I came home in tears because the doctor told me I had made no progress and Jett was still several days away (bittersweet because I was so ready but glad because Anita–my go to babysitter– was in Cape Town for her honeymoon).

Then, around 2:30am on September 1 (4 days later), I got up to go the bathroom and got back into bed and immediately felt a strong contraction. I stayed awake waiting to see if another would follow…ten minutes later another contraction that nearly pushed me out of bed. Still, I waited… Around 3:00am I was so uncomfortable I went downstairs thinking I’d be able to fall back asleep while watching TV (because, remember, Jett is “several days away from coming”!). I could not get comfortable I was in so much pain–which made it very difficult to time contractions because I couldn’t tell if I was just in constant pain or actually having labor contractions.

Around 4:00am I went back upstairs. Half way up the stairs I hear Kasey wake up and ask if I’m okay. I tell him I think I might be in labor. He JUMPS out of bed and meets me at the top of the stairs. “Are you sure? What do we do!?” (Third baby and he’s asking what to do…) I told him I was going to take a bath to see if the contractions subside. Meanwhile, he is so certain it’s “go time”, that he is carrying all our stuff to the car. I was able to relax enough in the tub to realize this was probably real and somehow my contractions were already three minutes apart. So Kasey grabs both kids out of bed and we rushed to the hospital… (Judah was so excited!! He wanted to stop for a cookie on the way to celebrate Jett’s birth-day!)

I get checked in while Kasey waits in the waiting room with the kids. The hospital and staff are very slow but nice. They let you stay in your own clothes and pretty much leave you alone until you’re ready for delivery– no gowns, no being hooked up to a monitor (after the initial assessment, they unhook everything unless there is reason to suspect distress), you can have snacks, no movement restrictions (in fact, I walked out to the waiting room several times to see Judah and Genesis–each time Judah told me to go back until the doctor took Jett out). It was nice to be left alone and be able to walk/stand/squat/whatever.

Kasey called Kelvin, a good friend of ours, to meet us at the hospital to watch the kids. Around 7:00 Kasey was finally able to join me in the labor ward. The hospital underwent shift change and I was moved into the delivery ward by the midwife (interestingly, they only did one exam and otherwise watched me and my body for symptoms of labor progression– anyone who’s been through labor can appreciate that!) my doctor rounded about 8:00 and offered to break my water but cautioned it would become much more intense. I was exhausted and so uncomfortable, I said I would wait a bit longer and asked for an epidural. The midwife prepped my IV and placed the order. About 30 minutes later (8:30) she comes back with laughing gas and informs me they cannot find an anesthetist. (I’m sorry, can you repeat that!?) She tries a few more times to get one but is unsuccessful. Around 9:00 she comes in to check me- my doctor’s suggestion– and I’m fully dilated and ready to go. All natural it is!

She breaks my water around 9:15. Shortly after I hear someone running down the hall in high heels. I remember thinking that it must be really important if she’s running in heels. Little did I know that it was my doctor running to my room!!! Apparently her secretary misunderstood the midwife’s message “to come catch a baby” and waited several minutes to tell her. But she made it in time to suit up– and three pushes later Jett David was here at 9:29 am. He was a healthy 3.6kg and 50cm long.

Kasey took the iPad out to the waiting room to show Judah and Genesis their new brother. They were so excited they wouldn’t let him brig the iPad back! They patiently waited 4 hours in the waiting room for this moment!

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Genesis’ coffee

Category : Mom Life

She told me she wanted her own cup of coffee…

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Starting 2014

It has been a quiet start to the new year (except for the round of fog horns ringing at midnight). We went to bed at the usual time–which anyone with young children can appreciate. NYD we spent with some new and dear friends from the U.S. that purchased a B&B close by (here). Brent and Jennifer Dorr are wonderful hosts and are operating a beautiful B&B. We swam in their pool (January 1– only in SA!) and was treated to taco salad (seasoning was brought over by Jen’s mom). Judah cried all the way home “Why did we have to leave their pool?”…

Aunt Nene took both kiddos to McD’s for a special lunch date and ice cream. The kiddos impressed all the employees with their good manners and sense of humor. (proud mamma!)

Kasey and I enjoyed a nice date on Friday and discovered some new beaches in Sardinia Bay. We will definitely be going back to the beach and to try a restaurant called “Sacramento”.

Some days it’s easy to forget we are so far removed from home… And then a giant gecko comes stalking you in your room! Okay, maybe not “giant”, but I think I should be allowed some grace based on its proximity to the place I sleep. Kasey, as usual, came to my rescue and caught (then released) the poor lizard. However, it decided to make a reappearance the next night in our living room and the outcome wasn’t nearly as favorable…for the lizard (RIP). I really do feel a little guilty…

After that we had a few quiet days at the house followed by a wonderful Sunday and met three new families!

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