Seize the Day

The LEGO has been barred!

2011-02-01T08:19:00.003+11:00

I was fed up with Thomas and his Lego the other day so I packed it all up (including the Lego table and chairs) and moved it to my room. He is not allowed to play with it for one week!

It has been a while.... AN OLD POST I NEVER PUBLISHED...

2011-01-17T17:40:00.002+11:00

I have stopped blogging.... for no other reason than the fact that my blog tends to be a little boring!

But here goes some more boring stuff......

I finally had my ENT appointment today. The surgeon talked about how it sounded like I must have caught a nasty bug some time back and he didn't think he would be acting on it and then..... he looked at my tonsils.... and commented on how extremely large they are. He said they were almost touching. And then he shoved a camera down my throat and nose.... NOW I KNOW HOW TOM MUST HAVE FELT ALL THOSE TIMES WITH THE FEEDING TUBE - IT IS JUST NOT A NATURAL FEELING.

Good news - no surgery for now.
Bad news - there is no bad news really.

Weight loss would help but I will get there!

Thomas - the karaoke (sp?) star. We had my work's Christmas party on Saturday and it featured a juke-box / karaoke machine. Thomas could not resist the microphone and kept 'pretending' to sing in it. Finally, at the conclusion of a pass-the-parcel game (for grown-ups), he took the microphone which was turned on and started to sing. Every now and then he would stop and 'command' a round of applause by clapping.

I love him soooooooo much.

He was just so adorable.

LEGO

2011-01-17T17:37:00.001+11:00

This is driving me up the wall. Not the actual product BUT Thomas's inability to clean up after himself. He is cunning when it comes to getting out of cleaning up the LEGo:
* "I'll do it after dinner!"
* "I'm hungry!"
* "I'm tired!"
* "I'll do it in the morning..."

Yo get my point. So today, after asking him too many times and then demanding he clean it up, to which he responded " (Take your pick from above) " , I slowly picked up every single piece and placed the bag in MY room. His table that Santa brought him is still in the loungeroom BUT he is not allowed to touch any of his LEGO. He is bored - or so he says. He is in a creative mood at the moment and likes to create toys based on pictures. Playing with excavators and aeroplanes is not enough - he has to make them now.

The war, as Mick predicted, is on!

This is Thomas on his 2nd birthday... not long now until he turns the BIG 6!

More photos....

2011-01-13T14:12:00.000+11:00

I have the bug! The sharing photo bug and given Blogger makes it easier to upload I thought I should do so!

I got into a competition on Facebook a long time ago and entered this photo of Thomas. I think he placed third or so.... actually, many of the photos of him placed in positions or were given highly commended etc - not that you would be surprised - he oozes gorgeousness!!!

Who am I?

2011-01-13T14:02:00.001+11:00

I used to know the answer to that question. But for the last couple of days I seem to have realised I don't know anymore. I think I have had way too much time by myself. Time that I should be (and am) grateful for but I have found it hard too. That doesn't make sense! Does it? I should be happy - Thomas is at his grandparents' house and has been since last Friday. Mick is in Bathurst and has been since Sunday. Me? I've been at home doing nothing. Even a trip to Ikea on Sunday with Mum and then Officeworks on Tuesday did nothing for me.....

This is a picture of Thomas in 2009...

The countdown begins...

2011-01-11T00:16:00.000+11:00

Thomas will begin Kindergarten on Friday 4th February. Before that day, he is scheduled to have his Best Start Assessment on Wednesday 2nd February - his birthday and he will turn 6 years old!

How about?

2008-10-03T20:56:00.002+10:00

Thomas has the funniest saying at the moment! He often says, "How about..." when he is thinking about doing something different. For example, if we are singing nursery rhymes and he wants to change it he will say, "How about... Mary had a little lamb?" He has just extended the phrase and context to "How about that!" when he is excited about something. For example, we played in a tub of water today and when I told him we could go back and play some more he said, "How about that!" I don't have any photos of it BUT here is one photo of him this time last year playing in a bucket of water..... (thanks to Bec).

My Little Man Is All Grown Up

2008-10-02T16:54:00.005+10:00

I have not posted for so long. I often look at so many other blogs and get disappointed when they are not updated. I fail to realise I am doing the same, or lack thereof, with mine.

My little man is so grown up now! Some of the significant changes/developments are:

1. No nappies, no pull-ups AND just UNDIES! He has been doing the no nappy thing since February but the night time pull-ups were used just in case. Not now. He had been showing for some weeks he didn't need them and we ran out so we have said goodbye to them altogether.

2. He can say his ABCs! Which brings out the teacher in his mum because I often make sure he doesn't run 'l,m,n,o,p' as one sound!

3. He can count and usually has the correct sequence. He is also matching his fingers to the number he says (most times). We need to work on starting from one. I know 1:1 matching would not be expected yet BUT I just want to help him as much as I can.

4. He's FINALLY riding his bike. I probably should not say finally as that would imply that he has been given plenty of opportunity to master the skill and this is not so. The warmer weather has seen us get outside more!

5. He gets his own breakfast! And by golly, if you do anything for him he will chuck a sooky-bubba-la-la!

6. He is attending speech sessions weekly now. This is in addition to his early intervention at the Shepherd Centre. He often tells me, "Mum, I have to do my homework!"

7. He can say quite complex words such as: excavator, catalogue and exercises!

8. He can identify new and old cars, especially now that his Aunty Nat has a 'new racing car'! Apparently mum's old car is not good enough anymore.

9. He can be reasoned with. But then I have always been able to do this. Yesterday is a classic example. He wanted to go on a ride at the shops and I said no. He chucked a tantrum and I told him the answer was still no and that if he kept on sooking it would be no for a month which is a really long time! Needless to say, he stopped. I guess he will enjoy the privilege next time!

10. He has a wallet. He keeps his money in there for rides and things. He understands that things have to be paid for. Well I think he is beginning to anyway!

A LONG TIME....

2008-08-02T20:37:00.003+10:00

Enough said! I have been looking over old photos of Thomas. My goodness, he has changed!

Rebecca's Photography

2007-10-04T12:05:00.000+10:00

These are just some of the photos Bec took of Thomas ages ago. I think, and have said this many times, she is an incredibly talented photographer. She takes photos that I always say, "Oh, wow!" to. And these are no exception.

In the Wars Today

2007-10-04T11:50:00.000+10:00

My goodness. Where do I start?

Tom had an accident today and would you believe it was the same thumb that he has had operated on.

He was out in the patio area playing with Mick's golf buggy. Harmless. So I thought. He is absolutely fascinated and somewhat obsessed with wheels. Has to check them out and make sure they move okay. Did this all day yesterday when we were shopping with Nicole. I got the most unusual looks from mothers who owned the prams Tom decided to inspect.

Anyway - side-tracking over. I heard a cry from the patio area and rushed out to find him standing there amongst the buggy parts crying and holding his right hand out to the side. I immediately took him to the sink and ran water over it. Why? I don't know. I guess if he stopped crying and was distracted by the water it would be okay. No. He kept crying - but not too loudly. I took him into his bedroom to change the smelly nappy but even that did not distract him.

I looked closely at the nail which is all dirty now. I thought he had done damage to it and all I could think of was ending up in the emergency department and him needing another operation.

Mick came home after my distressed phone call and managed to occupy Tom, who had at this time stopped crying.

I rang our GP and they told me he was booked out for today and tomorrow. When I was leaving my phone number in case of a cancellation, the receptionist asked what happened. When I mentioned Tom had jammed his finger,the one that had been operated on, she told me to bring him in and she would squeeze him in.

Tom and I sat in the waiting room and he kept saying, "Doctor." The doctor said it just looked like he had damaged some soft tissue but to monitor it. Tom moved his finger quite well for the doctor.

When we came home he ran into the cupboard and hit his head.

We were supposed to go to the Shepherd Centre today - but won't be.

I wonder what else is in store for Thomas when he wakes up????

We have started!

2007-10-03T08:16:00.000+10:00

Thomas did a wee in the potty this morning - first thing! I wonder if we will both have the patience to continue.

BEWARE!

2007-09-30T14:30:00.000+10:00

I got one of these today.... be very aware and remember that PayPal (and other financial institutions) wouldn't ask for your bank details in an email or a link from an email!!!!

Donuts!

2007-09-21T16:30:00.000+10:00

I am thinking that these pictures may just do all the talking here!

Yes... I am sick again! So taking time off..........

2007-09-19T12:48:00.000+10:00

Who does he REALLY look like the most???????????

2007-09-16T13:00:00.000+10:00

Reading??? Already....

2007-09-09T21:36:00.000+10:00

When Thomas sees this, yes the good old GOLDEN ARCHES, he says one word continuously..... "Chips. Chips. Chips. Chips....."

Hospital AND An Operation!

2007-09-01T20:50:00.000+10:00

Thomas had a nasty accident at home on Thursday @ 1:00pm. He jammed his thumb in the aluminium framed screen door to our patio.

Mick (who was looking after him on this day) couldn't get the bleeding to stop. He rushed him down to our GP who came out of a meeting and helped straight away.

Mick was advised to take him to the Children's hospital as it looked like the bone underneath the skin may have come up.

They picked me up from work and we went straight to Westmead. We waited and waited, then saw the triage nurse who revealed that he would probably have to go into theatre. This caused a bit of anxiety for me...... we had worked so hard to avoid hospitals but I guess he was being a typical 2 year old.

Cut a long story short, he was going to have the operation that night but couldn't because they had 2 really bad cases. We were sent to the surgical ward around 11:30pm (and had been in emergency since 3:00pm).

Thomas had the operation yesterday around 10:00am. He did well, except for when he came out of recovery and I only knew that because I overheard a nurse telling the ward that the surgeon wanted him in a 'line of sight' bed.

He slept well last night.

I hate those monitors but am glad, because I think, had I not been used to them, I would have stressed every time they went off.

He had all the nurses and doctors wrapped around his little finger. He would even say, "Want more!" when they stopped checking him over!

So we are home now and go back in 10 days for a follow-up and to have the bandages all taken off.

I can see the next 10 days being challenging ones as he has totally lost the use of one hand with it being all wrapped up. He even chucks whammies because he can't turn the pages of a book by himself!

Body Parts

2007-08-21T21:49:00.000+10:00

Thomas can point to (and tries to name) the following body parts:
* head
* hair (same thing, I know.... but he seems to know the difference)
* ears
* eyes
* mouth
* nose
* chin
* arms
* hands
* fingers (and knows the difference between the hands and fingers)
* leg
* feet
* shoulders
* back

I think that is cool!

Stuck!!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-29T20:45:00.000+10:00

Mum, Thomas and I were driving back from the shops today. We were in mum's car. Tom started talking and mum thought he was saying, "Stuck!" Sure enough, he was. We turned around only to see his lolly pop was STUCK in his hair!!!! Good talking Tom!

Photos I have been promising....

2007-07-29T20:25:00.000+10:00

8 Random Thoughts About ME

2007-07-23T21:40:00.000+10:00

I have been tagged by Jacqui... to write 8 random thoughts about myself. And then I have to tag 8 more people... I can write the thoughts, I just might have trouble tagging 8 people!

1. I wanted to be a nun when I was growing up.... if only, maybe things would have been easier?

2. I love red. Have always loved the colour and absolutely love the fact that Thomas has red hair like I did when I was his age.

3. I do not like people who think they are better than anyone else, although sometimes I may come across that way myself (but I don't really mean to).

4. I cry more now than I ever did!

5. I should wear glasses - but I don't. I wore glasses @ 18 months of age and now my eyesight is getting worse.

6. I love netball. Although I wish I were fit so I could play again.

7. I still have my first car I ever bought - although it is a bit worse for wear nowdays.

8. Drew Barrymore is my all-time favourite actress!

I will try and tag 8 people when I work out how to do it (sorry JAcqui, but thanks for tagging me!)

I am stupid!

2007-07-09T15:06:00.001+10:00

Thomas sleeping - when he was a baby.

Last night, or should I say this morning, I stayed up until 2:30am. I was watching the second series of Love My Way and I thought I could handle being up sooooo late!

No.

I am so tired.

I am stupid!

My Holidays

2007-07-08T21:08:00.000+10:00

I have loved my holidays so far. The reasons are:

#1 - I don't HAVE to get out of my pyjamas to get dressed for work!

#2 - I don't have to spend the 30 minutes in the car travelling to work OR the DREADED 30 minute drive home when I am so tired!

#3 - I can do what I want (almost when I want).

#4 - (and the BEST REASON of them all) I get to spend loads of time with Tom and do all the things with him I miss out on working full time. He is just so much fun to be with!

Busy, busy, busy....

2007-07-02T20:49:00.000+10:00

I want to preface this post with an apology. If you are not interested in reading my rambling, then I apologise (and suggest you skip the post altogether).

Today is officially the first day of my holidays and I was busy. I don't get tired of people cracking jokes about my holidays - I just think they're silly and perhaps jealous. I certainly do feel like I have earned this one though (but I won't go into that).

Now... my 'real' work started today (and yes, I am being a tad sarcastic).

Woke to Thomas calling, "Mum...muuuummmm! Mum... Mum, Mum!' Such a nice way to wake up and hear my boy talking to me. We got up and started to do some things around the house. Tom and I sat down to have some breakfast. He helped me by putting the plates and cups on the table (all with me just asking him to do those things). He tried to take the BIG tin of MILO to the table but didn't succeed - I think it was too interesting and he wanted to play with it.

We had peanut butter on toast today. Tom licked his off. I don't think he really likes it because he kept turning around to the toaster and kept saying, "Toast?" Mmm, keep that in mind for tomorrow then!

It is so funny when I get his MILO ready. I know I do it differently to his Grandma. He drinks it well - and without a straw! Mind you, it is hardly MILO at all and still tastes like milk.

I ended up getting him a piece of cheese because he wasn't all that keen on the peanut butter. He ate that and then decided to play with it. When I was up at the sink cleaning up, I caught him trying to tip his leftover milk into my glass AND milk went EVERYWHERE. AGAIN, NOTE THAT FOR TOMORROW.

After brekkie, we played with some puzzles and the threading thing. We also read some books. Thomas now has his own little bookshelf so he can get his own books. When I get the camera working again (batteries, I will try and take some photos of the things I talk about.

I had a mountain load of washing to do and am still going. Our 7.5kg washing machine broke down and we have been using this small one which can't hold anything more than 3 large towels. So frustrating!!!!!!! And the weather - even more frustrating in terms of drying things. I have asked Mick to not let us get to that stage again with the amount of washing. Funny how it could be done during the week days but just isn't. Also, to give you an idea on how much there was, let's just say a LOT! I had to drag it into the kitchen area to sort it into piles. Tom thought it was a game and started diving on the piles - hilarious.

Thomas is such a great helper around the house. He knows where things go and he knows how to to do thins and how to put things away!

This afternoon, Thomas painted! Three canvases in total - and all red paint. I am redoing the front bedroom (spare room) in whit and red (minimal red). Red is my favourite colour and it will be my project for the holidays. Although unlike Mick (and if you read this Mick, you know not to take offence) - I AM GOING TO GET IT DONE (as opposed to gunna, or it will get done).

Now you can hold me to that (I hope).

Visual Arts

2007-06-23T09:20:00.000+10:00

Check this out - all by Thomas Linton Devine!

We had grand plans for the Long Weekend....

2007-06-10T14:07:00.000+10:00

But everyone is sick :( And today Tom and I managed to get out for a little bike ride. For those who may have thought Mick and I were irresponsible by not providing Tom with a helmet, have no fear. He actually has one but it is in his Grandma's care. AND Mick keeps forgetting to get it out. I know it is not 'safe' to ride the bike without the helmet. But Tom nags and nags and nags. We go slow, very slow. Hopefully this will be the last of the pictures without a helmet on Tom's head.

It seems that when it comes to photos.....

2007-06-09T20:35:00.000+10:00

I have no idea with the camera! Or the computer and my knowledge is too basic (and I hate that).

Here is a photo of Tom's bike. I wanted to show photos of some of the parks (I have been telling Bec about) around our house - BUT it just takes too long to upload the photos. We are fortunate to have about 7 parks all within walking distance from our house (1 min - 2o min walk).

Little Ol' Tom

2007-06-07T19:21:00.000+10:00

We bought Tom a bike!

2007-06-02T23:42:00.000+10:00

Yes!
He is little (but who cares?)!
Yes!
His feet just reach the pedals (but he is growing all the time)!
And yes!
It was the smallest bike in the shop!
But Tom absolutely went nuts trying out two different bikes.
He had a smile as wide as ever when he got this bike!
I'll have to post photos later because I am having trouble downloading them off the camera at the moment.

Twinkle, twinkle, what a star!

2007-05-30T21:27:00.000+10:00

Rebecca, that is (and Graham and Alex). Tom and I went over to Bec's, Graham's and Alex's house on Sunday. We had such a ball and it was so much fun seeing Alex again. I wanted Bec to take some photos of Tom (as I want some professional ones) and I think she is by far a telented photographer (I don't need to suck up because she knows I think this anyway). Graham took some on the run too! Check one out!

Tears.....

2007-05-23T21:19:00.000+10:00

I hate crying.

I need to cry.

I get teary EVERY Monday as I drive home from my Executive meeting.
Perhaps this is telling me something.

Have cried Saturday night.
Cried yesterday morning.
Even cried tonight.

Maybe the tears will stop.

mORE mORE mORE PHOTOs!!!

2007-05-18T21:13:00.001+10:00

This is Thomas with MY mum!

Things that give you warm feelings....

2007-05-18T21:03:00.000+10:00

We took Tom to see his GP on Tuesday as I was worried about his breathing (I thought he had a bit of a wheeze). The doctor gave him the all clear in terms of his chest but did say he was breathing up. He prescribed him a liquid form of Ventolin (not that he has asthma at the moment) to help make it easier to breathe. We were told to keep an eye on it and bring him back the next day if we needed to. When I got home on Wednesday night, Thomas's grandmother told me that the doctor had rung. I returned the call but he was busy. The doctor rang me back around tea time to see how Tom was. I told him, in my opinion, Tom was good. He was certainly himself and was eating and drinking well. I did say I think he may have been a bit blocked up because of the chest but that it was better to be safe than sorry. The doctor recommended we just keep an eye on him anyway.

CERTAINLY A GP WORTH HANGING ON TO! HOW KIND IS HE!!!!!?????

More Photos

2007-05-17T23:59:00.000+10:00

My Aunt's 60th BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

2007-05-17T23:46:00.000+10:00

"Watch out! I can turn things to stone!"

Happy Mother's Day - Little Man Unwell

2007-05-13T12:44:00.000+10:00

A BIG Happy Mother's Day to all those great mums out there! Many hugs and kisses for loving your WONDERFUL children and inspiring me to be better everyday!

Tom is unwell. He has caught it off his dad who was sick all day Thursday and stayed home (where Tom was). Mick and Tom spent the day together on Friday because Tom's grandmother couldn't look after him - so someone sick makes someone else sick......

Mick's dad had another turn on Thursday night, hence the reason why Mick's mum couldn't be here on Friday. He may have had a partial stroke. He actually had a heart attack back in 2005 when I was pregnant with Tom. It happened at work and Mick had to resuscitate him!!! And then Mick's mum collapses at work 2 weeks later and is taken to hospital too.......

Well I feel for Little Man. We drove to Nowra yesterday for my Aunty's 60th SURPRISE party and it was a big day for the social king! He just couldn't get enough of everyone and everything. I have some new photos so I will try and upload them. Although I can't take good photos anymore. Tom moves too much and I just don't have the skill.

Organisation - I am the queen (or so it may seem)!!!

2007-05-10T21:01:00.000+10:00

Can I vent? YES I CAN! May I vent????? With your permission, I want to vent about organisation!

Today at work I got mad. I actually quite often get mad but try not to show it (hence the high blood pressure... okay, maybe the bad food too). I was working with a student and assessing her reading skills when low and behold I get a message from a colleague (who is also an executive member I might add). It read something along the lines of, "what was the organisation for class X and class Y as they (the teachers of the classes) have informed me that they do not know."

DO NOT KNOW?????????????????

Well that was like putting a red flag up to a bull!!!!!!!!!!

I got up and stormed, literally, to the classrooms of these teachers and asked if they understood the arrangements for the day. There was some confusion ONLY because they had taken it upon themselves to change the organisation. BUT it had already been written down and given to them on Monday for TODAY - and I had done this all over the weekend and it was ORGANISED!!!!!

How dare someone who can not organise his/her own work question my organisational details?????

Bringing a BIG smile to my face.....

2007-05-03T21:26:00.000+10:00

Tonight I went to see a movie with my sister, 'Becayse I said so.' It was funny - made me smile and laugh! I need that. We all need that, don't we?

When I got home my boys were in bed. YES - FINALLY I WENT OUT BY MYSELF FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!!!! HOORAY!

Anyway, to the point. I read the comments to my last post and just smiled and laugh. I have met one of my 'blogging' friends who I think is an absolutely terrific person and a WONDERFULLY BRILLIANT photographer and even more importantly a GREAT mum! I always read her blog and smile.

My other friend I have never met but I feel like I have known her for YEARS! Although we both aren't that old - lol! She is an incredibly tough mum who loves her boys to no end!

Thank you - you both make me laugh and smile!

Making the shoe fit - not them fit the shoe!

2007-05-02T20:53:00.001+10:00

I must preface this with saying I am in no way an expert in any area really and I write this out of my love for my gorgeous son Thomas.

I remember completing special education courses as components of my Bachelor of Teaching Degree. I went on to do some more work in the area when I was completing my 4 year training - Bachelor of Education. I was a 'targeted graduate' and got a job immediately so I had to complete my '4th year' part time while working and teaching a Year One class and then a Kindergarten class!

Anyway.... I was passionate about learning about students with disabilities and modifying the curriculum etc etc etc..... One thing that really stands out was a comment by the best lecturer I ever had (although there were many great ones). He talked about the special education setting, or mainstream setting in general, fitting the child and not the child having to fit it.

I get sooooooo tired of people asking, "Will Thomas go to a normal school?"

NORMAL?????????

I don't know what is normal for me anymore but my stock-standard response now is, "Thomas will go where ever he needs to go!"

And when I look at my bubbly boy who cuddles me when he sees me 'having a bad day', I know with all my heart and drive that I will fight until the 'shoe fits him' and not the other way around!

Blogging AGAINST DISABILISM!

2007-04-30T22:40:00.000+10:00

Check it out - it is IMPORTANT!

Sad

2007-04-20T22:27:00.000+10:00

Isn't it sad when you think you have a friend or friends and they have big news but you always seem to be the last one to find out (in fact they never tell you themselves.....)

Just venting. Had a HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, TERRIBLE, BAD DAY today.

:(

Furious

2007-04-02T20:14:00.000+10:00

While I was driving to work today (in my sister's car as we swap when she minds Tom), I became increasingly frustrated at the topic of conversation on the radio. Jackie O from Today FM wanted listeners to give their opinions on stay at home mums as opposed to full-time working mums. I was frsutrated at the idiodic banter that went on between 'mothers' as they rang up to debate the issue! Stay at home - yes I would if I could but we have chosen otherwise and I have to deal with that. Go to work full-time - well yes, I am and that is that! Do I love Tom any less? No! Am I missing out? Probably. But again, this is a choice I have made with Mick. And I know whilst I say I would love to quit work, I would be bored. Now go part-time? Yes.... I'd like to try that!

Tom and Alex out for dinner!

2007-03-28T22:01:00.000+10:00

We have just come home from having dinner with Alex, Bec and Graham! It was such a great time and I loved watching Tom and Alex interact!

Hope we can do this again many more times!

Jodi :)

Still here.....

2007-03-22T20:26:00.000+11:00

I haven't been on here for a while. I don't know why. Anyway, I am here now. I can't wait for the holidays. Not long to go now. I have just come back from a friend's house. Thomas and I had dinner there and he used a knife and fork properly for the first time!!!!! He had lasagne and salad AND ice-cream and a bread and custard pudding. It was priceless!

Been some time...

2007-03-10T22:13:00.000+11:00

I haven't been on here for a while. Well actually, not for a month. It is Mick's birthday tomorrow and it was mine last Sunday. We had a good day last Sunday. We went to Pancakes on the Rocks at Northmead and then we went into the city. It is funny because I feel like I am writing a Year One recount of my day - this is something I have been focusing on with the Year One students at school.

We went to the Sydney Wildlife Park next to the aquarium. It was fabulous. Thomas will be going there for a playgroup excursion soon. It will be with his friends from the Shepherd Centre. I wanted to go there with him before he went with playgroup. My reasons were purely selfish but I admit that. I won't get to go with him during the week as I am working full time.

Thomas was in awe of many of the animals. He was fascinated with the butterflies as you enter the park. we saw many lizards and other desert creatures. Tom even had a photo with a python!!! Don't worry, his dad was there holding him while the python sat (or laid) resting around Mick's neck. Tom was not one bit phased!

Thomas and his Granny (my mum) had a photo with a mother koala. Mum loves koalas like I love wombats. Only difference is there were not any photo opportunities with a wombat. Will write more later and load photos on.

Here is a photo of Tom with his lawnmower - he got it for his second birthday back in February!

So sick......AGAIN

2007-02-06T16:46:00.000+11:00

I am sick - yes, again. I felt all achey (sp?) and cold late on Sunday night. Perhaps that was the time I finally got to sit down and just relax, I don't know. I do know that I haven't stopped since going back to work!!!

So I woke up during the night, well morning of Monday @ 1:00am. I was burning up! I took my temperature with Tom's thermometer (out of curiosity) and it was 38.9!!!!!!!!!!

I took a cold shower - YUK!

I woke up at 4:45am - temp. was 38.5 - another cold shower, yuk!!!!

I didn't go to work yesterday or today.

I HATE BEING SICK!

The Scrambler..... A letter to Marshall.... (from Thomas)

2007-01-24T21:10:00.000+11:00

Hi Marshall. Here is a photo of my scrambler. Mum wants you to tell me why I have to wear a helmet each time I get on it (she said it is important). When I start riding it more I will let you know how it goes. I haven't really tried it out on the grass like you, but I will soon! Hope you are having a great time with your mum and good luck with your new baby! Love Thomas
xxxx

Aunty Linny and Tom go to the park...

2007-01-23T11:30:00.000+11:00

fUN AT THE pARK

2007-01-10T21:48:00.000+11:00

We had so much fun at the park. Tom and I walked around to the park at about 11am this morning. He managed to walk the whole way there - although he did fall down on the uneven surfaces. He is yet to master the ability to get up on his own, as he prefers to use something like a chair or a person's leg. He had an absolute ball! I have uploaded a short clip of him on the swing on his website. Will post some photos later as I can't seem to do that at the moment!

Feeling oh so much better now!

2007-01-09T12:11:00.000+11:00

This sounds sooky, and it is, but I have never felt so sick before (or at least in a long time). I still have this awful cough but now I am able to do more things other than watch tv and sleep. Just don't make me laugh because I cough and cough and cough. Stupid thing is, I have been watching tv on Foxtel and all those old classic comedy shows like KINGSWOOD COUNTRY and HEY DAD! I just laugh and laugh and cough and cough. Poor Thomas has no idea as to what is going on!

Anyway, I am feeling better now!

Last night Mick, Thomas and I walked up to our local Chinese restaurant. It was great fun. Tom walked a good 100m from our house up the street. He also walked some of the way home after we stopped to play in the park. How bad do I feel? We have this little park no more than 100m around from my house and I have never taken Tom there. Well he loved the swing. It has a swing set where a toddler/child can sit and swing and an adult (as big as me, I tried it) can sit and swing. I am going to take him there later today! He just LOVED it!

Will update with some more later.
XXX

As sick as a dog...

2006-12-31T15:32:00.000+11:00

It looks as though I will be finishing 2006 on a fine note. I am, or should I say we are, all as sick as dogs. Fortunately for me, Mick has been able to take some days off to help look after Tom. All I have wanted to do is sleep. And Tom has the awful cough too (well we all do actually), but he has been quite well in himself otherwise. He is actually sitting on my lap as I am typing this and it is taking everything he has in him not to reach the keyboard (which he did a while ago and deleted my first draft).

Did you catch that great movie on TEN last night, Riding in cars with boys? I love that movie and I love how Drew Barrymore's character's son Jason is like her buddy. It reminds me of Thomas and I. Luckily for us though our male figure in the household is not a drunken loser. For all Mick's good points, he continues to plod around the house doing odds and ends. If it were not for him, we wouldn't have any washing done and beds stripped or made (makes me sound lazy - hey). But I look after Tom.... that is a job in itself.

Hooray! HOLIDAYS

2006-12-22T09:05:00.000+11:00

I am so excited because I am now officially on holidays. Cheers!

Livid

2006-12-20T15:09:00.000+11:00

I would never tell a mum what to do nor would I tell a mum she was or is or had done the wrong thing! I am absolutely livid because that is what has happened to me today and I am so not happy about it. Let me be Thomas's mum and let ME do what is best for him - I say to people who can't help themselves!

Santa Photo 2005 and now 2006

2006-12-17T22:24:00.000+11:00

See a difference?

Boy-o-boy can the boy climb!

2006-12-16T19:17:00.000+11:00

Check it out!!!!

More Photographs

2006-12-16T19:05:00.000+11:00

I have sought Rebecca's permission to put these photos up on the site. Thought you might like to see some of them.

Great Photography

2006-12-15T12:27:00.000+11:00

I love photography. I only wish that I could do it. MAybe I will one day. There is a person I have met who I think takes incredible photos and this was confirmed last Sunday. Rebecca (the photographer) captured images of children and parents at our NSW Austprem Christmas Party. And whilst I might be biased with a little bit of favoutism for Alex (Rebecca and Graham's son) and our Tom, I think the photos are superb.

If you haven't seen her work, check out her site. Rebecca spends more time and energy on her photos (certainly more than what she charges) and I think ANYONE would be happy with the outcome of a session with her. We plan to have a session with her one day.... but for now, here are some photos of Tom and her site. Check it out - YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED!!!! www.reblphotography.com.au

No problems with climbing skills!

2006-12-04T22:45:00.000+11:00

Thomas Linton Devine is such a cheeky charmer..... check this out!

On Saturday morning, he climbed up on the lounge chair as he usually does (under supervisin of course). BUT this time he decided to stand there for a good half hour and bang on the window, kiss it and squeal. He kept calling out, 'Dad!' and would laugh if he saw movement outside (I think he thought the movement was Mick). It was cute (but unsafe).

If you can't see.... find a new way!

2006-11-11T15:27:00.000+11:00

I think the title says it all here!

Climbing Monkey

2006-11-09T22:16:00.000+11:00

I have the proof. Here it is. A photo of Tom who has climbed up on his play unit to observe the goings on of the kitchen (at a more mature level).

He climbs on everything. When Mick and I were having tea tonight, Tom was playing in the house (he can go basically anywhere because we just shut doors)and he went very quiet. AND.... you guessed it, he was attempting another climb with his hand step-up stool!

Hanging out with Tom

2006-10-29T17:36:00.000+11:00

Today was a relatively quiet day. Mick had to work so I stayed at home with Tom (and Mum, who slept over last night). When Mick came home from work he decided to do some more 'work' on the back yard. It seems as though it has been let go considerably since Thomas's Naming Day and our Wedding Day last year. I guess that happens when you get so busy.... however, Mick is making a real effort to get it back in order (a shame I don't like gardening or I would help).

Tom has been unpacking the new underwear we bought Mick on Thursday night and has constantly placed each piece over his head. I am not sure what the child experts would say on this one but it has been quite amusing!

The Start

2006-10-22T09:48:00.000+10:00

Well I have started my own 'blog' site. I have been putting so much time and energy into Tom's site http://www.totsites.com/tot/thomaslinton that I feel there are obviously things I can't put about myself in it!

So I am going to use this as a way of putting my thoughts onto a page, keeping in line with technology changes as there is no longer a need for pen an paper, and debriefing daily in an attempt to seize the day!