Zani's Gymnastics

Vanmiddag het ons weer die gymnastiek se medalje plegtigheid. My ou dogterjie geniet die gymnastiek ongelooflik baie. Ouma Sarie gaan ook saam aangesien sy die een is wat haar elke dinsdag gymnastiek toe gery het en gekyk het wat die kleintjies leer.

Dolfin Kids Swemskool

Cherise het gister haar swem medaljeplegtiheid gehad. Sy is tog so trots op daai medalje. Verlede jaar het sy 'n witte gekry - net begin swem. 12 maande later en sy is al op die bloue - dit beteken sy kan al 5 meter in die swembad in swem op haar eie - vryslag.

Ek is so trots op my dogter.

Skateboards

Kinders hou van nuwe speelgoed!

Dit is al waarmee die 2 van my speel as die weer dit toelaat. Ek kan nie glo die kleintjie geniet die skaatsplank soveel ni.

Daar is niks so lekker as om van bo by die garage af te ry tot by die hek.

Burke's Luck

Die Potholes is seker 1 van die ongelooflikste natuurwonders vir my. Die kinders het dit baie geniet om oor die bruggies te loop en ek en Steven moes net aan Jean-Marie klou of sy wil binne in die water.

Paul kruger Hek

Met die naweek weg Sabie Park toe het ons sommer gou 'n draai gaan maak by die hek. Die eerste ding wat cherise raaksien is die klip standbeeld van oom Paul Kruger maar sy het onmiddelik gesê: Kyk mamma dit is God!

God's Window

Oppad terug huis toe sondag het ons die scenic ding gedoen en by al die mooi plekke in Mpumalanga gestop. Dit is regtig 'n baie baie mooi uitsig van daarbo.

Sabie Park

Wat 'n heerlike naweek weg was dit nie gewees nie. Ons het skemer tyd by die huis aangekom - gelukkig het Steven die goed uitgelaai en ek en die kinders het in die huis gebly want hyena se kind het besoek kom aflê en probeer help uitlaai. Ongelukkig het ons hotdog rolletjies in die slag gebly. Om 'n hyena van so naby te sien is nogal vreesaanjaend!

Die diere op die private wild plaas is ongelooflik mak so mens kan tot baie naby aan hulle ry. Jean-Marie was natuurlik so opgewonde om die diere te sien aangesien dit haar eerste uitstappie na 'n reservaat is. Cherise aan die anderkant wou net swem.

Die kinders het dit vreeslik geniet! Dit is een plek wat ek definitief weer sal sien.

Sondag middag kuier

Deesdae is mens se lewens so gejaag dat daar nie tyd is vir kuier by vriende nie. Gelukkig/of ongelukkig (hang af hoe mens daarna kyk) is Steven 'n ywerige visserman. Odette se Hennie ook en gelukkig is Odette my vriendin met kinders ewe oud. Dit daar gelaat.

Ons het heerlik gekuier op die plaas en die kinders het hul moeg gespeel!

Pretoria Zoo

Een saterdag oggend besluit ons om die kinders Dieretuin toe te vat. Dit was 'n groot sukses. Vir 2 ure het ons 'n golfkarretjie gehuur en die ander 2 ure het ons rondgeloop by die akwarium en reptiel gedeelte oja en ook op die kabelkarretjie gery wat vir my horibaal was. Die kar gedeelte is so klein en dan waai die wind dit ook nog rond. Al was saak maak is dat die kinders dit geniet het.

Oorbelle

Jean-Marie het vandag vir haar oorbelle gegaan. Sy lyk te pragtig.

Gelukkig skiet hulle gelyk in en voor sy kon besef wat aangaan was als al verby.

Feetjie en Kabouter Dag Osie Teddies

Vandag is feetjie en kabouter dag by Osie Teddies. Cherise was vreeslik opgewonde om haar feetjie klere aan te trek.

Kuier op die plaas

Ek en die 2 kleintjies was die naweek bietjie by ouma en oupa op die plaas. My kinders love om daar te gaan kuier. Ouma en oupa bederf bietjie te veel ... dink ek.



Hoe groter my 2 raak hoe ouer word my ouers - hartseer om te dink. Cherise wil net die heeltyd berg toe en Jean-Marie geniet dit om tussen die blomme in die tuin te speel. Met haar geskiedenis is ek net so bang sy kom op 'n slang af.



Oppad soontoe was JM so bietjie moeilik maar daar is niks wat 'n bietjie harde musiek kan doodmaak nie.

Hart stop oomblikke!

Ek het na die gebeure van verlede woensdag aand het ek tot die gevolgtrekking gekom my man mag nie weg gaan vir werk nie - dit is wanneer die erge dinge met die kinders gebeur.

Die kinders slaap soos gewoonlik 7h30... of eerder ek sit hulle in die bed en dan raak hulle eers so net na 8 aan die slaap. Met baie moeite en raas.

Jean-Marie het soos gewoonlik uit die bed geklim en ek het soos gewoonlik met haar geraas en terug gesit in die bed. Die volgende oomblik vang my oog iets wat by die trappe afkom. Eers het ek gedink Jean-Marie gooi weer haar "baba" by die trappe af. My hart het letterlik gaan staan toe ek besef dit is sy en nie die pop nie.

Ek ys om te dink wat kon met haar gebeur het. Ek sal myself nooit kon vergewe het as sy moes seergekry het nie. ER24 was gou by my huis en het seker gemaak dat sy reageer en geen bene gebreek het nie.

Jean-Marie is net ongelooflik klouerig van laas week af maar dit is seker te verstane oja en die eetlus is weg.

Gister het ek haar gou dr toe gevat omdat sy so huilerig is en dr het dit goed gedink om net dubbel seker te maak niks het in haar nek of kop seergekry nie en ons is toe vir 'n CT scan.

Wat 'n nagmerrie! Daar is geen manier om 'n 20 maande oue baba te laat besef dit maak nie seer nie so op die uiteinde het dit 2 mense gevat om haar te probeer stil hou. Die CT scan vir die nek kon ons nie gedoen kry nie so x-strale was die laaste uitweg. Dit was eintlik vir my baie erger want mens moes haar in verskillende posisies vashou.

'n Ongeluk gebeur so maklik en so gou, wens net mens kon hulle in watte toedraai en beskerm teen al die seerkry in die lewe.

Jean-Marie jou beskermengel moet baie spesiaal en wakker wees om jou te beskerm!

Wat ek wil word as ek eendag groot is!

Wel Cherise het die koerant gehaal... alweer!

Vrydag het sy soos 'n "nood dokter" aangetrek, nou nie dat sy eintlik weet wat sy wil word as sy eendag groot is nie, maar nouja dis hoekom 'n mens 'n ma het. Cherise se juffrou Janca was gaande oor haar uitrusting.

Janca is fantasties met die kleintjies, die ou gesiggie as juffrou hulle prys oor iets is prysloos.

Chantel getroud

Wel Chantel is uiteindelik getroud met Kemp. En my dogterjie het te pragtig gelyk as die klein bruid. Sy kon natuurlik nie vir Chantel uitlos nie - die heeltyd blommetjies en sweeties aangedra net om naby haar te wees. LOL!

Vrouedag

Vrouedag is definitief 'n baie ongelukkige dag vir ons ou gesinnetjie. Steven het sy hand baie lelik verbrand - 2de graadse brandwonde aan sy hand en 1e graad op sy arm.

Dit kon baie erger gewees het as die kinders naby hom was waar hy besig was op die boot. Dit is die tweede keer dat die noodlot Cherise genadig is. Cherise het voor op die boot gesit en ek en Jean-Marie langs die boot - dankie tog ek het Jean-Marie vas gehou en nie op die boot getel nie.

Dit is vir my baie erg om my man so in pyn te sien en hom te moet help met als. Dit is ook definitief baie moeilik vir hom om te aanvaar ek moet hom rondry en als vir hom sny voor hy kan eet. LOL! Die kinders verstaan nie aldag so lekker dat pappa baie seer het en hulle nie kan optel nie. Hopelik genees die wonde baie vinnig.

Hoede Dag Osie Teddies

Dit is darem lekker om klein te wees en al die "fun" dae te beleef op skool.

Groot Word

Dit voel soos gister dat ons Cherise huis toe gebring het van die hospitaal. Ek kan nie dink dat sy volgende jaar al graad R toe gaan. Die tye saam mens se kinders as hul klein is is eintlik so kosbaar en dit is verby in 'n oogwink.

Ek eis net om te dink hoe sy as tiener gaan wees want op die oomblik is sy 'n regte terror wat glo als draai om haar.

Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre

So 3 naweke gelede het ons die kinders Moholoholo toe gevat - dit was 'n ervaring duisend vir Cherise. Sy het die geleentheid gehad aan 'n baba renoster te vat en die bokkies te voer. Die geveerde diere het sy nou nie veel erg aangehad nie behalwe natuurlik die aasvoels want sy is ook in die hok in. Gelukkig het Jean-Marie haar vrees vir als nuut verloor - sy was darem nie een keer histeries nie!

Die sondag het ons gestop by Swadini Reptiel Park - ek kan nie onthou wat is die nuwe naam nie. Dit is baie verwaarloos maar nog steeds interessant. By die ingang is 2 mak volstruise wat als wil eet - en dis redelik seer as hulle mielies uit jou hand uit eet. Ons het ook die 4 mak apies peanuts gevoer en die eienaar moes 'n baie mooi papegaai die heeltyd van ons probeer weghou want hy wou saam eet.

Maduma Boma sal ons definitief weer sien(ek kan nie glo ek het nie eers een foto geneem van ons bly plek nie) maar die keer in die somer sodat die kinders in die swembad kan baljaar. Dit was heerlik rustig in die veld mens het nie eers geweet daar is ander mense op die plaas nie.

Die groot 5

Die groot dag is uiteindelik verby. Dankie tog!!!

Die tema was "My little Pony", ek en my vriendin het die koek beplan en gemaak en al die eetgoedjies wat daarmee saam gaan. Ons het ook vir haar 'n springkasteel vir die naweek gehuur by Jump - en het die kinders dit nou geniet. Cherise het omtrent die sondag omgespring of vertikaal verkeer op die springkasteel. Jean-Marie, ja wel as ousus haar net kan verdra en saam met haar speel sal my lewe soveel makliker wees.

Wil van haar eie!

Jean-Marie begin nou regtig 'n klein mensie op haar eie word wat haar wil op almal wil afdwing en haar sin wil kry. Tantrums is aan die orde van die dag - eintlik heel aanskoulik as sy die muur probeer om stoot omdat sy nie haar sin kry nie.

Sy probeer ook als agter ousus aandoen, wat my party dae laat aapstuipe kry. Soos gister by Pebbles spring ousus van die klim en klouter af - dis omtrent 1m van die grond af - en wraggies probeer Jean-Marie dit ook. Nie 'n bang haar op daai koppie van haar nie.

Heart breaker

Steven is attending training in Joburg today and left yesterday afternoon around 4, just after 5 Cherise came to me "Mommy, I actually really miss daddy!" with a very very sad face. It just breaks my heart if she's miserable.

This morning I could not get her out of bed, I am really starting to believe Cherise gets daddy blues every time he needs to be away from home.

Chicken Poxs

This past week has been awfull!!!

Both my kids had chicken poxs. Jean-Marie was better of than Cherise - only red dots. Cherise had a fever for a week that I just couldn't get rid of. Just as I think that all's fine she breaks out in a fever. Staying at home with them was lekker but very demanding.

Famous Kids

Jean-Marie bathing

The other night we had such a laugh at Jean-Marie.

We were visiting some friends and around seven all the kids take a bath. Odette filled the bath and afterwards took out her kids' nighties, while she was doing that Jean-Marie decided she is not going to wait any longer to get into the bath and climbed in clothes and all - and I mean all her clothes, from her shoes to the jacket.

It could have had a nasty turn if the bigger kids wasn't with her.

This just shows never ever leave kids alone in a bathroom!

Biofeedback Therapy

Out of desperation I took Cherise to a biofeedback therapist and for the first time I know what is wrong with my child. CANDIDA

I changed her eating habits and I can already see a change in her health after 4 weeks.

The only downside to this "fungus" is that the food she is allowed to eat are so expensive. Trying to find sugar less sweets/cookies.

At least we all are eating a bit more healthier!

Sleepless nights!

Jean-Marie's sleeping habits are really getting worse by the week.

She sleeps peacefully from around 7h30 to 11 at night after which she just doesn't want to sleep in her own bed. She drinks about 6 x 250ml bottles a night which in turn results in wet nappies and bedding that need to be changed.

I tried giving her less to drink but in the end, just to get some sleep myself, I put her in our bed and give her a bottle.

HELP we need some sleep!!!!

Fight, fight, fight!

I wish my two daughters could get along!

Cherise get histeric when Jean-Marie try to play with her toys, ending up in either a fight or tears. To keep the peace in our house I step in and play with Jean-Marie, Cherise becomes jealous and wants to play along.

This all resulted in Jean-Marie literally taking toys from her big sister and run away with them, just trying to get some attention from big sis.

Sisters

Easter

This morning Cherise went to school as a bunny.

They made baskets in which they are going to collect easter eggs and afterwards have a picnic. I saw the baskets this morning and they look so nice. The kids are really creative - well I don't know if there were a bit of help from their teacher - but still...

Sometimes my husband really surprises me in how much he cares for us. I told him during the week I needed to find her bunny ears, he went and bought some and even found her a tail. I think I don't always appreciate him the way I should!

Jean-Marie Wound

I think I've received all the bills

Dr Vermeulens bill- our house doctor: R211.30, R108.90, R93.36 = R413.56
Narcotics Dr: R201.00, R439.48
Medi Clinic - the hospital: R860,00(the first time I went there - emergency room), R1007.10, R3780.20, R35.76, R3.75, R358.96 = R6045.77
ER - taking us to hospital the first time: if I remember correctly it is just over a R1000.00

This adds up to quite an amount!

Medi Clinic takes the cake with being rediculous in price!

Siblings

Jean-Marie and Cherise could be so considerate towards one another and the next moment all hell breaks loose in our household. Jean-Marie aren't allowed to touch any of Cherise's "things" that includes her food as well - so we have constant fights.

Jean-Marie is teething again so she is a bit irritated by everybody and everything around her.

Well they say it is just a phase - hopefully it passes soon!

Advertised products

You know how you always get junkmail in your postbox. I don't usually read them but some baby products special caught my eye. I went to the shop and there was none of the advertised products. I went the same day as the special started and nada, nothing!

I simply hate false promises. In the end I had to pay much more for the product cause it is just too much driving around town trying another shop.

Shouldn't shops keep stock of things they advertise?

So cute!

When I feed Jean-Marie I try to make her sit in one place - usually in a kiddies chair. I must say it is working very well, that is if she is hungry.

Every morning when I have breakfast she also want some, where ever the chair is she sits down and expect you to come to her so she can eat.

She is so adorable in her small kiddies chair with her mouth open ready to eat!

Jean-Marie wound update

On friday morning we removed the old plasters as it was full of dried blood. The wound was open again. It was going to leave a nasty scar on her forehead.

I don't know if it was a blessing or not but last saterday morning just after six Jean-Marie fell again! Trying to kick a ball of all the things she could have done. Sad to say the wound started bleeding again. I took her to our GP - Dr Vermeulen and she recommended we open the wound again so she can put in some stitches under aneastetic.

It really took a lot out of me trying to make Jean Marie sleep without a milk bottle. Luckily my mom helped me. Big sister Cherise went to a birthday party and afterwards to grandma's. So I could just focus om Jean Marie.

I am still waiting to see what this little trip to the hospital will cost.

The last plaster over the stitches was removed this morning and it looks really good - if I think of how it looked the same time last week.

Accidents

Accidents happen so fast!

Tonight I was busy preparing food for the kiddies - and looking at Jean-Marie trying to ride her "bike". The next moment the bike tumbles backwards and Jean-Marie fell off the bike at the back. I wasn't worried as this happens quite often - she trying to get off the bike from the wrong side. I was looking at her and not seeing anything wrong, Cherise came to have a look and just yelled Jean-Marie is bleeding.

I must thank the ER crew for their fast response and in helping me to get to hospital and stiched up. The nurses & doctor at the emergency room were very helpful and friendly. I think I would have handled it a bit different if Steven were her to help, now I had to be the strong one and stay calm.

I just hope there is no scar.

Getting a child to grow up safely is only a miracle as accidents happen so fast. It doesn't matter how well you protect your children from harm accidents do happen.

Cherise on 3 1/2 years

I found this old photo of Cherise on my Computer taken last year(2008) in January! I can't believe how big she's got!

Jean-Marie turning 1

Jean-Marie turned 1 on the 16th, not that she understood the fuss and all the prezzies she got.

We had her party on saterday at grandma's house.

Teddy Bear picnic, big sis Cherise just couldn't understand why her small baby sister got so many presents and she so little. She had 2 friends her age and 2 Cherise's age so they all enjoyed the day very much. Odette a friend of mine volunteered to help me with the birthday cake - a big pienk teddy cake. How adorable, I didn't know she was so talentful. It just shows what one can do if you only try! I made small fingerfoods for our young guests and their parents which came out simply delicious.

Jean-Marie and Cherise had a ball on Saterday!

Milestone - walking

Jean-Marie took her first steps the saterday after christmas and she is only getting better and better.

Seeing her from behind she looked like a little ducking waggling after its mother but as her confidence grew her knees started bending.

Sokkies the cat must simply love her, she loves carring her around and playing hide and seek. Which usually results in her crying cause Sokkies just doesn't know to keep her nails to herself

Back to school

Well Cherise is back to Osie Teddies!

The first morning she told me not to disturb her as she is still sleeping, this morning.... a bit better.

I can see Jean-Marie is not very impressed with me when I leave her at the daycare mother, but what must one do if you need to work.