Kai Update

OK, OK here is the long awaited Kai update I have been asked for from lots of people...lol

Well I can't believe that on Friday Kai will be 10 weeks old!

He is growing so fast and huge now...well not so huge he is still in OOO clothing - but is gaining weight so fast. Or maybe it is because I am not used to seeing a bub gain lots of weight...when I went for the Health Check Up a couple of weeks ago he weighed the same as what Rani did at 8 months, so i guess that is why he looks so huge to me...but he is happy and healthy and that is all I can ask for.

We are getting lots and lots of smiles and cooing...one of his favourite places to be is under his mobile on the floor, he will stare at the top toy for hours kicking his little legs, breathing so fast from excitement, laughing at the toy - it is so much fun to watch him so happy.

We have moved him to his cot and he is sleeping all night. We thought we had made the mistake of letting him sleep in our bed when we moved. It was a combination of me wanting a decent night sleep and I guess a little scared that something may happen to him in another room, so I felt safer knowing he was in my arms. We tried the first couple of nights to put him in his cot and he just screamed so gave in and let him into our bed. Then from pure exhaustion from unpacking I just continued to bring him to bed so I could sleep - as he would sleep all night in bed with me and wake up every couple of hours in the cot. Well eventually he became way to much of a bed hog...lol...I would try to move away from him and he would wriggle over until he was leaning on me again and I would be squashed between Kai and John in bed....so it was time for him to go to his own cot. I was ready for a night of getting up and down all night but I was determined he was going to learn to like his cot - I didn't have to worry he slept straight through until 5am...and now he sleeps until 7am which is perfect for getting him fed and all of us out the door for school.

Josh and Teagan are really enjoying this time as he is starting to interact with them more and they love it every time they get a smile. They are also a huge help with feeding...quite often one of them is feeding him in the morning while I get ready to take them to school and depending on whether Kai slept in, there is many times they are feeding him in the car on the way to school.

So here are some recent pics of the boy :)

Bathtime

All snuggly after his bath

My little teddy bear

looking cute in the outfit that Kirst sent him (Thanks Kirst)

Getting there!

OK since my last post a lot has happened...We have had the big boss out to our house to show him all the mistakes in the house and get them fixed ASAP.

The one thing that I am happiest about is that we have normal hot water in the showers now!. It was a really stupid thing that wasn't done at hand over and took the Plumber under a minute to fix. When he tested the water before turning the knob (that was all that was needed - and that took almost 3 weeks) the water was 39 degrees...he fixed it to the 50 degrees it should have been and I had the best shower after they all left...lol

The poor plumber had to come back the next day and spend 4 hours here fixing up all the mistakes the original plumber had made.

So another week and I am stuck at home waiting for tradesmen to turn up...I am really sick of being house bound.

Although my new curtains went in today - so the house looks more homely, instead of the lovely sheets and doona covers we had on the windows.

Plus our fences are all up and the landscaping is on its way - of course now that the driveway has dried up enough for the bobcat to come back and finish cutting yesterday - of course today there is rain!

So here are some progress photos of the landscaping.

The start of the fences (and John's shed)


Fences finished


The start of the driveway


Ready to lay the concrete and then the pavers and build the retaining wall.

What a Joke!

So we finally have the computers and internet up and running so I can chat again...lol

So lets go back!

The day of the big move arrives...Friday 2nd May and the day that the house is finally ours. John started his holidays the same day, so bright and early we head down to the house to meet with our Building Supervisor and do the final inspection to make sure the things that we had picked up a week before were fixed. Well our excitement quickly turned to disappointment when we walked into the house, there were tradesmen everywhere and nothing that was picked up the week before had been done.

We had no applicances in the kitchen, the sink in the kids bathroom and laundry wasn't connected, no water tank, no power for the ducted heating and air con, no gas meter and the list went on and on...Our Supervisor promised us that everything would be done by the end of the day so we went to the builders head office in good faith and paid the last of the money owing and got the keys to our house.

WELL...things just gotworse as the day went on. Now I could handle if the worst thing that happened that day was the really heavy hail storm that we got...but by the end of the day we still had no gas meter (so no hot water, gas etc) no water tank, no connections to the kids bathroom and laundry, an oven sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor because the cabinetery wasn't made correctly...basically a house that was not livable.

So our exciting day had turned to completely and utter disappointment and frustration...add to that as most of you know you can't get in contact with tradies after 3pm on a Friday afternoon we still had no answers as to why our house was not complete.

So the removalist came on Saturday and moved everything into our house...not that it felt like a house at all...we tried to unpack what we could but there were so many areas that needed fixing that it was impossible...and then had to go back and stay at Mum and Dad's house until Monday when they said everything was being finished.

Everyone that came through the house on the weekend (that were going to help unpack) were disgusted in the finish of the house - truly there were no excuses for alot of the stuff that just wasn't done and we shouldn't have been given a Certificate of Occupancy as the house was not livable.

Well thankfully by Monday afternoon we had a gas meter, a working bathroom and laundry, a water tank and a couple of other things fixed, but still had the oven on the floor...thankfully we were going out to dinner for Dad's birthday so I didn't even have to think about cooking.


So Tuesday even more tradesmen were in and out of the house, Wednesday the same, Thursday, Friday...blah, blah, blah. But it just seemed that every time we used something it didn't work properly...the sink in the laundry leaks, the faucet in the bath sprays everywhere, the grouting in the ensuite wasn't finished properly, the hot water pressure in the showers isn't set correctly so we don't even have to turn the cold water on and it takes forever to wash just shampoo out of your hair, don't get me started on Conditioner.

So today is 2 weeks since we moved in and we still have tradesmen in the house and most of the above still hasn't been fixed. So all I can say is that as much as we are trying to enjoy our new house we are not. I have been scared everytime I use something that I haven't used and rightly so. As so far everything has either leaked or not worked properly. We are so disappointed in the builders they really did a muck up on this house and this is the third house we have build and never had so many problems.

We just want everything fixed and finished, so i don't have to be home to meet with tradies that should have done their job correctly to start with...so I guess you can tell that we won't be recommending our builder to anyone EVER. I really want to enjoy this house but still two weeks on it doesn't feel like a home it still feels like a work site. The only tradies I want in the house are the ones I have asked.

So when everything IS finally finished I will take pictures of the house. We are getting the landscaping, driveway and fences done this week, so at least that is something exciting and a tradie we invited...lol

The kiddies are excited about being in the house, they all got new furniture for their rooms, a new lounge and coffee table for the rumpus so they feel very spoilt....lol

We did have a couple of muck ups with the furniture that we ordered...like the new couch for the lounge is to long...lol....but as it is a 3 seater and 2.5 seater and we needed a new lounge for the family room, we order another couch set and are going to put the two 3 seaters in the family room and the two 2.5 seaters in the lounge...problem solved...I hope...lol

Well I think I have whinged enough...and the guys are here to replace the glass int he front windows...I will be back later with an update and more pics of my growing little boy.

A Little Comparirson

OK so as I have been packing up the house I have come across a whole heap of photos that i have printed and not got around to scrapping, mainly of Rani. I was amazed when looking at some of the photos you would swear that you were looking at Kai.....SO

This is the one and only comparrison between Rani and Kai as they are seperate kiddies and Kai is Kai and Rani is Rani...but I am still shocked and amazed at how similar they are.

I guess it stems from the fact that this is bub no.4 and not one of my kiddies have looked alike - Josh blonde with brown eyes, Teagan brown with blue eyes and Rani dark brown with brown eyes and then when we make the heart breaking decision to have baby number 4 after Rani I get another dark brown with dark eyes.

So these pictures were taken within the first 24 hours of having Rani and Kai and can you see why I see so much of Rani in Kai.

















Rani
















Kai

It really is sometimes a little difficult having them look so alike, although Kai has a different personality to Rani (already) and I see him for him, but every now and then I could swear I was looking at Rani and it brings a tear to my eye as I miss her everyday and yearn for her to be here. It is a shame that Kai will never get to meet his big sis and know just how special she truly was/is!

Slack Blogger

OK so I haven't updated for a while but I have an excuse...lol

We are finally packing up and the house and getting ready to move.

Can you believe that Friday the house will be all ours and the big move happens on Saturday.

I can't believe that finally we will be living in our new house. I will miss living with Mum and Dad and I am sure that in a way they will miss us. Perhaps Mum won't miss cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing for us (well the kiddies) but I am sure she will miss spending time with her grandkiddies, especially her snuggle times with Kai.

In a way all the delays with the house have worked for us. It was much easier to come back here after having the C-section with Kai and just to know that if I needed anything Mum was more than willing to help me out. Also to know that if I needed to pop out quickly I had someone to watch Kai rather than getting him in and out of the car and with this cold weather we have been having it is way better for him to be inside with the ducted heating.

But we are very excited to be moving and a little sad to be leaving Mum and Dad's...but it will be great to have our own routine, the kiddies their own space and Mum and Dad to have their house back to them again...lol

We worked out the other day that we bought the land on March 1 2007, so over a year we have been waiting for this move. I will update with photos when we are in the house, as I have been a bad scrapper and forgot my camera everytime we have been out to the house.

So we are busily packing, buying all the things that are needed in a new house and just when I think I have got everything another 10 or so things go back on the list...lol...but I am sure there will be even more once we unpack.

So as people have been asking here are some more pics of Kai and when I got more organised I will post some more.

A bit of a photo shoot

Funny now that we have a little baby in the house the other 2 kiddies don't mind having their photos taken, but before Kai was here it was a struggle to get a nice pic of them...lol

So here are some photos I took the other day.

The Run

Bib	Event	Surname	First Name	Gender	Result
6729	14.14KM	Percy	Steven	M	01:06.14

Firstly a BIG THANK YOU to all the people that donated and sponsored Steven this year - we raised an amazing $1000.00.

Steven isn't overly happy with his time this year and hopes to better it next year, but he was a bit stressed before the race. There was a big muck up with phone companies changing times on mobiles for daylight saving when daylight savings hadn't finished here in Melbourne. Steven's phone was one of them and he had to do a mad dash to get to the race on time and didn't have time to prepare properly as he got there about 10 minutes late and just had to run.

Of course we all think that he did extremely well - I could never run 14km and certainly not in just over an hour!...so we are all very proud of him...add to that that he hurt his knee training a week before the race and still did the time he did personally I think that it is fantastic.

I will try later to get a photo off the RCH website and post it here.

Again THANK YOU everyone for your support.

More Photos

of my boy...mainly for my sis in London and other family member that live interstate and overseas.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to my baby girl (for yesterday)

The big double digits - 10.

It was lovely having the all the kiddies home on school holidays for Teagan's birthday and for dinner (her choice) we all went up to Maccas.

I still can't beleive that my little girl is 10 years old - time is going way to fast.

Kai's Story

OK so I have finally got some time by myself so I thought I would share Kai's story.

Wednesday 19th I went and saw my Ob and was told that the baby was engaged and that I could be induced on Good Friday. I wanted to be induced so bub didn't get to big!

Finally we had a date to meet our much awaited 4th child. So 7.30am John and I were at the Hospital. I was hooked up to machines and we just awaited the Ob...well he was late as he had a delivery and finally got to us at 10.30.

On external feeling of my tummy he didn't seem happy, after the internal he told me I wasn't getting induced today. Shocked I asked Why? Unusualy the bub had moved back up and was no longer engaged but I also wasn't allowed to go home. There were a lot of concerns my Ob also had..he didn't want my waters to break and not to be in the Hospital as he was concerned that the cord would come out first and sadly that does not have a good outcome for the bub. So C-section was also bought up as the safest option. After going through everything with Rani, the C-section was an easy decision to make, especially if it meant that our bub would have a safe arrival.

As we weren't a planned C-section we were scheduled in for around 3pm. I was so scared, I really didn't know what to expect...I couldn't even imagine the spinal block as I had never even had an epidural. The day dragged on and on and 3pm came and went, the Hospital was flat out. Finally at 5pm we were in the operating theatre.

All that fear...lol...the fear odf the unknown, being petrified of a needle in my back and the time had come...and it was nothing...lol...the sensation of the block was really wierd and I was amazed at how quickly it worked. My Ob came in and I really didn't think they had started, but what was only a minute or 2 he told John to grab the camera and get a shot of the bub as it was coming out of my tummy...I couldn't believe that our bub was already here, then I heard the best sound the cry...and then we got told we had a boy..our little Kai had arrived.

I couldn't see a thing and John had gone to be with Kai...it was a very strange feeling after having 3 natural births and bubs on me straight away I really wanted this bub with me. Eventually John came over and put Kai on my chest...instant love and amazement...another bub with dark hair, I couldn't get over how much he looked liked Rani.

It was over to soon, the Nurses came to take him to the Nursery to get weighed etc and John went with him. I was eventually taken to recovery, all the while hanging to see my boy again. Finally I was taken back to the room and able to cuddle my boy.

I found out all the details and was shocked to find that both Rani and Kai were the exact same weight at birth to the gram!

It was also really special to have Kai born on Good Friday, with the Good Friday Appeal on TV in the background, raising money for a Hospital that has such a special place in our hearts. i know that his big sister will watch out for him...it just would have been even more special if she was here to come to the Hospital with her brother and sister.

some more pics

lots more to come when we get home in a few days

John

Its a BOY

Kai Jon Millar was born today at 5.13pm via C Section. 7 pound 15 Ounces (3580 grams) 19 1/4 Inches (49 Centimetres) at Knox Private Hospital.

Kai and Mel are doing really well.

Heres a photo of our new boy (click to enlarge)

A Huge Thank You

to everyone that has sponsered Steven for the RCH Run for the Kids...so far we are up to $545.00...Thank you.

It is not to late to sponsor him, as the run is not until 30th March...and every cent goes to the Royal Childrens Hospital and as you know it has a special place in our hearts and hopefully with the money raised another family won't have to go through what we have.

Steven is training hard...poor boys birthday is this Sunday but he is being good and sticking to his training as he really wants to better his time this year.

Run for Rani

If you are interested in sponsoring him again or for the first time please visit

Steven's Hero Page

This is the simpliest way to donate by clicking the Donate button.

For more information on last years run visit Run4Rani

Wedding, The House, Bub..well everything

Well since my last post we have been very busy.

John has been away alot on business, so it has been me and the kiddies and well Mum and Dad...lol. Thankfully this month I have asked John not to travel as much (well at all) as well we were hoping that we would be moving around this time and with Bub due in 3 weeks I didn't want to risk him being over in Perth and not making it back...just in case.

So what else...Sally and Kevin got married on 23rd Feb...it turned out to be a beautiful day, as it had rained for a couple of days before. Sal looked absolutely stunning as did everyone. It was a bit sad as I was meant to be one of the bridesmaids, but pulled out when I found out I was pregnant and due a month after the wedding. Still I had a fantastic time, the Wedding and Reception was held at a beautiful place and the night we fun. Being the designated driver it was a fun drive home with varying degrees of drunks in the car...lol...John being the worst...lol

The Bride and Groom



Here is a pick of Sal and I.

The House...what can I say - I am so over it and the muck ups and delays. I really don't even like going out to see it at the moment, as nothing seems to be happening. We get told a time line and then someone doesn't turn up or finish what they are meant to and this puts everyone back. So we still have no set move in date. We were really hoping to be moved into beofore bub arrived, but it looks like I will be bringing it back here and moving sometime after that...grrr

BUB - well I have 3 weeks to go..I can't believe it, well less if I can help it...lol. I am having an Ultrasound tomorrow to check size, position etc, as I really don't want to have to go through a Teagan birth again and then next Wednesday I see my Ob and he decides if I can be induced a little early. I am very excited about meeting this little one, but also scared stiff. I know that the chances of what happened to Rani happening again are very slim, but I am still scared about everything else that can go wrong. I really hope that I don't become to over-protective with this one, that I am just able to enjoy having another little bub. I am sure once I see this baby I will just melt, but it is going to be very hard and very emotional not having Rani with us to enjoy her new little brother or sister.

Oh yeah!

I actually scrapped, I am in shock that it is the first pages that I have done all year...naughty, naughty.

I did 3 pages that were all for Bon's CC and then to my shock when I was on the forum today I saw that my LO 'Hanging Out' won for Fran's Sketch Challenge. What a thrill and boost to keep me scrapping.

Bon's Challenge



Fran's Challenge


Sheree's Challenge

The Zoo, School and a Hen's Weekend

Well it has been a long time since posts....as some people have told me...lol

I want to say a huge Thank You to those people that have donated for the RCH Fun Run, it is truly appreciated...THANK YOU. If you are interested in donating, visit the post under this one. :)

OK where to catch up from.

On Australia Day, we decided to go to the Zoo for the kiddies last big activity before they went back to School...and it seemed so did lots of other families, there was a huge line up just to get into the Zoo. We had a fantastic day....saw all the animals, had lunch in the Restaurant and enjoyed seeing how much is has changed in the last almost 2 years since we had been.




















Then on Wednesday it was the first day back to School. I think the kids were excited to see their friends, but also missing sleeping in...lol...I am still in shock that my little baby boy will be in High School next year, that this is his final year at his school. He was very excited to get his 2008 Year 6 Jacket with the name of all the kids in Grade 6 at his School.

Last weekend a group of girlfriends went away for Sally's Hen's Weekend.



I got picked up on Friday arvo and we headed down to Rye, to a house that had been rented for the weekend...the house was lovely. There were 9 of us staying at the house...I got one of the bottom bunks (close to the toilet...lol). Friday night we had a BBQ dinner and the others had some drinks...Saturday we went to the Portsea Hotel for lunch and ended up staying for about 6 hours...plenty of laughs, so funny presents and plenty of drinks (no Sal I won't put up the pics...lol), then we headed back to the House for more drinks (well everyone else) games, dancing and more laughs. Sunday morning we had bacon and eggs for breakfast, a quick clean up and then it was time to come home back to the kiddies. It was a fantastic weekend...so much fun, so thanks girls for a fun filled weekend.

Baby front, I will be 34 weeks tomorrow - so still 6 weeks to go, but I am feeling huge...when I tell people that I have 6 weeks to go they look shocked...lol...so maybe this little one will come early.

Here is a pic of Sal and I at the Portsea Hotel.

House front...well not a lot is happening...I took Mum and Dad out there today and no one was there...we do have walls up and fingers crossed by the end of the week we will have a kitchen and bathrooms, but at this rate I think the bub will be here before the house is finished. The Supervisor has said mid-March so I will wait and see, but personally I think it will be later. :(

Run for Rani

Well it has come around again and once again my brother Steven has signed up for the Run for the Kids Royal Children's Hospital 14.14km Fun Run to raise money for the Hospital in honour of our beautiful angel Rani.

If you are interested in sponsoring him again or for the first time please visit

Steven's Hero Page

This is the simpliest way to donate by clicking the Donate button on the bottom right of the page.

We are hoping to reach similar amount to what we raised last year...so thanks in advance.

For more information on last years run visit Run4Rani

A Bit of Fun!!!

Ok I will admit that I got this from Bon's Blog...lol

But it is a bit of fun.

Either click here



or on the side menu bar and
you can guess, what the bub will be, when it will be born and how much it will weigh.

So what are you waiting for, click away and see who is the closest....or if anyone is spot on...I will RAK the closest guess.

Looking More like a House

Well work has started back on the house this week, after the Christmas break and there is lots going on.

The brickies are working at a great pace and they should be finished by the end of next week.

Inside the electrician has been in and wired for all the power points and lights. Also all the ducts have been put in for the heating/cooling and hopefully by the end of the month all the plasterboard will be up.

So here are some pics of the house with the bricks so far.

Needles, Needles, Needles

This bub is certainly making sure that it is well and truly my last bub...lol

Last week I had an OB appointment and also my Glucose Test and my first physio appointment...the poor kiddies had to come with me, they were pretty good considering we were at the Ob's office for over 2 hours.

Thankfully Pathology and the Physio are all in the same building.

So I drank the horrible drink - the timer was set for an hour - saw my Ob...everything is fine with Bub...waited the rest of the time for my blood test (which I still have a huge bruise from) and then went to see the Physio for my unstable pelvis...got some exercises to do and she was ordering a brace for me.

Thinking all would be fine...same as the last 3 times I have done the test, I was suprised when my mobile rang the following night at 9pm to have my Ob on the other end telling me that my sugar had come back high and I needed to do the longer Gestational Diabetes test...Yay NOT!!!

So exactly a week since my last test I was back at the Ob's to see Pathology for the 2 hour test...thankfully this time the kiddies were going to the Movies with Mum. As I had to fast I was there at 8.45am...1st needle to see what my sugar levels are before the drink...then again drink the horrible drink and sit and wait for an hour...second needle after an hour, then back to the waiting room to sit for another hour and finally 2 hours after the drink my final needle for the day.

So all up 3 needles today, thnakfully I am not needles phobic...lol...so I have to see my GP as my Ob is away for the results and will find out on Monday - I am really hoping that it comes back fine and that I don't have GD.

At least while I was waiting the Physio got my brace delivered and I was able to get the fitted, so hopefully that will help with some of the pain.

Phantom of the Opera

Finally on Sunday we all went and saw Phantom of the Opera.

Mum and Dad bought John a ticket for his birthday way back in September and we bought tickets for the kiddies and I.

Teagan was so excited, doing a countdown every morning for about a fortnight, even watching the DVD the day before we went.

Josh we were a bit unsure as to how he would go...but they both loved it and were fabulous the whole performance...this was the first time they had been to the theatre. Josh couldn't wait for it to start again after intermission. Although the seats really aren't made for kiddies, even with cushions the kids struggled to see over everyones head, even I did.

I personally thought the original one ( the one I saw over 10 years ago) was better, but still this was great. John and the kids thought it was brilliant and that was the most important thing, that they enjoyed it and we had a great day together.

It was a lovely family day out, finishing with us all going out to dinner.