This is a long overdue update on the development of my children.

Well my little Jo is now 3 years and a few months old. She’s becoming quite the entertainer, acting all the time. Sometimes the character she puts on is so funny that me and Nel really have no choice but to burst into fits of laughter. We did that today, and Jo trying hard not to laugh herself, found her mouth twitching from trying to keep a serious face, and wanting to burst into laughter. She talks to everyone now, from children to adults, talking in long sentences with breaks in between to take in deep breaths of air (which sound like gasping for air.)
She knows her alphabets and has been telling stories and pretending to read from books. A particular book she likes is one about nursery rhyme characters. It’s a short book consisting of 2 lines a page. A few weeks ago, I thought that she was reading the book word for word accurately. However, I now realize that she wasn’t reading, but was reciting, coz she’d actually memorized the book! Hahaha….

Oh yeah, last Sunday we were at the old Folks Home, and she just suddenly decided to lie down smack in the middle. I told her to get up, and she replied “ I can’t mum, I’m a mermaid!” Which brings up the topic of obsession. She seems to be “obsessed” right now, about mermaids, pink dolphins and white horses.

As for Nel, she’s really into arranging stuff. She arranges her colors in certain ways, she stacks up toys or cards in certain ways…and they’re mostly in a certain pattern. Most of the time, she rearranges furniture, toys and stuff in the house to create an imaginary playground. Jo absolutely loves that, coz it creates scenes for her imagination. :)

Ask Nel what she likes most and she’ll tell you stories, play, snacks and long walks.
At the playground last week, while I was talking with her friend’s mum, she was secretly climbing the slide tunnel. When I turned around, she was up there about 10 feet above ground, not inside the tunnel but outside. For some it’s no big deal, but I’m afraid of heights, and so I tried to stay calm. She tells me she wants to go rock climbing, I suppose I will have to take her.

She and Camel (our poodle) are best friends when outdoors. You’ll see Nel hair flying in the wind, holding Camel’s leash and running. My mad/hyperactive dog doesn’t mind it at all. haha... Sometimes you see them sitting together on a bench, Nel red in the cheeks from all that running.
Ok…so much more to update..but it’s late.

My moronic dog who spoilt my day

so the hand-foot and mouth disease has finally gone. yahoooo...........................

but truth be told, I'm drained out, and a little down in the dumps. it's from the lack of sleep. Somehow, Jo's still been waking up at least 3-4 times a night even though the ulcers have subsided. Yesterday, I was just getting so cranky and feeling so down we decided to all go for a walk.

So the children and I and Camel (our dog) headed for a walk. Nel decided to hold Camel's leash. While walking, Nel saw a coconut tree and started counting the coconuts on the tree. At that moment, she forgot Camel. Camel saw his chance of escape, and dashed as fast as his legs could carry him. And mind you, Camel who jumps like a pogo stick is also a very very fast runner.

Nel ran after him, which spurred that wicked little dog to run even faster. I screamed "STOPPPPPPPPP" so loud the neighbours came out to look. Of course, nobody helped me catch Camel. So there went my peaceful walk. I walked fast, furiously, calling very loudly after Camel, and my idiotic dog, having caught the scent of another dog's pee, was fast on it's track. He didn't give a hoot to my call.

Then the rascal went further down the road and took a turn. AT that moment, I looked at my children trailing behind....and thought, "Camel or the kids? Camel or the kids?"

Darn, of course, it would have to be kids first. So I walked back to the kids, muttering curses under my breath. I lifted JO with one arm, and in my anger uttered certain words to Nel which I regret till now.

So with that 12 kgs in my arm and another one crying behind me, we continued our search for Camel. TUrned the corner and saw that scent maniac still sniffing the sidewalk and pillars. He sneaked looks at us from the corner of the eye, less we catch him and cut short his freedom.

I was almost to him when he ran again all the way to the next turn, nearing a busy road where cars were zooming by. I thought, he's either gonna die, or get lost, can't keep up with this chase. Finally, prayed a little....and then decided to squat. I sat there, called him....and to my relief, he decided he loved his master (me) more than whatever dog who's scent had attracted him. phew....

we walked home.... Nel ahead, wounded from my words. Bad mother i am......

Finally I decided I had to undo my words...had to let pride go. I sat down under the tree, and called Nel to my side. Reluctantly she came. We talked about the meaning of Responsibility, a new word for her. and blah blah blah.....and i kinda apologized. In the end, I gave her one more chance to handle CAmel's leash.

At that moment, the coy neighbour's cat, the one that loves to irritate Camel decided to come by. Of course, that dumb dog succumbed to the lure of the cat and barked like a moron, while trying to break loose from his leash. When will he ever learn not to give in, for his barking surely gives pleasure to that cat who was smiling wickedly. Well, Nel passed the test this time, for she held on to that leash with all her might and told Camel to keep quiet and sit down.

All in all.....it's so tough after sleepless nights and tiring days to keep cool. It's so easy to get angry and say things that hurt. It's so easy to hurt those you love most.... God forgive me when I become the mother I do not want to be. Well.....ok....time to go. I'm hoping for better sleep tonight.....

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update... Nel had a long fish bone lodged at the very back of her throat, the dumb GP said "no bone, can't see a bone." Found myself on that traffic road to Aunt Pauline's clinic again in OUG. That terrific doctor....she got that bone out. She's just a FANTASTIC doctor.

Nel's paintint of a fish

Nel's painting of herself. See the spots on the mouth? she said those are the ulcers which were in her mouth when she had the HFM.

Camel my little poodle

Day 4 Detox. Let's say I'm not going by the diet plan faithfully. However, I've been eating healthy. :) Cannot go without rice as directed. Addicted to rice. ahaha..

Conversation with Jo over breakfast today.

Jo: Mum, does Ivan obey his mummy? (Ivan is a friend from her toddler group)

Me: Well, I think so.

Jo: Jo obeys mummy. I am a good girl. (pause....and after a while she says)

Mum, .............I like being with you mum. (she says it with a smile.)

Awwww....that was so wonderful to hear. It just brightened my day. :)

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Today we took Camel our adopted dog for grooming. his fur was just growing wild. If you read my earlier post on Camel, you'd know he was rescued from cruelty, and we adopted him. Well, here's the little fella after his hair cut. The best thing is the groomer knows Camel, coz it was he who rescued Camel. So he did it all for free! ANyway, Camel now looks Totally adorable! :)

Camel eyeing Nel's food

Sits still when on a leash

Camel posing

Camel is usually a VERY active dog! I had to censor this pic.

no x rated pic allowed on this family site. haha...

Camel jumping to get the treat

He can jump VERY high! I call him a pogo stick.

Rabbit poop + food = sunflowers

(Questions Nel asked this week: Mum…why is it that in all the books I read, children’s heads are soooo big and their bodies are sooooooo small?
Me: well, coz that’s reality. Look at all the toddlers and babies you know, their heads are big and their bodies are small right?
Nel: Mum, you’re and adult right? Is that why your head is small but your body soo big?
Me thinking: (yeah don’t remind me, I still have to loose that 5 kgs!!)
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My two rabbits have been eating like crazy, I suppose all rabbits eat a lot! Don’t be fooled by their petite structure and think they’re cheap pets to look after! It’s just about a couple of months and I’ve already bought a few BIG bags of food. Thing is this, a rabbit poops endlessly! That’s what they do all day. Eat and shit.

Well, those clumsy fellas sometimes topple all their food and also poop in their water bowl. Sometimes when I clean after them (as if cleaning after my own kids are not enough!) I just throw all the stuff into my plant pot. I throw them all, the leftover food and the heaps of poop.

Well, one fine day my pot started sprouting with all sorts of plants! Curious I left them there and studied them everyday. Eventually I discovered they all grew from the rabbit’s leftover food (mainly seeds…oats, barley, sunflower etc). Well…one particular one just kept growing taller and taller and taller………just like Jack and the Beanstalk, only it didn’t reach heaven…. it is none other then, the very beautiful Sunflower. :)

I’ve to tell you, my MOST favourite flower in the whole world is the Sunflower, so imagine my joy and excitement when I discovered that all of a sudden I had about 8 sunflowers growing in my garden! The tallest being about 9 feet. J Absolutely breathtaking…so beautiful…so….lovely….. so magnificent (especially the one that is 9 feet tall.)

So I’ve discovered rabbit food and rabbit poop go hand in hand. Throw the food, it grows. Throw the poop on it to fertilize it, creating the healthy tall sunflower.

Here’s some pics of sunflowers taken in my garden.

Tee Tee
Fluffy

Teetee has a new friend, Fluffy. In my opinion Teetee should be called Fluffy coz he is REALLy fluffy. Oh well, Nel's choice of names. :) Well, every evening I put both Teetee and Fluffy in an enclosed area in my little garden.

Usually the kids insist they wanna go in with the rabbits so yesterday I let them.

Well about 15 minutes passed and Nel and Jo started getting rough with each other. Being confined in a small area for a long time tends to bring out the aggression in them as they fight for space, and who gets to feed/pet which rabbit etc.

Eventually Jo gave Nel a little push and Nel reacted by pushing her back. Nel being bigger gave a rather hard push which led to howling from Jo and this led to more shoving and pushing from both parties. So I lifted Nel out of the area and told her to stand by the gate with hands crossed for a while and to think about her actions.

Then I realised well, Jo had part of this fight too. So I lifted Jo out too, who protested and cried with all her little strength. I told her to stand by the gate too with hands crossed, which she did though she had tears streaming down her eyes.

As they stood there, Nel looked and Jo, and Jo looked at Nel. Both looked funny with hands crossed over shoulders.................and then......they thought the situation funny and started laughing a little first amidst tears, and then real roll on the floor laughter! hahahahha.....

Don't they look so pitifully cute? Especially Jo with her overfull diapers? haha.... you have to see the faces with tears frowning, then smiling and eventually laughing ...hahaha...I have to admit, I started laughing myself...and in the end we just ended everything, kept the rabbits and went for our little walk in the evening breeze. :)

Addtions to the family.

Wish I could tell you that I am pregnant with a new baby. but no, no, no. Am not pregnant, do not plan to get pregnant in the near future.... maybe in 2 years...maybe maybe.....

However, in a matter of one week, we acquired a dog and a rabbit and we have a terapin boarding with us as well. Nel ( and I) REALLY REALLY wanted a dog, and we were going around checking out Animal Shelters. Nel (meaning I) fell in love with a Schnauzer mixed with Terrier and asked to adopt that little fella. Unfortunately it'd just come in and was not ready for adoption, and they wouldn't allow us to place bookings. Well a volunteer happened to be there and took my number down. Two days later she called me to ask if I was interested in a rescue Poodle. It's pure bred, but kept in a small cage for an entire year by a cruel breeder.

The little fella's hair was all mangled up and he had weak hind feet due to being caged up. Well, after several visits to the vet..he was ready for adoption. And yeah, we took him in. :) He is simply adorable, REALLY active little fella who's really inquisitive and cute. :) We take him for long walks, so his legs have strengthened. He's so strong he actually pulled Jo flat onto her nose once when she held the leash. Thank God we were on grassy patch. Anyway...enough of stories already. By the way, we've named the poodle Camel.

Oh yeah, in the same week, my dear dad, not knowing of our intention to get the dog, decided the kids needed to have pets around and got us rabbits. Sadly one died within a few days. I guess, we're learning how to handle these little creatures. One survives, and his name is Tee-tee.

weaning

weaning is hard... hard for the baby, hard for me. but she's almost 2 years old..and so it's time. Plus i have to take some medication for my muscle spasm and doctor told me to come back in a month's time after weaning the baby.

For Baby J, nursing time is nutrition and most importantly being close to mummy. For me, nursing time is seeing the joy on the face of my little baby, listening to her little excited giggles and feeling her close to me. It's a special bond. that's why weaning is hard for her and me.

It's 5 days and 4 nights now, 4 nights of almost total sleeplessness because of her frequent wakings and cryings when I deny her the comfort of nursing. Most of the time after about an hour of crying, she'll say "ok..mum, no milk, ....Mum, *sob**sob* I want mummy, I want mummy." followed by a burst of crying. So I'd just carry her and rock her in my arms till she falls asleep again. Sometimes she falls asleep on my tummy...just to feel close to me. Hard....but we'll go through it together.

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As for N, ah, she's ok. Sometimes her usual rascal, sometimes an argumentative lawyer, sometimes a loving helpful little gal. SHe's decided that she wants to be a singer for now, and a fire fighter. Don't know where she gets these ideas.

Yesterday, she sang her sunday school song like this...

God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good like me.

well the actual lyrics are "He's so good TO me." hahaa... she knows that but she insists that she's a good girl n God is good just like her.

.....anyway here's some pictures from the animal shelter we visited recently...faces have been hidden...orders of hubby.