Nanna’s Journey

Kangaroo in our driveway

Kangaroo

19 weeks + 1 day

Pink p i n k PINK PinK p.i.n.k. Pink p i n k PINK PinK Pink p i n k PINK PinK

Ava’s Rule

Ava’s Riaaa

Ava

(click on postcard to read in full size)

From: http://www.sheyerosemeyerphotography.com/blog/2009/11/if-only-2/ (Copied with Permission from Sheye Rosemeyer)

IF ONLY.

It’s getting hot here in Australia. Summer is just about here. For a long while after we lost Ava, I would brace hearing the evening news, never wanting to know of another family enduring what we have..of someone elses precious child losing their life the way Ava did. But that day came, another family lost their daughter, and then another. One mother, she lost both her children. Every time, it broke my heart all over again. Such a simple thing – family cars parked outside homes..a brief window where all of the planets made way for the perfect storm and then, just like that, nothing was ever the same.
How I wish just the simple act of distributing the Ava’s Rule postcard would mean this never happened again, anywhere, ever. In reality I know it’s probably not possible. We can try though, can’t we? Please email this post card to every single person you know. For us. For Ava. For families who adore their children, who think they’ve covered off all the risks, who may have never thought of the dangers of their car parked outside on a normal Sunny day. Please.

There are two other things I want to share with you too. Because of other grieving families I’ve met over the last three years, I am horribly aware of the many varied ways in which childrens lives are cut short. Some of them are completely obscure and some are tragically, much more common.
The risk of drowning to young children, particularly here in Australia where we spend much of the year swimming, is very real. If you have a pool, I ask you to strongly consider installing a pool safety net available, from here in Australia and here in the USA. If you think it’s not necessary, the devastated parents of those lost children would tell you it is. So many very good families lose their precious and adored babies in the blink of an eye, with pool fences in place.

I would also ask that you take a moment to read this post regarding new child restraint legislation here in Australia, effective March 2010. Because of the tireless work of our beautiful friends, Danielle & Noel Broadhead, Isabelle’s Regulations have been introduced. I am so proud and so sad at the same time. I know this victory is bittersweet for them – just as sharing Ava’s Rule is near impossible but imperative for me.
It’s been difficult to write this post. I’m not someone to tell others what they should be doing. But how I wish, with every ounce of my being, that someone had sent me a postcard like this one before we lost our Super Princess. If someone had shown Yasmine or Hannah’s Mum a pool net. If someone had mentioned to Danielle and Leanne the risks of booster seats and adult seat belts. If only.
S x
ps: to email, just right click save then attach to your email. If you want to blog this, I’d be ever so grateful. Thankyou so much.

Ava’s Rule

Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after having a baby. That somebody doesn’t know that once you’ve had a baby “Normal” is history.

Somebody said being a mother is boring… That somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a learner’s permit.

Somebody said that if you are a “good” mother, your children will “turn out good”. That somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said that “good” mothers never raise their voices. That somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbour’s kitchen window.

Somebody said you don’t need an education to be a mother. That somebody never helped a fourth grader with her Math.

Somebody said you can’t love a fifth child as much as the first. That somebody doesn’t have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all her answers in a book. That somebody never had their child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is the labor and the delivery. That Somebody never watched their “baby” get on the bus for their first day at school, or on a plane headed for the military.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and her hands tied behind her back. That somebody has never organised birthday parties for over excited children.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. That Somebody doesn’t know that getting married adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother’s heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother’s job is done when her last child leaves home. That somebody never has grandchildren.

Somebody said a Mother knows you love her, so you don’t need to tell her. That somebody isn’t a mother.

Happy First Mother’s Day Erin, Love Mum xoox

The fingerprinting forensics’s have just left, and they got some excellent prints, but better still, DNA from a blood smear left by the burglar. They are very pleased to find that! Now I just have a hell of a mess to clean up. I want to totally spring clean the house now! It’s just the worst feeling knowing a scumbag has riffled through all your personal stuff. I’m feeling so washed out and tired.

The locksmith will be here shortly to change all the locks and the window is being replaced this afternoon.

Police have advised us to look in Pawnshops. They said not to say anything to pawnbrokers – simply keep looking in their windows and try and recognise our jewellery – If we see anything, by law the item is frozen until police arrive. Keep the photo’s and valuations (they have perfect descriptions) handy to present when you find something. Luckily, I have clear photo’s of every item of jewellery. One can only hope…

Update: After spending all day cleaning up after the fingerprinting, carefully cleaning up glass (how does it get into everything?), sorting out clothing, putting it back in draws, and giving everything a real good clean (to wipe away that scumbag), I finally decided to start the walk-in-robe. A shelf that had lots of little jewellery boxes, some were actually empty (you know, those little velvet boxes) were scattered on the floor. Anyway, my heart leap when I saw a blue box laying amongst the pile of clothing – that’s what I kept Nanna’s necklace and ring! I had assumed it was in one of the jewellery boxes that was now empty. Opened it. Empty. My heart sank in bitter disappointment. So I kept plodding away, handbags and spare purses had all been searched through (I bet he got sick of finding tampons!). I’d almost finished when I found the last little red leather box. I knew nothing was in it, but I opened it anyway. Oh My God!! For some reason I must have put Nanna’s necklace and ring in that box? I don’t remember that I did that. Anyway, Mr Scumbag MISSED it! I assume it got caught up in my cardigans that were folded up next to all the boxes, perfumes and spare purses.

WHOOHOOOBLOODYWHOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

After spending a such a lovely day with my girlfriend Julie, I came home to find the dogs inside the house? How the hell? It didn’t take long to discover we have been burgled as I walked into our bedroom to find empty jewellery boxes and watch cases scattered on the floor. Clothing and the like ripped from open draws. China trinket boxes laying bare with lids missing. The window beside the sliding glass door, a gapping hole, shattered glass spraying the room. Total devastation. I’m amazed that the dogs had walked through that broken curtain of glass without cutting their feet. I’m babysitting Erin’s 2 Burmese – a quick head count – yep my 3 and Kolby. But no Kyra! My heart sank. It’s now absolutely pouring as an afternoon storm has hit.

After the police had been, reports filled out, we set about searching for Kyra. I let our neighbours know and they immediately start a search as well. Eventually, Kyra crawls our from behind the couch, very skittish and nervous, definitely not like him at all. Whatever happened really frightened him. Best I don’t know. He’s settled down now and is beside me now as I type. So I am thankful the furries are all safe. That really is the main thing.

We are asked to try not to touch anything, the place will be dusted for finger prints tomorrow. It’s not easy having to carefully step over everything. Even harder sleeping tonight.

What is most upsetting is that very sentimental jewellery is gone. I don’t care about anything else. Gra’s grandfathers beautiful engraved gold cuff-links, my grandmothers wedding ring and a gorgeous diamond and pearl necklace that Erin wore on her wedding day, my mothers pearls, my grandfathers baby brooch (1889) and a pearl studded horseshoe stick pin, not to even begin to mention the very special pieces that Gra has given me that mean so much. Gra’s watch collection – including a beautiful antique fob watch and chain. Gone. Just like that!

I can’t even begin to think of the right words to express how I feel inside. Certainly best I don’t say what I think of the thief, or this Blog will become R rated. So I guess I’ll just go and quietly lick my wounds…

Day 96: Baby is now urinating!

There is not a lot left of my childhood. Lot’s of happy memories of course, but only a couple of items.

My Walking Doll, who’s name changed like the wind and had just as many haircuts as you can see. It’s hard to remember that her hair once fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. So apart from the balding Mohawk, she really is in great shape for a 1960’s doll. Faint traces of pink nail polish grace her fingernails. Her eyes still open and close and have their thick black lashes, but on closer inspection, I might have given those a little snip too!

The only other items I have are two much loved and read books. The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill and The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Many of the pages are loose and dogeared, so they will have to be handled very carefully. My name written so carefully on the inside covers in large childish print. It’s a shame the dust-covers have long ago disappeared, but I can just imagine how tatty they must have been. Looking at my careful colouring in of one of the pictures feels like a moment frozen in time. I can actually remember doing it!

What absolute joy I will have reading these to my own grandchild, reliving my own childhood! I just wish I still had all my Enid Blyton books.. especially the Folk of the Faraway Tree!

My mother kept my baby towel and gave it to me the day my own first baby was born. A white threadbare towel with it’s red hospital stamp still visible on the hem. So threadbare and delicate I was only game to use it on each of my babies when they were newborn. You can imagine how I felt when I spotted my teenage son using it, ripped in nice sized squares to polish his car! “Oh sorry Mum, I thought it was just an old rag?” So the towel is now sadly long gone.

I’ve decided to add Special Events that happen along the way – kind of giving a time capsual feel to my blog. I’m a little out of date with this entry as it happened a week ago – but later on, I’ll sneak move this to the correct date in my blog (and no one will notice).

An eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and the moon in perfect alignment blocking the sun’s light. It is rare because the moon is usually either above or below the plane of the earth’s orbit. The next lunar eclipse will be December 2011.

It was a misty night here so unfortunately not the sharpest of photos. I spent the evening desperately clicking away in-between periods of thick cloud cover.

..and you are 9 weeks 4 days old

While still too small for you to feel, your are wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!

Most joints are formed and you are practicing bending and flexing.

You will curve your fingers around an object placed in the palm of your hand! How amazing! “At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!”

Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.

You squint, swallow, move your tongue and can make a fist.

Average size is – Length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)