01.05.10
Progress!!
It’s been a while now since I had my cast off and went through the rehabilitation required to be able to walk again. The journey post-cast, however, was a lot longer than I had expected. Read the rest of this entry »
21.04.10
BELATED POST: Malaysia: Impressions
I recorded our doings daily on our trip to Malaysia in January this year. Yet… with the whole breaking my ankle the day after we got back – blogging this wasn’t extremely high on the list of things to do. So this post had sat here for ages.. I hadn’t finished adding the photos but I don’t know whether I ever will. So anyway, for the sake of putting it out there. Here is our trip to Malaysia in all it’s glory. 
27.03.10
Baby Discipline
My baby is one. Correction… my almost-toddler is one! Either way, Micah didn’t really have any idea what was going on. He just knew he got to rip wrapping paper, play with boxes and eat (sugar-free) cake. And he gets to do it all again at his belated birthday party and dedication.
It’s funny how his personality has emerged so much since he’s been able to get around. He crawling FAST and walking doesn’t seem too far away. He follows you around everywhere, especially in the kitchen because he knows that’s where food comes from. We call him ‘the seagull’ because if you have food, he’s there, trying to climb up on your knee and whining for your food. His food choices have become a lot more varied and exciting since the emergence of opposing teeth. Opposing teeth allow you to bite… and Micah takes advantage of that.
Micah LOVES anything technological (although we knew this early on when he wanted to play with our mobile phones) and will get his hands on anything with buttons or wires or electricity attached. As you can imagine, this is mostly uncool. This, along with the climbing as high as he can… are probably the most common causes for ‘removal’.
And we are also getting to see the not so fun sides of having a toddler as well. Micah has a habit, especially when he is happy or hyper, of hitting people’s faces. Doesn’t matter who it is at the moment… he’s just slappy. To add to this… if you have glasses you are likely to lose them within 2 minutes of being in Micah’s company.
With all this happening, we are now trying to get our heads around how to discipline a one year old. It’s a tough job considering we can’t be sure of how much he understands of either what we say or what he is and isn’t allowed to do. Although we aren’t against smacking, we are feeling that this just isn’t the time. It makes us feel terrible and Micah is just confused about what is happening. So we are sticking to an obvious display of disapproval, using the same key words eg: dangerous, naughty.. and removal from the situation.
It’s also been a time where we have been contemplating the fact that our kids don’t become sinful… they are born into a sinful world. Therefore we can’t have expectations that Micah will automatically be ‘good’… but that we will need to to teach him to be good. For college bible study next term we are going to be going through the study book for ‘Shepherding a Child’s Heart’ which is about biblical parenting. I have heard talks by Tedd Tripp before and I’ve started reading the book in preparation for the study and, apart from a hard line approach on physical discipline, he is very good.
The most recent thing I’ve read is about how many parents discipline based on the idea that the child has wronged the parent. Tedd says that a parent who aims to parent biblically should instead discipline based on the idea that the child has wronged God. This gives you an entirely different frame of parenting that is God-centered. So when you talk to your children you remind them of what God requires of them and why He has made you their daddy or mummy in authority over them.
This makes sense to me. But not having older children, I really don’t know how his advice works in practice. His theory seems sound, but we all know that things can be different in the heat of the moment. I’m guessing it would be hard work just breaking through the ideas that you have picked up from your own parents, plus outsiders expectations.
I’m sure I’ll be getting many insights from the other mums on what works and what doesn’t so I’ll keep reporting as we go through the study…
27.02.10
4.5 weeks on…
Reporting back on that whole broken ankle thing. ..
Yes, I’m still on crutches. Yes I still have a cast on. And, yes, I’m getting more than a bit fed up. Having said that, I’m learning alot about myself and also what it’s like have a long(ish) term injury.
Now you need to understand that I’m quite uncoordinated. Minus a functioning leg from that scenario and you have a girl that is terrified of her own crutches. I have fallen over 5 or 6 times in the last few weeks. Mostly resulting from crutch malfunction, or purely from losing my balance. One resulted in a sprained arm, another two times resulted in MASSIVE purple and black bruises on my thigh. All I can say is that it is NOT a good idea to fall on your son’s wooden truck. It hurts. Thankfully I haven’t managed to further injure my ankle in these falls.
So I have been progressively becoming more and more scared of using these evil crutches. Almost every night I dream that I can walk normally. It’s all I want right now.
I’ve spent a few nights grieving the loss of activity, of independence, of being able to carry my little boy.. or catch him when he falls. Plus the massive guilt I feel when I see Haoran constantly exhausted and stressed.. It has been so much tougher than I ever imagined. In fact, I can definitely say this last month has been the hardest one in our marriage and one of the hardest in my life.
The joyful moments do rise to the surface occasionally. Micah is a constant source (of course). He has just amazed me how he has just taken this all in his stride. He is now crawling ‘normally’ on his hands and knees… and getting pretty quick too. He’s sprouted two top teeth that only make an appearance when I dangle him over my knee and tickle his belly. He’s very curious and wants to know what everyone is up to.. and often gets underfoot (or crutch). I think he knows that he has to come to Mummy for a cuddle now instead of waiting for me to go to him. And he has coped so well with a constant stream of ’strangers’ in the house.
Joy also sprouts from the the love and generosity of people from family and college and church and Mothers Group. It has been truly overwhelming. People who anticipate my needs, who babysit when Haoran and I need space, even those who simply open a door for me. People who make this time bearable.
Tangent: speaking of opening doors… when you’re on crutches, to open a door is like an 18 step process… if the door automatically swings back it’s even more. An addition to the things I’ve learnt.
I realise that this is probably not the most terrible thing that could ever happen to a person. It’s temporary, fleeting. I am very thankful for that. Yet I find myself needing to drag myself out of that dark pit of depression time and time again. It’s possible being stuck indoors most of the time doesn’t help either.
I have a very large list of things I want to do when I get out of this cast. Problem is: I have no idea what function my leg will have after it’s out. Will it be all wobbly? Or will it still be sore? Will I still need to use those *%&% crutches? (Sorry Mum)
Either way, I am hanging out for the 9th March – which is when, if all things go to plan, I shed that cast and am FREE! In fact, I think a celebratory dinner is in order.
It sounds trite and corny… but I don’t think I’ll ever take walking for granted ever again.
02.02.10
Because I need more drama in my life…
So we have been back from Malaysia for a total of 1 week. We were’nt really looking forward to that week because it was full of things – like Greek and sermons and dermatology appointments and Hebrew. Not a particularly relaxing week in which to acclimatise and recover (travelling with parents is somewhat exhausting – no matter how convenient the babysitting is).
And so in an apparent attempt to avoid that week, or perhaps to celebrate Australia Day.. and our homecoming, I broke my ankle on the stairs. Read the rest of this entry »
08.01.10
Off to see the wide, wide world
It’s the middle of the night. I have finally succumbed to the inevitable. I have been trying to hold off the anxious list-writing for at least another 24 hours. But the terror has struck tonight.. therefore no sleep for me.
And.. I ask you.. what else should I do but blog?
On Monday we are flying to Malaysia with the express purpose to introduce Micah to his third Great Grandmother and various uncles and aunts. I am, perhaps unreasonably, stressed and anxious about the trip. I guess it’s the unfamiliarity and unknown.. something I was quite happy to deal with pre-baby.
Before Micah was born I was a person who liked routine. You know, the sort who has a routine for getting up in the morning etc. I am open to change, but generally my comfort lies in routine and the familiar. This side of me is on hyper-drive now that we have Micah. I stress out when he doesn’t sleep when he’s supposed to.. or when I have to delay feeding him. He is on a written routine that I can recite for you – but that would be incredibly boring.
So hopefully you can understand my anxiety about an 8 hour plane trip, an unfamiliar destination and a 3 hour time difference.
The other thing that’s been interesting about this pending trip is that Haoran and I feel quite detached from it. It was organised by H’s parents… plane tickets, accomodation.. everything. So it’s quite different from our European trip where we planned every last minute. The thing is.. we have no ownership over it.
And as I said.. I’ve been trying not to dwell to much on it, so the actual realisation that… “Oh yeah! We’re going to another country on Monday!”.. hasn’t really set in.
In other news, Micah started pulling himself up to standing and roaming furniture over Christmas… which is kind of awesome. It also means we have to watch him more because he’s still getting his legs for it.
I know I shouldn’t be anxious about him.. he copes so well generally. He’ll probably be an angel on the flight and charm the pants off everyone. But I’m the mother – so I get to worry – it’s my job.
20.12.09
Christmas at ours…
I don’t know whether it’s a new house or the new occupant.. but a certain somebody else is actually not so bah humbug this year. The Christmas tree hasn’t even had one nasty word said to it. So it’s been fun planning and scheming Christmas treats with someone who is more on the enthusiastic side than last year.
We’re having Haoran’s side of the family over for Christmas this weekend. Our first Christmas in our house. Our first Christmas with our precious boy. So we’re trying to figure out… what makes it Christmas for us?
Well, when it comes to us… or our family in general… food makes the atmosphere. And, face it, food is important at Christmas time. Haoran is making his famous turkey from last year – this may be a tradition in the making. I am making fabulous gluten free, dairy free desserts (it’s not that difficult!). One is an apple and rhubarb pudding. My mum taught me this pudding – it’s super easy. Make your pie filling i.e. boil apple and rhubarb with sugar cloves and cinnamon to oblivion, and pour a gluten free cake mix over the top. Bake and you’re done! I may sprinkle some icing sugar over the top so it looks a bit more complicated.
My other dessert is a lemon meringue pie. I admit I’ve only made the lemon filling so far… but it doesn’t seem too hard. Actually the hardest part will probably be making gluten free pastry. I’m trying a new recipe so we’ll see if it cuts it in the big time.
18 hours late – early on the morning of
Oh MAN!
Haoran and have finally succumbed to the colds that have been dancing around our glands for the last few days. We both feel like rubbish and we’re supposed to be hosting Christmas??? Thank you God for parents and brother and sister-in-law’s who will be here early to help!
The morning after…
Ohhhhhh that could have been alot worse than it actually was. But still, it was a struggle to get through it! My cold got worse and worse throughout the day. So the brunch was enjoyable (especially the Spelt and Maple museli G and M brought… YUM) and so was present opening. Well… Micah enjoyed the sound of ripping wrapping paper anyway.
But by the time people were arriving for dinner I was pretty useless. Haoran kept it together a little bit better because he was allowed to take decongestant. I tell you what… breast feeding can be a bum sometimes. Anyway I got through with a fire-engine-red dripping nose, weepy eyes and temporary deafness in one ear. I looked like a had been crying and, to be honest, I felt like it several times during the evening.
Yet the food was good and plentiful (so much so that our fridge is still full) the people enjoyed themselves, and my desserts turned out mostly ok! My easy pudding could have used a bit more time in the oven. But the lemon meringue was surprisingly hard to stuff up. The best part (well… for me anyway) was that Micah went to sleep at 7 without complaint and slept through all the noise and children screaming. So good…..
So… the evening was not as idilic as I had hoped. But perhaps it will become legendary. As in – If I can do it with a humongous disgusting cold then it’s going to be EASY on a healthy day!
I may be allowing myself to wallow in self-pity and curl up in a corner today (read: recovering) but I already have a flood of plans for Christmas proper (being spent with my side of the family). I still have 5 days to concoct plans of home made marshmallows and honeycomb and other lovely goodnesses. And maybe this time I might have the presence of mind to take photos!
One of the better moments of the day
23.11.09
And we’re on the move…
Things are happening so quickly with Micah this month.. that I feel the need to write it down. I keep saying it – but he seems to pick up something new almost everyday.
In reference to the title – Micah has now figured out how to get from sitting to on his tummy (without bashing his face on the floor) and is now commando crawling quite quickly around the room – especially on our super-slidey tiles! He quite often gets stuck in corners and cries until he’s rescued. But he definitely knows what he wants and how to get there. Right now we are trying to convince him that what he wants is not Daddy’s CD collection.
He is alot more adventurous when he’s climbing all over us or is on a soft surface – so I guess he knows he’s much less likely to hurt himself.
He is saying ‘buh-buh- buh’ regularly – his first discernible ’word’. When he gets excited or hyperactive (Note: normally past his bedtime) he starts shaking his head and making laughing sounds with a huge grin on his face. He also started clapping which possibly started off accidentally but now – since we’ve encouraged it – is quite purposeful.
Ok here comes the crazy child prodigy bit. He has figured out how to whistle! Seriously- he purses his lips and blows and sound comes out. I’m wondering whether he’ll keep on knowing how to do it… or that he’ll have to relearn it when he’s 6 or something…
Yesterday was the icing on the cake. We were packing up after church and Haoran gave his phone to Micah to play with while we were busy. Next moment I get a text message from Haoran’s phone ‘a7oP 7x’! Somehow Micah manged to unlock the keypad, type a message and send it! Haoran panicked a little thinking he may have done other things as well while the keypad was unlocked… but no.. that was it! He sent a message to his mummy.
The last week has been a little tough. This is the first time in Micah’s life where he has had to deal with some serious heat. It’s also been a challenge for us to figure out how warm or how cool we should dress him etc. Especially at night. The poor little guy has been pretty sweaty and he’s drinking a lot more water now as a result.
The other thing contributing to our tough week has been that – slowly but surely – a tooth is emerging. Micah has turned out to be one of those kids who don’t deal well with teething (I’m sure I wouldn’t either – but I have heard many stories of them just appearing without a fuss). Today has been the first day where I can really feel that little sharp tooth coming through. You can barely see it – but you can definitely feel it.
That’s all for now… I’ll be back with more amazing Micah stories soon!
(See the video here)
05.11.09
Evaluation
I heard someone say the other day that once upon a time people wrote books ( I KNOW! Can you believe it?). After a while someone decided that that was a time waster and invented the blog. Then that took too long and so we entered the modern age of Facebook and Twitter.
Therefore: the slow death of the blog.
It’s way too easy to Facebook. I get more comments, and it’s quicker. And you can be smart and quippy. I haven’t twittered yet.. mainly because I really don’t get the difference between that and updating your status (in fact people often connect the two so they don’t have to update both constantly). And, I don’t know, it seems a bit boring and one-dimensional *gasp*.
So why am I updating my blog if FB is so cool? Well… I can’t sleep and I have words running around my head and I needed to get them out. That’s all.
Life is .. well.. going quickly. It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was 8 months pregnant, moving to a suburb where we didn’t know anyone, entering the SMBC world and wondering whether we’d bitten off more than we could chew.
We’re now approaching the end of first year. I have completed my first subject (and am awaiting final results), Haoran is well and truly neck-deep in study for exams, and we have a 7 month old son! I look back and am in awe of the way God has blessed us this year.
I really am adoring being a parent – even despite the times you want to scream (see last post). I love playing with my little boy and watching him explore the world and develop. He just constantly amazes me. I feel like I was made to be his mum.. and at the same time I can’t believe I am a mother to such an adorable boy! Rightio.. I’ll stop gushing now.
The year to come is going to be full of new challenges. Like taking our first overseas trip with a bub. Like becoming parents to a TODDLER. Like spending more time being a part-time student. Like entering the endurance part of a church plant. Like thinking about what post-college might hold.
It’s going to be a fun ride..
My Boys
16.10.09
The horrifying lows, the dizzying heights.. and an update
The word that has been constantly on my brain the last few weeks? ROUTINE!
Shortly after my last post, things went very pear-shaped.. and I was reminded, once again, that with a child things never stay the same.
Micah had had his vaccinations, actually I’m not sure if that was the trigger, but it was around the same time and I needed something to blame. Suddenly the routine went out the window- Micah refused to sleep during the day. I kept everything else the same, feeds, solids, baths… but come bedtime, it was a fight.
Just to clarify: when I say ‘not sleeping’, I mean willful angry screaming when any attempt is made to put him to sleep, and constant whinging when I give up and let him stay up. This is hard to deal with on a good day. 2 weeks of it turned me into a quivering weepy wreck. It’s not just the sleeplessness, it’s the emotional toll, it’s having to hear your baby scream and cry and not knowing how to make it ok. It’s the fact that you can’t do anything! It’s the expectations that you give to yourself and fail to live up to, it’s the shame you feel when you admit your problems to someone else.
At the height of the woefulness I finally took action. I didn’t start enforcing a strict routine, call Tresillian or skip the country. I just sent some prayer request emails. That was actually a really hard thing to do, it felt like giving up. But later I realised it was something I should have done days ago… put my trust in God.
I sent those emails on a Tuesday. From the moment I did, I started feeling so much better. The dark cloud lifted.
We had a extremely busy weekend, and I knew that if things continued the way they were we were going to have to cancel altogether. But we didn’t have to. On Friday suddenly something clicked in Micah’s little brain and things were back to normal. God is good.
Since then things have gone from good to better. Not only has Micah started to sleep.. he’s started to have good long sleeps. Instead of 4 short sleeps he does two long sleeps. Our only challenge now is to get him to sleep in early evening. Evenings are still a bit of a battle where sleep is concerned – but I would prefer that to a week ago!
I should mention that throughout the whole fiasco that I was trying to keep up the encouragement to sleep through the night. And it’s paid off. We did it! No more 3am feeds!
And all this extra sleep makes for a happy chumbawumba.
