Well, it seems that all my posts are pretty miserable lately. I apologize for inflicting this on anyone who might be reading (if I haven't scared you all away with my negativity this year!??!)

Janette (MIL) lost her battle with cancer a few weeks ago :( About 6 weeks after mum's passing. I can't really say a whole lot, other than I think we have been through enough to last a lifetime now so if the bad luck fairy would please piss off and leave us alone I would be extremely grateful! I've had enough, Dan's had enough and the kids have definitely had enough!!

Other than surviving the drama of life, we have been pretty busy getting through the day to day stuff. Lachlan has been for his testing at the Dyslexia Speld Foundation so I am just waiting on the report to come back from the paediatric psych on that and we will see what we are dealing with and find a way to help him out.

Max and Blake went for their final neonatal follow up appointment and 2 year old assessments at King Edward and we got the fantastic reports back that they are both well within the normal range for everything and that in a lot of cases, they scored in the high average ranges! I am very pleased that this is our final follow up and it would appear that they have totally escaped any negative health effects from being premature!!

Niamh, Isla and Cody are doing great. Cody is going gangbusters at school and really achieving beyond his years, Niamh is enjoying the attention of Pattama, our day carer...but that is all going to end soon as we only have three weeks left with her :(

I have no idea how I am going to cope when I am back on my own with the kids. I am actually feeling very apprehensive about it. It's not that I can't handle my own kids - of course I can. But I don't really trust my moods and emotions at the moment. I am still so touchy and cranky (and generally miserable) that I worry that I won't be able to control myself when the kids get on my nerves. I think I will need a lot of time outs and deep breaths to deal with it and not loose my cool. oh well... fingers crossed!! The day was always going to come when the daycare ended, I'll just have to find a way to manage!

Miss Isla is growing so fast. I am sad that my last baby girl is now 8 months old and getting a personality of her own. I love that she is so funny and cheeky, and of course gorgeous! But I am sad that we are leaving our tiny baby days behind us. I am glad that I am nearing the end of sleepless nights and a day where nappies are no longer needed in this house is now in sight, but at the same time I am sad that we will never again get to experience that joy of growing a new life and bringing home a tiny little baby to join our family! Ultimately though, I know that I cannot take any more and that I have more than enough work ahead of me with the 6 kids that I have. It's time I enjoyed the kids I have and spend my time and energy on helping them to grow to be great people - I am looking forward from here!

Now... if only this crappy weather would change and the sun would come out! I hate winter and rainy cold days!! I need to see the sun so that I can change my attitude and lift my mood (and dry my washing, lol!) We have a busy weekend ahead with the boys going to a birthday party this afternoon and then Rod, Dana and the girls coming over for dinner. Then tomorrow is a big day of house cleaning and yard sorting - even if it's pouring with rain!! It's got to be done after 6 months of neglect! Wish us luck ;)

M.