A blog detailing the ongoing slobberpalooza that is the life of those with both a baby and a boxer.
Ok, just a quick update.
Karen had her second scan, and this time wigglebum did as it was told. Happily, the test results were all good, showing all limbs and organs in the right places, and a less than 1 in 500 chance of spina bifida or down syndrome. This was good news, and we have another appointment with Dr Karen, our friendly neighbourhood obstetrician this week.
The vet has confirmed that the other two lumps that Floyd has are also cancerous, albeit a less serious type. Which is a bugger, because it means they also need to be cut out, and poor old Floyd is having a bit of a time of it at the moment with itchy stiches in his rear and a bucket on his head. He has this lot of stitches out on Friday, and then has a weeks grace before going under the knife again to repeat the whole ordeal. Lucky we have Pet Secure.
We had another open inspection on the Aldinga House on Sunday, which was probably the best one yet, with 3 couples showing a fair bit of interest. Interestingly, the most interested of the lot of them was a guy who used to live 2 doors down from us at Magill. It's an amazingly small town we live in, I tell you.
For those of you who might want to buy a house at Aldinga Beach, see our advert here.
Karen had her second scan, and this time wigglebum did as it was told. Happily, the test results were all good, showing all limbs and organs in the right places, and a less than 1 in 500 chance of spina bifida or down syndrome. This was good news, and we have another appointment with Dr Karen, our friendly neighbourhood obstetrician this week.
The vet has confirmed that the other two lumps that Floyd has are also cancerous, albeit a less serious type. Which is a bugger, because it means they also need to be cut out, and poor old Floyd is having a bit of a time of it at the moment with itchy stiches in his rear and a bucket on his head. He has this lot of stitches out on Friday, and then has a weeks grace before going under the knife again to repeat the whole ordeal. Lucky we have Pet Secure.
We had another open inspection on the Aldinga House on Sunday, which was probably the best one yet, with 3 couples showing a fair bit of interest. Interestingly, the most interested of the lot of them was a guy who used to live 2 doors down from us at Magill. It's an amazingly small town we live in, I tell you.
For those of you who might want to buy a house at Aldinga Beach, see our advert here.
Boy was Tuesday and up and down day.
It started out right up there, at Burnside hospital when we went in for our first ultrasonic scan of our baby. Our baby, who, from here till birth shall be named wrigglebum for reasons I will get to. It really blew me away how much it jumped around, rolled over, arched it's back, waved its arms and kicked its legs. I must admit I haven't been keeping up with the baby reading and I was quite shocked at how active it was.
Wanna see the pictures? (Click 'em for bigger versions)
Side Profile
Face and Brain
Hanging a mooner
It turned out we had lots of time to watch wigglebums antics, because the medical professionals were trying to perform a nuchal translucency test, which required the baby to lay flat in there and hold still, so they could measure the skin fold on the back of it's neck. We started at 8:30, and after a couple of hours of Karen emptying little bits of her bladder, jumping up and down, coughing, getting gently shaken by the nurse and trying the scan on all fours, wigglebum still wasn't going to cooperate. So it was decided that the best course of action was for us to go to work for a few hours and come back in the afternoon.
This was where the roller coaster really plummeted down the other side of the crest. Not because we went to work, but because Floyd was at the vet having an operation on what we thought was impacted anal glands (sorry to those eating). However a phone call from the vet confirmed our worst fears, that he actually had 2 mast cell carcinomers.
Pow! That bit of news ploughed into me like a freight train let me tell you.
The vet was quite pessimistic at the time of the phone call, because while he removed the cancers, he had noticed other lumps. We could do nothing but fear the worst, and as we returned to the ultrasound room it was up and down the roller coaster as I delighted at the baby jumping around in Karen's belly but fretted about poor old Floyd.
Incidently, the baby still didn't cooperate, so Karen is off to Ashford on Friday to have another go.
Anyway, when we got home, the vet was a little more optimistic, because his preliminary tests on the other lumps showed no mast cells. This however needs to be confirmed by the several biopsies he performed, the results of which will be in Friday. Fingers and toes crossed.
Happily, aside from the bucket on his head and the stitches in his rear, Floyd seems rather normal now. Sooky and hungry. We can only hope for the best.
Finally, for the statistics hungry folk, our baby is 8cm head to bum, with a 2cm set of legs. Which means it's currently 1/18th my height.
It started out right up there, at Burnside hospital when we went in for our first ultrasonic scan of our baby. Our baby, who, from here till birth shall be named wrigglebum for reasons I will get to. It really blew me away how much it jumped around, rolled over, arched it's back, waved its arms and kicked its legs. I must admit I haven't been keeping up with the baby reading and I was quite shocked at how active it was.
Wanna see the pictures? (Click 'em for bigger versions)
Side Profile
Face and Brain
Hanging a mooner
It turned out we had lots of time to watch wigglebums antics, because the medical professionals were trying to perform a nuchal translucency test, which required the baby to lay flat in there and hold still, so they could measure the skin fold on the back of it's neck. We started at 8:30, and after a couple of hours of Karen emptying little bits of her bladder, jumping up and down, coughing, getting gently shaken by the nurse and trying the scan on all fours, wigglebum still wasn't going to cooperate. So it was decided that the best course of action was for us to go to work for a few hours and come back in the afternoon.
This was where the roller coaster really plummeted down the other side of the crest. Not because we went to work, but because Floyd was at the vet having an operation on what we thought was impacted anal glands (sorry to those eating). However a phone call from the vet confirmed our worst fears, that he actually had 2 mast cell carcinomers.
Pow! That bit of news ploughed into me like a freight train let me tell you.
The vet was quite pessimistic at the time of the phone call, because while he removed the cancers, he had noticed other lumps. We could do nothing but fear the worst, and as we returned to the ultrasound room it was up and down the roller coaster as I delighted at the baby jumping around in Karen's belly but fretted about poor old Floyd.
Incidently, the baby still didn't cooperate, so Karen is off to Ashford on Friday to have another go.
Anyway, when we got home, the vet was a little more optimistic, because his preliminary tests on the other lumps showed no mast cells. This however needs to be confirmed by the several biopsies he performed, the results of which will be in Friday. Fingers and toes crossed.
Happily, aside from the bucket on his head and the stitches in his rear, Floyd seems rather normal now. Sooky and hungry. We can only hope for the best.
Finally, for the statistics hungry folk, our baby is 8cm head to bum, with a 2cm set of legs. Which means it's currently 1/18th my height.
I'm really committed to this system of titles now aren't I? Stuff all baby developments this week really, Karen is coping well with the exception of a bit of insomnia. The big news will come this Tuesday when we have our first scan.
I have spent most of the week back in the ol' cooper basin doing some work for one of Fyfe's newer clients, Beach Petroleum. The job was on the whole too bloody boring to mention in any details here. I did however take some happy snaps to show the desolate landscape however. Cop this for a place for your next holiday.
Not.
Anyhow, we spent a fun weekend this weekend in Clare at the rancho, where we attended A Day on the Green, at Annies Lane winery. Of course, we had to pop into Neagles Rock winery first for a delicious spot of lunch.
The weather was perfect, mid 20's with a light breeze, and the fact you were allowed to bring in deckchairs made for a very pleasant concert experience. Of course the acts themselves were pretty good too.
Clare Bowdich opened with an acoustic set, followed by Tim Rogers, also Solo acoustic. I enjoyed both of these guys, however I would have enjoyed them more if the PA was turned up loud enough so I could here them properly.
Later in the evening, that JJJ unearthed sensation Missy Higgins took the stage, and was a hit with the crowd. I really like her work, but I just think live she should play a few more upbeat songs amongst the ballads, to liven things up a bit.
Support acts aside, it was time for Pete Murray to hit the stage, but not before we got some light entertainment from the couple in front of us, who were engaged in a gloves off domestic. Nothing was sacred, parents, children, you name it - and both of them stormed of in tears dramatically at different stages in the argument. It was better than a daytime soapie I tell ya.
Anyway, Pete Murray rocked the house. For a ballad based sort of guy he really knew how to rock, with him and his band blasting through all of his hits, a few new songs and a Neil Young cover.
Pete closed his show with a spectacular encore, him and his band did a good 7 or 8 minutes of self indulgent jamming, which for someone like me who likes Frank Zappa, was bloody fantastic.
We closed our weekend in the valley out with a long breakfast and some coffee at Neagles and headed home, so we could hold open inspection III, return of the non committal buyers.
Truth be told, as open inspections go, it was promising, we had more than 10 parties through, with a couple hanging around for a long time. If only someone would put pen to paper.....
I have spent most of the week back in the ol' cooper basin doing some work for one of Fyfe's newer clients, Beach Petroleum. The job was on the whole too bloody boring to mention in any details here. I did however take some happy snaps to show the desolate landscape however. Cop this for a place for your next holiday.
Not.
Anyhow, we spent a fun weekend this weekend in Clare at the rancho, where we attended A Day on the Green, at Annies Lane winery. Of course, we had to pop into Neagles Rock winery first for a delicious spot of lunch.
The weather was perfect, mid 20's with a light breeze, and the fact you were allowed to bring in deckchairs made for a very pleasant concert experience. Of course the acts themselves were pretty good too.
Clare Bowdich opened with an acoustic set, followed by Tim Rogers, also Solo acoustic. I enjoyed both of these guys, however I would have enjoyed them more if the PA was turned up loud enough so I could here them properly.
Later in the evening, that JJJ unearthed sensation Missy Higgins took the stage, and was a hit with the crowd. I really like her work, but I just think live she should play a few more upbeat songs amongst the ballads, to liven things up a bit.
Support acts aside, it was time for Pete Murray to hit the stage, but not before we got some light entertainment from the couple in front of us, who were engaged in a gloves off domestic. Nothing was sacred, parents, children, you name it - and both of them stormed of in tears dramatically at different stages in the argument. It was better than a daytime soapie I tell ya.
Anyway, Pete Murray rocked the house. For a ballad based sort of guy he really knew how to rock, with him and his band blasting through all of his hits, a few new songs and a Neil Young cover.
Pete closed his show with a spectacular encore, him and his band did a good 7 or 8 minutes of self indulgent jamming, which for someone like me who likes Frank Zappa, was bloody fantastic.
We closed our weekend in the valley out with a long breakfast and some coffee at Neagles and headed home, so we could hold open inspection III, return of the non committal buyers.
Truth be told, as open inspections go, it was promising, we had more than 10 parties through, with a couple hanging around for a long time. If only someone would put pen to paper.....
We are now almost in what the experts call the second tri-mester. Other than that, really bugger all to report baby wise this week, except for the fact that my ebay browsing habits have started to change. I am browsing more of your pram type items and less of your mountain bike bits. I guess it happens to the best of us.
The other quick update to get out of the way is we held open inspection III this weekend here at the Aldinga house. Saturday was slim pickings, but we had some genuinely interested people on Sunday. Lets hope one of them makes an offer.
I guess the big news of the weekend was the XFM reunion, marking twelve months ago since we ran the radio station at the last Australian scout jamboree. As with the jamboree, a good time was had by all, and it was good to see Amy and Greg come all the way from interstate to get at least most of the team back together.
>
We spent the whole weekend catching up with each other one way or another. Friday night was beers at the Maylands, Saturday night was delicious home made beer and pizza at Grumpy's and Sunday afternoon was whiled away, chewing the fat and reminiscing at the radio station site at Woodhouse.
I am off to the desert again this week, for what had better be the last trip for a while for me, lest my boss and I have some serious words.
The other quick update to get out of the way is we held open inspection III this weekend here at the Aldinga house. Saturday was slim pickings, but we had some genuinely interested people on Sunday. Lets hope one of them makes an offer.
I guess the big news of the weekend was the XFM reunion, marking twelve months ago since we ran the radio station at the last Australian scout jamboree. As with the jamboree, a good time was had by all, and it was good to see Amy and Greg come all the way from interstate to get at least most of the team back together.
>
We spent the whole weekend catching up with each other one way or another. Friday night was beers at the Maylands, Saturday night was delicious home made beer and pizza at Grumpy's and Sunday afternoon was whiled away, chewing the fat and reminiscing at the radio station site at Woodhouse.
I am off to the desert again this week, for what had better be the last trip for a while for me, lest my boss and I have some serious words.
Holy sleepless nights batman, only 29 to go. Over a quarter of the way there. Zikes!
Aside from the transformation, other exciting baby news is that we are now booked in for the first scan so we can get a look at a fuzzy image of the little guy or gal. The 19th of this month will be the day we make first contact.
Moving away from babies, we had our first serious open inspection on the Aldinga house this weekend. While we didn't have as many punters as I would have hoped, we did have one couple who seemed very keen, and spent a good half hour here. Fingers and toes crossed.
According to the literature, my child turned from a embryo to a foetus this week. Exciting, although sometimes I long for the joyous days when it was a zygote. Not really, but I bet sometime in the dead of night after its born when it is screaming I will long for the glorious zygote era. I hope I have a son, so one day I can say "Look pal, I was doing *insert whatever here*, when you were nothing more than a zygote in your mothers lower abdomen".
Aside from the transformation, other exciting baby news is that we are now booked in for the first scan so we can get a look at a fuzzy image of the little guy or gal. The 19th of this month will be the day we make first contact.
Moving away from babies, we had our first serious open inspection on the Aldinga house this weekend. While we didn't have as many punters as I would have hoped, we did have one couple who seemed very keen, and spent a good half hour here. Fingers and toes crossed.
Let's get the baby gear out of the way first.
We had the first bit of pregnancy excitement this week, when we paid our first visit to our obstetrician. She was very nice, although I do find it disconcerting these days to come across professionals who are around my age. It's just one of those feeling old things, I mean I have almost 10 years under my belt as a professional engineer and I should accept that even people like obstetricians who took 8 years to get thier degree have had a good amount of time in the workplace by age 32.
Anyway, it was really no more than a bit of a chat -she told us a few tidbits of information that were already in our baby zeitgeist due to all of the reading we have been doing, and then gave us a pregnancy showbag. Pretty cool, at least for Karen, there was no chocolates or little plastic toys in there so I lost interest in it pretty quickly. There was one item of interest in there however, which was the little booklet, the "Bounty Pregnancy Book". It features a whole lot of impossibly beautiful pregnant women shot in soft lighting, advertising a whole raft of pregnancy products. Everything from polariod cameras to iron supplements to a set of baby soothing cd's!
Which brings us to Christmas, which was a lot of fun.
We spent Christmas eve in Clare, hanging out a Neagles Rock with our buddy Steve, having lunch and drinking wine. Christmas Day we did the lunch - dinner double, lunch with my rellies and dinner with Karen's. It's true what they say, Christmas is more fun with children, and I certainly had a blast assembling and playing with toys my nephew received from Santa. Brock of course also had a blast, as evidenced by this photo showing him sitting on my dad.
Boxing day saw us eating dinner again with Karen's Mum and Dad, and on the 27th Karen worked for a day, and I put in a good 10 hours of solid manual labour helping to plant grape vines in Karen's dad's vineyard. Don't worry though sportsfans, I was straight back to relaxing the next day. Lea and Jon came around for a few hours of teev watching and scrabble, and then Karen and I headed for our (by our I mean in my family's) shack at Morgan on the Murray River.
This was fantastic, it was pretty relaxing, a good chance to catch up and chat with my little brother who has been living in Perth, and I actually wake boarded! (Wakeboarding is a cross between snowboarding and water skiing, for the non-gnarly)
This is a sport I have been trying to get the hang of since my brother in law Paul bought his speed boat a couple of years ago, and this time it just clicked. By the time we came home, I could confidently stand up, steer in both directions, and hold my balance through some small waves. However, my attempts to catch some fully sick air over the wake of the boat ended badly. Not quite ready for Planet X yet....
We had a fairly quiet evening on New Years with our friends Ben and Beck from Canberra, up at Ben's parents country ranch at Meadows, and only interupted the board game we were playing for a few seconds to acknowledge the year ticking over. No Auld Lang Syne BS for us this year I'm afraid. I say meh! to you Robert Burns....
Finally, I got 2005 off to a good start by being non hung over, and playing golf. This year should be fun, and at least until the baby comes a little less busy than last year. Looking back, 2004 was the most action packed year of my life. For those who don't want to read back through, here is a quick summary of my activites.
We had the first bit of pregnancy excitement this week, when we paid our first visit to our obstetrician. She was very nice, although I do find it disconcerting these days to come across professionals who are around my age. It's just one of those feeling old things, I mean I have almost 10 years under my belt as a professional engineer and I should accept that even people like obstetricians who took 8 years to get thier degree have had a good amount of time in the workplace by age 32.
Anyway, it was really no more than a bit of a chat -she told us a few tidbits of information that were already in our baby zeitgeist due to all of the reading we have been doing, and then gave us a pregnancy showbag. Pretty cool, at least for Karen, there was no chocolates or little plastic toys in there so I lost interest in it pretty quickly. There was one item of interest in there however, which was the little booklet, the "Bounty Pregnancy Book". It features a whole lot of impossibly beautiful pregnant women shot in soft lighting, advertising a whole raft of pregnancy products. Everything from polariod cameras to iron supplements to a set of baby soothing cd's!
Which brings us to Christmas, which was a lot of fun.
We spent Christmas eve in Clare, hanging out a Neagles Rock with our buddy Steve, having lunch and drinking wine. Christmas Day we did the lunch - dinner double, lunch with my rellies and dinner with Karen's. It's true what they say, Christmas is more fun with children, and I certainly had a blast assembling and playing with toys my nephew received from Santa. Brock of course also had a blast, as evidenced by this photo showing him sitting on my dad.
Boxing day saw us eating dinner again with Karen's Mum and Dad, and on the 27th Karen worked for a day, and I put in a good 10 hours of solid manual labour helping to plant grape vines in Karen's dad's vineyard. Don't worry though sportsfans, I was straight back to relaxing the next day. Lea and Jon came around for a few hours of teev watching and scrabble, and then Karen and I headed for our (by our I mean in my family's) shack at Morgan on the Murray River.
This was fantastic, it was pretty relaxing, a good chance to catch up and chat with my little brother who has been living in Perth, and I actually wake boarded! (Wakeboarding is a cross between snowboarding and water skiing, for the non-gnarly)
This is a sport I have been trying to get the hang of since my brother in law Paul bought his speed boat a couple of years ago, and this time it just clicked. By the time we came home, I could confidently stand up, steer in both directions, and hold my balance through some small waves. However, my attempts to catch some fully sick air over the wake of the boat ended badly. Not quite ready for Planet X yet....
We had a fairly quiet evening on New Years with our friends Ben and Beck from Canberra, up at Ben's parents country ranch at Meadows, and only interupted the board game we were playing for a few seconds to acknowledge the year ticking over. No Auld Lang Syne BS for us this year I'm afraid. I say meh! to you Robert Burns....
Finally, I got 2005 off to a good start by being non hung over, and playing golf. This year should be fun, and at least until the baby comes a little less busy than last year. Looking back, 2004 was the most action packed year of my life. For those who don't want to read back through, here is a quick summary of my activites.
- Ran a radio station at a Jamboree for 11,000 kids.
- Built a house, and did all of the associated storm water, fencing and landscaping
- Moved into said house
- Travelled around the world for 9.5 weeks
- Spent 6 weeks working in Moomba
- Got my wife pregnant.
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- I'm James
- From Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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