Birthday Boy

playing with mummy

trying to get a better view with daddy

stunned again by the flash

One of my favorites

watching someone other than me

His first smile I got it!!

Holding his head up for the first time :o)

In the jumper

stunned again!

after bath fluffy hair, he looks like the mad professor

playing in the sun

Finding his toes and other cool body bits

I know in my head thats it's been a year since I had our little boy Hezekiah, I look at him I see how much he's grown and the chatter that he has started. It's sad for me as he is our last baby and NO I dont want anymore infact Allen has been threatened with all sorts of nasty things if I ever do end up pregnant again :o) Its just that knowing that I'll never have a little one again is the ending of a chapter in my life. This year is also going to see my baby (1st) turn 18 and for me thats the end of another chapter, the end of her childhood and start of adulthood. I know that this is a good thing and that moving forward is always a good thing. I just don't like this much change all at once. Anyone who knows me knows that I like to plan things, I get very upset when my plans don't come through. It doesn't have to be a big plan it can be something as simple as planning to go into town for the day and then it doesn't happen I'll be super grumpy for the rest of the day. I enjoy writting things on my calender and watching what is coming up and get upset when other people write things on there. I need to see whats going on so that I can plan aaround events. Yes it is probably a little bit controlling on my part Im big enough to admit that, I do have the information and everyone comes to me to see whats on and when so that they too can make plans. It all works out :o)

I had planned (in my head) to have a birthday dinner for my baby boy tonight when a friend who is in need of company asked us over for dinner tonight I was put out by the day but Ive decided that to go over is going to be the best for that person at this time, and Hezekiah won''t get cranky for us missing his birthday. He has opened his pressents from us and we are waiting for the others from the grandparents. I'm taking a cake over tonight and we'll celebrate as a family at lunch instead. See Im flexable :o) Happy birthday baby boy xxx

Im exausted

Ok Its been a very hectic time and emotional one for the past few months. Allen got a call from his oldest girl Catlyn last year saying she didnt feel safe in her on home any more and she wanted him to help her get out. We found out that the step dad was making inappropriate comments about her body and she felt very vulnerable and scared. We packed her off and she is now staying with my sister in law in Utah. We thought things must be bad but we didnt know how bad, we went to court to get a GAL appointed ( a child advocate to look at the case ) what she has found is very disturbing. Brittany who is about to turn 11 has an IQ of 80 and is not coping at school, Morgan who is about to turn 14 this year has an IQ of 77! He is alos only reading at a 3rd grade level. We were extreamly upset by this news and have taken our legal battle from a change in visitation to an all out assault and we are fighting for custody of all 3. The thought of have 8 children in my home is scary but the thought of leaving them where they are is alot more frightening. Every parent worth their salt wants the best for their child and tries their best to help that child achieve their goals, and be the best they can be. Im astounded that this has been left to get this bad and why on earth would you leave a child who is half way through high school without the ability to read???? It makes my head spin.
The whole thing has left Allen and I exausted mentally, we are up late most nights working through stratagies and discussing the "" what if's". I get to help draft letters to the lawyer and the GAL and critique its content and add where needed. The hearing will be held on Febuary 7th (U.S) and we are hoping that with all the information that they have they will make the best a rulling that is in the childrens best interests. I have contacted the local schools here and the education department asking questions about programs to help them get back on track in the event that they do end up here. Im doing my best to keep things normal at the moment but its hard to concerntrate on everything when this is in the back of my mind. ALlen and I are getting the house ready just in case they arrive. I know Catlyn is safe and having a great time with her aunt Jody and uncle John, what I aslo know is how ALlen feels away from his kids. I know that Catlyn has said she doesnt want to come here to live and I can understand that they would be a scarry thing to do, we only want them to be safe and happy I hope that by the end of next month that we will have a good outcome for all the kids. Cross fingers

Queensland floods

The floods in Queensland have hit home to many of us personally with friends and family under threat of loosing everything. One thing that I have been thinking of is what we have ready in the event that we were put in a similar situation. I have been meaning to get our 72 hour packs redone for a year and this has just made me do it sooner. A few things that are not in our packs because they are in the house somewhere else or being used are our wind up radio's they have a light a cable to recharge the mobile as well as an emergency siren. I have one for each of the packs but I can only find one! In the past 12 months in Australia we have had fires, floods, cyclones. This is why we should all be ready. My goal for the next 6 months is to redo our packs with new food supplies, more tolitry supplies, a couple of extra clothes, and some extras in our medical packs. I also need to make a new one up for Niamh. My pack incldes everything for the baby so for the past few years its just changed from Gabriel to Niamh and now Hezekiah. Everyone has their name on their pack as they are all slightly different with personal stuff for each person.
This is one lucky joey and his resuer

I love this photo with the green tree frog hitching a ride on the back of the black snake through the floods

This was an awful sight a whole family sitting on the top of their car as they were pushed through the water and debre, the father is still missing.

I hope that we can all band together as Australians to help our northern cousins. We don't know what next week or month will bring it may be us who needs help next.