I bow down to all of those who have gone before.

The waiting in Brisbane continues for the arrival of our little bundle of joy. I must say that I am missing my husband a bit, but there's nothing for it and I know that a lot of other couples do it. It's strange though to be in each other's pockets 24/7 (something which is also a bit testing at times), to go to being apart for long periods especially as a hormonal mother-to-be. 

I have learnt this past week, how much fun reflux can be and I bow down to all those mothers who have gone before me. Especially those from back in the days before Rennies and Gavison (which I've been eating like smarties) and those who had to spend their final pregnancy weeks through the summer months without the comfort of air conditioning. I am grateful that the reflux has only just begun though, I know some poor girls have it for much longer than I. But sleepless nights of not being able to lie down, don't make for a very happy girl, thankfully it is getting a bit more tolerable. 

We have now almost mastered public transport in Brisbane, which can be fun, right up until you miss your stop, and then fat, pregnant, lady has to walk for 1.4km instead of 700m in the heat. Apart from that though, we have been having a lot of fun shopping and eating out. Finding some good bargains in Brisbane. 

Lovely to catch up with Aunty Kaye, who has been so wondeful in driving us around and keep us company. 

We found trade secret while we were getting Jam Drop's car seat and we all got some great bargains!

  

Mum bought me these lovely flowers a few days ago and they have finally come out and are just gorgeous. 

My new AWESOME Hawaiian shirt! (I know your jealous as hell!)

Lovely necklace that I picked out and had made and that mum, insisted on buying "for the jam drop". I just loooovvvee it!! 

I get to enjoy a few texts from home, showing our heifers when Justin goes out to give them a few hands full of hay. He was trying to teach them to use the back rubbers. When I asked if he played them some limbo music he said, "no, they are supposed to rub against it, not, not touch it!" Silly me!

On with the count down... 5 weeks and 4 days to go!

This is the song that never ends...... It goes on and on and on my friend!!

My admission to hospital seems to be a reoccurring story in my blog doesn't it!! I'm pleased to report, myself and Bub are doing just fine now! Not long after xmas, I began to have pains in my right foot. The pain got more frequent and severe and I was just putting it down to jam drop pushing on a nerve. I had an appointment in the new year with my obstetrician but when I explained to him about my very hot and painful foot, he wasn't concerned, and so I decided I would need to 'suck it up' for the remainder of my pregnancy. A few days later my toes were starting to turn purple and the pain was still becoming more frequent and severe. So I went to another Dr, who again wasn't worried and just sent me for blood tests, the results of which I would get on the Monday after the weekend. 

So we went to Mango's baby shower over the weekend, which was lovely, but difficult to enjoy with the pain in my foot and having to put it in ice or elevated all the time. By Monday, after some persuasion by family and friends, we decided that before we drive to Mackay to see Justin's folks, we would visit my GP for his opinion. Long storey short, I was sent for an urgent ultrasound the results of which had me flown to Brisbane ASAP. So I've now seen a vascular surgeon, spent a night in hospital and now I'm Brisbane on lots of blood thinners, but pain free, waiting the arrival of my baby. Apparently  Bub has squashed my stent and because it's a rigid material it has stayed squashed and therefore there was not adequate circulation to my foot. So now I have the blood thinners and a patch on my foot to dilate the arteries which means that I can actually walk again, which is a real highlight because I was almost completely cripple before! So now we wait for bubs arrival so that my stent can be repaired but we are close to the hospital, in case bubs big backside completely squashes the stent which could be potentially problematic! 

We were very lucky to have already had a caretaker in Sheree already at home because we had planned to go to Mackay, so she stayed on a bit longer for us while Justin was in Brisbane with me. He travelled home yesterday and will return as planned a bit closer to bubs due date. Mum is down here with me and so we are having a bit of girl time, shopping and eating out and spending time with friends and family. We are very lucky to have such a lovely network of friends and family to surround us and support us. 

We have a lovely obstetrician in Brisbane and he printed this cute little 3D picky for us, and even though bub wouldn't move those chubby little fingers, I'm a bit smitten!!

Big momma at Xmas time!

Xmas time is upon us once again!!

Our xmas tree.

Some of my xmas baking.

I had been hanging out for pancakes, so this was breakfast one morning! Yummo!

Doing the rounds, visiting the heifers and checking waters. Giving them a xmas treat!

This is a bit of a rare sight, because the water level in the lagoon is not normally past the tree line and over time, fire and cattle rub these roots off the tree. 

29th December 2015

The tree in the picture above, is the same tree on the edge of the lagoon in the photo below. 

7th April 2014

7th April 2014

Justin must have had the pots in at the exact right moment, because the crabs were short lived although extremely yummy!!

A few days before xmas we were summoned, to pick up the scrub chain from a cousin. After a two hour wait, we finally got to load the chain onto the truck and head for home.

Warren and his daughter Ash (about 5 weeks behind me in her pregnancy), looking a bit cute together! I'm sure she is wearing his clothes! 

Dad doing what he does best... giving orders. 

So our xmas has been a lovely one, spent with our parents and having some much needed time to rest, especially for Justin who has been flat out trying to do everything while I've been baking away (something which I think is easily forgotten by those who phone for help at 9pm the night before).

This is the first day of 2016 and I'm sure that's it's going to be a lovely year, looking forward to meeting our newest member.

Spent the last afternoon of 2015 taking a few maternity photos, my wonderful husband agreed to come along and give me a hand and I was reasonably happy with the photos, bit hard sometimes when no one is behind the lens to get it perfect though.

Justin says, "You keep screwing up your face, if I just keep taking photos I'm sure we will get one right!" Thanks!! I'm not very photogenic, I hope that this bubba takes after dad in that respect!

Bit windy!

Justin was a bit unwilling for me to climb up on the rail, with the rusting cob and co being a bit unreliable. 

 

Even Red Man managed to get into a few shots.