Jb's First Family Holiday , Part Three

Nannie Karen was our hero on this holiday as after our time in Tannum Sands she drove us to Noosa to show Jb and I where Shaun grew up

We stayed at some self contained apartments right in front of the Noosa River and where Dan is the head chef at , the Noosa Yacht Club. The location was ideal and very pretty. I took a prize winning photo of Nannie Karen and Jb at Sunset in front of the river (see below photo).

Shaun, Jb, Karen and I went to visit dear family friend Emmy at her nursing home, I'm glad we did it , what a lovely lady and she and Joanie got on very well.

Karen also took us for a Noosa city tour and  pointed out where Shaun, Karen, Chris, Dallas and Dan all worked , the Noosa Sheraton. Karen also took us to look at the lovely Noosa Main Beach, but I prefer the quieter Cable Beach. I do , however, love Noosa and could see myself living there.

Karen, Shaun, Jb, Dan, Jade , Chris , Lisa and I had a bench mark dinner at the Yacht Club, Dan pulled out all stops with a gastronomic feast, including succulent Barramundi Wings and Joanie had a very special kids meal prepared for her too.

Shaun was feeling a little run down but I'm glad that he put that behind him to go out with his mates, Dan, Jade and some interesting fella called Snapper who Shaun has told me many interesting stories about. He came back tired but happy after a fun night out.

The next morning we all had a morning coffee with Dan, Dallas , Tilly, Jake and Billy  which was a lovely end to my time in Beautiful Noosa. Karen then took us to Brisbane where we stayed our last night of our holidays with dear friend Mel, Michael and Stella the pooch.

Mel is still "hostess with the mostest" and looked after us like we were in a first class resort and Michael set up their awesome theatre room for us where Shaun and Joanie watched Ice Age .

Mel was such a great help with Joanie and cooked her food around the clock and even got her up in the morning so Shaun and I could continue sleeping!

All in All Joanie's first interstate trip was a HUGE success and I'm so proud of how she's soldered on after the medical set backs she had in her first year.



Jb and I meeting the lovely Emmy

 

My prize winning photo

Noosa River

In Brisbane at Mel and Michaels House in the theatre room

Mel, Jb and Stella

Jb loving Mels gourmet treats!

Michael and Jb

 

Jb's First Family Holiday Part Two

After our week with  the extended family in Gold Coast Jb, Shaun and I hopped in the car with Nanny Karen and Craig and headed to their magnificent house in Tannum Sands.

Karen and Craig have built this beautiful mansion with their own hands and help of their lovely friends in the community, the basement is yet to be completed, but not far away. They've done such an awesome job and its definitely a dream house that anyone would be proud to own.

Jb also loved Nanny Karen and Craig's house, all the furniture was perfect height for her to practice her standing and shuffling plus there was plenty of new rooms to explore not to mention a beautiful infinity pool over looking leafy green Tannum Sands.

The house is on the top of a hill over looking Tannum Beach and the creek and only a short walk from the supermarkets and accommodation.  Over the road is also a lovely park where we often took Jack the dog for a stretch of the legs.

I made the most out of everything being so close and went for many walks. Jb and I also had a lot of lovely swims at the toddler friendly beach which had little streams and puddles for her to play in happily.

During our stay at Tannum Sands we had some lovely people join us including Awesome Aunty and wonderful Ava and  Jake,  Incredible parents Dallas and Dan and amazing friends Matilda, Billy and Jake and the very generous Simon, Clare and  beautiful Amelia.We also had some lovely drinkies with good friend Wendy and met many of Karen and Craig lovely neighbours and work colleagues , they are very popular in the area and it appears to be the party house!

Miss Red had many firsts on her holiday and it was with her Aunty Amy in Tannum Sands where she had her first ever  Mr Whippy ice cream!

Miss Belle loved getting to know her cousins, Ava and Jake. She had many swims with them and loved playing with them! One of Miss Red's highlights was sharing a VERY bubbly spa with cousin Ava.

Joanie Pony ( as Matilda and Jake loved to call her)  also very much enjoyed the company of Matilda, Jake and Billy and Tilly inparticular was very caring of her and took her under her wing.

There were even a few days when the house had a full house of kiddies all having a ball in the pool , Jb was in play gym heaven !

Jb's First Family Holiday Part One

Got to love technology , been working on this post since May and some how I managed to delete it yesterday 😒 Oh well I will resort to using my memory. It's taken me so long to finish this post as soon as We returned from our trip over East  I was off securing work , setting up the vege garden and then sadly saying good bye to a dear friend taken way too soon .

Casting my mind back...We were met by Nanny Karen and Uncle Lee at the Gold Coast Airport and headed off to our family style accommodation , Turtle Beach Resort. Bev and Graham picked the best place for our extended family -the kids were in heaven with the Splash down water park numerous pools , mini golf and yummy cafes , it was Ideal accommodation for families travelling with kids. Jb instantly felt at home with her cousins and she loved spending time with Bianca, Liam, Ava, Jake,Anika, Vincent, Nicolai, Courtney and Charlie. 

Turtle Beach was also walking distance from cafes , pubs and the beautiful Mermaid Beach .

Jb taste buds came alive  in the Gold Coast she enjoyed Bbqs cooked by numerous family members around the resort pool,  pizzas at the hotel pizza bar and pancakes at the pancake shop down the road. Spaghetti  at Sizzler cafe was momentarily the highlight until she spotted Courtney's bowl of ice cream and then that continued to be her favorite treat for the remains of the holiday !

Gold Coast was greener than I imagined the Cbd itself had pretty and seedy parts . The braver ones of the group took to the slingshot ride in the city centre , this was also where Jb made her RED nose 

 (she acquired from kissing the carpet in hotel room) even redder when she broke the blister open and made her parents almost faint from all the gushing blood .needless to say all the Gold Coast
 photos were starring her and her Rudolph red nose !!

Jb and I also went up the Q1 tower with a few of the family , despite being  a bit pricey it was well worth the spectacular view and four xxxx has never tasted so sweet as it did at that altitude !!!

Miss Red locks was very lucky to have her first hair cut with Aunty Nat who had her own very successful salon in New Zealand . It was very special that we could share this moment with our extended family even if it was only a little trim . We kept the curls of course!!

Did anyone get a full family photo? I can't remember, if not we will have to make sure we do on our next family holiday , maybe next time in New Zealand! Thanks so much to everyone who made this holiday so great! Bev, Graham, Karen, Craig,Amy, Lee, Nat, Taua, Wendy, Paul, Darryn, Tracey
Michelle and all the kids xxx

The Water Park At Turtle Beach Resort

Great fun with the cousins!

The cousins all playing mini gold at the resort

Joanie Belle with Nat and Anika

Graham and Jb

Ava, Jb and Jake at Mermaid Beach, not the best photo, but the only one of her with the two of them together

Courtney, Miss Red and Anika at the Pancake Cafe

Nat doing the honours with Miss Reds First Hair Cut

Mumma Eri and Jb at the Q1 tower

Ava, Amy and Jb at the Tower



When the Red Red Robbin comes bop bop boppin'

When Jb was a new born I always sung her the Red Red Robbin Song ( google it if you unsure and are bored) perhaps this is why she now chirps like a little birdie.

 

Shaun said to me once " You never know Jb may be quiet like me and not talk much"

HA! afraid not dear husband little Joanie takes after me with her chatting!

 

Yesterday (Friday 6th March) marked Joanie's 14th month birthday and I stopped and thought about her ever increasing vocabulary , here's a list of  the current Jb dictionary;

 

JB                                Translation

 

Muma                           Mum

Dada/ Da....da..            Dad

Ba/baaaaa/ba!!             Boo! (Peek a boo) said in unison with touching top of head or

                                     cover one or both eyes

Baba                             Baby (JB) said whilst pointing to herself

Ta                                 Thankyou

Yum                             Yummy! said when Shaun or I give her something she likes to eat

Nuna                             Banana  said happily when we present her with a banana

Narrr                             No

Alla!                             Hello , often said when a phone rings or when I get her from her cot

 

Nine words! I'm impressed! Jb also has a series of noises such as a funny noise that Shaun and I call the baby crocodile and the not so cute high pitch squeal that we hope wont stay on the scene for long!

 

Now we are working on her putting two words together likel

 

"Alla Muma! Alla Dada!" and "Yum Nuna!" So fun!

 

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

 

 

Traveling Red Gone Wild Style

The other day I attempted to count how many flights Joanie and I have had together over the past 14 months....I lost count! You'd think that would make it very easy flying with a toddler now ?.....hmmmmmmmmm NO WAY!!

 

Jb had her first flight back home to Broome when she was only a few weeks old, nerves were  maxed out as Shaun and I carried our precious new bundle in a funny "peanut shell" carrier. She spent the entire flight in and out of a milk coma , making funny gurgling , ewok noises. Apart from a bumpy landing  it was a very smooth and surprisingly low maintenance flight. I felt a bit more confident and optimistic on travelling solo with Jb in the future,

 

The following flights proved to be very INTERESTING with a calm Jb , no worries TOP END all the noisy and partying came from the down stairs region . I had my first introduction to POONAMIS . It seemed for a while there that gravity affected her bowel movements and thank god most of these flights I was lucky enough to have no one sitting next to me so I didn't have to see their screwed up noses and looks of disgust.

 

Around the time of Jb's second operation in October 2014 Joanie's overly efficient system had slowed down  and I didn't have to resort to putting her in a rain coat during air time, however, she replaced the shit storms with a very wriggly, fidgety state! Jb took to taking things in and out of the plane pockets, throwing food, pulling my hair and generally being  a different kind of "pain in the ass".

 

But Joanie's busy-ness got to a new level on her recent flight to and back from Perth.  Flying to Perth for Joanie's 3 month post op review, despite requesting a seat with no one next to us the packed to the rafters meant that Joanie and I were squeezed into the VERY back seat on the left hand side next to the window with a 7 year old next to me and her grandmother next to her. The little girl was very understanding when Joanie repetitively threw her milk bottle at her head  and tried to grab things off her lap table. Space didn't allow me to have any lunch  as I couldn't juggle Jb on my lap plus a tray of food  and there was no way I was going to attempt to drink a cup of steamy coffee . I ended up falling into mum and dads arms at the Perth Airport , the 2.5 hour flight feeling like  an overnighter overseas flight.

 

Our most recent flight from Perth to Broome has to take the cake for the most awkward, un relaxing and tiring flight I've ever had. My angst started at the airport when they advised me I had to sit next to someone as again it was a packed flight. I was a little happier when another mum was put next to me with a bub similar aged to Joanie, "she will be understanding of Joanie's newly acquired skill of squealing at the top of her voice box, surely...."  I thought... unfortunately the hostie wiped the smile of my face when she moved the mum as only one baby is allowed per row due to the ratio of oxygen masks or something trivial (haha) so her 7ft husband with big knee caps was put in her place.

" I apologise in advance if she's a little noisy"  I felt the need to give him a duty of care statement straight up.

"Don't worry I'm used to it" he reassured me

"Hmmmm "

Needless to say little miss brought out her alter ego " RED GONE WILD" .
I thought I was being very pro active being equipped with two bottles of milk, 3 books, five small squishy toys  snacks and a IPAD with numerous interactive games, this ended up creating a problem in itself as she just had more things to try and throw resulting in me merging into my spirit animal an octopus to try and catch everything before being thrown at my neighbour Mr Big.

Mr big said lots of nice things like "Gee you've got your hands full" "Don't apologise, your right"

"Keeping you busy eh?"

At the end of the flight he said not to worry and that he was immune, didn't stop my face turning lobster red when the lady five rows in front passed back one of Jb's bottles.

I did feel better when disembarking the plane the hostie said for me never to apologise for my  children and if anyone ever complains to give them a evil look! She also said Joanie was happy for the flight where as her child would've been crying the whole time, which was a something I spose.

 

Cuz, Sacha props to you flying with Boris from London to Australia, what tricks do you have up your sleave? Also those hero parents who travel solo with more than one?  You deserve a bloody medal as far as I'm concerned!

 

I am feeling nervous about our longer flights to QLD coming up in March , however, i will have my husband with me which will make it MUCH EASIER! I do think Shaun and I will need a stiff drink once we get to the Goldcoast though.

 

Loza and a very new Jb and I before her first plane flight

In the plane first time, Dadda taking photo

3 Month Review

Miss Jb and I have been in Perth ( going back Thursday ) for her review at PMH with the surgeon . The head honcho ( non intentional pun) was very pleased with her progress and said at this stage he is optimistic that no more operations will be required . Nothing is guaranteed , however, he believes if her head continues to grow as it has been it will even out more and the overall goal of creating maximum room for the brain to grow will be achieved. We queried the bumps ( that have smoothed out considerably) either side of her forehead , he confirmed that they are internal stitches and some new bone . The stitches are dissolvable and the bones will even out with skull growth . He wasn't concerned with the scabs on her suture line again repeating previous feedback that it's perfectly normally after such movement with the skull, tropical climate of Broome and her colouring also effect the occurrence of scabbing etc. Since this meeting the other day Perth's cooler dryer climate I believe has improved jb's scar and many of the remaining scabs have disappeared. Shaun will be very impressed to see how her scar is now looking. 

Miss Red and I have stayed in Perth a little longer so I can attend some personal appointments , catch up with friends and family and give mum and dad a mini break down south whilst Jb and I keep an eye on Vonnie ( my mums mum).

Joanie and I have been fortunate enough to catch some of the Perth Fringe Festival , Joanie loved the French Giants that were incredibly beautiful and successful creating huge crowds in Perth CBD.

Joanie also has had many catch ups with fellow bubbas and GG and Ju Ju have been very kind and looked after her a few times so I could let my hair down a little 

Perth has been great as always but we can't wait to be Sherijoanie back in Broome again!

ABOUT BLOODY TIME!

Those of you who have been following my blog will know that Jb has been delayed with a few things such as tummy time and crawling. We have been lucky enough to have a wonderful physio at the Broome Hospital who has been working with us in creating exercises for her to get stronger with her upper body strength. Jb ended up getting very strong with her tummy time and core strength .
I have been told that I was also slow in supporting my neck due to also having cranio stenosis, it only makes sense doesn't it? when your head isn't perfectly round it won't be perfectly balanced? Anyway we both got there but it doesn't make us as parents any more patient. Then it was hard for me in particular to watch all the bubs around us crawling, standing and then walking  when Jb wasn't even crawling. Everyone says "Enjoy it while you can!" easier said then done when it comes to developmental milestones!

Anyway today which is Jb's 13 month birthday she crawled from one side of the house to the other( with little breaks in between where she clapped at herself) I was sooooooo beside myself with happiness ! Unfortunately Shaun wasn't at the house at the time, but I video taped it for him and showed it to him as soon as he came home! As well as crawling Jb is pulling herself up onto furniture and standing with little support so hopefully walking wont be far away either.

Now I can believe when people say " She'll get there" "Enjoy it whilst you can" " All bubs go at different paces with different things".


Jb you're the best!

Ps This post has been long time coming as I just worked out how to attach vid via iPad 

Attack of the nerves

Friday the 13th ( I choose for this to be a lucky not bad luck day) will be Jb's 3 month review.  I really hope it goes well, I think it should based on mother's gut instinct but I just pray they don't have any advice like they believe another operation will be required.

 

I will be interested on what they say regarding the suture wound itself, I'm surprised its still quite scabby. I've been advised by doctors/ pharmacists and hospital staff that due to a combination of the Broome Tropical Climate and huge stress on the skull growing/pulling it's not unusual that the suture wound would pull and small openings would appear and scab. They have all advised I continue with emollients, vitamin b creams etc which I will do. It does make me reluctant to let her go swimming in all waters such as the Town Beach Water Park or water that could possibly not be 100% clean - Probably being a bit OTT but I have become very paranoid about infections ever since she was re-admitted that time.

 

Shaun and I can see that her skull is definitely rounder in shape , the bumps either side of her forehead are still evident but becoming smaller and smaller which is awesome. The back of her head has a flat section which I'm hoping will round out due to the suture being opened. If another operation was required it would be focusing on that back section as the rest of her skull was remodelled , all except that back section.

 

It may be to early to tell at this review as if further procedures are required it wouldn't be till next year, but I'm sure they can give us an idea if its progressing as hoped.

 

Think of us at 10.40am Friday 13th.

 

Hope to catch up with our Perth Friends and Family when down!

Joanie's Scoop Pages

JB is a lovely mixture of little princess and outdoorsy adventurer, check out these photos showing her out and about over the last few months.....

Jb and Mumma about to go to our friend Ben's 1st birthday party

Jb likes to steal Dad's prized possession , his fly swatter...getting some practice on the front porch

Caught little Miss Red breaking into Dads fishing man cave, lock on door now

Dad didn't seem to mind her selection from his collection

Wearing new outfit from Poppy Chris and Lisa

On the swing at Bens Party

Welcome 2015 !!

Yes I know my new years resolution to write more blogs  has been a bit slow to get started but it has been quite hard to find the time ! I don't know how you regular bloggers  are so organised and disciplined!

Well the new year started off with my birthday which was a bit of a non event to be honest as we had little Jb on our mind as she was experiencing normal baby stuff that we had never really experienced previously. It's odd when you spend a lot of time in hospital with your child dealing with major surgeries sometimes you miss out on the mundane , easy to treat illnesses so when they come around you're not always prepared. Well I was all set to go out to a local restaurant to see my friend Aj play in his band on New Years Eve, however, little Miss Red had an even REDDER bottom and was in a lot of discomfort. We also got a shock when we saw blood in her nappy but a trip to the ED the doctor took a sample of her poop to be safe but tended to think she had strained herself whilst being a bit blocked up resulting in bit of bleeding and a very red toosh! We just stayed home after that as Jb was off colour for a few days. I'd like to say i stayed 34 instead of going up a year but no.

I did  enjoy the rest of my birthday with Joanie and my lovely husband ended up giving me a some vouchers for massages  which i ended up having on Joanie's Birthday the following week.

The day before Jb's official birthday she had a joint party with one of her little mates Elsa from our mums and bubs group at the BRAC ( Broome Recreational Aquatic Centre) .

A lovely gathering of mums and bubs came a long and we swam for about three hours and had some lovely party food. Jb got very spoilt and really enjoyed spending time with her Broome Gang.

On Jb's official birthday we had our own "cake smash" for Jb. She had her own cake which she thoroughly enjoyed and ripped apart ! Joanie was very, very, very spoilt getting pareels from around the globe from friends and family. I think Shaun and I enjoyed Joanie's birthday even more than she did  

When we look at our delightful little girl we cannot believe how she hasn't been emotionally effected by her time in hospital, Major head surgeries but she smiles as if she has never had any discomfort at all. I can't help but think her name Joanie is more and more appropriate as my Grandma Joan has been through such a lot in her life but shares that same twinkling smile.