Lunar Raves

Friday 8.45 am Pacific Coast time

Welcome to our world Stella Erin. You are a gorgeous little angel and we're so lucky and happy to have you in our lives. Bas and I have 2 granddaughters now and 3 grandsons. How lucky is that?! We are so blessed and our joy and happiness knows no bounds.
After an incredibly difficult labour for Tania, with baby in an occipital-posterior position, Stella was born at 12.48 pm on Sunday, 21 August, weighing 7lbs 13 oz (3.535 kg) and 20" long. Her Apgar was 8.9 which is pretty high. Tan was a star, refusing a C-section which is the norm when the baby is positioned like that, she proceeded to push through (pun intended). I was a basket case for the 24 hours preceding this event, worried sick about my poor child being in so much pain for so long.

Below is my photo journal of this amazing miracle of nature.

+- 2 hours after birth - getting ready for our very first bath. To me, she looked like a few months old already.

 

Above: bathed and dressed - she looks so good for a new born


Above: Still in the delivery room, I couldn't keep my hands off this precioius little angel
Below: A couple of hours later, in the ward, all wrapped up and ready for the real world. The hat was a bit of fashion flaw, but that's the hospital attire :). Daniel holding [already] his 4 hour-old baby cousin, with Zak and Sage in attendance.



 
Above: Me with the little doll and 2 year old Jed, exploring the room and below, Auntie Nicki enjoying precious pudding.


Tania and her babbelah have different blood types, and Stella developed a high Bilirubin count (jaundice) which is problematic when mom and baby blood type differs. She had to go under the lights (photo-therapy) on Monday in the Neo Natal Intensive Care unit. Here she is in the "Spa" on her 'tanning' bed - dark glasses and all! :) She did look very chilled here.

They came home pretty late on Tuesday evening and had a rough night, so last night, I had Madame Fifi sleep in my room and took over the midnight feed with a bottle. The Bilirubin count was high again yesterday, so we had her on a "biliblanket" with a UV light through the night - a bit cumbersome to feed and change her with this unit attached. I'm feeling rather ragged around the edges today, so will take a couple of hours later this morning to try and nap. They're taking her back to the lab this morning for another blood test. It's better for me not to go - seeing that needle going into her little foot finishes me off. But other than that, she's a really bonny and easy baby, only crying (screaming) when hungry!

 


Above: Yesterday after a feed - Nicki and I can't keep our hands off her :)

Last night when I put her down with the photo-therapy UV blanket underneath her - you can see the blue light shining through the wrap. Fortunately it's hot here, as she needs this UV blanket against her body and we can't dress her.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend and Shabbat Shalom.
Hugs as always,

Dinx

Letter to my family and friends - Pacific Coast time: 10.22pm

Hi guys,

A bit of an update for the first 24 hours :) It feels as though I was here a week ago... amazing how comfortable I am in this city. I know where everything is and where and what I need... been shopping already for my shampoo and brushes which I'd forgotten to order online. It was hellish hot mid afternoon yesterday and as I unpacked, Tania (watching), couldn't believe I'd brought wintery clothes - she was shocked. But I've been coming to this city for the past 14 years anually, so I definitely know what I need. And sure enough, last night was very chilly and this morning was really cold and overcast. It warmed up slightly this arvie, but believe me, I've need my layers of clothing already.

The first leg of the flight, JNB to JFK was fabulous. Hardly anyone in business class: a couple of random peeps and a family of 7 - all blondes from the father/grandfather and grandmother down to the youngest 12/13 year old - beach blonde in fact... just FYI - for fun this info is! :) The stewards were over zealous - kind of hovering and wanting to please. SAA air crew are still the best... mostly. I actually slept for a couple of hours, which is unusual for me. The flight, although it left late, caught up on tailwinds and we landed 40 minutes early at JFK. 15 hours in total. But I'm not sure I'd do it again, as the cross country flight from New York to SFO is 6 1/2 hours and from Washington & Atlanta, its 5. So what one gains on the swing, you lose on the roundabout, or vice versa. JetBlue is SHOCKING!!! Never, never NEVER! again. Generally, American domestic airlines are definitely the worst in the world - the western world that is. But JetBlue has now topped my "worst list". I think, at this point, I've flown every domestic airline in the USA and the only one that was worth it's ticket price, has been South West. The staff generally are no more than glorified waitrons selling food and headsets. Every tiny service or item has a price! Nothing for nothing at all any more.

As I write this letter, I realise I should post it on my blog as the first entry into my travel journal of 2011... So if you see this again while you're surfing the web, you'll know why!

So far, the baby is staying put although Tania had random Braxton Hicks contractions during the night last night. But she went to swimming today and did a few chores. She isn't as big as what I thought. Much smaller in fact than she looked on the WebCam a few weeks ago. Her tummy is really the 'biggest' part of her... all in front. She hasn't spread sideways (or backwards for that matter). Her face has changed a bit though.

This morning Zak jumped on me (and woke me up) at 6.30! I nearly jumped out of my skin, even though he'd warned me he was going to do it. Everytime he does something silly, or gives me a fright, he tells me it's payback for when my magic powers made him fall off his bike ... 2 years ago. These kids are elephants.. they don't miss a trick, or forget a thing! Obviously I didn't make him fall off! He just blamed me because he fell off and I teased him and asked if he thought I had magic powers! The child was 5 1/2 at the time - before Tania's wedding

I'm staying with the Gilberts for now. Zak and Sage overwhelm me with their nagging to stay with them and Tania's happy with that as long as I'm there when she comes home with the baby. So the plan is to stay here for the weekend, unless something happens with Tan on the w/end. We will probably go and see the Billy Elliot musical on Sunday evening. And on Sunday morning, Nicki and Ryan have a Wexner Brunch, so I'll be with the 3 kids - we'll probably do a scrapbooking morning - Sage had made sure all the scrapbook paraphernalia is ready and waiting for use for the 1st opportunity. Next week we'll do other crafts, but they are still going to summer camp for the next week.

The kids are divine... as much as I miss them from that side, when I get here I realise how much more I really miss them AND miss out on. Jed is amazing. He talks beautifully and he's such a happy little soul. So different to last year when I first arrived. He's a loveable angel.. hugging and kissing and we've already had so much fun. He laughs a lot.. a real cutie pops. And he's mad about Sage... and Zak actually too. He keeps asking when Daniel's coming home. When he wants Zak he calls him Zachary. Daniel's written 2 cards to the family already, and we saw a picture of him online this evening at his camp in Ojai - he seems to be having a blast - been there a week already and flies home with a bunch of kids from the East Bay next Wednesday. I can't wait to see that child!

I did go out for lunch with Nicki and her friend today - to a place in Berkeley called the Wood Tavern. Lovely food - mostly Californian cuisine, but I had a taste of New York: pastrami on baguette - delish.. but could only eat half as portions here are humungous!

And that's about it for now. I'm tired and need to go to sleep - it's already 10.10 pm...

Loads of love & hugs and Shabbat Shalom!
As always,
Di
xxx

I’ve just settled down with a paraffin wax treatment on my feet. It feels quite blissful and relaxing. I punished my friend about 2 months ago, by forcing her to come to swimming with me. She needs it for her “krok” knees as much as I need it for my very crocked (and crooked) back! Getting her to swim at the beginning of winter, early in the morning, was no mean feat. As much as I punished her, she rewarded me, by lending me the paraffin wax bath and all the bells and whistles. Hot wax “glove” over my tired feet, covered in plastic and thick socks – pure bliss. Thank you Karen, I’m going to miss you for the next 3 months while I’m in the USA.. but don’t you dare give up on the swimming while I’m away! :)

Today I re-hung all my art and pictures that I’d taken for re-framing and mounting while I painted the interior walls of the house. On a ladder, hammer, Hilti gun, spirit level, rulers and measuring tapes at the ready I moved steadily but surely through all the rooms - stokseel alleen (i.e. alone!) My neck is burning, my arms are sore and the back aches a tad, but I’m feeling good and very happy with my handiwork. Since B has a Parkinsonian-type syndrome he can’t help me with any of the maintenance work on the house. Believe me though, he could still wash dishes, or cook or do laundry - if he set his mind to it – he just chooses not to do those chores either! Ho hum. Lesson to newly-weds: from day 1, insist that you can’t do certain chores… that way, the spouse will have no choice but to learn! It’s too late after 39 years!

Which reminds me… 39 years ago, a newly-wed couple moved into the flat next door ours – in Yeoville! My how this country has changed, I don't even drive through that area these days! We’ve been family friends with A & B and their children, ever since and although they’ve lived in Melbourne the past 10+ years, we’re still in frequent contact. They decided, for their 60th birthdays in June and their anniversary, also in June, to climb Kilamanjaro. For almost a year, they trained and in June, they did indeed climb that peak. I saw them in Johannesburg hours before they left SA to go home a week after that trek… wow, I take my hat off to them… even though I still think they’re mad. It took them 5 days to ascend from Moshi and 2 days to get back down.

They climbed 20000 feet above sea level and moved through several climatic phases, from extreme heat to extreme freeze, in that time. When they got to the summit @ 5958 metres, they only had a few minutes to take a picture and survey the world beneath them before walking down again because the air is so rarified they could hardly breathe. As it is, B suffers from asthma, so, as he summited, he had to be given oxygen. Once again guys, kol ha kavod to you – I could think of many other gifts I'd rather have. The story of you Adi, wearing and using a ‘she wee’ would put me off even before the training. But.. whatever blows your hair back! Meanwhile, the pictures are magnificent, thanks for sharing them with us.

 
 





My packing is underway – the shopping for chocolates (kilos of the stuff!) and all the baby goodies and pressies for the ‘other’ 4 spoiled grandchildren of mine, the Joko tea, Nougat etcetera etcetera, is thankfully done and dusted. Now to pack these items - sealing and bubbleplastic for the fragile stuff.
The extended supply of chronic meds for 3 months has been granted. Now to fill those dratted scripts. Isn’t it awful to get old and have to worry about chronic medication? Yuk… we’re really getting old when… *sigh*. Six more sleeps and then I head north to my angel pops… I can’t wait to see them.

Daniel, today this special simcha,
Is a leap into your teens
It’s a big step that you’re making
And we know you’re up to the task
While you step into the next decade,
Our love and pride in you will always last.

Having you as our grandson
Is a gift we closely hold,

You’re a bright and shining special light
And we treasure you…
…more than gold

On your 10th birthday, our very big wish and hope for you...
is that all your wishes & dreams,
forever will come true.

You’re such a caring clever soul
And in your own unique way
You bring myriad rays of sunshine
Into our world each day.

Happy 10th birthday Danielkins, With loads of love, hugs and kisses, as always...
to the moon and back.
Granny Di and Grampa Bas
xxx000

As I write this, in a 3rd party editor, I can not remember the last time I posted something on my blog, (without peeking that is). Writing this in an ascii editor, helps to focus! I do have to tell myself to do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking definitely takes its toll on my aging brain and body. Blogging and reading blogs is very time-consuming and for me, addictive. If I start, I don’t stop: catching up with everyone and reading comments on my own posts. Hence the silence – like a lamb! :).  It has taken an incredible discipline and will-power on my part.
I have exactly one month left before I leave for the USA and I still have loads to do. In the past month I’ve prepared and painted wooden boxes to decoupage tea box caddies. I promised Tania a tea box years ago and this year I have to honour that commitment. Not that she’s pressuring me at all, but it is time. Started and completed a baby quilt for our expected new babbela mid-August.

Then… I picked up the few odd squares I’d started quilting for Zak 3 years ago pre broken back and have now, to date, almost finished it. Whew! In total 360 small swatches in various blues with red, pieced together to form this design called a Railway Fence. I had done the log cabin design for Daniel 4 years ago, so wanted to do something different for Zaki-doodle. The finished quilt will fit a single bed.

Here you go Blossom, a sort of guide for this pattern, however, the technique I will teach/help you with, when I get back from the USA after mid-November. :)

      
 
   

Below, the baby quilt - unisex colours and design as the gender of the baby is going to be a surprise for us all! :)



Below: The "new" white suite
A month ago, I packed up everything from my bedroom dressing table and pedestals and have been living with boxes surrounded the bed, since, while waiting for the furniture to be returned from the restorers. The pinkish Beechwood suite that I’ve had for 24 years came back home on Thursday and is now a pure Satin White which looks brand new. What a wonderful change it has been. Looks superb on my newish wooden floors. I do still have to pack everything back, but will do this over the next few days, slowly, as I’m having some back and hip trouble lately – probably from overdoing things… like sitting at the sewing machine for nearly 12 hours on some days… as always!

In this picture below: Doron with my great niece and nephew who were jumping around on the bed until he caught them, one can see the original colour of the Beechwood bedroom suite


As cold as it is, especially at 7.30 in the morning, I’ve gone beyond the point of normal and been fanatical about not missing a single biokinetic, swimming/aquacise class. I can’t give up just yet – not with the 3 month break I’m about to have. I will definitely have plenty exercise there with 5 grandchildren, it just won’t be the same! I will miss ‘the girls’ from swimming, so this past Thursday I had them all over for morning tea and cake(s). We had red velvet cupcakes, smoked salmon and other types of sandwiches, a cheesecake, cheese and biscuits, scones and jam and mustard cheese melts on French bread.

In the interim, I’ve been trying to have all my friends and family over for a supper or lunch before I leave. Because of the back problem, I find it very difficult to manage more than 8 people at a time so this is been done in relays. The most recent one was last Sunday night where I served hot Pastrami on rye and hot dogs with all the trimmings. My difficulty is not the cooking and setting up so much as the cleaning up after. I’m on my own with that lot, as my husband doesn’t do dishes and/or cleaning up! As much as a hands on father that he was and even now a hands-on grand-dad, he opts out of any house work or cooking and cleaning. It kills me, but after 40 years of this, I mostly zip my lip... or try to!

Needless to say, I haven’t had much time for emails or even to ‘phone a friend’ and as you can see, blogging was just out of the question. Let’s hope I’ll regain my mojo on the long haul to San Francisco in August.