Jordy's 3rd Birthday

Biddle Boys Update

I'm giving up making excuses for not blogging more often, but it really has been quite a month and between having a bad connection and not being able to get on the net every day, being ill and otherwise being busy with Kyle and Jordy, I've not had a chance to blog much but thought I'd put some recent pics of the boys on our blog. There aren't many of Jordy because it's a battle keeping up with him sometimes - he doesn't seem to stay still for long enough to get more than a blurred photo of him. Kyle is a little bit more 'stationary' and it's a bit easier to snap some shots of him, but not for long. He's getting really mobile now, rolling from tummy to back and vice versa, and he loves sitting in his bumbo seat in the lounge, watching Jordy play with his toys. There is the occasional babbling from Kyle when he gets excited watching Jordy and one can almost imagine that he's thinking he can't wait to be able to play with Jordy.

We are all otherwise well, though Mark and I had a very bad dose of bronchitis in January, which my mom and dad suffered from as well, even worse than us. I managed to get gastro last weekend which has lingered for a few days but today I'm feeling loads better which is great!! What a month it's been though! I feel as though I've achieved nothing but I guess I can catch up and start being more productive next week - while Kyle is sleeping and Jordy is at school, that is. I'm so blessed to be able to be home with Kyle and not have to go to work yet, so am really treasuring this special time. Jordy is enjoying school and loves his new teacher. He is doing well with his potty training, thankfully. At least it's only Kyle in nappies now, though Jordy does wear them at night until he's ready to forgo them but at least we are progressing! Jordy is also enjoying swimming lessons and hopefully soon he will be able to swim unassisted, with just a floating device on his back. The swimming teacher who is also an occupational therapist, does not believe in armbands because they lull the kids into a false sense of security, so instead the kids wear high density foam pads strapped onto their backs to give them the confidence they need to swim. They also use pool noodles which Jordy feels he can do without as he says 'they just get in the way' which is not a bad thing if he feels he's able to go without, which so far, he has done. Fortunately he swims in a heated pool, which is great when the weather is inclement, but that said, he doesn't mind swimming in cold pool water... he seems to like swimming regardless but when the air is cold, a heated pool helps.

It's hard to believe Jordy will be 3 years old in 2 weeks time - where does the time go?! We're having a little party for Jordy on Saturday 21st Feb, at home. We are hiring a jumping castle for the kids which will keep them busy, and are having about 15 kids - some from his class who he is friends with, and some friends of mine whose kids are Jordy's age and also his friends. I only hope we have good weather, as it's tricky to entertain kids indoors at a party. I will have to organise plan B if it does infact rain. The theme Jordy has chosen is Thomas the Tank Engine so fortunately we managed to find some plates and cups at CNA with the thomas theme. I have just a few things I will still need to get but will do so closer to the time as this next week is a busy one, with swimming lessons, a dentist appointment (scary), Mark's mom arriving and also having some freelance work in the way of a website to design. Added to that I've been nominated as the class rep for Jordy's class, so when it comes to organising fund-raising events and the like, I have to work with the other moms or dads who are class reps for the other classes, to organise any functions the school wants to have, and make sure it all runs smoothly. There is a function we need to start organising next week which should be fun, and while I can, I don't mind. So I can never say I get bored, thankfully!

I must dash but thought I'd give an update before another month passes us by. I will obviously be posting pics from Jordy's party in a few weeks, so watch this space for more.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Lots of love
x Robs

Happy New Year

Well, here we are, on the 5 Jan, having said goodbye to Anna and Kirsty at the airport this morning, as they wing they way over to the Cape, to Langebaan where they will be living for 2 years. Jason is going to be an instructor for 2 years, training the new recruits on fixed wing aircraft, but he has the option of coming back to Durban in 2111 to continue flying copters which is something to look forward to. Jason drove down to the Cape over the weekend, as they will need a car to get around, before Kirsty's car arrives on the carrier later this month. Of course, it wasn't without a few tears that Kirsty and Anna left, but hopefully we will get to see them all soon, as Kirsty will likely have to come back for work meetings every 8 weeks, and hopes to bring Anna, so all being well we will see them in Feb sometime if they can wangle having the meetings on a friday, affording them the opportunity to stay with us over the weekend, which will be great! Jason may not be able to visit as often as he will not have the flexibility he had last year, since he will be instructing, but all being well he can come home to visit in July. We are going to miss them so much, but it's a wonderful opportunity for them to be together as a family, as Jason was away for at least 6 months of last year, flying, so it was a very difficult year for them with it being so unsettled. Hopefully this year will be less of a slog as Jason won't have to go away and they will enjoy a lot more family time and will get to see a lot of the Cape while they are there. They will be living in a house on the airforce base, in Langebaan, which is 'simple' accommodation, but they can make it comfortable by decorating it however they want to, and can even paint the walls a colour of their choice. Kirsty is such a homemaker, I have no doubt she will make it a lovely home for them all! Kirsty has fortunately been transferred in her job, to the Cape and while she will have to make a trip to Bellville, to the factories there every week or two to collect information, she will for the most part be able to work from home, and being away from the rest of the team and the expectations that have ensued, she will not be pestered as much to help with the workload, which should allow her more free time this year! (Let's hope!)

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone so quickly, and it's already 2009! Where does the time go? We had a lovely Christmas together with my folks, as well as Kirsty, Jason and Anna. We had Christmas eve dinner at our place and Christmas Day at my folks. This year was a lot less of a slog in terms of preparing food - we got wise to the way of Woolworths selling smoked turkey portions, and cooking the lamb portion on the weber. We enjoyed a lovely meal of turkey, lamb, roast veg and potatoes, and not forgetting traditional christmas pudding and the rest. We invested our time and energy this year in doing table decor which was a lot of fun. I had a Red and Silver theme, and my mom did a lime green and silver theme - both looked stunning I have to say. I've posted some pics to show you... as well as some others from our Christmas celebration. Our new years eve was spent with friends - it was actually my friend Fiona's 30th, so she hosted a party to celebrate her birthday and new years eve which was much fun. Other than that, we didn't do much... just really spent time with the Springetts as they spent 2 nights with us once they'd moved out of their home, which was fun. We managed to catch up with friends over the holidays which was great, but it was also quite busy so we will enjoy a reasonable quiet week to catch up and also gear ourselves up to get back into the swing of things, especially as everybody else is now back at work. It actually feels weird not going back to work myself, but it is nice to have this time with Kyle and Jordy so I am not going to feel too guilty. I do want to do some part time work this year so am looking at a few possibilities to explore. I will keep you posted once I've decided. I'm keen to take on anything that allows me to work from home so let's hope that in this economic recession, there will be something I can pursue.

I have to say, I'm only too relieved that our domestic helper is back today, to help with the housework, and even if she doesn't get a chance to do much ironing, at least that's all I have to do (albeit nearly 3 baskets full), instead of worrying about cleaning floors, bathrooms and the rest - fitting it in with when Kyle and Jordy are sleeping. I like to think I can have an afternoon to read my book or do some gardening and just catch my breath, but it will all happen in good time if not today. I have a long list of projects I want to tackle this year, starting this week as it's nice to have something to get my teeth into, so to speak, besides the responsibility of taking care of the boys, which Mark helps me with, admittedly, but with 2 kids, it's much more work - especially with boys so won't put too much pressure on myself to 'achieve'.

Talking of which... both boys are doing well! Jordy has unfortunately got a bad cough again, but hopefully if we have some warm sunny weather he can 'thaw' out, as we've had nothing but grey, wet weather, and it's great for a few days but gets a bit much when it goes on for nearly a week. I too have battled with a cough and feeling tight-chested, but hope it soon improves. Kyle is thriving... he is a happy boy and loves attention but also happy to entertain himself. He's sleeping through from about 8pm until 5/6am so it's wonderful to have uninterrupted sleep again. Mark is well though he's also had his fair share of the bugs going around - it seems unavoidable. Hopefully we all have a better year, health-wise and every other respect! With the building behind us and completed, we can at least focus on other things that need to be done, and can look forward to our holiday planned for September, to visit Kirsty and family.

I can't think of any other news right now but I will definitely blog again soon. One of my resolutions for this year, is to blog a lot more often which I will try and stick to as much as possible. I hope you all have a great year with all good things to look forward to!

Take Care & God Bless!

Love Robs & boys (all 3)

Greetings... at last!

Where does the time go?! It's been many weeks now since my last blog post and to be honest, it's been a whirlwind these last few weeks. Having 2 boys has certainly kept us busy, leaving us with less "free" time, though I'm now learning to make the most of any time I have while the boys are sleeping or otherwise occupied, to get things done and sneak time on the net. It is a bit of a juggling act, but we are getting used to the busyness and I'm hoping this will help me lose those last few kilos, running around and being busy.

The silly season is aptly named... this time of year is always so busy - what with kids parties and Christmas parties of sorts, we have had more than a month now of busy weekends which have been lots of fun, but somewhat exhausting, leaving us feeling rather lack lustre on a monday. Fortunately things look to be a little bit quieter this next week, before Christmas, giving us time to catch our breath before the festivities start again. We can hardly complain, as being busy is pretty much self-inflicted, but it's all part of celebrating the holiday season. I have to say, having interrupted sleep makes one feel a bit zombi-ish as it catches up with us eventually when we are on the go, but again, it's all part and parcel of having a baby.

Kyle is such a treasure - a content baby who sleeps and feeds well, and who is also quite a sociable baby, not wanting to miss out on anything so we are having to keep him entertained quite often, but it's also so rewarding as he's coo-ing and smiling so much now - a little person who knows what he wants in life, already! Jordy just loves his brother, which is so precious, and Kyle responds with a smile every time he sees Jordy. So cute! I've managed to get a few cute pics of the boys together, but wanting to capture the essence of a 'happy family, we decided to have some photos taken professionally, which I am posting on the blog now. These photos were taken 3 weeks ago.

Jordy is well and loving being on holiday and enjoying it even more when it's not raining as we've had such wet and damp weather, punctuated maybe once a week with a hot sunny day, until just recently when we started having really hot weather more regularly which has been great. Let's hope we have more warm and sunny days from hereon.

We will be home for Christmas, spending time with my folks, as well as Kirsty, Jason and Anna which will be nice, since the Springetts leave for Langebaan on 5 January '09 to spend 2 years there which is sad, but also a great opportunity for them.

We know many friends are away for Christmas, so it goes without saying that we hope you have safe travels and a great holiday, with special time enjoyed with those nearest and dearest. We will post an entry again before Christmas, but for those who won't be online, have a blessed Christmas and may the new year be all you wish for!

God Bless
Lots of love
The Biddles

Greetings from the Biddle Clan

Well, here we are, just ten days after our second precious little son, Kyle, entered the world and whom we absolutely adore, and I have to say that we are really enjoying being a family of 4 - albeit a bit hectic, but it's to be expected and part of the fun. Somehow our family feels more complete now too. Asked by my obstetrician, more tongue-in-cheek at this stage, if we'll have any more kids, I have to say, it would be tempting, especially as we've been blessed to have 2 content babies to date, but right now we are focussing on the family we do have and are enjoying special times together, but also, from the cost point of view, I think it's probably wise to only have 2 kids these days, sadly.

Another caesarian was in order for me which was the decision taken last monday at my check-up and scan, since Kyle didn't want to be born naturally. Given that he was a posterior presenting baby which would have made natural delivery tricky and risky at that, we also discovered while I was on the operating table, that he had his cord around his neck which was another good reason for the caesar, which I was more than happy to have, given the complications that may have ensued if I'd gone into labour. While we half prepared for having a caesar on the 13th if necessary, I guess we still thought it might be later in the week, so when it became clear that we'd be able to have the caesar later that same day, it seemed to make perfect sense. It was only when driving back to the hospital an hour later, after doing the necessary admin, then dashing home to fetch our bags before returning, that it hit me we were going to have our baby in a few hours and I'll be honest, my emotions took over for a brief spell, but then the excitement of it all made me all the more happy that it was happening. What was supposed to be a 3.30pm caesar, ended up being an hour later, with Kyle being born at 16.58pm on the 13th October. The op went well and despite feeling terrible nausea at one point during the op, and issuing a rather anxious request to the anaethetist for something to be added to my drip which he did, I have to say it was a very happy and positive birth experience. The spinal block numbed me from the waist down for a few hours thereafter, but boy oh boy, when the feeling came back to my lower regions, the pain from the cut was quite intense and for this I was given a cyclomorph jab for pain which I didn't realise would be so strong as to make me drowsy for the next 24 hours, but also controlling the pain. As is routine, I stayed in hospital 3 nights and did nothing more than feed Kyle and sleep which was what I needed, and I have to say I made the most of the chance to just rest - not even managing to read an article in any one of the magazines my family brought for me to read. I didn't even get near the crossword this time! Of course, my day was brightened by the visitors who came - family and friends and at least the day didn't feel so long. Before I knew it, thursday arrived and I was discharged and able to come home with Kyle, who although slightly jaundiced, it was not critical. As much as I was looking forward to going home, I think it was all quite overwhelming when we got home, as I suddenly felt I had been jolted back into the swing of things too quickly and hit a bit of a low on friday, which with the pain and discomfort, made me wish I could go back to the hospital for a few more days, but by the weekend, I was feeling much better and ready to pick up the pieces again and begin our lives together as a family of 4. I have to say, every day gets easier and now having had my stitches out, I am feeling much stronger and no longer on pain-killers which is great! It's wonderful to have more energy, though I obviously need to take it slowly and not rush around too much. It's fortunately only 2.5 weeks I have left of not being able to drive so I think I'll manage for that short space of time, being limited to being home with the odd trip out. Being independent as I am, I hate asking for family to take me places so for that reason it will be great to be 'mobile' again.

Kyle is settling into the Biddle family life really well and is so content - sleeping through most of Jordy's noise and seems to already have found a routine he's comfortable with, for feeding. I do feel a bit like a milk bar though - if asked what I do with my day, other than the odd distraction, be it baking or reading a book or spending time with Jordy, I'm feeding Kyle and changing nappies and the rest. But, I'm really not complaining - it's just an adjustment from being used to having more 'free' time, but I'm going to make the most of this time with Kyle and enjoy these special moments because they grow up so quickly.

Mark and Jordy are also really enjoying having Kyle around and the relationship that's developing between Kyle and Jordy is just too precious. Mark too loves his little boy and is quite proud that Kyle looks like him, as everybody keeps telling him - just with my dark hair. Jordy loves his little brother to bits and keeps kissing him on his head. Every morning he tells us he doesn't want to to go to school because he wants to be with Kyle, which is what we expected would happen, but we still take him and when he gets there, he's always happy to be at school and it keeps him busy which is good. Of course when he gets home, Jordy just wants to 'play' with Kyle and help me with changing nappies, bathing etc which is really sweet. I'm so relieved because while we tried to prepare him for Kyle's arrival, one never knows how it will all work out. Admittedly, Jordy is a bit more 'needy', demanding a lot more of our time and energy, but it's all normal, given that he feels he has competition and we both try to make time to do activities with him daily. Sadly, he seems to have lost interest in his swimming lessons, so we will have to give it a break until January again. Also with the weather being so miz, I can hardly blame Jordy for not wanting to go to lessons as it's always very windy or it's raining and it's not a covered pool, even though heated. If we wouldn't want to swim, I guess we can hardly expect them to want to swim in inclement weather - though I believe it toughens them up but they are still quite young and I'd hate to turn him against wanting to swim. Ce la vie.

Well, that's pretty much all the news we have right now but we will keep updating the blog with pics and news of the boys, so watch this space!

Until then, take care and stay safe!

Sahle Gahle, Tot Siens and Goodbye for now!

Lots of love
The Biddle Clan

P.S. Here are a few more pics of Kyle, taken on monday when he was a week old. We love him to bits!

Introducing Kyle Christopher Biddle