New Years at the Fezza

So this new years would have been my first sober new years in well over 10 years! Its actually quite an experience being sober and watching everyone else get rotten. The conversations were also one in a million!

A long time ago (before I was pregnant) we decided to spend New Years at Nana Buchanans batch at Lake Ferry.

Luckily it all worked out as because I was pregnant it was nice to have somewhere to relax or have a nap if the need arose.

We went out with Steph and Shep on Wednesday 28th December and had booked the batch for a whole week!

Day one was a killer hot day - I could barely breathe, I think we downed a box of juicies that first day! By the time we unpacked, set-up and had tea there was just enough time for a family outing of fishing on the beach. We didn't have bait so used the left over pork riblets from tea  - fair to say I am not surprised we didn't catch anything!

Thursday brought the forecasted rain. (which doesn't look like it is leaving us anytime soon) We knew it was coming but it still sucked! We were prepared with Monopoly and a few other board games so it was a quiet inside day. Steph Wilson came on Thursday too so we had extra company.

Friday, it was still raining but that didn't stop Cody and Sonny going out and about

Sonny was absolutely drenched when he got home but he sure looked like he enjoyed himself!

Levi however, opted for a more civilised past time - napping!

While Cody was down at the beach Shep took care of the house hold duties ( I had to take a photo as Steph wouldn't believe me that he actually did dishes!!!)

Once the rain eased up we were able to get out and about again. So we all took the quad bikes down to the beach for a bit of a family outing. I found a little race track that someone had made so the boys decided to give it a go....

And we all know what happens when boys play with toys!

Then before we knew it, it was new years eve! More mates came out to join us and although it was STILL raining it didn't bother us too much. We set up camp in the garage and just made the most of it!



For the New Year countdown we headed down to the Lake Ferry Hotel which was actually quite busy!

The next morning I woke up feeling slightly pudgy - not sure if it was a sympathy hangover or the 2L of chocolate milk I had drunken the night before! I started on mega breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns, kranksys and of course PANCAKES!

The rest of the day we spent mucking around the beach house and napping.

The boys really wanted to be out in the boat but the weather was icky and the lake was too low. So they settled for second best....

And when the rain started again, that still didn't stop them! They are a clever bunch!

I think Sonny's face says it all!!!

That afternoon it finally cleared up so I could take the puppies out for a run.

On the Monday I did my usual, went and visited the seals! This time we took Steph and Steph2. There were so many babies out and about it was really cool to see them! They were hidden in amongst the rocks - sometimes looking like they had been squashed, but they were just napping in the cracks.

This big mumma seal chased me! It was freaking scary! Being pregnant, wearing jandels and standing on slippery rocks did not help my cause one bit!

So that was my new years, pretty low key really due to me being up the duff and the rain. But we still made the most of it and I still really enjoyed my time at Lake Ferry (but I always do :) )

BRING ON 2012!

Baby Buchanan at 21 weeks

On the 16th December 2011 we made the trip over to Lower Hutt to have our 20 week scan. Although we were 21 weeks.

I love seeing Baby B on the scanners - it is truly amazing what you can see, this time I can actually feel the baby moving when we see it move on the screen.

This scan got right into the nitty gritties and we were able to arms, hands, legs and feet!

This scan also picked up that Baby B had a bad kidney so we were referred to Wellington Hospital to the Maternal Fetal Medicine unit for a further scan and an appointment with the specialist.

This scan photo shows the defect kidney - I can barely make out the cysts but it shows what it looks like.

The scan at Wellington Hospital showed that Baby B has a Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney.

Multicystic dysplastic kidney is a condition in which the kidney has been essentially replaced by multiple cysts. It is the result of abnormal fetal development of the kidney. There is little or no normal function to this kidney. The incidence is approximately 1 in 4,300 live births.

We have to go back at 28 and 38 weeks for extra scans to keep an eye on the cysts. If they get too big, if renal reflux occurs, or they are causing other issues then I will have to deliver Baby B in Wellington Hospital. Once baby is born they will scan him/her and if need be remove the defect kidney.

Either way Baby B will only have one functioning Kidney. Although there are worse diagnoses out there (no functioning kidneys, holes in the heart, undeveloped brains etc) this news still shocked me. I like to have everything planned out, I like everything to be perfect. This news was not according to my plan. I guess I went in there expecting everything to be perfect as it had been up until that moment. Baby B will be fine and I know that, I also know that plenty of people live very successful lives with just one functioning kidney, I just didn't want this for my baby and I dont like people telling me "oh well it could be worse" yes it could be, but for me this is bad. It is something that can not get better nor can it be treated. It is what it is - if anything it can get worse.

We have also been told that because we have one baby with this condition then the chances that our next baby will too. It is apparently a genetic issue - and we cant change our genetics!

So until our next appointment on the 2nd Febuary 2012 we wont know more. Its the waiting, the 'what-ifs' and 'could-bes' that is the worse and that makes things a lot harder.....

Watch this space...

Cooper Jack Bicknell

Codys sister Kelly (and my Maid of Honour) and her husband Shaun are now the proud parents to a beautiful baby boy. Which means we FINALLY have a nephew :)

On 24th November 2011 little Cooper Jack Bicknell made his way into the world at 7pound 14oz.

Dam I wish I will look this hot when I am 40 weeks!

Wayno was proud as punch to finally have a grandson

Kyla and Lucy were thrilled with their new baby brother.

And now I am going to bombard you with a million photos - because a picture is worth a thousand words.....

Christmas goodies!!

Christmas is by far my most favourite time of year! I love getting the house all decorated and extra love making all sorts of goodies. I  love how the shops set up displays and play Christmas carols. But best of all I love not being at work and enjoying the summer with family!

A few years ago I attempted a gingerbread house, it was an epic fail. I burnt the gingerbread and then the wall panels warped while cooking so it just didn't fit together properly. However Kyla, my niece (who was about 2 at the time) thought it was great and she was the only one who attempted to eat it. Thank goodness for children.... the rest went to the dogs - they were very grateful. All in all I got the sh*ts with the whole thing!

This isn't the house I made -just a pretty house :)

Most years I'm pretty boring and just make chocolates - I went a bit further last year and made fillings to go in them. Including peanut butter, mint and liquor!

But this year, I want to do something really different. A few months ago my sister told me about these cake pops. I had never heard of them. Pretty much they are a cake cross with a lollipop, so you end up with a little ball of cake on the end of a stick. You then decorate this as required.

How cute are these guys!

Then of course there is the traditional Christmas cake. I LOVE Christmas cake - we actually had the traditional fruit cake as the top tier of our wedding cake - which is now in the chest freezer waiting for our first wedding anniversary :)

I have never attempted to make a Christmas cake before - it was all a but daunting. But since we are spending Christmas up with Cody's sister and her family there will be a lot of there so I thought this year I would give it a go.

I also saw these White Chocolate and Cherry Blondies on Good Morning one day. Essentially they are a rice bubble log with lots of extra goodies!!! So I thought that they cant be too hard!

There are the traditional mince pies, which I love - however a lot of people don't. So as a spin on things I found a recipe for Cranberry and Pear pies - How DIVINE!

What yummy teats are you planning on making/eating this year?

Anyone have any ideas on what I could try?