NO NO NO NO NO! When you're two it's your favourite word!

She looks sweet, doesn't she?
Well, our sweet, sweet Eden has turned into a screaming, tantum throwing, bullying, screeching stubborn 2-and-a-bit year old.
While she's still utterly edible, the "NO's" are really getting to me.
On an hourly basis, Tara and her have ear-pitching screaming matches I'm sure everyone within a 5km radium can hear them.
I think I need to invest in some wax earplugs!

'Tis the season to be sniffly!

Having three little children to take care of (four including my husband) during this cough and cold period is, in a nutshell exhausting.

Runny noses, "mum, wipe my nose", fever "mum, i'm hot", runny noses "mum, i need a tissue NOW" is all I've been dealing with for the last week. The most disgusting thing is when they sneeze and two sausage shaped green slugs hang like algae, often past their rosy lips only to be licked up by greedy little tongues...mmm tasty.

The only saving grace has been a combination of Panadol, Nurofen and Dimmetapp (in my opinion, the best of the three as it knocks them out, only joking)
It's a good think doctor mum hasn't got the leurgy - hubby refuses to kiss me - or else I'd have to hire a nanny, or three.

Oh, I also had a nasty fall which resulted in a concussion and posible fracture of my (pride) elbow. And, for all those who know me, don't roll your eyes, I know I'm clumsy, but honest it wasn't my fault this time, the chair slipped. Another xray has been added to my mammoth pile.

On the book front, it's really steam-rolling ahead, a little scary yet exciting nevertheless.

That's about it, keep smiling and wear your face masks when you go out.

Hope Madeleine - You're now a Catholic! Happy Baptism

We baptised our gorgeous third girl - and it was a beautiful day.
She was the perfect baby, and didn't even cry!
Pity about this shocking Sydney weather though, it was freezing and then pissed down as we left church. I don't know why I straightened my hair as I soon turned into a fraggle when the rain started to pitter-pattr down.
Anyway, enough of my hair dramas, here are some pics of the day.
Enjoy!

Isn't she Stunning?

The death of the Good Samaritan

How is it fair that a God Samaritan is shot dead in busy Melbourne CBD?
It isn't fair, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason.

For all those haven't heard, two strangers ran to the help of a young woman who was being pulled by her hair out of a cab when the assailant opened fire and shot the two men who came to the woman's help and herself as well. One of the men died at the scene, while the woman and the other man are in a critical condition. What a tragedy.
As I recalled the incident to my husband over the phone, he was just as shocked as I was, but also said,

"See, that's exactly why people do not come to the aid of other people."

I see his point, but I would still like to think that I would rush to help someone in trouble as long as it would not endanger my children - and I know my husband would not think twice before helping someone in need.

My prayers are with the families of those involved.

While the situations I have been in are no where as dire as a shooting, I have been in a situation where I needed someones help and everyone around me turned a blind eye. I was about 36 weeks pregnant and had driven myself to hospital one avo thinking I may be in labour. As I pulled into the Emergency Department carpark, I couldn't find a spot to park, except for a very tight spot which I could barely squeeze my commodore into. I didn't want to block the entrance as then I would stop the Ambulances coming in. Anyway , there was a burly middle aged man yakking on his mobile phone, his hire-car driver's side door open blocking me from swinging my car into the mini spot. So, I get out, clutching my swollen belly and ask him if he could move his car please as I think I'm in labour and can't get my car in the spot. Now, you would assume that he'd say, no problem, however the reality was this:

"You stupid, fucking woman, if you can't drive or park your car, you are a fucken idiot, now fuck off.''

He then returned, annoyed, yakking on his phone.

For the first time in my life, I was speechless. Tears of anger stung my eyes, but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of seeing me cry.I got back in my car and for a split second seriously contemplated putting my foot on the accelerator and ramming his car into oblivion, but I was pregnant and my baby's life was not worth this piece of shit chauffeur. There were plenty of people who heard what went on, and they just stood there gawking. After a few minutes, one man said he'd park my car for me, but by this stage, there was a free spot and I parked it in, my hands shaking. As I waddled to the Emergency doors, I walked past this poor excuse for a human and said to him that I thought he was the rudest man I had ever met. His response,

"Fuck off."

If my husband or dad or brother were there, they would have rammed his head through the windscreen and then he really would have needed medical help. I would have smashed his head in, but again being pregnant not worth the risk to my baby, you just never know how someone will react.

It's just so disappointing that so many people in this world are just horrible and mean.

I love this photo of Tara!

40 years of Israeli Occupation

This week marks 40 years of the remainder of Palestinian lands being illegally occupied by Israel.

It was 40 years ago when Israel illegally stripped more Palestinians of their right of a homeland, basic human rights and freedom.

This was the 6 day War of 1967.

Today, the world still turns a blind eye to the inhumane treatment of Palestinians - because they are are simply not recognised as Human.

And Oprah will be going as a sign of Solidarity to Jews on a tour of Israel. I thought she fought against oppression and crimes against humanity. I thought she was anti-Apartheid. I thought she built schools for poor African girls. Sorry, I forgot, Palestinian children don't matter, Palestinians aren't human.

I ask you to remember, to learn the truth, to stop occupation - of the mind, body and spirit. De-humanisation forces people to lose the will to live. Countless Palestinians have lost the will to live, many have simply ceased to live.

I know of one person who lived under occupation his whole short life. He took the only thing he had possession of - his life, extinguished his flame which had dwindled to an ember living under Israeli oppression.

And the wall still goes up!

If your in Sydney next Saturday - as a sign of solidarity of basic human rights join a peaceful rally asking the world simply to remember.


Saturday June 9
1pm
Sydney Town Hall 1pm


Hope to see you all there

Eden is 2! Happy Birthday baby

My beautiful Eden turned two - it still astounds me how fast life zooms by!
She's an amazing child, affectionate, loving and CHEEKY! Everyone nick names her Sweet, Sweet Edee because she is so sweet and just edible! Here are some pics from her party.

Enjoy!

Do you want to be a chapter in my book??

Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to write. Short stories, poetry, comic books, plays etc etc etc.

And like most frustrated writers, I have a million unfinished books in my head - and for as long as I can remember, those closest and dearest to me have been urging to write these ideas down.

So, today as I was wiping my toddlers' runny noses, an idea hit me. I mean, my girls are a bit of this and a bit of that. Living in Australia, I'm lucky that it's such a multi-cultural society. Nearly everyone I know is either first or second generation Aussie. From across Europe and the Middle East, the common factor for parents or grandparents coming to Australia was for a better life.

I grew up surrounded by other 'wogs' who came from a country that existed: Italy, Lebanon, France. But, how about me? Palestine? Where's that? It doesn't exist.

I still struggle with my identity. I know who I am, but which part of me will I pass on to my girls? Am I more Australian than Arab? Would I be the same person if I grew up in the Middle East, US or UK? It's not a unique question by any stretch of the imagination, but I truly believe that Palestinians who live outside of the "Territories" may have a common bond and have struggled with the same questions about their identity. My own parents grew up In Jordan and have their own stories and issues.

So, I am calling on any person of Palestinian heritage who is willing for me to pick their brains and write their stories. These can be anonymous, just let me know if your interested or pass on to anyone you think may be.

Peace

More pictures....

I don't have any inspiration to write anything, so thought I'd just post a beautiful pic of my gorgeous baby Hope!

ENJOY

She's all grown up - Tara's first day at Pre-school

I've been umm-ing and ahh-ing about starting Tara into pre-school this year - or wait till next year. I was worried about whether she was too young and whether I'd actually find a space for her. You see, if you haven't got a baby you have no idea how hard it is to get a place into a pre-school. Waiting lists are over two-years long and it didn't help that we only moved into the area late last year. I did the preliminary call around a few months ago, and I either got one of two responses:

1)You've got to be joking, (followed by an hysterical giggle),

or

2) You can go one our waiting list, it will only cost you $3000 which is NOT refundable.

So imagine my surprise when I called this very highly recommended Kindy on Tuesday afternoon when the very nice woman said that ''YES, we have ONE spot left, the term starts tomorrow.''

I couldn't believe my luck! I ran down to the school armed with my $100 and Tara's immunisation records and got her enrolled. Now, when I think about it, I'm glad it all happened to quickly - I didn't have time to fret or get nervous, or chicken out.

The next morning, we drove to the Kindy ready for tantrums and tears.

It would have been nice if the little poo-head gave a SHIT about me!!!

I was so devastated. My hubby gave her a kiss and waved goodbye. She hardly gave him the time if day. I hung around for an hour, watching her, waiting for a breakdown. She completely ignored me, too engrossed in shoveling sand into a toy tractor. I sat back and watched, nervous to leave, my heart in my throat as the teacher introduced Tara to the class. With trepidation, I approached her, testing the water.

``Ok, mummy has to go now.'' I held my breath, waiting, waiting.
``Bye mummy,'' she said cooly, pushing me away, not even wanting me to slop a wet one on her pouty lips.

I stood there, DUMBFOUNDED for what felt like an eternity. Then turned my back and walked away.

My baby was growing up - and at the speed of light. I sat and bawled in the car. I suppose I should be happy. She was happy. I knew I had done the right thing. But it still stung that she didn't cling to me like the last rays of sun on a stunning summer day. I was proud - bursting actually - that I had raised such a confident girl. And, she had a ball. Ate all her lunch and morning tea (and like a good wog mum I not only packed her TWO lunch boxes but a stinky salami sandwich to boot), jumped up and down during rest time on the little cots and created a colourful crepe-paper-stuck-down-with-copious-amounts-of-glue art work which she was bursting to show her daddy.

When I picked her up, she spotted me in the car park before I even reached the playground. ''MUMMY" she screeched.

Is there any other word as beautiful?

Bonking Chimps and Elephant Poo

From the title of this blog, I would forgive you if you'd assumed the subject matter was about the latest piece of pure top class television viewing (not!), i.e Big Brother. But, despite the titillating (and yes, I know that was a cheap shot) and edge-of-your seat drama that Big Brother is, my blog this evening is about a most pleasant family outing we had at Taronga Zoo.

The glorious Sydney Autumn morning - you know the type, streaming golden sunshine, picture perfect cloudless blue sky with just a hint of chill in the breeze - beckoned our little family out to enjoy what promised to be an awe filled ( for the babies) and exhausting (for me and hubby) day at the Zoo.

For those who aren't familiar with Taronga Zoo, it's an old animal house that's recently had a facelift. And, yes, the renovations and new Elephant sanctuary are world class. But, what I love most about Taronga Zoo is the breathtaking view from nearly every part of the park. Built at Mosman, it has arguably the best view of Sydney Harbour and the City Skyline. So, I suppose the astronomical amount of money you spend, in a way, is sort of justified for the old cliched million dollar view.

Pushing a double stroller and trying to contain my effervescent 3-year-old, we explored the zoo. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Taronga is the best place to lose a few kilo's of fat while tightening up those hamstrings. It's set on the hill and if it weren't for the cable car flying you back to the entrance, I dare say hundreds of tourists would perish and would no doubtingly supply an endless supply of fresh meat for the lone raggedy Lion.

Which brings me to the animals.

In essence, I don't agree with animals locked up purely for our viewing pleasure - that's what Big Brother is for (ok, another cheap shot). I know zoo's do a lot of good with conservation yada, yada, yada, but watching a big, black bear pace back and forth for HOURS on an elevated log like some deranged tightrope walker, begs one to ask if the animals aren't being mentally tortured. However, having voiced my moral outrage, I stood with all the other humans gawking at chimps indiscriminately bonking one another and finally understood how the creators of Big Brother found their inspiration! ( Ok, now I'm getting sick of my stupid Big Brother jokes).

I'm not a massive animal lover, but I do have a soft spot for Apes and Monkeys. I'm always in awe of the Giraffes - which Tara proclaimed as her favourite - and the Elephant's are cool. Eden loved the bird show and my hubby liked the Big Cats. One animal I really can't stand are stupid, ugly Koalas. Call me un-Australian, but I really, really hate Koalas. They are just too freaking weird! The way they sleep statue-like in trees (they don't even look real), they way they hiss and bark, and their rubbery noses almost make me want to vomit. Their babies look like maggots and their beady little eyes, are quite frankly - scary.

Anyway, despite paying $37 for two adult burgers, two kids burgers and four chips (yes, food vendors at the zoo think they can charge ridiculous amounts of money for slop which we hungrily swallow after walking for four hours), we had a marvellous day.

I hope the girls remember their first trip to the zoo, probably not, but just watching their wide-eyed expressions as they saw the animals of their picture books for the first time in the flesh, was priceless.

Introducing Hope - My third beautiful princess!

Guess what?

I had a beautiful little, healthy girl on February 21 at 6.05am.

And, as you can see by the photo above, she really, truly is stunning.

I can't describe how wonderful I feel. I really anticipated with each bub, it would get a lot harder, but Hope is just the perfect little baby. I feel re-energised, happy and I still want to have more children. But, I think I'd better give my body a little break as having three kids under three is a handful (that's an understatement!). Plus, once we have another baby, I'll have to trade in my beast of a car - the other love of my life - and I'm not quite ready to drive a van.

As with my other two girls - Tara and Eden - I am completely in love and in awe of her. The girls just adore her. Eden has smacked her a few times and Tara has nearly smothered her with love on more than one occasion. But all in all, life is wonderful.

I am so truly blessed, I thank God everyday.

The final countdown

With only 2 and a half weeks to go till I have my new baby, I'm sitting on tenderhooks.

It's not that I'm scared, well maybe a little, but it's the unknown of when it's going to happen. I wish I had a premonition of some kind and then I'd feel a lot more prepared.

Anyhow, I'm not blogging to whinge about how over I am being prego, I just wanted to let all of you know out there in Cyberworld that I haven't popped yet and will blog when I do.

Say a prayer for me......