WORLD PREMATURITY DAY!!!!

On the 17.11.13 it was World Prematurity Day!! My baby came into this world 11 weeks before she was due. It was one of the best but scariest day of my life!! I would like say a HUGE thank you to all the staff at The Royal Hobart Hospital Neonatal Unit for all their love, support, guidance, knowledge and hard work. Because of you our 2.5 month stay meant were able to bring our beautiful healthy baby girl home. I'd also like to thank a special nurse by the name of Sally at the RHH who was there to help me stay calm. Plus my family & friend for their loving support during and after the hardest few months of Steve & my life. I'm going to 'light up purple' for our baby for those lucky families who also got to take there little prem's home but especially for those who were not as lucky as us!!! Amanda<3.

Her Future: I wonder what it holds.

23.10.13 @ 11.35am: As I sit here in my daughter's classroom today I watch her. I don't want my daughter to be an outcast just because her mum is different from all the others!. I want her to grow up & tell people she's proud of who her mum is. I fear even though she's only in Kindergarden that she already may be treated differently by her peers & teachers. I don't want her to grow up, look back & hate primary school because of me & say it stopped her from making friends or doing the best she can at school. I myself really enjoyed primary school. high school's another story! every other week I thought about "harming" myself. I didn't want to be there. I don't want that for my daughter either..I want her to excel at school, I want her to make 1,000 friends (or even just 2 best friends). It's strange the things you think about or worry about when you have kids isn't it.... Amanda <3.

time flies..

the saying "time fly's when you're having fun" is so true. especially for us this week. Our big girl has just completed her second day of Kindergarden/Pre Primary or what ever you may call it. I honestly can't believe this the has finally come! Where did the last 4 years of my life, my tiny babies life go? I don't want to blink to fast because before I know it age will be starting High school [wow! That sent shivers down my spine]. Her first day was a blur for both her and I, we were so tired. But today as soon as she got off the bus [yep she goes on the "big girl bus" on her own] she immediately started chatting my ear off about all the things she got up to today, she even told me who her new friends where. I wanted to cry!! Well good night my friends we shall speak again soon [i may even upload a few pics] ;) Amanda <3. P.S My wound on the bottom of my left foot has FINALLY healed!! [party time?!] nurses are really happy with my progress which makes me very happy. It means I can finally be fitted for proper bandages/wrapping garment. Once I have the appointment I will be taking photo's.

perceptions: Death to a Toddler.

Hello everyone, There has been a sad little toddler in our home for a few days now :( unfortunately little Memo [the fish] passed away a few nights ago. I really didn't know how to tell/explain it to our little girl. How exactly do you explain death to a child? especially if you and your partner don't believe in god?. As you may rember last year I lost my dear Nan. Hailee talks about & to her in the sky totally adorable. We sat Hailee down and told her that Memo was sick (which she already knew) & that sometimes when people & pets are sick we can't always help them & they need to go live in the sky to watch over us. Steve finished off my saying "It's ok Nanny Dennison has a pet now" I couldn't help it...I giggled a little. I'm wondering if this is how YOU would explain death of a person/pet to your kids? What would you do differently?. Amanda <3

Fathers Day 2012.

Hello Everyone,

I have a few pictures I wanted to share with you from last weekend. I hope all the Australian dad's out there got spoilt just as much as mine and my husband did!

Giving daddy his present:

Pancakes with jam have been a little family tradition we do on fathers Day.. this year was extra special because Daddy taught Hailee how to make them!! [even if they do come from the bottle.. hehe ;)].

Then we played outside for a few hours.. it was such a gorgeous day:

Hailee all dressed up for an afternoon at my parents house:

My outfit/hair:

unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at my parents house...boo!!

What did you guys get up to? I would love to hear your traditions whether they be new or have been done for generations. Have a good week guys!
Amanda <3

sick girl.

Hey Everyone,

really sorry I haven't had time to blog this weekend. Our little girl has the flu :( yep the whole kit & caboodle.. vomiting, high temp, shakes etc.

I will try get an hour in to blog on Monday.

NIGHT ALL!!
Amanda <3

Dedication to Tim and Angelique

Hello Everyone,

Today's post is but a somber one.

A years ago a beautiful, sweet little girl earned her butterfly wings. I rememeber sitting here reading your Daddy's blog, I remember sobbing like a little baby at the news you had passed, after reading your story for so long it felt like you were apart of my family. You were a gift to all of us who had the pleasure of reading the blog and to your family who knew you best. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for touching my life.


It's hard to know what to say,
When one so young is taken away,
Far to soon she had to part,
Her memory forever engraved in our hearts.

We only knew her for a short while,
But the life she led made us smile,
She was so beautiful and oh so rare,
Life as they say just isn't fair.

Those gone before her will wachher with care,
Till the day comes when we'll all join her there.

Know Bella is watching from heaven above,
And with each ray of sunshine,
She's sending her love.

R.I.P Bella our angel.
(her story:http://careforanabella.blogspot.com/)

Getting started...

Hi everyone.

I was a bit grumpy this morning, I didnt get much sleep last night [it was self inflicted as i was catching up on a program I had taped from the night before]. As soon as I was up I made myself a cuppa tea. This is the only thing that can get me "up and going"

look at this is making me want another one...yum!


what is your one thing you need to get you up and rearing to face the day?

I believe in this 100% lol..
[google images]

Memoirs #2

Hello Everyone.

MY TEENAGE YEARS: (13-16)
(need to edit with things that happen between ages 13-15)


In Jan 2003, just before my 16th birthday. I went into the hospital here in Tassie to have surgery on my bowel. But unfortunately the operation had to be reversed due to me almost dying from Peritonitis... [http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peritonitis]

That was one of the worst experiences of my life! I remember as a teenager a doctor told me I would never be able to live indipendantly or even have children. At that time I didn't even really care because I'd never had a boyfriend. As I grew up and my friends started dating I used to lay in bed and imagine if my life was different (not born with SB) would I be dating?, would I be able to move out of home? get married? travel the world? settle down and have a family of my own?.

Ahh it's incredible what the mind can dream up huh.

(read on to Memoirs #3 to find out what happens next in my life....)

Hailee's Birth Story!

Hello Everyone.

It was Saturday 1st November and my mum came around to see how I was feeling, I was 28 weeks and 6 days into my pregnancy. My whole pregnancy I was sick and diagnosed with Hyperemisis Gravadarum (HG) and that day was no different!. But as I was feeling a little better during so I decided I was going to finally pack my hospital bag. Though I was scheduled to have a c-section (for medical reasons) at 35 weeks.

I had no idea what was in store for me in the next 24 hours!!. The next morning Steve (my hubby) and I were about to head to a family BBQ. Unfortunately when I got up I found that we were going to have to spot at the hospital.

At the hospital Pregnancy clinic they checked me and said that the babies head was crowning and there was no was I could have a c-section now, I had to have her naturally. Because I was still early in my pregnancy they had to get a few nurses from NICU in there asap, the NICU professor even came in.

After 20 minutes of pushing, nothing was happening so they decided they would have to find another way to help her out. 3 hours after first coming into the hospital Hailee was born! Steve rang my mum and told her, it was lucky mum was still at the family BBQ so everyone found out at once.

I didn't get to meet my little girl until a few hours later. But she was the most gorgeous, precious Little thing in the whole world!. I feel in love straight away.

Hailee 15minutes old.


Hailee Nicole R.
2nd November
1.2 kg (2.2 pound)
Sunday 3.02pm