Thank you

Send me in Coach!!
A much happier bubba boo this morning after the last few days of illness.

Thank you so much to Brad's Grandmother for the lovely personalized quilt with a cute koala on it! It was specially made by hand from "Son's chapple" womans auxillary and all proceds go to the upkeep of the 100 year old historic church. Also to Donna and Jim for all the Razorback kid stuff (as you can see he loves his FIRST ball!)

sickness and being away

my little bubba boo has been very ill. I was waiting at melbourne airport on Friday afternoon when I gave brad a call. He told me he was home with Jackson and earlier that day had been at the hospital (freak out slightly) He had a really bad night with jackson up crying (very unusual) and had dropped him off at Mahinds the next morning. she called soon after to tell brad to come collect jackson as he was very ill. At the hospital after being checked over, they confirmed gastroenteritis, a bad tummy bug - causing his smelly diarrhea, vomiting and discomfort. Brad was not able to put him down all day and had to pace around our small apartment. Almost at his witts end i called in the reserves - our amazing and loyal friends Caz and Tim, to support Brad through this time until I was home. I would just like to say for everyone reading that we truly feel we would be lost without Tim and Caz - they are brilliant with Jackson, and always willing to lend us a hand to get through the rough times. tim even cooked for us all (best nacho's I've ever had). So my next call to Brad after touching down in Devonport (north of the state) i was dreading the worst - only to find out Caz had been able to get him to sleep in her arms for a little bit. I knew he was in safe hands as caz is a nurse and a brilliant one at that. At midnight that evening i was home safe after a long drive in the rain, and jackson's fever finally broke. it took him until 2 that morning to drink anything, but he was on the mend after a hell 48 hours and a loss of over 1 kilo of weight. The doctors said it was a good thing he had on the extra weight as he would have had to been taken in to the pediatric unit for care otherwise. So my big bubba boo is now a little less big, but is getting much better today as you can see from the start of him smiling again. All he has wanted to do is get lots of snuggles and he has been laying very quiet, such a change from our usual rough and tumble little boy.

So the weekend all plans have been cancelled (sorry to my mums in mothers group who i had tried to organize brunch with today) and sorry also to Mahind who we were all supposed to be having dinner with last night. I hope everyone understands.

Brad was absolutely amazing throughout this ordeal. He had a high priority project at work to complete which he was able to do, however was unable to present it on Friday due to Jackson's illness. i am so lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life like Brad, i really would be lost without him.

When in Canberra I had the fortune to enjoy dinner and drinks with all my interstate colleagues from the national bowel cancer screening program. We had a great evening and day and a half together going over the Program. I re-told my sordid past over dinner (ex's) and Brad and my slight ocd issues - making for good entertainment. I always knew one day i would laugh at the life i endured pre Brad in Arkansas!!

also on a lighter note - i am convinced all baby toys are made to replicate plastic bag crinkling. Jackson's new favorite toy - the nappy wipes bag.

OK People

It's been awhile since I wrote(I'm Brad. Nice ta meet ya) but seeing as how me and Jacko are home alone for a few days I thought I would fill you in on whats going on. Christal is doing a three day tour around Tasmania and Canberra to try and help doctors understand the importance of the new bowel cancer screening program. Im chained to a desk all day working on some new software, which coincidently is for the same government department she is working with. Jackson is back to sleeping through the night. Although he still wakes up a tad too early for me. The difference between 6 and 630 really means alot to me! He looks more and more like a little person everyday. His hair is growing in pretty quick now.

We spent mother's day with a couple of friends. We went to breakfast, hung out at their place and ended up staying for dinner.

This is Christal and Jackson in front of a pub we stopped by.

Jackson and Brodie

Hanging out back at Adam and Kylie's house. Jackson is wearing his new bear pants. It goes well with the razorback sweatshirt!



Relaxing at home. I wish I had a pair of bear pants.

See ya next time!!

Exploring

Sitting (almost)
This day was exploration of the feet day - he kept trying to sit and grab onto his little sausage feet. He has exactly the same feet as Brad - look at those toes!
A little later that day - Dancing to tunes on the i-pod. We have found out that he - like both Brad and I LOVE music. We normally always have jazz playing - however today we went back in time to Brads glory days and played some Sublime - if George (USA friend) was reading this he'd know exactly what I'm talking about.

Chillin in his ride - this is in the rotation - most mums would know what I mean - you start out laying them down - then after a while they get frustrated - then its into the bouncer - after bouncing has lost its instant appeal - we head for the car - this is the winner so we save it till last. It also co-en sides with poo time - so i now call it the poo chair. Also the blue creature on the car is named "bluey" how original - I think Matt and Sharon sent this and it is one of his favorite friends. He has three - Teddie (mine from when I was a child), bluey, and Ed - (Ed is a large donkey given as a present to Jackson from Tracy a friend from work) Ed rides in the car and stays in the car - so it keeps him amused in our travels to and from Mahind's. Of course he has heaps of other toys which amuse him - but the kid is smitten with those 3 for the moment.

So now I've posted 3 times in one day - i hope this satisfies!

Mission roll over

Starting position confirmed
A few minutes later - Mission accomplished! (He is laying on the book)
He spent most of his floor time trapped under the coffee table attempting to get our books
He was particularly taken with The Prophet - a philosopher in the making - oh no! So I have FINALLY seen him ROLL OVER! This has made my day!

Dad and me

It feels like weeks since I last posted. Which it probably has been, our lives are pretty busy at the moment. These photos are from about two weeks ago and I already think little Jackson has changed. He loves his time with his Dad - as you can see. News at the moment - Jack and I have terrible colds and are both staying home today - Brad is thankful to be out of earshot of me blowing my nose - it is REALLY bad! since I last posted I turned 29 - we had a great day enjoying breakfast out down at Salamaca with Tim and Caz, while later I got to sleep for a whole afternoon while Brad cared for Jackson. It was the best day. Jacksons new things are rolling over - which I am yet to see - Brad and I came home one afternoon and were both busy in the kitchen while Jackson chose this moment to do his first rolling over - and we both missed it. he has since rolled over a few more times which I also have missed. I have severe mother guilt over this issue. He is still loving Mahind - and has grown especially fond of Bashim (Mahind's youngest child who is 14). Bashim is also fond of Jackie and they spend most afternoons together playing and laughing. When Brad and I pick him up they are always together, as is the whole of Mahind's family who are fans of the t.v show Deal or no Deal - they all sit around debating what the person should do - o.k so they are obsessed with this show but if I'd come from a country where my eldest childs first word was "bomb" I'd be inclined to loose myself in some t.v therapy too. (the former is actually true - lets hope Jackie's first word is ma ma - I am not counting that he already says Da da as I think this a fluke).
Jackson ALWAYS has something to say!
except when "reading" the saturday paper with his Dad!
Cute baby
In other news my Dad - George - has officially started to call Jackson "Gus" - Joy I know you are just thrilled with this peice of news - so I guess our boy will now go by - Gus, Jackson, Jackie and of course Bubba boo. It was inevitable I guess.