Christmas Eve hospital trip

 

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie,

Well unfortunately we didn't have the nicest Christmas Eve this year. In typical 2020 fashion, you all (and your dad) have been sick with a cough (not the 'rona thankfully) but it meant half of our plans for Christmas got cancelled (your cousins weren't keen on catching it, but your Ma Ma and Gumps had already seen you earlier in the week so figured they'd been exposed and would have caught it already anyway). So we were already down in the dumps a bit, so decided to head out in the evening of Christmas Eve for a family walk. We headed down the street and dropped off presents at our neighbours house (Barbara, Barrie and their dog Cosmos), and then headed up to the oval around the corner like we usually do, on your scooters for a play at the playground. 

This is when things went very awry. All of a sudden Tobes, you started screaming and thrashing your arms around. I abandoned Josie in the pram and ran over to you, thinking you may have sat in an ants nest (after being badly bitten at Araluen earlier in the year myself by a horrid ant). However once I had reached you, I reaslied you were actually being stung over and over by a swarm of bees. I quickly picked you up, and while trying to hit away the bees, I sprinted down the oval with you in my arms in an attempt to get you away from the hive. We literally ran half the length of the massive oval and they just kept coming back to get you, I couldn't believe it. We eventually got them all off you (somehow Matt, the little boy you had been playing with and myself never got stung) and I started to pull all the stings out of your skin that I could see. Your dad joined us with Josie and we started to pull your clothes off because they'd stung you through your clothes and we needed to get all of the stingers out. I estimate that you'd received at least thirty stings. At this point I freaked - that was simply too many stings for one little boy to take at once, so I rang an ambulance and it arrived within about five minutes thankfully. 

I couldn't believe that you weren't crying, despite being stung so many times. I think perhaps you had gone into shock, much like I had, but you were simply saying that the bees were so angry and shouldn't have done that. The paramedics looked you over and gave you ice packs for your stings. As a precaution you went to the hospital with your dad while I took Josie, Matt and Soda home, completely shaken up and worrying about you Tobes. Luckily you seemed ok and Ma Ma and Gumps collected you both from the hospital after about an hour. 

It was a horrible way to spend a Christmas Even but I'm so grateful you were ok Tobes. And clearly you are so incredibly resilient. To this day I'm not sure what they only attacked you, my only guess was perhaps that you stepped on their queen, which may have meant a smell was emitted that caused them to go just for you. I'm so sorry if this has traumatised you, if you are it's absolutely fair enough as this was a horrible experience to go through as a three year old. Please remember that I did my best to rescue you as quick as I could beautiful boy. 

Afterwards we put out biscuits for Santa and carrots for his reindeer and went to bed, waiting for his arrival. And as you can see from the photo below, he did arrive soon after :)

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

Josie at 4 months and her first swim

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie,

I can't quite believe it but you're four months old already Josie! I have always loved this stage, it feels like you're much more robust than a little newborn but still very much my little baby. Below is what I wrote to you on my Instagram page:

4 months with Josie 💜

Josie, before you were born, when I was worried how on earth we’d cope with three kids, I remember saying to myself over and over ‘just make it to four months, you’ve seen twice before that four months is the turning point and things start to become easier’. It’s in moments like these that I’m grateful to have put in the hard yards with your brothers, as being a third time mama gives me the been-there-done-that knowledge to know not only that hard times will pass, but when! Not that you are a tricky baby, but things are infinitely easier now that I can sit you on my hip and leave you on the floor for extended tummy time. You can also spin around on your tummy so I find myself saying ‘what are you doing around that way?!’ and frantically searching the floor that was a second ago near your feet but is now near your mouth for any pieces of stray little LEGO. A million thank yous for being a bit happier in the car now, it has meant we have been able to get to the pool for a swim and to the shops without using the bus. You’ve been a bit sick this month, catching the same cough as your brothers which meant we have had a very low key Christmas. You are attempting to talk lots but given you’ve lost your voice from the cough it’s coming out very hoarse which is very cute. You are moving a lot more in your sleep and you’re enjoying sleeping on your tummy when in your bassinet. You’re gnawing on my fingers a lot so my guess is you’ll be like your biggest brother and get your teeth early, maybe even in the next month like he did. We’ve spent many days this month at home, and I’m grateful to have the option to just chill with you when we need to. Love you, my beautiful girl x

We also took you for your first swim at the local pool during Matt's swimming lessons (see photos down below). Like your brothers, you love the water and were perfectly happy sitting in it with me and your daddy. You are so cute in your little rashie and bather bottoms!

Love you all, 

Mum xxx

 

Putting up the Christmas trees!

Dear Matthew, Toby and Josie

With Christmas fast approaching we began the usual ritual of putting up the Christmas trees! As I'm sure you know, Ma Ma has about a dozen trees at her house but we always save the 'family tree' for us all to decorate together, so on the Friday before December we all went to their house to decorate and have a sleep over. Unfortunately we had left it quite late in the evening before we started and Tobes you fell asleep before we finished! But never mind, a couple of days later we had everyone else over to our place for our traditional December 1st dinner and decorated our tree all together, with everyone awake! You boys love decorating the trees and it brings me so much happiness watching you. Josie you watched from loving arms this year but no doubt next year you'll be right in the mix! I hope you remember that your Gumps always lifts one of you up to put the star on the tree, and that your Ma Ma has always, for my entire life, gone above and beyond to make sure that Christmas is the most special time of the year. I hope these memories stay etched in your heart and you carry on the traditions with your own family one day. 

Love you all, 

Mum xxx