Y2K didn't happen, the computers didn't die, the world didn't end (at least not then) and the next ten years would be filled with life, love and loss.
My greatest triumphs were my children. Caitlin Marie, a spitfire with a heart of gold. She adores her brothers and loves to drive us bananas. She is now 11 and we can just see glimmers of the young woman she will become. The time goes so fast.
Aiden Anthony, my special boy. A lovely bear of a baby, fat as butter with a rollicking laugh that would send everyone into fits of giggles. He was an easy baby, a dream of a toddler and emerged into a slightly off center child. Diagnosis this year is of Aspergers Syndrome. We now have the help we need at school and I can see a bright future for him.
And Conor James. Last but certainly not least. Full of fun and sure of his good looks and charm, Conor adores everyone and everyone adores Conor. He makes friends wherever he goes, is slow to cry and quick to forgive.
I love you my babies!
We have had ten years of memorable moments and those moments we would like to forget.
June 2001 found me in a battle I could not hide from. Diagnosed with tongue cancer, I had to endure two operations on my mouth, removal of a large part of my tongue, learning to talk and eat again and, the worst part of all, being seperated from my children for nine days while in hospital. I am now clear of the cancer and have been for the last nine years.
In 2003 we lost Tonys adored Grandmother. She was the only member of Tony's family who welcomed me. A prickly old curmudgeon, she loved all her grandchildren, loved me and simply worshipped her greatchildren. Our world has been a little darker since then.
2004 heralded the birth of baby Conor, making our family complete and throwing interesting challenges to us. Caitie started school and had to be pulled out on the second day because I selfishly went in to labour! It was also a week of horrendous temperatures followed by massive storms. The final outcome was worth it though LOL! Initial prenatal scans revealed a possible problem with his kidneys and scans at 6 weeks confirmed it. It was heartbreaking to watch them strap my tiny baby boy into this massive machine. The results were conclusive though, Conor has only one functioning kidney. He lives with it well, only requiring extra fluids during excessively hot weather.
2005 was a year that I could cheerfully forget. We put the back deck on our home, endured argument upon argument with the builders....and then...
My beloved baby boy, not quite 2, climbed over the railing and fell four meters, striking the handrail as he fell. I heard him scream, couldn't find him and finally looked over the balcony to see him, hysterical at the bottom of the stairs. His face was covered in blood. I screamed for Tony to call OOO. Tony was the one who scooped him up. I couldn't look. His face was split open and I was convinced he was going to die. I spent the next twenty four + hours holding my child as he was prodded, poked, X-rayed, given needles, stitched, bandaged, vomited all over himself and then re-bandaged. Four stitches. Thats it. Four stitches, a humdinger of a black eye and a scar that chicks are going to love!And that wasn't the end of it either! A few weeks later, he hit the corner of his eye on a coffee table...one stitch (wasn't really worth the effort was it!) And then he fell off the slide and headbutted the only piece of concrete in the entire yard. I rang husband, told him to come home, the ambulance was on its way! Super glue that time. Dangerous child!
Like all families we have had breaks ( 2 at last count, both Caitie, both arms), infections (Aiden has a snodger of an infection in his knee), burns (yeah me and fat don't mix), one bout of cellulitis (stupid husband stood on a stupid nail), illness, colds and flus but the scariest had to be croup.
Caitie came down with croup at around the age of six. She was coughing so hard she was vomiting. She was turning blue. I called the ambulance. I then proceeded to be abused by the ambos for NOT taking her to the hospital. They put her on oxygen and we were quickly taken to the hospital and back home again. The following week Aiden got croup. Alot worse. His head was bobbing, he was uncommunicative, making no sense and lapsing into unconsciousness. Heeding the warning by the ambo's, I put him in the car and drove to the hospital like a mad thing. Luckily I put the heater on in the car. He was rambling and making no sense. When we arrived at the hospital, it was to have him immediatly put on steroids. Very scary and a lesson well learnt. If in doubt, ring the ambulance and ignore the sarcasm.
Together, Tony and I have celebrated twelve years of marriage, a second surprise wedding, enough hassles to last another ten years and at least twenty worth of bad luck. A little good would be nice around about now. I am looking forward to something good happening in 2010.
Happy New Year to Everyone
Cin
