Update on the Sick Family

I had to be at Dorette's at 7:00 this morning because she had an important meeting. When she came back at 10:30, she had a high temperature and she was feeling really miserable. Franco was also still feverish. I took them to a "new" doctor: she turned out to be sympathetic and even wrote on Dorette's sick leave certificate that she had "influenza - very ill". Franco had a viral infection - unlike Dorette, he did not need antibiotics. He slept a lot this afternoon, and by late afternoon, he was cheerful and played happily on his mat. His new trick is to hold onto the lion's leg and wave it about. We also went outside and he held a smooth pebble in his tiny hand.

Franco on the mend: playing with is lion.

Franco looking at the mobile above his cot. He slept quite a bit in his cot today - I think he is catching up on lost sleep. The photo of his bed is meant for a picture book of all his things: bottle, toys, clock etc.

How are the Grandchildren?

Thelwyn and fam are staying on the farm at the moment - Thelwyn has a lot of work to do with the horses and we plan to do some jobs together like tackling Ma's house. Martelize is doing just fine - here she is in her brand new pram. (The pram they bought before her birth broke about the 3rd time they used it! It got sent away for repairs which took 3 weeks, then it broke again, got sent away again but this time they couldn't fix it, so the company finally agreed to exchange the pram. Not the orginal choice, but at least it's a proper pram in a sensible colour.)

Thelwyn and Martelize on their way to the stables. We have quite a problem with flies at the moment, therefore the net!

Our other grandchild, however, is not doing so well at the moment. Poor Franco had a stomach bug over the weekend and ran a temperature. The tummy bug has passed, but today he was still a little feverish and he has a cold as well. He was just feeling lousy and did not know what he wanted. The worst part is that his mommy is really sick as well- cold sweats, colds, nausea etc. I went over there today to babysit Franco so that Dorette could get some rest and Gert get some work done. (Both parents looked rather worn out after sleepless nights with a sick 5 month old.) I carried Franco on my back in the same sling I used for my own children when they were little - it also worked like a charm for him. He was quite content and slept for about 30 minutes, until the telephone woke him. Another thing that pacified him was his swing.

Here he is in his swing - content and almost smiling....

The eyes say it all: "I have stopped fretting and I like my swing, but I'm not feeling too grand...!"

Weekend Activities

Thelwyn tidied the tack room - this is a "before" picture. They also took a lot of photos of the horses.

Hendrik brought two city boys, Allan (on horse) and Ruben for a weekend on the farm. He gave them the time of their lives, but he was quite exhausted.
Feeding everyone was basically my job, but Frans cooked a wonderful supper Saturday evening.

All the eating meant lots of dishes. Here is Jan busy in the kitchen.

Living on a farm means lots of maintenance! Jan fixed the automatic valve of the water tank and waterproofed the roof of the pumproom. Fortunately there was time for rugby too!

A Special Reunion

Yesterday two of my school friends, Rita and Anita, came to visit. We had a great time chatting. Anita gave me a framed photo of our matric class and even some school newspapers "Ons Kontrei". I was amazed! I had forgotten all about those papers! Between the three of us we could remember 102 names of the 145 pupils on the photo!

Human Rights Day

"Verwondering!" How wonderful you are!

Today was Human Rights Day and "Braai day" so Gert, Dorette and Franco came. Frans, Thelwyn and Martelize are staying here at the moment. (I have vacation until 6 October.) Thelwyn went riding for the first time yesterday . Unfortunately Frans had to go and work today! It was so special to have the cousins together. On arrival Franco was very cheerful, but when Martelize started crying, he pulled a face and nearly started crying in sympathy!


Eight week old feet and five month old feet!

Two happpy cousins together on the playmat!

Look what I can do 2: Holding a rattle

Martelize held her rattle a long time today - look how she waves it about! She has also started to "talk".

Ouma is mal oor jou babageluidjies my Liefie!

Look what I can do 1: Swiping at toys

Martelize focuses on her toys and swiping becomes more intentional.

Martelize having fun on her playmat: a precious smile!

'n Glimlaggie vir Ouma!

My 2nd Thursday with Franco

Look Ouma I am doing push ups! One of these days I'll crawl to my car!

I bought Franco a little car and he enjoyed brandishing it through the air and chewing the wheels. When he had had enough of that I turned him onto his tummy and sometimes he did push ups and sometimes he swam. When I started doing my own tummy exercises next to him on the carpet, he was so amazed at Ouma with her leg in the air, that he promptly turned onto his back again.

Franco in swimming mode.

40 Years Reunion!

Here I am in the green suit, Thelwyn and I got in a hurry after the dress I had made for the reunion turned out to be a disaster. The reunion was great fun. It was so good to see everyone again. Many said (predictably) that I look like my mother. She was 52 then and I am 57 now. She had been our class teacher and our science teacher for 3 years. The reunion was at the school.

On our way to "Ons vir Jou": Bye- bye Ouma!

On Friday evening Jan, Hendrik and I went to see "Ons vir jou" in the State Theatre. Ons vir Jou is a musical about the Anglo Boer War and it was really great - even though we were a bit tired. In the afternoon I still quickly had to find something to wear for our school reunion and we also fitted in a quick visit to cousin Nelia in the hospital. (She and Jopie have just became the proud parents of a pretty little girl - so now there is a niece for Martelize and Franco!) Jan bought us all some pizza which we ate at Thelwyn's before going to the theatre and of course I could not resist a snap Martelize on our way...

Tammy at Inkululeko

On Friday the international monument of the Unknown Child was unveiled at Inkululeko, the nursery school in Salvokop, where I was the principal for its first 7 years. Tammy and I attended the ceremony. The monument is a large stone - a similar stone will be sent to Holland where there is a circle of 36 stones representing monuments for the unknown child in various countries. Around the rock there are exhibition walls and seats where people can sit and reflect on the rights and plights of all children - on their way to Freedom Park on top of the hill in Salvokop.

Butterfly day

Today the Conservancy had a butterfly day. Hendrik caught several butterflies.

Hendrik with his new car

Jan bought the Tazz for 2nd time: the first time he bought it for Dorette and then she bought it from him. Since Gert and Dorette have just bought their family car, Jan bought it back from them. This time for Hendrik. (He will pay Jan back and keep it on the road). Hendrik took Dominic (the Tazz) for a spin early this morning again, just for fun. Here he is after getting the keys - still in Gert and Dorette's garage.

A new family car

Hendrik, Oupa Jan with Franco and the proud mom in front of her new car.

Martelize

I'm not feeling so well after my 6 weeks shot, but I love being rocked in my beautiful purple chair!

Busy Franco

Ek het lekker geslaap en nou speel ek lekker op my niggie se mat...

En julle dink dis slaaptyd! Nee wat!

Dis lekker hier op Tannie Thelwyn se bed.. so tussen die kussings!

I can change my face all the time

Expressions..... nearly 6 weeks old

First Time Babysitting

Yesterday I went to fetch Franco at his school - just for fun. Unfortunately (luckily?) Gert did not leave the keys of their house, so after picking up Franco, I went to Thelwyn's. Franco was as good as gold from the moment I picked him up - just before his naptime at school. I got such a beaming smile! It made me feel very special indeed. Suppose he cried?! He was very patient while I thumbled and struggled to secure his seat with the seatbelt. Fortunately the car was not too hot. I thought he would nap in the 20 minutes or so it took to drive to Thelwyn, but when we stopped, he was still all smiles.

He lay on the couch next to me, kicking to his heart's content, while Thelwyn and I chatted. Martelize was not feeling too wonderful, having had her first shot in the morning, but she was not downright miserable either - just complained a little. It was special to see the babies' feet next to each other. We meant to take a photo, but we were so busy with our babies, that there was no time. We put Martelize in her cot and Franco on the double bed with pillows right around him. I did not want to upset his routine too much and it was obvious he was not going to nap with us around. He lay and kicked on the bed and gurgled a lot. When Thelwyn checked on him while I tried to rock Martelize in her cot, he laughed out loud at her! Later the kicking became less and he dosed off for 30 minutes.

Martelize did not sleep much - her little body was sore and just a trifle feaverish. I felt so sorry for her - and Thelwyn. One feels so hopeless.

When Franco woke up, he was very happy for a while and then started to get hungry. I heated his bottle, but oh dear, he would have none of it! He screamed and performed, but would not drink. I changed his nappy (just in case), changed the nipple and even tried to feed his milk with a spoon - all to no avail. He only became content when I gave him his dummy again and that without having drunk more than a few mouthfuls!

Dorette said this morning that he did not want to drink his bottle (with breastmilk) at the school at all. She tries her level best to keep up the breastfeeding in spite of the work, so she needs to put him to the breast in the evenings... but if he keeps on refusing the bottle? And if she does wean him and change to formula and he becomes a sickly allergic baby?? Please pray that he will start to take the bottle during the day. We are scheduled to babysit Franco for a whole weekend in October and he just has to be past his bottle strike by then!

Smile Martelize! Smile!

Lag 'n bietjie vir Pappa! (En Ouma en Mamma!)

Our Pretty Princess in pink

Marelize in her new "transport"

Look Ouma I sit .... but not for long!

Happpy Mommy and Son

Woeliekous Franco

Ethie's birthday

Today we went to Goodland to celebrate our cousin Ethie's birthday. It was a lovely warm Spring day and so good to see the "other" family again!

Before we went, the children came with the precious babies and they had to queue to use the nappy changing mat! I tried to get Franco to show off his sitting progress, but he was not too interested in sitting today. But I managed a snap! His leopard crawling today was more "swimming" than crawling, but I had great fun lying on my tummy and watching his surprised little face, face to face.

Martlize's pram had broken - again! She is 5 weeks old and they have hardly ever used it! They are getting a replacement on Tuesday. In the meantime Thelwyn makes do with the baby carrier Frans's mother had given her. Martelize has started to smile and Thelwyn, Frans and I all took turns in trying to capture the smile on camera. Great fun.Thank you Lord for our precious babies and the fun and joy they bring. Thank you for Hendrik and all the coffee he makes!

Jan and Louise

Martelize in her mother's bonnet and jacket!

A Sick Grandmother is a hopeless Grandmother

Last week we attended Jan's sister farewell party: she is now officially a pensioner! It was lovely to hear so many sing her praises. We sat there shining in her "reflected glory". It is obvious that she will be sorely missed! Back at their house, we all had a nap, but when I woke up, I realised something was amiss. I took some pills, but had to go to bed early. The next day I was not able to get up at all: I just felt very lousy and feverish and lay very still. We drove home on Sunday and it was a miserable trip. Usually I enjoy traveling with Jan, but this time, I just wanted to get home so that I could get in bed. On Monday I felt much better: the fever had gone, there were absolutely no signs of a cold (thanks to Viral Choice) and Thelwyn and Martelize came to visit. I suggested to Thelwyn that she start using the playmat and carrier sling (drasak - not sure what you call it in English) and the next day I got photos on my cell phone of Martelize on her mat and on her sling. You are a good Mommy, Thelwyn and a good daughter!

On Tuesday I went back to work and I felt fine. In the afternoon I went for my annual mammogram (everything still the same here) and a bone density test: since stopping HRT (as my new gynae had instructed last October), I have lost 5 % bone density as am now "Osteopenic". I am not impressed. Must go and see my gynae! A year of hot flashes and now this also. It is not funny. By next year I'll really look like a granny! A very old hunch back granny!!

Anyway, on my way back from the radiologists I popped in at Thelwyn's. Martelize was her usual sweet self. While we were having tea, Martelize lay on the couch next to me, watching the brown leather back of the couch. That would not do, so we got her black and red bee (beetle?) to look at and believe me, she really watched it intently. I put the wing into her little fist and she even hung onto it for quite a few seconds. She has started to smile and I got a few smiles. And
she was not even 5 weeks yet.

I went home and to my dismay, the fever started all over again. My head spun and my limbs ached - a funny, burning ache when I stood. I also started to feel nauseous: I think it because of the medication. (I am never nauseous! I have more sympathy for pregnant fairies now!) I can just pray that these secondary bugs did not get passed on to Martelize or Thelwyn. I have been absent from work now for the whole of this week, except Tuesday. I cannot remembered ever having been off sick from work for more than a day or two!

I have not seen Franco for more than a week. It feels like a hundred years. I talk a lot to Dorette on the phone, but it is not the same as seeing him. He has started school this week because Dorette had to go back to work on Monday. The idea is that they will get me a car seat for him, and that I will fetch him from school on occassion. I just have to figure out when.... I have to get to a dress maker next week (Tuesday at the latest!), to visit my friend Rita before our matric reunion at the end of the month and I have to renew my driver's license NB, NB....

Franco Ouma will get round to it to fetch you and play with you all by ourselves. It is just that this flu has set me back a mile and now I will have to catch up again!