Leiliebloem House

Leiliebloem House is our chosen Social Action Campaign as I had posted on my blog a few weeks ago. It is a childrens home in Crawford/Athlone in Cape Town and houses 84 children that have been removed from their parents or are orphaned. We were there this past Saturday to have a look at what the specific need is. We had envisaged being there for half an hour and all 10 of us from our church group met there at 2pm. I had been out shopping for Bridesmaids material since 9am and was feeling very tired and cranky. It didnt take long before I forgot about that and just connected with the kids. The first little girl - Sharne - that I connected with was a little girl of about 5 who ran up to us and threw and said hi, to which we responded hello what is your name? I dont have a name she said. (She was playing a game for us to guess her name) Eventually another little boy told us her name to which she denied was her name. Anyway I digress, there are 4 units which both have an upstairs and a downstairs section that are identical. 3 of the units are for girls and 1 of the units are for boys. So for example in the boys unit there are 14 boys upstairs and 14 boys downstairs, each unit consists of bedrooms, bathrooms, a tv room, kitchen and small dining area.

There is a such a need here at Leiliebloem, a great need for maintenance and a need for time to spent with the children. A lot of the children dont get visits from their parents, even though some of them stay 10min away from the home. We have decided that we cannot tackle the maintenance issue right now without a lot of groundwork being done first, sponsors etc. So in th interim are going to hold a fun day for the kids on the 3rd Nov, and want to try and do either borewors rolls / hotdogs, cooldrinks, ice cream and a jumping castle for the smaller kids. For the bigger ones hopefully the guys can play some sport like cricket or soccer. As I said earlier or Saturday we had envisaged spending half an hour there, two hours later we were still there whilst the kids showed us their rooms, sang for us etc. It was quite hard to leave. I am going to post some pictures. We are really looking forward to this day and are hoping to get those with older children to sponsor some of their toys, books, clothes etc. So if anyone out there has, please get to me and I will make sure that it goes with us.

Leiliebloem House:

Playground - with building rubble

Most of the ceilings are terribly damp and rotting

One of the posters up

Severe damp is in most of the units

Chelsea with Danielle

3 of the boys

In their hall

Sharne - the little girl with 'no name'

Sharne and Danielle

One of the boys bedrooms

Maintenance problems

One of the kitchens

Up and Down

I find myself Up and Down lately, sometimes I am ok, and sometimes like the other night I found myself blubbing for a few valid reasons I thought but then just continuing, through the idols elimination, through Greys Anatomy (It was a really sad episode!). It was my first really good cry since I have found out I am pregnant. It is to be expected, isnt it? I dont know I just thought being pregnant would be me smiling, happy, glowing and so far it hasnt been that. Dont get me wrong I am very happy to be pregnant and find the whole journey quite amazing. I am just waiting for the second trimester "Happier Hormones"..... please tell me these are coming soon. I am also looking forward to summer and dreading it at the same time as I look forward to lounging by the pool but know I am going to struggle in the heat. I suppose I must start thinking a bit more positively.

I must say I am finding the thought of being a mother quite exhilarating and daunting all at the same time, what a gift and what a responsibility. Will we make the right decisions, can we provide the best, will we discpline our children (listen to me already in the plural) properly, being firm yet loving. I dont suppose any of us can get it 100% right, but we all want to do it 100% right. God grant me the serenity to take one day at a time, I am already living in the future planning etc, is that an Aries trait?
Oh well lets just get through today for a start shall we....
Happy Wednesday all.

Little Lammer has an identity

Yesterday saw our second scan for bean as we have affectionally been calling "it". Our appointment was for 10:15, so I left work at about 10 and luckily only had to wait 15 minutes as opposed to the normal half an hour behind schedule. I was a bit apprehensive as I lay down on the bed as you never know waht to expect, is everything still going to be ok etc.

Well a few seconds later there was baby, a lot bigger than what we had seen a mere 5 weeks ago! The scan was absolutely amazing we saw so much, we could see the vertebrae, hand bones, jaw bone, as well as the body and head so clearly now. (Well as clear as you can get on those sonor scans...ladies who have had them know what I mean). We had asked her if she thought we/her (we didnt know what the hell to look for!), would be able to see the sex of the baby, at 14 and half weeks. She actually said no she did think so as they dont like to speculate so early as it can sometimes be mis-diagonised due to the genitals being swollen, that I girls 'thing' can be mistaken for a boys 'thingy'. Anyway she asked what I thought it may be, and I said I didnt have a strong feeling either way (although I will share with you deep deep down I had a slight inkling that it would be a boy-but didnt want to voice this). I told her that Clive had a strong feeling it was a girl....why you ask? Because April is a 'girly' month he tells me! Never mind the fact that I am quite sure males have been born in the month of April.

So Marie our Doctor has a look and she says 'hmmm well your husband's intuition is...... wrong!" She said it's definitely a BOY, it was quite obvious where willy and two accompaning balls were, and showed us on the monitor. Well now that we knew what to look for of course it is obvious, you also need to know where on earth the angle of the sonar is. Wow how much more real it makes it, I must say I am so much more excited that I know what the sex is, I think than if I had not found out. So little Joshua will be making his way into the world....Doc better not say next time it is a girl all of a sudden...me thinks I will ask again just to be sure. She said though she felt 99.5% confident and we could go out and buy blue if we wanted, as it was quite 'prominent', I am sure Clive had a huge grin on his face, but could not see as Doctor was in the way.

Other comments she made about our baby boy:

He has a cute nose
He has long legs and nice calves
He has a brain - hahaha - had to put this in...
He is a thinker, his one hand was always on the side of his head as if he was thinking of course I said that is just like his mom

So overall, everything is well and we are so excited!
Happy Friday all from the Lammer family - it was just the two of us now it will be the three of us!
xxxx

13 and a half weeks

No it is not a title of a movie, well actually I am more along the lines of almost 14 weeks, officially next Monday. This morning proved charming as I promptly threw up my nutritious All Bran Flake breakfast. I have become quite used to the retching feeling, as if I am going to throw up, but then am always shocked when I actually do. It really hasnt been often that I have got sick, but when I do I am really really miserable afterwards, like today.

I have been trying to keep a journal of all my feelings etc, with regards to this pregnancy and I must say there is really not too much to report, besides the usual sore boobs, (thankfully have subsided a bit), nausea, the sciatic or whatever nerve numbness in my leg which is better now, some backache now and again, and feeling very sleepy at night having to go to bed very early.

So that about summarizes it really, am sure I will have more tales to tell as I progress. Next week sees our second appt and scan which I am actually quite excited about, I think everytime you have a scan it seems a little bit more real in the beginning, when your tummy is not protruding like a soccer ball! We also have the decision of finding out the sex if we are able to see with the next scan, which I am leaning toward finding out, but a part of me still doesnt want to know. The most interesting thing is that I dont have a specific leaning toward of any specific sex...boy or girl, majority seem to think girl, even Clive thinks it is a girl, so we will see...

Life is so busy at the moment, with so much on the go, I know that the next 6 months are going to fly by so fast, I am already want to 'nest' and sort out things and get the nursery items so that things can go in their place!

Have a great weekend all
xxxx

Previous Pregnant Fairies Advice?

Anyone out there experienced numbness in the upper thigh - apparently it can be a sciatica nerve problem - I am only 12 weeks and seems a bit early for this to me? Am going to ask my Gynae, but am interested to know if anyone out there knows or has experienced this themselves? Caroline, any yoga excercises that may help?
x

Finally.... We're gonna have the baby!

Sorry for the delay in post, but did not know what to post, really. Well most people know now besides Tom, Dick and Harry. Clive and I (actually me!!!) are pregnant. I am 11 weeks and all is well so far. I have been for my first scan and heard the heartbeat and 'bean' as I call him/her, was moving around animatedly for us. It was quite an overwhelming feeling, and we were so relieved that there was just one heartbeat and one baby.

Baby Bean is due on the 1st April or thereabout as a low percentage of women actually give birth on their due dates, April is going to be a biggie, I turn 30 and have a baby, the only question now is which one will come first? Must be honest dont fancy spending my 30th in hospital or in pain. But am sure it will all work out.

Welcome to baby Kai Benjamin Scott, son to Taryn Fowler and Mike Scott, born 7.09.07 prem by about 3 weeks or so.

We could actually start a creche at this rate.

I am interested to know what those out there, think I will have, I have had a few comments made about the sex and what various people think so will put down these on my blog and we can see who is right at a later date. That is another obstacle - do we find out or do we wait? Hmmm am so tempted to find out but am not sure....think we will keep that decision until a bit later.

Will keep you all updated xxx

Welcome to Twins

I seem to just be writing about babies a lot in my blog lately. There seems to be a definite Baby Boom happening right now. Many have said that it is an age thing, 'everyone's 21st's', 'all the weddings' then comes 'all the babies'. I dont know so much, I dont think it is as automatic as that. You cannot necessarily have a baby on schedule i.e. I am now X years old or X years married, and think it is now time to have a baby. As many of us know things are little more complex than that.

Have you actually ever read the biology of how a woman actually falls pregnant? How it ever happens is really a flipping miracle. So much has to be just right in order for this to happen. Ron will tell you all about 'dominant follicles' (within a womans eggs) and alkaline and acidity come into play, gravity etc. etc. it is actually quite fascinating and by no means I believe a complete accident.

Yes there are ways and means to enhance the ability to fall pregnant, but I believe when the time is right and the little being that was planned before you had your 21st birthday, before you got married, is supposed to join your world, he/she or they - (that one's for Brandon and Ronel's twins) will make their entrance. Yes some will say what about poverty and people having 8 children because they wont use contraception in the rural areas etc. etc. they werent planned! Well some of the poorest people that had those 8 children, I believe all 8 have/had a purpose for being born. If you take someone like Oprah Winfrey who was born to a coal miner father and a mother who was a maid, who suffered abuse and racism, has turned out to make a difference in so many lives, in so many countries. Yes perhaps that was her choice but she still needed to be here to make that choice. Children that are meant to be will be - to make a difference in the lives of the family around them.

As I mentioned in a previous post, so many of our friends have just had their babies and have been on my blog with pictures etc, what a privilege to be able to see how these young ones grow up and have all the children of friends grow up around each other.

Brandon and Ronel's 'tweeling' - twins made their appearance a whole 2 months early, last week, Nicola and Bianca were coming out and that was that. With much worrying and praying that they would be alright, they seem to be doing very nicely and we are wishing Brandon and Ronel all the best with the huge but blessed task of being parents to these two little girls. We are waiting for Caroline Avnit and Taryn Fowler and Tammy Smith now - 1 girl and 2 boys respectively, wow by now we could start a day care facility just with all our friends kids :-)

Not a great quality picture but them with just one of the twins:

Have a great weekend all

xxxx

Children and Babies they are everywhere!!

Hi All
I thought I would share some pictures of these babies and toddlers that are everywhere at the moment.

From youngest to oldest:

First Up - Matthew Brooker born on 24th July 2007 (son to Nicci and Gavin Brooker)

Levi Nell (baby boy to Kim and Carl Nell)

Lily Grace Humble (daughter to Wendy and Kristian)

Aren't they all adorable.
Happy Tuesday all, this is a short week, Thank Goodness!!!

40 Days of Community

Those in the know, know that Clive and I attend church regularly and are committed Christians. I am quite excited that our church Assemblies of God in Edgemead soon to be known as Edge Church is launching a worthwhile campaign in the middle of August - 40 days of Community. What will happen is that each church group - we belong to one which has 12 people in it - which most of our friends know we refer to as "Small Group" or our "Cell Group", will be getting involved in their choice of a Social Action Group for 40 days (with the view that it will continue), so that we can give of our time to those less fortunate. With one of our meetings last night, we are all brimming with ideas and things that could be done, there are so many out there who have so much need. Some of the ideas are:

Soup Kitchen Run on a either a week night or Friday night for the homeless children
Help for new mothers / abandoned babies with a small starter pack of essentials at state hospitals or clinics
Raising funds with a Womens Breakfast to donate to a charity or help fund the above

What we need to do is action something so for now we are brainstorming and coming up with ideas but am really looking forward to it as we all know of the plight out there but our own lives take over and it is forgotten. It will be great to give back to those that have so much less than we do.

So wish us luck with finding the correct cause and will keep you all updated!
xxx

HAPPY 30th CLIVEY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Hubby who turned the big 30 today!
Those of you in the know would have known that I had planned a SURPRISE 30th for Clive and boy was he SURPRISED! A huge thank you for all of you who kept the surprise and for those who helped set up a.k.a. Sian Kelly, Catherine and Veronica and of course Heather who helped make the party possible.

Well we all dressed up 70's and 80's style as these were the years that Clive grew up in, and everyone went through so much trouble to dress up and what was really nice was that everyone did! You know you always get some spoilsports who dont like to dress up well obviously this crowd was the exception to the rule.

Lets see we had an Elvis, loads of Hippies, Disco Queens, Afros, Rasta's, lead singer from Kiss, Madonna, Don Johnson - Miami Vice, Austin Powers and so the list goes on.

We had the whole day planned out, Clive went to play golf in Darling on Saturday morning early with Shaun (his ex-boss and family friend) and he left the house at about 10:30 for golf to start at 12pm, they kept him busy in Darling having drinks playing poker etc, whilst we all raced around to get the hall finished, pick up all the things that needed to be picked up and pull the whole thing together. Sian, Catherine and Kelly were in charge of draping, Veronica and I decor and Heather the Food Co-Ordinator. Well phew come the start of the party I was actually finished but it passed quickly once all the shriek of laughters started filtering in with the arrival of all the dressed up friends. If we had a prize for the evening I would have to say Elvis (Ford) and Kiss Lead Singer (Dan) would have won - as they looked brilliant!

Part of the "Plan" was that Shaun who is the chairman of the Melkbos angling club (where we held the party) had to "drop of petty cash there" on the way back for a dinner "we were all going to" for another "function" - hope you can make head or tale of all my inverted commas. Clive walks in with his fake bank bag and everyone shouts SURPRISE and he goes "no its not me" thinking that he has spoilt someone elses party he still didnt click as we were all in costume so he didnt recognise anyone - Hilarious!! Eventually he clicked and put his hands over his face and walked back outside... which he doesnt remember I think he was in a bit of shock. After some tears and greeting everyone we got down to some partying. A great time was had by all and the evening was a HUGE SUCCESS. Clive wont forget his 30th for a long time I am sure. Me on the other hand is pooped... Keeping a secret is hard work, never mind everything else that went into planning, but it was all worth it.

Here are some pictures of the evening, there are so many so I am going to just put up a few:

70's and 80's Jol

"Surprise"

Auf Wiederschauen - Goodbye

Well last night was the night to say bye to Monique who is off to JHB tomorrow morning early. So we gathered at Catherine's house for yet another mini party - there have been many lately. Never mind it was a Monday night - we all wrapped up warmly - as the weather here in the Cape at night is still freezing, to say farewell. Monique was rather emotional and a bit tipsy but as we all reassured her JHB is just a mango or kulula flight away.

So bye for now Mon your presence will be missed terribly at all the braais and all the parties but we will look forward to when you visit!

Some pics from last night:

UB40 Mania

Well Tuesday night was the UB40 Concert in Cape Town and whilst they are not maybe everyones cup of tea, I absolutely love UB40, I dont listen to them all the time, but they bring back such great memories of me growing up in Durban and Standard 5 when their Labour of Love II album was such a hit with "Wear you to the Ball" "Homely Girl" Cherri O Baby" etc. Well we arrived at Ratanga Junction my sister and I, at about 5:45pm and joined Clive already in the Golden Circle queue and didnt wait much time at all before we started moving forward. What a mixture of people, oldies, youngies, rastas etc. We got to be quite close to the front, about 3 rows to be exact. and had a great view. Concerts are a funny thing, people push, moan, smoke when it clearly says "NO SMOKING" - it was a UB40 concert were the organizers smoking something when they tried to implement that?
What with fights breaking out and two reggae mad chicks in front of us who were confused I think as they were head banging basically, this is not a heavy metal band - hello! Anyway a great time was had by all - they were really FANTASTIC they are so good live which not all bands are. The african guy with the dreadlocks (forget his name) who sings Rat in mi Kitchen was really so good these days new pop stars just use digital special effects to make the sound effects but he was doing them himself. Favourites of the night was definitely Rat in mi Kitchen, Red Red Wine, Here I am Baby, Homely Girl, Kingston Town and The Way you do the things you Do. actually they were all great. Now I just have Celine Dion to long forward to in February next year with my mont - at Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West which I think will be stunning.
Have a great weekend all xxxx

Quiet Weekend In!

It was a busy weekend past and its going to be a busy weekend coming up. Friday night saw us babysitting Levi Nell on our own - which was actually great and we did fine! Saturday night saw a 40th birthday party of Kim Bywater which I had incorrectly assumed (assumption is the mother of all ****ups- as the saying goes.) would be quietish!

"All together now.... Y.M.C.A."

Sian, Me and Kelly

After not realizing that red wine and copious amounts of champagne actually do not agree with each other and not having eaten anything since 3pm - I was a bit inebriated to say the least. Anyhow it was good fun, however Sunday was not. This saw me waking with a raging headache and aches all over my body, obviously my bodies way of saying "hey you are not 19 anymore you know!" However a great time was had and it is almost near the next weekend which will also be "A quiet one" - Not.

Farewell to Moniquey soon :-(

A party is being held on Friday in honour of Monique who will be leaving our shores soon, to head out into Gautengland. Thanks to Veronica for arranging this, and then on Saturday there is another party being held, I think our friends are in age denial :-) and on Sunday my husband is playing golf - even though it is going to rain hahaha you will find me in bed me thinks with a good book and hot chocolate.

Also a big welcome back to Kelly from Qatar, she is here until September - home from teaching in Qatar, she is loving being able to drink in public, eat what she wants - for now. It was her mom's 40th that we went to this past Saturday.

Welcome Home Kelly!

Catch up with you later in the week. Where are the rest of the bloggers I wonder?
Nicci

Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays

Hi have been bad at blogging this week. Although have noticed some are also behind - Ron - a whole week? Thats not like you :-)

Well I dont know about anyone else out there, but I have had quite a few birthdays and more that are coming up! A 40th this weekend, Andrea's birthday on the 19th, Clive's 30th is coming up and it just never ends. My sister turned 19 on the 23rd June, I cant believe it. She is no longer a snotty nosed brat - shame she was a brat not so much anymore. Cant wait until she is in her mid 20's and the big gap of 10 years wont seem so big anymore. Feels like the other day that I was feeding her pureed food and helping bath her. Have included a pic of her taken last year at her Matric Dance, she is the one on the right.


Then my dear husband turns 30 in under a months time, have told him in no uncertain terms that he is NOT ALLOWED a mid-life crises! So begins the battle as to what to do and what to buy for his birthday. I am also starting to wonder when this year is going to slow down but time waits for no man. Heard a interesting way of describing time the other day by TD Jakes, "The earth is a circle spinning in itself, spinning around the sun, creating days and months that are spinning - never stopping, we are born and the days are already spinning, NOTHING stops the spinning!" How true I think, in fact my head is spinning right now, just thinking about how time is spinning by - hahaha.
Have a wonderful weekend all before it 'spins past'
Nix

Winter Solstice

"Watcha looking at?"

"Daddy's Boy"

"Hmmm think I may still be hungry"

Well if you live in Cape Town you know that the weather has been rather brrrrr lately. Yesterday was the official Winter Solstice of the Southern Hemisphere and heard an interesting fact regarding it, apparently it gets colder after the winter solstice - so dont pack away the winter woolies just yet.



Thought I would include a picture of Levi Nell, Kim and Carl's baby boy that I posted a while back when he was 1 day old, he is now a month but theoretically should be only 12 days old as he was prem. We had supper at them last night and they have a little girl Michaela (Kayla) as well who is 5. A good time was had by all and Levi was a bit niggly - think he had cramps, and Kayla wanted to play and experienced first hand that I think it is quite tough to have 2 children one a little girl and another a brand new baby who needs your attention as much as your little girl does. Hectic! We had a good laugh as Kayla now has a chart to chart smiley faces and sad faces for the week dependent on her behaviour, cleaning her room and chores, and if she has x amount of smiley faces by the Friday she will get a 'surprise'. I thought this is a good idea.

Later on in the evening, Kayla says "Mommy I laid out all my clothes for school tomorrow for me to get dressed in the morning" - Cue Kim, "Good Girl" Smiley Face for you. Dad goes into the room a bit later and the dogs are pouncing on her clothes..... wait for it.... she had stuffed her pockets full of chocolates (Quality Street nogal) and mints - FULL and the dogs had smelt it and began to attack her clothes. Haha did I laugh, but then it was reprimand time and scratch that smiley face. What a tough position laugh or be stern and instill the discpline. Kids will be kids I suppose, I bet she thought she was the cleverest little kid pulling the wool over mommy's eyes!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Freakin Facebook

Clive the Loverboy and Lindy (check the shades)
Pink Ladies at our Matric Valedictory

Hi there all,
Well blogs have been taking a back seat to Facebook. Wow it has just taken over our lives hehee.
Have had a hectic week was off last week and am back at work this week and just cant seem to get into the swing of things. Was looking for groovy old 'kiff' pictures from back in the day at school and found some hilarious ones. I will post one of Clive with his first girlfriend he says (hey Ron thought it was you?) Lindy Pendelbury (however you spell it) was apparently the first. Well I think he had quite a few on a string actually.
A big CONGRATULATIONS to Catherine and Gavin on the birth of their little boy Max, he is too cute.... and a big congrats on being able to give Natural Birth, I am sure you will have your own set of horror stories now too.... :-)
Have a great Tuesday and see you all soon xxx

Godparenting - Whats in a Name?

Hi all welcome to Friday, thank goodness....
Well I have done some online research as to the meaning of being a Godparent, as some may or may not know, Kim and Carl Nell have asked us to be Levi's Godparents. In this day and age with tradition going out the window for new more modernistic views, I thought it may be interesting to research what the meaning of the term Godparent stands for, and here it is in the original Catholic origin from where it stems:

What’s the point of Godparents? The Role of the Godmother and Godfather

I’ve been asked this more than once, so I thought it would be an interesting post. Catholics choose godparents for their children when the children are baptized. The role of godparents stems from the reality that it is a big responsibility to raise children properly in their faith. Especially today, when we are bombarded by materialism, it is important to have some assistance, a community of sorts, to help you keep your children on the straight and narrow. In addition, parents must constantly try to see the forest as well as the trees, so to speak, and godparents are further from the realities of everyday life – this gives them to ability to focus more on the forest, if you will. (Note: this does not mean parents aren’t directly responsible for this formation, it simply means that godparents can provide assistance).

The role of godparents is a serious role and not to be taken lightly. The Pope has noted that godparents should be examples “of solid faith, of deep prayer, and of active involvement in the Church’s life” in order to be selected as godmother and/or godfather. Godparents are expected to positively affect the child’s life in areas of faith and morals. In itself, this means praying for godchildren, and making constant attempts to discuss and influence the godchild on religious reality. It is a tough role that requires commitment on the part of the godparent in order to succeed.

Logically speaking, assigning a godparent for your child is obviously good. Basically, you get another faithful adult involved in the formation of your child’s spiritual life – are two better than one? In this case, yes! The role of godparent is taken too lightly by most parents; if you choose a disinterested person, all of the work in forming your child lies on you alone! Be sure to pick a faithful, trustworthy individual to fill this important role in your child’s life. Traditionally, the godparent takes over the parent’s role in the event that both parents die, although this isn’t necessarily the case today.

Well that is quite a lot to take in, but nevertheless is a honour if you are chosen as a Godparent, the hardest part will not to play and enjoy baby but to remember your purpose with the little life entrusted to you by the parents, to be a source of strength to both the parents and the child and to help out whenever is necessary.

Have a wonderful Friday all....