tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10324681136028001462024-03-13T19:53:34.176+13:00billy & loloremaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-69784128832227177542017-06-03T20:56:00.000+12:002017-06-04T08:00:38.303+12:00:: catching up and looking forward ::I have finally ticked off a job that has been on my 'To do' list for what feels like a very long time: making Eléa's First Year photo book. I made one for each of our older three for their first birthdays. We celebrated Eléa's <i>second </i>birthday a month ago and still no book! I was worried that the details of her first days, weeks and months had faded from my memory, so I came here to my neglected blog to glean any important parts of the memoires I wrote during that time. After completing the book (yay!!) I came back to this space to reminisce through the photos and experiences recorded over the past 5 years since moving over from my previous space at <a href="http://lilygeorgie.blogspot.co.nz/">Lily & Amie</a>. As I clicked from post to post and read through some of my words, from the houses and countries we have called <i>home, </i>I realised how far we have come, but how pertinent some of those words still are to our current thoughts and feelings.<br />
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I can't really catch up on the last 16 months of absence from this space, without it being <i>forever</i> long! But I will post some photos from the last couple of months and catch you up on recent news from our little team of six.<br />
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Eléa continues to go from strength to strength - literally. We started a Neuro-Developmental Therapy Programme with her late last year. Before and after this starting point she was in and out of hospital with UTIs that would only respond to one antibiotic that is generally given through IV every 24 hours with up to 5 doses. Kidney stones had been a surprise card that were discovered during a routine ultrasound after the first couple of UTIs. Just before Christmas the biggest stone was removed in surgery. So needless to say, the therapy sessions were stop and go for the first few months. In March, following an article in our local paper, a wonderful team of seven people volunteered to come and help do her therapy sessions each weekday (one or two people per day) and since that time her progress has been amazing. She is now able to pull herself forwards on her therapy slide that has only a slight incline. Whenever she spots my mobile phone on the floor, she does her best to get to it! </div>
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What has been such an encouragement to me, asides from the wonderful progress that Eléa is making, is getting to know the people who come each day. They come with a variety of ages and fascinating experiences, and their enthusiasm has been such a wonderful gift! We all have a common love for Eléa and a hope of seeing her progress beyond her limitations of weak muscles to be able to reach the milestones that we all meet as babies and young children if we are not held back by a disability. Eléa has inspiring determination, learns quickly and we love her sense of humour as she fist bumps everyone she comes across, bringing <i>cool</i> back into the doctors' offices ;o)</div>
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Within four days in the beginning of May our three girls all celebrated their birthdays. Our little one turned two, and our big girls turned seven! They are all miracles - it's overwhelming to consider how much each of them have come through. We are so proud of each of our beauties. </div>
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Amélie and Elise are thriving in school, with great friends and teachers. I couldn't be more happy with the wonderful staff at their school. They are in separate classes this year which has been a great choice for them with their different personalities and abilities, and they are doing so well with their learning. They are into all cute animals and, like most little girls around the world, love unicorns. I have lost count on how many whole series of books we have read through together, and it is exciting to see them realise that they are able to start reading some of them on their own. Their imaginations and creativity know no bounds - I always love to listen in on their games and conversations :o)</div>
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Our favourite little guy didn't quite understand why all of his sisters were being given presents during that first week of May, and he wasn't! The concept of having different birth-dates is still a little beyond him, but we look forward to that special day in August when he gets his turn. In the meantime he's become a big kindy boy and is quietly loving the variety of amazing activities and experiences he gets there. The other morning as we walked in the gate two little boys swinging over in the corner of the yard yelled out "Hi Théo!!" and my heart was thrilled for him. He has reportedly learned to sit still at mat-time now, and loves to chat away to his teachers. A small grommets operation a couple of months ago seem to have made a big difference to his hearing, and his speech is really improving. What a sweet, thoughtful, fearless little man he is. </div>
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We've been enjoying time with our wider family lately. I think Eléa was quietly thrilled to be able to hold her own and sit and play with her little cousin. And the older three love to play with his older sister. </div>
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We have three little nephews who are quickly gaining in on Eléa in size. Two of them were with us a couple of weeks ago, and we really look forward to seeing everyone together when all 10 will be here for Christmas!<br />
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We've had some adventures over the last few weeks, from spending a perfect-weather day on the island of Waiheke for Eti's birthday...<br />
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...to climbing the Mount to catch the sunrise with my sister...<br />
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...and capturing the beauty of our local area from above. I may be biased, but I really do believe we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, and am regularly in awe of the beauty. We are more motivated to make the most of this scenery because...<br />
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...we recently made the final decision that early next year we will move back to Switzerland. We knew that we wouldn't stay in this area long-term, so began the decision process of whether we would move elsewhere in New Zealand or back to Switzerland, knowing that if we chose the latter the timing would be important in relation to the ages of our little people with school, and Eléa's stability. I know hearing this news makes some people sad, and some happy. I have heard comments from <i>"</i>You're leaving <i>New Zealand?!</i>" to "You have the choice between somewhere else in New Zealand and <i>Switzerland?!</i>" We have much loved people on either side of the world, so it was never going to be easy :o( We are so grateful to have had this season in New Zealand, and look forward to all the months we still have here. There are absolutely no regrets and it is a bittersweet decision, as it was when we decided to move here from Switzerland five years ago. We are quietly beginning the process of organising what an international move requires, have started talking about it with our little people, and are really encouraged with how things are coming together in Switzerland. So...we hope to truly make the most of our time here for each of us, and look forward to catching up with family and special friends on the other side, and providing holiday accomodation for any of you who are travelling through in the years to come. Our doors will be open! <br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-90300565274345557742016-01-31T23:05:00.001+13:002016-01-31T23:11:59.108+13:00:: releasing butterflies ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the last few weeks we have been watching our swan plant with fascination. For the first time it has been covered in
caterpillars. They started out miniscule and ended up rather fat, just
like <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/9780241003008">The Very Hungry Caterpillar</a>, as they chewed through the leaves. One by one,
they would find a place to rest, hook themselves up and hang upside down
until they were encased by a cacoon. The cacoons themselves were
amazing to see. Delicate, bright green cases with tiny gold dots. Inside,
over the next 10 days, each caterpillar became a butterfly,
which we were able to see tucked up inside a transparent cacoon, just
moments before they emerged into the world. Transformed. Minutes later
these beautiful, delicate creatures were ready to fly away with complete freedom to dance and explore the world. It has
been such an amazing feat of creation to observe!<br />
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Today,
as I was ironing and naming our girls' school uniforms and labelling
their stationery, I thought to myself that, in many ways, they are like
these butterflies. Home has been their cacoon - their safe place for
transformation and growth. Now it is their moment to emerge out into the
big, wide world. They start school for the first time this week. It's a
moment of mixed emotions. They are ready and I think I am in a surreal
way, walking the path that many, many mothers are familiar with. Kindy
has been a wonderful place for them, and it has really helped them take
this next step into going on to school. We are about to let our little ones go, entrusting them into the hands of a teacher and a wider school
community. I seriously considered homeschooling for a long time, and I
still like the idea of it. But I have realised that, for our family in
this season, it is right to send them to school. To hear that it is a
lovely little school calms my heart! The thought of sending such little
ones, so full of innocence, beautiful imagination, creativity, and
thoughtful, kind hearts into a place where they will hear different
ideas, opinions and most probably encounter challenging and sometimes
nasty behaviour, is a scary thought (not to say that we don't have that
behaviour here at home!). But it is time to let them go, and let them
know that home is a safe place where their cheering team resides, and
trust that the individual, precious qualities that they each hold
will be fostered, encouraged and strengthened throughout their school
years. And that they will capture a love for learning in every sense -
about themselves, others and the big, wide world.<br />
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So fly, beautiful little butterflies. You are not alone - the team of people surrounding you, cheering you on is only growing larger...<br />
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remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-46861387946787230862016-01-08T22:52:00.002+13:002016-01-08T22:59:01.943+13:00:: this girl ::<br />
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Over the last couple of evenings I've been going through my photos from the last 8 months, finally able to sort them onto a new computer. I've been handling my camera card with much care over these months, hoping all the photos would stay safe as they accumulated, and it literally fell to pieces when I pulled it out of the computer slot after downloading them all...phew! What I've noticed as I've sorted the blurry shots from the clear keepsakes, is how far our little one has come over these months. Already I have forgotten the details of those first days and weeks and all the little and big steps she made her way over, one by one. The way she did (and still does!) things in her own style so that we heard several times "We've never done this before!" But Elea did, and that's the way she's made her mark, slowly but steadily knocking out the obstacles in her way. Our days have become so much more peaceful and relaxed as she has become more stable and strong.<br />
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With her condition we've been curious to see how she would develop, because it's always been a "wait-and-see" situation. On Monday we passed her 8-month birthday (and 6-month corrected age) and, in many ways, she's not at all far behind her fellow babies...though we all know they develop and reach milestones at quite a varied range of ages.<br />
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More important than whatever developmental milestones she reaches or not and when, she's a wonderfully peaceful little girl and almost always content. Her eyes sparkle before a smile appears. She's funnily ticklish and often giggles as we change her. She really searches to make contact with anyone around, trying to make eye contact (even right now, she's just woken up beside me and wants to chat!). She has a great time under her playmat mobile, trying constantly to roll over or scoot herself all over the place. She has incredible determination as she tries and tries again to hold her head up high on her tummy. We know it's hard work for a little one with overall weak muscle-tone, but she has that inner strength that got her to where she is today. She loves her tastes of pureed foods and is coping very well despite the fact that she's still completely tube-fed and seems to have missed the mark on wanting to take anything from a bottle. She's learned how to hold her "lolo" (pacifier/dummy) in place, which is a wonderful developmental milestone in my eyes! ;o) She's quite simply our delightful, happy, beautiful little dark-haired girl, and we are so thankful for her. Our movements have been restricted and we often have to pass on going places in an effort to keep her health a priority, but she is growing in strength and it won't be long before these 'sacrifices' (though, I tend to see it more as quite a normal priority) will fade into distant memories, just as those first scary days already have. What a joy to be in these days!<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-87087116234633609302016-01-08T21:57:00.002+13:002016-01-08T21:57:40.053+13:00:: rainy friday ::We've had a lovely, peaceful week here. Several times I've paused to consider the calm and (relative) order and suspected that there must be pray-ers out there because when I faced the week on Monday, I was worried about how it might go. But I've been blessed with grace & peace in our home. Our little people have been exceptional. Of course we've had the usual and realistic hungry and tired melt-downs and sibling battles, but overall they're great. Today as a storm hit the country, we kept the lamps on inside and played.<br />
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My wish for you, too, is that you enjoy many peaceful moments over your coming days xxremaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-65610009130832580682016-01-05T21:49:00.000+13:002016-01-05T22:02:36.148+13:00:: that which gives us life in this season ::Hello 2016 :o)<br />
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I hold high hopes for you.<br />
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Last year held a lot of beauty and wonderful moments, as well as the arrival of a priceless member of our family, but in many instances it was crushing. It pushed us to our limits and we're still recovering. Often I look at the day and weeks ahead and wonder how I'm going to get through it with joy, feeling more than a tad weary. But it's not all gloomy - there are <i>so many</i> glimmers of hope and I know we are not alone. I've learned to calmly carry on, <i>try</i> not to sweat the small things, and trust that what we need will be provided for. God has been incredibly faithful like that, even when my faith has been lacking and dry. Always, <i>always </i>faithful.<br />
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In an effort to take care of myself and to be a healthier wife and mum, because I tend to neglect my needs, I have determined this year to pursue three creative outlets that give me life: to enjoy photographing the life and beauty that surrounds me (and document it more often here!), to formally learn more French, and to get back into art. I have had a long-held dream to illustrate that has never left me. I've got my watercolours, and recently purchased ink pens and paper waiting in the wings ;o)<br />
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Home life naturally takes up 95% of my days, and if I allow my perfectionist tendencies to take over, I can easily find things that need to be done 100% of my waking hours (around procrastinating!). I'm determined to let some things go, to focus on what matters - the precious people around us - and figure out how to make life even a little more simple and <i>fun. </i>I can learn from my children and Eti on this one!<br />
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I have a couple of little projects on the go that are quite exciting. As a part of the girls' Christmas gift, I pulled out the wooden dolls that I had bought for them a year earlier and managed to paint them in time for Christmas. As I painted I anticipated all the imaginary adventures they would embark on in the hands of our girls, and they have indeed over the past couple of weeks. I like to overhear their latest names and conversations ;o)<br />
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The dolls will soon have a home, which I'm really looking forward to dreaming up and finally starting work on. When they were babies I came across <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-modern-dollhouse-that-made-u-152572" target="_blank">this wonderful dollhouse renovation</a>. I was sold and immediately went online to find a second-hand dollhouse. So we've had this little home accompany us across the world and sit in storage until a couple of days ago. I have four months to give it a renovation for their birthday, and in the meantime the girls are spending hours creating a vivid imaginary world in an empty house.<br />
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We're realising the importance of making even small moments of time to do what we love to do and which refuel our tanks. Eti takes off for bike rides or kayaks around the area, and I am embracing the colour and life of being creative with art. Simplifying life, enjoying it, keeping our eyes up and outwards. These are just a few reasons to hold high hopes for this coming year.<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-15473520887927341762015-09-17T20:40:00.000+12:002015-09-17T20:40:08.710+12:00:: peaceful moments ::These past few days have been relatively peaceful. Eléa is settled - she still has spills somewhat frequently (especially the last couple of days!), but I can't remember when we last had to rush for the suction machine to help clear her airways. She's smiling more, 'talking' and our days have been running relatively smoothly, with gratefulness for our friend Norma who has come for several hours a day to help me and love our children. Here is a random collection of photos to give you a little glimpse. Just remember that I didn't photograph the messy scenes, and the challenging moments - there are plenty of those! - a fair amount of tiredness too, but these are the moments we have been treasuring...<br />
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remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-29717721892738137142015-09-15T22:32:00.002+12:002015-09-16T21:14:38.282+12:00:: irene ::<br />
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Last week we heard the terribly sad news that a beautiful friend had passed away after a battle with cancer. We were honoured to have her as our midwife for Théo's birth, though several friends, including my sister and my midwife for Eléa, knew her at a much greater depth and her passing leaves a huge hole. In comparison we knew her relatively little but she made such an impact on us that I want to honour her by writing. It's still very surreal to believe that she is no longer here. The last time I saw her was just over 3 months ago when she popped along to see Eléa and I in the Neonatal unit. At the time she made no mention of cancer and I had no idea because, as a true reflection of her character, she directed all her focus on others, encouraging us with her prayers and hopes for Eléa. Even after texting her the night I learned the devastating news that she had terminal cancer and was flying to the US for treatment the following morning, her quick reply included a reassurance that she was still praying for Eléa. I was deeply touched by the depth of her selflessness when she had so much going on in her own life. </div>
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Irene became my midwife just a week before Théo was born, as my midwife up until that time, Deb, went on leave for her wedding. My sister, Beth, had previously spent several weeks of her midwifery training working alongside Irene. I had heard a lot about her and already was aware of her wonderful reputation, so it was a real blessing to be under her care for Théo's birth. One memory of that beautiful Sunday morning that will always remain with us was her prayer of blessing over Théo when he was just minutes old. Those are her hands above, holding Théo as she showed us how to bath the only term baby we've ever had. We were so grateful for her care of Théo and of us during those first few weeks as we navigated the unfamiliar path of having complete responsibility of our own baby from day one.<br />
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She decided to override the previous decision to pass me onto the care of another midwife for the 6 weeks of postnatal checks because of how far away we lived, instead making the commitment to do them herself. I was so thankful! During those visits, we discovered that she shared Eti's dream to become a rescue helicopter pilot as she had grown up in the Austrian alps and had often had to help connect injured people with the rescue helicopter crews who had come to transport them to hospital. She was also a paraglider and had worked near our home in Switzerland...so she connected easily to our hearts! Our girls still remember her visit shown above when she weighed Théo in "a bag" dressed beautifully for Deb's wedding. They asked me recently if Eléa's nurse was going to weigh her in a bag too ;o)<br />
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During the last weeks, with a Givealittle page that was started by a family friend to support Irene and her family, and subsequent Facebook posts since her death, it has been very clear that she touched many, many lives, from her beautiful family, to friends, and many, many women whose babies she delivered with such care. We can't make it to her funeral tomorrow, but I suspect it will be overflowing. She has left a great hole but a wonderful legacy. I have a beautiful bouquet of freesias on our table, that were given to us this past weekend. In many ways they remind me of Irene's life - vibrant, beautifully and intricately created, and with a sweet, lingering fragrance that has spread throughout the house - a reminder of spring and new life.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">2 Corinthians 2:14-15 </span></i></span></div>
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There are times when words aren't enough and life seems so unfair. We can only hold onto our Father who is incomprehensively good, far more than we can imagine, as we stand in the gap for her family and friends and pray for His overwhelming peace to cover them in the face of such loss and strength to carry on until the day they will be reunited. Please join us in praying for them too x<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-90072912419304586802015-09-08T22:44:00.002+12:002015-09-08T22:48:59.791+12:00:: a grateful heart ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A wise friend once said to me that giving thanks is a powerful weapon in trying times. In the seasons of life that threaten to overwhelm us, to stop, notice and whisper a thankful prayer really does make a difference. We're in the middle of one of those seasons. Some days I don't know how I can do it, because I simply <i>can't</i> do everything on my own. There have been moments when I stop and look at the overall situation and wish that our story could have been just a bit different. Less complications, less stress, less tiredness, less confusion, less separation, less isolation, less unknowns. The unknowns make it seem like we're feeling our way along the path in the dark, not sure where we might end up. But, you know...if I change my perspective and take a little closer notice, the beauty is right there in the midst of everything. And there is always, a<i>lways</i>, something - <i>many</i> things - to be grateful for. As hard as it often is, choosing to have a grateful perspective lifts ours eyes and lifts our souls to remember that we are held, we are sustained, provided for and loved in every moment. And that we really are!<br />
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I am so thankful that we found the right person to come and spend several hours a day helping me out at home. Life is extremely busy with four pre-schoolers. One of whom loves heights and adventures of which his two year-old brain can't quite predict the consequences (or realise that there are consequences!), and one who needs our close attention at every moment. We found a friend who, at the same time, was discouraged in her work and was wondering how she could help us. So the both of us look forward to each day, grateful for each other's company. Jesus knows us so well to orchestrate things in this way. We are also so thankful to have governmental financial assistance and for friends who have been giving generously to add to that so we can pay her fairly.<br />
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I am thankful for our little team of people in this home. Our older three, who have gone through months of either waking up and finding mummy had unexpectedly disappeared off to hospital in the night, or had to share my limited time and attention as I spent hours a day at the hospital, could have understandably resented their little sister, but they haven't. They have wholeheartedly embraced her into our family and adore her. I have a feeling that her big brother will remain her keeper for many years...he may also have to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day with papa! He loves her so sweetly and gently I have no doubts they will be fast friends. Her sisters, too, love to touch her, talk with her, read to her, sing to her and help get anything she needs. They are strong, tender, and remarkable, and I am so grateful for each of them.<br />
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I am thankful for Eti, who is a wonderful support. We both have our hard days when we feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the endlessness of these early days, but normally when one is sinking, the other has the strength to grab a hold and pull, offering a better perspective. He is quietly servant-hearted, and generously loving in providing what we need and doing what few fathers can do or do, by doing the middle-of-the-night feeds. At least being fully nasogastric tube fed means that it doesn't just have to be mummy doing the feeds :o)<br />
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I am thankful for so many of you, our family and friends, many of whom live far away, who hold us in prayer and encourage us often. It means a lot to know we don't walk alone. Your hope joins with ours and your love for us is so generous. Thank you!<br />
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Last but not at all least, I'm thankful for the central character in this season's story - our littlest love Eléa Agnès Joy. Her name means 'bright, shining light; peaceful, and joyful one'...and that is who she is. She is full of courage with the struggles she has gone through and still sometimes endures. As she grows and strengthens we have hope that these struggles will fade, but they do still occur from time to time. It's tough to see the panic on your baby's face as she tries to find breath that doesn't come until we manage to help her clear her airways. She is peaceful, though fiesty, sweet with such inner strength, and completely beautiful. Maybe it's her generous head of hair, or maybe it's her experience so far in her short life that fills her eyes with a depth of wisdom. We can't help but agree with Théo's adoration of her and feel so grateful to our Father in heaven for giving us the precious gift of her life. So thankful for every part of her...especially those ever-increasing sparkley eyed smiles :o)<br />
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These places in which such goodness dwells, which are all around us, help us find purpose and love in this narrative that is ours. It's easy to resent our story and wish it looked more like someone elses. I guess we always prefer the thought of a journey that is smooth, easy, fun and without fear, pain, or struggles. That is what we long for and what we look forward to one day, though in this life-time the shadows and darkness do exist. But that doesn't mean that lamps of gratitude can't be lit to show the beauty that exists all around us, if we just take notice. It's not easy. Some days I don't have the energy or the will to look up, but today I do...and I write to remember my gratefulness.<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-52612054883045900872015-07-26T21:04:00.002+12:002015-11-07T15:30:26.227+13:00:: inside out ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I feel the need to catch up on all the weeks that have passed since the last post here! I've tried a few times, writing and deleting. It's been a bit of a whirlwind and the rollercoaster ride has continued to have it's ups and downs, it's twists and turns, but it feels like it's slowly but surely coming back to level ground. The end of our life in Neonatal is definitely on the horizon. In three days, on Wednesday, the plan is for us to leave, spend the next two nights in a special transition home next to the hospital, then be home by the end of the week. It is exciting, yes! But any Neonatal parent will know that the excitement is tinged with apprehension and a little fear of suddenly having full responsibility of a precious little one who still has the potential to have some bumps along their path. I do feel more ready now, though. We will go home with a pile of equipment, from an apnea alarm, to a milk feeding pump and a suction machine, but all of these help to reassure us that we will have what Eléa needs in place, and if all goes really wrong...we've signed up for St John's ambulance.<br />
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I find it hard to express my thoughts at the best of times. This has definitely been the most challenging experience in my life and probably also for each person who has been living in our household over the last few months. There have been so many emotions that it is very hard to express accurately what I feel, let alone help anyone else to understand it. Often, during the 40 minute drive to or from the hospital, I take a moment to try to consider all that has been happening and the road becomes blurry. I think almost every emotion occupied my mind through the good moments, when we've felt reassured, relieved and thankful, to the the fearful moments, the unknowns and scary conversations, and the frustration, tiredness and stress. I have to remember that, at the centre of this all, there is a very precious little girl called Eléa Agnès Joy, who has shown us nothing but great courage and peace and has slowly but surely proven that she can do what she needs to do in her own time. She has consistently shown that her path is off the beaten track of "normal" as, several times in different situations, the nurses and doctors have said "we don't normally do this!" But the path she is on is not a barren path of worries. It is a beautiful one that is full of life and it will take her to the destination that Her Father has always intended for her to reach. She has not only captured our hearts but also those of several of her nurses who ask to be in her room, or say to us that they're really happy to be taking care of her. We are very proud and thankful that she has been gifted to us.<br />
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In the time since I last wrote, Eléa went off Highflow and never looked back (yay!). She was transferred from NICU through a couple of sets of doors to the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit), Over the following days the probes that were attached to her chest measuring her heart beat, oxygen levels and breathing rate were removed, then eventually the probe that was around her foot disappeared too, and the "sats" monitor was turned off (that was the hardest one for me to part with!). Now she just has an apnea monitor. She has continued to have problems with secretions (saliva) that, from time to time, gather in her throat, mouth and nose, cause her to spill (a.k.a. vomit) and can block her airways. This is what scares me most about going home and leaving the safe, medical environment, but we can only trust she will be ok, as she has been. We have what we need to help her, there will be a nurse and the specialists she needs coming to our home, and just being in her own home environment will help her to strengthen and thrive. She is fully tube fed through a nasogastric tube, although in the last week has started trying the bottle. It was so exciting to see her drink from it for the first time! Even if it was only a few millilitres, she showed she could do it, as well as swallow and breathe :)<br />
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This is but a glimpse of what the past weeks have held. The coming days hold anticipation and excitement, that tinge of apprehension and also a sadness that we will say goodbye to a team of people that have created a warm, welcoming home away from home for us over the past 12 weeks. The Neonatal team have taken such brilliant care of Eléa that we have very grateful hearts for all they have given and will really miss them. But the time has come that she is ready, and we will be ready and there are two big sisters and brother who are <i>more</i> than ready for their little sister (and mummy!) to come home. Our three little people have weathered the past 12 weeks so well and so bravely. It has been really hard on them sharing me between hospital and home. My heart has hurt for them but I am so proud of how they have managed. My mum was a big part in helping settle them with their familiar routines and lots of love. They have loved their visits in to see their little sister but we're <i>all</i> looking forward to being home <i>together</i> and to really start life as a family of six :)<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-54855421801854064762015-06-21T21:13:00.001+12:002015-06-21T21:22:24.969+12:00:: a smoother path ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So much progress has happened over the last week that it feels as though it has been twice as long! Elea has been on Highflow with no problems for over a week now. Every couple of days they lower the pressure level. This morning she was put down to level 2, which is the point from which they start to take her off completely. Considering the fact that very often the little nasal prongs flick out of her nostrils and she doesn't seem to struggle without them, she will hopefully be breathing completely on her own soon. The aim of the medical team is to get to that this week!<br />
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This week has been marked by several spills, unfortunately. But I have noticed that, once suctioned to clear her airways, she recovers much more quickly and today even did so without extra oxygen. Little steps that are huge steps for her! There is often a silver lining to a cloud, as she discovered the other day when she was given a lovely, long, gentle bath following a couple of spills, and she enjoyed it so much she was virtually sleeping (I wrote this last night, and she's had a much more settled day with no spills!).<br />
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The path seems to be smoother these days. There is still a stone here or there that makes its presence known (which is completely normal, I must remember!), but overall everyone seems to be very happy with Elea's progress, and we are too! Once she's completely off all breathing support, she will have an MRI to check her brain after two ultrasounds showed slightly more brightness on one side. It could be something, it could be nothing...it's all part of the waiting game. An MRI will give a clearer picture and, we hope, will show no further abnormalities. It's part of this neonatal world with small babies...the waiting and wondering, and trying not to worry in that time. It does help to remember she's been wonderfully made by her Creator, who gives us peace for whatever the outcome will be. It is scary when any abnormality concerning the brain is mentioned, but I often pray over her that she will be as God has intended her to be and He is a very good God.<br />
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For me these concerns are fading with the days as we really see Elea growing and developing. The consultant said a couple of weeks ago that she behaves like a baby 2-4 weeks younger than her age. I think it's true...she seems to have been a little slow off the starting block, but is catching up in her own time. These days she's having more awake times and is very alert (and <i>so </i>incredibly sweet!). We're able to bath her regularly and dress her and, with the nurses, we're moving into the phase of "normalising" her days as she approaches the time of being able to come home, which means we can get her up when she wakes and treat her more like a term baby. It's probably still a few weeks until she will be coming home but, when we get there, she'll be more than ready :o) Part of me is still afraid of her fragility, of tiring her out too much, and of holding her the wrong way that might cause her to spill or have a desaturation and need oxygen, but I also love this stage she has reached of looking more like a normal baby, with less and less tubes and aparatus and becoming more and more interactive. She's our sweet, peaceful little one and we're so thankful as we look back over the last seven weeks and see how far she has come!<br />
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Her sisters and brother are very loving and curious about her. They were able to visit her this past week after being away for two weeks with colds. It's very sweet to watch them being so gentle with her. I look forward to the day when we'll be at home together and I won't need to divide my time between them all any more. As scary as it is to think of coming home and being far away from all the monitoring and medical help, I trust she'll come home when she's ready, and that day will be a joyful one!<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-17690887162057322442015-06-13T21:57:00.003+12:002015-06-13T21:57:30.913+12:00:: the perks of being a highflow baby ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week has been a wonderful one for Eléa...which means it's also been a wonderful one for us! Each day has brought more stability, and today in the space of an hour there were several firsts! All because yesterday morning Eléa was trialled on Highflow again, and this time she seems to have really got the hang of it. I'm hopeful that after tasting some of the fruits of being a Highflow baby today, that she'll have the motivation and strength to hang on in there to keep enjoying more!<br />
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This morning when I arrived at Neonatal I found out that Eléa's Highflow had already been put down to level 5, which was great news in itself! Then, during her cares, after being examined by the nurse specialist, she was declared (kindly of course) a smelly, sweaty little baby and would we like to bath her! 6 weeks of not being bathed will do that to the sweetest of babies, I agreed ;o) It was so exciting to reach one of these most precious first milestones! Before leaving home this morning I had thought that she might soon be able to have baths, so slipped a nice baby soap into my bag to bring with me. Perfect timing! I was curious to see if she'd love her baths like her brother and sisters have always loved theirs. It wasn't much of a surprise to see that she really did. Very quietly taking it all in, probably wondering what was happening, enjoying floating in the warm water for a few minutes and the gentle touch of being cleaned...it was a successful first experience for our newest little water baby.<br />
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While she was being bathed, the charge nurse came over and suggested that she could now have a new bed. One for "bigger babies" that has a heated gel mattress, as opposed to her Giraffe bed that heated from above. So a few other staff came to help unplug her bed and replace it with a new cot bed. Then, as we were drying Eléa, her nurse said she could now wear clothes! (Could this day get any better!?!). So she went off to find something, while I stayed with Eléa and made sure she didn't roll off the table (least she should decide she was a <i>really </i>big baby!) :o) Her nurse brought back the softest white flannelette gown and slipped it gently over Eléa's head - she looked like a little angel! I enjoyed a little cuddle with our big girl while her new bed was made and prepared for her, then she was tucked in so snugly that a few of us wouldn't have minded being in her place!<br />
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It was such a special morning with all of these unexpected surprises. It felt like a gift from God to really encourage us. Eléa has made such wonderful progress this week. She is so safe in His hands, which is a constant truth through all the ups and downs. To remember this brings real peace to my heart and mind. As a friend just said on my Facebook post about today, "What an awesome God we serve." Indeed we do and we're ever so thankful for His goodness to us.<br />
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Thankfully our journey has brought us to smoother roads, and we pray that continues. On Monday our little girl will be 6 weeks old, and that will bring with it her first set of immunisations. I remember with her sisters that they had a few more apneas with their immunisations, so we will be praying that Eléa will have minimal affects and that she'll be given supernatural strength to cope with them on top of breathing and feeding well. Tonight, when I left Neonatal, I brought with me a little plastic bag with Eléa's CPAP hat in it. Mainly to add to her growing Neonatal memory collection, but also in faith that she won't be needing it anymore :o)<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-7455769247296805702015-06-09T21:46:00.001+12:002015-06-09T22:03:27.762+12:00:: the paradoxes of our precious little world ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Behind three security doors at our city hospital lies a calm, quiet haven where our youngest baby currently resides. It's little world that we have become quite familiar with over the last few weeks. Each time I go in I walk past half a dozen, often sleeping, tiny little giants before I reach our own. Tiny in stature, giant in courage, tenacity against the odds, and the ability to finish developing their major organs in the outside world, rather than the safe haven inside their mothers, because they were born too soon. There is something quite holy about being in this space. As terrifying as it is in some moments, I truly feel like I am in the company of giants. A dozen and a half perfectly formed miniatures, many more of the staff who take care of them so wonderfully, and I like to imagine some pretty hefty-sized angels watching over each sweet and valuable life.<br />
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The courage isn't only limited to the babies. I see it in the smiles of their parents. Many of whom were thrown suddenly into this world without much warning, having to ride the ups and downs of the first days, weeks and sometimes even months of a baby in Neonatal care. I know myself that it's really really scary at times, and even when there are settled moments, the fear of another dip is almost overwhelming. When I meet and talk with other parents in our shared kitchen/lounge area, they inspire and touch me because I can see behind their warmth and smiles that tears have been shed along the way. They have admirable strength and an ability to laugh and be thankful for even the smallest of steps in the right direction.<br />
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I guess I expected this time around to be easier. We knew what 26 week old babies were like and had gone through the months of virtually living around the Neonatal unit. In the hours before Elea arrived, I figured at 31.2 weeks, it wouldn't be too bad. My expectations weren't very accurate as, I've realised, every baby has a different story. Even though every scan had showed she was growing perfectly well, she had quite a shock arriving into the outside world and her first weeks were pretty tough. There were lots of scary questions with heavy implications asked of us, as the medical team tried to figure out why she wasn't behaving like babies her age normally would. I've only heard the emergency alarm being used for her, and she's had it three or four times. I know in my head that the team are completely capable of doing a lot more for a baby that we realise and that she'll probably be ok, but the sound of the alarm, the rush of the senior staff and the calm way they directed each other as they helped our little girl who had changed from pink to purple to grey...there's only so much strength to hold back the tears and the fears in those moments.<br />
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It's an experience that holds such diverse emotions. Fear and worry on one hand, with thankfulness and peace on the other for all the milestones reached, the settled hours or days and the step by step progress. I have found it hard not to feel guilty as I've watched everything Elea has had to endure that, in an ideal pregnancy, she wouldn't have had to. But these things happen beyond our control, so often the guilt is replaced by remembering with thankfulness that she is here and safe, and a pride in her ability to battle on. This time around we're also doing it with three other children at home. We are blessed and very grateful to have my mum here to look after them and carry a huge load, not only running a household but coping with their out-of-character behaviour which is their reaction to their lives suddenly being thrown into a bit of chaos, not having mummy with them all day every day, as they did have. I've really struggled to balance the needs, making mistakes along the way. Wanting to be in two different places at the same time is not quite possible, neither is keeping each person happy. The load is hard on each of us for different reasons and, when we're tired and stressed, words and attitudes come out that are unintended and we interpret each other in ways far from the truth. So, while some of you have encouraged me saying I'm a wonderful mum (which I appreciate!), I am humanly human and haven't coped well or done very well in any of my roles at times. The reality is not quite as wonderful as I would like it to be. This is not said to ask for any sympathy at all...just to be honest. It's tough, it's scary, it's reassuring, worth celebrating and beautiful all mixed into one. And we're moving in the right direction. It meant a lot to hear the consultant and head of the Unit say last week that he estimated Elea would be in Neonatal for another 4-6 weeks. When things are unsure, which they tend to be with the small babies, there's a lot of hope that comes with a glimpse of a light at the end of the tunnel...however far off that might be.<br />
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And our little hero? She's doing well. She's had some rocky moments and some great moments. A few steps forwards, a few steps back. Sometimes she's caught in a bit of a vicious cycle where she needs something that causes something else that causes something else because she needs that something. But she's moving ahead in her own fashion that oftentimes is accompanied with the words "I've never seen that before!" It makes me wonder what big plans God has for her life with her ability to move ahead outside of the usual parameters of "normal"...a word that we as parents crave to hear!<br />
Today she has been very settled and relaxed - I think the most settled, uneventful day of her life so far (we also like to hear the word "uneventful" in this little world!). So, as I drove home tonight for the first time in months, I was very touched as I recalled the events of the day, the people I had met, the precious world we are currently existing in, and the good and ugly parts of this experience of living under stress and tiredness with hope for a good outcome. I don't wish this experience had never happened, because there are good things in it. I grab a hold of some of those things, but stumble and drop them...and some are yet to be reached, but I'm thankful it's all been meant for us...and for every person who is part of it, from the staff, to the families, our family and many of you who have held Elea and us in your prayers and given us so much encouragement.<br />
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Thank you <i>so</i> much<br />
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remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-65912078817793466952015-05-15T22:48:00.001+12:002015-05-15T22:48:30.084+12:00:: the frustration of being sick ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our sweet little girl is already 12 days old! So much has happened over the last 12 days that it feels both short and also very long. This past week has been a really tough one from my point of view. I started getting a cold a week ago on the girls' birthday and it grew worse over the subsequent days until gradually disappearing very slowly. I was able to squeeze in a quick visit with Elea on Tuesday, feeling well enough at that point and wearing a mask. Though since then a cough appeared and the end of the cold has lingered on. Usually I'm the one in the family that manages to escape most of the bugs that pass through, but I know this time around it has been a result of a very tiring, stressful week that took it's toll physically, mentally and emotionally on my body and it's been <i>incredibly</i> frustrating to wake up each day and still not feel 100%.<br />
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I know how important our presence is for our baby, and even more so how important it is to have plenty of 'kangaroo' cuddles (skin to skin). This contact has so many benefits to these tiny babies, as you might imagine! Just being close to mum, hearing her heart beat, feeling her warmth and smelling the familiar smell is of huge comfort and helps so much with baby's development. It's been pretty hard to spend days at a time without seeing my little girl and letting her know I am here and missing these opportunities to hold her. I <i>know</i> the best thing has been to stay away so she doesn't catch anything nasty, which is the last thing I would ever risk. But I've been afraid that subconsciously she would notice my absence and it would affect her. It has helped to know she has been very settled on a whole, particularly with her breathing. Eti has been in each evening after work and had long cuddles, which she has really loved. She cried almost every time she had to be put back in her bed! Knowing that she was seeing her Papa every day made it a lot easier on my heart! And one of the senior nurses reassured me that they also take care of her and give her lots of love and care in our absence.<br />
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Today I have felt <i>almost</i> 100% well and have been able to go and see our beautiful little one. She's looking so good and putting on weight, despite not being on milk feeds at the moment due to a tummy bleed earlier this week. There are a few things that are being monitored quite closely by the medical staff - possible concerns - but things that with time and growth will either prove themselves to be legitimate, or, as we pray and hope, nothing worth worrying about. This roller coaster ride is so tough on the emotions! We have to try not to let our non-medical minds wander into all worst-case scenarios, but find that quiet space of peace and have patience to wait and see, trusting and praying all the while that all will be well no matter the outcome. And as our sweet one grows I pray for many hours over the coming weeks to cuddle her and talk with her and spend time with her until we can bring her home.<br />
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On the home front my mum is our hero. She moved in with us just before I went into hospital the first time, and will be with us until Elea is home in July, all going well. She has made a lot of tough sacrifices in her choice to do this, but her presence has been such an incredible help (plus I love her company!) and stability for our other three little people. She has kept them in great routines and run our household single-handedly for much of the time. Our three have done so well but it's also been understandably unsettling to have mummy disappear in the middle of the night to go into hospital (twice) and then have to share our time with their little sister who is in a hospital across the city from our home. Having mum here to keep them settled and secure has been an amazing blessing. I'm acutely aware of my inability to thank her equally in return for as much as she has given, knowing it's not easy to run someone else's home at the best of times. We're so thankful for a mum who puts her love into action and carries an incredible load to serve us.<br />
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Here's to a healthy week, plenty of cuddles with our littlest,quality time with our precious three at home, and much encouragement and refreshment for an awesome Superma!<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-51246075068020107292015-05-11T21:23:00.001+12:002015-05-11T22:30:44.854+12:00:: on swings and roundabouts :: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So much has happened since my last post many months ago! I never meant to leave this little space unattended for so long, but never really found the words to put to any of my thoughts, so kept putting it off until now as we're embarking on a journey that almost requires words to be written down to help process each day.<br />
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A week ago today we had a déjà vu experience. I was just over 31 weeks pregnant and couldn't sleep because of uncomfortable tummy tightnings...which hadn't happened during my pregnancy until then. After having a complication-free pregnancy with Théo I was pretty confident that the girls' was just a one-off and they came so early because they were twins. But this 3rd pregnancy ended up being the most complicated and stressful of them all! After a close call at just over 24 weeks and two weeks in hospital, every day passed was a milestone. So it was wonderful to get into the 30's! But a week ago I soon realised that that was as far as we were going to get and our beautiful little girl was delivered by emergency caesarian not much longer after arriving at the hospital for an assessment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdavvEKZoufIv4HzvEYYEpLl_CBAwlMZW_ByA3kiTxjUZwJbsnsqIO4ZPKiDOtYb0QEGlMXfYQ99yYJhaRIa2Dd7F3Rndb16nXFw7bYFOcSDXioBFHFYzWGRh_JqAYPXC4nZkmMGrQBmb/s1600/11224122_10153188412290831_6495979176323348655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdavvEKZoufIv4HzvEYYEpLl_CBAwlMZW_ByA3kiTxjUZwJbsnsqIO4ZPKiDOtYb0QEGlMXfYQ99yYJhaRIa2Dd7F3Rndb16nXFw7bYFOcSDXioBFHFYzWGRh_JqAYPXC4nZkmMGrQBmb/s1600/11224122_10153188412290831_6495979176323348655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>We're thrilled to welcome Eléa Agnès Joy into our family. Her original birth weight was noted as a healthy 1690g, but when she lost 330g within her first few days, the doctors decided there must have been a mistake and put her back at approximately 1500g. That did seem more realistic, given her tiny size! She's perfection in miniature and our only dark-haired baby. We were a little shell-shocked with the quick turn of events that morning, but just so thankful that she was alive given the timing of getting to the hospital that morning and realising I was well and truly in labour with very little time left to spare, and learning of other factors later that could easily have led to stillbirth. I think she was more shell-shocked to have suddenly found herself out of her safe, cosy little home. A few minutes after birth she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated, which was very scary for Eti who was there with her. Thankfully she recovered and after being put on the ventilator for a few minutes, she was back on the CPAP.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdavvEKZoufIv4HzvEYYEpLl_CBAwlMZW_ByA3kiTxjUZwJbsnsqIO4ZPKiDOtYb0QEGlMXfYQ99yYJhaRIa2Dd7F3Rndb16nXFw7bYFOcSDXioBFHFYzWGRh_JqAYPXC4nZkmMGrQBmb/s1600/11224122_10153188412290831_6495979176323348655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>One thing about premature babies in the neonatal world is that it really is a rollercoaster ride. In the first days there are highs but plenty of lows. Eventually, as time passes, the highs continue in increasing frequency, and the lows start to slowly disappear (in our situation - not all unfortunately). With the passing time, and having to learn how to live one day at a time, the scary moments of the past start to fade and, with our girls, I soon got to the point that they were healthy and thriving like other babies their age, that I had very few memories of those early days that held so many doubts, tests and scary unknowns. It's been a bit of a shock to have to revisit those memories in the reality of another precious tiny baby, albeit one who started life at 1500g rather than 700g, which is a more encouraging place to start from.</div>
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I find myself longing to hear the word 'normal' as often as I can with any updates on Eléa's progress. 'Abnormal,' on the other hand, is the word that brings with it a lot of fear and it can be very hard to keep my mind from wandering to all the possibilities. Today I've heard 'abnormal' three times and it's been really tough on my emotions. Also being the third day in a row that I haven't been able to go to see her because of sickness doesn't help! What does help is that the Neonatal consultant (the top doctor) and specialist nurse are not too concerned, which rests my overworked mind somewhat, especially because I know from all his very serious questions and investigations that he would not hold back on saying if he was concerned. There are a lot of 'wait and see' situations, so we can't do much but wait and pray for the best outcome for sweet Eléa. And I have to ask myself what I expect and how I would respond if things don't match what my idea of 'good' looks like. We are surrounded by friends all over the world who are praying, as we were with the girls, which is an enormous encouragement. Just knowing we're not alone and that they are holding us up and sending us words of truth and life mean so much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdavvEKZoufIv4HzvEYYEpLl_CBAwlMZW_ByA3kiTxjUZwJbsnsqIO4ZPKiDOtYb0QEGlMXfYQ99yYJhaRIa2Dd7F3Rndb16nXFw7bYFOcSDXioBFHFYzWGRh_JqAYPXC4nZkmMGrQBmb/s1600/11224122_10153188412290831_6495979176323348655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdavvEKZoufIv4HzvEYYEpLl_CBAwlMZW_ByA3kiTxjUZwJbsnsqIO4ZPKiDOtYb0QEGlMXfYQ99yYJhaRIa2Dd7F3Rndb16nXFw7bYFOcSDXioBFHFYzWGRh_JqAYPXC4nZkmMGrQBmb/s1600/11224122_10153188412290831_6495979176323348655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So, here we are a week into our new journey and so proud of the enormous effort our Eléa has given in her first week of life. She has had a few stable days in a row now, which is wonderful. Her lungs really struggled for the first couple of days but seem to be strengthening, and she has been so brave with all her blood tests, numerous IV lines being put in and taken out, scans, and monitoring. We're thankful she's in the very best place she can be right now and that the medical team are really taking her situation seriously, looking at every possibility. They can't give us any promises or hope in these early days, which is typical in the Neonatal world, but we can trust that they are doing their best, and we can find our hope in a good God who loves each of us beyond our understanding and look for the many things to be thankful for each day to help combat the fears and worries that are quick to move in.<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-86637038960751988302014-10-11T02:28:00.000+13:002014-10-11T02:30:34.120+13:00:: a hidden treasure of beauty and peace ::Yesterday, with a dear friend who spent most of this past week with us, we visited a beautiful little lake in the forest at the bottom of mountain. We have also been here on three other occasions, in different seasons, first in the <a href="http://lilygeorgie.blogspot.ch/2012/03/lake-of-beauty.html" target="_blank">winter</a>, then in the <a href="http://lilygeorgie.blogspot.ch/2012/05/muguets-forest-adventures.html" target="_blank">spring</a> and then shortly before we moved to Switzerland in the <a href="http://lilygeorgie.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/end-of-season.html" target="_blank">autumn</a>. It's one of my favourite little spots - tucked away in the forest and so peaceful. The autumn colours are starting to arrive lower down the mountain, so this time the colours were in between seasons. The weather was just starting to close in, so we were thankful to arrive just minutes before the wind picked up and the raindrops began to fall. So beautiful! <br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-59752278527352913882014-10-07T00:55:00.000+13:002017-08-15T09:54:22.547+12:00:: une grillade beside the lake :: <br />
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One thing I have always loved here is to make a fire and cook our dinner over it. For our last evening with our family in Bevaix, the proposed plan was to go down to the lakeside and do just that. The morning had started off rather grey and miserable looking further up the mountain, but as the day went on the sun appeared and the clouds dispersed. After our venture around the countryside, we arrived home and helped prepare quickly to go out again before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. It was a calm, warm evening with hardly a soul about, and it was a wonderful way to spend the best part of our last evening together, in the beauty of nature, with delicious food and fun company. It was equally special to see Eti's aunt and uncle, interacting with and loving our little people with much laughter and fun, as two little girls had turns riding Dutch-style on the back of Aunty Linda's bicycle, and then had a joyful game of <i>cache cache </i>(hide & seek) in the dark while waiting for us to catch up with them.<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-83420645836960718042014-10-07T00:41:00.000+13:002014-10-07T00:41:34.007+13:00:: la pointe de l'areuse : neuchâtel ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-73317841530653500642014-10-07T00:28:00.000+13:002014-10-07T00:38:50.188+13:00:: bevaix :: <br />
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Last week we spent a lovely couple of days with Eti's aunt and uncle in their new home beside the lake of Neuchâtel. Previously they owned a home in this village and we lived in their upstairs apartment - a lovely home with beautiful views and one that will always hold precious memories of our time here in Switzerland. We had a great time with them discovering the area they now call home with a variety of modes of transport - from bikes, to scooters, pushchair, boat, car and by foot. The weather was beautiful!<br />
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One thing I love about Switzerland and miss is the ease of access all over the countryside. There are many pathways that are free of cars. In nature - fields and forests - there is very little private land and public access is granted almost everywhere. In this particular area there is a long pathway alongside the lake that, for the most part, is only for walking and cycling, so it makes it a very safe place for children learning how to scooter and bike!<br />
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The lake was like glass during our first day. We eagerly took up the invitation to go out on their boat and enjoyed a rather unique way of travelling to the nearby playground! <br />
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As in our local region, the landscape was striped with vineyards. It is currently the <i>vendages</i>, the time of grape harvesting. Like in Alsace, we passed tractors and vehicles carrying large bins of freshly picked grapes.<br />
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After the playground we navigated a very territorial goose in the port and returned back home across the smooth waters, enjoying the beautiful views and the company. We're thankful for these moments to catch up with people who mean a lot to us and to be treated by such generous hospitality, weather and moments that we are so thankful for. <br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-37054903163132776752014-10-06T21:39:00.001+13:002014-10-06T22:15:11.846+13:00:: bon dimanche! ::<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWulWGwjeDaeW5NoTa_NyhEUzcaDwgJ79xS7gvAHfpruRRNX_jLeFF3Gpe5DKcSgwaqln6FCptTWMrFSKPpwwpKQti0UZeSCTIvKoahrHu3dGzwmzsjCyuOz0I_e1j5DL-vAUKPfxAOs9/s1600/IMG_6095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWulWGwjeDaeW5NoTa_NyhEUzcaDwgJ79xS7gvAHfpruRRNX_jLeFF3Gpe5DKcSgwaqln6FCptTWMrFSKPpwwpKQti0UZeSCTIvKoahrHu3dGzwmzsjCyuOz0I_e1j5DL-vAUKPfxAOs9/s1600/IMG_6095.JPG" height="auto" width="750" /></a>The Autumn weather has truly arrived here over the last few days. It seems to have pushed the unseasonably (but welcomed!) warm days away, changing the colours of nature rapidly with its cool winds, rising and falling fog and occasional rain and thunder storms. We had quite a full house over this past weekend. Eti's aunt came from the south east of France for the weekend and one of our close friends also joined us for a couple of days from the German part of Switzerland. There was a flurry of activity with little people around and multiple conversations, stories and game-playing, but it was fun and cosy. <br />
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We managed to find a small slot of time to go out for a walk around the neighbourhood, arriving back just in time to miss the arrival of the rain and thunder. I marvelled at the rapid change in the surrounding nature. When we arrived here the autumn colours were barely evident. Now, dare I admit it, winter feels closer. </div>
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The rest of our afternoon was spent indoors, everyone occupied and interacting with a variety of activities. I sat back a little and tried to capture some memories of people we will soon be saying goodbye to.<br />
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This friend is a very special one to me and has become very special to all of us. We met several years ago when we were both living and working together in England. We have shared many adventures together since. I admire her very much for her ability to lead people, to integrate easily into different cultures and to travel not so much for her own fulfillment, but to really get know others and share life with them. We worked more closely together when leading a team in Israel and Palestine a few years ago and I hold such dear memories of that time. She's a friend who is not scared to challenge me and to ask deeper questions about life and faith. She manages to fill her life with richness that inspires me in many ways. Though a nurse in her day-job, several times she has been able to travel into post-disaster zones, such as Haiti, Pakistan and the Philippines with a disaster relief team, bring medical and emotional support. Though she may not see so, she lives a full life and, though we live a very long way away from each other these days, I count myself very blessed to share life together with her and have such a generous godmother to our little girls! <br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-62160043876303840222014-10-04T23:36:00.002+13:002014-10-04T23:36:35.631+13:00:: europa park ::On Monday we spent a day at <a href="http://www.europapark.de/en" target="_blank">Europa Park</a> in the south of Germany. We arrived late in the afternoon the day before and spent the night in the camping ground attached to the park. During my last visit several years ago I didn't realise there was such a place, but it was just perfect for us all. The bathrooms were all in Wild West theme and there was an amazing lake area surrounded with cabins, Wild West-style restaurants and even Indian teepees for people to stay in! The girls had arrived earlier in the day with Eti's parents and had enjoyed exploring the area already with them. For the first few hours we had the visual and audio soundtrack of one of the park's rollercoasters and all of the screams that came with every drop, twist and turn. But as the evening passed, the night became peaceful and we all rested up for the big day ahead.<br />
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The next morning, once we were up, dressed and fed, we walked the short distance over to the park. We had assumed that, being a Monday and not during school holiday time, the park would be relatively empty. But it appeared that at least some parts of Switzerland had a day off as there was a surprisingly large number of people who had shared the same thoughts as us! <br />
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The park had just been decorated for Autumn and there were literally thousands of pumpkins everywhere! Throughout the day we wondered aloud what they might do with them all when they change the decorations again! Obviously the local pumpkin growers had landed themselves quite the deal supplying the park! <br />
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This visit was quite different to the last, when I was with Eti and my brothers and felt somewhat obliged to join them on all the fast, crazy, terrifying rides. This time around was a lot more peaceful and enjoyable in contrast, as we rode on little boats that went through caves filled with fairies, frogs and mushrooms, 'flew' on a Leonardo Di Vince-styled contraption, took train rides around the park and numerous turns on the merry-go-round. It's an amazing place for all ages and, for the most part, the girls really enjoyed themselves (I had just forgotten the part of the log flume ride that had us drenched!). <br />
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Near the end of the day I asked Elise if she had enjoyed Europa Park. She replied "Where is Europa Park??" I think both of the girls were somewhat mystified about what "Europa Park" was, but they nonetheless enjoyed themselves! We discovered the playground area right at the end and it was declared the winner of the day, along with the merry-go-round. It was a very warm, full day full of emotions - from enjoyment, laughter, energy to tiredness, unexpected moments, so it was no surprise that there were three little people who slept the whole way back home to Switzerland. I hope that, for the girls, it will be held as a fun and magical part of their childhood memories. For us it will definitely hold precious family memories!<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-74448012499500949432014-10-04T22:33:00.000+13:002014-10-04T22:51:37.074+13:00:: strasbourg ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Sunday I was very spoilt with the opportunity to visit the city of Strasbourg. I had heard enough to know that it is a beautiful city - the architecture is unique to the area and the river that flows through adds to the beauty. Each year Strasbourg is home to magical Christmas markets that fill it's centre city lanes. We were a bit early to experience this, but it was a treat to be there in the early autumn as the leaves turn into a spectrum of golden hues.<br />
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As we approached the city the silhouette of the distant cathedral was intriguing. I had heard about Strasbourg's beautiful cathedral, but had never seen a photo. Up close the detail and architecture is quite mind-blowing. How such a structure was created almost 1000 years ago. Incredible!<br />
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The cathedral has quite a special history in our family. The cousin of Eti's mother's (Catherine) father played the organ there for many years. It's an intricately crafted instrument in and of itself, so there is understandably a sense of pride that a part of this beautiful cathedral and city is close to the wider family. We took the opportunity to see the city from up high in the cathedral, climbing up 330-odd spiralling steps worn with grooves from the thousands who have gone before us. It was well worth the climb to have an almost-360 degree view of the city from high above, as you will see in the photos further down. The day was unseasonably but enjoyably warm. It was a very enjoyable visit and there were several tired but happy campers who arrived an hour or so later at the Europa Park camping ground to rest up for a full day ahead!<br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-12388373363094678332014-10-01T09:10:00.000+13:002014-10-01T09:10:39.390+13:00:: en alsace ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We arrived home late last night after spending four days away. Three of which were in Alsace, a region in the north-east of France, for the wedding of one of Eti's cousins. It's a beautiful part of France and has always put on beautiful weather every time I've visited! We travelled up on Friday with Eti's parents - a small convoy of campervan and car - taking our time so that we could visit one of the many beautiful villages in the area.<br />
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Eti's dad picked out the village of Riquewihr for us to explore. They had been there during the winter to go one of the many Christmas market throughout the region (one of my dreams!) and remembered it as being beautiful. And it was! We arrived mid-afternoon and spent the next hour or so wandering around the cobbled streets, sharing bretzels, peering into shops and going through the most amazing year-round Christmas decoration store. Several trucks and tractors pulling numerous bins of freshly picked grapes passed us on their way to be made into wine, which this part of Alsace is well known for. Of course we couldn't leave without having a true <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarte_flamb%C3%A9e" target="_blank"><i>tarte flambée</i></a> and glass of pinot gris, both originating from Alsace itself. The three little people all enjoyed their "pique-y l'eau" (aka sparkling water). It was all very delicious! <br />
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The following morning we drove a little further north, past the city of Strasbourg, for the wedding. The weather was stunning, and the location was beautiful. It was great to see all of Eti's family. His mother grew up in Alsace and all of her family are there. We have always enjoyed each time we've visited with them. They are lovely, a lot of fun and great hosts. There have been some very memorable moments, including an "English evening" and an 'international' petanque competition with my brothers a few years ago when we were all on holiday in the south together! The wedding was lovely and it was a great way to catch up with everyone, though it was fleeting. With three very tired little ones to put to bed later in the evening, the time passed all too quickly. Hopefully our <i>"next time"</i> won't be too far away.<br />
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After camping overnight in the car park of the hall where the reception was
held, we woke to a new day and a little girl with a temperature of 39.5.
We've all been up and down with health over the last while and for the
first couple of hours we questioned what was best to do. Thankfully
after a dose of paracetamol she bounded back pretty quickly and declared that "I
feel all better now, Mummy!" and was off running around and scootering
outside. Our plan was to cross the border into Germany and spend the
night there then the following day at Europa Park. Eti's parents offered
to head off there early and get settled in so the girls could have a
rest, while we went to visit the city of Strasbourg. Seeing that Amélie's temperature seemed to be responding well to the paracetamol, we decided to take up their offer and went off with Théo, Eti's brothers Nath, Tim and Fred, and Fred's fiancée to visit the city that I had heard much about and was eager to see for myself! I will give Strasbourg it's own post to save you from drowning in too many photos all at once! In the meantime, here are some more from our beautiful little afternoon in Riquewihr...</div>
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-946260351160994232014-09-26T18:56:00.000+12:002014-09-26T18:56:30.276+12:00:: chickens ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-58936932145470660502014-09-24T08:41:00.000+12:002014-09-24T08:41:20.671+12:00:: une promenade en famille ::<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1032468113602800146.post-36859258944955483802014-09-24T08:15:00.001+12:002014-09-24T19:44:37.740+12:00:: l'amicizia :: <br />
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Friends help make life a more beautiful shared experience. There are friendships that develop over years of growing up together or going through school together, through sharing the same workplace, church or through various groups that we join with our children, among many other places. Some friendships naturally fade over time as we move in different directions, and some pick up instantly when we're face to face again, even if years have passed in between. Then there are the friendships that are built through walking through unique but very similar experiences that involve a roller coaster ride of joy, fear, tears and celebrations. This is a friendship we share with a precious family and it is one that means a lot to me.<br />
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Four years ago, when our tiny little girls were just over a month old, I was with Elise one morning in the highest level of intensive care in the Neonatal unit. She had just been transferred back there, being re-intubated and in isolation with a possible infection. During that morning I noticed a couple come into the room to visit their newly born twins. While I didn't want to invade their privacy of such a precious moment of their first interactions with their tiny little boys (weighing just around a kilo each), there was something about what I observed in those minutes that I identified so closely with, that it was quite emotional. It touched me because it seemed that their experience of these first moments was so close to our own only four weeks earlier. It's hard to describe with words those moments of joy mixed with fear when we first glimpse our fragile, perfectly miniature little babies fighting to breathe and to live when they should still have been inside for many more weeks.<br />
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I can't remember much of our interactions during the following days and weeks, and whether or not we actually talked, except that often when we passed we would catch each other's eyes and smile. In the neonatal unit there were babies there for all sorts of reasons. Some parents would make eye contact and we would talk, others would avoid any contact - which was more than understandable given the circumstances. We lived in a studio in an apartment building that belonged to the hospital. Renovation work was about to begin and we learned that we would be moving into other hospital apartments just 5 minutes up the road and we would be sharing an apartment with another family. When speaking with the social services staff I asked if it might be possible that we could share with this couple. She immediately laughed and said that they had just asked if they could share with us! And so began our friendship...<br />
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For the next several weeks we shared a little apartment together. Eti and Joe travelled back and forth between jobs at home and the hospital and Cindy and I spent our days between care times with our babies and resting, eating and doing various jobs that more than filled our days! They came from the Italian part of Switzerland, so our little home was filled with the sounds of Italian, Spanish, French and English, as each of us had a different mother tongue. We shared meals (they're amazing cooks!), small gifts from time to time and daily updates about how our babies were doing. There were good days and hard days, but it really was a gift to walk through them together, sharing an understanding of what it meant to experience the rollercoaster of Neonatal life. There were tears when our babies were struggling, and celebrations when they were doing well. There was also a lot of laughter (including a late-night incident when my mum had to kill a big spider because neither I nor Cindy would dare go near it!). Amélie and Gabriel came 'home' to live with us around the same time, while Elise and Manuel had a much longer road before they were able to. These moments were what helped make some really good memories in what was a stressful time.<br />
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We've caught up with each other several times since we parted ways and went home with our babies almost four years ago. We lived over 4 hours from each other here in Switzerland, but we visited each other in our homes, or when they came back to the hospital for check ups. (You can see some photos from our last visit to their home over two years ago <a href="http://lilygeorgie.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/theres-no-where-like-switzerland-our.html" target="_blank">here</a>). This past February they flew all the way to New Zealand and spent a month travelling around the country, staying with us for several days at the beginning and the end. And we have just spent the last four days with them in their beautiful part of the country.<br />
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Our children are now four years old and those early days seem like distant memories. But our friendship has continued despite the distance and time. It has been a lot of strength for me over these first few years to have friends who know what it is like to fear for your child's life, to know what it's like to protect them against sicknesses that are ok for most children but very risky for those born prematurely. They know exactly what it has been like to battle to get others to understand those risks and to tread very carefully on behalf of our children in the early years. Thankfully many of those risks are over as the years have passed although, for them especially, there are still fragile lungs to protect. But overall it's incredible to see our children now, running around and full of strength of character, and to think back to where they have come from! It's fun to sit back sometimes and listen to the chatter of Italian, Spanish, French and English, to not understand the children but to speak French among ourselves (the one language we have the most in common). Eti and Joe often laugh at the 'French' that Cindy and I speak or write together, but we understand each other well enough ;o)<br />
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So we returned back to Eti's parents' home last night after spending a long weekend with Cindy, Joe and their boys. They treated us with the wonderful generosity and hospitality that they have shown us from the moment our friendship began. I wish we could repay them as generously, but in reading this, Cindy, know that you all mean a lot to us and we look forward to all the future visits we will have together :o)<br />
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We visited many beautiful places in their part of Ticino/Tessin, the Italian part of Switzerland. It has quite a different climate to our mountain village here - warm, almost tropical and as beautiful as Switzerland can be! We visited the old city of Locarno, took the gondola up to Cardada, the three castles in Bellinzona and briefly re-visited the stunning clear waters of the Valle Verzasca before our departure, in between being filled to the brim with delicious food and specialities from the area. <br />
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Until next time! <i>A la prochaine </i>:o) <br />
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<br />remaliahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987208566270829465noreply@blogger.com4