Luna

Recently we took a trip up to the Westmead Children's Hospital to see the Pediatric Orthopedics specialist and get Archie's Perthes'disease checked. We might have done that at home if his specialist hadn't been in the papers all year for serious surgical negligence, recently suspended, with more news coming out a couple of weeks ago of unethical experimental treatment on a nine year old (seriously, what a creep!). Instead we travelle dto Sydney. We spent Saturday catching a bus down to the Rocks and then the Manly Ferry out to the beach. Not that we swam, maybe not that warm, but t-shirt weather. The biggest blessing though is this: Archie's bone has made a full recovery since diagnosis six years ago. The amount of bone growth in the last 18 months has been astounding with complete regrowth of the femoral head and close on the original shape. I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise given how much he has grown in general (and how much he eats!) but at no po

Last week was my fifth infusion of Intragram . Even though I was told it would get easier  as the months wore on, it hasn't. The days afterwards are still a lot like you'd imagine the after effects of colliding with a Mac truck would be, with at least one day on the bath room tiles surfing waves of nausea. This time around was my kind of weather - a classic hot summer day, the school holidays and the bliss of retreating into a cool, still home afterwards. Archie had had his birthday party the weekend before at "Tunzafun" - little boy heaven with dodgems, laser tag (whatever that is), and unlimited games - and all the presents he'd received from invitees were still strewn over the lounge room floor. He is still spending hours playing blissfully constructing, sorting, building etc.  Before long, with myself parked on the lounge just watching him idly, no thoughts about what I needed to get up and do next, a sense of contentment had come over the room. For the

First week of school holidays. I get up and thank Archie for letting mummy sleep in so late. Archie suggests reward for himself - game of badminton for us in the rain but we agree instead to drawing undersea tableaux. Assemble large piece of paper, coloured pencils and sticker book of sea creatures for inspiration. Agree Archie will draw shark with me assigned to humble cowfish. Unfortunately forego discussion on scale and upset erupts when we realise Cowfish is much bigger than shark, not reflecting reality. I explain perspective — that maybe Cowfish is closer to us and shark off in background. Explanation makes thing worse. Shark meant to be major player, capable of eating Cowfish. Explain again principles of perspective. Ruby is laughing. Archie is angry at older sister laughing, after all what is so funny? Send Ruby to bedroom. Agree to begin new undersea tableaux where shark is major player. Careful to check specifications for new Cowfish. Cowfish gets axe. Further clarification

One of Archie's favourite things to do is collect bugs and study them. Every month my mother buys him a bug magazine that comes with a collectable real life insect or bug petrified in a block of perspex. Can't help but notice bug magazine editors are obsessed with bug sex. Every time walk past Archie's room at bed time Col is reading him the latest instalment of bug sex life in lurid detail. "Eeeew" I think to myself. "Don't be so immature!" Col calls out. Ooops. Had not realised I was thinking aloud again. After school Archie catches a Cricket then studies reference material to determine the cricket is female. He then sets outside again to find cricket a life partner to mate with. Jackpot! Doesn't take long. My, that was quick! I say. Archie introduces crickets to one another then sets about making their tupperware home comfortable, complete with flower petals (their preferred food) and some mood setting grass. Having read they lay their eggs

Bigger than than the sum of it's parts? For Ruby's bedroom I made this chandelier, combining two of our favourite things - Kokeshi dolls and an old chandelier -a lucky junk shop pick up for $5. The kokechi dolls more expensive than we would have liked but by then we were fixed on the idea.

About a year ago,Archie made a sudden switch to his Dad as Most Favoured Parent, as boys do around this age. That's a while ago now but doesn't mean I have given up trying. In fact I have come up with a brilliant reverse psychology strategy that involves going in to say goodnight, after story time with Dad, and saying I just want to give him a little cuddle, but please no kisses . It goes like this. Me: Goodnight. I'm just going to give you a quick cuddle. Remember though no kisses. Him: (confused, and hiding under the covers to resist my cuddle): No kisses? Why not? You love kisses. Me: Yeah, I used to. But not any more. Him: (still confused) But why? Me: (casual) I don't know why. I just don't like them. So just a very quick cuddle. What happens then is I get covered in hundreds of little delicious quick kisses ("just to annoy you"). I know what you're thinking: I really should write a parenting book.