This Old Home

We have moved from house to apartment. From suburbia to the city.

A good friend of mine said to me, upon the news that Cam, the kids and I would be moving; that most people want to venture out into the country. The rolling green hills, the fresh air, the space. And whatever else draws one toward there. For Cam and I, our kind of country - is the city. For now, I guess. A time and a season, the saying goes.

For me, I think it's in my blood that I am drawn to the city. I was born in Melbourne city, and raised for the most part of life here. Although we moved home when I was eight years old from Lygon Street, Carlton to 30km away, my parents and siblings commuted everyday to the city for school & work. 

A good part of me is here in this city. Now being here with my husband and children is surreal and wonderful and crazy and awesome. The scariest part of moving was having four children under six years of age and walking the traffic-ridden streets. But they are more sensible than I would have thought. For the most part. 

Instead of waking up and looking out our window to uncovered skies and suburban homes, we wake up each morning to sky scrapers and terraces and brick heritage buildings. There are many moments I find myself staring out the window to this kind of world.

We opted to try the lifestyle walking everywhere. Walking and catching the tram to work, school and kindergarten. Exactly what my parents and siblings did as a young family. I think of them often and love them for those wonderful memories they gave us. 

I drive once a week, too and from church. 

I walk to Victoria Market around the corner for fresh produce. The market is an amazing place to be. It's like a hub for people to be whoever they want to be. In style, in personality, and whatever else.

Walking home from school, I love the big tall trees in the gardens where I used to roam and play as a child. If only trees could talk. I become nostalgic and remember as a child this old home. And walking down local streets like Grattan & Elgin. And then I see before me, my own children who are now that age.

Cam takes the girls to walk & catch the tram each morning to school and kindergarten, on his way to work. I like to watch my girls when we sit on the tram and wonder what they are thinking, taking in their environment. I wonder what I used to think, when I was the age my kids are now, in this environment. The parks are wonderfully kept, and there is much to do for them.

We see so many people. Business worker to university student. There are tradesmen and cranes on nearly every block. Architecture richly diverse.

Melbourne is a city with so many wonderful and unknown things to do. I look forward to finding out what those things are with Cam and the kids.

It's nice to be back. And to make this old home once mine, our new home.

Irra

The First Days

For the last four good years, I've been the stay-at-home mum. And some weeks I really have felt like I've stayed at home for the good part (You mamas know what I'm talking about?).
Sometimes it felt like it would last a long while, and the days of my eldest child, and children following suit - would be a long while before they would come. And now we are almost a week past that long while. Our two girls - one has started her first year of prep, and her year younger sister has started four-year-old kinder, this week past.

Just. Crazy.

People always say "time flies!" but really, time has come and gone swiftly and sometimes it's a hard pill to swallow that I'm 26, and not 20 (which is what I feel like still) from when our having children began.  Six years later, four precious cherubs to join our little family. Or the 'Walshies' which is what some friends and family have dubbed us.

So we share with you our beginnings, as we begin our First Day: Luaipou's First Day at School, and Vaiola's First Day at Kindergarten.

The girls have been super excited for the school term to get going, since before Christmas (and what a crazy rush of events it was preceeding Christmas!)

We call Luaipou 'Pouey', and Vaiola 'La'.

Pouey has been super excited for school, as she was for kinder. She can be a little shy too. But her shy sweet self, never completely stops her from participating in activities. She is a gentle soul, and with motherly instincts quite intact - we're certain being the eldest of four children under the age of six has stimulated this. The night before we tried on her uniform to get into school mode, she beamed with pride.

As for me, her mummy, I knew she was quite ready for school, and ready to blossom from this learning phase of her childhood. I was excited too, and had no apprehension at letting her go. She is just a blessing to our family in many ways, and I couldn't wait to watch her sprout into the beautiful young girl she has always been, and becoming even moreso.

A good day always starts with breakfast, and smiles..

I guess I had anticipated this day, and her school was good in preparing all the students meeting them a couple times last year, getting to know them etc. I felt quite comfortable our little girl would be fine. With the dressing, getting ready, and breakfast-ing of our other three children, perhaps that was a good distraction to disguise my nerves. She was excited, and a little nervous at the same time. I know I was definitely shy as a child, first day of school could be pretty intimidating for children I imagine.

We say our family prayer, and this day, was somehow a little different and maybe just that much more sweeter (or somewhat sombre) that we were farewelling our eldest daughter and sister. I thought about how she had been home with me everyday since she was born. What a blessing it was that I had that time with her. Precious time watching her reach her milestones, precious time in pyjamas all day, precious time - having no real schedule! Or at least an everyday school schedule. Those five years have come, but haven't really gone so quickly, as I have been able to be at home with her. I feel grateful for that blessing.

This is a precious photo to me, Pouey playing in the car with her little brother Donovan. Donovan just  adores little Pouey. She was the next person after me, who he would give kisses too - and for timid reserved Donovan that's certainly saying a lot!

So, we accomplish the seven minute drive from home unscathed. And we find a car park conveniently in right by her classroom. Looking through the fence of the primary school could be metaphoric in various ways. Through the gates was the beginning of a new world, and as I was becoming nostalgic, Pouey nudged me and was eager and ready to step through those gates.

We were lucky to have proud Grandma come with us, share this milestone with us too. Grandchild # 2, of 8, to become a preppy.

We said our goodbyes, and Cam and I, daddy and mummy, both gave her a kiss just inside the doorway and watched her walk to the mat and sit down with the other children. We walked out, and peeked through the closed door - and there she was attentive to her teach Miss Wallace - and didn't look back.

Sigh of relief. And no tears from her. Or me! Hooray!

When I went with the kids to pick her up from school on her first day, she was still beaming. And I was sure she had grown in maturity, just a little more.

She has just completed her first week of school as of today. Ta daa!

One of her favourite things (and naturally instinctive) when we pick her up from school is to greet her siblings and take Donovan from my hands immediately. And Donovan is quite satisfied with this too.

 

And so there it is. Pouey's first week at primary school.

And, last but not least, or second eldest child Vaiola has completed her first week of kinder. Two days, seven and a half hours each day her schedule. (People ask as I do, what ever will I do with myself with two children gone, and two children left at home? Cleaning. Probably.)

Vaiola is sweet and innocently talkative (Yes, we all have a talkative one, right?) Not really shy, and has been asking since last November, when will it be her turn attend kinder. And that time couldn't have come any sooner for her.
She eased into her first day well and was so excited to carry her school bag and make the two minute walk to kinder from home (great, huh?!) I was able to walk La to her first day of kinder on my own. I appreciate (as I'm sure my kids do) the one-on-one time I have with the kids and try to give my attention to them exclusively in these moments. But there aren't too many of these moments, having four rambunctious children, so when they come - they are special.

She was super excited to head to her first day of kinder. And when we arrived a little early, we had to wait for her teacher Miss Alyssa to open the door. A few minutes of waiting, were a few minutes too long for Miss Impatience! Waiting.. and waiting.. you know, five minutes to a child can feel like five hours..

And then I did the sign in (I had this downpact from the previous year sending Pouey to kinder) so the routine really felt like I was continuing with La. And then we were in, thanks to Miss Alyssa.

La found her locker for her bag, she put her snack on the snack time trolley whilst I snagged a permanent marker from Miss Alyssa to name La's bottle (which should have already been previously named, oops). La found her way to the sitting mat and her expression was nervous, excited and quite content to send me off with a wave goodbye. I couldn't help but hang around for a few moments longer to enjoy this exciting time for her and watch her relish the moment of finally being at kinder. She is a gem. Especially with that scrumptious no-lip smile.

Pouey is able to come and pick La up from kinder with me, and she is just as eager as I am to find out how La's first day at kinder went. And typically, it was successful. One of my favourite things about my children, are the moments (yes, not always) when they are proud of their siblings, and give each other comfort or support through hugs and words of kindness.

La had a great day. And Miss Alyssa says La is a happy child who likes to talk a lot (of course I laugh with no surprise) and comments she is one of the better 'listener's' in the class (this time I laugh with surprise). And so, we love our little Lala, who by the way, was nicknamed by her older sister.

And so it is, the week of 'firsts' for our family. Which also will precedent many 'firsts' to come.

I love families. And can see how every family, including mine, are meant to be together. Forever.

Our Donovan; from none to One.

Three children was quite comfortable for us, in fact with three children in the First World you can have the typical five seater car, a two or three bedroom house or apartment even, or even a bench with three stools at breakfast time for those three children. We were content and comfortable, life may have been a little more predictable even, and whilst our eldest child was quite a responsible four year old daughter, on family outings Campbell and I could hold the hand of our other two young children and be mindful of them all in safety in public quite comfortably. Doing a trip to the grocery store it was quite doable taking them, whether holding their hands or all in the trolley.

Life with three kids was comfort zone for us, or me at least I would say.

I could feel the comfort zone boundaries of three, have the capability of being stretched a little - a fourth child perhaps? Could a fourth child possibly fit into the image above? I was 25, my husband 27 at the time the photo above was taken. It was common for people to think we were 'crazy' having children so close together; and it was also as UNcommon for people to believe we planned it this way. Perhaps not seen as often in families and this modern society. Nonetheless we wanted to be parents in our prime, and is probably the best decision I think we have made to date, apart from choosing to marry each other.

The answer to question; could another child possibly fit into that image above? Yes, indeedy. 

We fell pregnant with our fourth child around the month of April of 2011. We had decided, contrary to what we had previously done with our previous three children, that we would not find the gender of child number 4. Partly because it didn't matter the gender, and we found it a little exciting to anticipate the surprise. 

Pregnancy with baby 'x' was good, I was probably the most health conscious with this pregnancy and made effort to eat well and have a brisk walk most mornings. I felt great, pregnancy appointments all fine, what other can one expect than a good birth and healthy baby? I was grateful.

At 35 weeks into my pregnancy, a Tuesday evening while Campbell attended his Bishopric duties, I recall tidying up the dinner dishes and sitting down with my son two year old son, Bruce, and I felt strange pains from my belly. Surely not a contraction I thought,  I continued with kids night routine, bath, story time, tucking in. Fast forward to 9pm that evening, these pains became consistent, up until about 4am the next morning - and baby 'x' was born! A beautiful boy, weighing about 6 pound, a healthy weight for a baby 5 weeks premature. 

We had decided on a name be it a boy, and our babe was named Donovan Moli Walshe.

Donovan, is the name of my beautiful brother who has passed, and Moli the name of my dear father.

What a lovely surprise, and even a sigh of relief I didn't have to carry for another 5 weeks, the strains of pregnancy in the final trimester.

First photo taken of Donovan. Moment with mummy post-birth before visitors.

He was a beautiful straight-light-haired boy with features that were distinct and reminiscent of Campbell (I thought!) First 36 hours in hospital I had a swift recovery and all seemed to be going okay apart from Donovan producing dark vomits which can apparently be normal for newborns, and he also had signs of slight jaundice. He hadn't done a poo, which could also be seen as normal as some newborns don't have bowel movements up to two days since being born.

Baby Donovan, front right. With his 4 week old cousin Pu'eomanu, front left; 5 year old cousin Taumei, back left; 2 year old brother Bruce, back left

At about the 48 hour mark since been born, the immediate events following were unprecendented and a shock to us all. In short, Donovan's dark vomits had actually been bileous vomits (he was regurgitating bile - not good at all) and after he had been transported from Sunshine Hospital, to the Royal Children's Hospital Intensive Care Unit, tests were done and within about 5 hours of arriving, he had an extensive operation on his bowels. 

Surgeons had found four obstructions in his bowel, whilst also finding a coiled part of his bowel which was interestingly abnormal. These obstructions caused food (milk) unable to get through the whole of his digestive system, and as a result he would vomit up the digested milk and other acid, also known as bile. So in short, it was physiologically impossible for Donovan to do a poo!

The duration of the operation was about 3-5 hours roundabout (to be honest I can't remember exact timing, that whole time was a whirlwind) and they took out about 30% of bad bowel, separated the obstructions in the bowel and sewed them up altogether. He was in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for about 7 days, heavily sedated for about 3 of them, and doctors were hesitant about his progress following - we could only wait and see. 

Possibly the worst feeling Campbell and I have experienced in our lives - the waiting. 

The Director of NICU sat us down and told us the varying progress Donovan could have, also from his experience of infants of similar problem. We were looking at Donovan being in hospital for at least a month to a year, and that was if his operation was successful. We felt overwhelmed, but so grateful at the same time because we were at one of, if not the best hospital in the world for children. 30 minutes away from our home. I felt comfort and peace and try to prepare myself for the long haul, and also the possibilty of our son not surviving. These were the very possible outcomes. 

The following photos are of Donovan and the many medications he was on, including oxygen. He had the most wonderful nurses, and doctors. The MOST wonderful! I am amazed and grateful they do what they do so well. They were attuned to his physical and emotional needs, and to ours also. They were truly angels. They helped us understand quite well what was happening with Donvan, articulating his drugs, the purpose of them, the way they work in conjunction with each other etc. 

I was taken back to my high school Biology class and it was confirmed to myself the reason why I didn’t take up Chemistry!

Donovan, the day following his operation. Amazing technology at The Royal Children's Hospital.

Modern medications are amazing. And so is the power of Prayer and Fasting - even moreso. We had our family and friends, pray, fast, have his name on prayer rolls at various temples around the world - for his progress  and recovery to be speedy and successfully healthy.

The timeline we were given of his potential stay in hospital put us in a position where were literally had to take one minute, one hour at a time. Our children, and gratefully so, were jumping from grandparent to grandparent, aunty to aunty, so I could be in hospital with Donovan all throughout the days. And Campbell also, while he had gone to back to work. He had his own business at the time, our income dependant upon. 

Donovan was in hospital for the space of 21 days, and he was home! Home with us! His nurses and specialists were amazed at his recovery and would mention we were lucky. We knew without a doubt - it was all things combined - health facilities, health professionals and last but not least the divine and direct result of the power of prayer and fasting. Donovan is meant to be on this earth, at this time. There are no words in the English or otherwise language to explain such a blessing Donovan’s health resulted. Only a feeling of comfort, peace and profound gratitude.

Donovan's first day home from hospital

...with lovely aunty Nelia

A month following his arrival home, we were able to experience a beautiful Sunday of his blessing shared with family and friends.

And just this past week, on January 4, 2013, our precious Donovan turned one year old. A great milestone for us in so many ways. We had a little party for him and celebrated with our loved ones. It was a beautiful day. On his invite was this little poem;

When I was so little my nurses called me 'ducky'

For after my baths my hair went 'fluffy'

This is a great milestone for us you see

Come celebrate and wear some 'yellow' with me!

It was a beautiful day, weather wise, company wise, and food wise of course.

Donovan asleep for the first two hours of his party.. of course. 

Cousin Quadey and brother Brucey knocked out mid-party.. they must've felt relieved.. their parents too.

Wondering about the strange song people seem to be singing to him 

Making sure icing is of worthy tasting

Second nap on Uncle James..

An exhasuting day for certain littlies, and mums and dads, we enjoyed celebrating Donovan's first birthday. A relaxing, beautiful day. Donovan had two naps within his party. It was wonderful to be with and catch up with loved ones.

People comment on how quiet he is; not a loud baby. Which he might be, but his countenance certainly radiates aloud the innocence and perfection a child can emanate. This blog post is entitled "from none to One" - one being his first year of age. 

In hindsight his beginnings of mortality brought some unfamiliar territory. Not knowing if he would survive, to the beautiful healthy boy he is today with such a pleasant and kind nature. He bravely and successfully fought his physical battles in the first days of life, and for all we know may in the future if complications arise which is also possible. He was and is surrounded by those who love him dearly. So in essence, I would edit the title of this blog.

"Our Donovan; from none to Won."