Call me old school butttt...

 

Via

 

-I still love writing and receiving letters. Receiving letters makes the mail box still seem like a mail box, and not a bill box. It's nice to know that someone has taken the time to write you a letter, lick a stamp and march on down to the post office to send it on it's merry way.

 

-I still love playing board games. While at first everyone groans and grumps when I suggest a board game, it's fun to see everyone laughing, stirring each other up, and drawing, acting, sculpting, describing or thinking tactfully while trying to outsmart their opponents. It's so much nicer then all sitting in front of the tv.

 

- I would rather read a hard copy book than e-books. There's something relaxing and comforting about giving your eyes a rest away from a digital screen, and feeling the weight of a book as you flick through the pages from the front to the back cover, revealing the words within and escaping into other characters lives.

 

- I still love calling friends just because and not for a specific reason. It's so nice to hear your friends voice and how the sound changes as they describe different events, instead of reading their latest status updates.

 

-I love 90s and old school music. Nothing beats hearing the sounds of familiar songs blearing through the speakers as you bust out the familiar dance moves to "stop right now", Nutbush City Limit, the Macarena  and all of the classics. Bring on pulling silly dance moves over trying to sexily wiggle your bum cheeks on the dance floor, feeling the all too unwelcome wobble of excess fat, while trying to flick your head and jive to the doof doof beats.

 

-I still think quality time is the most precious gift that we can give anyone.

 

What old school things do you love and miss?

 

Look after yourself and those around you,

 

Kirsty xxxx

Don't Tell the Guests

Setting the date.

Via

 The name of this segment is kind of ironic for today's post given that you'd definitely want to tell the guests your date otherwise you'd have a whole lot of scrumptious food, overflowing alcohol and an empty dance floor to yourself...come to think of it, perhaps that's not a bad thing at all! I kid, I kid. Of course you'd want your nearest and dearest there to laugh at their crazy antics, I mean, declare your mutual weirdness in front of.

Soooo...there are a couple of things to consider when setting the date. 

What season would you like your wedding in?

Do you want your wedding to fall on a long weekend?

Do you have your heart set on a photographer or celebrant (if so, then you will need to check their availability)?

When will the majority of your guests be able to attend?

Do you want it to fall on a special date like your anniversary?

Andddd of course, when is the football grand final (because who really wants guests cheering because their favourite team scored a goal instead of cheering for your love)? 

We were super lucky when setting our date. We knew we wanted it to be in the school holidays because so many of our friends are teachers or have children. We preferred a long weekend for those who had to travel. We knew that it couldn't be during football or netball season, or, god forbid, on the AFL grand final day. We also knew which photographer we'd set our hearts on. Luckily, with the help of Google for checking each of these dates, the 5th of October was the winner!

I then nervously had to ring the photographer with fingers and toes crossed to see whether he was free and SCORE - he was! It was fate.

5.10.2013

What things did you have to consider when setting your date? How did you decide?

How cute is this?! Via

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Mixed Emotions

Mick and I starting a new journey.

With new chapters comes nerves, anticipation and excitement and I'm definitely feeling all 3 about moving home home. 

It might sound strange that I'm feeling slightly nervous about moving home, after all, it is the place I was born and bred, but the place has changed so much since I last lived there 7 years ago. 

Well, not the actual place, the beaches are still left untouched from their natural beauty, my small town still thrives and there's still peace and tranquility, but the people have changed for me. My good girlfriends from high school have moved away and it's hard to imagine moving home and starting our family without them around. You see, my friends in Adelaide have become like family to me, and I'm extremely close to them. They've supported me through my successes, decisions and tough times. And while I know that I can Skype, road tripppppp and fly back to Adelaide cashed up for girly weekends of shopping, it's just not quite the same as knowing that I can pop over and see them.

I also feel as though I haven't had to worry about fitting in since school. I've been super amazingly lucky to have played for a great netball club in Adelaide, to have met some very "speshwal"friends through uni and to enjoy their company over the years. Now, I'll be finding my place again, and I'm a little scared to be honest. 

But have no fear, there are many many things that I am super excited about, like starting a new job, meeting new colleagues, making new friends and being challenged again.  

I also truly can't wait to live closer to my family, as I have definitely come to appreciate them a whole lot more since moving away. I can't wait to be able to pop around to mum and dads for tea, and to cuddle my little baby niece who is due to come into this world in April.

But possibly the most exciting thing about moving home is becoming Mrs Traeger in October next year and seeing where our life takes us on our new journey. No matter what, I know that Mick will always be there to support me 100% and there's something amazingly comforting in knowing that.

Have you ever moved back to your home town after moving away? How did you feel? Did you have similar feelings to me?

It gives me butterflies knowing that I will always face life's challenges with Mick by my side.

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxxx

The Gift of Giving

Via

Did you know that Operation Christmas Child sent 94,681,510 gifts to disadvantaged children in 151 countries and territories in 2011 world wide?

Wow. That’s a whole lot of numbers to process but could you imagine the faces of over 94,000,000 children on Christmas day when their packages arrived?

Shoe boxes filled with games, dolls, Frisbees, clothes, hair ties, skipping ropes, chalk, hair brushes, tooth brushes, colouring in pencils and books, jewellery, soft teddies and so much more!

It gives me the biggest, fuzziest warm feelings.

This year my work mates and a couple of friends managed to fill 6 shoe boxes in a week to send to children all around the world.

It didn’t take long, it didn’t cost much but we were all left feeling as though we had contributed to making a child’s Christmas a memorable one.

I was absolutely blown away at the sight of all of the boxes and the volunteers at the drop off point.

Here’s some pictures!

The volunteers unpacking all of the donated boxes to check to make sure that there are no dangerous items.

Piles and piles of boxes from South Australia to be sent to South East Asia.

They were sooooo cute!

A map showing where the boxes are donated from and how many from each region.

The target for 2012. Yup, that's right, 36,000 from South Australia ALONE!

Some of the boxes that we made to send over to children in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

I encourage everyone to get behind Operation Christmas Child in 2013. It's easy to do, just follow the steps on the website!

To us, $10 isn’t much, but to a small child in a developing country, it means the world!

The gift of giving is such a joyous one!

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

Keeping the LOVE in a Relationship

Via

When lust turns to love and love turns to years, how do you keep the spring in the step of your partner? I mean, after all, it’s one thing to love someone, it’s a whole other ball game learning how to show this love, particularly in a way that your partner understands.

Here’s some little tips and tricks that I have learnt along the way:

1.       When you are checking out your partner, let them know – “mmm damn – you have a mighty fine derrière!” Trust me – you won’t be able to wipe the goofish smile off of their face.

2.       Buy/create/send them a little present just because – and not for a specific reason like an anniversary, birthday or Christmas. You can always attach a little message like “just because I love you”.

3.       Tell them when you appreciate something that they have done for you – “mmmm these two minute noodles are mouth watering – thanks a million”.

4.       Date nights – I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s something about the word “date” that makes me giggle, form butterflies in my belly and feel like a little pile of mush again. They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive – play board games, go for a walk, watch a movie and snuggle on the couch, go out for tea, cook a meal and turn the tv off – just create a time and date to spend time together and stick to it.

5.       Fondle with their bum – go on – do it. Just a little pinch (not too hard), tap or rub here and there - watch how it improves their mood!

6.       Write a little note for them – either in their lunch box, on the steering wheel of the car, on the kitchen table or whenever they are likely to see it – I hope you have a great day – can’t wait to see you tonight – or just something to let them know that you love and appreciate them.

7.       When you go shopping – add a little extra something in the trolley that you know they’ll love. It could be chocolate, a reduced bunch of flowers that you quickly rip the tag off, pistachio nuts, a bag of chips – anything! Let them know that you were thinking of them while you were shopping and bought them a little treat.

8.       When you say “I love you” – every now and again tell them why. “I love you because you make me smile”. 

9.       Pay particular attention and ohhhh and awwww when they are telling you something that they are obviously really passionate about – “HAHA yes it’s funny when a giant jug of juice randomly bursts through a court scene in Family Guy – *insert sarcastic laugh here*

10.   Don’t be afraid to spice things up a little bit – buy that naughty piece of lingerie, read Fifty Shades of Grey, try a different position every now and again (outside of your normal routine – you know you have one) – try and keep that spark alive!

Via

Do you have any tips for keeping the butterflies a fluttering?

Look after yourself and those around you,

Kirsty xxx

I can NOT recommend this book enough!

What it's like to Suffer from Endometriosis

Today I welcome back my gorgeous sister, Tegan, to talk to us about Endometriosis to help us understand why some people find it difficult to have children. May I say here that boys you might want to stop reading unless you want to be completely grossed out! Haha don't say that I didn't warn you!

Tegan's bump!

Take it away Tegan.

I was roughly 14 when I was delighted with the site of my first ever menstrual cycle. WELL I won't go into the glory detail but here's a rough idea of what I went through...

From day dot I experienced pain like you would not believe. My periods where very and I mean VERY heavy, I passed clots the size of 50 cent pieces, I experienced iron in-deficiency due to loosing so much blood, I would faint, get hot and cold flushes, break out in random sweats etc (this was soon controlled with iron tablets) and my periods would sometimes last up to 2 weeks at a time.

I could not take the pill to try and control my periods because I experienced migraines. I would also have a blurry vision and a tingling sensation down my arm. The doctor told me that there was an ingredient in the pill that could trigger a stroke therefore she referred me to a mini pill which was safe. I tried 2 different mini pills which both didn't seem to have any effect on me what so ever. I was then encouraged by my gynecologist to try the implemon, which i did.

The implemon is inserted into your inner arm and is meant to last 3 years. I had mine in for 2 and a half years before I started to experience old symptoms again so I had it  removed.

When I was 16 I had my first operation; a Laparoscopy. This explained all my symptoms; i was diagnosed with Endometriosis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endometriosis My uterus was covered in it. My gynecologist in Port Lincoln whom completed the surgery referred my to a gynecologist in Adelaide whom was more experienced with the removal of Endometriosis as it was all around my main organs. I also had adhesions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesion_(medicine) in my tummy from when I had my appendix removed when I was 14 years of age. In other words; my uterus was a mess.

  I then went through with my second operation a Hysteroscopy.http://www.thewomens.org.au/Hysteroscopy This allowed the gynecologist to have a good go at cleaning up my uterus and burning away the adhesions caused from having my appendix removed.  He found that my ovaries had attached themselves to the back of my uterus walls. My ovaries were released in this operation. ALSO the gynecologist found 2 chocolate cysts, 1 on each of my ovaries which were also removed in this procedure.

After each operation I would have a check up with the gynecologist to find out all the details about what they found. I was 18 when I was told to have children now. If I left it too much longer, than my chances of falling pregnant would be incredibly slim.  WOW that was a lot to swallow but I didn't really think much of it as I wasn't even ready at the time anyway!

I was nearly 21 when my partner proposed and we started discussing plans for a wedding and then children. Wait.... CHILDREN!!!! That is when my concerns kicked in and I asked my gynecologist if there were any tests I could complete to find out my chances of falling pregnant. At the age of 21 a blood test confirmed that I had 4% chance of concieving. At this stage we were handed a whole heap of brochures about IVF and were told that there were other things available if we couldn't conceive naturally. WELL... with my wedding coming up in just over 12 months my partner and I made the choice to wait until our wedding to start trying.

3 months before our wedding my partner and I were laying in bed when he brought up the conversation that he was ready to start trying. I remember saying 'you are just being lazy and don't want to put protection on!!' He then reassured me that no he truly was ready! I thought to myself 'OMG are we really having this conversation?!' After my partner saying 'the chances of it happening between now and the wedding....' I thought about it and said as I was giggling 'knowing the wedding IS only 3 months away we no doubt will conceive just because we have waited 12 months now....' Therefore we booked in to the doctors together to discuss what we needed to do in preparation for conceiving. 

I had many blood tests carried out to check for many different things and my partner completed a sperm count. My results came back positive and I was ovulating beautifully so my dr said and my partners sperm count came back with a high percentage also. I was waiting for my next period to carry out yet again another test to make sure I was releasing the correct amount of eggs in a cycle. I keep records of all my periods in my calendar on my phone therefore I was able to give my dr dates to work out when I was roughly ovulating. This allowed her to give us a 'map' of when to 'go your hardest' were our dr's terms.

6 weeks into 'going our hardest' I got this feeling that I just needed to complete a pregnancy test. My boobs were sore and I felt guilty one night when drinking alcohol with a friend. I just felt different.

My partner was away at work as he works 7 days on and 7 days off. I built up the nerve to take a test when my partner just happen to call me as I was heading to the toilet. I mentioned to him what I was doing. After I peed on the stick we waited in silence as the screen started to display the chemical reaction. My partner was saying 'well what does it say?!' After waiting the few minutes I compared my results to the instructions. 

I remember saying 'i think it is positive.' My partner demanded that I send him a picture of the instructions against my test so that he could compare it. I waited in silence as he received the picture message and then as he cleared his throat he says 'congratulations WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!' I cried as he shouted with joy!! (so really it took us 3 weeks).

The next morning I woke up and raced into town and bought another test. I went up to a friends house where I completed it. 2 lines appeared... another positive test!! I also just happen to have a dr's appointment before I had to be at work to complete a pap smear but on arrival I mentioned to the nurse about the tests and asked if I just went through with a blood test. She agreed and later on that afternoon I was phoned up from the surgery with a lovely 'congratulations, the test came back positive, you are roughly 5 weeks pregnant!' WHOOOOOOOOO i couldn't not stop crying with joy!!!

I just wanted to ring up my gynecologist and say 'HA, 4% chance my bottom!!!!' (or really is it a miracle??) Who knows but WHO CARES - I'M PREGNANT!!!!'

  I am now 24 weeks and loving every moment of being pregnant, the sickness and all!

Therefore if there is anyone reading this that can relate to any of the above or has been tested and told that your chances are low, do NOT believe what you hear as in my circumstances, you just never know!! Stay positive and keep on 'going your hardest' so my dr told my partner and I!!

Is there anyone else out there with an amazing story like mine? I would love to hear it!!


All the best & goodluck!! :)