Well things are starting to be put into place for our 60 minutes story this Sunday night. The 60 minutes website has a small written preview of the story http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8525349 with a link to our book at the bottom of the page :)
Also my photo is up on their chatroom page in preparation for the online chat happening after the show http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/chat/629143/60-minutes-chat-room
My parents and siblings and I are going to watch the show together at my sisters house, so it should be an exciting (and nerve wracking and busy) night!
I'm looking forward to it though and hope everyone can tune in to see Roma's first TV appearance and help support the SMC choice :)
My gorgeous baby girl Roma, at 8 months, showing me her new trick!
Friday 31 August 2012
Wednesday 29 August 2012
60 Minutes!
After months of preparation, days of filming and now weeks of waiting, I can now finally reveal that Roma, her sperm donor Wil, his wife Megan and I are going to be featured in a 60 minutes article this sunday night, 2nd September at 7.30pm on channel 9.
The article is about known sperm donor families and how the choice is increasing in its popularity here and in the US.
We did the filming over a month ago, before the Olympics, and its now all edited and ready to air!
Yikes! I'm excited and nervous and can't wait to see the finished product!
I'm hoping it will bring the issue to dinner tables all over Australia and in doing so will make it a more understood option for women. I hope to reduce whatever remaining stigma there is attached to sperm donation and allow people to realise that it is a very real option to creating a happy, stable family. The 60 minutes team are going to put a link to my book on their website and I will be on the online chat after the story airs.
The article is about known sperm donor families and how the choice is increasing in its popularity here and in the US.
We did the filming over a month ago, before the Olympics, and its now all edited and ready to air!
Yikes! I'm excited and nervous and can't wait to see the finished product!
I'm hoping it will bring the issue to dinner tables all over Australia and in doing so will make it a more understood option for women. I hope to reduce whatever remaining stigma there is attached to sperm donation and allow people to realise that it is a very real option to creating a happy, stable family. The 60 minutes team are going to put a link to my book on their website and I will be on the online chat after the story airs.
Friday 24 August 2012
Teeth
Teeth.
I have taken them for granted for so many years, too long it seems. This week I was reminded how valuable my teeth are, how precious they are and how easily they can be lost. As a consequence I now value Roma's teeth alot more too.
I never really went to the dentist as a child, I vaguely remember the primary school dental van but I never went in high school. My parents had false teeth from their early twenties so they never went to the dentist either. So I was not taught about the importance of going to the dentist, I knew thoeretically I was supposed to go to the dentist every 6 months, but I assumed that was just for rich people or people who had teeth problems, I never had any pain or felt any holes, so why waste my money?
Then the other day i felt a little hole, and then a crack and then one morning a whole chunk of my molar fell out. I panicked and called a dentist. So along I went and had it filled during a terrible ordeal that i don't think i will repeat only to say that i am never going to that dentist again. But it was through that experience I decided to get a full clean and check (with another dentist). This dentist was much more polite and pleasant and he explained to me how decay forms and how it can go unoticed for years before it is too late and he removed a stain from my front teeth i thought was permanent, that i had since i was a child. Luckily i had no other decay (I put that down to the fact that i dont drink soft drink) and afterwards i had a new respect for dental care. The dentist also taught me how to ensure Roma's teeth are taken care of and she isn't afraid of the dentist, advice which i am going to take up.
Coincidentally my sister has recently also gone to a dentist after years of neglecting her teeth (as I had). She has to have 3 removed, and replaced with permanent false teeth costing $15,000. With an 11 month old baby, and her husbands single income it is money she doesnt have. So what now? That is up to her to decide and i thank my lucky stars i dont have the same dilemma. I am going to make sure Roma never has to face that dilemma either.
I have taken them for granted for so many years, too long it seems. This week I was reminded how valuable my teeth are, how precious they are and how easily they can be lost. As a consequence I now value Roma's teeth alot more too.
I never really went to the dentist as a child, I vaguely remember the primary school dental van but I never went in high school. My parents had false teeth from their early twenties so they never went to the dentist either. So I was not taught about the importance of going to the dentist, I knew thoeretically I was supposed to go to the dentist every 6 months, but I assumed that was just for rich people or people who had teeth problems, I never had any pain or felt any holes, so why waste my money?
Then the other day i felt a little hole, and then a crack and then one morning a whole chunk of my molar fell out. I panicked and called a dentist. So along I went and had it filled during a terrible ordeal that i don't think i will repeat only to say that i am never going to that dentist again. But it was through that experience I decided to get a full clean and check (with another dentist). This dentist was much more polite and pleasant and he explained to me how decay forms and how it can go unoticed for years before it is too late and he removed a stain from my front teeth i thought was permanent, that i had since i was a child. Luckily i had no other decay (I put that down to the fact that i dont drink soft drink) and afterwards i had a new respect for dental care. The dentist also taught me how to ensure Roma's teeth are taken care of and she isn't afraid of the dentist, advice which i am going to take up.
Coincidentally my sister has recently also gone to a dentist after years of neglecting her teeth (as I had). She has to have 3 removed, and replaced with permanent false teeth costing $15,000. With an 11 month old baby, and her husbands single income it is money she doesnt have. So what now? That is up to her to decide and i thank my lucky stars i dont have the same dilemma. I am going to make sure Roma never has to face that dilemma either.
Sunday 19 August 2012
Completely weaned and sleeping through
I never thought i would write that title. Sleeping through? As if! But hooray, Roma is in fact sleeping through! She turned 18 months old the week before last and after no luck with the Elizabeth Pantly method of night weaning i decided to go cold turkey and it went surprisingly well.
Roma only protested for about 10 minutes, one to three times a night for only 3 nights, before she accepted that booby was 'all done' and snuggled in for a cuddle instead. A few nights later she slept through. She sleeps through about 50% of the time now, and waking only once on the other nights for a drink of water and a cuddle.
It was the night weaning that did it. That and a 'rainshower' white noise MP3 and we are both getting alot more sleep. Then 3 days ago i thought i would try not breastfeeding her before bed too, and she still went to sleep. And again the next night too, and the next. So before i knew it, our breastfeeding journey was over. I am a little sad, but it had to end sometime and the benefits of more sleep for both of us are worth it. I feel like i have given her little body a great start in life, all that good booby milk for 18 months will benefit her her entire life.
She is such a happy little girl, even more so now as i think those few extra hours of sleep each night have really made a difference to her mood. Her talking has also increased since the magic 18 month mark, she says about 10 words now and babbles constantly in her baby gibberish, she copies me alot more now too. She's growing up. I love it, i love that she is getting older, the older she gets the more of her personality i get to see, the easier she is to care for, the more interactive she is, the more she enjoys life. I took her to the Ekka yesterday and although she was scared of alot of the people dressed up in animal outfits, loud music and clown games, she had a ball at the animal nursery and fashion show (believe it or not...she loved it, she is such a girly girl). Roma's first Ekka :) She got a Dolly-kins showbag with a little dolly and carrier inside amongst other things. she loves dolls, such a little mother she is.
Roma only protested for about 10 minutes, one to three times a night for only 3 nights, before she accepted that booby was 'all done' and snuggled in for a cuddle instead. A few nights later she slept through. She sleeps through about 50% of the time now, and waking only once on the other nights for a drink of water and a cuddle.
It was the night weaning that did it. That and a 'rainshower' white noise MP3 and we are both getting alot more sleep. Then 3 days ago i thought i would try not breastfeeding her before bed too, and she still went to sleep. And again the next night too, and the next. So before i knew it, our breastfeeding journey was over. I am a little sad, but it had to end sometime and the benefits of more sleep for both of us are worth it. I feel like i have given her little body a great start in life, all that good booby milk for 18 months will benefit her her entire life.
She is such a happy little girl, even more so now as i think those few extra hours of sleep each night have really made a difference to her mood. Her talking has also increased since the magic 18 month mark, she says about 10 words now and babbles constantly in her baby gibberish, she copies me alot more now too. She's growing up. I love it, i love that she is getting older, the older she gets the more of her personality i get to see, the easier she is to care for, the more interactive she is, the more she enjoys life. I took her to the Ekka yesterday and although she was scared of alot of the people dressed up in animal outfits, loud music and clown games, she had a ball at the animal nursery and fashion show (believe it or not...she loved it, she is such a girly girl). Roma's first Ekka :) She got a Dolly-kins showbag with a little dolly and carrier inside amongst other things. she loves dolls, such a little mother she is.
Friday 3 August 2012
Gratitude
Can I change the theme of this blog? It started out to promote my book and the SMC lifestyle, then it changed to social expectation and now i feel an urge to promote gratitude. Gratitude may well be the key to happiness. During Roma's nap today I watched a re-run of the TV program 4 Corners and the article was about domestic violence in Australia. It told the story of two women who had been killed by their partners, leaving their children behind. When it ended I flicked over to Foreign Correspondent and it told me of people with gaming addictions in South Korea and the murders that had occured as a result.
Then Roma woke up.
My beautiful, healthy, lovable toddler woke up. I was able to take her into my arms for a big warm 'just woke up' cuddle feeling safe, happy and loved. I feel privelidged to be able to provide her with a happy, loving, stable, safe home. We are fortunate enough to have been born into this free, wealthy nation and I have options and resources some others would only dream about. In that moment I felt extreme gratitude not only for what I have but for what I don't have to endure.
Then Roma woke up.
My beautiful, healthy, lovable toddler woke up. I was able to take her into my arms for a big warm 'just woke up' cuddle feeling safe, happy and loved. I feel privelidged to be able to provide her with a happy, loving, stable, safe home. We are fortunate enough to have been born into this free, wealthy nation and I have options and resources some others would only dream about. In that moment I felt extreme gratitude not only for what I have but for what I don't have to endure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)