Of gastroscopies and the like....

An endoscopy would have been more apt a procedure for me really, and the difference is not all that obvious, but there ye go, a gastroscopy it was. For the 2nd time in 6 months I was knocked out in an operating theatre. This time however, rather than cutting me open, moving my throat to the side, taking out a bad disc in the neck and sticking a good one back in, it was simply a camera down the gob and into the stomach. After which I was not allowed to drive heavy machinery or sign important documents for 24 hours. Anwyay, I have a video of it all - when I'll get to watch it is another thing as it's all DVD these days - can't imagine too many people get to watch a video of their own stomachs? Wonder was there any valuable coins in there, or buttons from a remote control? So I have some unusual condition which is written on the report but is impossible to remember (lets just say oesephegitis is in there somewhere) and hopefully the horse tablets I have to take for it will do the trick. Maybe after all that, drinking a nice cool glass of pinot gris won't feel like I'm trying to swallow blunt & rusty staples anymore. Thats me thoroughly checked out over the past year between the MRI & X-rays for the neck & back and now an intrusive camera all the way into the belly. Nice to know all those years of Guinness consumption haven't done too much damage to the tummy - the liver however.......

Aibhe seems to have decided that she will be a big baby by skulling every ounce of formula that goes near her. From below average, to above average in a matter of weeks. It seems to be going to her cheeks. I'm a poet. In all honesty, we still can't complain too much, she USUALLY sleeps through the night with just one wake-up to feed - which, if it continues, is all we can hope for. May I add, that hangovers with small babies are hard. Self inflicted I absolutely accept, but bloody, bloody hard. Especially with 3 hours sleep and a game of golf to play (yes, my first outing in 6 weeks was laden with a hangoer and it showed). Must have been the excitement of our being out for the first time since she was born but we did it and without too much guilt.....

The commonwealth (small "c") games are over (or "School Sports day where EVERYONE gets a medal" as I liked to call it). Granted, Melbourne put on quite a spectacle, but seriously, who was watching? The UK, Australia (obviously, as they took all the medals), New Zealand, Canada a few African countries and lots of little places I didn't realise the British had bothered conquering and leaving. The swimming was good mind you - watch out for Liesel Jones in the next Olympics. Actually, just look out for the entire womens swimming team. You saw it here first.

So then, we will be returning to the ole sod in June. I think we head off on the 21st and return on the 5th July. Short, but that's just the way these trips will have to be from now on. But sure everyone else can come over here - Aibhe would love to be babysat by a few Irish mates!!! And hey, she CAN open her eyes!


(by the way , Alissa pointed out my nose looks rather large in the picture below - guess I should take it down, but then, we all know that about me so why bother????)

and so it is.... 10 years on

just a big message to my favourite Godchild!

MEABH REID - HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY !!!!
HAVE A GREAT PARTY.....
uncle enda, auntie alissa & cousin aibhe

And the rain came down.......

"...like an angel come down from above......" (Steve Earl - Exit O). But here, the rain did fall, VERY heavily for a week, and then, Aibhe came along.

Of course, it is a life changing experience and all that they say it is. Now that she dictates when we eat and sleep, till we eventually manage to get her into the Foley/Parker regime. Or should I say Parker/Foley regime - lets face it, I pale in organisational skill comparison to my good lady wife. But soon. Soon she will sleep through the night, though that said, so far the sleep deprivation hasn't been quite up to the doomsday scenarios painted by those that have gone before. I may speak too soon of course so let me not say another word about that. Lots of firsts had by us these past few weeks it has to be said and Alissa hasn't even gagged (too much!!) at the nappy changing. However they are getting more and more intense as the days go by. Whoever said "When its your own, ye won't even notice it" - they were talking shite - literally.

So there she is in one of her more peaceful moments. All I will say is that she is being just fantastic so far. And bloody cute. And there's proud and happy Mum.

We did promise from the start that there would be no excessive PILING on of the photos - as having experienced it all from the outside, I do still realise that taking every single possible angle (sorry, I mean sending pictures of every single possible angle) at this early age is a little OTT. However, there have been specific requests for just a few more snaps, so here ye go. Maybe next time we'll have one of the 3 of us!

Other than that, life's been mad. Ahhh just plain mad. All the gigs, the all night drinking, the poker nights with the boys, the football matches, the games of golf....... and general craziness of life as a parent - just mental. Very tiring though.

I could document the account of the labour and the non-functioning epidural, but we shall save all that for a few pints of Guinness in June/July in Dublin. There were a few here who were quick to point out that Aibhe was 1 hour and 31 mins late and that she could never be our daughter if she were to keep that up. I had to point out that she was conceived in Ireland, and was therefore still functioning on Irish time and could therefore not be considered late in any way. She was bang on time. A Foley/Parker she is.

Well, her name will be an interesting one for the Aussies to interpret. We've had plenty of occasion to repeat the spelling several times already, but we will persist and someday.... someday, she'll appreciate the names we gave her. Of course we'll have to fill her in all about her wonderful aunt Marian who's name she has taken on, and who we know would have been so incredibly excited at her arrival.

So a big thank you to all for the cards, clothes, presents, calls, wishes and general interest in our new addition. All the contact is greatly appreciated and just makes it a little easier for me to be over here going through this amazing time. And its not just me, Alissa misses so much of what we all had in Ireland, but Aibhe's going to grow up here in Brisbane, and man, is she a lucky kid!!!!