Phew!

Goodness has it been hot around here lately. On top of the heat, I've been digging post holes, mixing cement and putting fence posts in the ground. It is all part of my grand scheme to actually make the land out the back of our house usable. It will be retained into two layers. The lower level farthest from the house will be raised 20cm against the fence and the retaining wall will raise the ground level an additional 60cm. It is by far the most ambitious project I've ever done. Next will be the rails and then the steps.

Zem is starting to raise himself up on one side. We noticed it just today. He has been talking a lot as well. He is also starting to suck his fingers a lot more, probably in order to sooth his sore gums when his big front teeth decide to drop.

School is starting up again, so I find myself running out of time to do anything well. I have a new co-teacher this year. She seems to be very competent, although I have had the added stress of trying to ensure that she is up to speed with everything that is going on. I have barely gotten enough done to start the first day! I have much yet to do with my programming, which is likely to take up all my time for most of this semester. Hopefully then it will be completed though.

Diesel is well, however he has gone through a molt and is leaving hair everywhere. Sharlene brushes him down once a day and I think he is starting to really like it.

Anyway, I'll leave with a few pics of Zem's latest movements.

Zemiel @ 4 months

Photos taken @ 4 months and 1 day. Just before teething pain set in.

Happy New Year!

'08 has come in and Shar and I are already hard at work trying to make each day count. I must say that we have been a bit slack with learning more sign words, but we have made up for it in house work and yard reconstruction.

We arrived back just as north NSW got flooded. We actually drove through most of that rain the day before and we're thankful that we persisted in driving through. Shar's parent group is starting to organize lunch liaisons again...the first for this year is tomorrow, but the car is going in for a service tomorrow. Work starts for me again next week but I'll spend tomorrow in the classroom trying to absorb the feel of the place again and hopefully receive the inspiration to actually be excited about going back to work.

Over the last week and a half Sharlene and I have created an action plan to reconstruct our backyard. It involves a retainer wall of sleepers and many post holes being dug. As of this moment, I have cleared a 1.5m gap between the back fence and the house. (1m for the pathway and some room for the wall and backfill). We have ordered 200 bolts and washers, 80 treated pine sleepers and 35 posts. (Which is more than we need but the place we bought it from was cheaper anyway). We've also got 20m of ag-pipe. Next step is to set the two end posts and string line them.

Zem has had new molds taken of his ears, but has learnt to take the aids off his ears. This is getting a little frustrating. He is also finding it harder to sleep without seeing either Sharlene or myself beside him. He is now raising his head off the ground for extended periods of time and even turns himself around a little so that he can see the TV screen. (Shar and I are trying to keep him from watching TV). Zem is fascinated by lights.
It has also been incredibly hot and humid down here. Zem has been feeding a bit erratically because of the heat.
One other thing is that Zem is also beginning to teeth. The first we noticed was last Monday when Zem was VERY whingy and out of sorts. He was sticking everything that would fit, into his mouth. On checking his gums we noticed the tell-tale white marks that indicated teeth. Tuesday, they retracted and we had a more normal day. Today, they were back - and another whingy day. I can understand how he feels to a degree, as I have a wisdom tooth that has come down in the last 2 months and it is causing pain and frustration in my corner as well.

Enough for now.