Category: The Life of Lara

But I’m a BOY!

Yesterday, Inigo chose his outfit (as he is wont to do), and it was a stunner. His tie dyed hippy rainbow shirt (which says “my dad reads to me”), and purple fleece pants with a butterfly on the hip. His hair was looking spectacularly curly, and I had a hair clip (black though!) to keep it out of his eyes.

In Medicare, the woman at the counter complimented my beautiful daughter on her lovely manners (he likes to hand over the medicare card), and I decided to let it slide. I mean, in that outfit, who would guess he was a boy? Often I do correct people, but they get very embarrassed, and I really didn’t have much extra emotional energy yesterday.

But Inigo did. “But I’m a boy”, he piped up with.

Classic. You could have cut the air with a knife. And I look like the strangest mother in the world.

“He likes to choose his own clothes”, I squeaked. It was the best I could do in the circumstances.

A christmas miracle

My counsellor from Sids and Kids has been wonderful with helping me to talk to Inigo about death, and about life, and about what happens in between. Without her I would have been lost, knowing how to deal with this situation, how to guide Inigo through this terrible situation. When I asked if Inigo should attend the funeral, she suggested that while Inigo might not know the difference now, in later years he would want to know if he was at the funeral, and what role he played. That is why we have decided to bring him to the funeral, and to give him the job of handing out the stickers to the other kids for decorating the coffin. And I have asked friends to photograph and video the service so that he will be able to have his questions answered in the fullness of time.

She also suggested that including Archie and Aubrey in our family rituals was a good idea. So this week when Steph took me out, I bought three glass ornaments, small, medium and large, one for each of my boys, and had them personalised with their names. Then when I got home, the funeral director was waiting for me to sign some paperwork, so I dropped my shopping bags on the verge, and signed.

Cue large 4WD, running directly over my shopping bags. The gin was ok, the tonic was ok, but the bag with the ornaments was in the middle. Inigo’s ornament was fine, Aubrey’s ornament was fine, but the box that held Archies was crushed. I opened it to assess the damage, and it was completely undamaged.

I think I am due for some good luck.

Tonight I did something radical

I cooked dinner!

Nothing posh, just pasta with artichokes and lemon, but it was a step up from pasta and red sauce, and it was the first think I have cooked (barring reheating food and 2 minute noodles) in about 4 months.

And today I spent some time explaining what is going to happen tomorrow to the Squish. If you are coming tomorrow, don’t be surprised if you hear him talking about the funeral as a “party”. Since he just had his birthday party, I decided to tell him that it was party to say goodbye to his brothers, and that we would talk about them, and have music, and stickers. I told him that some people would be sad, but that we wouldn’t be sad forever, and that we were very happy that we had him in our lives. And that we love him very much. And he said, “yes, yes you do”.

Where I’m at

I’ve been home for nearly a week, still on the nasty antibiotics, still putting one foot in front of the other. Slowly – and usually lurching from one perch to another. Standing up doesn’t last for long, and walking barely gets me 100m before I conk out. I am trying to do more and more each day, but it really is baby steps.

Mark is being amazing. I am so glad I married that man. I can’t imagine going through this horror with a lesser man by my side. None of this is easy, but having a partner that loves, respects, and supports me in such a tangible way makes the burden a little easier.

Every little thing I can’t do, someone else is picking up the slack. Between Mark, and his parents, and my parents, everything is being done. And yesterday, with a lot of help from family and very dear friends, Inigo had a brilliant birthday party. And I did nothing, except sit on my couch and try not to cry while we sang happy birthday.

But Inigo had a wonderful day, as will be shown when I have some pics (thanks Fi and others who took pics!). He was perfectly behaved, had gorgeous manners, and was thrilled with every bit of watermelon, every gift, every crumb of cake, every cuddle, and especially his Yoda card that played the Star Wars theme 🙂

So life is ticking along, this week I have to write some words to say at the service, choose some flowers, and sort out a few details, and I will get there. One foot in front of the other.

Any day I can get out of bed and spend at least one hour of the day without crying is a good day.

Oh, and I thought I’d better mention – on Friday, please feel free to bring kids to the funeral. We’ve spoken to a grief counsellor from Sids & Kids who recommends that it is best for Inigo that he attend the funeral. We will be giving the children stickers so that they can decorate the coffin, so that the kids can feel part of the service. Also, it’s perfectly appropriate to wear bright colours if you would like to. And if you feel more comfortable in traditional black, that is ok too.

Funeral Notice

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Friends and family are invited to join us in celebrating the short life of Archimedes Hare Nettle, and his little brother Aubrey Michael Nettle, on Friday, December 3rd at 3pm in the South Chapel at Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

Please join us afterwards for refreshments at Bev & Teds. I know I will need a lot of refreshing. If you would like to help out with catering, please call Maree on 0403 487 785.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Australian Breastfeeding Association in their names.

Today has been my first day at home alone, and its been a stinker. But I have managed to catch up with a friend, get to the pharmacy to fill a script, arrange a funeral and a birthday party, and place a funeral notice (in tomorrows SMH). Now, I think I might get drunk.

Inigo’s Birthday Party

Inigo turns three on Monday, so were having a little party to try to inject some happiness into our sad world.

Please let me know if you’d like to come – I havent been able to issue invitations like a civilised person, but it would be a good thing to have an idea of of numbers.

Time: 10am, Sunday 28th November
Venue: Fifth Street Park, Granville
Bring: Some snackage will be provided, but please feel free to bring a plate or something to drink. Also picnic chairs and sun shelter if you need them.

Call Lara for alternate arrangements in case of bad weather.

Getting out!

Just saw Roshini, I am going to be discharged today! Mark had just arrived at work, so he is on his way back to help me make the big move home. Apparently I will need 10 days on oral antibiotics, and I have to come back for a 6 week post natal check, and then I can stay away from the hospital until late Jan, when I have to have another test. but more of that later, I am off to shower and pack!

Tonight, I get to sleep in my own bed, with my two beautiful guys.