Zeb's little outing

I went to the shops on Sunday afternoon while Lara napped. On the way home, I noticed this black dog walking on its own not far away and it resembled Zeb. It didn't take me too long to realise that it was Zebadee!

I stopped the car quickly and luckily the car behind was patient enough to let me get hold of Zeb before it drove off. Before I left, Zeb was in the backyard watching Si cut the grass and we have a fully-fenced garden or so I thought. We couldn't find a way Zeb could get out and thought maybe the front door was open. Anyway, Zeb got out a second time and this time we spotted her exploring next-door's garden. We would never have known the fence had a tiny hole (disguised by plants) if Zeb hadn't come in through it when we called.

Zeb looked happy that she explored the outside world because she hasn't been walked for weeks due to a limpy back (right)leg. After the vet visit and x-rays, we were told she had a cruciate ligament rupture and surgery would be required. We thought it would be $2000 as advised by the vet. After the visit to the specialist who will be performing the surgery, we are now told the cost would be around $4500. Post-operation x-rays and medication would be extra.

Sorting out Zeb's leg problem is the next pressing item on the to-do list. We can devote more time to it now that we found a place to move into.

Difficult time

Lara had a difficult two weeks. Things that were a breeze previously, like eating and going to bed, started to take longer since the beginning of this year. (Is that why they called it "Terriable two"?) And Lara being sick twice in the last two weeks just made things a lot worse.

When I said worse I meant Lara:
*Saying "No" hundreds of times a day and cried and cried when she didn't get her way.
*Became very needy. I couldn't leave to use the toilet without some major crying.
*Became very unreasonable, like woke everyone up at 2am and insisted on sitting and sleeping on her sofa in the lounge. Or threw her blanket out of her cot then got annoyed becasue her blanket was not in the cot? (The only way I could execuse these kind of behaviours was to attribute these to her high (over 39.5C) temperature)
*Sat in her cot after waking up and repeatedly saying "no" and not want to leave her cot.

This two-week period coincided with a very busy time at work. I had no choice but to take time off. It also coincided with Mum and Dad's two-week holidays here. We ended up doing nothing and Mum and Dad went home with Lara's cold and got quite sick themselves. Now she's all happy and a sweet little girl again.

I'm sure all parents go through period like this. You worry, you're exhausted and sometimes you lose your patience. And suddenly they get better, and they are beautiful again. And you are left wondering what happened until next time!

No more swing phobia

Ever since Lara nearly fell off a swing at a neighbourhood park 8 weeks ago, she stayed away and wouldn't get on one. I didn't want to push her, but it was a shame because she really loved swings.

I've been taking her to a park with a "trainee" swing that is very low to the ground in order to build up Lara's confidence again. And I've been teaching her to hold on and only get off when she tells me first. (the reason she nearly fell off in the first place) Last Friday, after a short time on the 'trainee' swing, she decided she would get on the big swing. Once she was on, she didn't want to get off. We were at another park on the weekend, and the first thing Lara went to was the swing. It took some time but I think Lara's swing phobia is cured.

Bye bye garden

We received a termination notice last week. The landlord wants to move back so we have to vacate this house by the end of the lease. This came as a real surprise as the owner originally wanted us to sign a one-year lease. We don't want to rush into buying (though we felt tempted sometimes to just settle in somewhere....) so I guess we'll have to find a house to rent again.

We decided this is probabaly a good thing after the initial shock. We love the garden, but this hosue is old and for what we pay, maybe we'll find a better place. We might also get to know a different area better and this helps us when we buy. There's also the excitement of a newer place. We'll have to put up with the packing and unpacking for now.

Bye bye garden.


Lara spent time with wai-gong (granddad) in the garden.


Lara trying out slide in the front garden (I should have borrowed the bigger slide, this one's too small!)