Who needs Westfield...when you have Wesfarm

Did I hear someone say 'Shopping Mecca'?

Trish and John left the kids with a babysitter and took Dave, Luca and I to Wesfarms Mall for a shopping advenure.

Shops galore...all great quality stuff...loved every moment.

Getting a medicine...what a relief.

Luca's cough was getting chesty again, and we had less sleep than the night before...so we headed back to the medical centre in Wolcott.

A chest Xray, oxygen check, ear examination, throat investigation and rectal thermometer later and we finally know what's causing the cough...looks like the little man is developing his old man's condition....asthma. But they don't call it that when they are this young...it's called 'broncospasm' brought on by a viral cold...and possibly change in air quality and the airconiditioned flight from Syd to NY. So they didn't give us antibiotics but a speciality chemist cough syrup.

I can't fault the medical staff here in the US. They are very thorough and caring...and they don't just give out antibiotics without a reason. Which is good and bad...but ultimately its for Luca's betterment.

Once we got home, we gave Luca the syrup and within an hour, we saw some results. He was a happy chappy again...smiling and laughing in his stand up playpen...his cough is still there..but definitely not bothering him as much.

A huge sigh of relief....and everyone is starting to relax more.

He slept through the night - waking up at 3am for a quick drink before going back to sleep...and then slept through till 9.15am. So a massive 14 hours MINUS the 1 hour at 3am.

Definitely on the mend.

Off to the Dr's..

After a night of non sleep and lots of coughing - we took Luca to the walk-in medical centre.

They saw him straight away and did a thorough examination of him....oxygen levels, heart, lungs, chest and ears...but it all came back fine.

It was perhaps a viral thing worsened by the fact he was teething...and they couldn't prescribe any medications for him.

Bugger.

They said perhaps a cough syrup but they didn't recommend it as it has a steriod and is not entirely good for babies under 2 years.

Bugger.

So all we can do is give him plenty of liquids, plenty of rest and be in a room with a humidifier as much as possible.

Its been great that my inlaws are here...they've been venturing out with us everday and were even up at 4am with me - with another set of hands to rock the baby.

They leave tomorrow....what am I going to do?

Prime Location...Prime Outlets :-)

Today we got up early and headed to the Outlets nestled in the hills of Lee, in Western Massachusetts.

It was just over an hours drive to get there from Waterbury. And the scenery on the way North was picturesque...lots of colonial style houses with white picket fences and large 'Old Glory's' out the front proudly flapping in the wind. It was true Americana with all its North Eastern Might!

Gap was so cheap I went nuts and bought the whole store. Tops and Tees for $5 and Dresses were as little as $10. The quality and style were great and it was hard to believe I wasn't in shopping heaven.

We bought plenty of things for Luca and Dave decided that this trip was to be my venture, so while I shopped Luca was being tendered to by Dave. The perfect day until...

Luca started to get sick...his coughing had periodically got worse over the last couple of days...we thought it could be just the teething but for some reason it was getting chesty. At 2pm we met up with the others at the car and ventured back....it was a nightmare journey on the way home as Luca cried the entire time and didn't sleep a wink.

We fed him, gave him a bath and put him to bed...but he didn't sleep much at all....waking up every hour or so with a coughing fit. It wasn't pleasant at all...and there was only so much Nurofen we could give him.

Dave and I have the guilts for bringing him here now that he's sick...it's been a mega journey...did we do the right thing?

Independence Day should be adopted by Australia

What a day.

It started early with setting up the backyard in preparation for all the relos. Tables and chairs around the pool and umbrella's up to provide shade for the 30+C heat.

Food had been cooking on the stove since the night before..and things didn't change this morning. So much food...and lots of recipe tips flowing. Will have to write them down.

Had my morning staple...which is Coffee with CoffeeMate - a milk alternative that is flavoured with French Vanilla..yummo.

The relo's arrived at 12.30 and then the feasting began. About 30+ people came over....swimming in the pool, chatting around tables and sitting under the tree.

Managed to play a bit of softball with the little kids.....it was a great day. Capped off by a midnight swim with Dave.

Shopping and the like..

Today we stayed around the house for the most part of the morning...we've been getting up during the night with Luca now that he has his first tooth (and it looks like another one is about to come up too)...so chilling at the house is the best option for us right now....Sal and Gill came over for a sunbake and Dave and Luca went for a swim...it was Luca's first swim in a big pool and he absolutely loved it. He loves kicking the water and while we are here we're going to make it a daily routine for him.

We did manage to venture through our first shopping centre and I wasn't able to contain my excitement. Marshall's had everything a girl could want at warehouse prices. Me likes!
Bought 2 dresses and a pair of shoes for under $60. Where can you get that sorta value in Sydney?

Night time came and we headed over to Sal and Gil's place for Sushi and Margareta's. Great night. Great place.

Independence day tomorrow.

Plane travel = nightmare!

Hi everyone,

Well we arrived here safely after a harrowing 24 hours.

Qantas were exceptional with their service and the A380 was brilliant. The seats we had were amazing with plenty of leg room and a bassinet for Luca.

He didn't manage to sleep that much in the bassinet however....but with the sound of the aircraft, the screaming 3 year old 2 seats away and the PA announcements every hour to tell us what food was about to be served..it's no surprise...it just meant Luca was only happy to sleep when cradled by his mummy.

Dave and I are exhausted.

We were Luca's mattress and entertainment system all in one....while he was awake we were trying to keep him amused by walking the length of the plane and juggling him around like a bouncing ball..and then trying to get him off to sleep by rocking and cradling...it was enough to make any one's hairs turn grey. But we made it.

We managed to queue jump a few times (since being with a baby gives you an instant VIP access)...but it was for stupid stuff like getting our passports stamped and our fingers printed. Yes, that's right - we got finger printed as soon as we arrived in LA. Why couldn't we get an upgrade to First Class instead?

We felt like kissing the ground when we arrived in LA.....however, we had to get our bags and go through more security at a different terminal...so we were on the move again...




In the Domestic terminal we passed a Starbucks...and there was no way we were not going in... OMG...I've missed the coffee there and the cup sizes were WELL appreciated (i.e. USA Large = our GIGANTIC!)

I needed every last drop for the energy to cope with the next leg....LA to New York....5 more hours! oh boy!

American Airlines in one word...SUCKS.

We had a long haired hippy serve us (male)..who should've been wearing a hairnet...and an African American gay steward who screamed at people who had their elbows out in the aisle. "Excuse Me, we're coming threeeeew", (whether your alseep or not, we're gonna run you down) and the overly sugar-coated "would you like an orange juice....daaaarling?"

Luca was particularly whingy on this leg.... but still managed a few smiles. He slept like a koala bear on me....arms wrapped around my neck and nuzzling into my shoulder...for at least an hour...

We were seated 3 rows from the back with some Israeli tourists in the last 3 rows all laughing at Luca's big smiles and clicking their fingers to get his attention. One lady even getting a hold...before he started to whinge on her too..and wanted his mummy for more cuddles.

The next bit of travel was enough to make me cry.

We were the last ones to get off the plane...the last ones to get our bags... then discovered our expensive Samsonite bag was broken into by security and damaged...then having to catch an airtrain to a different terminal to get a hire car...and then driving for 1.5 hours to get to Waterbury detouring via the picturesque 'Bronx' district (for taking the wrong exit)....priceless.

We arrived to open arms and big hugs from all The Guerrera's...its good to be here....it was even better to get a solid 7 hour sleep too (Hallelujah!) and a shower...oh bliss!.

In the back of my mind, I'm thinking....we've got to do it all over again in a few weeks time....(I think I shed a little tear)...but we're enjoying every moment.

Photo's to be posted shortly.