) so let me scribble down what's going on, so later when I mention it things won't all be WTF 
Visa Visa! It never ends, it seems, for those of us doing the international thing. The lovely Australian government contacted us and let us know our visa is up to be reviewed/processed more and so they'd like us to do more stuff for them. We're finally up to the part where we might actually get Obi his PR. Most of it is online stuff he gets to fill in. All I have to do is fill in this statutory declaration... filling in the blanks about how we manage our finances as a couple, split household duties, support each other emotionally, why I think we have a long-term future together and all that jazz. I feel the pressure, like always, but I'm a writer and I'm sure I can make this good. And that legal studies course I took for my Higher School Certificate comes in handy more than I'd have thought.
Other than this one stat dec, I have to get my sister to fill in yet another 888 form - a stat dec specifically tailored for people in support of the relationship to use. At least we only need one support person this time, because usually these forms are a nightmare.
It doesn't look like we even have to pay anything! Which can't be right, there's always a fee isn't there? (Well not always always! Fun fact: Australia will waive your PMV or TR visa fee if you have a child with your partner.)
Printing these forms can be my goal of the day.
What else? We're booked for Canada in October. I'm waiting on moonface to get her passport in the mail. We're going to be those people with the two kids under two on the plane. Dread! Don't worry, other travelers, I hate myself just as much as you hate me
Anyway so we're trying to train the kids in useful skills to get us through the flight like sleeping in our arms without standing and playing games sitting on a lap. I'll have lots to keep Isis entertained with: books, wrapped toys, snacks (low in sugar because I'm not a moron), colouring in, maybe some phone apps or something. I'm only really concerned about trying to get her to sleep and the fact that she loves her space. Last time I ended up sitting on the floor with some bastard's chair reclined on my head while she peacefully slept on my seat. I suppose I can do that again if I don't gain any more weight and Obi holds Selene... hmm, rather not. It would make me a bad parent if I gave her a little travacalm or children's phenergan to bomb her out though wouldn't it? Yes, yes it would. (And yet we sedate our pets. Go figure.)
I need to try and find baby sized headphones so Selene can listen to music. I'm not even joking. If you play Nickleback's "bottoms up" loudly she shuts up. It's like magic. I know the song word for word now as you might imagine.
But 15 hour flights aside, it's going to be awesome. My favourite of Obi's mates is eloping while we are there (it's his one stipulation: he won't wed unless his best mate is there. Touching!) and we're also planning on going to Whistler with a bunch of the family and Harrison Hot Springs by ourselves, without the kids. Just for one night, of course, or my boobs will never recover. But that will be amazing! Totally getting a massage. And having loud LOUD sex.
On the work front, Obi's contract ends four days before we leave the country. They had promised him work for Jan next year but when it came time to sign they said they made a mistake and need more 3D guys not compositors. Lame. So I'm a tiny bit stressed over that. But I'll be due to return to work and Obi still has his casual hospitality job to fall back on, so we won't starve.
I don't really want to go back to work. I don't know if that's the depression talking or not. I love my workplace. But ugh. Too bad though, I signed saying I'd return for six months and if I don't want to spend the first months of final fetus's life at work like I did with Selene then I'll suck it up and go back the moment I get off that plane.
Other plans: I've finally got a date for Selene's name day. Gods, there was some stuffing around. See originally I wanted Aug 1 and I told Bec that's when it would be. But Ang (other sister) and my Aunt couldn't do it so I found a date that my Aunt (who is the kids "nan" because my parents are dead) and my Melbourne sister could manage, and I let the celebrant know. Some time later the celebrant asks me to change the date because she's got an operation that could possibly conflict with that date. I tell her no, she can send a replacement if it comes to it because I don't want to stuff around any more. But then Ang cancels on me because she has to travel interstate for some uni thing that weekend and Bec (who was in China when I set the new date) tells me that she's got a concert that weekend. OK FINE! So I message the celebrant, feeling like a dick...
Eventually I got a date that the family can live with. Yay.
And then I "won" this photo package. Now, I use the term won lightly because whilst it's a competition of sorts I know there are a lot of winners. It's one of those things where they give you a free photo shoot, consultation and one A4 print (apparently valued at $600) and then they pressure the shit out of you to buy the other photos at a ridiculous fee. Anyway they tell you that you have to use the package within a month of winning, but I wanted it so we could get family photos with Ang and her four kids. We have no family photos. I've got a few of Bec, Ang and I from my wedding, but that's it. So I pushed a little and they extended the date, it'll be the day after Selene's naming. I'm stoked.
Obi's family are better with the photo thing than mine. They got that (pretty crappy) photographer last time we went up and grandma is hiring someone again for the next visit. So that's lovely. I suspect it's because of the internationalness, but whatever. Photos are important. I wish I had more photos of my mum, but she hated the camera. Which at the time wasn't really a big deal, but now it strikes me as a bit selfish. I hate the camera too, but I put my happy face on. I've learned it's not about how I feel, you know?
Right now things are an endurance test. Obi's been shifted over to his newest project, working six days a week. Which leaves me home alone with the kids all bloody day, six days a week. Well, excepting for the half day I get with Bec on Mondays. I'm lonely. And my mum-friends are busy. One has been hospitalized for the flu and is near a week overdue with her second baby (poor chick
) and the other is busy between work and her IVF. Thinking of IVF, Bec and I are starting a project to beat some of the stigma and shame surrounding infertility treatments. Can't wait to share it with you all! But right now I've got a tiny human to change and dinner to make. Do you think he will be able to tell if I hide grated beet root in this spag bol?
P.S I'm really glad to hear things are moving along!
I am devided about giving kids sleeping meds, it is kind of dangerous to make them sleep just because adults want them to, while at the same time it could perhaps be better for them, pain-wise. I don't think the adults deserve much consideration, kids cry - that is life.
Good luck on the flight and all the rest