Our Own New Edition!!!

[Stacky]

We had a VERY EARLY UNPREPARED visitor arrive into our lives on the 3rd of January. Our baby girl was born 10 weeks early at Nambour hospital and we only just made it to the hospital (ambulance in full blaze and sirens).

Although she is in constant observation since the birth and will remain that way for some months, she is fighting fit and doing everything on her own. My wife is also very healthy after the birth.

Thank god we weren't on the road back to the Cape on the outback road as was planned for this Wednesday. We only stepped off the plane from Sydney on the 1st. All our plans have changed now for the next couple of months but we have a LOT to be thankful for.

Have a Happy New Year Everyone!!!

[ant]

Stacky and Jade,

Congratulations and I am glad it all went well. I can only imagine what would have been going through your heads at the time.
Our thoughts are with you guys over the next few weeks and months and when you get some time, don't forget to post some pics of the newest member of the Croc Crew.

[Dr Damage]

NIce work Stacky !!! hope you are coping after all the commotion good to hear MUm si fine as well .Sounds like she is a fighter keep us informed and best wishes DD:cool:

[Stacky]

Thanks for the congrats.

Another funny thing is that i have been searching all over OZ for a new cruiser the last couple of months. I ended up picking up an old 80 series with low k's right here on the coast at x-mas while visiting family here.

Luckily, i now have a car for driving every day up to Nambour hospital and back to Caloundra (40 mins) for visiting.

[xina]

Congratulations Stacky and Jade. Glad every-one is doing well. Will be thinking of you in the months to come.
Cheers,
xina.

[ant]

Thanks for the congrats.

Another funny thing is that i have been searching all over OZ for a new cruiser the last couple of months. I ended up picking up an old 80 series with low k's right here on the coast at x-mas while visiting family here.

Luckily, i now have a car for driving every day up to Nambour hospital and back to Caloundra (40 mins) for visiting.

Stacky,
While you are at it, you may as well post a pic of the cruiser as well.......
Looks like all your Christmases have come at once.

[plucker]

Congrats Stacky, sometimes things just happen cause they are meant too. I am a big believer in fate and sounds like things have just happened for you guys.
Just think if you were up the tip by now and it happened, things could have been far different and possibly more stressful, then what is happening now.
10 weeks early, crikey, that could be me. We are due around April.
Once again congrats and hope all goes well - for all.

[getin]

congrats stacky 2 arms 2 legs,mum doing well, alls good, my brother had 3 premi babies from 6 weeks to 12 weeks prem.the girls are between 11 and 16 years now and all are fine, good luck to you

[Nedly]

Great news Stacky, congratulations to both you and mum.
Glad to hear bubs is managing under her own steam and that mum is doing well.
Exciting times.

Couple of things my missus will want to know:-
Name =
Weight =
Length =

I don't understand, must be a female thing.

How much longer are you going to be in Caloundra?
Might have to wonder up to wet the babies head :)

Les

[geoffjy]

From what i am hearing, the road up is cut so you most likely wouldnt have been able to drive up this month. The Jardine Ferry is also up on the dry for a few days from the 30th of this month. How long do you think you will be down in civilisation?

[Stacky]

Thanks again for the Congrats,

I'm a bit of a beleiver in fate too. In many ways we could have been worse off. A lot of people have said that someone was watching over us.

My mum has been travelling OZ in a camper and happened to be on the coast getting vehicle repairs as this is the only place that could do it under insurance. She was lucky enough to be here for the unexpected birth.

We could have been stuck somewhere in these floods in outback qld when our baby decided she wanted to come now.

We could have been on the plane from sydney only days before. We could have been on the plane from Cairns to Bamaga only a week later. We could have been in Bamaga waiting for RFDS which can take a couple of hours minimum which would have been to long.

As i'd mentioned earlier, we have lots to be thankful for...

My only negative is being stuck at the inlaws for the next couple of months. It's not a bad thing it's just not home thats all.

Hey Plucker,
my wife loved reading books about pregnancy as we had no time for maternity classes. She read to me only a week before that our clothes and nappy bag should be packed and ready for hospital at 7 months.....I laughed it off and said geez thats a bit keen. Murphy's Law struck again.
Good Luck to you and your wife in April (or sooner).

Hi Nedly,
In answer to your missus questions;
Her name is Ruby (after my loving grandmother who passed away) Louise (after both my wife's grandparents) Stack
She is 3 and half pounds.
She is 26 cm long
She has a head full of hair, 10 fingers and 10 toes.
Her whole hand cannot even wrap right around the tip of my forefinger.
Wetting the babies head is always on the cards

Hey Geoff,
I was only planning on driving to Cairns and shipping the vehicle and flying in but thanks for the update. Did Mark (mechanic) end up making it back in cause he was gonna tagalong with us and drive in originally around the 10th.

[Stacky]

Hey Geoff,
I missed one of your Q's,

We won't be heading back up to Bamaga for at least a couple of months.
Lucky the grass don't grow much at our new place up there. Otherwise i'd need a brushcutter by then to find the front door.

Cheers
Stacky

[geoffjy]

Hey Geoff,
I was only planning on driving to Cairns and shipping the vehicle and flying in but thanks for the update. Did Mark (mechanic) end up making it back in cause he was gonna tagalong with us and drive in originally around the 10th.


I'm not sure Ben. All i know is that he is open for business again on the 12th. I doubt he will be driving in unless the rain decides to stop. We are getting a bit of rain the last 2 days and further down the cape is apparently getting more.

[geoffjy]

Hey Geoff,
I missed one of your Q's,

We won't be heading back up to Bamaga for at least a couple of months.
Lucky the grass don't grow much at our new place up there. Otherwise i'd need a brushcutter by then to find the front door.

Cheers
Stacky

I'm sure Ben will keep an eye on it for you. He is a great guy.

[loxsmith]

I go away for a little 5 week ride to Tassie and look what happens!!! Congrats to you both on your new addition.
I missed Mark (mechanic) and Naome on their trip to Bris by only a couple of days, bugger!!
Remember me for the wetting of the head ceremony as the Sunshine Coast is just a short drive up the road

Glen

[Stacky]

I go away for a little 5 week ride to Tassie and look what happens!!! Congrats to you both on your new addition.
I missed Mark (mechanic) and Naome on their trip to Bris by only a couple of days, bugger!!
Remember me for the wetting of the head ceremony as the Sunshine Coast is just a short drive up the road

Glen

Thanks Glen,
i'm always ready to make sure young Ruby's head got a good soaking and to be sure we can do it again.

How was Tassie? Did you do it on the postie? A trip report would be good.

[loxsmith]

Thanks Glen,
i'm always ready to make sure young Ruby's head got a good soaking and to be sure we can do it again.

How was Tassie? Did you do it on the postie? A trip report would be good.
We could try for a mid week drink next week if that suits, I can sleep in the back of my Troopy!!
I rode a real bike this time, Suzuki DL1000, I do have limits you know.
8500km and 5 weeks of riding and camping can't be bad can it? We had some crap weather on the island to contend with, snow, hail, sleet, 120km + winds etc etc. The lack of cold drinks made me a little edgy too. Fishing was good at Mt Willam NP with a few Aust Salmon commiting suicide for us. Oysters by the bucket load as big as the palm of your hand.
Bike is looking very tired with really rooted tyres, brake pads, RHS indicator, broken front guard after altercation with a stray witches hat on the way home. One of our crew belted a Wobbly just South of Grafton on the way home and lived to tell the tale.

Now to plan the next one, Vietnam maybe??? I hear they have the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a short track 1000km long just begging to be ridden.

I ride report you ask, no one would believe half the stuff we got up to!!

Glen

And yes, being back at work does suck

[eldo]

Hi Stacky, we called our little one Ruby as well however i spelt it Reubi after my grand father Reuben, its very original i hope.
congrats on the bub too!

[benno]

A big congrats to stacky and the family hope every one is doing well

[Stacky]

As of yesterday.....Black Friday, we have been released from hospital. Ruby and Mum are finally out.

The Doc said Ruby has progressed very quickly in the last week and she is now fully independantly feeding and gaining weight so go home. It came as a shock to both Mum and Dad because we thought we still had around 2 weeks and we were both very nervous leaving the special care unit behind but also very excited.

I highly recommend Nambour Maternity ward for anyone wondering where to have their child. All the Midwifes have become a part of our extended family and Ruby has now got a lot of Aunties. We were sad to leave them all after living with them for the last 6 weeks and we left a huge Cake, enough to feed the entire ward including the caterers, doctors and cleaners, just to say thankyou.

Now, we got to plan our trip home and probably head off north within a week.

Cheers
Stacky

[Stacky]

Now, we got to plan our trip home and probably head off north within a week.

Or quicker, considering i now have to stay at the inlaws again.

[plucker]

The roads north and south of Townsville have been opening and closing like a dunny door of late. The road just North of Bowen was closed yesterday.
Keep an eye on the road conditions too as there is heaps of potholes and water lying around.

[geoffjy]

As of yesterday.....Black Friday, we have been released from hospital. Ruby and Mum are finally out.

The Doc said Ruby has progressed very quickly in the last week and she is now fully independantly feeding and gaining weight so go home. It came as a shock to both Mum and Dad because we thought we still had around 2 weeks and we were both very nervous leaving the special care unit behind but also very excited.

I highly recommend Nambour Maternity ward for anyone wondering where to have their child. All the Midwifes have become a part of our extended family and Ruby has now got a lot of Aunties. We were sad to leave them all after living with them for the last 6 weeks and we left a huge Cake, enough to feed the entire ward including the caterers, doctors and cleaners, just to say thankyou.

Now, we got to plan our trip home and probably head off north within a week.

Cheers
Stacky


Way to go Stacky. Glad to know that baby and mum are doing very well. We had a good experience with the Cairns Base when our little girl was born last June.

From what i heard about 4 days ago was that the road was cut from about Coen south. North of there is no hassle as there has not been much rain. You might be able to fluke it and get back up but they are expecting more rain in a week or so.

[xina]

Great news Stacky. Your message box needs clearing. Tried to send a PM a few minutes ago, and couldn't. Can you PM me with a contact No. please?
Cheers,
xina.

[Stacky]

Great news Stacky. Your message box needs clearing. Tried to send a PM a few minutes ago, and couldn't. Can you PM me with a contact No. please?
Cheers,
xina.

Hi Xina,

I 'PMed' you.

All 'sent' and 'inbox' PM messages have been deleted to empty message box and make room.
It was something thats needed to be done for weeks.

Cheers
Stacky

[Nedly]

As of yesterday.....Black Friday, we have been released from hospital. Ruby and Mum are finally out.

The Doc said Ruby has progressed very quickly in the last week and she is now fully independantly feeding and gaining weight so go home. It came as a shock to both Mum and Dad because we thought we still had around 2 weeks and we were both very nervous leaving the special care unit behind but also very excited.

I highly recommend Nambour Maternity ward for anyone wondering where to have their child. All the Midwifes have become a part of our extended family and Ruby has now got a lot of Aunties. We were sad to leave them all after living with them for the last 6 weeks and we left a huge Cake, enough to feed the entire ward including the caterers, doctors and cleaners, just to say thankyou.

Now, we got to plan our trip home and probably head off north within a week.

Cheers
Stacky

That's good new Stacky.
Glad to hear all are well and ready to head home.

[Stacky]

We arrived home safely.
Stayed at Agnes Waters for 2 nights and it was perfect weather but bloody hot.
It was a wet drive from Mackay and up. We stopped over night at Proserpine.

Big potholes and water over road in places as Plucker mentioned. I hit some water over the road that i didn't see in the dark of the early morning. It was unsigned and I was doing about 90km/h with the boat on the back which left me slowing (avoiding jack knifing) for about a hundred metres without seeing anything but wash over the windscreen. I held the wheels straight and hoped I wasn't gonna end up in the drain, it sure got the adrenalin pumping for the next 20 minutes. We eventually made it safely to Cairns and stayed 2 nights. Then flew to Horne, water taxied to T.I and ferried to Seisia, then a taxi to Bamaga.
The last day was a big trip and we had to go the island way, all because our dog wasn't allowed to fly with Regional Pacific Airlines.

Now I got to cross my fingers and hope Seaswift can deliver my gear on monday without any hiccups.

[Stacky]

484
Here's Jade, Ruby and my new toys.

[geoffjy]

Good to know you made it back safe and sound Stacky. Bet your glad to be back.

[xina]

Here's Jade, Ruby and my new toys.

Glad you all made it back safely Stacky. Hi Jade and Ruby.
Cheers,
xina.

[Nedly]

Sounds like you had an interesting, fun filled trip home.
Glad to hear you made it home safely.
Hope your toys join you on time.