My Len Len

charlie.

 It's the year 2009, I'm 27 years old, and enough is enough. Story of my life I'm forever on a mission to lose weight. So we sign up to 'World Gym' a new gym in Sunshine nowhere near our house at the time, but 'apparently' en route to work and what not.

After about 3 months, I've lost a little, but nothing to call home about. I hurt my back, so I had to slow down. lol Eventually for a couple of weeks I noticed I wasn't feeling myself, and then the heightened sense of smell kicked in. Could only mean one thing.  I wasn't sure how far along I was but I estimated well was hoping 10 weeks at least. The GP booked me in for a growth scan. YAY! I was at least 15weeks. A lovely surprise, strange that the morning sickness symptoms kicked in a little later but at least I was well and truly into my second trimester.


Lens womb name. Charlie. Yep her dad just figured well if T was going to be Charlize if he was a she. We would have called her Charlie. So this lil' girl was Charlie. Sometimes these days T will introduce his sister as Charlie to people, so often that Len will respond to anyone who calls her charlie!

My pregnancy with Len was alot different to Ts. She was really really active. I felt her all the time, and during the day especially at work she would make it uncomfortable.

When we had the scan to find out if she was a boy or girl... we got "I can't tell you for sure but I'm about 70% sure it's a Girl." Gee thanks lady!

I worked up until her due date which was 5th June. What a coincidence her big brother was due on the 5th too.

The 'plan' was to go full term and when I got to my due date, the drs would assess me and if all was well we would book in for a delivery by Caesarean section. Due to the size, and the previous pregnancy they didn't want to take the risk of leaving her in for longer then necessary.

She stuck to the plan. I was at work, it was a Friday and just about to start the Queens Birthday long weekend. Hospital called and said that my drs had put me on the waiting list to have a c-sec and I was first up next Tuesday 9th June at 1:00pm.  So I packed up my desk and told my manager that afternoon, it was my last day, see you in 12 months! :)

a nice surprise.
(another warning, another birth story)

I spent the weekend trying to clean and prepare for the hospital. Of course I hadn't packed a bag. The Monday before she came I just chilled on the lounge at home, contemplating what baby would look like. My maternal instincts were pointing towards a girl. hahahahhaa not. I just thought it was a girl, but I sure wouldn't have minded if bubs was a boy.

Anyways Jim and I get up on Tuesday 9th June, 2009. We have our 2 and a half yr old son Taumei. I'm spewing because we lost all of our photos from back then. I remember taking a pic of T n Jim on the stairs. We were living in Sydenham still. We had to be at the new Royal Womens Hospital, previously in  Carlton (where T was born) and newly built in Parkville by 11:30am.

We dropped Taumei off to my sissy Irra who so kindly accepted to look after Taumei even though she had Pouey who was 1 and a half yrs and a 2 and a half month old babe Vaiola. The Walshes lived in Sunshine, so their house was on the way to the hospital. It was a very relaxed morning.

We arrived on time. Only to be told, that they were delayed that morning so it wouldn't be 1pm but probaby around 2pm. So not only was I starving hungry by then but now I had about 2hrs to kill before it was time.

We had not been around the new hospital much so we walked around and discovered they had a salon. What better time to get my eyebrows waxed! So while Jim went and ate lunch, I got my brows did!

eyebrows did. check. still killing time lol

Never a dull moment with my husband

This white suit is a given when it comes to his kids!

After more waiting around. Off I went. Unlike the last time, the anaesthetic worked so, Jim was able to stay. She was born at approx.2:30pm (will have to check her blue bk!).

One of the nurses took some great photos of her just after she was delivered!

First Breath

and she's out! Sorry if the pics are abit 'raw'

kalena.

I was in hospital till Friday morning, from Wednesday till Friday afternoon, Jim continued to work, (he took his paternity leave the following week) and he kept sending me suggestions for names. She didn't look like a Charlize. She definitely needed a polynesian name.

My mom had suggested 'Uilapatasi' (wil-ar-pa-tus-ie) meaning 'Lightning Strikes once' but I was unsure. If I could see the future back then I definitely would have called her Uilapatasi. That is Len ALL OVER!

Her dad wanted that name, it was me who was hesitant! (and he enjoys reminding every time she 'strikes' again lol) Thursday night, I was told by Jim that I come up with a name or she would be given a name by him. I had until she leaves the hospital.

We literally decided on KALENA LISA EVELY HOGBEN while strapping her in her car seat. We sent the text to everyone whilst driving out. Kalena means PURE and is a form of Karen. Her dad chose it and found it to be of Hawaiian origin.

I remember walking through the door  and telling my mom her name. 'Kalena'? That's calendar in Samoan?! LOL ooops didn't really think of that. HAHA mom still tried to subtly (in her own way) suggest Uilapatasi but we had already told her we had sent the txt out. I think she may have quietly been abit disappointed. Poor Grandma! Well, I can honestly say though that 'you were right mom!'

I should have listened to you' and "James" because my girl is definitely a lightning strikes once kind of girl. It did take me awhile to really like her name, I still wasn't sure for a couple of weeks but it was too late anyways.

Grandma :) 

First Family photo with our Princess! Tuesday 9th June, 2009

When she's all pretty in pink in a dress, she's a Kalena ... but I like to call her LEN! because she's more the aggressive, assertive, confident, independent kind of gal with personality to match. (I feel sorry for her future husband already LOL).

my len.

My Len is Sweet (most of the time), girly (as much as her mother lets her) and cheeky (all the time). She is the funniest girl I've ever known! She's so animated in her facial expressions and she's just a little girl who is the life of the party.

Speaking of parties. She loves to have, go to, join... (anything)Party! (I know I feel sorry for myself too, I'm dreading her teen years) She was asking about her 2nd birthday party 3 months before it happened!

She's also having a Pink and Purple Fairy Princess party this year, apparently.
Len is quite Bossy. I think it's because she's always been allowed to be the boss bc her big brother always puts her first. She's not backwards in coming forwards and isn't scared to ask the shy questions.

She's been abit of a challenge for me in terms of raising her, in that she's completely different to her passive, chilled, laid back brother. She's intense and really on to things quite quickly.

She's inquisitive and nosy. hahaha She literally is everything I've always wanted to be, I think that's why I absolutely find her the funniest person I know yet at the same time she can really push my buttons. I find myself trying to hold back the laughter when I should be disciplining her. She has a memory like a hard drive! You think she's not paying attention or didn't understand you, but you find out later, she did understand and more importantly will be following up on answers given and promises previously made.

She's not as emotional as her big brother in that she's quick to anger AND to forgive and move on. (her dad is the same lol). She is kind and can be loving, but I find that it's to kids younger then her. Sometimes she can be overbearing lol too much love!

All in all, when Len is around you can be sure of some good entertainment, cheekiness and alot of shady dot com! LOL I love her. She behaves alot older then her age, I'm always saying she's two going on twenty one. No doubt, she's the princess in our household, and definitely has her father under both thumbs including her brother :).

The other night at a Hogben family dinner (I will blog on what a "Hogben Family dinner" is one day LOL) her Pagar (Jims' dad) said 'see the thing about her (Kalena)is she just brightens any room up'. I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Her father did respond 'Well I can tell you there's been a few dim rooms in our house lately!' ;) I have to say though, he is right. She is PURE GOLD to have around.

                                                      Mummy Loves You Len Len! xxoo

She's GOLD!