A bunch of birthdays

For Paul's fortieth birthday on Friday we all went to Kobie and Anelle's house where they made some potjiekos.

The eight cousins (soon to be nine)

On Saturday everyone came to our house for a late lunch (or early dinner).

Marisa and Madelize, proud of their handiwork (some charcoal and I can claim credit for the getting the meat done)

Everyone (minus a sleeping-Neil and behind-the-camera-me)...

... plus Neil and me (here later on our walk) equals 18

This morning—Marisa's birthday

Miss nonchalant

Today we had lunch at Marisa's parents' house.

Marisa says she hasn't had a birthday with all her brothers there on the day since 21 years ago

More presents!

Marinda; I think some ice cream made it inside too

Neil, savouring his full stomach (or—wishful thinking—admiring his father)

The eighteen all at once for this photo

Marisa's op

Marisa had to have an operation on Wednesday. There was a suspicious-looking nodule on her thyroid gland which she was advised to have removed. So now she's missing the right lobe of her thyroid. Luckily early indications are that no thyroid function has been compromised by the operation and all potentially affected blood markers are still within their normal ranges. We're still awaiting pathology results of the nodule which we'll get by next Wednesday.

She was given a nice large room in the our Midstream Mediclinc, a mere 3.5 km from home

Time for some visitors

Miekie wearing a crown to school this morning - they had a woman's day event

A tasty triangle

Marisa's parents spent two nights at our home helping out with the children, and Neil and I figured out how to deal with his numerous noctural nutritional needs.

Haircut

It's been ages since Marisa had a haircut. Her hair had grown very long until today when it was cut with the following result:

What a beauty!

Days 2 and 3

Neil and Marisa are both very well. Their respective doctors were both satisfied with the two of them yesterday.

Miekie, Pieter and their Oupa and Ouma came to visit in the mid-afternoon. Kobie and Anelle came in the evening.

Oupa Koos (I missed the photo opportunity with Neil and his Ouma Daleen... but there'll be many more...)

The doctors were satisfied again this morning so Marisa and Neil were discharged.

All set and ready to go!

Neil has developed a touch of neonatal jaundice but it's not pathological at the moment. His doctor has recommended that we hire a phototherapy device for a few days, so that's what we'll do (or maybe we should just let him sun tan outside a bit...).