About Me

• Mama of three and still lactating … the baby’s nearly 2, I’m over it already
• All three of my children’s names start with X -Xanthe, Xavier, Xaria…totally coincidental with the first two, and then we didn’t want the third to feel left out
• Wife to a very loud couch referee
• From New Zealand and now living in Papua New Guinea
• Newbie to the world of running, thanks to the inspiration from my friend Hay (runner extraordinaire) and the Couch 2 5k program for getting me moving
• Jack of all trades: a little silver-smithing, a little a sewing, a little cooking, a little crocheting, a little doodling
• Lived through Post Natal Depression after the birth of my third bubba…I quite literally thought I wouldn’t survive it
• Coffee lover and herbal tea addict, although not sure how complimentary the two are
• Book-worm
• Of Maori descendant, my Iwi affiliations: Ngati Pukenga, Ngati Whatua

About Living in Papua New Guinea
Feel free to contact me, either via email or leave a comment on my blog. I am happy to chat about our move to PNG.  It’s often a big decision, particularly if you’ve got children. My school age children are seven and nine, and the baby is nearly two. Also be sure to check out my friend Lesley’s blog, as she’s raising three children in Port Moresby too. And from a husbands perspective of life in PNG, check out Aaron’s blog.

About My Post Natal Depression
I recently suffered post natal depression after the birth of my third baby … something that I never expected.  I felt like my life was falling apart.  At my worst, I become an insomniac. Even sleeping tablets were unable to help me sleep.  I couldn’t eat and lost 17 kilos, was extremely anxious and unable to cope.  I couldn’t make decisions and I couldn’t sit still.  I couldn’t concentrate enough to hold conversations.  I couldn’t even watch TV or read a book.  I got hot and cold flushes. I thought my life was falling apart.  It was the most depilating experience I’ve ever lived through.  When my baby was only 6 weeks old I became a medicated mama. Every night I took 2 citalopram tablets (40mg), and gradually weaned off my sleeping tablets, those little blue pills zopiclone. Amazingly I was able to keep breastfeeding with the support of my midwife and Plunket Nurse.  I  finally went drug free when bubba was 20 months old (after gradually weaning off).  If you want to talk to me about postal natal depression, please don’t hesitate to contact me!