The Return of the Cheddar

Okay, that heading has absolutely nothing to do with what I am about to write, I just thought it sounded catchy.

I had my beautiful baby on Tuesday, August 14 2007. Nellie Alice was a much anticipated and exciting addition to our family. She was nine days overdue and induced because it seemed she had no intention of coming out on her own! She is, however, a very good girl and I can't believe it took so much to decide to have her. We are now a complete family of six. Our dinner table no longer has an empty seat.

I have taken a year's break from my studies and I'm thinking that from now on, I might post a few tips I have learnt from my experience as a mother. More later...

System Design

I have just submitted my final assignment for FIT2001 - System Analysis and Design. I enjoyed designing the user interface for my system - God knows whether I am on the right track or not, but seeing as this is my first time I can only hope. It was fun anyway, and really I am a bit beyond worrying about marks.

I still struggle a bit with class relationships etc. and I know there's probably a lot I have missed, but I am really glad to be done with it.

I submitted my last assignment for my other unit on Friday so all that's left now is study for exams. Once again, I'll panic about that for a while and see what I can absorb over the next few weeks.

On another note, I have just reached 30 weeks of pregnancy, which is the magic number where I can finally start 'counting down' to B-day! This poor little person doesn't even have a room yet, so hopefully in a couple of weeks I can concentrate on preparing for that event.

My so-called 'friend' dobbed me in to hosting a Tupperware party this week. Honestly, I am definitely NOT the party plan person so I am looking forward to that like I would a dental extraction (minus the laughing gas). However, having these assignments done means I can get my house into some sort of respectable order before people from the outside world come in and see what a hovel I have been residing in lately. I might even feed the kids something decent for a change....

I know my posts haven't been very relevant to my study, but I am not one who can easily put into words what I have learned and what I understand - maybe I'll improve on that one day. All I can say is that I have learned a lot this semester, and most of that can be contributed to the effort that the unit lecturer, Peter has put in. Thanks POD!

I have been called away to help put the Barbie furniture together - important stuff, I must go.

Nearly there....

My two assignments have been returned and it is with great relief that I announce passes in both! I am very happy with my marks - my mind has been on quite a few other things this semester and I feel proud to have achieved satisfactory results. I now have two more assignments to submit, but I am feeling slightly more relaxed.

Ta da!

Woo hoo! Two down, two to go! I have just submitted my second assignment for the semester, my first for my Systems Analysis and Design unit. I have not yet received any marks for my first assignment so I really have absolutely no idea how I'm travelling. To be honest, at the moment I really don't care. My thoughts now are concentrated on how I'm going to get two more assignments done in the next three weeks without really having read any of the notes.

My brain has gone on holidays. It's a little early, I know, and I am really not sure when to expect it back. I hope it is soon.

I am looking around my house and I can't see a clean bit anywhere. At least there's no bad smells.....yet. (Or maybe I have become immune.)

I cannot think of anything else to say. I have sat here for five minutes and drawn a complete blank. I think I will go to bed, take the night off. Sure, that leaves only two weeks and six days but, really, how difficult can it be? No worries, not a problem. She'll be right mate. I shall be in touch...

Time is flying.

I'm so sorry, I missed yet another week! Where has the time gone?!

I am busy attending to my first assignment in the FIT2001 - Systems Analysis and Design unit. I know that managing scope is very important, but when I read the notices on the newsgroups I wonder if I am managing the scope of the system a little too well. I am treating this as a very simple design and trying to concentrate on getting the techniques right to a reasonable level. We shall wait and see...

On a lighter note, my family and friends staged a remarkably surprising surprise baby shower for me the other day. I think the last time anyone surprised me like that I was about 8 years old, so well done to you all! I had absolutely no idea - I honestly thought my mother was simply taking me to K-Mart for the afternoon! A wonderful day was had by all I think. My friend even flew down from Cairns to see me - I feel so honoured. Lots of laughs, lots of presents and a fair bit of champagne (sorry to the unborn, but the nerves had to be settled..)

Anyway, that's enought frivolity for this semester - so much more work to be done. I'm off to continue with assignment 1. Wish me luck.

She's baaaccck!!

Okay we're up to Week what? I have absolutely no idea and I really don't care. This is such Deja Vu for me. Every semester I vow I will stay ahead of all my reading and plug away, bit by bit, and have everything done in plenty of time - no pressure. Every semester I end up realising 'oh my God! I have two assignments due very soon! They are not done! I haven't finished my reading! I'm so tired! When am I going to fit it all in?!!' I know, it's all going to be okay. I just need to calm down.

What have I learned this week (or these past weeks)? Not much associated with this unit I'm afraid. My other assignment is due earlier so at the moment I am learning about Net Present Value, Payback Period and Return on Investment. Fortunately I am a golfer so that will make our assignment easy, right?

We've had a lovely Easter. The kids were still finding eggs days after the hunt, although I don't know if I would encourage them to eat them! We saw 'Meet The Robinsons', and my two girls trained with the Collingwood Magpies. Now that is education at its best, is it not?

Everyone is now back at school and work and whatever, so my head goes back down and all my work will be done. Wish me luck....

Serious stuff.

Okay, back to the serious side of unit FIT2001 - Systems Analysis and Design. I am a little bit behind on the reading because I have decided to focus on using the Visual Paradigm tool for use case diagrams and the like. I am beginning to enjoy this stuff, which is scary. I love the way it draws little stick figures for you - I was wondering how I was going to manage those! Everything in this subject seems so logical, which can't be right. Aren't we supposed to be perennially confused? Maybe as I continue I will enter the foggy cloud.

This blogging stuff is great, but I am not getting any work done! The chillun will be home soon and I'll need to get the dinna cooken.