Problems with Paid Parental Leave- new government allowance for maternity leave

Have any readers claimed the Centrelink Paid Parental Leave Payment? If so, did you have any problems claiming it and how long did it take to be approved?
The Paid Parental Leave Payment is an initiative by the Labour Gov. to encourage new Mum's to stay at home and spend quality time with their new born babies. It is a great idea, anything to encourage and help Mothers to bond and spend quality time with their new babies without stressing about loss of income is a winner in my book. It is terrible when Mums are pressured to go back to work too early and have to put their babies in care or struggle financially.
However I have found the application process to be very complicated and drawn out, like most matters with Centrelink, I think they make it hard for people to make claims so that they end up saying "stuff it, it's too much hassel" and just go without! We rarely claim anything from Centrelink, but in this occasion when I feel I am really elligable and deserving of this payment, I am reminded why I prefer to go without Centrelink assistance.
I had my baby 7 weeks ago and have only now recieved a notification that my claim for Paid Parental Leave has been rejected and without details of why. (I ticked all the eligability boxes?)
And to make things worse, you cannot recieve FTB part B for the duration of the PPLP period and you cannot work to make any money for the whole 18 weeks of this allowance either. So I have knocked back opportunities to make money so as not to jeopardise my claim and now I have lost both.
And, when you try to call Centrelink, you have at least a 30 minute wait in the "que" before you even get to talk to anyone. I have spent over 2 hours on the phone all up for this matter.
Centrelink....pfffft, geez I am glad I'm not a doll bludger!
Any way, I was wondering if anyone els has had similar problems and If you have any advice that can help me? What do I do next? Who do you talk to?

Cracker of the week- from my 10 year old son

"Mum, sometimes I am soooo first that I overtake the person coming last!"

Insect Sting Remedy

Perfume! I swear by it. A few years back now, my daughter came home from my neighbours house smelling so sweet, I asked her what was the smell and she told me my neighbour had sprayed perfume on her green ant bite and it stopped the sting. Now when ever my children get stung by anything (mostly green ants) they come running in asking for perfume. I have tried this myself to see if it works as I am particularly sensative to green ants and yes, it definately works! Takes the sting right out and it doesn't come back like after soov or stingoes. I swear by it!
One spray of any old perfume=sting gone!

Exercising with baby

Finding it hard to take time out for yourself to exercise since having bub?
Let's face it, as Mums, we are never our top priority =(
I've found a way to have an exercise program and include bubby, and the older kids!Pram=resistance=good for exercise!
If you want to get in shape, get fitter and socialise at the same time, why not start (or join) a pram-fit group!
In some areas there are group classes sometimes called "pram jam" or similar where you have to pay and the class is instructed by a qualified trainer. But if this is not available in your area or you don't want to pay, you can get a few friends together as a casual group and do your own circuit training.
If you go to a sports oval or walking track, you can work out a circuit you can walk between low impact activities.
eg. My Pram-Fit Circuit
A full sized sporting oval, you have to walk close to the outside-no cutting corners!
Have 4 activity stations evenly spaced on the circuit and you have to walk for about 2 minutes between stations. Each station should take about 1-2minutes.
Station 1-lunges, squats and/or stepups
walk 2 minutes to next station. When walking always concentrate on posture (get the most out of the session as you can!) shoulders back, hips forward, standing straight and tall and flex your bum! Your elbows should be close to your side with handle bar around the same height.
Station 2- Dips, using the fence around the oval
walk 2 minutes to next station
Station 3- Crunches and or pelvic raises
walk 2 minutes to next station
Station 4- Standing push ups, again using the fence for support
walk 3 minutes to next station
start again!
I do 3 circuits in one session and I am trying to do 3 sessions a week!
Pushing the pram (especially on grass!) is great resistance. Your baby will love the walk outdoors!
This is a great exercise routine because you can share the experience with you baby and friends, make exercise fun! And if anyone has older children (mine are 8 and 9) they can come along and join in too or play with and occupy the little kids who are too big for the pram and can't keep up with Mum. And everyone can work at their own pace, adjust the activity stations to suit you own individual abilities.
Finish the session off with group stretching and maybe a group soccer game with the kids.
What a great way to spend some fun time with the kids and your baby and getting fit at the same time. So send out an "expression of interest" email out to all your mates or even your playgroups Mums and start a new craze in your area!
Happy Exercising!

Swaddle Bags?

Has anyone used a swaddling bag with their infants? I saw these in the shopping  magazine that came in my Bounty Bag. I have never seen them before but they look awesome! They are like a really tight little sleeping bag that swaddles the baby with their arms close to their body so you don't have to wrap them. Seeing as my next baby will be born in summer and my wrapping skills are not that great (they always come lose) I thought the swaddle bag would be good because the baby won't get too hot. I bought some fabric and zippers today to have a go at making my own design.
I was just wondering if anyone has seen or used one of these, your feedback might help me to better design my own!
Thanks!

Awesome bag bag! Or rag bag!

You can make a really cute and practical bag for all your plastic shopping bags using your old onesies! And yes I know that "plastic bags" are a bit outdated but I still use them for garbage bags, saves you money on bin liners! If are 100% Green, this is also a great idea for a rag bag!
I only recently found out what "onesies" means, if you are not up with the lingo, onesies are those little jump suits that you put on your baby, you know the shirts that do up with studs at your babies crutch, well you can get your toddler who has grown out of them to decorate it with markers and or paint (so cute with little hand prints!), sequins and ribbons or anything can be stuck on. Hang it upside down from a hook, cupboard door handle or anything, they are easy to hang because you just do the studs up around something! Simple, fill it with your plastic bags and they can easily be dispensed out the neck hole!
Great gifts for Grandmas and Aunties too!

  

Kids say the funniest things!

Today I gave my 7 year old daughter a brochure of the Whitsundays and told her to look at where we are going for our next holidays. She yelled out to our neighbour
"Hey, we are going to the Wet Wednesdays!!!!!"