Wonder what's going on

I don't know what's going on, but over the weekend my hot flushes started again. I had the worst night on Saturday night, was awake and everytime I was awake, I'd have another hot flush. During Saturday wasn't good either. I have been in touch with a friend who has also just started on this treatment, but she has done some reading on this, and it can happen, that hot flushes start again before everything is stabilized. It's not Tuesday and I haven't had anything since Sunday night, so I hope that's a positive thing. I feel quite happy about it all now, but was rather frightened on the weekend that all the money, time and effort that I had spent to try and change my medication was going to backfire. I felt sick! If the flushes continue, then I will have to go back to the doctor. I have no intention of going back onto oral HRT ............

Grateful

It's one of my favourite emotions. Kind of leaves you feeling all fuzzy and warm. With being grateful comes contentment, another aaaahhhh emotion. They bring with them a feeling of peace and comfort.

Every night I sit down in my chair, read a book watch TV, or browse the internet, while my husband is downstairs watching his TV programs contentedly and my kidlets are tucked up in bed. I am in my house, which we bought, which we are so fortunate to have bought at the right time. Yes my house is too small, (with a huge kitchen though) and it's built on land where you wish you were a mountain goat, but it's ours! We pay $200 per week house repayments, much less than most people pay and considerably less than what rent is.

Yeah, it's humble, it's warm, it's filled with a loving family and a husband and wife who adore each other.

It doesn't get much better than that now does it?

They make me smile

I first saw these on the Big Brother House, actually first of all I saw the noodle bowls. My dear girlfriends informed me that there was actually a BB Store.......how cool, I was stoked!! I couldn't order them at the time, because I didn't have the money, so I waited until I had some cash, and then ordered the bowls and decided on the lovely cups as well. Now, with a dishwasher, we use a lot more cups and apart from some nice coffee cups, I don't have a full set of any other cups. I was so disappointed though, because the noodle bowls were out of stock........... The cups arrived today and I have put them in the open shelf in my new kitchen and they look gorgeous, and yes, they make me smile every time I look at them, they are bright and happy...........just love them!

Now onto the noodle bowls, the story doesn't end. I tried several online kitchen stores, even spoke to a live customer service rep with an online store that I often use, and they weren't even prepared to source them for me. Then a good girlfriend stepped in, after I told her that I had no luck in finding any website with just S&P stuff........... Everytime I googled salt and pepper, bloom bowls, I got all kinds of stuff, nothing resembling what I was after. Al found the distributor in Melbourne. I was so excited, and I couldn't believe her finding them for me. The girl has more patience and persistence than anyone I know! Thanks Al!

I rang the distributor and they were lovely, and said I could ring my local HOUSE store and order them.......onto a lovely HOUSE sales person, and voila, I have six noodle bowls winging their way to my local HOUSE store very soon.

I am loving buying new things for my gorgeous new kitchen.........

In love with Harry

I wanted to re read the 'Half Blood Prince' before I even bought the newest Harry Potter book. I am pleased I did - it's a fantastic book and helped to bring everything back to me. On the weekend my brother gave my eldest the latest book for his birthday. I finished 'Half Blood Prince' on Saturday, so no prizes for guessing what I am reading now. I have almost finished it. The house has been very quiet with illness and me not feeling well either, so the perfect time to sit down and read and read and read. Even though my eyes were stinging and burning, I had to keep reading, when it got too bad, I'd just rest my head back and close my eyes! I have never, ever been so taken with a book before. I even dream of Harry and his friends when I go to bed at night. I have almost finished it now, and have been reading the latest part with my heart in my mouth. I can't believe how attached I have become to Harry, and how very sad I am that it's the last book. J.K. Rowling is a genius and a master story teller. I have never read an adult book that has held me so transfixed!

Photo from last Friday

Thank you Suzy for emailing the photo through. It's a lovely one of us.

Goodbyes, work, and bikie chicks!

The kids woke up this morning, and were not happy that the school holidays ended. Billy-Joe was okay, especially considering as I thought he may have felt apprehensive about today, Sammy just wasn't happy, and Mickey cried. I wasn't happy about being up early either, but that's the way it is.

By the time I dropped them off, they were all happy and set off ready for the day with optimism. It was quite cute, because I drop them off and then they always walk up the stairs and turn around and wave. Today Sammy and Billy-Joe forgot to wave, dear little Mickey must have upped them, because I waited and they came running back to the top of the stairs to wave........too cool!!

Last night, I got an email to check my phone. Mmmmm, I wondered what's up. My girlfriend must have sent the sms to the wrong person I think. She asked me if I wanted to go to Montville today for a coffee ON THE BIKE!!!!! She admitted that fifteen minutes after she sent it, it hit her, she won't come! Well I surprised everyone, most of all myself and I went up for a ride. By the time we left Nambour, I thought that it was alot scarier than I remembered it. All that stopping and starting and gear changing isn't easy......... I was grabbing Lisa with my legs and I think my nail prints are permanently embedded in her leather jacket...........and that was just from getting out of my street and going to the service station. She wanted me to get off the bike at the servo............"And I have to climb back on with all these people watching?" "Yes lovey, you do" I must say the second and subsequent times I hopped onto the bike I was a lot more lady like that the first attempt. I just about clambered all over her, to get on as that was all I could hang on to. By the time we got to Montville and then to Mapleton for lunch, I wasn't hanging on for grim death anymore. I did enjoy the ride. It's being so vulerable that I am not so fond of. I like to drive myself, because I am in control, being on the back of someone's bike, you have absolutely no control at all. You really have to trust the person you are with. She was very good, and rode slowly although going downhill it felt quite fast.......... Coming down off the range is an experience I tell you. I like doing it in the car swinging around those bends, it's a whole new ball game on a bike.........

I wish I could post a photo, but I couldn't take my camera it's too big. Lis took her camera, but left the batteries on the recharger........so we can't scrapbook today. Does that mean she will take me again?

So, that's my day. A far cry from washing, dusting and cleaning.............but heck, I'd done that before I left!

While I was in Montville - Kenilworth asked if I wanted a day a week's work................I said yes of course. I love that class of kids, they are excellent. Those two days a fortnight bring me back the centrelink payments I have lost because I put in an estimate in case I am working, so that brings me back to what I was getting when I wasn't working. Not good, but I can manage the bills with that income, and any extra will be cream on top.

A highlight that needs its own post

I met a fellow blogger - Suzy We had an enjoyable coffee together. The time went by far too quickly. I would have liked to have chatted more. She is sweet and very easy to talk too. I look forward to continuing to read her blog, getting to know her better and seeing her again soon in the future. They only had a flying visit to the Sunshine Coast and I was honoured that they took out a chunk of their time to come and meet me. Thank you Suzy, you are a lovely lady and a very thoughtful one too, the ear rings you made me are just gorgeous.

It is really bizarre meeting someone that you have met online. I have met girls before from message board type situations but this is the first blogger. I find it really weird and sweet that she commented on things that had happened in my past. I was touched that she remembered them, and also a little startled that she knew so much about me.............you forget that your blog is quite personal in a very public kind of way lol..............

I am going back to read over some old posts of hers too, to get to know her better.

Thank you Suzy, you are a lovely lady and a very thoughtful one too, the ear rings you made me are just gorgeous. Who knows, maybe you will move up here one day!!!

I will post a link to a photo of us when Suzy posts it on her blog.

The holidays are over

The last two weeks have just gone by in a blur. I thought they would be peaceful, quiet and relaxing. They were some of those, in pockets of time, but generally they were very, very busy. The kidlets were in holiday care three days a week and on those days I always did heaps. Except the first Tuesday when it was freezing cold, Peter was painting and I knitted and drank cup of soup while sitting under a granny rug..........bliss!

Highlights of the holidays
* spent time with my sister in law and her kids. She cut my hair and Billy-Joe's and we had lunch and chatted away the hours. On another day, she shouted the kids a day at the bowling lanes. We had a lovely day. The weather was perfect and finished off by a lunch at the Alex Surfclub Kiosk and an icecream at the Cold Rock.
* I got my new glasses
* The kitchen is finished, apart from a few fiddly things
* I cooked heaps, and baked heaps too
* I had fun at Daisy's as usual
* I spent some time with my parents
* I spent some time with Peter's parents and kept in close phone contact
* I have nearly caught up on my housework

Back to school tomorrow. I know I need to work more this term, I wonder what the term will bring.

Washed and still working

Absolutely amazing!

I downloaded some photos from my card reader onto the pc the other day. I put the card in my pocket, to put back into my room into my camera. Alas, I never did that! But I did wash my dressing gown..........it's nice and clean too. And so is the memory card. I took this photo with it today, with a very clean CF Card.........





So now my boys are squeaky clean too...............

And SanDisk must be an awesome brand.

Enjoying the holidays

It's so good to be able to sleep in a little. Truth be known, I am not getting any extra sleep, but boy it feels good being able to go to bed later and get a up a little later. I have had things to do everyday this week, so it's been quite busy. Peter is home this week finishing off our dream kitchen.

I went to Dr. Williams today and he was very happy with me. From today I cut my Avanza down to half a tablet every second day and the same with the oral HRT. In a month I can stop the Avanza and in six weeks I can stop the oral HRT. Interestingly, with my 'no diet' way of thought, I haven't put on an ounce in three months, plus the exercise hasn't been like I was doing before with the kitchen and Mickey. My fat percentage went down, not a lot, but I was rapt as I have lost weight before but the fat percentage has stayed the same. I am excited about dropping off those other meds.

The doctor is expensive, but I think it's well worth it.

The kids are really happy to be on holidays too. My sister in law has given them a PS2 as her son has a new Wii console. My kids are over the moon, and have no idea they actually have it on a long term loan. Perfect timing for over the holidays.

The weather has been cold and I am loving it. I love wearing winter clothes and I bought two pairs of winter footwear last Saturday. I got a lovely pair of boots and a pair of Colorado closed in shoes. I have worn one pair of them everyday this week. They keep my tootsies warm.

I am knitting again!! Can you believe it? After I put my knitting stuff in the St. Vinnie's bin earlier this year, I have been inspired by Suzy . Thank you Suzy for getting me started again. I am just knitting a scarf, something nice and simple. I haven't knitted in about ten years, and haven't made anything complicated in about 20 years, so I thought a pair of socks might be a bit ambitious.......

We are going out this afternoon to pick out the colours for the exterior of our house. Our house looks rather daggy and is in desperate need of a freshen up.......

I will post the colours when we choose them. I am a huge fan of Resene Paint It goes on really well and is quite thick and also hard wearing. I love it.

Living gets in the way of life.

It feels like that sometimes doesn't it? I thought that with having Mickey home all this week, it would be a quiet time. I was welcoming it.. How wrong I was! We had things to do everday. I was out every single day this week. It was inconsequential stuff which really needed doing.
* I bought a new heater, and then took it back because it wouldn't work on the carpet, and then with the same money bought a cheaper heater, two windcheaters for Mickey and a couple of throw rugs for the kids to snuggle under in front of the TV.
* Bought Mickey some new shoes as the others were cut off in Emergency.
* Bought and tried sample pots of paint. Have chosen this colour for the kitchen. It's called Sea Nymph (see above, typical blogger I couldn't put it down here........)
* Had an unexpected cuppa with a friend which was nice.
* Cooked a divine pizza for dinner on Thursday, will post recipe on food blog.
* Cleaned and tidied and pottered around in my kitchen
* cleaned and vacuumed my house
* Baked Jam Drops in my new oven after the electrician got everything hooked up
* Picked up the slate and wall tiles
* Visited dear father in law in hospital, who is doing very well
* Had a couple of girlfriends make a flying visit
* Spent the day with my Mum yesterday and bought a pair of boots and a pair of Colorado closed in winter shoes. The sale was buy one pair get the second pair half price. Gotta love a good sale. I will have those shoes forever. I hate having cold feet and only having a pair of court shoes and a pair of sand shoes as my only closed in ones. We also haunted every kitchen shop in the Plaza. I bought a new stab blender too, as I killed the last one - so only got a cheap one this time.
* A grocery bag broke and a 2L bottle of cordial and a 2L bottle of soft drink fell on my toe. It was black and swollen it looked like a plum. I put a needle through it on Friday night, so at least yesterday I could wear shoes and walk around all day.
* Took Mickey to outpatients appointment on Thursday morning.
* Went out and scrapbooked on Friday night
* Went dancing on Tuesday night.
* Am exhausted just reading about my week.
* Sammy's eyes are playing up again, so doing the drops again
* Mickey still on antibiotics - he will have sutures out tomorrow.
* Had to take disciplinary action toward my eldest son. His behaviour and attitude is not the best at the moment, so we have an action plan, which includes losing all his privileges which he has to earn back week by week with the right behaviours and attitude. I think we got through him. Now we just have to stick by our plan and hope and pray he breaks ties with these kids that he is hanging around with at school. Have made the teachers aware of this, so Billy-Joe knows we will be keeping a close eye on him.
* Have read a book called 'A Boy called It" By Dave Pelzer. A gut wrenching true anecdote of a child suffering abuse......... Should make my own kids read it, especially Billy-Joe and then he will realize how blessed he is- and how tragic others lives can be. This was not light, relaxing reading, so I will have to find something else to read for enjoyment. Mind you this book was like a car crash, I couldn't put it down. I had to know that it would be alright. I have the other two books to read as well. Obviously he endures more..............

I am sitting at my pc today, with it covered as the dust is flying through the house, hopefully for the last time, so tonight I will do another big clean. I can't wait for it all to be finished now!

Oh Mickey

The long weekend started really well. I got up latish, and then decided to go out and buy the tiles and slate for our new kitchen. Billy-Joe came with me, I had to do the groceries too.

My alarm bells started ringing about 35 minutes after I left. I rang Peter from the tile shop and he didn't answer the home phone or his mobile. I thought maybe, he'd gone to the hardware store. a girlfriend rang me about 1 1/2 hours later and said she'd rung at home and it rang out. I was quite worried by this stage. I got home, ran inside and no note to be found. The back sliding door was open!! I went around the house looking for blood. CSI would have been proud of me. I went across the road and asked a neighbour if she'd seen Peter leave in a hurry, she said she hadn't noticed.

Just then Peter arrive home. He had been in casualty with Mickey, who had shot himself in the foot with the nail gun. He was given antibiotics after the nail was removed and the shoe was cut off. He was apparently very brave, and did the whole thing with happy gas. About an hour later, the hospital rang and they wanted Mickey brought back to the hospital to stay and to have surgery to have the wound debrided. So I took him up - waited until he was comfortable and asleep and I left. I was still unshowered and hadn't eaten. I dropped in to see the girls and got home around 10.30pm. At 2.30am I got a phone call, Mickey was unsettled - would I come and stay. I packed up and spent the weekend with my little boy in hospital.

He had surgery on Saturday morning, and was very brave. He didn't even cry until he was coming out of the anaesthetic in recovery. It was then that he wanted to go home. The whole weekend he was so good. He just lay quietly in his bed watching 'Spongebob' cartoons and the odd dvd. We were very happy to come home yesterday afternoon. I slept like a log last night. Sleeping in a crappy bed with a lot going on was surefire way of me not getting much sleep. I just slept in little snatches - so I was very happy to be in my own bed last night.

Today I awoke and felt like crap. So often once the crisis is over, I feel really awful. I feel better now, this evening. I have gone back to enjoying my kitchen. Don't get me wrong, not for one moment over the last couple of days did I count my blessings - especially considering the accident with Mickey could have been horrific, I just needed time to get my 'zing' back. I am planning on waking up with it in full force tomorrow.

Brrrrrr

It's so cold here at the moment. I must say I quite like it - it makes a nice change. I had to buy the kids new flanelette sheets for their beds as they said they were cold last night. I am about to hop into the shower to clean it, but will shower myself and get into my jammies. I love snuggling and being cosy in this type of weather. The air is so brisk - we don't have cold here much. When this uploads I will check out my weather pixie to see how cold it is. My southern counterparts will laugh - I know - because it really isn't anywhere near as cold as it is for them. I don't have to wear a coat or have to have an electric blanket - necessities when I lived in Geelong No gloves, scarves or woolen beanies.........except the beanies the kids, have mainly for fun. The kids are outside with track suit pants on and long sleeved t'shirts. They are all barefoot - no sense no feeling lol.......... I have the doors shut, which happens only on really cold days and makes the house feel really weird, I am so used to having everything wide open. I didn't even have my ceiling fan on last night.

I think it's pretty cool from here south, so I hope everyone is keeping snug. I just checked the weather pixie, it says 17 degrees. I always say that anything under 20 degrees is cold. Funny thing is though the poor weather pixie is wearing a midriff top!!!

Always the scrapbooker

If you haven't already, check out the kitchen blog if you are interested in updates on our renovations.

I wouldn't be a scrapbooker now would I if I didn't take a picture of this little boy. I also asked him to keep crying while I got the camera. Mickey has no problems with such requests. He had a lot of fun playing outside but was quite cold by this stage.

No animals (err children) were harmed during the filming of this event. He is now snug and warm in his pjs and will no doubt sleep very well tonight.

A very productive day reno wise. I am so excited for this to be finished, it's so close now.

Us

I never like my photos when they are first developed. I am always, always disappointed in them. One of my best friends the other day reminded me of that fact.........very funny, she knew me better than I did. Sometimes it only takes a few hours until I can appreciate them, sometimes it takes months. This photo I did like, but only as time has gone by do I truly appreciate and love it. It's us in Ricky's spa in Gin Gin.

I am...........therefore I scrapbook

Just a photo of all my scrapbooking accoutrements from a retreat late last year. It was the best way that I could explain why I scrapbook.......... I am - therefore I scrapbook. Live Life, create Art.....

I love this layout, has lots of sequins on it which probably don't come out on the scan. Thanks to SuzyQ for the inspiration on this one.

Christmas Mickey

I love this photo of Mickey putting the star atop the Christmas Tree. I used a vintage action on this shot. I love how it turned out.

My latest layouts

I will beat blogger at their own game. Because I can't put my comments with each layout or image, I will just upload each one as a seperate post.

Here's the first one, photo of Billy-Joe cooking his first meal in the last school holidays. He was making porcupines.

Flat Days

I don't hate hate them as much as I used to. Simply because they aren't as frequent, nor do they last as long. Probably what annoys me the most, is that I never know why this happens. I get this sick feeling in my stomach and I just want to stay really quiet.

The kithen renos are going well, although it's a little stressful in that, it's getting closer and I am still hoping everything fits. I am worried about whether a new dining table will fit into the area. The dining room is going to be longer, but not wider. I know that longer tables are generally wider too. I am going to talk to Paul Bell today about whether we can crib some room from the width of the kitchen. I also am having a slight apprehension with the rangehood I bought. Does it vent out through the wall? Because it has to! Kleenmaid sales people don't start until 10am, so I am waiting for a call back from them.

I felt great on Saturday, very upbeat and happy. Woke up yesterday and felt flat! It didn't help by the fact that I shut my fingers into the car door, and just smashed two acrylic nails. One quite badly, as it went right down to the nail bed, the pain is quite severe, I can't put any pressure on the end of the nail. Thankfully my nail technicial is a lovely girl and fitted me in first up this morning. I should have done the gym, but I just wanted to get home.

Mothers' Day 2007

I love this day. It's one of my favourite days of the year. It celebrates all that being a mother is about, and it's a wonderful way of stepping back and taking stock of all that's good in one's life.

We started the morning, latish, 8.30am, even though that's earlier than I normally would get up on a Sunday, but we had loads to do, so we could have got up earlier. No time to have breakfast. Now that brings me to breakfast in bed! Am I the only one who doesn't get it? I could think of nothing worse than sitting, half slumped in my bed trying to juggle my breakfast.......... Firstly I would be on my own, (having kids jumping around would really make it enjoyable!!!!) and then I would be eating in a non eating place. I don't get it! I never have, and fortunately my dh and I are totally in agreeance, and he doesn't get it either lol....... Anyway back to my story, no time for breakfast, but I put the percolator on so had a good cup of coffee before we went out. Peter's Mum had cakes for morning tea, (another reason why I didn't have breakfast) and a yummy pot of tea. Was a lovely morning catching up with family and then we headed back home to await our guests - Mum and Dad. Mum had the idea that as it was Mothers Day and her and Dad's anniversary that there was no cooking, so she ordered chickens from woolies. I bought those bake at home rolls and we had beer batter chips, and Mum made her delicious coleslaw. We had nibblies and champagne beforehand too. I made a cheesecake, (recipe will go on blog when I upload photo), which was yummy, accompanied by some good coffee........

Probably the best part though, was how excited my kids got. They bought me goodies from the school Mothers' Day stall, and little Mickey could barely contain his secret, to the point that he'd already told me I would like them, and that I could eat them, and then as I was unwrapping them, that they were chocolates........too funny and so cute. Sammy and Mickey both did lovely cards at school, treasurs that only a mother will cherish forever. Billy-Joe wanted to take pocket money to the stall. I was reluctant to have him spend more than $3-4, but he insisted it was $12 and it was just perfect for me. He told me as I was unwrapping it, that he saw the gift when he took his buddy to the stall the day before and asked if he could reserve it! How cool is that? I unwrapped this rather large present which looked like a generous serving of fish and chips and there was a lovely hand towel and washer set, with talcum powder and hand cream. I will use all of them.........my little boy is growing up and is already learning the art of buying the perfect gift. I was so touched by the gesture, and the lengths that he went to to secure this gift for me....... I am so very, very lucky! My darling man bought me an electric toothbrush. It wasn't a secret, I asked for it, and he also bought extra brushes so we can all enjoy this new toy. I'd used my brother's when we went to Gin Gin last, and I was hooked......

No better way to spend a special day.....
A lovely day.............just perfect!