I am just me..... e

thanks eveyone.....

When we think back over the past 4 mths there are so many things we would change, but we can feel that we are on the up and up! Your messages and emails are so nice and are a real motivation for me.

Joel is doing ok. He is still battling a little with this *quote* VIRUS, which as the days draw on we are more convinced is measles just by the nature of the rash type spot. His temps are still a little erratic but otherwise he is coping remarkably well. We ventured to the supermarket today....I know it sounds silly but I have been reluctant to venture too far just for his comfort and for my own need to nurture him at home....lol...daft huh.

It was my birthday yesterday and I got a lovely email from a certain traveler who is home safe n sound, and then a phone call. Your a doll. My boss (or more a very very great friends) Lyn & Kerry came for lashings of Banoffie pie and cake and brought the loveliest cards and summer bag with an amazing quote....will share that later. The kids were so excited it was my birthday....funny aye. Liam brought me a pair of 3/4 denims jeans and Nikita a Nivea pack with all sorts in it. They insisted Craig had to take them to the Warehourse to shop for me and once there they insisted that he was not to help them shop...lol....they did an amazing job. My old 3/4 denims I had to get rid of after loosing all my weight cause hey were gigantic and these are perfect. Nivea...well a girl can never have too much yummy face, hand, body stuff aye.

My husband was amazing. He came home and feed the smaller kids. Took Kaitlyn to dance (normally my job) and then when he returned he cooked me dinner....it was yummy.....then he gave me the most amazing necklace. yumm....better IRL....The panel acros the top of the shell is al silver and the bail it hangs off is hinged....very happy with that...lol *note to self....I should have touched up that pic cause I look old and tired....eck*

Ok...I don't have much else to share. Will try n gets some pics of the kids on the weekend, hopefully we will all be a little more alive.

Hugs to all
e

it won't be a long one

Thanks for all the lovelies who have emailed or called or posted. I really appreciate it, even if I have been slack at replying.

We really are doing it a bit rough. Joel's op was great. Wed, Thurs, Fri, and even Sat night we all pretty good, but by Sun we knew something was wrong. He was running high temps and off food, runny nose and coughing and all we could think of was after all this an infection has got him, so we rushed off to the duty Dr, and if what Joel has dealt with was not enough, he now has a nasty virus. Nothing to do with the ears. Grommets looked fine, no fluid etc, but very warm and grotty. So just when we thought we might start to feel human we will have to wait a bit. Last 2 nights have been very dodgy but thats ok....we can cope. Just feel  bad for him. At least the virus will pass.

not allot else happening...life rolling on. Happy birthday to my niece Nicole for yesterday. Even if we are far apart and not allot of contact, I love yah and hope you had a fabulous 15th birthday! Big smoochy hugs from me.

ok....seeya....
e

{IT HAS HAPPENED}

Joel's operation went ahead yesterday without a hitch. It was an early start to the morning but he got very little sleep and was up and down all night in allot of discomfort. Partly due to us thinking he would be ok and not administering the Ibuprofen....doh!

We arrived at the hospital and went through all the motions, the weighing the pulse, etc etc. The orderly came for Joel at 9.15am, and we sat in the waiting room along side theater. Mike (our specialist) came through with the anesthetist and then we were in. I lay over Joel while he was taking his big breaths of he gas. He was a little upset but then who wouldn't be right. By the time I walked down the stairs and into the room where Craig was & received a much needed coffee, the nurse came to say he was out and ready for mummy. It is that quick. I walked into recovery and he was having the nicest biggest hug with a huge recovery nurse ( a man) but he was happy to see us. He burst into tears and then promptly fell asleep.

He woke after about 40 min and drank a bottle (the first since 1 am) like it was the last meal, then fell back asleep for an hour. We just left him to sleep instead of disturbing him.

He woke and chattered to us while his eyes were still droopy, so we dressed him (out of the lovely theater pj's) and we were allowed to go home. We arrived home at 12pm and we were shattered. I guess the last 9 mths climbed up on  top of us finally. The 4 mths of disturbed sleep was all cashing in. Joel was more interested in drinking than eating and that was ok by us. He was in his own bed by 1.45pm and woke at 4.45. We really did think that this would be after the general so we just cruised. No expectations and all that. He ate reasonably well for dinner, and was shattered and in bed by 7.10pm. Craig and I both thought he would be up a couple of times for panadol just due to the normal small pain he will have due to the surgery, but we woke at 6am this morning with a fright. I ask Craig if he got up, he asked me if I got up, and we were shocked to note that we had all slept right though.

It happened!

The first time in a long time....we slept through the night. Joel slept through without pain! Just goes to show how bad the poor little man was.

so....that is us. It will take us a while to catch up and feel human but a few more nights like that will certainly help. Joel....wow. What a brave wee man. I just can't believe how hard this must have all been for him with all that pain all the time. What a trooper. Just shows how tolerant our kids really are.

So....this is us. One day post Bilateral Grommets.....and this is Joel. 11.30am and back in bed and enough for me to go in and snap this, flash n all. I couldn't have done that before....

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful, texts, emails, and comments. I really did know you were all thinking about us. Especially to my good pal Nic someone in The US or Canada and posting here for me. Mwah....miss yah

Ok....hugs all

e

Just crazy

That pretty much explains life a the moment. The sleep is not happening at all and the rest, well it all just functions at the moment and not really that successfully! Tomorrow.....YAY....I never thought I of all people would be so happy to have this operation for Joel, but tomorrow is the day and to be completely honest....IT HAS TO HAPPEN. It has to happen so we can restore the family thing. It has to happen to regain some much needed sleep. But most of all it has to happen so that this darling cute wee man doesn't get use to being in this sort of pain for any longer. We have learnt many things over the last few months and especially the last 3 weeks....he has the most incredible tolerance for pain. When he wakes and is unsettled a little and we think his ears are starting to become a problem, they are way past starting and raging. He is the strongest wee man. He his my hero. For those that have had a tooth ache or ear ache or anything that nags at the head you will know this is the pits, but he manages smiles during the day and a chipper chat. Just amazing. The other kids have been an amazing help considering we (Craig and I) are starting the day on empty. They have been a great help for all the little chores that have been overlooked. I LOVE MY KIDS SO MUCH!

BRING ON WEDNESDAY! I will post when I can.Keep us in your thoughts.

hugs
e

I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!

I just got a call from the hospital to say that they have re-booked Joel's op! OMG.......IS THIS FOR REAL???? After the longest time (since he was 4mths old) and all the pain and crying, and the consolling in the wee hours of the night, and the last 3 weeks being the worst ever, we are in next Wednesday the 17th. Please cross your fingers for no more bugs etc to come our way.....this really is a great day. Just when we all felt like we would implode!

THERE IS A GOD OF SOME SORT OUT THERE!

*doing the happy bum dance here*

Everything else has been revolving around this little man. Even he other kids are starting to be effected so this is really the best news ever. We will finally be able to take a step forward........

just can't think of anything else other than this so.....away to celebrate with Joel.

hugs
e

October already!

I know I know I say it every time I post these days. But it is only because my posts are further apart...lol. Wow though....October already. I really can feel that summer is coming. Well ok....normally....except today....lets just say that the last day of Sep and the first day of Oct have been ones that we would rather forget! It got bitterly cold. We nearly even lite the fire again....bad huh....I did say nearly!

Anyhow. The shop stuff has been keeping me busy but I am loving it. Lots of cool things happening over the next few months and so it is great to be a part of that! Fridays are the best day of the week at the moment with me at the store all day. Last week I was even there till 11pm...lol....reckon a sleeping bag would be cool. Actually it was our moonlight madness night  which is always the last Friday of the month and is a great time t come and play and laugh. I guess it reminds me a little of Puke crops....without the puke chicks.

Ok....so this is a class I did with the ladies last Wednesday and they all did a fab job changing it up to suit. I love that about teaching. I love to encourage ladies to give the basic design a touch of themselves. We had ladies doing this in 9 x 9 format and others doing it with 2 6 x 4 pics as the main pictures. I just loved it, and this page was so easy to do with a great pic of Liam.

I have also been creating a special little class for the Scrap Pink day on the 14th. I can't give much away cause I know some are lurking lol.....but it will be a class that is sure to brighten your day! *ok that is a clue*

The family are good. Kaitlyn had all her hair chopped off the other day and it looks fabulous! She is off to get it all coloured o Thurs so that will make another big change. I guess it is that time for her to start experimenting so why not. Joel is ok. Another infection and a change of antibugs cause the other one simply doesn't work anymore....brrrrr. Just waiting still for that re-booked surgery date. Nikita and Liam have had fun so far these holidays. Liam did the soccer school each day last week and Nikita has been places with friends and did a mystery cook off program today, and loved it. Reckon we have her booked for breakfast in bed for the next 12 years!

We are still doing research based around getting a puppy. It is something I don't want to rush into so the more info the better. We have all as a family decided that we are maybe a little too selfish for a large dog to be inside but we are all ready for a smaller dog. So far the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the nicest natured dog we can short list that everyone likes. So hard when there are so many opinions. Will keep you posted.

I am now the proud owner of the Lisa Bearnsons/Heidi Swapp 'All About Me' album. The complete kit, and I can't wait to play!

ok....that is all my news really. Hope you are all fit and well.

hugs for now

e