Hello, Winter is nearly upon us yet again, with the cold, dark and foggy mornings (oh no!). I’m not looking forward to having to get up before sunrise, mainly for work over this time (as are most people- including Husband). Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy my nursing work (and dear aged- residents); but the thought of having to step outside, in the below zero temperatures is pretty YUK! We are still loving our wood fire box (so nice), that was installed nearly two years ago. I had some trouble sourcing some more good firewood this year though; our current supplier had no stock and I rang around finding another company in Bowral. Not naming names, the company agreed to deliver last week and never showed up! Thankfully, I wasn’t paying the bill until delivery was completed (good job), but they did a no show! I rang and left a message, still no answer. In the end, I found a good reliable supplier here in town and we are very happy with the wood (thank heaps!). Nothing beats the heat from wood, it’s such a clean, dry heat and so warming. Mister C and the girls love curling up on the recliner chairs (love Ikea) downstairs, watching a spot of TV or ‘You-Tube’ in front of the fire. Lately, Mister C has been asking to make the fire bigger (flames brighter?), before he goes to bed (he can see it from his loft bunk downstairs); something to fall asleep to, I guess?
Unfortunately, it’s been the house of sickness again this past week, with poor Husband and the girls unwell with bothersome head colds. Husband did stay home until he was better (I had hoped the snoring would improve too); both the girls had days off school and activities, until their symptoms had dissipated (gotta love ‘Demazin’!). I tried to separate everyone- upstairs and downstairs, to try & stop the VERY contagious spread of the germs. I think it mostly worked, I didn’t get it this time, apart from a headache and lump in my neck (swollen glands to fight the bug- I presume). I’m not sure how this was so, I just was relieved it wasn’t me this time; Mister C was well during this time too (phew- wow!). I always become worried about these (annoying) bugs; at my workplace, we need to protect our dear residents who are elderly; I certainly would not be able to attend work either (duty of care). We are still waiting to hear back from Husband’s Ortho Specialist regarding his upcoming knee surgery. Fingers crossed it will go ahead shortly, after the financial year Husband is hoping (as he has a lot of finalising of work to do over this time). I’m trying not to think about it all at present; it just makes me worry for Husband and I feel (a bit) sorry for me- with the looming extra work load for the proposed six (long) weeks…
With my recent increase in nursing hours at my work and Husbands work commitments in ACT (staying for the usual two nights), I had to come up with another solution to try to solve my ‘lack of time in the day’ issues (I did feel glum). Juggling work over part of each weekend, family commitments and other events (I don’t get out that much anyway), was proving difficult to get our blogs done in time; while also NOT successfully imploding my brain at the same time too. I do love writing our blog; however, it does take time and commitment to undertake the weekly writing and blog site updates (which I wouldn’t change for anything). So, after chatting with Husband and the kids, we worked out a good plan together (thanks family!). From this week, I will update the site over the weekend (when time permits); while work on the blog on Tuesdays (the one day I cannot work). I can then email the final blog to Husband so he can read it over (my home editor, who has often tried to boast about doing a double major in English at college), before I post the blog (sounds like a plan), ensuring there are no silly mistakes! Thanks all for your patience with this change; I know many of you liked to read our blog with a cuppa on Sunday evenings (when it was posted on time). It will just be a couple of days later (sorry); I will make sure it’s worth the read! My dear fix-it Dad (miss you always) said to me many times over the years, “If it’s not done right, it’s not worth doing”…
Righto, let’s go back to 2019… Now mid-February, I recall the weather was still very hot (a bit too hot really) and we were all staying indoors to keep cool. Husband was pleased that all of his tests had come back negative, while he also went back full-time with his work days (after being four days a week for the last two years to help the family). Husband was excited at the prospect of staying in ACT one night per week, in lieu of him going back full-time; while also to help with commuting. Husband commented, “Wow, a couple of weeks ago I got my blood and heart monitor tests back; quite amazing, bloods were actually the best in the last four years, so nothing to worry about now. Have gone back to full-time work and staying in ACT once a week, hard to believe that I went five months without a night to myself, then had two nights to myself in a five day period!”
Over this time, we celebrated another birthday for me (another year older!), Valentine’s Day and our tenth wedding anniversary, in the space of about one month. It was a busy, but happy time celebrating these milestones together. We decided to book a short trip to our happy place- ‘Mollybook’ (Mollymook), over our actual anniversary with the kids, and were looking forward to the getaway. I had arranged a surprise for Husband and I, to commemorate our anniversary together too; it was going to prove to be difficult to keep it a secret for long, as the kids already heard the plans and I had to pay a largish (money) deposit, in order for the event to occur. I recall Husband did see our bank account statement and questioned me about the authorisation (oops!)- he commented, “Wife has a surprise planned and I am nervous it is something to do with a tattoo! I realised she had arranged tattoos for our anniversary, even though she knows I’m not a big fan. To keep her happy, I will go along with it!” Would Husband go through with the ‘getting ink done’ after all?…
We had however noticed, Widy was lower in her overall mood during these weeks. I quietly spoke with her in her room and she couldn’t pinpoint an exact issue, just a combination of issues getting on top of her; including issues with the wrong crowd of girls at the high school she had been attending. Things came to a head the day before my birthday, where I had no choice, but to take the day off to help Widy get through a tough few days (family always first). I called my trusty long-term good friend (love you D P.B), who was also an experienced MH nurse, and was able to come up for the day; to also see me for my birthday and have a good heart-to heart chat with Widy. A long story shortened, Widy did require some intensive counselling, to help her to set her thoughts straight and develop a plan, to deal with the ongoing issues she was experiencing; that were believed to arisen from her traumatic (early) entrance into the world (lots of mother guilt there). Over the next months, we later decide to help move Widy to another local public high school, for a fresh start in mid-July (still in year eight). All that now written; well done for getting through this tough time our sweet Widy! We are so very proud of you and know you are in good stead for a happier life ahead.
At the same time, our wonder dog, Duggie unfortunately hurt his little left (chicken) leg (not sure how it happened); he possibly fell off the last back step-from running around in his haste! We were all worried about our Duggie; he had great difficulty moving his leg, so I ended up taking him up to our local vet (thanks) for a review and scans. The results showed a ruptured ACL tendon across his leg (oh dear!); he was quickly booked to have a tendon repair later that week, to try to repair the little limb. We all wanted Duggie to be able walk and run around our block properly again (no matter the costs- and they were great!). Poor Duggie stayed overnight for his procedure and initial recovery; he wasn’t allowed to use his leg for four weeks (oh dear!). Thankfully, I had kept the old (trusty) porta-cot we had used for him when he was unsettled and anxious years ago; I set it up with his favourite bed and blanket, putting down an old ‘kylie’ (absorbent material pad), to help collect the wees… It was going to be a few long weeks, particularly when I had to go to work through the day (I managed to pop home during my lunch break a few times).
Mister C and the girls were sad for Duggie, but were helpful with caring for him too. Mister C understood to be careful of Duggie’s sore leg; he would sit in the porta-cot with Duggie (very cute) and pat him quietly. Mister C (unfortunately) began acting out again over this time; with him having further issues at school and in class (what next?). Mister C’s teacher was very supportive, however, there were still issues with a few other difficult children (mainly boys) in the class too, who were also acting out; causing unnecessary problems in the classroom. Mister C was in turn overly stressed in the class and playground again, where it was affecting his home life and sleeping as well. Husband commented, “Kids have been helping to take Duggie outside a few times a day, while in the cot after his leg surgery… I noticed through these times, adults and kids as a family unit, grow together- even mature together. I had this idea throughout my childhood, that Mums and Dads were sensible, non-changing rocks; where this is probably not the case, and certainly is not the case with me. I sing and carry on like a bit of a fool regularly at home, in front of the kids and make jokes a lot; but, it does come with a price, as I am not as cool-headed as my parents were (and Wife is). We change together, as the kids are growing up; I am also changing, hopefully for the greater good as a better person, Husband and father too”…
A Word from Mister C…
Dad was in the kitchen making his breakfast and also toasting some bread for Mister C. “Dad, do you like cashew nuts?” Mister C asked, grinning. “Yes, I do, my son; I love them and any kind of nuts!” Dad replied smiling. “Oh, yes of course, Dad; because you’re part one Indian, one part American, one part Human and the other part dinosaur. We all know dinosaurs love food, especially nuts!” Mister C said giggling… “Very funny, my son, Dad replied laughing; “I have a bit of Indian heritage, a bit of American and the rest human!” …😏
Stay tuned…
For more zanier stories of 2019… Just a little housekeeping, due to my recent working arrangements and family commitments, I will now be posting a new blog on Tuesdays (sounds fun?!). Apologies for this change; it is unavoidable, I know you all like having a cuppa and read our blogs (thanks SO much!). So, please continue doing so on a Tuesday for the new weekly blog (and other days too). 🙃
