Hi there… I just wanted to acknowledge the tough times we are facing in our beloved Australia and overseas too at present. Not only with the daunting clean up from the devastation of the bush fires, but also with the deadly virus that has now reached our shores. I am no expert on these matters, but it is important to stay connected with what is going on in our homeland areas right now. Staying focused on our families and friends is vital, while also looking after ourselves is too. Our mental health is so important right now. After having had a lovely lunch yesterday with my dear friend (Hiya D.P-B), who is a senior mental health nurse, we (amongst other funny and silly stuff) talked about mental health issues, and how imperative it is to stay well (in order to care for others). We spoke about ‘mindfulness’ and how good this is for us. Even if it’s reading a great book, playing a game or taking the dog for a walk, time for ourselves and being in the moment, is what keeps (and drives) us as individuals. For me, illustrating (and of course writing) brings joy (you know that spark?), ‘mindfulness’ then surrounds me. Try it, your week may improve too (if it needs to) …
Okay… so, 2014 nearly over (yay! I hear you say), too much packing and sorting had been done (I was pretty much over it by then); however, I still had a few hurdles to jump over before Christmas and then the big exciting MOVE. Unfortunately, during this busy time, Mister C had a fairly serious incident (which always worries us parents), where he swallowed not one coin, but two coins one sunny late-morning. To cut a long and stressful story short, Mister C was holding (not shaking) his pewter money box, while I was changing him on the change-table. A freakish accident, (still don’t know how one coin, let alone two could come back out from the top of the VERY small coin slot), and fall directly into Mister C’s mouth (what are the strange odds?!). Anyway, I went straight into ‘nurse mode’ again after realising what had happened, I quickly tipped him over and gave him 3 firm thrusts in the middle of his back. This action did dislodge a coin and it dribbled out (was a twenty- cent piece!); relieved, I turned him back over in my arms and comforted him (we were both shocked and upset). I then realised that his breathing was not good (our worst nightmare!), like something else was caught in his throat (at the time I didn’t know there were two coins!). I quickly opened his mouth and saw another smaller coin stuck deep in his throat. I again tipped him over, and gave him two more hard thrusts in his middle back. This sadly didn’t work, where he coughed, gagged, then also breathed in deeply at the same time….
Very worried (but trying to stay calm), I called Husband (who was shocked with what had happened, but couldn’t do much being at work). Luckily, I had a friend over for lunch at the same time it was all happening, who helped with comforting Mister C and our other children with us. I then rang the hospital, who said to come straight in. A long story short, Mister C had to spend a night in hospital after having another anaesthetic, to remove the ten-cent coin that was lodged in his oesophagus (bronchoscopy). Two x-rays had been performed at the first hospital (that coin was not moving down any time soon); then we had an ambulance ride over to the other hospital to have the procedure! What a long day and night it was! (Thank-you to all). Thankfully, Mister C pulled through okay, only with a very sore throat (it was also a good thing his tonsils had been removed, so he could breathe with what small gap there was in his throat with the coin pressing against his wind pipe- trachea). A terrible reminder, that these items are never safe for children to play with (Mother guilt- it was MY fault really!). A lesson to me too, not to give Mister C anything like that to look at again (ended up throwing money (dinosaur) box in the top cupboard away from all of us!). Husband commented, “The coin incident with Mister C was very upsetting. I want to forget about it; it is over now and thankfully he is fine.”…
Moving right along… I had important (and stressful) Uni assessments and assignments, coming out of my ears before the end of the semester (November). I managed to pass a major practical exam, which I was relieved about (Husband was too- surely, he didn’t want to hear the tears if I had failed…) I then had another Uni placement for four weeks in Community Health early December (Husband did sigh again… But he was an EXPERT at caring for the girls and Mister C by this one!) Husband commented, “Has been very trying looking after Mister C all day, but easier than when he was three months old!” I loved the placement, passed it well and enjoyed the experience (even-though it was unpaid full-time work!) Funnily enough, I was even offered a job there (of course, I had to decline; getting the casual position at the Base Hospital, which was waiting for me when we moved- YAY!). Things were falling into place (apart from the usual hiccups), I was fortunate enough to successfully organise to do the final two placements next year in our new town (very exciting!).
Mid December, things went from manageable to worse (as they do) in the space of a few days… All at once, we had electrical issues with the house (being rented); internet modem blew up same day, as did the new garage door didn’t open. An electrical fault had caused an issue with the door motor; my car was stuck inside the garage! We had to break into the side window, to manually over-ride the door mechanism and get my car out. “What a sight!”, my Husband did comment, me trying to slide through the small window to get to the door motor. The next day, the ducted reverse air-con suddenly died; had to get an expensive part ordered to get it fixed before house was rented out (and pay for two call out fees too). Not only that, but we realised Husband’s car breaks were very bad, and needed changing ASAP ($570 later mind you!), particularly with his new commuting he was going to start doing soon. The next day (I know- weird right?) the DVD player died too, and we had to pay a hefty deposit for the bond and weeks rent for the rental property we were moving to.
Husband commented,” Geez, things are hard sometimes; will look back on this and wonder how the hell we made it through!”… I also needed to resign from my old job in ACT Health (happy- sad there!), a lot of paperwork later, I still didn’t receive the payout I was due (Husband was cranky!); finally taking many weeks for it to deposit our account. A letter was sent to our old address over four weeks later; funny to note my name was spelt incorrectly, and at the very bottom of the notice in the smallest font possible was written: “Thank-you for your sixteen-years of service.” I was obviously pleased to get the funds (as was Husband); but did think to myself, is that all I get for all those years of hard nursing work, and it was seventeen not sixteen long years!…
Anyway… We managed to get through as we always did (lots of chocolate, tears and laughter later), Christmas came and went… Mister C very busy, girls lots of fun and what a noisy, happy household! Husband commented, “Mister C is so sweet when I put sunscreen on him or put his shoes on, he keeps saying ow… ow… ouch as if it’s hurting him (of course not).” Have to also mention, poor Husband got food poisoning after having take-away Indian with friends on Christmas eve (sorry guys!); symptoms reared its head Christmas night. Haven’t seen him that unwell for a long time (unfortunately, I think Husband had forgotten what it was like to be sick; TLC given all the same!). Through all the ups and downs, we did manage to organise a fun farewell gathering with family and friends, the week before I was to move first with Mister C and the girls (wish me luck!). It was lovely to spend time with everyone and reminisce on old days together. Also, to note, we had such amazing help from these same wonderful people, with packing and moving smaller items in that same week (thanks to all- it meant so much!) …
A word from Mister C…
“I don’t want to go back to school yet! Can I stay in my pyjamas a bit longer?…
“I hope I actually have a good first day back to school Mummy. I’m a bit nervous because, I may have forgotten where the entrance to the school is, as it’s been so long! What if I don’t get to school on time, I don’t even know who my teacher is going to be yet either!” “It will be okay my son”, I said, giving Mister C a big hug. “I will go with you and Flossy; we will make sure you know where to go and we won’t be late. Hopefully you will get a nice teacher this year too!”…
Stay tuned…
It’s now 2015 (yay!), and the big removalist has just finished unloading our big items including our precious piano… More to come on settling in our new place and town, and those FLOODS I mentioned last blog… Mister C enjoys his first day at the new day-care centre, and manages not to fall completely down the stairs in our new house (just the last two!) …
