I have no imagination

Please feel free to join in, I won't bother tagging you. Just bold the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef. Better than that, I used to live there.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru. Not Uluru, but definitely outback.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo. Good god, NO!
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption. Does the Giant Drop at Dreamworld count??
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language. Well, part thereof, I guess.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. Twice now. Eek.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast. - Keep meaning to, haven't got there yet...
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating. Jet skiing?
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Not singlehandly, I've helped though.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury. I keep turning JD down - I really should do it one day.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Christmas dinner

The very lovely Jodie has suggested I come out of lurkerdom and share my Christmas Dinner plans with you all. Since I really have nothing better to write about, I accept the challenge. Prepare to be green wiv jellisy. No, really.

Christmas day this year will see us rise at dawn's first light to rip apart Santa's loot. We'll then partake of some ham, eggs & strong coffee before attempting to dress the children and cram them in the car to the IL's house.

There we shall eat exotic nibblies such as rum balls, malt balls, chips, nuts, various dips and lollies until lunch is served. Lunch is generally roast pork, turkey, ham, standard roast vege & salads, with trifle, pavolova & mocha tiramisu (made by moi) for dessert. We are skipping the pudding this year. Rebels.

T has just returned home now with a carton of Crown & some pink sparkly things for me, so that's a good sign. I'm off to partake of one. Merry Christmas to you all. I hope Santa is kind.

Rheumatologist appointment

Wow - 6 months goes so fast.

Matthew's appointment went very well, which we expected. It's been a long time since Matthew has complained of any pain or stiffness and we've not noticed any swelling or warmth from his joints. Dr J can't find any sign of joint inflammation either and Matthew still has good range of movement from all his joints.

His ankles are rolling in quite significantly though, which Dr J doesn't believe to be a major issue. When I questioned it, he did say I could see a podiatrist if I wanted and they would no doubt prescribe some orthotics for him but am reluctant to do so at this point. He is already very aware that he has limitations and resents the addition of the contact lens to his life - I'm not sure I can bring myself to saddle him with another reason to feel different.

Next follow-up - June 2009.

At least it wasn't me this time.

3.36am - Matthew comes screaming in to our bedroom and dives on top of me. He is almost hysterical and rigid with fear.

Matt: There's something in the kitchen!
Me: Shhhh baby, it's okay...
Matt: *high pitched scream* It's in here now! It's touching my back!
Me: No buddy, that's Dads hand.
Matt: Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhh!

Sigh...Looks like T's getting a mattress on the floor next to him now too.

Stoopid parenting decisions.

Some months ago, in an attempt to gain another 1.5 hours sleep a night, I made a decision I’m now living to regret. After the boys had gone to bed for the night, I took our small and rather innocuous looking oil heater into their room and set it on low, assuming that Ryan was waking at the crack of dawn because he was cold. When I woke naturally at 6am, I immediately hailed my cunning plan a success. No small children in my bed! Huzzah! I went to check on them, only to find my little Ry huddled in the furthest corner of his bed, shaking with fear. He was terrified of the clicking noise the heater was making as it cooled down & warmed up again. I have no idea how long he’d been in that state but I hope with all my heart it wasn’t long.

Because I am extremely daft & refuse to learn from my errors, I repeated the whole fiasco the following night. Mistake number 2.

I appear to have ruined the child for life. He is convinced that the heater crept in of its own accord in the middle of night and switched itself on. I’ve tried to tell him that I moved it in there but he is adamant that I didn’t. According to him, the heater sleeps in the lounge room during the day and at night, if it hears a noise, it wakes up. Its lights come on and it wheels itself around the house. I can see why he’s petrified – I’m beginning to feel a little freaked out myself.

Anyway, the months have gone on – he’s still not sleeping in his room & the mattress on the floor next to my bed is starting to look like a permanent fixture. The heater was happily living in the lounge room and nobody was paying it any attention at all. Life was rosy (well, rosy-ish) yet suddenly Ryan has started noticing it again & the paranoia set in. This is where I make mistake number 3.

I told him I’d take the bloody thing up to the shed and that’d fix it once and for all. Except I got lazy. It was raining and I didn’t feel like padding up the boggy yard with it so I crammed in the back of my wardrobe. The kids rarely go in there so I thought I’d get away with it, at least temporarily. Little did I know the kids had earmarked that very spot for a new cubby house…

So now he thinks it’s crept down from the shed and is hiding in my cupboard. I should just start directing my weekly wage straight to his therapist, shouldn’t I?

Creative people - I need your help

I have half a yard of each of these gorgeous fabrics. What should I do with them? I have a few thoughts but want to hear what you would do. Inspire me, please...

Dreamworld

Yesterday we met up with some wonderful friends from Townsville who are down this way on holiday and took the kids to Dreamworld for the day. We haven't seen them since we left almost 3 years ago, so the catch up was long overdue.

We had such a great day, the weather was perfect (a pleasant break from the horrific storms and flooding we've been having), crowds - not too bad. Very pleased we snuck our day in before school holidays starts.

The big boys, wrestling crocs.

This lizard ("goanna" as they insisted on calling it) kept them amused for ages.

Ryan, with his Bear Foot Biscuit.

The obligatory pose in front of The Wiggles house.

Big boys on the Spongebob ride.

Matthew & Ryan making their big escape.

One knackered little boy.

Giveaway at Old Red Barn Co.

Are these not three of the most spectacular quilts you have ever seen? Old Red Barn Co is giving us a chance to win one, simply by leaving her a comment. I’m sad to say I’ll not be entering a video as I am technologically challenged (to say the least) but fingers crossed I get lucky anyway.

Now friends and neighbours, feel free to enter but consider yourself warned. I shall be rather snippy if you win and I don’t.

Fencing update

I've had a couple of people make polite inquiries in to the state of our spectacular fence.

So for all your interested parties, here she is today in all her glory:




(Do please ignore the palettes - they will be made into framework for concrete very shortly. I hope anyway...)

The old girl seems to be a fair bit more rickety than my last photo, doesnt' she? The recent hailstorm we had was not kind to her at all. Would anyone like to make a small wager on how much worse it can possibly get before it's replaced?

Disco Fever

Matthew had his second ever school disco last night. The first one he spent sitting on my lap, complaining that the music was too loud, the lights were too bright and the kids were too, well many. I believe we may have even left early...

This time though, I watched him get told to stop dancing on the stage with the DJ's and discovered he knows how to do the Macarena. Who is this kid?

Another tag

Tagged by the Mother of All Ships.

1. Where is your cell phone? Currently in my handbag, under my desk.
2. Where is your significant other? At work I believe (and if I find out otherwise...grrr)
3. Your hair colour? Blondey / browny. Ever so attractive.
4. Your mother? Is starting to decline and is very set in her ways. Lays the guilt on thick.
5. Your father? Dresses badly, has a moustache and talks to freaking everyone. Likes to tell embarrassing stories about his children.
6. Your favorite thing? At the moment, my kitchen.
7. Your dream last night? I don't think I slept long enough to dream last night. All I can remember is changing the smallest boys sheets because he refused to go to the toilet before bed.
8. Your dream/goal? Ditto to Mothership. "To live to see my children grow into happy and healthy adults."
9. The room you're in? I'm at work in our delightful office.
10. Your hobby? I like to sew.
11. Your fear? Surviving my children.
12. Where do you want to be in six years? A lot richer than I am today.
13. Where were you last night? At home, doing domestic stuff.
14. What you’re not? Able to complete a task from start to finish.
15. One of your wish list items? A bigger house.
16. Where you grew up? Canberra.
17. The last thing you did? Went to Medicare on my lunch break. I like to live dangerously.
18. What are you wearing? Brown skirt, black shirt & attractive black cardi. It's cold in here.
19. Your TV? Is not a plasma, much to T's disgust. It's also on way more than necessary.
20. Your pet? Two girl dogs - Bundy & Ollie. (waiting for the comments to start...)
21. Your computer? Is probably infested with viruses but I love her anyway.
22. Your mood? Will be much better come 5pm.
23. Missing someone? My 3 boys.
24. Your car? Toyota Prado. Outside, semi-clean. Inside - disgusting.
25. Something you’re not wearing? Make up.
26. Favorite store? Ikea at the moment.
27. Your summer? Will be spent in the air cond. I wish we had a pool.
28. Love someone? See question 23.
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? About 20 minutes ago.
31. Last time you cried? Matthew's very first school concert.

Opthalmologist appointment - October

I’m four days late with this post but I’m sure you all know how that old chestnut goes.

Left eye – cataract still stable (nothing short of a miracle)
Right eye – stable
General sight – 6/12 Right eye, 6/9+1 Left eye (down from last quarter)
Meds- no change
Follow up – 12 weeks (12 January 2009)

This is an absolutely brilliant result. Last visit the opthal reduced the topical steroids Matthew has been on in an attempt to begin weaning him off them altogether. The steroids are such a catch-22 situation. They are controlling his inflammation wonderfully but one of the side effects of long term steroid use, is co-incidentally, cataracts. It would almost be funny, if of course I could bring myself to laugh about it that is. For such a long time we’d kept the recipe the same because that cataract in his left eye was remaining stable, which is the goal but it was suspected that this dramatic reduction of meds would shake things up a little. It didn’t. It is truly unbelievable. Now, if only we can keep this pattern going for another 2 years…

The only downside of this visit was the small slip in his eyesight. We’ve not had a good three months, contact lens wise. Matthew had lots of infections and his lens has just generally been unsettled and irritable. We’ve been back to his optometrist, who claims that the lens is fine so why it has been such a drama lately still remains a mystery. Hopefully, with a bit of perseverance (and maybe just a little bit of bribery) we can push on with it and overcome the hassles. How fabulous would it be to see (ha!) 6/6 vision in the New Year?

Renovations - stage 2

And so it begins again. Retaining walls are being toppled to make way for a ramp to enable us to finally put the shed up. I am particularly excited about this phase as it means I will soon be the proud owner of my very own shed. No longer are sheds the exclusive domain of the man of the house. I can store all manor of crap up there without impeding on his territory. So happy.

It also means the old kitchen will be removed from it's temporary home right outside my back door.

Simone

I presume I would have been about 7 when I saw my tooth fairy in the flesh for the first time. I was grocery shopping with my mother and when we got to the check-out, we were served by a young girl whose name tag indentified her as "Simone". I remember thinking she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and imediately decided she must have been a fairy - more specifically, my tooth fairy.

Tonight I am going to make my debut as the Tooth Fairy. I only hope I look half as good in my Woolworths uniform as Simone did...

Essential Gadgets

So our new kitchen is finally in and I am just in love. So far, it functions perfectly, has room for all our stuff & looks about a million times better than the old one. I guess I could have been waiting a long time for faded grey, chipped laminate to come back in fashion. ;)

Anyway, here's a quick tour of the gadgets that I adore most. Firstly, the bin. Isn't it fabulous? It tucks away neatly in the very cupboard that piss me off most about kitchens (always such a waste of space), has a separate compartment for recyclables, and a shelf on top. I'm in love (& in need of a life but we all knew that...)

Here's my incredibly sexy microwave. I lurve the way it sits flush in the wall, instead of taking up loads of bench space. It also grills, which excited me no end when we were purchasing it.

The tiling is nearly all finished. Now just waiting for the glue to harden so we can grout.

The plight of the working mother

Today Matthew is sick and I am at home with him. My self-professed "family friendly" employer took this news less than happily because Wednesday happens to be the day that the person I job share with has her RDO.

The feeling of worry I had earlier today about his health has been washed away and now replaced with guilt. Guilt that I have asked to have the day with my sick child. Guilt that others have had to re-arrange their schedules to accomodate my family. Guilt that I am now feeling guilty about work instead of focusing on my son.

$28.00

It took the Optometrist 10 minutes (+ 15 minutes waiting) to check Matthew's eye (yes, singular) tell me the focus of his lens is perfect, the fit is perfect and he'll see him again in 6 months. Money well spent, you think? Well, you'd be wrong. The appointment was completely bulk billed.

The $28.00 was for the fucking parking.

Toys I love

What is keeping your children amused these school holidays? I highly recommend this book:- The Superhero Starter Kit. It's just brilliant and oh so much fun for little boys of all ages. It's so nice to break free of the Batman/Spiderman/Superman hero mould that has dominated our house for so long and just see some garden variety, generic heroes getting about instead.

In other news, Keybots have rocked our world. How cute are these guys?? My SIL brought them over from Singapore when she came recently and the boys are hooked. Such a simple gadget but is keeping the kids amused for ages, building and rebuilding them. Each Keybot comes with a key that is unique to that robot. The head, arms and legs click in to the main cube and can only be released with the key. Finally a toy that is sturdy, robust and keeps the kids entertained. I love them and hope to import some more simply to indulge my inner child...

If

I have been tagged by both Shel & Jenn for this post and I'm not sure where to start. I've been pondering over it for a couple of days and am still not sure what I actually want to write about so I thought I'd just bite the bullet and do it and see what crap comes pouring out.


The obvious one first - If I'd actually applied myself in highschool instead of spending my days smoking behind the science block and sneaking out at night I may actually have a job that I love, instead of one that I barely tolerate just so the bills are paid each week.


If I hadn't made the choice to follow the boy I thought I loved many years ago, I would never have met the wonderful man I do love today. And the thought of not ever having met this wonderful family that we've created is almost too much to bear.


If we'd decided to keep the very first house we'd ever bought instead of selling it off prematurely we could be retired and living on a tropical island, spending our days drinking Mei Tai's & lolling about in hammocks. Yeah, okay maybe not but it is something we regret.


If I'd continued attending lectures instead of dropping out, I would be a primary school teacher now. Wow. Scary.


If I'd asked to change piano teachers instead of giving up because one teacher gave me the creeps (here's looking at you, grubby old Mr Brown), I might be able to play more than "Chopsticks" and "The Rose".


Righto Jodie, Ellie, Little White Dove, Claire & Red Haired Girl - here's the rules.

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. List 5 things that could make your life very different should it come true.
3. Tag 5 other people.

Now off you go...

Monkey in the Jungle

Matthew had his school concert on Thursday night - dear Lord, it was breathtakingly cute. 100 prep kids all dressed in various costumes, singing and dancing to Bindi Irwin songs was more than I could take. I believe I even shed a tear. Gosh, I forget how little he is sometimes and expect so much of him.

10 points though to the reader who can pick Matthew in this photo. If you are really lucky, I might even send you a homemade, real live, tangible present in the mail since that seems to be the done thing these days. Go on, try me. You just never know...

..

Karate Kid

Matthew started Taekwon Do lessons last night. He's been asking for a long time now to be allowed to have a go but I've been reluctant. I wasn't sure that a Martial Art was the most appropriate sport for an arthritic child given it is fairly punishing on the joints but Matthew's physio has given him the go ahead, so here we are.

So now we get to meet Sporty Matthew. He's suddenly developed a keen interest in sit-ups & push-ups and thinks he has been given a licence to perform swift kicks to his little brother when he's being a pest. God help us all.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to

T & I survived Matthew's first official birthday party - you know, the kind where the kid gets to select the guest list and invites all sorts of strange kids you didn't even know they talked to, let alone hung out with. Anyway. The first lesson we learnt, and which I shall be so good as to share with all of you who may be about to embark on the same journey, is that parents are not afraid of doing the good ol' "drop and run". Consider yourself warned. We found ourselves well & truly outnumbered as 7 minature superheroes began tearing around the backyard. It was a little like watching spider monkeys on speed. Thank god for beer, I say.

Nevertheless, a good time was had by all. There was only one split lip and a few other minor injuries to report - nothing we could be sued over, I don't think. :s

Batman & the pinata.

All hell breaks loose as the pinata busts.

Ze cake.

He tells me he had his hand over his mouth so he didn't blow the candles out accidently. Awww.

The smashed cake.

Some of the heroes in a quieter moment - perhaps reflecting on crimes fought & won?

He's 6

Gosh, it feels like only yesterday he was a tiny little nestling, now he's my big strapping school boy. Time certainly does fly.

Happy birthday Biggest Boy. It's been a wonderful 6 years... :) xx

How to spot your husband in the throws of a mid-life crisis

He'll come home with one of these:

Now, if you'll excuse me I'm off to update his life insurance...

Pirate Party

Matthew went to his best friends 6th birthday on the weekend. BF's dad put A LOT of work in to this party - so much so that when it is my turn to provide an elaborate party for the boy in 2 weeks time, I fear he will be the laughing stock of the school yard. (Aside: good thing it was a pirate party - eye patches are the one thing there is no shortage of around this place...)

Meet the pirates:

Pin the eye-patch on the pirate

Fishing for treasure maps

Small pirate captured by big, drunk, bush-whacking pirate

Climbing across ladders spanning large, crocodile infested creeks.

They also had an open fire for the kids to toast marshmallows, a treasure hunt in a snake-infested gully and a home made pirate ship to decorate. The kids had a ball.

For Matthew's birthday I planned on throwing the boys in the backyard with a pinata & a lolly hunt and calling them back inside to have cake at some point before loading them up with lolly bags and sending them home to their parents. I may need to review my plans... help please?

A little trip down memory lane

Love that eyebrow - he still gives it to me on occasion.

We stumbled across some old photos of Ryan last night that we'd forgotten even existed. Awww, so cute.

I really ought to get the boy a photo album so we can admire his pictures more frequently. The poor kid suffers badly from "second child syndrome"...

6 Random things

I was tagged by Ellie to write 6 random things about myself.

Here are the rules ...
1. Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

Right, well lets get started...

1. I have never lost a molar tooth naturally. All of mine were pulled before they were ready by my dentist to stop my over crowding problem.

2. I have moved house 13 times in the last 10 years.

3. The longest I have ever lived in the same house is 2.5 years (current house)

4. I once pierced my ear with a safety pin – no ice.

5. There are a pair of suicidal ducks that race out in front of my car at the same time & same spot each day when I’m on my way to work.

6. I once set my hair on fire trying to light a cigarette when I was drunk.

Okay, I'm tagging (sorry girls...) :

Jenn
Little White Dove
Sarah
Ruth
Car
Red Haired Girl

The blog list sucks

Why does mine never update reliably?

Photographic evidence of our boganity...

Dream on

It’s been a busy few weeks here at The Shack. Lots of grown up decisions to be made which never makes for fun times. Some of you know we recently considered relocating the family (yet again…) and were very close to actually doing so when all our plans fell apart at the last minute. To say it was rather fucking annoying is somewhat of an understatement… It was at this point T & I did a bit of soul searching and made the decision late last week to pull the house off the market.

So now what? Well, I guess we stay put. Disappointing as the whole situation was, it has in a way inspired us to continue with our own plans. Plans we’d almost forgotten we had made. It’s so easy to lose sight of your goals if you don’t keep them foremost in your mind and easier still to become focused on the seemingly endless long commutes to work, slap-dash dinners and piles of washing.

So for now, here, the fire has been re-ignited and we are at ease with our decision. The days are once again looking rosier and we are both excited to once again be back on the same page with our ideas. Now, to stop procrastinating and actually carry them out… (See, some things never change.)

Finally...

It’s finished! Took a long time though, I must admit and there was even a stage when I wondered if it was destined to become another one of my many half completed projects stuffed back in the sewing box. It did take me many weeks to psych myself up to do the binding – for some reason I was terrified. First I wasn’t sure if I would have enough of the fabric I wanted to use and next I was put off by the thought of having to hand stitch the back of the binding. Ugh, boring…

Anyway, I learnt many things along the way:

1. Hand stitching the binding is not that hard after all.
2. I really need a thimble.
3. And a walking foot.
4. During the quilting stage, even when you think you have more than enough pins to keep it all from moving, add 10 more.
5. 3 year olds should not be allowed to “help”.
   
   Here’s a close-up of the binding from the back:
   

Probably not perfect, I imagine the CWA ladies would have a field day with the faults but there has been too much self-congratulating going on for me to worry about that sort of nonsense… ;P

Lovely friends

Aren't they nice to have? One of mine has just sent me an enormous stack of ill-gotten sewing patterns. God love her & her loose morals... ;P

Jesus - I'm in the negatives!

-31 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Okay, now that result even shocked me. I'm taking it again...

-7 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Right, shit. That wasn't much better and I was even rather liberal with my good points. Stupid online tests...

Early & Late Birthday presents

I was absolutely stumped for ideas for my nieces 6th birthday (which was actually in June...ooops) so have stolen Ellie's idea of sending a crayon/texta/pencil roll. Ta love... :)

So because it's either a feast or a famine with me, I thought I'd also get in early for her brother's 5th birthday in October. I figure by the time I manage to actually remember to get to the post office and send them off, it will be at least August - dead smack in the middle of both birthdays. I'm a genius.

While I adore my niece's texta roll (and am secretly considering keeping it for myself), cutting in to a sheet of Amy Butler fabric did feel a little like I was desecrating a sacred garment. It really should come with a warning...

15 July

Breathing easy... for now

Opthalmologist
Left eye - Marvellous
Right eye - Marvellous
General sight - 6/12 Right eye, 6/6 Left eye.
Meds - eek, complicated change.
Follow up 12 weeks.

Medication:
Maxidex - Once per day in right eye for 1 month, then change to Flucon
Homatropine - One drop every 2nd day both eyes
Flucon - cease drops in Left eye

Redipred - 1ml every 2nd day
Methotrexate - 10mg per week
Naprosyn - 250mg per day
Folate - 50mg per day

Phew. I think that's it. The next review is going to be hairy though. Because Matthew is responding so well to his current cocktail of drugs it is now time to try and ease him off some of the topical steriods (ie eye drops he is on). Firstly dragging out his Maxidex to every second day, then reducing him to a lower strength steroid (Flucon). The Flucon has been stopped altogether in his right eye. (Breath Shannon...) In the event that he responds well to this new regime, we can in time look at getting him off the more toxic drugs like Methotrexate. If he doesn't respond well, well fuck, I just don't know... Lets not go there right now, okay?

Anyway, all that aside, it was a great review. Sometimes it's easy to lose track of why we are subjecting him to so many irritating little procedures on a daily basis so it's nice to be able to look back and see a result. Keeps you motivated for the next 3 months. Next challenge, to keep the goddamn contact lens in his eye, instead of in a container of saline on the microwave...

Suddenly nervous

It's the eve of Matthew's opthalmologist appointment again - the first time since we went 12 weeks ago. Last time we had a long break like this between visits his eyes went to hell in a handbasket. His cataract was completely occluding his vision, inflammation in his eye was out of control, he needed surgery immediately & lots of horrible, horrible phrases like "blindness", "glaucoma" & "losing his eye" were bandied about.

Please friends & neighbours, cross your fingers for a good report. Send vodka too if you have some spare. I'm a little jittery...

It's official - My 5 year old is braver than I am...

Matthew is holidaying at his grandparents place for few days over the school holidays and yesterday included a visit to a local zoo. Confession time though - when he emailed the photo to us last night, his father and I initially agreed that the snake had to be fake. Matthew is the kid we often have to hand-hold to encourage him to pat the frogs but I am assured the beast he is holding in this photo is real. I desperately hoping this hasn't encouraged him to add "snake" to his upcoming birthday list...

~ ~ ~

In other thrilling news, the toilet training seems to have been a great success. Ryan now seems to be reliably trained and has even started waking in the night to ask to go to the loo. 3 nights running with dry night nappies. Long may it last, I say...

Before & After

Before: looking very unkempt and vagrant-like.



















After: Too grown up.

































I'm not sure which is worse. :(